Mail Order Widow's Lonely Heart

The year was 1879, when the lonely widow Maggie Reynolds made the life-altering decision to become a mail-order bride. Years prior, her beloved husband had tragically perished in a stagecoach accident after a startled cougar caused the horses to run rampant. The memory still pained Maggie, but she could no longer wallow in her anguish. She yearned for a fresh start and a new lifetime partner.

Though her skills were limited, Maggie knew she could make a simple but happy life with the right man by her side. She anxiously visited the local marriage broker, who after poring over his ledger, found a prospective match - a rancher named Thomas Miller. He sought a kind, capable woman to join him in the rustic lifestyle of his cattle ranch and to become his lawfully wedded wife. He also stated that some manual labor was required as he'd let the place almost run into ruin.

Maggie's heart fluttered with cautious hope. She didn't mind some hard work but she did demand her travel arrangements exclude stagecoaches, haunted by her past tragedy. The broker obliged, and soon Maggie and Thomas began corresponding through letters to better know one another. Though their words could only reveal so much, she took solace in his warm prose and evident care for her comfort.