In the bustling heart of New York City, Ida Hatchett, a seasoned marriage broker of forty years, found herself at a crossroads. After a life spent meticulously matching countless brides with their soulmates across the social strata, from the impoverished to the exceptionally wealthy, Ida's own marital bliss had been cut short by the untimely demise of her beloved husband. Now, with no children to fill the void, she yearned for a fresh start amidst the wide-open spaces of the West.

Though her fortune rested comfortably between the extremes she had encountered, Ida recognized the challenges that lay ahead. Her clientele had predominantly consisted of youthful women in their twenties, paired with men a decade their senior. At forty, she understood her prospects might be limited, but her determination never wavered.

Days were spent methodically sifting through the files of registered bachelors until one name caught her discerning eye, James Welborn, a merchant of five-and-forty years, proprietor of a modestly prosperous trading post. His humble abode and medium parcel of land aligned perfectly with Ida's vision, for she had no inclinations towards tending cattle or overseeing a horde of ranch hands. A first-class train carriage would transport her in comfort to her new life.