Elizabeth (Betty) Rose finds herself a young widow. She is angry with a husband who left her with a house, blacksmith shop and no money to maintain either. Hoping to earn a living by renting rooms, she winds up with Ross Culpepper, a mystery man, a sassy young schoolmarm, and a dangerous-looking downright scary fellow named Bart Devlin. Betty Rose and her two helpmates, an Indian couple saved from a massacre, hope to make the best of a bad situation. Will they be able to survive mystery, danger, and teacher, Cassy Lou?