Ex-lawman Will Lane comes to Congress, Montana, in 1890 to fulfill a promise to a dead colleague that he will look after the man's unruly son, Lee Carey. Lane has the deed to the half-built Carey ranch, which at the request of Lee's father, he is not to surrender until Lee shows some maturity. One of Lane's demands is that Lee marry, and after looking through marriage offers in a mail-order catalog, Lane visits Kansas City to interview prospects. He brings back Annie Boley, a young widow who has worked for Hanna, a saloon owner to whom Lane is attracted. Annie brings along her 6-year-old son. Over Lee's objections Lane forces the marriage, with Lee's friend Jace acting as best man. Lee reveals the situation to Annie, and she promises to pretend to be happily married. Lee, in turn, promises to support her when she eventually leaves him; until then, they will be married in name only. Lane sees through the deception and orders Annie to return east, but she refuses. Lane discovers that Jace has been stealing the ranch's cattle and orders Lee to stop seeing him. Furious with Lane, Lee rides into Congress. There Jace gets him drunk, and he agrees to steal the cattle and leave town with Jace. Upon returning to the ranch, Lee finds the new house, which he has built, in flames. He rescues Annie's son from the fire, which he discovers was set by Jace, and reveals the plan to steal the cattle to Lane. Lane disgustedly hands Lee the deed and prepares to leave, but a changed Lee asks him to help retrieve the cattle. Jace is killed in the ensuing gunfight. Lee realizes that he is in love with Annie, and they begin rebuilding the ranch. A satisfied Lane rides to Kansas City to see Hanna.