Laurie and Ricky Bell uproot and go West, leaving their comforts in Baltimore. When she announces she is pregnant, he is less than happy as he feels she has just made their lives more complicated especially where it concerns his needs.
Ricky and Laurie Bell live in Baltimore, Maryland married for twelve years. Both came from high society but Ricky has lost the family fortune and the two decide to go west. At St. Joe Ricky signs up with Major Adams and buys the necessary supplies and equipment only to learn Laurie is pregnant. They decide to stay at St. Joe for a year until the baby is born with Ricky working at a blacksmith shop. The following year Ricky convinces Adams to allow them to apply the previous year's non-refundable deposit to the current year and train. The couple's relationship is strained as Ricky resents the attention Laurie pays to the baby. The divide increases until the train is hit with a deadly fever. Ricky sees it as his chance to be a hero by helping with the sick while allowing him to be separated from Laurie. Ricky comes down with the fever himself forcing Laurie to choose between the baby and helping Ricky. Adams tells her to stay with the baby. Once the fever dissipates Ricky recovers but tells Laurie he doesn't want her around when she comes to him. His attitude forces the Major to intervene and tell Ricky how he has been acting and to act like a man.—Anonymous