Mail Order Bride

The film opens in Boston with Diana McQueen, a skilled con artist working for the mobster Rourke, manipulating a wealthy man at an auction. Diana is weary of her criminal life and Rourke’s control, especially after he ruins an honest shoemaker she had befriended. When Diana steals $10,000 from a mark named Franco, Rourke discovers her betrayal and attacks her brother, Kelly, a priest who helps her hide her money. Seeking an escape, Diana visits her friend Jen, who is dying of tuberculosis. Jen was supposed to travel to Wyoming as a mail-order bride for a man named Beau Canfield. After Jen passes away, Diana takes her identity and travel papers, heading west to start over. Upon arriving in Teardrop, Wyoming, Diana meets Beau, a quiet rancher. The transition is difficult; Diana knows nothing of farm life, and Beau is suspicious of her lack of skills despite her letters claiming she grew up on a dairy farm. Meanwhile, Beau is embroiled in a conflict with the local Cattle Association, who are trying to force him off his land. Despite the tension, a romance blossoms between Diana and Beau. However, the truth comes out when Diana tries to flee again, and Beau realizes she isn't Jen. Diana confesses her true identity and her history with Rourke. Beau, who reveals he was once a deadly lawman who accidentally killed his own brother, decides to protect her. Rourke eventually arrives in Wyoming with hired guns, leading to a siege at the ranch. Beau is forced to pick up his guns again, specifically a powerful buffalo rifle, to defend his home. In the climax, Diana and Beau use a clever ruse involving chicken blood to fake Diana's death, catching Rourke off guard. The local sheriff, who owes Beau a favor, arrests Rourke for trespassing—a crime that carries a heavy sentence in the territory. The film concludes with Diana and Beau’s wedding, attended by her brother Kelly, who brings the stolen money to help them rebuild their ranch.