A widow with several children leaves New York City to become a ranch hand in territorial Arizona.

In 1911, recently widowed Lucretia Rogers leaves her two small children in New York with her frosty mother-in-law and travels to Charleyville, Arizona Territory, where she has been offered a storekeeper job by a friend of her late husband. Upon arrival, however, she learns that her benefactor has been killed in a holdup, and she takes a farmhand job on a ranch owned by Aggie Gates. Lu's outspoken nature and good looks win her the admiration of both Dan Jones, the handsome owner of the local saloon, and Pat Collins, a mother-dominated rancher. Aggie tries to marry off Lu to Pat, but Pat's mother discourages the match. When Lu proves that the dishonest sheriff, John Yoss, is in league with gunmen, the women and the law-abiding citizens of Charleyville elect her as the new sheriff. Yoss retaliates by attacking and looting the town and kidnaping Lu; but Dan, Pat, and the townspeople form a posse, raid the gunmen's hideout, and rescue Lu. The reward money enables Lu to bring her two children to the new state of Arizona. As she throws her arms around Dan, Lu tosses her sheriff's badge to Pat.