At the start of the book, Missie, newly pregnant, though unwilling to tell Willie for fear of causing him worry, faces life as a member of a wagon train for many weeks. This book focuses on Missie and her husband Willie as they travel West to his ranchland, and settle into their new lives there. Nearly a year later, he returns, and soon after the couple is married. Willie soon leaves to find them ranchland in the West. Through a series of happenstance and miscommunication, Willie nearly leaves thinking Missie has feelings for Lou Graham, instead of himself, but ends up staying longer, and the two begin courting. Willie tells her of his plans to go further West. Willie visits her in the school at times, and gives her new hair ribbons as a peace offering, and to replace the ones he had ruined when they were children.

When she gets older, Missie takes over from Clae as the schoolteacher once she finishes school.

She also goes to school with Willie LaHaye, though the two have a somewhat strained relationship, as Willie often plays small pranks on her, including dipping her hair ribbons into an inkwell. She goes to school alongside each of her siblings, aside from Luke, who starts school after Missie finishes. Missie grows up throughout this book, from a little girl of 4 years old at the beginning, to a young, married lady at the end. Over time, though, the two become used to one another, and Missie eventually begins to call Marty 'Ma.' As a result, she struggles to adapt to being cared for by Marty. Having lost her mother some time earlier (the exact time is unspecified, though it is implied that it was sometime after Missie's 1st birthday, but more than a short time before the book begins, perhaps a few months), Missie has grown accustomed to going nearly everywhere with her father. Missie turned 2 years old in this book, and was stated to be the main reason Clark asked Marty to marry him.

Love comes softly love's abiding joy