Three times in her life, Missouri is forced to choose between love and security. As a young woman she marries John Mathis for love even though she knows he will be a poor provider.Later, as a young widow, she marries Luther Morris, her elder by 30 years, for the security he offers as a well-to-do farmer. Then her security is threatened by her mutual attraction to her husband's son, Lewis, a married man. Still later, when they each are widowed and in early middle age, Lewis comes to her with a proposal of marriage and the promise of a new but uncertain life. Again she must choose between love for him and the security of a life with her daughters.