After fifteen year old Lucinda Brown arrived at Fort Union to live, she wanted to learn to be a housewife, since she was nearly old enough to get married. She attended a small school taught by the Quartermaster\'s wife, but became self-conscious about walking past a barracks after finding herself attracted to the young bugle player she had seen through the window at home. One evening, when there was a party hosted by her parents, Lucinda was glad to see this young man come in through the door. A medical emergency and other unexpected events caused Lucinda to realize she'd better start paying attention.