James L. Jensen / James LJensen
Utah Territory-1868 Emmeline Bentley is savoring her freedom from a plural marriage to a Mormon cleric, who recently died. New clothes and a new hair style reveal a long submerged beauty. Her journey out of obscurity starts with three goals: a higher self-worth, financial independence, and the respect of men. Changes begin when she meets banker John Farnsworth in Salt Lake City, who deftly merges business with lunch and then the theater. Two dates later, Emmeline is in love.At home, her family presents her with a racing stallion, that is very motivated to win. But not being a gambler, Emmeline finds racing to be more fun than lucrative. Her business sense now takes over, and she is soon in the big money freighting business. With her young teamster along, who doubles as a bodyguard, she bravely travels to the Montana mines.One prosperous year later, she hears gossip about Farnsworth having a roving eye, and terminates their relationship. During the gloomy days following, she designs a unique railroad coach, that provides space for both humans and horses. In her own coach, she travels to California, where she races her horse and sells coaches to the likes of Leland Stanford. Arriving home rejuvenated, but loveless, an audit indicates her to be financially well-off, and to celebrate, she builds a large home in Salt Lake City.An apologetic letter arrives one day from the person behind the scandal about Farnsworth. Jealousy had created the vicious deed. Laden with guilt, Emmeline meets the banker for lunch and confesses to blind, inflexible behavior. It is tearful and painful for both, but he is big-hearted. While holding hands across the table, they admit to loving each other, and then in a tender way, he recites a saying by Confucius: 'Jumping to conclusions-darn poor exercise.'
