Summary
Amid the dust-baked verandas of Red Rock, a prairie prince—Dan Blair—guzzles six chocolate sodas like a penitent taking communion, each fizz a benediction to Sarah Townley, the hymn-slinging soda jerk whose voice can make sagebrush weep. An operatic Svengali, stranded overnight, hears her psalm at a church social and spirits her eastward; three years later, Dan, now heir to a cattle empire forged in his father’s grave, drifts through London’s gaslit salons and collides with the Duchess of Breakwater—an incandescent predator who trades affections for solvency. At the Covent Garden premiere of Letty Lane, Dan’s ears bleed recognition: the diva is his vanished frontier siren. Courtship reignites amid arias and lies, yet jealousy—personified by a vodka-scented prince—drives Dan to propose to the duchess. One midnight balcony reveals the duchess locked in the arms of Lord Galore, and Dan’s engagement shatters like a dropped goblet. Enter Joshua Ruggles, paternal ghost and family consigliere, who stage-manages the final act: feigning Dan’s ruin, he tests Sarah’s heart, then steps aside so that Montana’s prodigal and his reclaimed nightingale can wed under the same stars that once flavored her sarsaparilla dreams.
Synopsis
Dan Blair, a retired cattle magnate's son, is one of the many youths of Red Rock, Montana who is attracted to soda water-stand operator Sarah Townley. One day, Dan partakes of six chocolate sodas in succession. When an operatic impresario, forced to stay in town overnight, hears Sarah sing at a church social, he signs her to be trained to become a diva. Three years later, after Dan's father has died, Dan visits Lord Galore, a family friend, in London and becomes involved with the Duchess of Breakwater, who, although she loves the lord, needs Dan's money. Dan hears the famous Letty Lane sing and recognizes Sarah. Although Dan courts Sarah, when he thinks that she loves Prince Ponitowsky of Russia, he proposes to the duchess. After he sees the duchess embrace Lord Galore, however, he breaks the engagement, to Sarah's relief. Joshua Ruggles, the friend and partner of Dan's father, arrives to look after Dan. After he falsely tells Sarah that Dan is broke and proposes to Sarah himself, he sees Sarah's true love for Dan and allows them to marry.
