Mattie Shaw was abandoned at an early age by her mother, a St. Louis socialite. She was raised by her father, a Cavalry Ordinance Officer who specialized in guns and ammo. When her father retired, the two decided to head west to open a gunsmith shop. They made it almost as far as Curtis Wells when her father dropped dead of a heart attack. While lesser souls would have thrown in the towel, Mattie, with a wagon full of weapons, decided to make a go of it herself. She located the one person in Curtis Wells who was willing to share floor space with her - the town undertaker. Thus, the local Gunsmith/Undertaker shop was born. Before long, the undertaker runs off with a Spanish dancer and leaves this most unique business to Mattie.
Mattie is a tough-minded, articulate pragmatist with a sharp, witty tongue. She’s seen enough of death not to be intimidated by it, yet there is always an appealing optimism around her. For all of her tomboy bravado, she’s a true romantic. She instantly connects with Call - there is a sense of mutual respect between them. They may be drawn closer together, but for now, neither of them is consciously aware of the heat they generate.