Lauralee Parker is a widow who lost her husband to drink. Now, she leads a temperance movement (The Prayer Raiders), that wants to eradicate all saloons from the area. Tim McCallum is the only person standing in her way; he owns the Mud Bucket saloon; it is across the road from Lauralee's house. When Tim is brutally murdered, his brother Jay McCallum investigates -- to no avail. He decides to reopen his brother's saloon and watch to see what happens.
At first, Jay is sure Lauralee is the murderer. As he learns more about her, he realizes his first inclination is wrong. Jay learns that Virgil, Lauralee's dead husband, was free with his attentions to the ladies of the town. One of them is Adrienne Burch, a wealthy widow and Virgil's paramour.
Alexander, Lauralee's 10 month old child, becomes extremely ill; the only way to save his life is to get him to Spokane quickly. Because the stage would take too long, Jay asks Adrienne Burch if Lauralee, Alexander and he can take one of the widow's boats (that hauled logs to the saw mill). By the end of Alexander's hospital stay, he is deaf.
Jay's family home is in Spokane; while there, he invites Lauralee to be a guest. Before long, Lauralee realizes the McCallum house in turmoil. Mrs. McCallum is hostile to Lauralee and her child; Mr. McCallum is a US senator who wants to retire. Jay has another brother, Chance, who seems to be in competition with Jay. Married to Kate, he stays away from home for extended periods. With so much strife in the family, Lauralee is relieved when it is time to return home.
There are several interesting sub-plots that weave in and out of the bigger picture. All together, this makes for an engaging story. Although the book was interesting enough, This novel is one of Miller's earlier books; I gave it 4 stars because it just didn't measure up to some of her later work.
At first, Jay is sure Lauralee is the murderer. As he learns more about her, he realizes his first inclination is wrong. Jay learns that Virgil, Lauralee's dead husband, was free with his attentions to the ladies of the town. One of them is Adrienne Burch, a wealthy widow and Virgil's paramour.
Alexander, Lauralee's 10 month old child, becomes extremely ill; the only way to save his life is to get him to Spokane quickly. Because the stage would take too long, Jay asks Adrienne Burch if Lauralee, Alexander and he can take one of the widow's boats (that hauled logs to the saw mill). By the end of Alexander's hospital stay, he is deaf.
Jay's family home is in Spokane; while there, he invites Lauralee to be a guest. Before long, Lauralee realizes the McCallum house in turmoil. Mrs. McCallum is hostile to Lauralee and her child; Mr. McCallum is a US senator who wants to retire. Jay has another brother, Chance, who seems to be in competition with Jay. Married to Kate, he stays away from home for extended periods. With so much strife in the family, Lauralee is relieved when it is time to return home.
There are several interesting sub-plots that weave in and out of the bigger picture. All together, this makes for an engaging story. Although the book was interesting enough, This novel is one of Miller's earlier books; I gave it 4 stars because it just didn't measure up to some of her later work.
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