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Reclaiming Raw Land in the Kootenai Valley, Circa 1914.

“From her cattle ranch and century old home set at the base of Hall Mountain, Isabel Huff has crafted a lively story of struggle, intrigue and romance in Northern Idaho’s Kootenai Valley. Circled by magnificant peaks and peopled by a diverse population; the valley affords Huff a unique setting as she recreates the lives of the forebears of these people; steamships ply the river, rail lines are laid and homesteaders eke out a living logging and raising cattle and crops. Huff’s protagonist, Hank Phillips, is a God fearing young blacksmith with a deep love of horses and dreams of building a home on his new homestead. Interacting with fellow lumber camp workers, new neighbors and the women he woos, Hank makes a name for himself on the frontier. The author’s colorful parade of characters who find shelter and promise in this vast hospitable valley make for a fun and memorable reading experience.” --Marty Becker, “America’s Vet”, who also lives in the Kootenai Valley.

"I've got good reports on you, Hank, glad to have you aboard. We have several outlying camps and as soon as I talk to others you will probably be sent to work in one of those locations. But come on in by six-o-clock tomorrow morning and report to the shop where you worked today." Suddenly Updyke stood, stretched and relaxed. "Yup, Bonners Ferry Lumber Company just signed one of the biggest contracts for timber that there ever was in this country, we'll start floating logs down from Boulder Creek area yet this year; millions of board feet;should last four or five years." *footnote: Bonners Ferry Herald, August 15, 1913, reprinted in Paul Flynn's Oldtimers Column, December 18, 2008. He paused. "It's been a long day, I'm going home, see you around, Hank." Hank headed back to town and checked on his saddle horse, Chief, at the livery stable before going into a boarding house to rent a room for another night. Last week of August, he told himself as he finished a plate of stew and biscuits sided by a large ear of sweet corn. He was helping himself to a slice of apple pie when he was startled by the beauty of a young women entering the rooming house carying a heavy suitcase. She also rented a room explaining that she would be catching the steamship going north to Porthill in the morning. Wow, how I'd like to make her aquaintance, but she'll be out of my life tomorrow. Not meant to be Hank. Hank left the rooming house for a walk about the little town. Down at the river the ferry was running steady as people returned home from a day spent across the broad Kootenai. A dock for the steamships was active as an evening promenade, and the steamship lay in wait for the trip north the next morning. As Hank returned to the boarding house with his mind on the blue eyed beauty, she stepped out onto the board walk. "Oh, you've just been walking. Maybe you noticed if there is a mercantile still open?" "I did see a store still open about a block down. I could walk with you if you'd like. It's rather late for a lady to have to walk alone." "That would be nice, Sir," she answered demurely, "I will accept your offer."