Cover Copy
The Montana Territory is one of the last outposts of the American West—where adventure as grand as the wide-open plains is around every corner, and passion as wild as the land itself beats in every heart . . .
Elizabeth Sanders isn’t afraid of anything, except what will happen to her beloved town if the Big Mountain Lumber Mill is destroyed. When she overhears a plot to do just that, she vows to put a stop to it, even if it means dressing as a young lumberjack to expose the saboteur. There’s only one problem with her plan—her brother’s handsome friend and fellow logger Garrett Jones, who arouses a desire within her soul as fierce as the river rapids.
When Garrett discovers that the odd new lad on the crew is in fact Beth, he’s shocked. A logging camp is no place for a young woman—especially the spirited beauty he’s admired for so long. Keeping her safe is easier said than done, however, as the attraction between them flares into true passion. As the danger mounts, Beth and Garrett must work together to survive the last log run down the wild rapids and claim any chance of saving the mill—and their chance at a future . . .
White Water Passion
A Montana Mountain Romance
Dawn Luedecke
LYRICAL PRESS
Kensington Publishing Corp.
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Copyright © 2017 by Dawn Luedecke
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First Electronic Edition: November 2017
eISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0343-0
eISBN-10: 1-5161-0343-2
First Print Edition: November 2017
ISBN-13: 978-1-5161-0346-1
ISBN-10: 1-5161-0346-7
Printed in the United States of America
Dedication
To my agent, Jessica Watterson, for believing in me, and helping to make White Water Passion what it is now. I am forever grateful.
Glossary
Backcut-One of the cuts needed to fell a tree. Located on the opposite side of the trunk from the face.
Bateau-A flat-bottomed boat used to assist the rivermen. Often the men would loosen a log ‘nest’ and then fling themselves into the bateau to avoid being sucked down into the dangerous white water beneath the logs.
Beat the Devil Around the Stump-To evade responsibility or a difficult task.
Big Bug-An important or official person. The boss.
Bosh-Nonsense.
Bucker-A logger who cuts the tree into smaller, more manageable pieces; as well as de-limbs the trunk.
Bulldoze-To threaten or bully. Coerce.
Chisler-A cheater.
Chute-A makeshift sloping channel constructed of special treated wood to get the logs from the forest to the lake.
Chute Monkey-Logger responsible for greasing the chute and pulling the logs across The Deck with a team of horses.
Crosscut saw-A saw with a handle at both ends, used by two loggers to cut across the wood grain.
Deadbeat-A lazy person.
Fall-The act of bringing down a standing tree. Note: Fall/faller/falling used interchangeably with fell/feller/felling.
Faller-The logger actively chopping/sawing down the tree.
Flannel Mouth-Smooth talker.
Got the Bulge-Have the advantage over.
Half Turn-A partial supply of logs.
Homeboy-Loggers from the local community.
Lady of the First Water-Elegant woman.
Log Nest-A logjam.
Misery Whip-A slang term for a crosscut saw that doesn’t cut well.
Mudsill-A lowlife.
Peavey-A logging tool consisting of a handle (30-50 inches long) with a cant hook and metal spike at the end. Used by rivermen to keep the logs moving down the rivers.
River Drive-The movement of the logs from the lumber camp, down the rivers and lakes, and to the mill.
Riverman-A logger who rides the logs down the rivers and lakes to bring them to the mill.
River Rat-A riverman who drifts from lumber camp, to lumber camp, working only as long as they want to stay in the area.
Scallywag-A person who behaves badly. Scamp. Reprobate.
Shave Tail-An unexperienced person. A greenhorn.
The Bull-The boss of the loggers working The Grove.
The Deck-The area between The Grove and the chute.
The Grove-The area where active logging is taking place.
Timber beast-A logger who works the timber.
Wannigan-A cook raft constructed with a crude building on top. Often the building would contain bunks for the rivermen to sleep if needed.
Widowmaker-A dead branch balancing precariously high in a tree, which could fall and kill a man without notice.
Chapter 1
Missoula Montana, 1888
Elizabeth Sanders could vanish right now, and no one would notice. She blended in with every other woman by wearing her matching pinstriped walking skirt and blouse. Each store clerk and patron in Missoula, focused on their affairs without a care to their neighbor, would fail to notice if she walked through Higgins Street naked, let alone disappeared into thin air. They certainly wouldn’t look twice when she came back this way a different person.
Hundreds of people bustled in the heat of the Montana sun doing the same old things, the same old ways, with nothing to show for their trouble but dirty shoes. If Elizabeth was going to get her shoes dirty, she preferred to have fun doing it…the Devil May Care way.
Navigating the pedestrian-riddled streets was treacherous at best. Times like this made her wish she’d taken her