St. Louis, Missouri to Montana Territory by River, 1876

Delilah Mathers Raymond's early life was one of comfort until the war between the North and the South came to Pennsylvania. The Mathers family business was destroyed, her father and young husband were killed by the rebels, and her husband's prominent family wanted nothing to do with her. Delilah's only remaining family was her estranged Uncle Horace, who took her under his wing. They traveled about as Horace earned their keep at various card tables until his left hand was crushed by a disgruntled loser -- his gun hand is as quick as ever. Delilah is a fast learner, and her skills at cards and guns now equal her uncle's.

Delilah and Horace reach St. Louis and find a game of poker aboard a fancy steamboat named The River Nymph. One by one the players fold until only Delilah and the boat's owner, Clint Daniels, remain. Now, Daniels appears to be everything Delilah hates, a Southern gentleman of the type responsible for the war, for her losses, and for the disgrace of the last ten years. Though loath to admit it to herself, Delilah's irrational dislike of Daniels is exacerbated by an attraction she feels toward him that she never experienced even in her brief, youthful marriage. She goads Clint into adding the deed to The River Nymph to the pot, wins the boat, and treats him in a demeaning fashion. Somehow, though, he rises above any shame, so who is the real winner in their battle of wills?

Delilah and Horace plan to turn respectable by conveying freight from St. Louis up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers as far as the gold fields in the west. They make an enemy of Big Red Riley, the so-called king of the waterfront who lost The River Nymph to Clint. He wants it back. His actions make it impossible for uncle and niece to carry out their plans without turning to Clint Daniels for help in getting their business going. As a result, Clint, Delilah and Horace become partners, with Delilah keeping the major part. It's a very good thing that Clint Daniels has a thick skin, for Delilah keeps throwing insulting darts at him. In actuality, Clint is amused by her; he sees a passion underneath her lady-like demeanor and delights in provoking her.

There is much more to Clint Daniels than Delilah knows. His past was not what she imagines, and that will turn out to be a good thing as The River Nymph, its owners, and crew face the hardships ahead. Truth to tell, Clint's life was much harsher than Delilah's, and the farther they travel into the wild country, the less gentlemanly his surface becomes...and the harder Delilah must fight the attraction. Several secondary characters of note travel upriver with them. One very interesting one is Clint's foster sister, who adds much interest to this tale.

THE RIVER NYMPH paints a colorful picture of the St. Louis waterfront and the era of the steamboat trade up and down the two mighty rivers. It also touches on the Indian wars at the time the Sioux were being herded onto reservations. The novel becomes more suspenseful as The River Nymph meets troubles, both natural and manmade. As Delilah shows a caring side to her nature and softens toward Clint, she's much more likable.

A suggestion: don't skip over the two authors' notes just before the title page. They tell how Shirl Henke and her husband Jim came to work together on THE RIVER NYMPH.

Jane Bowers