Poodie James uses intelligence, charm and hard work to overcome his handicaps and achieve independence in a place he loves. He cherishes the rugged beauty of his valley and the kindness of the people who live in it. Most of his fellow citizens see him as a character or a curiosity, but the most powerful man in the valley thinks Poodie is a threat.Launching a bizarre campaign to jail the little man or drive him out of town, the mayor doesn't reckon on the opposition of his police chief or the appearance of a figure from his own shadowy past. With the foothills of the Cascades, sweeps of orchard land and the mighty Columbia River as backdrops, Poodie James is the story of a man's struggle to win against prejudice and the abuse of power. Poodie challenges the Columbia and plays a heroic role in a fiery train wreck. But can he escape the dark force that seeks to destroy him? Poodie James, Engine Fred, Pete Torgerson and the canny publisher Winifred Stone are indelible characters in this taut, atmospheric novel.