Lee Masters, a handsome young cowboy, is fired from his cattle drive when his sexual orientation is discovered. Frustrated and angry, he rides to a mountain lake where he meets a Dakota native named Tatanka, who is also exiled from his tribe for refusing to adhere to tribal custom for braves who prefer men to women. They strike up a friendship, which readily turns to love. Their family is completed when a young Indian, Sleeps With Dogs, insists they take him with them on their search for a home.<br><br>Their quest to find acceptance in either the white man's world or the native population is a difficult journey. Can two men who love each other find a place in the harsh reality of the western wilderness, or will they always be walking in two worlds?

Walking in Two Worlds

“No sir. You’ll see soon enough.”


The men worked on a few more lambs and then the younger Mr. Birk decided it was time to call it a day. Lee checked the horizon. The sun was already down. Looked like another night in the bunkhouse. 


As they rode back to the ranch, other pairs of cowboys joined them as they came in from different parts of the range. They talked of the upcoming shearing and the driving of the herds to summer pasture. Lee felt good in such easy company. The lazy clop-clop of the horses’ hooves, the slight sway as the animals placed each of their feet on the firm earth was relaxing after a hard day’s work. Only the coming darkness prevented Lee from making the ride to Bethel, his family and total contentment. 


“Only about four to six more weeks now I reckon,” Lee heard Ted say to him. 


Ted had given Lee the news just after Christmas that Lu Ann, his wife, was expecting in the spring.


“That’s great!” Lee responded. “Got the names picked out?”


Chapter 30