J.M. Snyder

Once a Yankee soldier, Brance Brenneman has left the War Between the States behind and gone into hiding with his lover, former Confederate Caleb Chilson. Deserters intent on keeping to themselves, they find a nice, sparse acre of land where they can finally settle down. Life falls into domesticated routine for both the brooding Yank and the excitable Rebel. Together they struggle to create a more perfect union forged of love and their shared shapeshifting secret.<br><br>But the discovery of another bobcat encroaching on their territory brings out the possessive alley cat in Caleb, eager to defend his home and his mate. Will the newcomer destroy what they've worked so hard to attain? Or is there room enough for the three of them deep in the wilderness of Pennsylvania?

A More Perfect Union

The old scar on Brance’s rear haunch bothered him at times,and given their earlier race and the chilly weather,Caleb wasn’t surprised to find his matefavoring that leg.He usually let Caleb hunt anyway—it was a show of affection for both cats,one to bring food to his mate,the other to allow himself to be fed.Brance was usually the one indulging Caleb,and hunting in the fur or cooking in the flesh was Caleb’s little repayment.He left Brance in the ravine,lying on his side in dimpled snow,and scrambled up the slippery slope to catch something to eat.At the top of the ravine,he glanceddown—Brance watched him,amber eyes warm,faint tendrils of breath curling like white smoke from his nose.Even from this height,Caleb could smell the delicious odor that lingered after their mating,a fetid,fecund musk that only made him hungry for more.


Food first.They had all night to enjoy their feline forms.


Chapter 5