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

Caleb woke to muted light and the overpowering dry scent of hay.He stretched,cautious,and heard the rustle of hay beneath him.An old horse blanket covered him,scratching his naked skin.An arm around his waist clenched,holding him closer for a moment before relaxing in sleep.


He lay on hay piled into one corner of their stable,the blanket warding off the chill,Brance curled tight behind him.The morning sun slanted through the open doorway to illuminate empty stalls and hay trailed across the floor.Among the broken reeds were wet clumps of mud that had once held the shape of bobcat paws.When Caleb stretched,the brisk air prickled his bare skin,making the hair on his arms stand on end.As he rubbed them for warmth,he turned in his lover’s embrace and burrowed closer to Brance’s nude body.


In the early morning light,he could see the scratches marring the bridge of Brance’s nose,four red marks that made Caleb’s heart ache.


Chapter 6