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

When Caleb returned to their homestead dragging with him two plump pheasants he’d caught,he found Brance waiting in the open doorway on the side of theirstable.Trotting up to his mate,Caleb dropped the birds and sat back to cleanthe blood and feathers from his nose.Brance sniffed at the birds,then dipped his head to rub against Caleb’s shoulder in an unusual display of affection.Though he said nothing,that touch alone made Caleb preen.He began purring unconsciously,a loud,ragged sound that filled the night,and with each twitch of his tail,his scent wafted around them.It took all his strength to stay seated and not roll on the ground in submission.


::You did good,::Brance told him.::But there are only two.::


::I couldn’t carry more.::Caleb nosed the larger bird toward his mate.::Isshe inside?::


Placing his heavy paws on the bird to hold it down,Brance began to eat.::Last stall,like you suggested.She’s an ungrateful thing.You’re right not to like her much.::


Chapter 14