Thirty-two-year-old mixed blood John Strobaw, known to the Sioux as Medicine Hair, returns to his Turtle Crick Farm after a six-year exile on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Grief-stricken at the loss of his mate and lover Matthew Brand, known as Shambling Bear, at the Battle of Wounded Knee, he struggles to become a farmer again while fighting an internal battle to let go of the past and face his future. Will that future be with his best friend Winter Bird or with Pretty Face, an outrageous flirt who hasn’t yet decided who he is?<br><br>But before he can come to grips with this, John faces several battles. Will his former friends and neighbors accept him now the Indian War has come to an end? Can John forgive those same friends and neighbors after the murderous ambush of the Sioux by the 7th Cavalry at Wounded Knee? Or survive the hostility of an Indian-hating sheriff named Charles Landreth and protect himself against the mindless fear and loathing for Two Spirits, men who love men?

Wastelakapi…Beloved

His eyes were incredibly sad. “You can have me if you want. But it will hurt me.”


I released his arm. “I would never willingly hurt you, Winter Bird. Never.” I paused before asking my next question. “Can I know who this man is?”


He bent to tug a blade of grass and put it between his teeth. “Do you remember Dancing Fox?”


He nodded and worked the sweet grass around with his lips. “Some time ago, he asked me to be his second wife. I told him no. He mentioned it again when he was here. I have decided to confess all to him and ask if he still wants me. If he does, I will go with him.”


A blow as solid as a war club struck my heart. “Bird!” I exclaimed.


“It is the way it must be.” He spit out the blade of grass and walked away.


Chapter 27