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

He gave us a knowing look but went without audible complaint.


“This newspaperman asked a lot of questions about Matthew, as well,” Rachel Ann said.


“Not surprising,” I said. “He’s more interesting than I am. After all, he got himself killed.”


“But what if he starts finding out things he shouldn’t.”


“Like your relationship with Matthew,” Gideon said. “And with Ethan.”


“Gideon thinks you should talk to him,” Rachel Ann said.


My brother-in-law nodded. “Sort of guide the interview the way you want it to go.”


“He sort of started things off,” Rachel Ann said.


“Matthew always told anyone who got too nosy that he was married to a woman back on the reservation. I reinforced that and hinted maybe you were, too.”


I rubbed my eyes. “Maybe I’ll talk to him after Ethan and I get back.”


“Where are you going?” Rachel Ann poured coffee for everyone without being asked.


Chapter 74