Born into a society tolerant of homosexuals, River Otter is confused by the white culture’s persecution of such men. As the war begins to wind down, Otter leaves the only home he has ever known to help Major James Morrow, commandant of Ft. Yanube, build a farm north of the fort. He begins a new life with the handsome major while coming to grips with growing hostility toward natives and rising danger from a local militia bent on eliminating all bloods from the territory.<br><br>As his physical attraction for the blond soldier slowly grows into a love perilous to both of them, Otter is distracted by personal challenges. As he struggles to survive the social and political upheaval sweeping the plains, can remain true to his own set of values?

River Otter

With the disappearance of the last wah-shee-chue from the farm—who happened to the surviving wig-wag signalman from the day of the fight—Cuthan’s family finally settled back into a familiar routine after all the excitement. Thus, I deemed the time right for my departure to help build a farm with James. To delay longer would put me at risk of having to winter in nothing more substantial than a buffalo skin tipi. I had often done that in the past, but many years spent in a comfortable house had weakened my will in that direction.


Chapter 8