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

Then I lay waiting as James removed the rest of his clothing. His fair skin made a grayish blur in the predawn night. Many of my blood thought this paleness unattractive, repulsive even. I did not find it so, no more than a white river stone resting beneath the water beside red and black and brown pebbles was off-putting. It was the nature of the thing.


A moment later, James lay beside me with his head on my chest. Sensing hesitation, I placed a hand to his cheek. “It is all right. I have a need too.”


He clutched my hand. “Is that true or a ruse to ease my mind?”


“It is true. I confess to a Cupid’s cramp at this moment.”


Chapter 13