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

“Where my roommate and his friends promptly raped me.” He sighed aloud. “When I was appointed to the Point, I resolved to hold myself chaste to avoid any other such incidents. I remained that way until Billy came to Yanube City after he divorced Cut Hand over that woman. Morning Mist? Was that her name?”


“Yes. It was the hardest thing either of them had ever done, but Billy’s faith would not allow him to share Cut Hand with another, and Cut’s responsibilities to the tiospayerequired he live among them with a wife and children.”


I rose and walked naked to the crick with a water bag, returning to cleanse us both with the frigid water. James suffered my touch with a gasp before speaking.


“I treasure being cleaned up and tended like this.”


“I believe this thing will work, James, so long as you allow me to release Billy’s image slowly.”


“I will allow you time, but I must warn you again. We have to take great care.”


Chapter 14