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

“Wrong. They’s a teepee pitched no more’n a mile north of here.”


“Haven’t been north of that hill over there.” I might as well play their game. “They tame Indians?” I couldn’t bring myself to say “Injuns.”


“Who knows? We on our way to check them out. You see any strangers around, you come to Yanube City and report it to the magistrate. Hostiles ambushed some of our men. Killed and scalped one of them, and we aim to catch them and string them up. You hear me?”


Without another word, the man spurred his horse, brushing me aside. I recovered my balance and watched them ride over the hill. Scalped? When I dumped the jasper in the river his crown was firmly attached to his head.


Chapter 16