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

Matthew and I mounted and waved goodbye, crossing the crick to the south as Helen and Lucas headed in the opposite direction to her camp.


It was near high sun when Matthew straightened and looked off to the east, shading his eyes with one hand and holding a small crescent-shaped scythe in the other. I followed his gaze and saw a group of horsemen on the horizon, heading north.


“Militia,” the boy said with a hiss hiding in his voice.


“Looks like it. Let’s keep an eye out for them in case they return this way.”


“There’s nothing up that way, is there?” he asked.


“Major Morrow told me there was a group of Sioux camped out on Trickling Water Crick.”


I pointed with my chin. “About ten miles that way.”


“Let’s go warn them the militia’s on the way?”


“They have too great a lead on us. Maybe they’re just patrolling.”


“I don’t like them.” Matthew returned to his work.


Chapter 29