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

Bent Nose found his way to Yanube city and begged work off Patrick Pauley at the livery stable. Pauley had no use for Indians, but Bent Nose was so good with horses, the livery owner gave him the name of Ezekiel and let him sleep in the stable. The bigot didn’t even seem to mind when everyone conferred “Pauley” on the old Indian to complete his civilized name.


I waited until after dark to go looking for Bent Nose. After talking to me through a wooden door at the stable, he finally opened it enough for me to slip through.


“You was that Red Win-tay’sman, wasn’t you?”


I grimaced. While the Lakota had a long history of respect for Two-Faces, the Dakota were more apt to look upon them with disdain. “That’s right. He was best friends with the major in charge of the soldiers at the fort. Now I work the farm for that same army man.” Figuring that established a pecking order, I repeated my statement. “I need some information.”


Chapter 36