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

Hardcastle surprised me by exiting the saloon less than an hour later, alone this time. He paused to light what appeared to be a thin cigar with a Lucifer stick before stalking south on Main. I followed, staying in the shadows on the other side of the street. Once we passed from the gas-lit area, shadowing him became easier. A hanwi pay-chah, a new moon, failed to appreciably cut the darkness.


We had no sooner left the commercial area than Hardcastle angled across the street, the same side I was on. The buildings—now residences—were farther apart and provided less cover. I advantaged bushes and shrubbery whenever possible.


Chapter 37