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

After picking up Patch at the livery corral without rousing anyone, I rode for the fort about a quarter of a mile to the northwest. Once there, A sentry challenged me and wasted fifteen minutes arguing. My claim of a disaster at the major’s farm finally convinced him to summon the Corporal of the Guard, who went to the Duty Officer, who finally roused James.


As I faced my slightly tousled lover alone in his private quarters, I understood why I hadn’t knifed Hardcastle. It would have devastated James to know I had killed a man who needed killing and yet have to bring me to justice. I experienced a flicker in my guts that left me wondering if it was a birth pain. The birth of true feelings for this man? When I finished telling him what I had heard, he rose and paced the room.


Chapter 38