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

So far as I know, Hiram Hardcastle’s name was never again uttered in Yanube City. It was as if the white culture adopted the natives’ name avoidance custom. No one wanted the ex-militia leader’s wah-nah gee, his ghost, hanging around.


On the other hand, the plan to bring the stage to Yanube City was made public, which had the effect of exposing more attacks on Teacher’s Mead for what they would be—naked greed. That provided a bit of cover for Cuthan and his family.


A half-hearted attempt was made to censure James, but when Lt. Mills and members of the Second Platoon of F Company related what they had witnessed, that effort withered away. Consequently, the protection James extended to me held greater potency because he had demonstrated a willingness to stand up to the excesses of the militia.


Chapter 40