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

I had been dreading spending the long winter months alone, so a kinship—quite apart from lust—quickly built between us. One evening as we spoke in the dark of the warm cabin, Lance revealed more of his history than he had perhaps intended. He spoke of riding with Inkpaduta.


“I thought you were in the Laramie country.”


“I was. But after Stone Knife’s tiospayedispersed, I wandered.”


That was not surprising. By nature, the Sioux were nomadic. I wondered why Dull Lance had not assumed the responsibility of holding his father’s band together but decided against pursuing the question. Instead, I asked about Red Cap. “What sort of man is he?”


“Hard. He lives hard. He hates hard. And he fights hard.”


“Some consider him little more than an outlaw leading a band of thieves.”


Chapter 45