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

Despite the coolness of the greeting, I was forced to tarry while I mulled over what to do with a plow overly heavy and bulky to drape across Patch’s back. As I cast around for poles to make a pony drag, Petrov admitted he had some extra animals and a buckboard he was willing to sell. The atmosphere thawed slightly as I bargained for the items. We reached a deal when he agreed to throw in harness for the wagon. I loaded my plow in the buckboard and headed to the feed store with two new horses: a sorrel that looked as if he might make a decent riding horse, and a good, solid black mare. The black, a plodder, drew the buckboard. I tied Patch and the sorrel to the rear of the wagon.


My reception was just as cool at the feed store. The heavy-bellied clerk stirred himself sufficiently—although reluctantly—to hand over the seed the major had ordered and accept payment in silver without comment.


Chapter 53