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 ignored the fields the next morning, opting to set off before dawn for the Mead. Matthew rode the sorrel, and the black, my plow horse, trailed along behind our mounts since I didn’t know how long the trip would take. The boys grumbled at being awakened so early—although in truth it was only half an hour or so before their usual waking time.


When they grew quiet, I suspected they had fallen asleep in the saddle. I advantaged the pleasing silence to consider the man I met yesterday afternoon. Did the Americans consciously seek out barbarians as their leaders? First Hardcastle. Then Brown. And now Smith. They were as different as three men could be, yet of a similar stripe.


Chapter 60