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

On the way back to the farm, I rode with a happy but confused couple trailing horses after them. Their joy rubbed hard against the hollow misery I nursed. It seemed as if my heart had been ripped from my chest and left bleeding on the floor of James’s office. A mile into the journey, Andre cleared his throat.


“Did the major give you leave to spend his money on us? I know he’s a fine man and all, but he doesn’t even know us.”


I fixed my eyes on the trail ahead. “It was not his silver I spent.”


From the corner of my eye, I saw him flush, no doubt chagrined he had discounted the idea an Indian could have funds of his own. “Billy died a wealthy man, and he saw to my future.”


Andre was quiet for a moment, apparently digesting this information. “So, it is you we are indebted to. We will repay you, Otter, I swear.”


“Every penny,” Bella said emphatically. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”


Chapter 75