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

The next day, we finished sowing the fields on our—that is, James’s farm—and then went to take care of a few minor chores on Andre’s cabin. Those done, I was unwilling to call a halt to the work, so we went for the horse and plow and started to work his forty acres. Andre was as meticulous about the straightness of his rows as I was. He was a good farmer. Absent some disaster, he and Bella would prosper. By distracting my mind from thoughts of James, I had come round the other way with a stinging reminder they would do so without me in their lives.


Although there was a nip to the air by the end of the day, we had worked up a good sweat. Andre laid a fire in the fireplace, and pumped water in his available pots and kettles so we could christen the new bathing room. As we filled the tub, Andre stopped me with a hand on my arm.


“What’s the matter, Otter? You’ve been driving us like a madman.”


“There is a lot of work to be done.”


Chapter 76