A love between two very different men is put to the test. John Strobaw, a young mixed-blood, grows up in the relative security of a family farm after the Civil War. His mother raises her family as Americans, but his foster brother, Matthew Brandt feels his red blood more keenly and leaves to ride with Crazy Horse. John doesn’t understand the longing he feels for his absent companion until he has his first sexual experience with a man and he only thinks of Matthew. After the murder of Crazy Horse, Matthew makes his way back home. John fights hard against a growing lust for Matthew, but when he ultimately succumbs, he is lost to this handsome, dusky warrior. Just when the future looks bright, another suitor appears -- a handsome Cheyenne army scout, and trouble looms on the horizon.

Echoes of the Flute

Pa was the most patient man I’d ever known, but if I didn’t stop dawdling and get to it, he’d ask me straight out what was the matter. Yet I didn’t know how to cut this catfish open.


He beat me to it. “What’s bothering you, John?”


“Have you read Grandpa Billy’s journal?”


His eyebrows shot up, and he gave me a square look. “Yes. Have you?”


I swallowed so hard he musta heard my gulp. “Uh huh. Otter gave it to me when…when…”


“All right, Son. Just tell it like it was.”


“Otter gave it to me after I told him what happened the night before I left Timo’s. Said I needed to know a few things.”


Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his mouth grow tight. Then he relaxed. “What happened before you left Timo’s?”


“I don’t wanna get anybody in trouble.”


Chapter 11