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

Like before, we didn’t talk about what we’d done. He just got dressed and went home to his daughter. Wasn’t shame—at least on my part—but I didn’t quite know how to talk about it. That entry in Billy’s journal came to me. I liked Andre Tiller. Was getting fond of him. But I can’t say I was in love with him. I went back to the Mead the next morning without looking him up again.


I kept busy with the forge and the team horses. In fact, all the domestic animals were now my responsibility. I was grateful for the added work. It helped keep my mind off the ghost that haunted me. I’d be working at the forge and see Berglund’s pinched face in the flames. Or he’d wake me out of a sound sleep. The more whipped I was, the less he intruded in my life.


Chapter 34