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

“Otter knew me better than anyone else. He knew I’d probably leave the Mead someday…just as he knew you never would. And he wanted me to have a place to go. At least, I’m farmer enough to take care of his place. If not, he knew Andre would be there to handle the farming part while I played blacksmith…or whatever. Am I making any sense?”


“Some. But it still hurt. Otter didn’t leave me anything. Or the girls, either.”


He turned his coal black eyes on me. “Something. Anything to let me know I counted.”


I sighed. I’d have to do it. I’d have to tell him, or he’d never understand. “I didn’t talk straight a minute ago. The real reason Otter and James left me the farm was they knew I’d have to leave Teacher’s Mead one day, and they wanted me to have a place to go.”


“Because I’m like they were. I have the same nature they did.”


The silence got so deep I could hear Strobaw’s Crick running a hundred yards to the west.


Chapter 36