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

Gideon Haleworthy had—to use my mother’s term—ripped his britches. His continual prodding about Matthew was almost embarrassing. Matthew confided he was tempted to confess he was the notorious Red Star just to get the Lieutenant off everyone’s back.


The day before he was to take his leave, Gideon renewed the challenge for a race, his Brownie against my Arrow Wind. Matthew promptly invited himself and his gray gelding—more of a light horse than an Indian pony—into the race.


We agreed on a course across the bridge spanning the Yanube about a mile from the starting point, and then heading south to a large cottonwood some half-mile beyond that and back to the Mead. That done, we haggled over the bet. Everything on Gideon’s person was army issue, so all he was free to offer was his West Point ring. Matthew risked two fine beaver pelts he owned, and I wagered bits of silver, a portion of my inheritance from Otter.


Chapter 54