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

After washing sweat from my face in a spring at the base of three stunted trees, I filled my canteens and tried to grab another few minute of sleep. Waste of time. My insides were still too excited. When the sound of an approaching wagon reached me, I watched it pass from behind a screen of bushes. The sun was well risen, but it was still early when they rumbled down the road. I allowed them to get almost out of sight before mounting up.


The hot September morning passed slowly. I stopped only when the wagon halted, taking these opportunities to perform necessary duties, restore the circulation in my extremities, and spy out the situation with my long glass. Each time the wagon started moving, I switched horses to ease the burden on each.


Chapter 89