Repentance and Absolution by AE Lister
Book 2 in the Northern Horizons series
General Release Date: 15th November 2022
Word Count: 79,930
Book Length: SUPER NOVEL
Pages: 299
Genres:
ACTION AND ADVENTURE,BONDAGE AND BDSM,COWBOYS AND WESTERN,EROTIC ROMANCE,GAY,GLBTQI,HISTORICAL
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Book Description
You can’t take back your sins. You can only hope for forgiveness.
Jimmy Downing traveled seven hundred sixty difficult and dangerous miles to bring Oscar Yates to Port Essington to find his uncle. When Jimmy saw the abandoned homestead Oscar had inherited, he envisioned a future for them there, as long as they could keep the true nature of their relationship a secret. But once the initial work is complete and they have a cozy living space and a stable for the livestock, Oscar and Jimmy face a long winter dealing with thoughts that have time and space to plague them.
Jimmy suffers nightmares of dark deeds committed in his past, while Oscar deals with trauma from his time in Dawson and his mistreatment at the hands of Spook. A new horse provides a distraction for Oscar and leads to new friendships and a break from their solitary existence, but a dangerous encounter exposes surprising truths about their nearest neighbors and a sense that their lives are being guided by forces outside their control.
“You remember how to ride,” I said, grinning and crossing my arms on the fence of the corral. “That’s good.”
“I reckon you’re a good teacher,” he said o’er his shoulder as he turned Onyx to walk the other way. The horse responded to his signals, her ears flicking back and forth as he clucked to her and gave her encouragement.
I blushed at Oscar’s praise, remembering those early days of fumbling about and finding our way together. I had taught Oscar to ride a horse, but Oscar had taught me things I’d never imagined. Best not to think of those things right now, though, lest I were to embarrass myself in front of Mr. Morris and reveal the truth of our relationship.
Oscar took Onyx around the edge of the pen several times, all the while with that childlike smile on his face as he coaxed her into a trot then a canter. I soaked it in while trying not to look like I was staring. He gushed with pleasure and confidence, sitting so comfortably in the fine saddle that I knew we’d made the right decision to buy the black mare. The two of them together made my heart sing because they made such a pretty picture.
“He named her yet?” Peter asked me. “I wanted to let my granddaughter name the horse, so I’ve just been callin’ her ‘girl’.”
I nodded. “Yeah, he named her Onyx.”
Peter frowned. “Onyx. That’s a peculiar name. Is it just made up or does it mean something?”
I shrugged. “Oscar says it’s a type of mineral. He spent most of his recent life in Dawson City. Knows all about minin’ and rocks and such. Onyx is a black rock, he said.”
“Hmm. S’pose that makes sense then, e’en though it sounds queer.”
“Sure enough,” I agreed.
Oscar pulled Onyx to a stop and slid down, then gave her a kiss on her smooth black nose. “You’re a good girl, and you’re mine. And we’re gonna have so much fun, Onyx. I promise.”
“All right, all right. You don’t have to sweet talk her. I reckon she’ll like you well enough if you’re the one to put feed in her trough,” I said, laughing at the way he was treating her—as though she were his pet and not a needed form of transportation. Oscar had always seen horses for more than what they were, but I didn’t hold it against him. T’was a part of his nature, the way he showed affection to all living things. He had a huge heart that didn’t seem to have been tainted by all the hardships he’d endured, which was a goddamned miracle if you thought about it.
But he frowned. “I know I don’t have to. I want to, because she’s my pretty girl and I already love her.”
He stuck his tongue out at me.
My goodness. I suddenly had a very strong urge to get home and give him a turn o’er my knee for that cheek. My face heated as I put on my hat and turned back to Mr. Morris.
“Thank you, sir. It’s an honor to do business with you,” I said as Peter opened the gate so Oscar could lead Onyx to where I’d hitched Dixie.
“Likewise. It’s nice to meet new folks. I hope you do well here. My wife and I have lived in Port Essington for most of our lives, and we can’t think of a better spot.”
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AE Lister 
AE Lister/Elizabeth Lister is a Canadian non-binary author with a vivid imagination and a head full of unique and interesting characters. They have published 10 books, one of which received an Honorable Mention from the National Leather Association – International for excellence in SM/Leather/Fetish writing.
“Sensual and visceral BDSM.” – Amazon.ca
Find out more about AE Lister at their website, and follow them on Instagram and Patreon.
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