Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) (22 page)

Tykota whirled around. "And I shall."

"But before you do, ask yourself if you want
to change the law for your own needs, or for the
good of the people."

Tykota flinched as the words his father had
spoken to him so long ago came back to haunt
him. "Everything you do must be for the good of
the people."

He drew in a painful breath. "The road set for
me on the day of my birth is a hard one, Mangas.
Never more so than now."

"Where the head rules, the heart cannot
always follow, my chief."

Tykota sagged in defeat. "It will be a lonely
road for me."

"I will walk with you," Mangas gently teased.

Tykota managed to smile in return. "While I
love and respect you, Mangas, you are not
exactly the partner I would have chosen."

Tykota had been riding for over an hour. He was
following the river in hopes of finding
Coloradous. He had decided to come alone rather
than bring Mangas when he told his half brother
about Sinica's death.

He dismounted and let his horse drink from
the stream while he walked along the bank,
taking in the beauty of the land. Here were tall
pine trees, and the wind weaving through the
branches made its own music. He was drawn
back to a time when he had been a carefree
youth here in the valley. He had come here often
with Coloradous, who did not seem to mind a
younger brother tagging after him. Sinica,
however, had always taunted him, call ing him a weakling and accusing him of being
their father's favorite.

"Is it as beautiful as you remember?"

Tykota had not heard Coloradous approach,
and he turned to find a tall, lean, yet muscular
brave not unlike himself. "It is even more
beautiful than I remember. Remember when we
fished in this stream?"

Coloradous moved closer and looked into
Tykota's eyes. "I remember. You were destined
for greatness even then."

Tykota reached out and clasped his brother's
arm and was gratified when Coloradous returned
the greeting with a firm hand on his arm. "I do
not feel greatness, my brother. I am confused
and a little uneasy about all the responsibility
now thrust upon me."

Coloradous laughed and turned his gaze to the
rushing water. "You will do well, Tykota. I have
always known there was strength in you and that
you would always do what is right for the
people."

Tykota sat down on the grassy bank and
lowered his head. "I have grave news to tell
you." He lifted his gaze to Coloradous. "I will
understand if you decide to challenge me."

Coloradous was silent as he sat down beside
him. "I already know about Sinica. The word of
the Apache drums reached me even here."

"I did not want to slay our brother, but I had
no choice."

Coloradous rubbed his chin in thoughtfulness.
"Put your mind at rest, my brother. Sinica was of
my blood, but so are you. He was without honor,
and you have much honor. Doubtless I would
have done as you in like circumstances."

Tykota felt vastly relieved by Coloradous's
words. There was sincerity and kindness in his
older brother's eyes, and Tykota knew now for
certain that their father had been wrong to expel
him from the tribe. "I have come to bring you
home."

Coloradous looked startled. "What do you
mean?"

"I have gone before the Old Ones, and they
agree with me that you should come home. All
stain will be wiped from your name, and I will
raise you up in honor as my brother."

Coloradous could not answer right away.
When he did, his voice was gruff with emotion.
"I have wanted this for so long, yet I had hoped
it would come from our father."

"I know. I, too, wish it had come from him.
And perhaps if he had not been so harsh with
Sinica and your mother and you, Sinica might
have turned out differently."

Coloradous placed a hand on Tykota's arm. "It
would have been no different. Sinica was always
bitter. He hated me because I was born before
him and had the look of the Perdenelas, and you
because you were born to the wife our father loved, then chosen to be chief" He ruffled
Tykota's hair as he'd done when Tykota had
been a child. "Put the past behind you, and walk
into the future." He grinned and added, "0,
mighty chief."

Tykota laughed. "Careful, or you will give me
a swelled head."

Coloradous took Tykota's face and turned it
toward him. "I suppose the women consider you
quite handsome. That might well give you a
swelled head."

They both laughed at the bawdy reference.

"Come, Tykota," Coloradous said, rising. He
led them past the grazing horses. "I want to show
you something."

Tykota followed Coloradous around the bend
of the river and stopped, staring in awe at what
he saw. There was a small earthen dam, not
enough to keep the river from flowing down to
the valley, but enough to feed ditches that led to
a thriving field of corn.

"This," Coloradous said with pride, "is the
way I have been spending my time. This can be
done in the valley, and we can grow our crops
even in years of drought."

"I saw something like this in England, but I
never thought to apply it to our valley." He
stared at his brother. "You are truly a man of
vision."

Coloradous seemed pleased by the praise.
"My vision tells me right now that I am in need of food. Come, my brother, we dine on fish and
corn cakes."

Tykota's heart lightened. It was like old times
to enjoy the companionship of his brother. He
only wished that Coloradous was a bit less
reserved. But Tykota knew that his brother was
showing respect for his chief. He would have to
become accustomed to such treatment not only
from his Coloradous but from the rest of his
people as well, no matter how alone it made him
feel.

The first time Inea took Makinna about the
village, the white woman received many curious
stares. But as the days passed, people seemed to
accept her and would even nod and smile at her.
At first, she was embarrassed at how little
clothing the men and male children wore, but she
gradually became accustomed to it.

Makinna and Inea had been riding for hours
through the countryside, and Makinna was
enchanted by what she saw. Farmland, nut and
fruit trees, and pastures rich with cattle.

It was almost sundown when Makinna reined
in her horse and glanced up at the magnificent
cave dwellings that had been masterfully carved
out of the mountain.

"Inea, I never would have thought any
civilization could exist in such perfect harmony
with nature. I can see why the Perdenelas would
want to guard their way of life from the rest of the world. You have everything you need
here: crops, game, tranquility. It's like a
paradise."

"Other than the summer I spent with Mrs.
Silverhorn, this is the way I have always
lived. But I saw many wondrous things in
your world. Your roads and carriages, your
wooden houses and split-rail fences, your
dresses and suits of woven fabrics, your
furniture and fireplaces."

Makinna nodded. "Our worlds are very
different," she said, realizing just how deep the
divisions were between her world and Tykota's.

They rode a little farther, and Makinna halted
to gaze into the river. The water was so pure and
clear that it reflected the valley on its smooth
surface. She glanced up at Inea. "When am I to
see Tykota?"

"I do not know. He has many people who need
his advice."

"I... should speak to him about leaving."
Makinna's gaze went to the cliff dwellings dug
out of the mountain. Some had porches and open
rooms attached. Wooden ladders and stone steps
made them accessible. She wanted to remember
everything about Tykota's valley, to bum it into
her mind. "Will you tell Tykota that I'm ready to
leave?"

"I wish you-" Inea broke off and smiled.
"Look! You can speak to my brother yourself.
He is riding toward us."

Makinna turned to see two Indians on
horseback emerge from the woods. She had not
seen Tykota since the night he had taken her to
the medicine woman. She wondered if he had
been trying to avoid her, or if he was really as
busy as his sister believed.

Tykota halted his horse beside them. He was
no longer dressed in white man's clothing. He
wore buff-colored breechcloth and knee-high
moccasins. His long dark hair was circled by a
wide leather band with a golden eagle. He was
all Indian. And he was so handsome that her
heart pounded in her breast.

"Makinna," he said, giving her a smile that
would melt any woman's heart. "You are
looking well." He glanced at Inea. "How are you
today, little sister?"

"I am well, thank you." Her eyes went to the
other man, and she cried out in joy.
"Coloradous! Tykota has brought you home. I
was sure he would."

Makinna looked at the second Indian, startled
by how much he resembled Tykota.

Tykota introduced them. "Makinna, I would
like you to know my brother, Coloradous. I am
sorry, but he speaks very little English."

Coloradous smiled slightly and inclined his
head. He spoke to Tykota in their own language.
"Brother, if you do not want this woman, I will
take her."

It was meant in jest, but Tykota's eyes glinted
dangerously. "Ride on with our sister. I will
remain to speak to Makinna."

Inea and Coloradous exchanged glances,
surprised at their brother's jealous
possessiveness of the white women.

Coloradous sobered as they rode away. "I fear
Tykota loves that woman." He shook his head
sadly. "She is certainly well enough to leave, yet
Tykota keeps her here."

Inea frowned. "Our poor brother. Our laws
forbid him to have her."

In the gathering darkness, Tykota lifted Makinna
from her horse. He smiled when he felt the
corset beneath her gown. "You are wearing too
much clothing again."

She averted her eyes. "The same can't be said
about you."

He set her on her feet. "Are you really feeling
well enough to be out riding?"

"Yes. I was just telling your sister that I am
well enough to leave."

He guided her down the riverbank and stood
beside her. "Are you so anxious to leave us?"

She wanted to tell him that she never wanted
to leave, that she would gladly stay here with
him forever. But her stubborn pride formed her
words. "My sister must be out of her mind with
worry for my safety by now."

"I sent word to my mother to let your sister
know you had come to no harm."

"Oh." She sat down and plucked at a long
blade of grass. "It is lovely here."

He sat down nearby. "Yes, I think so."

She looked up at him and found him watching
her closely. "You will remain here?" she asked.

"I must."

"I see."

He reached out and touched her cheek. He
hadn't meant to; it just seemed necessary. "Will
you leave so soon, Makinna?"

She fought against the tears that were forming
behind her eyes. "You tell me, Tykota."

His hand dropped away. "Yes. I will make
arrangements for you to go. In two days'
time."

"Will you take me yourself?"

"As far as Biquera. My mother will see that
you get to El Paso from there."

Her heart was breaking. He seemed so
distant, and anxious to see the last of her.
"Thank you."

They both fell silent, watching the water.

"Makinna, I suppose you will one day want to
marry?"

She drew in a breath, wondering how he could
ask her such a question. Wounded, she answered
with bitter sarcasm. "Yes, of course. Every
woman wants that, didn't you know? We are born to have children and please some man
in bed." Upon making the outrageous statement,
she saw the stricken look in his eyes.

He stood up, reached for her hand, and drew
her up beside him. She was speechless as he took
her into his arms. He laid his face against hers
and said in an anguished voice, "Would that I
were that man. I would sleep with you beside me
at night so I could touch you as I am only able to
do in my dreams." His mouth traveled down her
cheek to the corner of her lips. "I would fill your
belly with sons and make all your days happy."

A sob was building up inside her, and she
threw her arms around him. "I want to lie beside
you! I want to have your sons! I don't want to
leave you!"

With an agonized murmur, Tykota tightened
his arms around Makinna. "I have stayed away
from you," he said, going down to his knees and
pulling her down beside him, "because I knew I
could not keep my hands off you if I saw you
again."

Her eyes were wide with wonder. "You love
me-you do!"

Her words were sobering. He could not let her
know the depth of his love. Because he had to
send her away. But he would taste her lips and
hold her for a moment, then he would let her go.
"It is desire I feel for you, Makinna," he said
almost harshly.