Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) (27 page)

"Miss Hillyard, you are about the prettiest
thing I've ever seen around here," he said,
clasping her hand and smiling.

"Before you turn this poor country girl's head,
Major, let me introduce you to the real beauty of
our family, my sister, Adelaide."

"Miss Hillyard," he acknowledged, smiling
and dimpling.

Adelaide laughed, having a wonderful time. "She forgot to mention, Major, that I am Mrs.
Adelaide Johnson."

The major gave a dimpled pout. "Well, Mr.
Johnson's gain is our loss, madame."

"And you, Major, are more charming than you
should be," Adelaide replied, smiling.

Major Halloway turned to Makinna, held out
his arm, and asked, "Miss Hillyard, may I claim
you for this dance?"

Makinna excused herself and went with the
major to the dining room. The music was jaunty,
and they joined the other couples, weaving in
and out and circling in a country dance.

Makinna had never had a chance to be young
and attend parties like other girls her age in New
Orleans, and she was having fun!

After the dance ended, the major asked,
"Would you like to go out on the veranda for a
breath of air, Miss Hillyard?"

She arched an eyebrow at him. "I am not sure
that would be proper."

He held up his hands. "I can assure you we do
not stand on such ceremony out here in the
country, Miss Hillyard. But, if it will make you
feel better, I will tell you about the woman I am
engaged to marry."

She nodded. "If that is your intention, then I
will very definitely accompany you to the
veranda. I would like to hear about this fortunate
woman."

But as she leaned against the porch railing,
Makinna remembered another night when she
had stood in this exact spot with Tykota. She
did not want to think about him and spoil her
evening. She turned to her companion and
asked, "Now, Major, tell me about your
fiancee."

He gazed up at the stars. "You remind me of
her a little. You are both about the same height
and have the same color hair. You speak with the
same soft Southern accent as Saber."

"Saber?"

"Saber Vincente. Her brother owns a ranch on
the Brazos River. I haven't met him yet, and I
don't know if he thinks I'm good enough for his
sister. You see, they come from a very old
Spanish line on their father's side."

Makinna liked the major, and she
immediately guessed he was lonesome for the
woman he loved. "You miss her a great deal,
don't you?"

He smiled at her. "I shouldn't tell a beautiful
young woman about another beautiful young
woman. My mother did teach me better manners.
It's just that you're so easy to talk to."

"Will you soon marry your Saber?"

"I hope to." He turned to brace his back
against the post and folded his arms across his
chest. "I'm being transferred to Ft. Worth at the
end of the month, and I hope we can be married
after that."

Makinna saw a tall stranger walk toward them.
He smiled and shook hands with Major
Halloway. "How are you, Matthew?"

"I'm fine. As you see, I'm with the prettiest
girl here." He smiled at Makinna. "Have you met
Makinna Hillyard, John?"

"No, but I came tonight for just that purpose.
Will you introduce us?"

"Miss Hillyard, meet John Kincaid. He has the
next ranch over. Of course, here in Texas, the
next ranch over can be a hundred miles away."

Makinna recognized the name. This was
Tykota's boyhood friend, who'd gone to school
in England with him. He was tall and lanky, he
needed a haircut, and he was rugged rather than
handsome, but he had the softest gray eyes she'd
ever seen. "I am pleased to meet you, Mr.
Kincaid. However, I must tell you I do have the
advantage over you-I have heard of you
through a friend of yours."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hillyard.
But you have no advantage. Hannah has talked
of nothing but you for weeks. I had to come and
meet you for myself."

"Mrs. Silverhorn is too kind."

"So, tell me," he said, smiling, "was Tykota as
kind when he told you about me?"

Tykota had tried to stay away, but a power
stronger than himself had pulled him here tonight. He'd gone up the back stairs and dressed
for the party. He walked through the house,
greeting neighbors and stopping to speak to his
mother and Makinna's sister.

"Ty!" his mother cried, joyfully. "I didn't
know you would be here!" She winked at
Adelaide over his shoulder. "How long can you
stay, Ty?"

He looked about him, searching for Makinna.
"I must return to the valley tomorrow." He
frowned at his mother. "Where is she?"

Hannah Silverhorn feigned ignorance.
"There are many young woman here who look
upon you wistfully. Which one were you
referring to?"

He let out an intolerant breath. "Mother, you
know very well who I was asking about. Where
is Makinna?"

"Why, I don't know. Have you seen her,
Adelaide?"

Makinna's sister smiled. "I believe I saw her
walk out the door with that handsome cavalry
major. What was his name?"

"Oh, yes. I believe you're referring to Major
Matthew Halloway. He couldn't wait to dance
with her. John Kincaid was here a while ago
looking for her, too. It seems that our Makinna
will have no trouble getting gentleman to pay
court to her when you take her to California. That is, if one of the locals here doesn't snap her
up first."

Tykota's expression was murderous as he
stalked to the door. He did not see his mother
and Adelaide Johnson grin at each other.

"Since we're practically old friends," John said,
smiling and extending his arm to Makinna,
"would you honor me with the next dance?"

Neither of them had heard Tykota come out of
the house and approach them. His hand fell
heavily on Makinna's shoulder, and she spun
around to face him. When she saw it was Tykota,
her heart skipped a beat. Tykota looked so fierce,
she almost recoiled. "I-I didn't expect to see
you tonight." She hadn't expected to see him
again ever, and her heart pounded with
excitement.

"Ty," John said with genuine warmth. "I'm so
glad you came. I've been wanting to talk to
you.

Tykota's hand slipped to Makinna's wrist, and he gripped her possessively. When he spoke
to his friend, his voice was cold with anger. "We
will talk at a later time. Right now, I want to see
Makinna-alone."

Makinna wondered why his voice was so
angry, and why he was ignoring the major.
"You recall Major Halloway, Tykota," she
said, hoping he would remember his
manners.

Tykota heard the tone of her voice, and he
knew what she was implying. "I remember him."
He answered, dropping his hand to her waist.

Makinna was shocked by his rudeness.

"Come with me," Tykota said, and it was not a
request-it was an order.

She hesitated for only a moment. Why was
Tykota acting so strangely? She turned to the
other gentlemen. "You will excuse me."

Tykota stalked away, leading Makinna down
the veranda steps and across the path that led to
the corrals.

The major took a chivalrous step forward.
"Do you want to go with this man, Miss
Hillyard?"

John reached out and restrained the major.
"This is between them," he said in a low voice.
"She is in no danger and needs no assistance
from us."

"But that Indian-"

"I'll explain it to you later. I want to speak to
his mother."

The major reluctantly followed John toward
the front door, but he cast one final glance in
Tykota and Makinna's direction, "Surely he
forced Miss Hillyard to accompany him."

John held the door open. "As I said, Miss
Hillyard is in no danger from Ty. I have reason
to believe he loves her."

"But he's an Indian!"

John stared into the darkness that had already
swallowed Tykota and Miss Hillyard.
"Sometimes I believe he's more civilized than
any of us. Put your mind at ease-Ty would
never harm a woman."

Makinna was feeling somewhat as she had when
Tykota had whisked her away from Adobe
Springs and into the desert without so much as a
by-your-leave. At first, when she'd seen him
tonight, she had been overjoyed. But she would
not tolerate his demanding ways. After all, he
had rejected her utterly, and she no longer had to
depend on him for her survival. And she
certainly hadn't needed rescuing from Major
Halloway or Mr. Kincaid.

What was he doing? Why was he here
tonight?

He led her past the corral and toward the barn.

"Where are you taking me?" she demanded,
trying to pry his fingers from her hand.

"Where I can speak to you without being interrupted." He flung the barn door open and
pushed her inside.

"It's dark in here," she said when he released
her hand.

He lit a lantern and replaced it on a hook.
Then he turned slowly toward her, silently
assessing her. He had never seen her look more
beautiful. Her hair was pulled away from her
face and covered by some kind of sparkling net.
The gown fit snugly about her small waist, and
he frowned when he saw that the tops of her
breasts were visible. It angered him when he
realized that the other men had seen her this
way, too.

"Why were you with John and that army
officer? Did it ever occur to you that you were
encouraging them?"

His face was half in shadows, but she could
tell he was angry, and she didn't know why. "We
were only talking. What do you mean?"

"I think you know."

Where she had only been confused by his
actions before, now she became angry. "How
dare you imply that I behaved improperly! Major
Halloway and Mr. Kincaid were complete
gentlemen. Which is more than I can say for
you."

He flinched as if she'd struck him. "I have
never aspired to be a gentleman."

"Well, if you had, you would have failed
miserably."

"I am not the one who acted in an unbecoming
manner."

She put her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"And just how did I do that?"

"You were alone with two gentlemen."

"No, I was not alone with two gentlemen!
There was a houseful of people within the sound
of my voice. I was alone with a man when I
trekked across the desert with you. Was that
wrong?" She moved closer to him, staring
angrily into his eyes. "Who made you the keeper
of my morals?"

He looked frustrated, but his own anger had
not lessened. "Did you allow them to put their
hands on you?"

"I-what!"

"Did the major want to kiss you? Did he touch
you?"

His outrageous questions deserved no answer,
but she made one anyway. "I danced with him,
but he made no improper advances toward me.
He was talking to me about the woman he is
going to marry, Tykota. He is in love with a
woman named Saber Vincente!"

Tykota spoke harshly. "I know Noble
Vincente. I do not believe he would allow his
sister to marry a mere soldier, and one in a blue
uniform at that."

She was losing patience. "I don't know or care
about that. If anyone is compromising my
reputation, it's you, by bringing me here to the barn. Do you think people would not talk if they
knew I was alone with you?"

He grabbed her and drew her tightly into his
arms, his eyes filled with agony. "Do you not
understand? I have not slept. Food does not
appeal to me. Nothing matters when I am not
with you. All I could think about was you in
another man's arms." He raised his head and
stared at the rafters, trying to gain control of his
emotions. "What am I to do?" His eyes lowered
to hers like a physical touch. "Tell me,
Makinna."

Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her
cheeks. She placed a hand on his cheek, and he
closed his eyes at her touch. "Oh, my dearest,"
she said, her heart filling to overflowing at his
admission, and compassion for him returning a
hundredfold. "I, too, miss you desperately. But I
don't want to be the one who stands in the way
of your duty to your people. If I did, you would
one day despise me. I would rather walk away
from you and never see you again than to tear
you apart like this."

He glanced down at her, and his eyes were
misty. "My father calls out to me from the grave
that I must not abandon my people. I know this,
and I am willing to sacrifice much to that end.
But, for just this one night, let me hold you."

He lowered his head, his lips touching her eyelids, nuzzling her ear, and then sliding
down her neck as he buried his head against
her breast. "Beloved, I never knew there could
be such a fire within me. It burns day and
night."

Warmth filled her heart at the soft tone in
Tykota's voice-and at his calling her beloved.
She somehow knew that he had never called
another woman by that endearment.

Makinna fought down the sob building in her
throat. She must be strong for his sake. She
forced her tears away, her heart gladdened
because she knew, at last, that he loved her. But
he was hurting inside, and only she could help
him. It would take all her strength, but she would
do it for him.