Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) (26 page)

"I suppose."

With his usual perceptiveness, he asked, "You
are troubled?

"For the first time, I realize I have family.
Adelaide must care for me, or she would not be
here."

"You will soon see for yourself," he said,
halting on a rise, where they looked down on the
lights of the ranch house twinkling in the
distance.

She turned to him. "This is the last time we
will be alone, and I want to thank you again for
all you have done for me."

His gaze met hers. "There is nothing to thank
me for. I... want you to be happy. That will be
my reward."

"I will never forget you."

"You will, Makinna."

She swallowed past the tightening in her
throat. "One does not forget the person she
shared so much with."

"Let us ride on and ease your sister's mind
about your safety."

He nudged his horse forward, and she joined
him. Each step the pinto took was taking her into
a new life, but she wanted only to be with
Tykota.

When they reached the ranch house, Makinna
slid off her horse and went up the steps, pushing
open the door in her haste to see her sister.

Mrs. Silverhorn rose from her rocking chair
and advanced across the room to Makinna.
"My dear, it is so good to see you!" She kissed
her on both cheeks. "I must admit I have
missed you."

"Thank you. I've missed you, too." She
glanced around the room. "Is my sister here?"

"Indeed she is, she just went upstairs to-"

They both heard hurried footsteps on the
stairs, and Makinna turned to face the sister she
had not seen in years. Although less youthful,
Adelaide was as beautiful as Makinna
remembered her. She wore a cream-colored
cotton gown trimmed in blue and looked like a
breath of fresh air.

Adelaide rushed forward to hug her tightly,
and Makinna responded to her warmth.

"When I think I could have lost you!"
Adelaide said, shaking her head and plucking at
the doeskin fringe on Makinna's dress. "And
here I find you alive and well-and dressed like
an Indian!"

"Oh, Adelaide, I am so happy to see you! It
has been so long."

Tykota entered the room, and Adelaide gasped
and stepped back.

Hannah Silverhom went directly to Tykota
and into the circle of his arms, which seemed to
calm Adelaide's sudden fear.

"My son, it is good to see you again." She
turned to Adelaide. "You must meet the man
who saved your sister's life. Ty, this is
Makinna's sister, Adelaide Johnson."

Adelaide nodded. "How do you do, sir." She
tried to avert her gaze from his scanty attire. "I
am indebted to you for bringing my sister back
to me." She concentrated on his eyes and seemed
surprised to find them alive with intelligence.
"Your mother has told me all you have done."

He smiled slightly. "If I know my mother, she
embellished the truth in the telling." He extended
his hand, and Adelaide, warming to his grasp of
English, gave him her hand.

"I doubt Mrs. Silverhom embellished
anything, sir. I am inclined to believe you are
something of a hero."

His laughter was warm. "My mother, like most mothers, believes me to be more
exceptional than I am."

Makinna was astounded by the easy banter
between her sister and Tykota. He was never that
at ease with her. She frowned, catching Mrs.
Silverhorn's gaze. The little Englishwoman
simply smiled and nodded.

"My son does me credit in all things," she said
with warmth. She guided Makinna toward the
stairs. "Go and visit with your sister, since the
two of you have so many years to catch up on.
We will visit in the morning."

Makinna turned to Tykota. "Thank you."

He inclined his head, his dark eyes
unreadable. "It was my pleasure," he said softly.

Makinna and her sister spent most of the night
talking, becoming reacquainted and also crying
over the deaths of their mother and brother. At
last, around midnight, they fell silent, and
Adelaide stared at her sister.

"You are so beautiful. Every man in California
will come knocking at our door just to see you."

Makinna drew in a breath. "The last thing I
have on my mind is meeting gentlemen."

Adelaide looked thoughtful. "Your Tykota is
magnificent. Perhaps it would be difficult to find
anyone who could compare to someone who
looks like him, has the power of an Indian chief,
and has, more than once, saved your life."

Makinna ducked her head, and when she raised it, her eyes were swimming in tears. "Yes,
very difficult. I love him."

Adelaide did not seem to be surprised or
repulsed at the thought of her sister loving an
Indian. "What woman wouldn't? Look at the
man! What other man do you know that is as tall,
handsome, and heroic?"

"There is no one like him."

"Well, how does he feel about you?"

"I don't know. He may care for me in his own
way, but evidently not enough to commit his
heart. He has told me that his tribe comes first
with him."

"And you cannot live there with him-no, that
would not be acceptable."

"I would have if he'd wanted me," Makinna
said in misery. "I would have lived with him in a
shack if he'd wanted me to."

Adelaide grasped Makinna's hand and gave
her a look of compassion, and Makinna was
surprised to find her sister so understanding.

"Did you tell him this?" Adelaide asked.

"No," she admitted.

"Then perhaps you should." Adelaide was
thoughtful for a moment, as if she were deciding
something. Then she said with feeling,
"Makinna, I am married to a man who has given
me everything money can buy-a mansion,
clothes, carriages, jewels-and yet I would give
it all away if Tom would look at me one time the way I saw that Indian look at
you.

"You are unhappy, Adelaide! I thought-"

"Makinna," her sister broke in, "I knew that
look of desperation and helplessness that I saw
in Ty Silverhorn's eyes, because I see it in my
own eyes when I stand before a mirror. If there is
the slightest chance that your Indian loves you,
go to him. Or you will spend the rest of your life
like me-cold and unfeeling inside."

"Oh, Adelaide, I am so sorry."

"Listen to me, Makinna. If you don't, you may
end up just like me, with only possessions to fill
your lonely days-things that others may admire
and envy you for, but nothing to touch your
heart."

Makinna blinked tears from her eyes. "I am so
sorry," she repeated.

Adelaide brushed a tear from Makinna's cheek
and smiled. "I did not tell you this to make you
pity me. I told you to keep you from making the
same mistake."

"The choice is not mine, Adelaide. It was
Tykota's, and he has already made that
decision."

Her sister hugged her. "Don't be too sure,
little sister. It is always darkest before the
sunrise."

Makinna smiled. "Look at us. We should be
celebrating our reunion, and here we are crying
and moaning."

Adelaide said softly, "You are not going to
end up like me if I can help it."

Makinna went to the window and pulled the
curtain aside. "Even now, I am afraid that
Tykota will go away without saying good-bye to
me."

"Let us get ready for bed. Tomorrow will be
soon enough to talk more and plan." She went to
the trunk at the foot of her bed and withdrew a
nightgown, which she tossed at Makinna. "You
need your rest. You look exhausted."

Soon, wearing a fresh white cotton nightgown,
Makinna fell into bed and was asleep almost as
soon as her head hit the pillow, leaving Adelaide
to lie awake, worrying about her little sister.

The next morning when Makinna awoke, her
sister was gone, but there was a beautiful green
cotton gown with white lace on the collar and
hem, with matching lacy undergarments and
green leather shoes.

When Makinna had dressed, she looked in the
large mirror over the washstand, examining the
way the soft bustle flowed to the floor behind
her. She had never had such a fine gown.

She hurried downstairs, fearing Tykota had
left and wanting him to see her in the gown.
Entering the dining room, she was relieved to see
him sitting at the head of the table, dressed in a
white shirt and buff-colored trousers. His hair
was tied away from his face, and had it not been for his dark skin, he would have passed for
a white man. Mrs. Silverhorn and Adelaide were
on either side of him, and they both greeted her
happily.

Tykota's gaze ran the length of Makinna, and
he glanced back at his plate. His reaction did not
escape notice. His mother and Adelaide
exchanged knowing looks, as if it was obvious to
them that Tykota was tormented by his love for
Makinna, and the pity was that Makinna could
not see it for herself.

"We let you sleep, my dear," Mrs. Silverhorn
told her. "Sit next to me, and Frances will serve
you."

"Did you sleep well?" Adelaide asked. "I
know I kept you talking half the night." She
looked at their hostess. "We had many things to
discuss, since we have been separated for five
years."

"I don't think I even turned over once,"
Makinna answered, smiling. "The soft bed was
wonderful."

"You know, Makinna, I have been thinking,"
Hannah said. "If you and Adelaide will remain
here for a few days, I would like to give a gettogether for the two of you. There hasn't been
any laughter in this house for a long time."

"Do you think that is a good idea, Mother?"
Tykota asked.

Mrs. Silverhorn looked at her son quizzically.
"Yes, I do. I know John Kincaid would attend. John will e enchanted by you, Makinna." She
took a sip of coffee and lowered her cup. "And
what do you think? I just got a personal letter
delivered by an army sergeant this morning after
sunup.

"Was it from Major Halloway?" Makinna
asked. "He was such a gentleman when we met
him yesterday."

"Yes, it was from the major. He has asked to
call on you. I told the sergeant I would let him
know. Already your presence has the gentlemen
in the area all stirred up, Makinna."

Adelaide was watching Tykota's face, and she
saw his eyes darken, and his hand ball into a fist
against the white tablecloth. "I would love to
remain for a while, Mrs. Silverhorn. And a party
would be wonderful. Thank you for being so
generous to us."

Hannah Silverhorn's face brightened.
"Excellent! I will have Frances bring out the
good china and the crystal punch bowl."

Tykota stood so quickly he almost knocked
over his chair. "I only remained this morning to
tell you good-bye, Makinna," he said tightly as
he moved to the door. "It seems you are in good
hands."

"Ty," his mother said, rising and following
him. "Surely you are not going to leave so soon.
I was hoping you would stay for the party. You
so seldom get to see John. There was a time
when the two of you were inseparable."

He turned to the woman he called mother,
wanting to yell at her for the first time in his life.
But he exercised tolerance and spoke distantly.
"I do not like parties." He nodded. "Ladies, I
will be leaving now." And he was gone.

Makinna felt miserable. Her eyes were filled
with sorrow as she said, "It seems Tykota could
not wait to leave once I joined you at breakfast.
He doesn't want to be in the same room with
me."

She felt her sisters hand on hers. "I am not so
sure." She smiled. "I wonder how long he can
hold out."

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing, really." She picked up the silver
coffeepot and poured Makinna a cup. "Just
thinking aloud."

Makinna resisted the urge to go to the front
door and watch Tykota leave. How long would
be the hours of each day when she could not see
him, and how empty her heart would be without
him.

Over the days that passed, Makinna and
Adelaide became better reacquainted, and the
always cheerful Hannah Silverhorn was a
pleasant hostess. The sisters laughed, rode the
ranch, and talked incessantly in the evenings
with Mrs. Silverhorn.

Sometimes at night, in their quiet time, Adelaide
and Hannah would find Makinna staring into space, and their eyes would meet, knowing
she was thinking of Tykota. There was an
unspoken alliance forming between them,
because they had both come to realize that
Tykota and Makinna were in love.

The night of the party was clear and hot, and the
usual wind had died down, making it seem even
hotter.

Makinna stood in the front room beside her
sister and Hannah Silverhorn, being introduced
to people as they arrived. She wore a winecolored gown that revealed her shoulders, and its
lace bustle dusted the floor in back. The dining
room had been cleared of furniture for those who
cared to dance, and many young couples were
doing just that.

Makinna smiled when she saw a blue army
uniform and recognized Matthew Halloway.
"Good evening, Major Halloway. It's a pleasure
to see you again," she said, offering him her
gloved hand.