Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon

if only
you would help me. Do you now go back to your
tribe and turn away from the life you have
known with the Silverhorns?"
    "George Silverhorn is dead. I had just come
from burying him in England."
    "So now you go back to your real father?"
    "I go back to my people. My real father is
dead."
    How much he must have suffered! "I am so
sorry. What of the rest of your family?"
    "I have a sister, Inea." He paused, as if
pondering something. "And I have two half
brothers by my father's second wife."
    "And you have no wife?"
    His gaze touched her face. "There has been
little room for a woman in my life. He smiled.
"At least none that left a lasting impression." He
could have added, until now, but he didn't. "It
would not be wise for a woman to love me,
Makinna," he warned, as if he knew her heart
was turning to his. "I have something to do that may-" He broke off and looked into her eyes.
"I have no time for a woman."

    She suddenly wanted to put her arms
about him and comfort him. She wondered
how many women in El Paso and England
had felt the same way about Tykota. No
woman would be able to ignore him, he had
such a strong presence, capable of drawing
others to him.
    "I feel there is much more to your story than
you are willing to share with me. You are going
home for some purpose. I believe that you are in
danger, from the Apache but maybe also from
someone in your own tribe?"
    He nodded slightly but did not respond.
    She looked into his dark eyes, touched by the
torment she saw in their shimmering depths.
There was danger for her, too. Not that Tykota
would harm her. The danger was that she was
losing her heart to him, and he would not
welcome her affection.
    "I have decided we should remain here for a
time," Tykota said. "We have food and water in
abundance, the Apache do not know of this
place, and you need the rest. It will give your
skin and your feet time to heal."
    She frowned. "I can go on if you must get to
your destination to be safe."
    His eyes glistened. "I knew you would say
that. But I want you to rest, Makinna."

    "I don't want you to stay here and be in
danger because of me."
    He smiled. "You have known hunger, thirst,
and pain, and it did not break your spirit. I
wonder if anything could."
    She smiled. "Just think of the adventures I can
tell my grandchildren."
    "You will tell them how one time an Indian
suddenly crossed through your life and left it,
just as quickly, Makinna Hillyard."
    She felt saddened by his words. That was
what would happen. He would soon pass out of
her life. But she would never forget him. She
sighed deeply. "I would welcome a rest." What
she wanted to say was that she would treasure
every moment she spent with him. "Perhaps
the Apache will give up when they can't find
you."
    "No. They will not give up. I want you to
understand that there is still danger. They could
even have tracked us here." He turned away.
"Get some rest, Makinna. It is still hours until
daylight. I am tired now."
    She wanted to stay with him, but he had
clearly dismissed her. Already his mind was on
other things, and she doubted that he even heard
her leave.
    Tykota turned his face up to the stars and whisered, "Why did this woman come into my life at this time? Why does my heart want to bind
with hers, to live out my days with her at my
side?

    "Why at this time in my life, when I shall
surely die?"
    Five days passed, and in that time Tykota
hunted and dried meat for the last leg of their
journey. Makinna rested, soaking in the healing
powers of the inner cavern and its pool, dipping her feet into the cooling water. Sometimes, she simply lay on her back gazing up
through the opening in the domed ceiling at
the blue sky and wishing they never had to
leave. She had never known life could be so
magical.
    This was her paradise, here in this beautiful
place with Tykota.

     

Tykota had been gone for hours, and Makinna
was beginning to worry. He'd left