Tykota's Woman(26)

Her eyes grew misty. "Yes, I understand what you mean. I could spend the rest of my days here and be happy."

He shook his head. "I do not think so, Makinna. You were not meant to be hidden away in a cave."

"Perhaps not. But I am so glad you showed this to me. I will never forget it."

Makinna knelt down beside the pool and drank. The water was sweet and cool and revived her spirits. How could such a place as this exist in the burning desert? God must have placed it here as a heaven for the weary traveler.

Tykota drank, too, and then moved away from her. "I will leave you alone. If you would like to bathe, you will not be disturbed. When you are ready, come back to the outer cavern."

Once Tykota had gone, Makinna began to unhook her gown. Soon she waded naked into the pool. It was deep enough for her to submerge her whole body, which she did, allowing the water to cleanse away her exhaustion.

She washed her tattered black gown, and when she climbed out of the pool and was fastening the hooks, she suddenly found herself wishing Tykota Silverhom could see her in a silk creation, wearing flowers in her hair. She paused, feeling uneasy, and chided herself for being foolish. Tykota would not care what she looked like in rags or silk. And, besides, why should she want him to think she was pretty?

Makinna finally went back through the narrow passage to find Tykota. He had built a fire and was roasting meat. She sat down near him and ran her hands through her hair to untangle it-a task that was indeed much easier since she'd allowed Tykota to cut it.

"What do we dine on tonight?" she asked, smiling. "Is it snake, scorpion, wolf, or bear?

"Rabbit."

"I like rabbit," she said, frowning at a stubborn tangle.

Tykota held out something to her. "Here. Use this. I carved it for you after I hunted, while you were still bathing."

Her face lit up happily when she saw the crude wooden comb. "How wonderful!" she said, taking it from him and running it through her hair. "Thank you so much!"

Tykota watched her, and her happiness with his simple gift gladdened his heart. This was not a woman who would idle away her days at parties and dances as he'd once thought. She was young and innocent, kind and generous, and very genuine. And he hoped nothing would ever change her.

He stood, smiling down at her. "You may eat when you wish. It is my turn to bathe."

Makinna watched him walk toward the narrow passage, wanting to call him back. She wanted to tell him so many things. She wanted to thank him for all he'd done for her. She knew now why he'd goaded her that afternoon-it had been to keep her going, to keep her alive.

She drew her knees up and rested her head on them. For the first time, she wondered if Tykota had a wife somewhere. Or even several wives. She'd heard that some Indians took more than one. Or perhaps there was a girl he loved, one he was coming home to.

She felt a heaviness in her heart, and she didn't know why. Reaching for the meat, she tore off a leg and ate hungrily.

Where would she be now if Tykota Silverhorn hadn't come into her life? She'd be charred bones back at Adobe Springs with the others who had died there. As it was, she would probably die here, with no burial and only those buzzards to pick her bones clean.

Makinna was tired. With the half-eaten rabbit leg in her hand, she leaned back against the cave wall and fell asleep.





When Makinna awoke, the campfire was cold, and the only light in the cave came from the moon filtering through the entrance. She sat up, searching for Tykota, but he wasn't there. She always felt uneasy when he wasn't with her.

She slipped into her shoes and found, to her surprise, that Tykota had sewn thick leather strips across the worn soles. It seemed nothing escaped his notice, not even holes on the bottom of her shoes.

"Tykota?"

Silence.

Standing up, Makinna hurried outside and stood on the overhanging ledge, her gaze roaming over the valley below, but she couldn't see him anywhere.

She went back inside and made her way through the narrow passage to the crystal room.

He was standing so still that she didn't see him at first. His head was raised to the opening, and silver moonlight streamed around him. When she saw that he wore nothing but his breechcloth, she started to leave.

"You don't have to go, Makinna. I was merely remembering the last time I was here, with my father and my brother, Coloradous. Then there was the time my father brought me here alone. That was many years ago."

She ventured a step closer to him. "You were very young at the time?"

"Yes, I was." He glanced down at her and saw that she appeared uncomfortable. He'd forgotten that he wore only his breechcloth. "Very young."

"And you have not been here since then?"