Tykota's Woman(57)

He had not expected her to reach down, her hand to close around his thick erection. He gasped, closed his eyes, and slammed her body against his. "No, Makinna. You must not."

"Why?"

He let out a gasp when her hand softly stroked him, and he wanted to plunge into her and claim all she offered. He took a deep breath and tried to save them both. Said words he knew would wound her deeply and break his own heart. "Is this the way you will act with other men, Makinna? Will you offer yourself to any man who comes along with a bulge in his trousers?"

She froze. "I... what?"

He pulled away from her. "You heard me."

She was quiet for several moments, and when she spoke, her voice was trembling with bewilderment and anger. "Do you think because it was easy for you to undress me that I would let another man do the same? No, Tykota, I will not offer every man what you do not want. I thought you knew me better than that."

"You were too easy, Makinna. I could have had all of you tonight if I had wanted too. You were more than willing."

Disillusionment, anger, and sadness fused together in her mind and wound their way through her heart. "Is this the gift you wanted to give me, Tykota?" she challenged, deep hurt in her tone. "If this is the best you can offer, then I reject you and your gift."

He wanted to speak, wanted to tell her what was in his heart, and that by hurting her, he had wounded himself. But he knew this was the only means he had to send her away. He must not give her any hope that they could ultimately be together. He had to kill his soul to let her go.

He said nothing.

Makinna quickly waded out of the river, scrambled up the hill, and retrieved her clothing. She heard Tykota beside her, but she refused to look in his direction. She managed to fasten all hooks and closures although her hands were trembling. She wanted to cry, but she would not.

"You do not need to come with me," she said, walking to her horse. "I can find my way back alone." In one smooth motion, she mounted the pinto. "Good night, Tykota. I hope you can make arrangements to get me away from here as soon as possible."

He was beside her, grasping her reins. "Makinna, wait. There is something I want to say to you."

"You have said quite enough," she said, backing away from him. "I will never forgive you for tonight."

Her cutting words wounded, but he forced himself to explain. "I can love no one, Makinna, as much as I must love the Perdenelas. Can you understand that?"

"I don't have to understand, Tykota. You can find another woman to torture."

"It was not meant to be torture, Makinna."

She jerked the reins from his hand. "But torture, it was!" She kicked her horse in the flanks and rode away at a gallop.

Tykota stared after her. He had never cried that he could remember. But he could feel tears in his eyes now. He had come to the realization that love was the most powerful emotion of them all, and he was desperately in love.

It was dark inside Huara's lodge, but Makinna managed to make her way across the room without bumping into anything. She removed her clothing and lay down on the soft mat. The tears she had kept in check now flowed freely. Oh, how cruel Tykota had been. At first he had been loving and kind. What had happened to make him lash out at her with words chosen to wound? And wound they had, deeper than he would ever know.

That she had also degraded herself by showing Tykota how much she wanted him to love her magnified her misery.

That would never happen again.

A coldness closed over her heart, and she turned her face to the wall, smothering a sob. She never wanted to see him again as long as she lived. She could not leave this valley soon enough to suit her.





Makinna looked at Inea with compassion.

"Santo is becoming more and more aggressive. He cornered me near his lodge and put his hands all over me. When I protested, he said he had that right. He is going to my brother today to ask that I become his woman. He says he will no longer tolerate my coldness to him."

Makinna buried her own misery and took Inea's hand, wanting to help the gentle maiden she had come to care about. "If, as you say, Tykota is taking me away tomorrow, we must do something today."

"But what?"

Makinna frowned. "Tell me, what would happen if Santo saw you with Kachee in a pose that would make him look like a fool?"

"I do not know what you mean."

"Suppose you and Kachee were seen by many onlookers, including your brother, in a loving situation? What would happen?"

Inea's eyes widened with horror. "Santo would kill Kachee!"

"Not, I think, with Tykota looking on. And not if I am there to confirm how unhappy you are about Santo. Since I am not of your tribe, I am not bound to support your laws."