Tykota's Woman(74)

The woman's lips curled in a smirk. "I expected it."

"I'm sure you did. Be out of my house before sundown."

"I can help you," the housekeeper said in a slightly softer manner. "You don't know how to manage such a large household."

Years of frustration poured angrily out of Adelaide's mouth. "The house will be sold, Caroline. My husband no longer needs you in his bed, so leave!"

The other servants bowed their heads as their mistress spoke. "Paula, you will take on the duties of housekeeper, and stay with Caroline while she packs. Make certain none of the family silver finds its way into her hands." She raised her head proudly. "Paula will choose three of you to remain to close up the house. The rest of you will be given six month's pay and references." Her eyes hardened as she glanced at Caroline, who looked as if she'd like to strike her mistress. "You, of course, will be given only the wages coming to you."

Makinna gripped her sister's arm and led her up the steep steps to the front door. "What was that all about?" she asked when they were out of earshot.

"That woman was one of my husband's mis tresses. He made her the so-called housekeeper and flaunted her in my face every day. I had to suffer the indignity of her presence in my home, where she did little but be surly and disrespectful."

Makinna smiled brightly. "Well done, then. Bravo! I like your spunk. Who knew you had it in you?"

Adelaide's eyes suddenly twinkled. "I admit, what I just said to Caroline gave me a great deal of satisfaction." When they entered the formal sitting room, Adelaide smiled and wiped angry tears away. "I was good, wasn't I?"

"You were magnificent!"

Three weeks had passed since Makinna and Adelaide arrived in San Francisco, and Makinna was amazed at how strong her sister had become.

Adelaide had hired a young lawyer, Robert Darwood, newly graduated from law school back East and settled in San Francisco only three months. In fact, Adelaide was Mr. Darwood's first client. As it turned out, the young attorney was very idealistic and took on Adelaide's affairs with a vengeance.

Between the two of them, the stream of businessmen who had associated with her late husband went away with a new respect for the young widow. Some of them had thought they could take advantage of a mere woman. Mr. Darwood soon set them straight, and Adelaide not only sold Tom's house, mines, and other businesses in short order, but she also made a tidy profit.

Makinna and Adelaide stood on the balcony of the upstairs sitting room gazing out over the blue Pacific. It was a cool, crisp evening, and it appeared that the sun was dropping into the ocean.

Makinna walked back inside, where most of the furniture was draped with dustcovers. The new owners would soon be taking possession of the house and furnishings. She found a chair without a covering and sat down, watching her sister with concern. Everything had happened so quickly, she wondered if Adelaide had truly done the right thing.

When her sister stepped from the balcony onto the thick Persian rug, she was smiling. "Soon this will only be a bad dream that I can put behind me."

"Have you thought what you really want to do, Adelaide? You are a very wealthy woman now. You can do anything you want to."

"I still have not changed my mind about moving to Texas."

"Then that is what you should do if you feel that strongly about it."

"You will come with me, won't you?"

"No. I can't."

Adelaide dropped down in a chair beside her sister, looking distressed. "I can't go without you. I want us to be together."

"I have to keep distance between myself and Tykota. For more reasons than one." She averted her eyes. "You don't know what I did."

"I think I do. I can only imagine how it would feel to love a man and know he loves you, then face the realization that you could never be together. You don't have to tell me what happened between the two of you."

"I love him so much. I will always love him. But there can never be a happy ending for the two of us."

"Mrs. Silverhorn told me about the law preventing Tykota from taking a bride outside the tribe."

"I know he will eventually have to marry. He will want a son."

"Makinna, nothing was ever solved by running away. What may look impossible today maybe reality tomorrow."

"Not this, Adelaide. Nothing can change the fact that Tykota is chief of his tribe, and the Perdenelas' law says he can't marry me."

"What do you want to do, Makinna?"

Makinna shook her head. "I don't know. It seemed that my life stopped the night I sent Tykota away, knowing I would never see him again."

Adelaide went on her knees and raised her sister's chin. "There is always hope. That's what you've been telling me."