Makinna laughed softly and raised the hem of her gown to climb the wooden steps to the stage office. "Thank you, John."
He touched his hat and grinned. "You ladies wait here in the shade while I bring the buggy around and load your trunks."
After he walked off, Makinna looked at her sister's flushed face. "He's in love with you."
"Do you think so?"
"I'm sure of it."
"I must be awful to be thinking about another man with my husband so recently buried."
Makinna glanced up at the deep blue sky, where high, thin clouds were scattered across the heavens. "Love seems to pick its own time, Adelaide. We, as mere humans, seem to have no control over that emotion whatsoever."
"You don't think I am wrong to care for him?"
Makinna glanced at John, who was just getting out of the buggy. He was rangy and a bit gruff, but she had seen the softness in his eyes and heard the gentleness in his tone. "No, I do not think it is wrong. Here in Texas people seem to be always reaching out for life. They're a breed apart from the rest of the world. They have their own rules, and they go by those, not what the rest of the country expects from them."
Adelaide nodded toward John. "He is wonderful, isn't he?"
Makinna laughed. "Yes. Yes, he is."
Adelaide looked at her sister. "Oh, I know he isn't as magnificent as your Tykota, but, to me, he is the best of all men."
Makinna was taken aback. "Tykota is not mine." Then she smiled sadly. "But as for you and John Kincaid, well, if love is true, it will find a way," Makinna said, repeating what Tykota had said to her.
"I am almost afraid to love again. I was mistaken when I married Tom."
"Then give yourself time to know John. There is no hurry." She moved toward the buggy, where John had just stowed the last trunk. "Let's go. I want to find out why Hannah Silverhom sent for me."
Tykota had used up his strength climbing the hill toward the cave. He was so thirsty that his throat was parched, and his shoulder throbbed. The mouth of the cave seemed a long way off.
He gritted his teeth and stood erect. With the last bit of strength he had, Tykota climbed higher, his gaze set on his final goal. At last he reached the overhanging ledge and stopped to catch his breath. He was weak and shaky, and he wasn't sure he had the strength to go on.
He was so close to water, and yet his strength was ebbing away. Drawing on his innermost determination to survive, he made it over the ledge and into the cave. He stumbled toward the narrow pathway to the inner cavern. He fell forward into the water, closing his eyes as the cool water washed over him. He turned his head into the stream that trickled over the rocks and drank thirstily.
Then he fell to the floor of the cave and closed his eyes.
Hannah Silverhorn was waiting on the veranda when they arrived. Makinna quickly got out of the buggy and ran up the steps to her.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, my dear," Hannah said, slipping an arm around Makinna's waist. "There's nothing wrong with me."
"But your telegram-I was afraid you were ill."
"I'm sorry if I caused you concern." She smiled at the young woman and kissed her cheek. "It wasn't for myself that I contacted you. It's Tykota."
Fear whitened Makinna's face. "Has something happened to him?"
"I believe Tykota's malady is more one of the heart."
Makinna watched her sister approach, then turned back to Hannah. "I don't understand why you would ask me to return if no one is ill."
"Don't you, my dear?"
"No, I don't."
"I believe Ty needs you now more than ever. He has made some difficult choices, and I know he is feeling very alone."
Makinna stared into Hannah Silverhorn's soft eyes. "I can't give him what he needs."
By now, Adelaide had joined them, and she happily greeted Tykota's mother.
Hannah gestured to the door. "Let's get inside where it's cooler. John, you can get one of the men to help you with the trunks."
Makinna caught her sister's gaze and shrugged. Then they both followed their hostess into the house.
The house was quiet. John had left earlier after enjoying a good meal with the ladies. Adelaide had gone up to bed, and Makinna and Hannah sat in the parlor.
At last Hannah broke the silence. "Word came to me that Tykota left the Perdenelas and made his brother, Coloradous, chief."
"How can that be?" Makinna stood and walked around the room, tears blinding her. "I never wanted him to make such a sacrifice."
Hannah patted the settee. "Makinna, sit beside me."
Makinna did as she asked. "That's why I left, Mrs. Silverhorn. I didn't want to interfere with his life."