She nodded.
"You did well. But I will look to my brother now. You may leave."
"I can't leave without knowing if he is going to live."
"You do not belong here. I will take care of him, and when he is well enough to travel, I will take him to the healing woman, Huara."
"He must not be moved," she argued. "It could kill him."
He took her arm and led her to the narrow passage. "I will do all I can for him. He is my brother, and I would give my life if it would save him."
Makinna had no choice but to do as Coloradous said. "Will you send word of him to Biquera?"
His voice was kinder now. "I will do that. Assure my brother's white mother that Tykota is strong and has the blood of chief's in his veins."
She raised her gaze to his headband. "You now wear the symbol of the chief."
"I do."
She glanced back at Tykota. "When he wakes, will you tell him that-"
He seemed impatient to have her gone. "I will tell him you were here, and what you did for him."
Makinna nodded. Her footsteps were heavy as she moved down the passageway and out of the cave. It was difficult to leave Tykota, but Coloradous would know better how to help his brother than she did. She saddled her horse and mounted, turning to the north.
Five days later a very fatigued Makinna rode through the gate of Biquera Ranch. Her sister, Hannah Silverhorn, and a surprisingly spry Mangas rushed toward the corral to greet the returning travelers.
Adelaide was the first to reach her. "Are you all right, Makinna? Did you find Tykota?"
Makinna looked at Hannah. "I found Tykota. He had been shot, but I took the bullet out of him. When I left him, he was still unconscious but alive."
"Why did you leave him?" Hannah asked, her hand at her throat.
"His brother, Coloradous, came to the cave. He asked me to leave and said he would take care of Tykota." Her gaze sought the old Indian's. "He will help him, won't he, Mangas?"
Mangas nodded. "Coloradous will do well by Tykota." He studied the ground before he looked back at Makinna. "Was he wearing the chiefs headband?"
"Yes."
The old man walked off murmuring to himself, and Hannah hustled Makinna toward the house. You can bathe and eat, then I want you to get some rest. You look done in."
Makinna turned to John and the other men. "Thank you. I could never have found Tykota without your help."
John touched his hat, and then his eyes went to Adelaide. "You Hillyard sisters have hidden strengths. You look so fragile, but you aren't."
Makinna smiled and turned toward the house.
Later Makinna slipped out of the house and hurried toward the barn. She closed the wide door behind her and walked purposefully toward the tack room, where she stood in the doorway, staring at the cot, remembering Tykota. She walked around, touching the splintery wall, then a leather bridle that hung on a rusted hook. Silence surrounded her until she heard a horse nicker and stomp.
She heard the barn door swing open and Adelaide and John Kincaid talking as they walked in. She started to call out to her sister, but suddenly John swept Adelaide into his embrace.
"I wanted to wait to tell you how I feel about you, knowing you were but recently widowed, but I can't wait. I'm too afraid some other man will come along and take you away from me..."
Adelaide lay her head against his broad shoulder and looked into his rugged face. "It wouldn't matter who came along, John. I could never feel about them the way I feel about you."
Makinna moved away from the door and stood in a corner. It was too late to make her presence known now.
"Can you really care about me the way I do about you?" John asked in a voice filled with wonder.
Adelaide's voice was playful as she said, "I don't know, John. You haven't told me how you feel. You only said you were afraid some other man would take me away."
He held her at arm's length. "I love you. I love you so damned much that I can't pass an hour without thinking about you."
Adelaide rested her hand on his chest. "I'm not a young girl, John, and I don't play games. I love you, and I'm not too shy to admit it."
He let out a loud whoop, gathered her about the waist, and swung her around, laughing. "I am the luckiest man that ever lived! I love the lady, and she loves me!"
They became quiet, and Makinna guessed they were kissing. She definitely couldn't make her presence known now. She smiled with happiness for her sister. Adelaide was going to be all right. John would be good to her. Her sister had wanted to live in Texas, and now she could.
She heard John speak.
"When can we be married? I don't want to wait."
"But you must, John. I have been a widow but four months. It would not be proper."