Read Online Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) by Constance O'Banyon - Free Book Online

without breaking her
stride.
    "It's not that. You are walking in the wrong
direction. If you keep going, you will soon fall
off a cliff."
    She stopped and turned back to him. "How
can you expect me to know that? I wasn't born
here."
    "All I expect from you is that you obey me,
that you do what I tell you to. That way you will
come to no harm."
    She raised her chin in proud defiance, looking
almost comical with the streaked mud on her
face. "I will do what you say as long as it's what
I want to do. I already warned you that I have a
temper. And you are testing its limits."
    "Ah, yes, your temper. Still, what is important
is that you do not test mine."
    She wisely made no reply.
    He put out the fire and scattered the ashes, and
she watched as he wiped away all traces that
they had been there. Then he glanced up at her.
    "Walk to that higher ledge and wait for me."
    She nodded, and when she reached the spot,
she watched him brush away their footprints
with a spiny branch of a scrub bush. He was
leaving nothing behind for the Apache to find.

    Tykota joined Makinna and guided her up a
steep slope. She gritted her teeth, hoping she
wouldn't fall and break her neck. Through her
thin-soled shoes she could feel every pebble and
stone. It had been bad earlier; now it was agony.
Once she tripped and almost lost her footing,
managing to stay upright only by grabbing a
scraggly bush.
    Tykota turned back to her with a scowl on his
face. "Try to step where I step."
    "I can't. Your strides are too long for me."
    He put his hands on his hips and glanced
upward, as if seeking patience. "Then walk in
front of me so I can cover our trail."
    She swept past him without meeting his eyes.
He could be the most insufferable man.

     

Makinna's chest tightened as she stood on the
cliff, the evening breeze stirring her hair. She
could smell the sweet perfume of the desert in
bloom. Why had she not seen the beauty before?
    She was probably as guilty as everyone else
on seeing the desert for the first time and looking past a beauty so subtle that it was woven
into the tapestry of this land. Could there be
more brilliant sunrises and sunsets anywhere
in the world? The land was certainly not colorless, as she had thought at first. The colors
were of the earth and sky, with blooming cacti
and brilliantly hued birds that soared on the
breath of the wind. Also, the desert was teeming with life if one took the time to look. Just then, she watched a hawk dive toward the
ground, probably in pursuit of some unfortunate prey that had caught its keen eye.

    There was life and death here. And renewal.
    Makinna hadn't heard Tykota approach her
until he spoke. "Do you find beauty in the
desert?" he asked.
    "Yes, I do. It's unlike anywhere else in the
world." She turned her head and looked up at
him. "I admit I didn't see it at first, and had I
gone on with my journey on the stage, I would
probably have been left with the impression that
this land was utterly desolate."
    He looked pleased for a moment. "Most
people do not see with the eye but with the mind.
This land offers constant contrasts, a heaven for
some and harsh, as well. If a man lets down his
guard, the land can easily claim him for its
victim."
    "You never let your guard down, do you?"
    Tykota looked past her at the glowing sunset,
knowing he dare not let his guard down
around Makinna. Even standing near her was
painful. He had never felt this way about a
woman before, so he could not put a name to
what he was feeling. She was brave and spirited and rarely complained about how hard he
was pushing her. It seemed to be in her nature
to see the good in any situation. And though
she did have a temper, he found he liked that
about her as well.

    "No," he said at last. "I never let my guard
down."
    "Why not? Surely sometimes it is safe to do
so."
    He chose to ignore her question. "Do you
think you can continue until the sun reaches its