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

zenith?"
    Makinna was bone weary. They had walked
and climbed hills most of the night, stopping
only occasionally to rest. She wanted to cry out
that she could not go another step, but she
wouldn't let him see that weakness in her. He
expected her to complain, maybe even wanted
her to. She stiffened her spine. "I can walk as
long as you can."
    His lips thinned. "Then let us go on."
    She stumbled twice, fell once, and was slow to
get to her feet. She glowered at Tykota's back as
he walked effortlessly ahead of her.
    He wasn't human! Didn't he ever get tired?
She looked over the steep edge of the cliff, half
wanting to shove him off.
    He drove on mercilessly, until at last he
halted, pointing at a high ridge. "We will spend
the day there."
    She drew in an exhausted breath, wondering
how she would gather the strength to climb to
the top.
    He motioned for her to go ahead of him. "I
will come behind and cover our tracks."
    She set her eyes on the summit and her feet in motion. "This can be endured," she mumbled
to herself. "This can be endured." How many
times had she spoken those words to keep up her
courage in the months her mother had been
slowly dying? If she had endured the pain of
losing her beloved mother and brother, she could
surely get through this.

    Makinna sat with her back pressed against a
boulder, trying to shade her face against the sun.
The mud had long since worn off, and they
couldn't use their precious water to make more.
Her skin felt as if it were on fire, and she wanted
to cry from the pain of it. Her throat was so
parched that she could hardly swallow. Her hair
was hopelessly tangled, and she was hungry.
    But, thanks to Tykota, she was still alive.
    Makinna glanced about, searching for him.
He'd gone back down the hill some time ago and
hadn't returned. Where was he? What if he'd
deserted her? What if he'd left her here to die?
    She scrambled to her feet and glanced about
frantically. She could think of nothing worse
than to be left out here to die alone.
    She didn't even hear him come up behind her,
and she screamed when he placed a hand on her
shoulder.
    He pulled her to the ground with such a force
that the rocks cut painfully into her skin. "Do not
make a sound," he warned.
    "But what-"

    He clamped a hand over her mouth and
whispered next to her ear. "Unless you want to
meet Apaches face-to-face, remain silent."
    She nodded, and he removed his hand but kept
his arm about her, holding her still. She heard
the sound of horses below and turned a fearful
gaze on Tykota. He looked into her eyes, as
though willing her to be strong.
    The sun was hot on her face, her black gown
was plastered to her body with perspiration, and
the sharp stones were cutting into her, but she
didn't move or make a sound.
    It was quiet now, and she feared that the
Apaches had dismounted and were making their
way up the hill. Tense moments passed, but soon
she heard voices and then the sound of them
riding away.
    Still Tykota held her there, and she wanted to
lay her head against his shoulder and have him
tell her that everything would be all right. But
she knew he would not welcome such womanly
weakness from her.
    "Are they really gone?" she whispered,
fearing their departure might be a trick. "Will
they come back?"
    "They are gone," he assured her. "They do not
know we are here. They will search elsewhere."
    Tykota felt himself responding to the softness of Makinna's body against his. He wanted
to crush her tightly to him so that he could feel
her every breath. Knowing what her reaction would be if she could read his thoughts, he
rolled to his feet, trying not to think of how
desirable she was. He had wanted women
before, had been with many, but none had ever
stirred his blood as she did. He wanted to press
his lips to hers and feel her arms go around his
shoulders. He wanted her body to become a
part of his-

    "Will they stop pursuing us now, Tykota?"
There was