Huara smiled. "I will take care of the woman. Welcome home, my chief."
Reluctantly, Tykota left Makinna and made his way back to the river.
The crowd opened to let him pass, and he saw joy on each face. He had been gone for so long, he hardly recognized anyone. His old friend, Santo, came up and clasped his arms, welcoming him home, but the rest were as strangers to him. He saw the reverent looks on many of those gathered, and they stared at him as if he was a deity. The thought was unsettling, because he was only a man, and unsure if he could be the leader the Perdenelas needed.
When the crowd fell silent, one of the council spoke. "Perdenelas, we have long waited for this day, since Chief Valatar passed from among us. But the Great Spirit has sent Valatar's son, who will settle all our uncertainties. Here stands Tykota, your chief!"
There was an uproar among the people as Tykota stepped forward. "My people, I have been long away from our valley, but not a day passed that I did not think of you. I will try to lead wisely. I embrace you all."
He saw a beautiful young woman who wore the headband with the golden eagle, and he knew who she was before she spoke.
"I am your sister," she said shyly, searching his eyes to see if he had missed her as much as she'd missed him.
He raised her face and smiled as warmth spread over him. She had been a small, chubby girl when he left. Now her raven-black hair fell to her shoulders, her dark eyes were sparkling with happiness, and her face was so lovely, he imagined she must look like their mother. She was his only pure-blood tie with his deceased father and mother. His family. "I came home expecting to find a child, and instead I find a woman, Inea."
"I have waited long for this day, my brother. My heart sings with joy that you have returned."
"I, too, have wanted our family reunited. I know that while I was in England, you spent a summer at Biquera Ranch."
Inea lapsed into English. "Yes. Your white mother taught me to speak her language."
He embraced her and whispered so only she could hear. "Come to me after the council meeting. We have much to talk about." He rested a hand on her head. "Will you go to the healing woman for me and stay with the white woman there? Her name is Makinna, and she will be frightened, because she is not accustomed to our ways."
Inea bowed her head and smiled, her heart filling with pride that he had asked this of her. "I will do as you say."
"Until later, little sister."
He moved on down the line, talking to as many as he could. At last, he came to Santo once again. "Your sister has grown into a very beautiful woman," his friend said.
Tykota smiled. "So she has."
"Can I speak to you about something important?"
"Later tonight," Tykota replied, knowing there were many who would now seek his advice. "Find me after the council meeting."
Santo nodded. "It is good to have you home."
Tykota moved on through the crowd, and when he reached the end, he was still looking for another familiar face. He turned to Mangas and asked, "Where is my brother, Coloradous?"
Mangas bent forward and said in a low voice. "Have you forgotten that your father sent him from the village? Coloradous has not been here since the night you left the valley."
Tykota's jaw clamped tightly. "Then you shall take me to him tomorrow. For now, ask the Old Ones to meet me in the council room."
Makinna awoke in total darkness and felt panic. She heard voices, but she could not understand what they were saying. She reached up to her eyes and found a cloth had been tied about her forehead. She tried to pull it away, but a pair of hands grabbed hers, and she heard a woman speak softly to her. Although Makinna did not understand the words, she responded to the kindness.
"Where is Tykota?" she asked.
A second gentle voice, this one younger, spoke to her in English. "Tykota said to tell you he would come to you tonight."
"It is not night now?"
"No. The darkness is because the healing woman, Huara, has put herbs on your eyes and bandaged them. You are not blind, but your eyelids were burned from the sun."
"When can I get up?"
The young voice spoke to the older woman, and then to Makinna. "Huara says you may get up tomorrow, if you do not do too much."
"And when can I take the bandages off my eyes?"
Again, the young voice spoke to the older woman. "Huara says that the bandages must remain in place for a while yet."
"Who are you?"
"I am Tykota's sister, Inea."
Makinna felt relief wash over her. "You speak English very well."
"Tykota's white mother taught me."
Makinna relaxed and felt herself getting drowsy. "Mrs. Silverhorn," she said fondly. Then her voice trailed off, and she surrendered to sleep.
Tykota felt like an imposter as he sat on the sacred white buffalo hide where his father had once sat, and his father's father, and his ancestors for as far back as the history of the Perdenelas was told.
He allowed his gaze to move over the twenty men who waited for him to speak. His expression was grave. "I know that you all grieve with me for the passing of my father from this world to the Spirit World. I see several of you who were in this chamber many moons ago, when you pledged your loyalty to a small boy."
The remaining Old Ones nodded their heads.
Frowning slightly, Tykota continued. "That boy is now a man returned to fulfill his own promise to his father. But first I must say this. If any one of you feels that another chief would be better than me, that I am not the man to lead our people, let me hear your voice, and I will step aside."
Mangas stood, his eyes sharp and intelligent, his jaw tight. "Before any man speaks, let me say that this young chief who stands before you has never lost sight of his responsibilities to the tribe. His eyes and heart have always turned in the direction of Valle de la Luna, and he would have come home sooner had his father allowed it. By birth, he is your rightful leader, and let no man say differently."
Batera, the most senior of the Old Ones, stood, his back curved and his hair white but his eyes keen and his voice strong. "Since I have lived more seasons than anyone in the tribe, heed my voice. You, Chief Tykota, were born to lead our people. It is not for us to say if you should turn away from your hereditary duties. We put our trust in you when your father asked it of us, and we will gladly follow you."
Tykota felt a surge of pride. "Are your feelings shared by the others in the tribe, Bat-era?"
"If any man feels differently, he has never said so to me. Since your father left us to walk with the spirits, all eyes turned beyond the valley, waiting for you to come and take up your rightful place among us. There has been strife and unrest among our people, but only because we had no one to settle our disputes."
"There is another matter I wish to put before you," Tykota said. "It is something I have done, and I want you to know about it. I have slain my half brother, Sinica."
Again Batera spoke. "We heard the Apache drums speak of this. Sadly, it had to happen. Sinica's blood was long tainted by his mother's hatred."
"I want accounts of my other brother, Coloradous. I know he still dwells in the valley, and I want to bring him back into the tribe. If any man can say why I should not do so, let him tell me now."
Mangas stood, his voice carrying to the far corners of the chamber. "I have known Coloradous to be an honorable man. He has honored his father's words and has not come among us. But I have sought him out over the years and judge him to be worthy."
The others nodded in approval.
"Then I shall go to my brother and embrace him. He should no longer have to bear the shame of Sinica and his mother."
Again the Old Ones nodded.
Tykota sat back on the white buffalo robe, wondering if his father would approve of his decision. He wanted to think he would have done so if he had lived.
When Huara removed the bandages from Makinna's eyes, she blinked against the bright sunshine that poured into th
e room. As she adjusted to the light, she looked at the woman who stood over her with concern on her aged face. She said something Makinna could not understand, but Makinna smiled and nodded and said, "I can see." She took the healers hand. "Thank you for your tender care."
The medicine woman looked pleased and squeezed Makinna's hand.
Over the two days Makinna had been ill, she had grown fond of both the gentle healer and Tykota's sister. When a young Indian maiden entered the room, Makinna instantly knew it was Inea.
"I am sorry that I could not be here when your bandages were removed." Inea gazed at her inquiringly. "You can see?"
Makinna nodded and stretched a hand out to Inea, and when she came forward, they hugged. "I can see perfectly."
Inea was strikingly beautiful, with the same deep brown eyes of her brother. She also wore the leather headband with the golden eagle in her black hair. She was dressed in a fawn-colored leather dress and moccasins of the same color.
"Inea, will you thank Huara for me?"
Inea spoke to Huara, and the woman nodded and smiled. She picked up a waterskin and left the room, leaving Makinna and Inea alone.
Inea sat down on the soft fur rug beside Makinna. "I have come to feel a strong friendship for you, Makinna. I know my brother admires you, and it is easy to see why. You have a sweet nature."
Makinna arched an eyebrow and laughed. "Your brother could not have given you that impression. He would never say I had a sweet temper."
"You met my brother on the stagecoach before the raid on Adobe Springs?"
Makinna nodded.
"I know what happened. We had word through the Apache drums. For a while, we feared that Tykota was dead."
"When will I see him?" Makinna asked.
"I have hardly seen him myself. He simply falls on his mat at night, too weary to speak. It is not easy for him to settle all the troubles of the Perdenelas."
"When you do see him, would you tell him that I would like to speak to him?"
"I will do this, Makinna."
Makinna smiled at the Indian woman. "Tell me about yourself. Are you married, and have you children?"
Inea shook her head sorrowfully. "I am a maiden still. I have waited for my brother to return so I would not have to marry a man I do not like."
Makinna could see that Inea was troubled. "Couldn't you just refuse the man?"
"No. His family is very powerful, and he is also a friend of my brother. Santo would not allow any other suitor near me. He threatened to kill anyone who looked on me with favor."
"Tykota has told me they were good friends and often went into the desert together to live by their wits and test their skills."
"That is so. And the only peace I knew was when Santo was away from the valley. I always dreaded his return."
"Was there nothing you could do to discourage him?"
Inea sighed. "I could not tell my father, because he wanted me to marry Santo. After my father died, Santo became more insistent. It was my right to refuse him when he asked me to become his woman, and I did that. I am afraid of him and always avoid being alone with him for fear of what he might do. I was happy when my father sent me to spend time with the Silverhorns so I could learn English. I hoped that by the time I returned, Santo would have found another to be his woman." She made a hopeless gesture. "But it was not to be."
"Is there someone you would like to marry?"
Inea's eyes became dreamy. "My heart has always turned to Kachee, and I am sure he returns my affection, though he has never spoken of his feelings to me. Since I am sister to the chief, Kachee would not dare aspire so high."
"But if you two love each other, why can you not be together? You must tell this to Tykota."
"There is little he can do for me because of our law. I must first get Santo to reject me before Kachee can look on me with favor." Inea ducked her head sorrowfully. "Santo will never reject me, and I shall never marry him."
Makinna was thoughtful for a moment. "Maybe we can come up with something to free you from him."
Inea looked doubtful. "Nothing will make Santo reject me."
Makinna thought of the story of Ruth in the Bible and wondered if Ruth's method of getting her dead husband's kinsman to reject her might provide a solution to Inea's troubles. She peered at Inea, who was looking so dejected. "I will see if I can help you. Don't despair."
Shaking her head, Inea said despondently, "I fear that no one can help me. Maybe not even Tykota."
"Don't be so sure." Makinna smiled. "I'm certain we can find the means to send Santo on his way."
Hope flamed in Inea's eyes. "If only it could be so!"
Tykota sat alone in his chamber, his thoughts troubled.
Mangas ambled in, his footsteps light, his heart happy. "The children are eager to perform their dance."
Tykota stood wearily. He hardly had time to sleep, for all the ceremonies he had to attend and laws he had to act on. "I suppose they are waiting for me."
"Of course they are. This is in your honor."
Tykota moved to the door and gazed out at the campfires and the people who had gathered around them. "I am troubled, Mangas." He glanced at his old teacher searchingly. "I do not know what to do."
"It concerns the white woman?"
"Yes. I do not want to let her go."
"You must, Tykota," Mangas said sadly.
"Yet my father himself married outside the tribe."
"And you know what happened with that Apache woman. That is the very reason we now have a law to keep that from happening again."
"But Makinna is everything to me. I will not give her up. No one should ask such a sacrifice of me."
"Your people will ask it of you. You cannot take her for your woman. She is white. The law forbids it."
Fury burned in Tykota's eyes, and he turned his back on his teacher. "I am the law here now. I can change my father's ruling."
The old man inclined his head. "That is so, Tykota. You can change any law you want to."
Tykota whirled around. "And I shall."
"But before you do, ask yourself if you want to change the law for your own needs, or for the good of the people."
Tykota flinched as the words his father had spoken to him so long ago came back to haunt him. "Everything you do must be for the good of the people."
He drew in a painful breath. "The road set for me on the day of my birth is a hard one, Mangas. Never more so than now."
"Where the head rules, the heart cannot always follow, my chief."
Tykota sagged in defeat. "It will be a lonely road for me."
"I will walk with you," Mangas gently teased.
Tykota managed to smile in return. "While I love and respect you, Mangas, you are not exactly the partner I would have chosen."
Tykota had been riding for over an hour. He was following the river in hopes of finding Coloradous. He had decided to come alone rather than bring Mangas when he told his half brother about Sinica's death.
He dismounted and let his horse drink from the stream while he walked along the bank, taking in the beauty of the land. Here were tall pine trees, and the wind weaving through the branches made its own music. He was drawn back to a time when he had been a carefree youth here in the valley. He had come here often with Coloradous, who did not seem to mind a younger brother tagging after him. Sinica, however, had always taunted him, call ing him a weakling and accusing him of being their father's favorite.
"Is it as beautiful as you remember?"
Tykota had not heard Coloradous approach, and he turned to find a tall, lean, yet muscular brave not unlike himself. "It is even more beautiful than I remember. Remember when we fished in this stream?"
Coloradous moved closer and looked into Tykota's eyes. "I remember. You were destined for greatness even then."
Tykota reached out and clasped his brother's arm and was gratified when Coloradous returned the greeting with a firm hand on his arm. "I do not feel greatness, my brother. I am confu
sed and a little uneasy about all the responsibility now thrust upon me."
Coloradous laughed and turned his gaze to the rushing water. "You will do well, Tykota. I have always known there was strength in you and that you would always do what is right for the people."
Tykota sat down on the grassy bank and lowered his head. "I have grave news to tell you." He lifted his gaze to Coloradous. "I will understand if you decide to challenge me."
Coloradous was silent as he sat down beside him. "I already know about Sinica. The word of the Apache drums reached me even here."
"I did not want to slay our brother, but I had no choice."
Coloradous rubbed his chin in thoughtfulness. "Put your mind at rest, my brother. Sinica was of my blood, but so are you. He was without honor, and you have much honor. Doubtless I would have done as you in like circumstances."
Tykota felt vastly relieved by Coloradous's words. There was sincerity and kindness in his older brother's eyes, and Tykota knew now for certain that their father had been wrong to expel him from the tribe. "I have come to bring you home."
Coloradous looked startled. "What do you mean?"
"I have gone before the Old Ones, and they agree with me that you should come home. All stain will be wiped from your name, and I will raise you up in honor as my brother."
Coloradous could not answer right away. When he did, his voice was gruff with emotion. "I have wanted this for so long, yet I had hoped it would come from our father."
"I know. I, too, wish it had come from him. And perhaps if he had not been so harsh with Sinica and your mother and you, Sinica might have turned out differently."
Coloradous placed a hand on Tykota's arm. "It would have been no different. Sinica was always bitter. He hated me because I was born before him and had the look of the Perdenelas, and you because you were born to the wife our father loved, then chosen to be chief" He ruffled Tykota's hair as he'd done when Tykota had been a child. "Put the past behind you, and walk into the future." He grinned and added, "0, mighty chief."
Tykota laughed. "Careful, or you will give me a swelled head."
Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) Page 14
