Tykota's Woman (Historical Romance) Read Online Free PDF

patronizing way. "If you
don't mind an old man's compliments," he
added.
    "I am in no mood for compliments, Mr.
Rumford. As a representative of the Butterfield
Stage Line, how could you allow that man and
woman to work for you? Aren't they supposed to
see that your passengers are fed and sheltered?"
    He looked taken aback. "Are you speaking of
Jack and Edna Browning?"
    "I am."
    He assumed an official-sounding tone.
"Obviously, they have done something to offend
you. Tell me what it is, and I'll speak to them
about it immediately."
    "I'll tell you what they did, if you don't
already know. They refused to feed the Indian,"
she said angrily. "What is he to do, starve to
death?"
    Mr. Rumford looked uncomfortable. "Well, he
should have known what might happen when he
boarded our stage. My only obligation is to my
legal passengers."

    "That's right," Mr. Carruthers spoke up. "If
you let one Indian ride the stage, they'll all want
the privilege."
    Mr. Rumford nodded. "No need to worry about
that possibility. I've already informed him that he
won't be leaving with the stage in the morning.
Can't think how he got aboard in the first place.
In spite of his fine attire, he's still a savage."
    Makinna glared from one man to the other. "I
wonder who among us are the uncivilized ones. I
am ashamed to be in a room when he is
consigned to a barn. Even if he is an Indian, he's
a human being, and he gets hungry and needs
rest just like we do. You treat your mules better
than you do him. At least you see that they are
fed and watered."
    She turned away, heading for the front door.
Seldom had she been so angry. No person, not
even that Indian, was going to go hungry if she
could help it. She brushed past Mr. and Mrs.
Browning at the door and kept going without
acknowledging them.
    Edna Browning stared after her. "Humph.
What bee's stirring in her bonnet? That highand-mighty passenger of yours, Mr. Rumford,
seems to think she's too good for the likes of
us." She huffed toward the kitchen, her husband
tagging behind.
    Makinna didn't see the Indian at first. Then he
silently emerged from the shadows and stood directly before her. She flinched and instantly
stepped back, wondering if she should have
asked one of the gentlemen inside to accompany
her. A cloud was covering the moon, and she
couldn't see the Indian's face clearly, but she
knew he would be frowning.

    "I am sorry if I startled you, Mrs. Hillyard,"
he said, moving away from her and turning his
head up as if contemplating the heavens.
    She stepped hesitantly closer to him. "I...
brought you... I thought you might like
something to eat," Makinna said, daring to hold
the tin plate out to him.
    He didn't look at her. "You could have saved
yourself the trouble. I am not hungry."
    She took a step closer. "You should eat
anyway."
    He swung his head in her direction and said in
a biting tone, "Why should you concern yourself
with my dining habits?"
    She was silent for a moment, trying to think of
the right words to say. "I am sorry about the
others."
    His tone was cynical as he asked, "Are you?"
    "Yes, I am. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here now."
    "Yet you are just as frightened of me as they
are, Mrs. Hillyard. Do you think of me as a
savage ready to pounce on you?"
    She didn't bother to deny her nervousness
about being around him. "I doubt you would be
that desperate."

    She was amazed when she heard him laugh.
"You are right. I have no desire to pounce on a
married woman, one who is in mourning. And a
white woman at that."
    "Please," she urged, holding the food out to
him again. "Take this. You haven't eaten all
day. 11
    "I think not." He turned his face back to the
quarter moon now emerging from the clouds.
Again she sensed in him a sadness, a wound of
the spirit, and it troubled her.
    She placed the food on a nearby wooden
bench. "I'll just leave it here, should you change
your mind. It may not be very good, but it will
be