Chapter 5

Daniel left the next morning for Boonesborough. Mingo sent him on his way with a heartfelt farewell. The two friends did not often express their affection for each other in words, but Mingo felt that he needed to express the gratitude that he was feeling. He knew that quite probably his life would have ended bound to Roark Logan's stake if not for Daniel's help.

"Daniel..." the tall Cherokee began.

"Mingo, I know what you're goin' to say, and there's no need. I know that you'd a done the same for me, and have. I can never tell you how it pains me to know that I doubted you a couple a times. You've always been steady beside me. I'll see you back in Boonesborough. Come by on your way to Chota. Becky'd be proud to fix you a batch o' cookies, any kind you want." The big man smiled his sunny smile and squeezed Mingo's slender hand in an affectionate handshake. Then he hefted Ticklicker and strode through the Libertyville gates.

Alkini came to stand beside Mingo and wave Daniel goodbye. Then she pulled the door closed and took Mingo's hand. They walked to the livery and borrowed two horses, then rode to Alkini's mother's cabin three hours away. Together they walked through the door. Tsiya rose to greet them, hugging them both with affection.

Kamama eyed Mingo with distaste. His Cherokee vest was gone, stained beyond repair with his blood. But his two feathers stood like sentinels on the back of his head, and his beaded necklace was visible through Roark Logan's silky blue shirt. His long hair was braided in the Cherokee style.

Alkini stepped past her mother as she continued to stare at Mingo. She bent and picked up her little daughter and held her out to the tall man. Mingo gently took the squirming bundle and held the little mite to his strong chest protectively. Beside him Alkini stood holding her little son. Kamama snorted her disapproval and disgust, then stalked to her chair and placed her back to the two of them. Tsiya frowned at his mother and went to stand beside his sister.

"She is beautiful, Alkini. Like a little flower."

Beside him Alkini giggled. "That's what I'll call her then."

"And your son? What is his name?" Mingo was troubled at the silence that fell within the cabin. He could see Alkini's distress on her drawn face.

"What is wrong? The boy is strong and handsome. Why are you so silent?"

Alkini held the baby out to Mingo and took her little flower from his arm. The baby squirmed and opened his bright blue eyes. Mingo gazed a long minute into the infant's intelligent eyes, then bent and kissed the little face.

"Alkini, the boy cannot help his eyes. He shares the exact same blood as does your little flower. The exact same. You carried them both within you, gave them nourishment equally. They did not choose their father any more than you did. Or I did. Do not make the mistake of loving one more than the other. You will be haunted forever if you do."

From her chair Kamama laughed in derision. "What do you know about such things, Caramingo of the Cherokee? Oh, yes, I know who you are. A member of the ruling family. Menewa's special nephew. Are you loved more than the other? Did your mother do as you warn Alkini not to do?"

Mingo's head snapped up sharply at her words. The undisguised jealously and dislike pierced him like thorns. Her reference to Taramingo caused a coldness to clamp his heart. It was Taramingo's whip that had scared his back. It was Taramingo who had stretched him out to die upon the rocks. It was Taramingo that had nearly killed Daniel. And it was Taramingo that he was forced to shoot in the back to prevent Daniel's murder. He drew his breath raggedly and Kamama chortled in glee.

"Alkini, this man that you love is a murderer as surely as Roark Logan. Ask him about his brother. Ask him, Alkini." Kamama's face was twisted in hateful delight. She stepped to Alkini's side and took the baby from her arms. She placed the infant in her bed and returned to take the little boy from Mingo. She snatched the infant from his cradling arm. He turned and left Alkini without a word, Tsiya standing frozen beside her with his mouth fallen open.

Mingo walked swiftly toward Libertyville, his head bowed and his breathing rapid as he fought his memories. Alkini ran to his side and pulled on his arm. He continued to walk until she stepped in front of him and he nearly fell to avoid her. She grabbed both of his arms and shook him. He met her eyes in surprise at her violence.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let my mother be the one to throw the words at your feet? Why?"

"What would you have had me do? Taramingo's death is not something that I wish to think about. Don't you know how killing my own brother must have hurt me? You who claim to love me, can't you understand how much pain I bear?"

"How can I understand if you don't tell me?"

Her words stopped Mingo's headlong rush as he admitted the truth of her words. He swallowed and stood still in the warm summer meadow.

"Alkini, your mother's words were all true. I am Menewa's nephew. I did kill my brother to save Daniel. I understand about favoring one child over another because of my mother's affection for me. It was none of my doing. This is what I do not wish for your son. Can you understand?"

Alkini's voice was very soft. "Why did your mother prefer you?"

Mingo hesitated so long that Alkini thought that he was not going to answer. "My brother bore a bitterness that my mother could not dispel. I did not carry that bitterness. I do not think that she favored me over him. It is that I was the only child remaining in her lodge. My brother ran away to join his Creek relatives when I was small. In his mind, my mother favored me. Apparently your mother believed Taramingo's story."

Now it was Alkini's turn to be silent. After several seconds she spoke. "My mother is also bitter. She looks for wounds where they do not exist. I am sorry, Mingo. But she is good to my babies. Now that Roark Logan is dead I can take them to be with me. I will think on your words and try to make my son feel as loved as my daughter." She raised her dark head and looked into his eyes. "I know that I will be much better able to do this if I have you beside me."

Her meaning was very plain. Mingo could not deny that he felt great affection for her, and would consider taking her to be his wife. But now was not the time. He felt that she needed to remove all trace of Roark Logan from her heart. And he did not believe that she had. When she could look at her son and see the child, not Roark Logan, she would be ready to love him. In the meantime he would make yearly journeys to see her and her growing children. At that thought, he smiled. Alkini saw the smile and beamed. But at his words the smile retreated and the light died from her sparkling dark eyes.

"Alkini, the time is not right for us. You must release all of Roark Logan from your heart and mind. You have not." As she shook her head he held her face in both hands and looked deeply into her eyes. "Your actions a short time ago prove that. When you can look your son in the eyes and not see Roark Logan, you will be ready for me. And in the meantime, it is possible that you will find a good man nearby to love you and your babies. Do not wait for me, Alkini. If you find another love, take it. I will rejoice in your good fortune and bless your happiness."

Alkini bowed her head and leaned against him. He stood holding her for several minutes, then took her hand and led her back to her mother's cabin where the horses were tethered. Alkini gathered her two babies. Handing one to Mingo, she climbed into the saddle. Then carefully holding the little boy, Mingo pulled himself onto his own horse. Together they silently rode back to Libertyville.

The next day Mingo left the settlement. Thaddeus stood holding the little baby girl and Alkini gently cradled her son. Mingo bent and gently kissed both tiny faces. He patted Thaddeus' frail back in affection. Then he softly kissed Alkini's lips lingeringly. He grasped his gun in his strong left hand, nodded to both his dear friends and walked swiftly to the gate. The Logan's Fort sign was gone and a repainted Libertyville proclaimed itself proudly to one and all.

Mingo smiled in satisfaction as he looked at the sign. This settlement held special memories for him and he knew that it always would. He patted the sign as though it was a living thing, then strode north toward Boonesborough. After only a hundred yards he passed a young man riding toward the settlement. Dressed in buckskins with dark hair and eyes, this stranger had a proud and confident air about him that Mingo noticed. In his heart he said a prayer for Alkini and her two little babies. Then he shouldered his gun and continued on to his own destiny.