Page 11 of The Ranger
“But what if I don’t want any?”
“Pah, a pretty young thing like you?” Doc said. “Why wouldn’t you want a suitor?”
She licked her lower lip. “What I mean is, there’s no one around here thatsuits me.”
“Oh, that is a problem,” Doc said.
Grandma gave her a gentle smile. “Child, you plan on marrying one day, don’t you?”
“Of course, but... I don’t know, it’s hard to explain.”
Grandma exchanged a knowing look with Doc. “I think I know what you mean. You have a gnawing in your gut that keeps getting worse, and it makes you wonder if there isn’t something wrong with you, am I right?”
Maida gaped at her. “Yes, that’s exactly it.” She looked away for a moment. “And… it hurts.”
Grandma closed her eyes, as if the statement hurt her. “Oh, child... I don’t know what to say other than to wait.”
“Wait for what?” Maida asked. “For it to go away? But what if it doesn’t?”
“It will,” Doc said. “When you’ve found someone.”
“And that someone can make it go away,” Grandma added. She exchanged another look with Doc which made Maida wonder if there was something they knew that she didn’t. It was the same feeling she got with some of her relatives. “Is there anything else I need to know?” she finally asked.
“Land sakes, I forgot the cookies!” Grandma was out of her rocking chair and heading for the kitchen before Maida could get out another word.
“I hope they’re molasses,” Doc called after her.
“They are!”
He smiled at Maida and winked. “I do love Grandma’s molasses cookies.”
She shrugged, unsure of what to say. Were they evading the question?
Grandma returned with a plate of hot cookies. She set them by the tea tray and was about to pass one to Maida when there came a knock on the door.
“I’ll get it.” Doc left his chair and disappeared into the front hall.
Maida heard the door open, heard Doc gasp, then heard a deep booming voice say, “Greetings, man of medicine! I have come to give advice.”
Grandma straightened. “I know who that is.”
“Who?” Maida whispered. Not that she needed to. She hoped.
Grandma smiled. “His name is Kwaku Awahnee. And he’s a friend.”
* * *
Dallan sat across from Markhel,studying him. “Have ye any pain, man?”
Markhel flexed an arm, then the other. “I can sense her…”
“Aye, I’ve no doubt.” He glanced at Shona, who sat on a huge cushion. They were in Markhel’s cave where he lived while watching over the town of Clear Creek. “Ye’ll feel a lot more if my guess is right,” Dallan said.
“Where’s Lany?” Shona asked. “Did he go with Kwaku and Zara?” She picked at a tassel on a pillow and looked around. “I have to say, Markhel, you do have good taste.”
He made a grunting sound. “It was Melvale. This is his work.”
She blushed. “Oh. Sorry.”