Page 112 of The Ranger

They loaded themselves into the wagon, and she hoped Markhel came to before they got to town. If they had to carry him into the hotel, it would only add to Fanny Fig’s gossip about him.

Unfortunately, by the time they reached the hotel, poor Markhel was still out like a light. Melvale, Vale, and Lany carried him inside, where she helped them carry him upstairs to his room. Thankfully, Lorcan was manning the counter, and couldn’t see what they were doing. Who knew if he sensed anything?

“Where’s his key?” Vale asked, then began to poke through Markhel’s pockets.

“Should one of us fetch the doctor?” Kitty suggested. “Maybe he can help?”

“No,” Lany said, shaking his head. “Who we need is Kwaku, and I have no idea where he and Zara are.”

Melvale stood and stared at his brother. He looked concerned.

“Is he going to be all right?” Makama asked.

“I don’t know.” He bent to Markhel again as Vale took the room key from one of his pockets and opened the door. As soon as he did, Melvale cradled Markhel in his arms, picked him up and carried him to the bed and set him down. Melvale sat next to him, a puzzled look on his handsome face.

“Melvale looks really worried,” Kitty whispered.

“I’m worried too.” Makama took Vale by the hand and squeezed it. “What if he doesn’t wake up?”

“He’ll wake up, darling. He has too.” He pulled her into his arms. “It’s as if, I don’t know...”

“What?” Melvale left the bed. “Do you sense something?”

“I’m not sure,” Vale said. He looked into Makama’s eyes. “We connected so well by spending time together. Grant it, we didn’t have a lot, but it was, as you say, quality time. But what if Markhel really is relying on his inner heart to do all the work? He’s been a ranger for years. Alone, isolated.”

Melvale’s eyes grew wide. “Oh, stab me...”

“What is it?” Lany asked with no small amount of alarm.

“Prince Vale is right. Markhel has been alone too long. For most Muirarans, that’s excruciating. He’s learned to seal himself off and get along without company for extended stretches of time. It’s enough to kill a weaker Muiraran. But he had three hearts. Now he doesn’t.” Melvale gave his unconscious brother a sympathetic look. “He’s afraid.” He glanced at the others. “Afraid to let anyone in, including Maida. I believe he unconsciously walled her off.”

“What?!” the rest of them cried in unison.

Melvale blanched. “Oh, stab me! He’ll kill them both!”

Makama left Vale’s embrace. “What do you mean?”

Melvale closed his eyes. “My brother is afraid to fall in love.”

“Why?” Kitty asked.

He looked at her. “He’s been alone so long; he fears even the smallest taste of love.” He heaved a sigh. “Even a small taste can be taken away.”

“But that doesn’t make sense,” Kitty said. “He’s Muiraran!”

“Yes, and that’s the problem.” Melvale brushed some of his long hair from his eyes. “He’s trained himself to live off miniscule amounts of company.” Melvale paced by Markhel’s bedside. “To do his job as a ranger, he’s denied himself the thing he needs most. Companionship. Love. Relationships.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Vale asked.

Melvale stopped. “I’m afraid Maida is going to have to woo him.” He arched an eyebrow at his brother. “She’s the only one that can tear down the wall he’s built around his heart.

22

Markhel opened his eyes slowly as an icy chill went up his spine. He’d felt this before and shivered. He needed to go to town, see Grandma and Doc and maybe visit with Irene and Wilfred. Once he had his fill of them, he could return to...

He sat up. This was not his cave home. He was in the Van Cleet Hotel. “Maida...” He looked around the room. How did he get here? The last thing he remembered was driving the others back to town. So, what happened between then and now? Had Maida’s heart Called again?

He got out of bed, went to the window, and looked out. The prairie behind the hotel stretched to the tree line in the distance. It crept up the mountains beyond like a thick, green carpet that soon turned into gray granite and snowcapped peaks.