Page 131 of The Ranger
“Dearest, this is all a lot to take in. Part of me doesn’t blame your father…”
“What’s so hard to take in?! The man wants the court me. He likes me and I like him!”
Mama’s eyes misted. “No one’s told you, have they?”
Maida sank into the nearest chair. “Told me what?”
“That Markhel is…” she shook her head. “It’s best that he tell you.”
Her heart sank. Markhel was leaving. That had to be it. “Tell me what?”
Mama stood straight and smoothed the skirt of her dress. She always did when nervous. Grandma Sadie did it too. “If you marry this man, Maida. You may never see us again.”
She gasped. “What are you talking about? Of course, I will.”
“Not necessarily. And if you do, it could be years between visits. Just look at Colin and Belle. How often do they get to see Jefferson or Thackary?”
She thought about it. It wasn’t often.
“Could you live with that?” Mama asked.
Maida stared at her a moment. “I don’t know. But if I love him…”
Her mother wrung her hands a few times. She wasn’t just nervous, but downright fretting. “What’s the matter with everyone around here?”
“You need to ask Markhel.” Mama got back to work.
Maida left the table and went outside to the porch. Grandma and Grandpa were arguing from the looks of it, while Pa was speaking to Markhel. The latter stood, his arms crossed, feet slightly apart and stared down at her father.
“Fine. I guess I’ll have to fix this.” She pushed up the sleeves of her blouse. She’d never argued with her parents before. She’d always done what she was told and lived a simple life under their roof. Now that she had a chance at something different, with a wonderful man besides, they were about to ruin it for her. Yes, they were being protective, but there was protective and then there was ridiculous. She needed to make her relatives see reason.
She left the porch and marched across the barnyard. Markhel arched an eyebrow as he watched her approach, then gave his attention back to Pa.
“I’ll not have it, do you hear?” she heard Pa say.
Grandma noticed her stomp their way and turned to her. “Maida, dearest, you shouldn’t be out here.”
“Why not? You’re talking about me, aren’t you?”
“Maida…” Pa said in warning.
Markhel’s arms dropped to his sides. “Let her speak.”
“Thank you.” Maida took a deep breath. “We had a good time today. And… we…” She looked at each of them in turn, including Markhel. “We like each other Pa. If you’re telling him he can’t court me, then I’ll…”
Pa’s hands went to his hips. “You’ll what, young lady?”
Okay, he had her there. She didn’t think that far ahead. “You can’t go back on your word.”
“I gavepermission, Maida,” Pa said. “Hegavehis wordhe would act the gentleman.”
“Has he, sweet pea?” Grandpa asked.
She thought of their afternoon nap and the strange occurrence at the swimming hole. The shared pain, the need to be as close to him as possible. “Yes,” she squeaked.
Pa looked at Markhel, then her. “There will be consequences if you decide you want to be with this man.”
Markhel’s eyes narrowed at him, but he kept quiet.