Page 149 of The Ranger

Vale went around the table, pulled out the empty chair next to Markhel and sat. “And that was it? No explanation, nothing?”

He shook his head without lifting it again.

“Okay,” Vale drawled. “That’s depressing.”

Makama eyed Markhel. “Does she know her life is in danger?”

Markhel raised his head again. “I did not get the chance to tell her. Besides, we do not know if she will suffer as I will.”

She shook her head in frustration. “Markhel. Youdidn’t tell her?”

“How can I tell her what I do not know?”

She facepalmed. “Well, hopefully by morning we’ll be able to tell.”

Cyrus got up, stood behind Markhel, and patted him on the back. “Sounds to me like what this young man needs in a few lessons in how to properly court a woman. Judging from the looks Maida was giving him the other day, I’d say she was more than a little sweet on him.”

“How sweet?” Vale asked.

“Like he could be one of Grandma Waller’s pies,” Polly giggled. “She’s confused that’s all. Like all young ladies she wants a man to make her feel special.” Polly smiled at everyone. “She wants love.”

Markhel pushed himself up off the table. “Love? How do I do that?”

Vale gulped. “Oh, dear. This might take a while.” He headed for the kitchen.

“Where are you going?” Makama called.

“To tell Rosie to make some coffee. Lots of it.” Because if his guess was right, this was going to take all night.

30

Maida slept hard. So hard that by the time she went down for breakfast, everyone else had already eaten and the dishes were done. Mama and Grandma Sadie were in the parlor, doing the mending when she rubbed sleep from her eyes and joined them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...”

“Don’t worry about it, darling,” Mama said. “Get yourself something to eat then join us.”

Maida took in the gentle tone of her mother’s voice. “What’s wrong?”

Mama shifted her weight in her chair. “Nothing. Now eat.” She waved her out of the room and Maida stumbled into the kitchen. She kept having to blink the sleep from her eyes and didn’t wonder if she was sick. Why else would she be so tired?

She found some bacon and fried potatoes in the warming oven and brought the plate to the table. No one had bothered to wake her. That meant they knew why she was so tired. They had to. But did she want to know? She just wanted things to go back to normal. She was still numb, her heart still. Funny how she thought of it that way. Still as opposed to what? Stirring? Waking up? Hadn’t Markhel used those words? She knew she’d heard them before.

She ate slowly, drank some coffee, then after putting her dishes in the sink, sat on the back porch steps for a few moments to gather her thoughts. She wasn’t ready to speak to her mother and grandmother yet. What were they going to tell her that she didn’t already know? Were they trying to save Markhel by having him marry her? Is that what this was about? Was he all the things he said he was?

She sat and let the morning sun warm her. She loved the smell of summer mornings and listening to the birds sing. The sound of cattle drifted over the air which meant they were moving part of the herd to another part of the ranch to graze. Sometimes she went with Pa and Grandpa and spent the day with them. But she was no cowboy, and Pa often teased her that she’d have to learn how to be a lady quick like if she wanted to catch a husband.

“Husband.” The word seemed suddenly foreign. “Mate.” That was no better, though she noticed her heart moved when she spoke it.

Maida put a hand on her chest and took a deep breath. She looked at the barn and outbuildings and what she could see of the barnyard. She loved her home, loved her family. This was all she needed and yet... she wanted so much more.

“Maida,” Mama said as she came out the back door. “Dearest, what are you doing out here?”

She sighed. “Just sitting.”

Mama sat down beside her and rested a hand on her shoulder. “Do you want to talk now?”

“I...” the sound of a wagon pulling into the barnyard caught her attention. She looked at her mother. “Who could that be?”

Mama looked at the backyard a moment as if lost in thought. “Let’s go find out.”