Page 168 of The Ranger

“It is not your fault,” he said.

She nodded and said nothing more.

When they got to town, they parked the wagon in front of the mercantile and went inside.

“Well, well,” Wilfred drawled. “If it ain’t the love birds.”

Maida blushed to her toes.

“Wilfred,” Grandpa said. “Don’t tease her like that.”

“I wasn’t teasing Maida. I was teasing both of ‘em!”

Pa looked at Grandpa and shook his head. Everyone in town knew Wilfred was a hopeless romantic. “Checkers?” Pa asked Grandpa. “This might take a while.”

Maida smiled at him then went to the rack of ready-made clothes. The wedding dress was still there, and that’s when she realized, Markhel shouldn’t see it. Oh no!

“Go outside,” she blurted, blocking his view of the dress with her body.

He cocked his head.

“It’s customary for the groom, that’s you,” she pointed at him. “Not to see my dress or me in it, until the wedding.”

Markhel smiled. “I understand.” He gave her a small bow. “I will wait outside.”

“You can do me a favor then,” Mrs. Dunnigan said. “I’ve got a couple of cakes that need to go out to the ranch, and Mary’s got seven, no, wait, make that a half a dozen pies baked for tonight. If she and Paddy are going to ride out with us, that’s too much food to have to wrangle in the buggy. Can you take the cakes and pies home with you?”

Grandpa waved at her from the checker table. “Sure, Irene.”

“Good.” She picked up her trusty cast iron ladle and pointed it at Markhel. “Don’t just stand there, go fetch them pies. Take Duncan with you.”

“What?” Duncan looked around then sighed. “Fine, I’ll help.” He headed for the mercantile doors.

Maida giggled. She hadn’t seen Mrs. Dunnigan brandish her ladle at anyone for some time.

“Take your time, in case Maida needs to try something on.” Mrs. Dunnigan said.

“Maybe we all ought to go,” Pa suggested.

“What about our game?” Grandpa complained.

“I’ll take his place.” Wilfred came around the counter and shooed Pa from his chair.

“You don’t all have to go,” Maida said.

“That’s all right, darlin’,” Pa said. “There’s a few things I’d like to talk about with Markhel here.” He smiled at him. “Shall we?” Pa motioned Markhel toward the door.

He looked at Maida. “We will not be long.”

“That’s okay, I can try on more than one dress.”

He smiled, then left the mercantile with Pa and Duncan.

“Get to it, sweet pea,” Grandpa said. “It doesn’t take long for me to whip Wilfred.”

“Hey!” Wilfred looked at the board and jumped two of Grandpa’s pieces.

“What the bloody…? Gah!”