Page 178 of The Ranger
She blushed a deep red, then flung herself at him. “Markhel!” Tears flowed down her cheeks as she buried her face in his hair. “Are you all right?”
He wrapped his arms around her. “I will recover. You are safe now.”
“Recover, what do you mean recover?” She drew back to look at him. “You’re pale...”
“I must join, little one.”
Her eyes widened.
“Kawahnee, you should join them now,” Zara said. “Then we will take them to the hotel. There won’t be enough time to get them home.”
“Wait, what does that mean?” Grandpa Harrison asked. He’d been guarding the bound prisoners.
Zara smiled at him. “It means they must join or marry as you call it, then join again. Markhel will not regain his strength until this happens.”
Pa’s face screwed up in confusion. “Join again?”
Vale, who stood nearby, reached him in two strides and whispered into his ear.
Pa’s eyes rounded to saucers. “What?! But they won’t bemarriedyet!”
Vale smiled. “They will be as far as Muirarans are concerned. Kwaku has the power and authority to join them, and he’d better do it fast.”
Everyone looked at Markhel who was growing paler by the second.
Makama patted Pa on the shoulder. “They can still go before Preacher Jo, but this must be done now.”
Pa went to Markhel and Maida and crouched next to them. “I guess you need this. So, fine. But you’re getting hitched again tonight.”
Markhel smiled at him as his breathing became ragged. “Th-thank you.”
Pa patted him on the back, looked at Maida, then choked back a sob. “I love you, darlin’.”
She took her father’s hand. “I love you too, Pa.”
“Quickly now,” Kwaku said, his voice gentle. “Kneel before him, little jewel. I do not dink he can stand.”
She did as Kwaku instructed.
“Now take his hands in yours.”
She nodded and did that too. Grandpa, Vale, and Makama stood off to one side.
Zara touched Pa on the shoulder. “It is best if you back away.” She waved at the others to put some distance between themselves and the kneeling couple.
“But why?” Grandpa asked. “If my granddaughter is about to get married, then I want to be able to see.”
“Trust me,” Makama said. “You’re going to see plenty.”
Everyone did as Zara asked. She then went to stand on the other side of Markhel and Maida.
Kwaku stood, hands on hips, feet slightly parted, and looked down at them. “Ahhh, but you are a glorious pair. Wonderment and Wisdom will be your name, and you will be sought by many.” Kwaku bent to them. “So, Maida, do you willingly give yourself to dis man? Will you protect him, comfort him, be what he needs before and after he is called to battle?”
She gasped. “Called to battle?”
Kwaku nodded. “He is a king’s ranger. He can go into battle on behalf of de king. Will you be dere for him? Will you protect him?”
Her jaw dropped. How could she, a simple young woman from Clear Creek, protect the likes of Markhel?