Page 31 of The Ranger
“He is royalty,” Grandma Sadie pointed out.
Maida pulled her gaze from Mr. Markhel long enough to study the couple. “You’re... a prince then?” Land sakes, how did she forget that little fact?
“Yes, third in line to the throne of Dalrovia. My older brother Asger is first in line. My sister second.”
She couldn’t help but smile. She’d never met royalty before. “Goodness.”
Mr. Berg smiled. “Indeed.”
She smiled at his wife. “Are you a princess?”
“Me?” Mrs. Berg laughed. “Well, I wasn’t born into royalty like my husband. But my father...”
Mr. Berg nudged her, and she looked at him. “Well, suffice to say Vale didn’t marry a peasant.” She flashed Maida a pretty smile. “So, you’ll have to show us around. We’d love a tour of the ranch. Vale’s father told us of the lovely swimming hole that’s nearby.”
“It’s in the canyon,” Maida said. She tried not to look at Mr. Markhel, but it was hard. He was like a magnet. How could she not have noticed him before? Okay, she was all of ten years old the last time she saw him. Not only that, but he was like a shadow that slipped in and out of town. She didn’t know much about him other than he was some sort of lawman. A bounty hunter perhaps? She wished she could remember. Would it be rude to ask?
“Colin will be so happy to see you,” Aunt Belle said, breaking into her thoughts. “As will Harrison. Too bad Duncan isn’t here.”
Mrs. Berg’s eyes widened at the name of Great Uncle Duncan. “Yes, too bad.” She exchanged a pained look with her husband.
Maida had questions she’d like to ask about Dalrovia, but Mr. Markhel kept drawing her attention.
He sat, his eyes never leaving her until Grandma Sadie came to the table. When she finally sat, he stared at the teacup her grandmother offered him.
“Thank you.” His voice was deep, smooth, and full of power. She could feel it in her bones. How odd.
Grandma Sadie sat and offered a cup to Aunt Belle.
“The men will be in soon and will have all sorts of questions, I’m sure,” Aunt Belle said. “Before they monopolize you, I should take the time to show you around the ranch.”
“Oh, Belle, let Harrison and Colin do that,” Grandma Sadie said.
“I meant just the immediate area. Maybe tell them a little history of the place.”
“I’d love that,” Mrs. Berg said.
Mrs. Berg’s expression drew Maida’s attention. She looked as if she hadn’t seen Aunt Belle in years, but the two had never met.
Maida slowly let her eyes drift back to Mr. Markhel. He was sipping his tea, the delicate china completely out of place in his huge, powerful hand. Yet he held it with a gentleness she didn’t thing a man of his size could possess.
“Would anyone like some cookies?” Maida asked. She needed to stand, move, anything to keep from staring at Mr. Markhel. Grandma would notice, and so would Aunt Belle. Speaking of which, “Grandma Sadie, where’s Mama?”
“She took your father and the others some snacks. She’ll be back soon.”
Maida nodded. Mama often rode out and joined the men in the afternoon to bring them goodies.
She left the table, went to the pantry, and slipped inside. Out of sight of the others, her breathing came in short pants, and she clung to a shelf for support. What was wrong with her?
She drew in a deep breath, let it out slowly, then did it again. Her heart racing at this point, but why? It’s not as if her family hadn’t entertained company before. So what if today it was Mr. Markhel and a prince?
She brought the cookie jar to the table and set it down in front of Mr. Markhel. “Cookie?”
He looked at her, his face softening, and cocked his head ever so slightly. “Thank you.” Without taking his eyes from hers, he reached into the jar and pulled one out.
“Well, how about that tour?” Mrs. Berg said. “Sounds interesting.”
“We’ll finish our tea, then I’ll show you around and tell you a little about the ranch,” Belle said. “But not too much, Harrison and Colin love to regale folks with the full story.”