Page 32 of The Ranger
Grandma Sadie rolled her eyes. “That’s true. And once they get started, it’s almost impossible to get them to stop.” She winked at the Bergs then reached for the cookie jar.
Maida looked away, breaking the contact she had with Mr. Markhel. What must he think of her, staring at him like that? How embarrassing!
“Maida,” Aunt Belle said. “You’ll come with us, won’t you?”
She met her aunt’s bright-eyed gaze and nodded before she could think. “Of course.”
Aunt Belle smiled in relief. “Good. I’m sure you have lots of questions for our guests.” She turned to Mr. Markhel. “So, have you been in Dalrovia?”
“He’s been busy,” Mr. Berg cut in. “We were lucky the MacDonalds arranged for him to escort us while we tour America on our honeymoon.”
“How romantic,” her aunt said. “How long are you in town?”
He smiled at her, then his wife. “As long as my darling wishes to stay.” His eyes fixed on Mr. Markhel.
Did she dare look at him again? Would Grandma Sadie notice?
She closed her eyes, opened them, and allowed herself a peek. He was looking right at her, and she once again found herself transfixed by the big man.
“Mr. Markhel,” Aunt Belle said. “You’ll have to catch us up on what you’ve been up to.”
He looked at her, breaking contact with Maida once again. There was an odd heaviness that lingered every time he did, and Maida for the life of her couldn’t figure out what caused it.
“There is little to tell, but we can talk later. Right now, I’m sure His Royal Highness has questions about the ranch.”
“I do,” Mr. Berg chimed.
Aunt Belle smiled. “I don’t mean to sound daft, but what do we call you?”
“Vale, is fine. And this is Makama.” He smiled at his wife. “May we call you Belle?”
“Of course,” Aunt Belle said. “I’m sure we’ll learn all about each other in a short amount of time.”
Maida nibbled a cookie and kept her eyes fixed on the table. She had a gnawing sensation in her gut. A familiar one, and with any luck, wouldn’t have to run to her room and battle the horrible pangs of loneliness that hit at the most inopportune times. But was this one of them? She hoped not. She was looking forward to getting to know Vale, Makama, and especially Mr. Markhel, better.
7
Belle knew. She had to. Markhel studied her, the little looks she kept giving him, all the signs that she wanted to speak to them in private. Thank the Creator the others caught on.
“So, how about that tour?” Makama asked for the third time. She stood and smiled at Belle. He hoped Colin returned soon. He was supposed to have spoken to Harrison and Maida’s father by now, but Dallan and Shona had a sneaking suspicion he hadn’t. He supposed he couldn’t blame him. Harrison Cookie was an uppity sort, always had been. He wasn’t going to take the news of Markhel’s origins lightly. If he took them at all. He’d probably think Colin had gone mad and write it off as nothing but a bunch of hogwash.
He left his chair. “I would like to see what has changed.”
“Of course,” Belle said with a happy smile. “Come with me.”
“Maida, could you help me clean up for a few minutes?” Sadie asked.
Maida hesitated, as if her words were caught in her throat and perhaps were. She kept getting caught up in his stare, and he had no way of gauging how much to give her. He exuded power, and it was his hope that she wouldn’t be as affected by it as others were. He didn’t want to scare her for one, and two, how would that work? If she couldn’t handle what he was, how were they to bond?
“I’ll be right there, Grandma.” Maida looked at him a moment. “Would you like another cookie?”
He smiled with his eyes. “Thank you.” He reached into the jar, making sure to look at it instead of her, and pulled one out. “You are most kind.” He bit into it, his eyes fixed on hers once more, and chewed.
She swallowed hard. “I’m glad you like them.”
He looked at the sugar cookie in his hand. “Did you make them?”
She nodded.