Page 52 of The Ranger
“Literature,” Mr. Markhel repeated. “Books.”
She cringed. “I suppose so. But it would help me become a teacher or governess one day.”
Mr. Markhel studied her. “You like children.”
She shrugged.
Her brother, Duncan, who was seated next to her, snorted. “What Maida needs is a good man to take care of her.”
Her head snapped to him. “Don’t you start.”
Mr. Markhel straightened in his chair. “Start what?”
“It’s nothing but a bit of sibling rivalry,” Mama explained. “Duncan’s home from college for the summer. He’s studying history, literature, and business.”
“You are grooming him to run the ranch,” Mr. Markhel stated.
“Of course,” Grandpa Harrison said. “It takes more than a few people to run this place. He’ll be a big help to his Uncles Sam and Maxwell after we’re all dead and gone.”
“Do you have to put it that way, Grandpa?” Duncan said. “And I’m sorry Maida. I didn’t mean anything by it.”
She slumped a little in her chair. At times her family made her feel like she was helpless. It’s not like she couldn’t do anything. She knew how to run a household, sort of. And she could cook a little. She wasn’t too bad with a needle and thread either…
“Maida often has her head in the clouds,” Pa said to clarify. “Perhaps we’ve spoiled her.”
She sucked in a breath and sunk a little lower.
“No more than you have me, Pa,” Duncan said.
Aunt Belle stood. “Anyone ready for dessert?”
Maida sent up a silent thank you to the Almighty and got up herself. “I’ll help you.”
She hurried around the table to the stove where two pies sat in the warming ovens. She could only imagine what Mr. Markhel thought of her now.
“Harrison,” Grandma Sadie began. “I was thinking, since the Bergs, and Awahnees are here, why don’t we have a dance?”
Maida spun to the table. “A dance?”
Aunt Belle took a pie out of the warming oven. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. We could have it here at the ranch.”
“My thoughts exactly.” Grandma Sadie left her chair and came to the stove. She grabbed the coffee pot and began to refresh everyone’s cups. “I know we’ve already had the family barbecue, but this could be a summer’s end dance. It will be fun.”
Maida turned just in time to see Kwaku rub his chin. “Yes, a dance. That would work fine.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant by that and didn’t care. Her eyes were glued to the back of Mr. Markhel’s head. “When would we have it?”
“Soon, sweet pea,” Grandpa said. “Vale, Makama, you’ll be around a while, won’t you?”
Vale looked at his wife. “Darling?”
“Of course we’ll stay if you’re going to have a dance. That sounds like fun.” She gave everyone a wide smile.
Uncle Colin slapped his hands on the table. “Then it’s settled! We’ll have a dance next Saturday. That’s a little over a week. Plenty of time to arrange things don’t you think?”
“Let’s see.” Grandma Sadie tapped her chin with a finger. “I’ll have to go to town and speak with Irene and Rosie. They always want to oversee the food at these things.”
“I’ll go with you,” Mama volunteered.