Page 60 of The Ranger
Shona cringed. “He sent Makama and Vale because he thinks Philip might be sneaking around.”
Dallan seethed, the tell-tale twitch in his jaw jumping. “And he didna think to tell either one of us?” He ran a hand through his hair, an action she rarely saw.
“He’s only trying to protect us. Besides, Kwaku’s there.”
“Aye, and ye well ken that Brennan and the heathen have a history. If Kwaku runs across him, he’s liable to toy with the man.”
“Dallan, he won’t.” She put a hand on his arm, letting it slide down to his wrist. She rubbed his forearm then, hoping the touch would calm him.
He took a deep breath. “I suppose there’s nothing to be done about it. Yer da could have told us though.”
“I know, but you know how he is.”
“Och, aye. He kens how much this would upset me, and the trouble poor Vale and Makama are going to have. I hope they’re holding together.”
“We can go check, can’t we?”
He ran his hand through his hair again. “That’s just it,M’eudain. Yer da has a fair point in all this. He well kens I’d like to throttle that cur the minute I lay eyes on him. But for all I know, the Brennan I might run into hasna abducted ye yet. If I were to kill him, I might never meet ye.”
“It’s all so complicated.” Indeed, just how bad had the timeline been disrupted? Could they fix it at all?
“Let’s talk to Melvale,” Dallan suggested. “He might have some idea of what we can do.”
She smiled. “You mean, how much we can get away with.”
“Precisely.” He took her by the hand and headed for the door of their quarters. “Where has Kitty got to?”
“She and Essie are already with Melvale. I decided to wait for you here.”
He nodded. “I’m glad ye did. No one needed to see my wee outburst.” He put his arms around her and pulled her close. “I’m sorry, lass. I didna mean to snap.”
“You didn’t.”
“Nay, not directly, but I was about to. The thought of Brennan still loose out there is unnerving.”
“It’s not that he’s loose, Dallan. He’s running around looking for something. Kitty and I went to see Nohvak, and he helped us figure at least that much out.” She leaned into him, letting him hold her. “I’m sorry this is so frustrating for you.”
“And yerself.” He kissed her hair. “But we’ll get through it, and make sure Markhel and his Maiden are matched. I wonder what sort of lass Maida grew up to be?”
“I have no idea, I’m not sure anyone does. I didn’t even know who was sent to observe her.” She rested her cheek against his broad chest and closed her eyes. “This is nice.”
“Aye,” he said softly. “A wee too nice.” He looked down at her. “D’ye think Kitty would like some extra time to visit Melvale?” He bent down and nuzzled her neck.
She sucked in a breath. “Oh…um.. yeah…”
Dallan worked his way to her mouth and kissed her. She kissed him back as he scooped her up and before she knew it, was placing her on their bed, the kiss unbroken. Kitty and Melvale would have to wait. Dallan needed this. So did she. They were both on edge and there was no telling if they’d be allowed to travel to Markhel and the others to help. If her father thought it too dangerous, then that was that. He could order them to stay and Dallan, his heart now under oath to the king, would have to obey. But that didn’t mean they couldn’t find another way to discover what was going on and give some help, no matter how small.
* * *
Markhel atebreakfast in the hotel’s dining room and decided it was high time he visited Grandma Waller. He let Lorcan know where he was going so he could inform Vale and Makama when they came down to breakfast, then left the hotel.
He strolled down Clear Creek’s main street and noticed a few new buildings and the beginnings of a side street. There was also a new little house on the other side of Dunnigan’s Mercantile.
He approached the Wallers’ and smiled. Grandma Waller was old as far as humans of the period went. She had to be near a hundred. But when she and some of the other elderly residents in Clear Creek drank one of Kwaku’s healing draughts, one enhanced by mistake by Irene Dunnigan a few years ago, the little group of friends would live longer, and as such, would leave Clear Creek soon. It was the reason the Wallers, Dunnigans, Van Cleets and Mulligans now resided in a replica of Clear Creek within the library of the Muiraran palace in his time.
He knocked on the door, a smile on his face. He’d just seen Grandma and her friend days ago in the palace. But here, in this time, Grandma and the others hadn’t seen him for years.
Doc opened the door and let out a whoop of surprise. “Markhel! Ha!” He launched himself at him, landing against him with athump. Doc patted him on the back as he hugged him. “You old scallywag!”