Page 69 of The Ranger

She frowned. “But by then your food will be cold.”

“No, Rosie knows to bring me more.”

Her eyes roamed over him. “I imagine you have a healthy appetite.”

“I do.” He smiled and reached for his chicken. “You do not mind if I eat?”

“Go right ahead,” Mrs. Dunnigan said. “Land sakes, someone as big as you must be able to eat a horse.”

“I would never,” Markhel said with a hint of affront.

“It’s a figure of speech! Why do you Muirara...erm, I mean, why do you always take things so literal?”

He shrugged. “I am not familiar with some of your idioms. Forgive my ignorance.”

“She didn’t mean anything by it,” Maida said, coming to his defense. By some miracle she was getting to spend time with him. The last thing she wanted was for anyone to ruin it or cut that time short. “Go on, eat what you want.”

His face softened as he looked at her. “Thank you.” He took a bit of chicken, his eyes never leaving hers, and her heart did more than a flip. It leapt so hard in her chest she thought it would jump right out!

She put a hand over it and gave him a shy smile.

Grandma, for whatever reason, was smiling too, as was Mrs. Dunnigan. Were they happy to see them getting along? She was! Very happy indeed.

14

When the food came, Maida attacked hers with gusto. She was hungry, yes, but also nervous, and wasn’t sure what to do with herself other than eat.

“Land sakes, child, slow down,” Grandma said.

Mrs. Dunnigan watched her with a look of disgust, shook her head then started eating her own food.

“Youwerehungry,” Markhel stated.

Her eyes fixed on him, her mouth full of food. She chewed as fast as she could and swallowed. “Yes, I guess I was. Er, am.” She took another bite of her potatoes. The fried chicken lunch at the hotel always came with mashed potatoes and gravy, a vegetable, and two pieces of chicken. Rosie brought Markhel two extra pieces when she brought the rest their food. Grandma didn’t think anything of it, and neither did Mrs. Dunnigan. But then, they knew him better than she did. He visited with them often enough when he used to come to town years ago. She remembered Pa saying something about it.

“So, the MacDonalds,” she said, trying to start some conversation. “Did they give you medicines to bring to Grandma while you’re here?”

He looked at her, then Grandma. “They did not. Grandma is... better.”

“I sure am,” Grandma said and winked at him. “That green stuff was awful going down, but it worked miracles.”

“You said it,” Mrs. Dunnigan added. She stuffed some potatoes into her mouth, then stabbed at her cooked carrots.

“Grandma Sadie told me about it once. Did you ever try it, Mrs. Dunnigan?”

The old woman coughed then reached for her iced tea. At least she didn’t spit coffee all over the table like Vale had the other night.

“I have,” Mrs. Dunnigan said when the coughing stopped. She looked Maida in the eyes. “Needs honey.”

Grandma snorted and even Markhel cracked a smile.

Maida looked at them, smiled herself, then got back to eating.

When the meal was done, Grandma patted her stomach. “That was a fine lunch, but now it’s time to get to work. Irene, we’ll head to your place, and you can give us whatever you have on hand as far as paint and some other supplies.”

“Fine, but you’ll have to pay for the brushes. Don’t know where the last ones went after the banner for the town picnic got made. Someone probably took them home.”

“To clean them perhaps?” Grandma suggested.