Page 72 of The Ranger
“Very well, thank you, but I don’t’ see why you’re asking. I was just in here the other day.”
Wilfred scratched the back of his head and gave Markhel a nervous look. “A lot can happen in a few days. Markhel’s in town, for one, and as I understand it, Andel and Maddie’s youngest. Ain’t had a chance to see him and his bride yet, and they haven’t come in here as far as I know.”
“We have been preoccupied.” Markhel said.
He smiled at her, and she blushed again. “Yes, they’ve been at the ranch with us.”
“Oh, I see. They would want to visit with you all first. But don’t forget about the rest of us. I’m sure there’s a lot of folks that would love to meet Maddie and Andel’s son and his new wife.”
“They wish to meet a lot of people while they are here,” Markhel said. “It is one of the reasons they have volunteered to help prepare for the dance.”
“Ah, yes, the dance. I heard about that.”
“From Fanny, no doubt,” Grandma said. She glanced at the staircase. “Where’s that Irene?”
“Go up and find out,” Wilfred suggested.
“I will.” Grandma headed for the staircase and disappeared up the stairwell.
Wilfred stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked toe to heel a few times. “So, would the two of you like a peppermint stick?”
* * *
She was delightful.It was the only word that came to mind. Markhel knelt by the banner, a paintbrush in his hand. He’d battled the biggest Sarian warriors, had taken on outlaws, and was trained for battle among other things. But nothing prepared him for painting a banner in the back of a general store with his future mate. He had no idea what to do or say and tried not to stumble over his words. She was intoxicating and deliciously peaceful. She dripped with it, and just being near her calmed him.
But it hadn’t been this way the last couple of days. No, this was new, and he liked it. He was always on high alert, his heightened ranger senses on the lookout for danger. But when he was with Maida, he found he could relax and just be. It was a great gift, and he was beginning to understand why she was a good match for him.
“Your brush is dripping,” she stated.
He smiled and wiped the excess off into the can of paint. “Thank you for informing me.”
She smiled, fighting against a giggle. She’d been doing that a lot the last fifteen minutes. “It’s strange you being here.”
He sat back on his heels and admired his work. He’d written the words in English, but his lettering was done with a Muiraran flourish. He thought it looked sloppy, but Maida told him a moment ago she thought it looked divine. “How so?”
“You’re painting a banner for the dance with me,” she said. “It seems strange.”
“I still do not understand why? We are working toward a mutual end.”
She laughed. “What does that mean?”
He smiled. Again. When had he ever smiled so much? “We are working together to see it done.”
“Oh, well, why didn’t you just say so?” She bit her lip as she blushed, and he let his eyes roam over her. She was no longer pale, so the food did her good. Which made him think. “When you were dizzy earlier and fainted, did you experience any pain?”
She blinked in surprise. “What? Why do you want to know?”
“I was just curious. Certain... ailments are accompanied by pain. I’ve suffered some myself.”
“Recently?” She asked with concern. “Are you feeling all right now?”
“I am. Thank you for your concern.” He could see it in her eyes, and his chest warmed knowing she was concerned for him.
He returned his attention to the banner. They were almost done. “The paint will dry soon then we can hang it.”
“That’s going to be the tricky part.” She finished the flower petal she was painting on one corner of the banner. “Will you teach me how to write like that?”
He looked at the banner. It simply said, “Barn Dance on Saturday, Triple-C Ranch”. Maida had painted the time of the dance in the lower right-hand corner, then put flowers in the other three. “I can, if you’d like. But it is just my normal handwriting.”