Page 74 of The Ranger

“No.” She looked at the banner. “I wonder where Wilfred keeps his ladder?”

“You are fine?”

She smiled. “Of course.”

He looked her over. “Hmmm...”

“Why do you keep asking me that?”

His brow creased. “I am concerned for you.”

“Why?”

“Because...” what should he say? “You are...special to me.”

She sucked in a tiny bit of air as her eyes widened. “I-I am?”

Uh-oh, should he not have said that? But it was true. “Yes.”

A warm smile slowly curved her lips. “Thank you.” She smiled again and looked away. Was she embarrassed? Her face was becoming so red.

“How are things going down here?” Wilfred asked as he re-joined them. He’d given them their candy earlier, then disappeared upstairs. Neither Grandma nor Irene had returned.

Markhel knew they were buying him time with Maida. Thank the Creator for that. He needed a lot of it.

“Fine,” Maida said. “We’re ready to hang the banner. Do you have a ladder we can borrow?”

“Yeah, it’s out back.” He headed for the back of the store.

Maida looked at Markhel, her brow creased. “I didn’t see one back there, did you?”

“No.” He smiled as an unfamiliar sensation coursed through him. It wasn’t quite delight, but something else. Was this what Melvale felt on an almost continuous basis?

His smile broadened. Yes, he believed it was. He was feeling mischievous. He knew that if the ladder was missing, it was hidden in Doc and Grandma’s barn. Grandma told him about all the little pranks they pulled on each other. Wilfred and Paddy Mulligan were the worst, and he’d have to pay a visit to the Mulligans as well. But he and the others had only been here a few days, and their top priority was Maida and their bonding. So far so good, but it seemed weak at best. Yet something was happening, so he shouldn’t try to force it.

Wilfred returned. “Doggone it, I swear I left it out there.” He scratched his head then snapped his fingers. “Doc! That wily polecat!” He marched out to the store front.

“I hope he’s not angry with Doc Waller,” Maida said with a hint of concern.

“He is not. Let us follow.” He took her by the hand and led her to the front of the store.

She didn’t protest, nor did she say anything when he led her outside. But to be safe, he let go of her hand. There would come a time when he wouldn’t be able to. Let this proceed with some sort of familiarity for her, before he had to tell her what he was, and what was happening between them. Either she would accept him, or she wouldn’t. True, he wasn’t fond of the outcome if she refused him, but she would be free, relatively unharmed as far as he knew, and would survive. He didn’t want her to spend the rest of her life with his death hanging over her head, knowing she was the cause.

They crossed the street to the Wallers’ just as Wilfred marched around the side of their house and disappeared.

Maida hurried to keep up. “Maybe Doc borrowed it and forgot to give it back,” she suggested.

He looked at her and slowed so she wouldn’t have to trot to keep up with his long strides. “I do not think that is the case. I believe Doc hid it on purpose to rile Wilfred.”

Maida stopped up short and laughed.

“You find it amusing?”

“Don’t you? Doc and his friends are always doing that sort of thing to each other. Why didn’t I think of that?”

He smiled in pleasure. He liked seeing her face light up the way it was doing now. “You enjoy their antics?”

“Of course, everyone does. But no one compares to Wilfred and Mr. Mulligan.”