Page 76 of The Ranger
He bent to her. “Yes, fair one. Wait for me across the street. In fact, see if the sheriff would like to help.”
Something warmed in her belly and her knees went weak for the second time that day. “Across the street...?”
He drew closer as his eyes roamed her face. He swallowed hard. “Yes,” he whispered. “You will be safe there.”
She sucked in a tiny breath. His words caressed her, their warmth starting at the top of her head and coursing all the way to her toes. “All right,” she whispered back. Not on purpose, but because he was rendering her speechless!
He smiled, took her by the shoulders and turned her around. “Off with you, little one.”
She blushed enjoying the endearment and went across the street to wait. In the sheriff’s office, she found Sheriff Tom putting up some wanted posters.
“Maida, what brings you here? Everything okay?”
“Yes,” she said breathless. She cleared her throat. “I mean, yes, Sheriff Tom. Um, we’re hanging a banner for the dance my family is giving.”
“I heard about that. Should be a fun time.” He put up another poster. Maida noticed there were more than usual. “Did you know there were strangers in the saloon?”
“I’m aware.” He turned around and smiled. “Well, well, yer cheeks are mighty rosy.” He glanced at the door. “I hear Mr. Markhel is in town.”
“Yes, he and I worked on the banner. With Grandma Waller and Mrs. Dunnigan’s help. Wilfred and Markhel are hanging one end at the saloon. Which means...”
“I gotta get on my roof,” he finished for her. He came around the desk, his eyes filling with a sort of sadness, and she wondered why.
“Something wrong?”
“No, darlin’. I was just thinking about Tillie White’s wedding and the last time I saw Mr. Markhel.” He drew in a deep breath and leaned against the desk. “How is he?”
She looked out the window at the saloon. “That’s not his name. Not his last name, anyway.” She smiled at Sheriff Tom. “His full name is Markhel Gondien Olwen.”
“Is it? Well, I’ll be. He’s been holding out on us. Is he... all right?”
“Yes, why?”
“Just askin’. He’s been gone a long time.”
“I wonder how she’s getting along,” Maida mused aloud. “She’s not come to visit in a long while.”
“No, she hasn’t.” He let go a long sigh. “Markhel send you over here?”
“Yes, he said I shouldn’t go into the saloon with strangers there.”
“And he’d be right.” Sheriff Tom came away from the desk. “I’m glad you listened to him. Now, I’d best fetch a ladder.”
“Wilfred is across the street.”
“Perfect.” He sauntered out the door.
She headed for the door and stopped just short of the threshold. It was as if she’d hit an invisible wall. Not that she touched anything. There was nothing there, yet she found she couldn’t take another step.
Oddly, when she backed up, the sensation lessened.
She stood in the middle of the sheriff’s office and watched Sheriff Tom haul the ladder across the street and listened as he set it against the side of the building. That done he returned to the office then looked across the street. “Hurry it up, Wilfred!”
“We’re going as fast as we can,” Wilfred called from a window of the saloon’s second story. “You going somewhere?”
“Nope.” Sheriff Tom chuckled and sat on the bench outside his office.
Maida blew out a breath and took one step forward, then two. She could see Markhel on the hotel’s small balcony, tying one end of the banner to it. They let the banner unfold and drop. As soon as they did, Sheriff Tom went to fetch the other end. “Want to help me, Maida?”