Page 84 of The Ranger

She plopped herself down on the first step and stared at Logan and Susara’s house across the barnyard, the corral off to the right and the barn to the left. “What happened here last night?” It was a good question. One she didn’t have an answer for. She remembered sitting at the kitchen table next to Grandma Waller, and Zara came into the kitchen. They ate didn’t they? And Markhel, he must have left before they ate. Which means Pa and Harrison. Oh dear, she didn’t find out what their conversation was about.

She left the porch and returned inside. In the kitchen, Grandma Sadie was moving slower than usual and was taking pots and pans out of the hutch and pantry to start breakfast. “Grandma, do you remember what happened last night?”

She looked at her. “Nothing too out of the ordinary. Zara and I were up late talking. No wonder I’m so tired.”

The back door opened, and Belle stepped inside. “It’s good to see you up. All of you are getting a late start this morning.”

Grandma stared at her. “Yes, it seems so.” She pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “Land sakes, how late were we up?”

“Very late.” Aunt Belle smiled then drew in a breath. “Maida, you’d better feed the chickens.”

Maida glanced between the two. The air seemed… tight? Was Aunt Belle upset with Grandma Sadie over something? “All right.” She headed out the back door without a word, sensing it the wisest thing to do. She went to the barn, grabbed the old tin can they used to scoop out chicken feed, and got to work. She looked around the barn and recalled Pa and Grandpa coming here with Uncle Colin and Markhel last night. She’d been sent back to the house. No, she fetched Aunt Belle at some point and took care of some horses. But what did the men talk about in here?

She stood in the middle of the barn and without thinking, closed her eyes. As soon as she did, something deep within her… stirred.

Maida tried to open her eyes but couldn’t. But she also didn’t panic or become frightened. No. Instead something told her she should stand very still and listen. That if she did, she would hear something.

Khama dehla…

Her eyes sprang open. “Little one.” She turned a full circle. “He called me little one. But it wasn’t…” Her words trailed off. How could this be? She went to the open barn doors. She should feed the chickens, but Markhel had been here last night, in the barn. Where was he now?

A chill went up her spine, and she sucked in some air. She had a horrible urge to do something, but she didn’t know what. It was like having to scream but being unable to open her mouth. But this wasn’t a scream trying to get out. This was something else.

She walked in a circle, clutching the can of chicken feed to her belly. “What is this?” She cringed, then doubled over, but not in pain. It was the thing trying to… escape.

Maida fell to her knees as her mouth opened and her head fell back. She saw the barn rafters overhead as whatever was deep within her began to bubble to the surface. Would she scream? She didn’t know and didn’t want to. She dropped the can of feed, her hands going to her mouth. If she screamed everyone would come running, and she didn’t want that.

She doubled over, trying to keep it locked inside, but it was growing stronger, more insistent. She tried to talk, but nothing came out. It was as if her voice had vanished.

Maida shook her head as tears filled her eyes. Now she was getting scared. Whatever was happening, she had no control over it.

Her hands went to her throat as she tried to make a noise.Anynoise. Still nothing, not even a vibration of sound. She looked at the barnyard and the farmhouses beyond. This was her home. She was born here, grew up here, yet it suddenly looked so foreign, she could hardly stand it. She knew it was home, yet it wasn’thome. And she sensed with every fiber of her being that she had to go home. She had to get there. Had to find it. But what was “it” and where?

A chill hit, an icy feeling that pooled in her belly and spread like lightning. Her mouth opened of its own accord as her arms began to rise. She sucked in some air and the thing deep within her escaped. But it wasn’t a scream, nor was it a desperate rasp. No, this was something she never expected.

Maida began to sing.

Her eyes closed as her song burst forth, scattering the chickens in the coop. She was vaguely aware of the horses neighing followed by the sound of the back door slamming into the wall as it opened. Grandma Sadie said something, but she didn’t make it out. She had to sing, had to let whatever this was go where it was supposed to. She had to Call.

* * *

Belle,Sadie, and Honoria ran for the barn, made it as far as the chicken coop, and stopped when Belle spun to them. “We shouldn’t go any farther.”

Honoria tried to get by, but Belle grabbed her by the arm. “Let me go!”

“No. Do not interfere!”

Sadie’s hands flew to her mouth as she watched. Maida knelt in the middle of the entrance to the barn, arms outstretched, head thrown back. And sang. It was loud, powerful, and frighteningly beautiful. “What is happening? Belle?!”

She took Sadie by an arm, now holding onto both women. “It’s like I just told you. Maida and Markhel are mates. He’s not like us, Sadie. Colin tried to tell Harrison and Major last night, but something happened…”

“What?” Honoria asked looking like a bull ready to charge.

Maybe she should have kept her mouth shut. But if Sadie and Honoria would believe her about why Markhel was here, then it would make it easier to win Harrison and Major over. Unfortunately, the women weren’t listening.

“Can’t the two of you put it all together?” Belle said. “The MacDonalds, Kwaku and Zara. Look at us Sadie! Look in the mirror.”

Tears filled Sadie’s eyes as she watched Maida sing. “Is that still my granddaughter?”