Page 183 of The Ranger

Markhel took her other hand. “Little one, it is something that will add life to whoever drinks it. They will not live as long as you or me, but they will be there for you long enough for more family to come into your life that you can love.”

She sucked in a breath and looked at the Wallers, Van Cleets, Mulligans and finally Irene and Wilfred. “You said something about a concoction they drank that made them feel good.”

“Yes, at the hotel. He remembered their love making more and tried not to smile. There would be more of that soon enough. He tucked a finger under her chin and brought her face up. “They do this for you.”

Sheriff Tom stepped forward and took a glass, and she realized his wife Rose was not in attendance.

Maida sniffed back tears as she looked at everyone holding a glass. “You’re altering your lives for me?”

“We can’t have you starving, darlin’,” Major said. “We’ll make it work.”

Her brother stared at the tray of what glasses remained, then looked at her. “I’m sorry, Maida, I need more time.”

She let go of Markhel’s hand and hugged him. “That’s all right; I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to.”

“I need more time too, sweet pea.”

She turned to Harrison and hugged him too. “It’s okay, Grandpa. Everything will be okay.” She looked at Sadie when she let him go, hugged her, then returned to Markhel.

“Others who know about this, will also be given the offer,” Preacher Jo said. “But this is enough for now. We wanted you to know that you won’t have to worry about doing... um, what it is you have to do with your heart.”

She wiped tears from her eyes. “But Preacher Jo, why are you and Annie doing this? You don’t have to.”

“No, we don’t. But we are all family, and Annie and I decided we can do more for our family and you, if given a little more time to work with.” He raised his glass, then drained it. “Hmm, not bad.”

“I always said it needed honey,” Irene quipped.

Maida’s hands flew to her mouth to stifle a sob, but it escaped anyway. She buried her face in Markhel’s chest, and he held her close. “My little Maida, how your family and friends love you. I hope that one day, I too can share such a love with my family.”

She looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. “Don’t you get along?”

“We do, but I have feared their love. I will fear it no more.” He tilted her face up to his with a finger and kissed her as the others drank. He was more than a little overwhelmed at the love her family along with the residents of Clear Creek, had for each other. And now, they were his family too. He would protect them with the same fierceness and loyalty with which he protected his own family. His people. And his king.

* * *

“What’s happening down there Philip?”

Philip Brennan’s eyes narrowed as he stared at the ranch below. He knew they couldn’t stay long or Kawahnee and Zara would sense them. But it was because of something he sensed when they returned to cover some of their tracks, that brought them so close to the ranch.

“There’s another Time Master down there, but I don’t know who it is. I’ve never felt him before.”

“Yes, I feel him too. He is... powerful. Perhaps even more so than Kwaku.”

“Yes, Kwaku.” He turned to her. “I shall no longer call him Kawahnee. He is not my friend.”

“He was.”

“He took our children, Lissa.” His eyes narrowed to slits. “Tell me, my dear, you wouldn’t have had anything to do with that, would you?”

“Philip, how can you say such a thing?”

He gave her one last look then turned his attention back to the ranch below. “Wewillfind them. Kwaku has hidden them somewhere for safekeeping. The fool.”

She sighed. “He took them because you are not yourself!”

He spun to her. “Enough!” Philip turned away, took a deep breath to calm himself, then faced her. “Let us leave this place. I cannot take on two Time Masters if we are discovered.”

She nodded, and the two quietly slipped into the night.

---