Page 180 of The Ranger

She melted against him. “I love you too, Markhel, and hope I can show you as well.”

“You will.” He smiled and, as soon as it was safe, kicked the horse into a gallop.

* * *

The eveningof the dance was warm, and Maida fanned herself with a handkerchief as she and Markhel made their way to the refreshment tables inside the barn. The barnyard between the Kincaids’ house and her family’s and Uncle Colin’s was lit with torches that formed a square. The dancing was there, with Clear Creek’s small orchestra at one end, currently playing a waltz. Vale and Makama were dancing, as were a few others, but they weren’t waltzing. Maida knew that many of the residents of Clear Creek didn’t dance well. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to drag her new husband out there to try.

She blushed. No one knew they were married. But Markhel wasn’t human and as far as his people were concerned, they were wed. After their time in the hotel this afternoon, they were wed in every sense of the word. Maida blushed every time she thought about it and held onto Markhel in some form or fashion, just to touch him.

Pa had pulled Preacher Jo off to the side several times already and kept giving them the side eye. Every time he did, she smiled at him, then snuggled against Markhel, which sent her father off to lament the situation to her mother or grandparents.

“Well, there’s the happy couple,” Uncle Colin said as he approached. “Did you get something to eat yet?”

“We were about to,” Maida said. She noticed Uncle Colin wasn’t his usual smiling self. “Is everything all right?”

“Of course.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed.

She pried herself from Markhel who was eyeing the food. Her movement drew his attention. “What is wrong?”

She nodded at her uncle, who had moved away and was watching the dancing.

“I don’t know, he seems... sad.”

Markhel closed his eyes a moment. “He feels despondent.”

“You can feel him?”

“Now that we are joined, I can sense and feel many things.” He kissed her hair.

“Poor Uncle Colin. I wonder what’s wrong.”

Markhel pulled her against him. “I think I know, but there’s little that can be done. Do not worry, speak to him later of it.”

She nodded then took in the people around them. She wanted everyone to be happy for her, and itched to tell them she was wed, but again, until Preacher Jo performed a human ceremony, they would have to keep quiet.

But what would happen now? She knew they would be taken to the palace and brought before King Jaireth, but how long would they have to stay there? And what was her family going to tell people?

A loud whoop broke her from the thoughts. Was that Uncle Colin?

“Belle!”

Aunt Belle came running from somewhere deeper in the barn. “Colin?”

“Belle!” he yelled again his voice cracking. He pointed at something beyond the torch light.

The music stopped along with the dancing as Dallan and Shona MacDonald stepped out of the darkness into the light, and they were not alone.

Aunt Belle’s hands flew to her mouth as tears formed in her eyes. “Jefferson! Thackary!” She ran. Colin was already halfway to them.

Maida smiled. “I don’t believe it.”

Markhel watched them approach. “Time Master Dallan has brought your uncle’s offspring and their mates.”

“Yes. Oh, Markhel! I have to see them!”

He smiled at her. “Then go, little one.”

She grabbed his hand. “You’ll come with me?”

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