Page 15 of Rough Riding Orc Cowboy

Dungar swatted at a bug buzzing around his head, hitting and nearly dislodging his cowboy hat instead. He straightened it and looked at me squarely. “Can I come inside? The bugs are horrible. I won’t stay long.”

“I…” How could I tell him that Beth was asleep in my bed—my bed! Assuming she hadn’t run.

But I couldn’t tell him that she’d run away from her wedding, and I’d rescued her. That I’d told her I’d keep her safe. He’d understand, especially if I showed him the mating mark on my wrist. But her wedding was the first we’d held here and on our opening day. More than anyone, Dungar wanted this venture to succeed.

I imagined Gracie and Tark were doing all they could to make sure upcoming guests weren't horrified about the failed event. Gracie was our PR person and Tark helped her. They'd done amazing things to build our Lonesome Creek brand already. This could set us back. Even more, me helping her escape and hiding her inside my house would add a complication I didn't know how to deal with.

But I would not let them take her. I'd fight to thedeath to protect her.

“You can't come in,” I blurted out. I didn't dare risk Beth strolling down the hall or even into the living room. Though, if she heard voices, she might hide. Assuming she was there. I had to get inside and find out!

Dungar would see that I'd slept on the sofa. I hadn't tidied up in there yet, and blankets were strewn everywhere. The sofa was orc-sized, but it wasn't made for an orc to sleep on. My feet had hung off the end, and my blanket kept slipping off all night. Still, I was happy to think of Beth sleeping comfortably in my bed even if I kept dreaming of her inviting me to join her.

“Why not?” Dungar asked, frowning at the closed door behind me.

“It's messy.”

His low laugh rang out. “It's always messy. I can't imagine why you don't have everything organized and tidied.”

Because that was his thing, not mine.

He swatted at a bug buzzing around his head, hitting and nearly dislodging his cowboy hat in the process. “Well, I guess I understand why you wouldn't want me of all orcs seeing the inside of your house. I promise I won’t start putting things in neat rows for you.”

“I appreciate that, Dungar.”

“So let me in.” He smacked his neck. “The bugs are going to pick me up and carry me away to feast on me at their leisure.”

“I can’t.”

“You know I don't judge you at all for how you keep your own home.”

There was my brother again, kindness itself.

“Do you have all the staff you need for the ride?” he asked, smacking a bug on his right thigh.

“I…” I stopped before telling him I'd hired someone to help, but they'd recently quit. I'd gone through the other applications but there hadn't been any I thought would fit, and I'd decided to handle things myself on this first trail ride with the intention of posting the job position again when I got back. Better to do it all myself than hire someone who'd mess things up.

Maybe I wouldn’t need to handle it alone.

“I hope you were able to find someone good,” Dungar said.

“I hired a young human male.”

“How young?”

“He's an adult, and he's…slim. Tiny for his, um, age.”

“Size doesn't matter as long as he does a good job washing the dishes and helping keep our guests happy. At least this first group is small.”

We'd purposefully kept it that way, deciding we could evaluate how it went after we’d returned and made changes before we expanded the group. Only four tourists would go on the ride this time with the intention of eight or so when we were at full speed. We wanted to establish a cozy, intimate atmosphere, and that couldn’t be done with a large group. Not with only me and one assistant.

Before we expanded, we’d have to build more cabins, but my brothers, Ostor and Greel, had plans to do that soon.

“Alright, sounds good,” my brother said, smacking a bug that had landed on his face. “I should go.” He scowled at my back door. “Since your house is too messy to invite me in.”

“Some other time?”

His irritation faded as fast as it had risen. My brother never stayed mad at anyone for long.

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