Page 80 of Rough Riding Orc Cowboy

She grinned. “Slingshots. Old-fashioned targets and new-fangled prizes.” She sent a smirk my way. “I bet anything Ben here has quick hands. Think they’re fast enough to keep up with you, Ruugar?”

A deep chuckle rumbled up Ruugar’s throat, and the sound did something dangerous to me.

I lifted my chin, crossing my arms on my chest. “Oh, I think I can hold my own fine.”

The group laughed, and the energy shifted. Beth-the-runaway-bride with her tangled emotions faded away, replaced by someone fun.

A playful challenge between me and my orc cowboy?

Bring it on.

After breakfast had been eaten and the cooking gazebo put back to order, we set up the target at the edge of camp, a board propped against a thick tree trunk with a bullseye in the middle. The slingshots were simple Y-shaped branches with sturdy elastic bands and leather sleeves the guys hurriedly put together. Joel showed everyone how to aim properly. Said he'd done this all the time when he was a kid.

I was going to get skunked.

I took my place beside Ruugar, rolling my shoulders, already determined to win. Yeah, sure. Joel was going to scoop up the prize—a gold-colored nugget Ruugar presented, something that had to be fool's gold. No one carried the real thing around in their pocket. He surely locked up the few he’d offered me in a safe at his ranch. Or took them into town for safekeeping.

As we took our first shots, a few things became obvious. Joel was crushing us all. Carol and Pete saw this right away and gave up after their first shots went off into the woods, scaring everysquirrel in the vicinity. Mary opted to play judge and not compete at all. That left me, Joel, and Ruugar competing for the prize.

Joel soon dropped out, saying he didn’t think it was fair for him to compete when he’d played with slingshots so much as a kid. He would’ve won for sure.

Ruugar and I sized each other up and kept competing.

I could soon see that Ruugar was letting me beat him. His shots went a little to the left. A little too low. Every time I came even close to the target, he grunted, nodding approvingly, but his smirk? It gave him away.

I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re losing on purpose.”

He looked at me innocently. “Me?”

“You don't fool me,” I scoffed, jabbing my slingshot his way. My heart was singing because thiswasfun, and he seemed to enjoy being with me. “You’re throwing the shots.”

Laughter rippled through the group who must’ve already seen what was happening.

Carol let out an exaggerated sigh. “Oh dear. Ruugar, honey, that’s…adorable.”

Pete chuckled. “Letting your Ben win, are ya?”

Ruugar shifted his weight, and he held my gaze.Daring me.

I planted my feet, gripping the slingshot tighter. “You don’t have to let me win, you know.”

Ruugar’s smirk deepened, but he didn’t argue. Instead, he lifted his slingshot, loaded another smooth stone, and let it fly. The rock struck deadcenter.

Carol let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest. “Would you look at that? Our Ruugar’s a regular old heart surgeon.”

Pete chuckled. “Guess he finally decided to stop pretending.”

Ruugar’s gaze stayed on me, amusement in his expression, satisfaction lurking somewhere deeper. “Didn’t want you thinking you could actually beat me.” If his eyes weren’t sparkling, I’d feel like kicking him. Instead, I just found his smirk cute.

But heat flared in my chest. He was asking for it now. I gripped my slingshot tighter, reloaded, and took my shot, which, for me, was actually pretty good. Joel wasn't the only kid who'd played with slingshots when he was young. I grew up alone. Bored. I only had limited internet, but I was crafty. I also felt I should make some weapons. Just in case.

My stone hit just outside the bullseye. Close but not close enough.

“Not bad.” Ruugar stepped a little nearer to me, his presence messing with my mojo.

The air charged between us again, different from before. Less playful. More intense.

Mary, watching, rocked on her heels. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say we’ve got some unresolved tension brewing.”

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