Page 14 of Rough Riding Orc Cowboy

“A woman?” I peered around like I expected to see one appear in the sorhox pasture adjacent to my barn. “Can’t say that I have.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.

“You’re sure?” His probing gaze met mine.

I kept mine neutral. “No, why would I?”

“Well… Tark and Gracie were outside the barn and they swear they saw her and then you.”

Damn. Wincing, I shrugged. “Wasn’t me.”

I didn’t like to be dishonest with my brother, but I would not let anyone know she was hiding here with me.

“It's the oddest thing.” He sighed. “I'd swear when Aunt Inla gave them the tour that she was as eager to marry as Bradley, but unless she's been goat-napped…” He frowned. “No, goat’s not the right word.” His eyes lit up. “Kid-napped. That's the term. Humans use the oddest words, don't you think? They call their own younglings kids, but they also call a goat’s children the same term as well. And what does a nap have to do with stealing someone away?”

“Never understood it myself.” I wanted to go inside and make sure Beth was alright. I’d been up a bit, made breakfast, but she hadn’t stirred.

What if she’d run again? She’d acted like she was going to stay with me for a few days but maybe that had been pretend, and she’d climbed out my bedroom window the moment she’d shut the door last night. I wanted to smack my head for not thinking of it, but Dungar would notice and ask questions.

I needed to get inside and make sure she was still with me. I didn't want to stand in the sun and sweat, let alone find myself in a position where I'd have to lie to my older brother any more than I already had.

“We've looked everywhere,” Dungar said. “If Gracie and Tark hadn't seen her slip out the barn's side window and run, we'd be more worried.”

Had they seen me? I couldn’t ask.

“I imagine she had a ride arranged,” he said. “That she's far from here already.”

“Is her family still in town, looking for her?”

He nodded. “They're quite determined. For some reason, they think she's hiding around here somewhere. I've told him that none of us would do such a thing.”

“Who’dwantto do something like that?” Me, actually. My skin crawled from the near lie.

“Anyway, I didn't stop by only for that,” Dungar said. “I wanted to make sure you were ready to go, that you didn't need anything from me before you left.”

“Go?” This time, I did smack my forehead with my palm. “That's right. the first, week-long trail ride is leaving today at noon.” How had I forgotten? I was supposed to lead it. Four tourists, plus me. Riding the trails and camping and cooking in the open air. It sounded like work to me, not a relaxing holiday, but what did I know. Human activities were as strange as their words.

“Are you alright, brother?” Dungar asked, studying my face. “You look kind of pale. Do you want Aunt Inla to come out and take a look at?—”

“No!” I lowered my voice and splayed my fingers wide to relax them. “No. I feel fine. Just stayed up too late last night, um…watching those streaming videos you suggested.” Dungar was convinced we could figure out how to be authentic cowboys if we watched streaming images of the Wild West from long ago. I was less convinced. Dungar also believed there were real clues in the cowboys' behavior that could be used to woo a human mate.

Maybe Ishouldwatch a few of those streaming images. They might help me with Beth.

Except… It was sinking in that I didn’t stand a chance with this woman. She was not only beautiful, but she also came from a life far above mine, one I couldn’t offer.

I was a plain old orc cowboy. Yes, I worked at Lonesome Creek, and I took pride in my job. I’d share in the profits once they started coming in. And if I chose, I could return to the orc kingdom and collect all the gold nuggets I wanted since they lay on the ground almost everywhere. Wealth wasn’t the issue.

But I lived in a small ranch house. I wrangled sorhoxes during the day and likely snored at night. Beth was accustomed to living a far better life than what I could offer here, even if she deigned to look at me as if she actually wanted me for something other than protection.

“I'll be ready to go at noon.” I'd find a way.

“Good,” he said.

What was I going to do with Beth?

I could leave her here and make sure she had plentyof food. If she stayed inside and didn't turn on the lights at night, and if she made no sounds and hid the fact that she was here, they might not find her.

Or they could, and I wouldn't be here to protect her. The thought of them taking her, forcing her to be with a male she didn't love gutted me.

I didn't dare ask Dungar to watch out for her. It would be wrong to endanger any of my brothers.

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