Page 64 of Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
A shaky laugh escaped him, and he straightened his shoulders.
I gave the end of the rope a light tug. “Let’s see you lead her around.”
Max took a deep breath, tightened his fingers around the straps, and clicked his tongue the way I’d shown him. Mishkafollowed him, her segmented hooves making soft clops on the hay-strewn wooden floorboards.
I watched him circle the inside of the pen with her following.
Pride swelled in my chest so fast it was painful.
“That’s it.” I smiled when Max glanced my way, his face alight with pure joy. “You’re very good at this. She can tell.”
His cheeks flushed with happiness.
After a few laps, we called it a night. Max removed Mishka’s halter, hanging it back on the wall peg before giving her one last scratch behind the ears.
“She did good,” he said.
“So did you.”
“Thank you, Sel. I appreciate it.”
I nudged his shoulder with my knuckles and when he frowned, I explained. “Orcs do this to show friendship. Comradery.”
He jumped up to do the same to me.
“One day soon, you won’t need to jump,” I said as we headed back toward the house, walking side by side in the darkness. Cool air nipped my skin, and the first stars were peeking out overhead. “If you think you can handle it, I’d like you to work with her again tomorrow. You can take her from the pen, but don’t leave the barn. Not yet. Make sure the barn doors are secure, and you’ve got a good grip on her harness before you release her from her pen, then lead her back and forth a few times tomorrow to get her used to that.”
Max nodded like I’d handed him a sacred quest. “I can do it.”
“In a few days, we’ll start taking her outside, but I want to do that only during daylight hours in case she bolts.”
His head tilted. “Would she?”
I shrugged. “Maybe. We won’t give her the leeway to do anything like that. We’ll work with her so much, it won’t occur to her to do anything but what we ask. As you saw, orcs don’tuse harnesses or saddles, but the tourists going on trail rides do. We’re training Mishka for an important job.”
His chest puffed. “I can do it. You can trust me.”
“You’re right. I can.”
As we neared the house, I glanced sideways at him. His mop of hair was sticking up in the back, and there was a smudge of dirt on his cheek. He looked happy, and it made my chest ache.
I didn’t only want a future with Holly. I wanted one with Max too. This was what a family could be, laughter and trust and learning side by side. No fear or cruelty.
I wasn’t sure what I’d done to deserve being here to give them both a second chance, but I’d do everything in my power to protect it.
I ruffled Max’s hair one more time before we stepped up onto the porch. He rolled his eyes but didn’t duck away this time.
We walked into the house, shucked our boots, and after washing our hands at the sink, we strode to the living room. We found Holly curled up on the couch with a book, her feet tucked up under her, her face peaceful.
My heart twisted in the best way.
Chapter 23
Holly
After breakfast the next morning, we left Max to work with the sorhox youngling and rode Zist to town. It felt nice to ride with Sel. Comforting.
And arousing. My feelings were growing all the time, but I didn’t know what to do about them yet.
