Page 20 of Buck Wild Orc Cowboy
Zist rubbed his massive cheek across Sel’s side, almost knocking him over.
“Easy, boy,” he said with a smile that made my knees go weak. Sel turned our way, his fingers still stroking Zist’s snout. He completely ignored the tourists, though only a few lingered, making cooing sounds, some pointing. Others filming. “Zist was my first sorhox. I raised him from the time he was weaned.”
There was love in the way he looked at that beast. Real love. And when Zist leaned in again, Sel braced a hand on his shoulder and chuckled. “He’s dramatic, loves to make an entrance.”
“He’s so cool,” Max said.
I nodded. So was the orc standing with him.
Sel acted with incredible care. Not only with Zist, but with Max. Me too. Even his voice held warmth all the time, and it wrapped around me like safe walls built from nothing but kindness. His sweetness stirred feelings I wasn’t ready for. A longing I’d buried so deep I didn’t recognize it until now.
This was a crush—so I told myself. It would fade soon.
Or would it?
Since it must appear that nothing more exciting was going to happen, the tourists left.
Sel gestured for us to join him. “I’ll help Max mount.”
“I’ll ride with him?” I asked, though I suspected I knew the answer already.
“You’re with me.” Sel didn’t meet my eyes. “Zist is older. Bigger. He’s been trained to carry more than one person while Brelar’s not quite there yet. If you’re with me, I’ll make sure you don’t fall. That’s not something Max can offer.”
“How far do we have to travel?” I asked.
“Fifteen minutes or so. We built our homes on the western side of town.”
Me riding with Sel was a practical solution outside of me riding my own sorhox, which wouldn’t make sense for fifteen minutes.
I gave him a nod.
His posture loosened. Had he worried I’d balk about the riding arrangements?
Sel led Brelar over to a small wooden block near the front of the barn, with Max following. Once he’d climbed on, the block was just tall enough for Max to swing a leg over Brelar’s broad back without tumbling off the other side.
“Step up. Grip the back ridge,” Sel said calmly. Max did as instructed with a studious look on his face. My son was serious about everything, and I loved him more than anything. “That’s it. Balance with your knees. He’s got girth, but he’s steady.”
Max adjusted his seat. Sat taller. His mouth opened in amazement.
“He’ll stay with Zist automatically,” Sel said. “But if you press behind his left shoulder with your heel, he’ll turn left. Same for right. Don’t kick—just apply soft pressure.”
“Got it.” Max beamed like Sel had handed him the keys to a spaceship.
His joy made my throat sting. When had he last been excited about anything outside a new book? Too long.
“I'm going to have him follow me around in the yard.” Sel settled both of Max's feet in the stirrups. “Hold onto the hornand move with Brelar. Get a feel for it before we start toward my place.” His gaze sought Max's. “Are you alright with that?”
“I am.” Pure joy came through in my son’s voice.
Sel strode to Brelar's head and patted the beast's snout before making a clicking sound in his throat and moving away from the sorhox. Brelar placidly followed him in a small loop around me and Zist, who watched the other sorhox with what I swore was complete boredom.
Finally, they came to a stop near me.
“Do you feel alright riding him now?” Sel asked my son, who nodded eagerly.
“I'm ready,” Max said with a big grin.
Sel turned to me. “How about you? Are you ready?”
