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Once we’d ensured the current routine worked, Sel would have bread delivered to the camping sites each day. Everyone preferred it fresh. Like me before I’d “hired” Beth, Sel still needed to hire someone to work in his bakery. He’d told me he had some applicants already and that he’d offered the job to a woman named Holly, but he hadn’t heard back from her yet.

“You have a helper for this trip, right?” Sel asked with a frown.

“I sure do. His name is…Ben. New hire, that Ben. Really sturdy youngling male. Human. Ben. Male. No mam mounds.”

“Um, sure.” Sel’s frown only deepened. “Are you alright? Not sick or anything, are you?”

“I’m fine,” I barked, then lowered my voice before I freaked out completely. “There’s nothing wrong. I’m not sick. Ben’s not sick, either.”

“That’s good, then. Have fun.” He knuckled my shoulder, an orc gesture that showed comradery. “Stop in when you get back. I can’t wait to hear how our first trail ride goes.”

“Will do. I’m looking forward to it.” I had been looking forward to it before, but I was even more excited now, because Beth was going with me.

Sel’s expression grew serious. “If you see the woman they’re looking for, make sure you grab and hold her.”

“What woman?” Better to pretend I knew nothing. No one knew I’d skulked in the back of the barn to watchthe wedding, let alone that I’d followed the runaway bride and carried her to safety. Dungar said my brother and his mate thought they’d seen me, but I’d denied it to him.

“You didn’t hear?” He rubbed his head, nearly dislodging his cowboy hat. “Happened yesterday evening. Our first wedding too. What a nightmare for Gracie who has to smooth this out with our PR. It’s sad, actually. We need to find her right away before she collapses.”

My heart stilled before thudding too hard, making my pulse thunder in my throat. “What do you mean?”

“She’s sick. Needs medicine.” His sigh came out forlorn. “She was kidnapped from the wedding. Her mate’s desperate to find her.”

I imagined he was. “What do you mean, she’s sick?”

“They said she takes regular medicine. The longer she goes without it, the sicker she’ll be.”

Beth couldn’t be sick.

Could she?

Chapter 9

Ruugar

“I’ll…” I didn’t know what to say about that.

She wouldn’t lie about something like this, would she? I’d seen the fear in her eyes when she spoke of Bradley and her father, heard the desperation in her voice. She’d know if she needed medicine. I wouldn’t believe anything else.

“I’ll keep an eye out for her,” I said.

“I’m going to ride in widening circles once my muffins and scones are out of the oven. See if I can find her.” Everything Sel made tasted amazing. Even though he’d hire someone to help him soon, I had to wonder if they’d make anything as good as him.

If Bradley and her father had spread the word that she was sick, that she needed medicine, the entire community would be determined to track her down. It was even more important that I not only hide that she was with me, but that I got her out of Lonesome Creek as soon as I could.

“Good idea.” I strode away from him. I leaped up onto my sorhox, Ebar, and nudged his sides, urging him to pick up his pace and take me out of town. As we moved away from the saloon, I tried to ignore the feel of Sel watching my back and hoped there wasn’t confusion or speculation on his face.

Ebar’s hooves pounded against the dirt as I urged him faster, the dry wind whipping across my face. My mind churned, looping back to Sel’s words.

Sick. Needs medicine. The longer she goes without it, the sicker she’ll be.

Beth hadn’t mentioned anything about needing something like that. She looked strong. Healthy. Still, the seed of worry had been planted. Had she withheld that information or was this a trick? Bradley and that man who called himself her father believed they owned her. They wanted her back. Would they sayanythingto keep people searching?

Anger burned through me at the thought. It didn’t matter. Even if she was sick, even if she did need medicine, I'd help her. We'd get the medicine, and she wouldn't go back with them, because she didn't want to. That was enough for me. But I wouldn’t take their word for it. I’d ask her. I’d make sure she was well, make sure she had everything she needed.

Seeing the barn ahead, Ebar picked up his pace, and I pressed my knees into his sides. Orcs relied on foot pressure to guide their mounts, not human saddles and harnesses. Ebar flicked an ear backtoward me in question.

“Sorry,” I said, easing the pressure. My thoughts were a mess, but I had to stay focused. Beth needed me to be strong for her.