Page 16

Beth

T he sorhoxes snorted and tossed their heads as we rode into the meadow, sensing the end of their journey for the day.

The towering trees at the edges cast long shadows across the wide clearing, their leaves rustling in the breeze.

Beyond them, on the left, a river glittered in the late afternoon sunlight, water tumbling over smooth stone ledges to form a small cascade.

A deep, clear pool stretched below the falls, and I could already imagine how amazing it would feel to swim there after-hours in the saddle.

The campsite itself was well-prepared. Lanterns hung on wooden posts, waiting to be lit, and a circle of head-sized rocks ringed the central firepit.

Two cute wooden cabins with little flags on top fluttering in the wind had been built beneath the shade of a cluster of tall trees.

To our right, I spied the cooking gazebo Ruugar had mentioned, where we’d prepare and eat all our meals.

A shed stood in the back, near the trees, and he’d told me all the supplies we’d need had been stored inside.

They'd gone out of their way to make this look comfortable, like more than just some wilderness camp. This was meant for retreat, for relaxation.

Ruugar brought Ebar to a halt and swung off in a single motion. He turned, striding over and reaching up as Mary struggled to dismount. His large hands caught her around the waist, and he swept her off her mount and gently set her on the ground, holding her arms until she'd steadied herself.

His hands were so careful, his gesture kind and thoughtful.

I had no right to wonder how they would feel on my waist again, how I might fit against him if I let myself lean in.

Bringing Barg to a halt, I clenched the reins tighter, looking away from him before the thought could take root.

He wasn’t for me. He had no reason to want me here, let alone want me like that.

Marty laughed and thanked him. Joel dismounted and joined her, patting his wife on the shoulder.

“That was smoother than I expected,” he said, rubbing his lower back. “Though I imagine I'll be feeling it later.”

Carol chuckled as she slipped down from her mount, into Pete’s arms. “If it's anything like horseback riding, we’ll all be sore.”

Pete stretched out his legs, grimacing playfully. “Guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

I had a harder time getting down myself, my legs stiff from gripping Barg’s sides for so long.

Ruugar stepped closer as if to help, but I managed to slide off without embarrassing myself too much.

When I hit the ground, my knees nearly buckled, but I caught myself and straightened before anyone noticed. If Ruugar did, he didn’t comment.

He gestured toward the cabins. “Each couple has one. There's a bed inside. Room enough to move around. And a solar-powered lantern for light.”

Joel took his and Mary's bags as Ruugar removed them from the cart. He strode over to one of the cabins and tugged open the door to peek inside, whistling softly. “Well, now this is how I like to camp. Glamping, for sure. Would you look at that bed, Mary? Orc-sized! I read about them. They’re elevated higher than ours because orcs have longer legs, plus they’re longer and wider overall. ”

She joined him at the door. “We’re going to lose each other in that bed, Joel.”

He patted her backside. “No worries about that, love. I’ll find you no matter where you roam.”

She chuckled. “You. Remember when you thought sleeping in a hammock under the stars was romantic?”

Joel sighed. “I was younger back then than I am now.”

Carol pulled Pete toward their own cabin, curiosity lighting her eyes.

Ruugar strode toward their sorhoxes, and I hurried to him, determined to prove I could handle whatever was needed next .

“I have to remove the saddles and harnesses now,” he said.

“I’ll help.”

“No, you can…sit.”

I huffed. “I’m here to do my share. Tell me how.”

“It’s not easy work.”

“Ruugar,” I growled. “Show me.”

“But…” He rubbed his face with one hand. “Alright. But don’t work too hard. You’re tired.”

“So are you, but you’re going to do it. I can too.”

He stared at me for a long while, pretty much grinding his tusks, before he grumbled and turned to the mount again, unstrapping the creature’s saddle slowly, showing me how he did it. “We'll let them graze freely after we’ve finished. They know to stay nearby.”

I nodded and set to work loosening the clasps on one of the other sorhox’s gear, doing my best to mimic Ruugar's deft motions.

As I struggled, my hat tipped too far forward, blocking my vision.

I huffed. The thick saddle strap refused to budge, despite how determined I was to make it loosen.

Grumbling, I tugged harder, my fingers slipping on the heavy leather.

Before I could yank again, Ruugar’s hand ghosted along the brim of my hat, tilting it back enough for me to see clearly.

I froze.

His fingers lingered on my cheek before he pulled away as if he hadn’t sent my heart slamming against my ribs and stolen the air from my lungs .

He loosened the strap and left me to tug the saddle off the beast.

“There,” he said, as gruff as ever, already returning to his own task. “Let me know if you can’t lift it.”

The day I couldn’t lift a simple leather saddle was the day?—

When I tugged it off, it smacked into my chest and nearly knocked me flat on my backside. I grinned and held it close, snickering at myself.

“Good job,” Ruugar called out, and he wasn’t even laughing.

It was nothing but simple praise, something any mentor or friend might say to an apprentice. But the warmth of his fingers still burned my skin, even though they hadn’t touched me for long or with any true intention on his part.

I wanted to say something. Maybe tease, but all I could do was swallow the lump in my throat and nod stiffly, pretending like my pulse wasn’t a frantic drum in my ears.

He hadn't even noticed what he'd done. Why would he? I was just some foolish tag along, someone disrupting his carefully planned business. A burden with nothing to offer except more complications.

As I returned to the task at hand, lugging the saddle over to place it with the others, my skin buzzed with a quiet, aching awareness of him. And I hated myself for yearning for something I could never have.

The straps were sturdy, thicker than anything I’d dealt with before, and it took a few extra tries to undo the next saddle properly.

Ruugar watched for a moment, nodding in approval, before striding over to the sorhox who'd pulled the cart.

While I laid the saddle and harness on the ground with the others and went to the final sorhox, he unloaded and unhitched the cart, freeing the beast.

He worked silently, but I could feel him watching. Not critically, more like he was making sure I wouldn’t hurt myself. It was kind of sweet, actually. It made me feel protected in a good way. Not like he was trying to control me, but like he truly worried I might get hurt.

He didn’t even realize how dangerous that small bit of kindness from him was. It made me crave things I had no right wanting. A place here. A place with him. But I was trouble, and soon enough, he’d be glad to see me go.

I pulled the final saddle off with more force than needed. It nearly tipped me backward, but I caught myself in time. The sorhox let out a deep snort, flicking its ear toward me as if questioning my competence. Probably fair.

“You’re alright?” Ruugar barked loud enough the sorhox he was working with snorted and sidestepped away from him.

“I’m fine. Stronger than I thought I was.” I laughed. “This is fun.”

He blinked a moment. “How could you consider it fun?”

“Because it is.” Why wouldn’t it be?

Ruugar’s gaze lingered on me for a long time before he spoke. “You’re doing a good job. ”

Warmth curled low in my belly.

While the sorhoxes went to the river to drink, we carried the saddles and harnesses to the storage area, and after wiping them down and rubbing oil into the leather, we placed them on hooks under the overhang.

By the time we’d finished, the sorhoxes were nibbling at the grass. Their hides gleamed wetly, telling me they’d taken a dip in the river while they were there.

“We’ll brush them after we eat, when they’re dry,” he said.

“Sorhoxes are incredible.” I felt lucky to be a part of this new venture.

Ruugar grunted. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him glancing my way.

Something about his quiet acceptance unsettled me in ways I didn’t want to think about.

More than anything, I wanted to keep standing where I was, listening to his voice, watching the way he moved.

But if I stared at him for too long, I’d give myself away.

I liked him. A lot. So I stepped back, dusted my hands on my pants, and cleared my throat.

“Let me show you around,” he said, and we walked side by side toward the large screened-in room with a shingled roof.

“This is the cooking gazebo. We’ve built one at each campsite.

They’re all laid out the same.” His gaze scanned the cabins.

“We started small but plan to build four or five more cabins at each site to accommodate larger groups.”

He opened the door to the building and gestured for me to step inside.

My boots thumped on the wooden floorboards, and I stopped in the middle of the decent-sized room, taking in the sturdy tables lined up along the left side, loaded with things to cook with.

A picnic table had been placed on the right, and someone had picked flowers and put them in a pretty vase in the center.

Blinds had been rolled up and secured at the top of each screen panel, ready to be let down if it got too sunny inside or rained.

“We'll make all the meals here.” He waved to a gas fridge standing against the far wall, a fuel tank secured behind it. “You and I will cook and clean up for our guests.”