Chapter 2 #3
“Different tones mean different things,” I said.
“We’ve trained sorhoxes for many generations, and the commands have been passed down from teacher to youngling.
From the time I was small, I was already learning how to work with the creatures.
Sorhoxes live about thirty years, so when we’re little, we pick a youngling and the two grow up together.
By the time I was six, I was riding my own. ”
“Thrakul?”
“No, he’s been trained to take a saddle and harness. He’s solely for tourists.” I wasn’t sure why it mattered, but I called to Peeka. “Whoop, whoop, whoop!”
She thundered in our direction from the plain closer to the forest that swept all the way to the mountains encircling the valley, coming to a halt beyond the ring where we stood.
“Whoa,” Carla said, looking from me to Peeka with excitement and amazement. “Where did she come from?”
“We let our personal beasts free range, but the ones tourists will work with, like Thrakul, needed to be kept close and penned up or someone might get hurt. Sorhoxes are placid creatures in general, but they can be protective of us and their young.”
Carla walked closer to the fence where Peeka waited, but stopped, looking back at me.
I followed, passing her to open the gate for her to leave the ring. “You can touch her if you want.”
She cautiously approached Peeka.
My sorhox turned her head and studied Carla before her dark green gaze met mine. When Carla got close enough she could touch, she held her hand out, palm up, for Peeka to sniff, shooting me a grin over her shoulder.
That smile… It hit me square in the chest like a sorhox hoof, stealing my breath and even my thoughts.
With a shake of my head, I joined them, urging Peeka to lower her head for Carla to scratch behind her ears.
My sorhox blew steam down Carla’s front, but while she jumped, Carla didn’t back away. She was not only smart, but she was also fearless. I liked that. Maybe even liked her—a little. I guessed I’d need to if I was going to work with her for the next few weeks.
The sun was getting lower, casting long shadows across the arena. We’d been out here for hours, and I realized I hadn’t once felt the need to retreat. Being around Carla felt comfortable. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that after losing Wexla.
She was attractive. That wasn’t news. I’d noticed that the day she arrived. Her auburn hair. Brown eyes. Curvy frame. But working with her, seeing her mind in action, and watching her connect with the sorhoxes was something else entirely.
I wasn’t sure if I liked that one bit.
She glanced toward the horizon. “The day sure passed fast. I know I’m not punching a clock, but it’s getting late. I guess I should head to my hotel room. Clean up. Have dinner at the saloon…”
Her gaze met mine. Did I read hope there? Surely she didn’t want me to join her?
When I said nothing, her hint of a smile fell. “After dinner, I’ll start putting together some preliminary ideas while everything’s fresh in my mind.”
“Tomorrow’s soon enough.”
“I don’t mind. It’s not like I have anything else to do.”
“No…male awaiting your call?” Now, why had I asked that?
“I’m single. Not dating anyone.”
“Ah, I see.” My ears heated. I shouldn’t have turned this personal, but I hadn’t been able to hold the words back.
Or the odd relief I felt knowing she wasn’t with someone else.
I urged Peeka to return to her grazing, and Carla and I walked together along the side of the arena. I tried not to notice how the light made her skin look warm and golden. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
“Actually, could we start earlier? There’s so much to see, and I want to observe feeding routines, social interactions.”
“Dawn?” I’d be here already.
“Perfect.” She gathered her tablet and notes, then paused, looking up at me. “Today was… This was really helpful. Thank you.”
“You asked good questions.”
“I have a lot more.”
I found myself smiling. “I’ll try to have answers.”
She walked away, her stride confident. I watched until she stepped up onto the boardwalk and wove through a group of tourists heading into the restaurant, then turned back to the arena.
There was so much she still needed to learn, but I was looking forward to teaching her. Working with her felt like a collaboration instead of an obligation. When she looked at the sorhoxes, she saw what I did, not only powerful animals, but intelligent partners worthy of respect.
And when she looked at me…
I grumbled and headed toward the equipment shed. Whatever I thought I saw in her expression was probably professional interest. She was here to do a job, nothing more. And I wasn’t looking for anything else.
But as I locked up for the night, I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing her tomorrow.
This was dangerous thinking.
I headed toward the hotel and my lonely room, where I’d take a shower. Get something to eat. Since I always ate at the saloon, no one could accuse me of making a dining decision based on where I might find my new hire.
And if I saw her sitting alone…
There was no reason either of us had to eat alone, right?