Page 71 of In the Heat of the Jungle

“When Louisa threw it down so hard, it broke the mechanism. I can’t tell what caused it to misfire. Louisa is lucky it didn’t explode in her face, or she didn’t shoot off her foot, or shoot one of us in the back. I’ll have this rifle checked out when we get back to Mombasa. This has never happened before, and I don’t like it.”

Chad glared at his fallen mistress, who had not gotten up or been helped to rise.

“It isn’t my fault, Chad. When I slid the bolt forward, it fired. I didn’t have my finger on the trigger.”

“This is a new model, Chad, just came out this year,” Jace explained. “Perhaps it has a defect. The gunmaker is Charles Lancaster in London. I’ll ship it to him and let him figure out the problem. I can’t use weapons I don’t trust,” Jace remarked, knowing the well-made gun was not to blame. If Louisa was responsible, his words should scare her into being more careful with her own life. With this foiled attempt, she wouldn’t dare make another move any time soon. And if it wasn’t Louisa, the guilty bastard would have to lay back for a while until everyone relaxed. That was all Jace needed, time to put his own play into motion. “You want to head for camp or track those buffalo?”

“I think they’re too dangerous for us to challenge. I’m more interested in lions and elephants. Let’s get on with our safari. Why don’t we head for the next camp in the morning? This area is dangerous.”

Jace was delighted with Chad’s suggestion. He had intended to make the same suggestion. Their next location would place them within a few days of Nairobi, and closer to his plantation. “That’s fine.”

~*~

After reaching camp, Leigh went into her tent to be alone. Reid fetched a bottle of Scotch and went to work on it. Cynthia paced the clearing, unnerved by Jace’s words. Johi began checking all of the weapons. Jace went to alert the bearers about the change in schedule. Louisa and Chad walked to the pool to relax. Jace skirted the campsite to eavesdrop.

“Are you trying to get rid of me so you can get at your little ward? You heard Jace; I could’ve been killed.”

“Your imagination is running wild again, Louisa.”

“Is it?” she challenged. “It would be profitable and vengeful for you to frame Jace for my death, then marry Leigh. Is that your plan? Get both of them?”

“Are you daft? Jace wouldn’t be arrested for an accident, and I’m not trying to lure him back to London to get arrested for those other charges. I’m not after Jace. We’ve had problems, but I wouldn’t try to kill him. As for you, I was planning to ask you to marry me when we returned to London. But, if this is what you think, I’d be the daft one.”

“What do you mean, Chad? Are you serious?”

“Don’t play ignorant with me, Louisa. You know how I feel about you. Would I have stayed with you so long if you weren’t special to me? I’ve tried to get you to be nice to my ward. You haven’t been, despite your little pretense of friendship. As long as you make Leigh want to avoid you, I can’t tell her about us. I have to assure my friendship with Leigh before November. If we married or became betrothed, she could get rid of me to be rid of you. She’s talking about selling the business to me. If I’m careful, she will. Hear me good, woman, if you’re behind any of these accidents, stop them now.”

“What about your wager with Jace?”

“What about it?”

“You told me you’ll owe him fifty thousand pounds if he gets Leigh during this safari. You asked me to distract him. I tried, but he wasn’t interested. He’s too busy working on Leigh. If he wins, it’ll cost you a lot of money and a great deal of pride.”

“Don’t worry about that silly bet. He would have charged me that much anyway. Actually, it saved me an extra twenty-five thousand by not having to double his salary. I don’t have to marry her, Louisa. She just has to leave here with me, and alive, to sell out in London. I told you, it was only a trick to provoke Jace into working for us. He required an irresistible enticement and Leigh was my bait. I was hoping to get truly close to her during this trip, but my jealous lover keeps causing trouble and rifts. Even if she doesn’t sell to me, I still need a way to control the firm and her.”

“What if Jace does win her heart and affections?”

“Leigh would never fall for Jace Elliott, never.”

“She already has,” the redhead disclosed, “and he’s fallen for her. He was in her suite a long time in Mombasa, and left grinning ear-to-ear. I know a sexually satisfied look when I see one.”

“He was making a hefty wager with her.”

“Both times? He visited her twice.” Louisa revealed how Jace had gone to Leigh’s room one night and had remained a long time. “It was that day she was attacked at the fort, and I rented another room to ensnare him for you. I bet he planned that trouble just to weaken her toward him. How can a girl resist a man who’s saved her twice? I was glued to my door, Chad, so I know when he left, very late and very happy. I bet they’ve been sneaking around during the safari. You know they were alone on the trail and in camp during our leopard hunt. I bet there was no quicksand accident. I bet they were meeting in the jungle. And I bet Jace is behind those incidents just to make Leigh cling to the Great White Hunter. I bet he’s convinced her you’re after her money and to blame. I bet they’re having an affair!”

Chad’s gaze was cold. “That’s a lot of wagers.”

“I bet all I own I’m right, and telling the truth.”

Gunfire sounded in the camp. Jace left his hiding place to rush to the clearing, where Johi was standing over a dead predator. The jackal had sneaked into camp after meat waiting to be cooked.

~*~

Chad’s head jerked toward camp. “What was that?”

“Gunshots. Johi is probably testing the weapons. I’m not using that Ross again. I’m lucky his little trick didn’t get me killed. One more thing, Chad, do you know about the bet between Leigh and Jace?”

“I suggested the thousand-pound wager.”

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