Page 82 of In the Heat of the Jungle

The servants, other bearers, and the brunette gathered in the large clearing at the campfire. “What happened?” Cynthia asked, as if she were clueless.

“Leigh was bitten by a deadly snake. Jace thinks she’s too far gone to save. He’s rushing her to a local witch doctor. I wonder how Chad will take this news.”

Mkwawa shook his head. “Bwana Jace waste time. Bush snake fatal. See men’s faces. They know she dead.”

Louisa watched the natives toss the snake into the campfire and begin to sing with lowered heads. “What are they doing?”

“They destroy enemy. They pray for her spirit to find peace. Bwana Jace be sad. She good woman.”

~*~

Hours later, the hunting party returned to camp with a large lion Reid had shot. The men were laughing and talking as they entered the clearing. The singing bearers carried the trophy suspended from a heavy pole by bound legs. Its tawny-and-black mane swayed with their movements, and water dripped from his ears and tail. A heavy rain was falling, but the soaked and jubilant men did not care. The lion was to be prepared and transported after the rain ceased.

Unmindful she was getting drenched, Louisa hurried to meet them. “There’s been a terrible accident, Chad. Leigh is dead. She was--”

Chad slapped the redhead and shouted, “What did you do to her this time, you jealous bitch?”

Louisa rubbed her stinging cheek and glared at the man. “Nothing, you bastard! She was bitten by a snake.”

Chad pushed his ex-mistress aside and rushed to Leigh’s tent. It was dark and empty. “Where is she?”

“Dead, but I’m not to blame.”

“Where is she?” Chad yelled again at the belligerent woman.

“Jace returned and took her to a witch doctor to see if the man could save her. Mkwawa and the others said such a bite was always fatal.”

Mkwawa explained to the men what had happened.

“Where is this village? Take me there now!”

“Which one, Mkwawa?” Johi asked.

“I know not, Wanjohi. Three are near.”

“We’ll track him,” Chad suggested.

“How can we? The rain leaves no trail.”

“It’s a trick,” Chad shouted. “He’s stolen my love!”

“No, it isn’t, Chad. We all saw her. She had two bleeding holes on her leg. The area was yellow and green and reddish-blue. She was unconscious, hardly breathing. The snake was killed and burned. The bearers said—”

“I don’t give a damn what they say! I must see her.”

The rainfall was hard and heavy. It pelted on the large leaves and tents. It beat upon the people grouped together. The campfire was extinguished. The clearing was saturated, making the ground soft and mushy. Mud splattered on everyone’s boots. Daylight was vanishing in the almost blinding rain and impending dusk.

Water poured over Chad. “She can’t be dead.”

“Why, because you think she was going to marry you?” Louisa scoffed, her curry-colored locks flattened against her pale skin. Water streamed off her hair and over her sullen face. She kept blinking her narrowed eyes to clear them. Her shirt and skirt clung to her body. “Or did you realize you’d lost her to Jace and had her killed? I know how desperately you craved her.”

“You whore! Get out of my sight! You’re nothing compared to her. If Jace has stolen her or harmed her, I’ll kill him. By damn, I’ll kill him!”

“I’ll get you a strong drink, Chad,” Reid said, and fetched it.

Chad downed the Scotch with one gulp. “I don’t believe this.”

“They can’t all be lying, Chad,” Reid reasoned. “They all saw the snakebite and her condition.”

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