Page 60 of In the Heat of the Jungle

“Do you hear that?” She whispered and sat up.

“Hear what?” he asked, coming to alert.

Without hurting him or leaving a mark, she bit his shoulder. “Nothing is what. It’s stopped raining. Someone might check on us. You’d better go.” She kissed him as if saying farewell.

“Before proving my stamina and desire?” he jested, pulling her back to the bedroll. His mouth fastened to hers, as eagerly as if he hadn’t taken her in days …

~*~

Leopard was on their schedule next. As they walked, Jace instructed the group on the species. “The leopard’s a solitary animal, except during mating season. He hunts in the bush and woodlands, but he loves to climb trees to sleep and to bask in the sun. He normally hunts at night, but he’ll carry his kill into a tree with him to keep other predators from stealing it. He mostly stalks smaller animals, like waterbuck, but one of his favorites is baboon. If you haven’t seen pictures of him, he’s tawny with black markings, almost like little squares. He’s big, mean, and powerful. He’s bloodthirsty, fast, and cunning. And vindictive. He’ll attack without provocation; kill for the sheer pleasure of it—one of the few animals with that trait. Sometimes he doesn’t even devour his victim, just leaves the body lying there. Naturally we can’t stalk him at night, so we’ll try to find one sleeping or chasing baboons.”

They had left camp two hours ago. Leigh was feeling strange. She was lightheaded and thirsty. She felt tense, but very drowsy. She surmised it was the climate, or lack of sleep.

As the women excused themselves in the bush, Louisa watched her. “Leigh, do you feel all right? You look dreadfully pale and your cheeks are like red roses.”

Leigh drank from her canteen. “I’m tired and stiff. I read too late last night and didn’t get enough sleep. I won’t do that again, rain or not. It’s terribly hot today.” She mopped at the beads of perspiration on her face and neck and swatted at insects.

“No hotter than usual,” Louisa refuted. “Why don’t I suggest we return to camp? I’ll tell Jace I’m exhausted and feeling sick.”

Leigh was annoyed, because it sounded as if the redhead was trying to prevent her from being the reason to break a wager rule. She assumed Chad had revealed the thousand-pound bet with their guide and had ordered the redhead’s aid. It rankled that Chad couldn’t keep promises and secrets. More sharply than intended, she said, “I’ll be fine after this break. Don’t worry about me, Louisa.”

They crossed a veld, which was open country where grass and scrubs grew. They were heading for a thornbush area, then a thin forest with plenty of baboons: leopard country. They had seen many animals but hadn’t stopped to hunt.

The farther they traveled, the weaker Leigh felt. She did not want to alarm Chad and Jace, or to lose another point. Not that she didn’t intend to make Jace her future, but a deal was a deal. It had to be won fairly. She staggered, and caught a tree to steady herself. The bearers nearby called out to their leader, just ahead.

Jace halted and looked at Leigh. As surreptitiously as possible, he had observed her at each stop. She had a tight grip on a tree limb and her head was lowered. If only she were closer so he could have kept an eye on her, but the women were journeying behind with the bearers. “Leigh, what’s wrong?”

“Are you ill, Leigh?” Chad tested her cheeks and forehead for fever with the back of his hand as his blue eyes examined her.

Her pretense was in vain. She leaned against a tree and said, “I’m just tired and hot. We’ve been walking a long time. I’m used to riding horses, not traveling afoot. Can we take a break?”

“Certainly,” Chad said before Jace could. “Sit down and rest. Drink some water. You’re sweating. That makes you weak and shaky. Jace, how about a fire and bracing tea? It might help.”

“No, please don’t fuss over me. Just water and rest.”

Chad held the canteen, as Leigh’s hands were quivering. He knelt beside the blonde, who leaned her head backward and closed her eyes. He glanced at Jace, looking worried. He saw that Jace was concerned.

“We’ll rest here, then head back when Leigh feels up to it.”

“That’s an excellent idea,” Chad agreed. He passed his canteen to Leigh, because she had emptied hers.

They lingered over an hour. The others strolled and took pictures. Jace and Chad stayed near Leigh, who dozed. Johi watched all of them.

Finally, Leigh opened her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, “Let’s go. I’m fine.”

Chad studied her. “You look better. You were mighty pale.”

“Whatever it was, it’s gone now. Let’s continue.”

“It’s too late in the day. We should return to camp,” Jace said, his gut instincts on high alert.

~*~

That night, Jace could not check on Leigh because Louisa stayed with her, at Chad’s insistence. Jace hoped her spell earlier was nothing more than fatigue and heat. He knew he should have let her get more sleep the night before. He wouldn’t overtire her again.

~*~

As Leigh claimed her canteen and weapon for today’s trek, she whispered, “That’s two points I owe you.”

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