Page 70 of In the Heat of the Jungle

“I’m fine.” Leigh wondered why the woman was so concerned about the accident. Was Louisa afraid Chad would blame her as he had done with the attack in London? Had the handsome earl discovered his lover guilty of drugging his ward, as Jace believed, and threatened her again? Perhaps, Leigh mused, she had dismissed Jace’s warnings too quickly or too lightly.

It was extremely hot and stuffy that night, so everyone slept with their tent flaps tossed aside and only mosquito netting covering the entrances. A large fire blazed in the clearing to discourage predators from strolling into camp. Nocturnal insects and birds were on the move during darkness. Floral odors clung to the heavy air, as did smoke from the flames where brush crackled as it was consumed.

Leigh tossed and turned for hours, plagued by this unexpected breach between her and Jace. Perhaps he did have valid reasons to think and say what he had, but it distressed her. Not only his behavior, but the fact he truly believed someone was a threat to her. Itwaspossible, and that reality alarmed her. She hadn’t told him about Fiona being in line for the inheritance to halt his suspicions about Chad. She had gone over and over the matter, but still felt that Chad wouldn’t try to harm her to get half of an estate that would be years in coming. Nor would Chad want it split with anyone, especially with Jace Elliott. Perhaps, Leigh reasoned, she should tell Jace about her grandfather’s strange codicil. Maybe he could understand the inducement behind it.

No, she decided, because Jace was keeping secrets from her. If she disclosed that fact, there was no telling how he would react. In view of his suspicions, he might think worse of her.

What if Jace knows about the will and the motive behind it?Or knows of the codicil and wants to learn the reason for it? If he loves and wants you to stay with him, why not propose or lose the wager to you? Yet he’s trying his best to win only a night or two. Why? Are you ready to take that risk? What if you don’t know him at all? He told you he was after Grandfather and Chad. Could love or desire change him so completely, so quickly?

The safari had weeks to go, and civilization was far away. She wished she were somewhere alone with Jace, getting to know him. That had to wait. Just because he claimed she was in peril, that did not mean she should flee to safety with him as he had coaxed several times.

Leigh left her cot and washed perspiration from her face. She saw Jace standing near the edge of the clearing with firelight flickering on his body. She realized he couldn’t sleep, either, and that touched her. She was tempted to join him and talk, but anyone awake could see them and suspect the truth. She couldn’t forget what Jace had told her about how much power her guardian had over her estate. No, she refuted—over her and her entire life.

To be fair to Jace, she didn’t know Chad very well, either. Did her guardian crave a profitable marriage? He hadn’t done more than a little flirting so far, and he was still dallying with Louisa. Would her step-uncle get rid of her and settle for half of everything, rather than get nothing, as half was still worth a fortune? Would Fiona Webster allow her son to control her share until he inherited it? But what if something happened to herandto Jace during the safari?

It’s just hot and miserable tonight,Leigh scolded herself,and you’re thinking crazy. Both our deaths would look too suspicious to the authorities. Chad isn’t stupid or reckless. But what about that deceitful redhead? Does she know about the will? Chad certainly tells her plenty for someone he intends to discard soon! Would she plot one or two deaths so her lover could inherit and then marry her? Stop it, Leigh!

Leigh watched her lover as he took a walk. He was so tall, handsome, and virile. He knew so much about this land, possessed alluring prowess. His brown hair was mussed and his khaki shirt was hanging open and revealing a hard chest. His stubble looked dark against his tanned face. She loved him and wanted him deeply. She had to stay near him as long as possible. She had to win his love and trust. Would cruel fate let her? It was always stealing her loved ones, and maybe that was why she feared doing or saying anything to lose him.

Oh, Mother, how I wish you were here to counsel me,she thought with sadness.I can do such terrible damage if I make the wrong moves. Does he love me as much as I love him? Does he love me at all, or only desire me? Is there a dark side to my golden hero? How can I tell? What should I do?

~*~

Jace felt Leigh’s gaze on him, as he had hoped and intended. He knew it was an underhanded thing to do, but he had to win back her trust, respect, and affection. She had proven she desired him as much as he desired her, so he had to use all of his skills to tempt her. He was unsettled by the distance that he had placed between Leigh and him. There were so many matters troubling him: his hunger for Leigh, the threat to her, the charges against him in England, his beloved father’s murder and losses, Chad’s motive for this safari, and his old friend’s odd behavior.

Only if Chad stood to gain from harming her would a deadly threat from him be possible. Leigh had revealed there wasn’t one. As for the lustful redhead, surely everything that had happened to Leigh was too complicated for her wits. Jace admitted that some women were as smart, brave, cunning, and daring as men. But women too often allowed emotions to rule their senses, to cloud their judgments. It wasn’t logical for Louisa Jennings to risk losing the object she desired most to spite—or to slay—a rival, as Leigh had said. Joanna Harris had proven his biased—he admitted—theory about women to him; Leigh had proven to him there were exceptions.

Chad had wanted, and had taken, Joanna. He had ruined her. Jace could not let him do the same with Leigh, even if he lost her through his foolishness this afternoon. He and Chad had been so close long ago. Chad’s treachery had destroyed their tight bond. At one time, Jace had wanted to slay him with his bare hands. Now, he didn’t know what to think and feel. Chad was within reach for revenge, yet he couldn’t bring himself to do anything about it. He could have allowed that rhino to end the matter; yet something had stopped him. Perhaps Leigh’s importance to him stayed his vengeful hand and lessened his hatred and bitterness. Good memories of the past and the old relationship with Chad had returned to haunt him. If only Chad wasn’t right about him looking guilty years ago. If only he himself wasn’t afraid to trust the man who claimed he wanted a truce. If only so much wasn’t at stake.

~*~

It rained for two days, keeping everyone inside. They listened to the gramophone, played games, talked, and waited. The two men drank almost continuously, against Jace’s advice. At times Leigh tried to read, but it was nearly impossible with the annoying Cynthia Campbell underfoot. Quarreling with Reid again, the brunette—at Louisa’s secret request—had moved into Leigh’s tent.

~*~

During their hunt the following day, Jace instructed the group about the buffalo. “We’ll be able to locate them by egrets flying overhead. They perch on the animals to eat lice and pests. Buffalo usually graze at night and wallow in marshy spots during the day. They favor tall grass; that’s why we look for the birds to give away their presence. You’ll be amazed by his size. A grown male weighs two thousand pounds. His horns are as thick as my arms, and the tips are sword sharp. They’re mistrustful, violent tempered, and clever. They charge at the first sign of a threat, so we have to be quiet and careful. They gore their victims, trample them, kick dirt on the body, then trot away with head high in victory.”

When the quarry was sighted, Leigh was indeed amazed by the creature’s menacing size and apparent strength. Their hides were dark and their formidable horns were black. She listened to Jace talk.

“Even the largest and most skilled predators fear the buffalo. Lions respect them and keep their distance, unless they sight one that’s sick or wounded from a battle. Those horns can rip open a lion’s underside with one sweep. Animals are quick to learn their own strengths and weaknesses, unlike humans.”

Leigh was glad they moved upwind toward the truculent creatures, allowing any breeze to carry their scent away from their quarry. She sighted numerous buffaloes resting in the tall grass, and a few grazing nearby. Egrets flew overhead or dined on huge carcasses. She saw yellow-billed ox-peckers seeking their own prey upon the enormous beasts. She walked close behind Jace and followed his silent signals. The others trailed gingerly behind her.

Jace halted the hunting party and turned for final instructions. “We’ll take that big bull over there by himself. He’s far enough from the others to prevent trouble. Everyone make certain you’re ready. If the herd charges after we fire, do exactly as I say.”

Jace and Johi started to move out as everyone checked their weapons. A gun discharged, the blast sending Louisa to the grass on her buttocks. Cynthia screamed and hit the ground on her stomach. Leigh ducked as a bullet whizzed past her head and dropped to her knees. Chad and Reid came to alert and at the ready. The herd scrambled to their legs, bellowed in rage, and began an earth-rumbling stampede.

Chapter Fifteen

With speed and keen wits, Jace took in the situation. Leigh was fine, just shaken. His reflexes were quick at work. Over the din he shouted, “Everybody fire into the air and keep firing until I say halt. We need to scare off that herd.”

Louisa had been knocked to the ground when her gun misfired. In surprise and fear, she had tossed the uncontrollable weapon aside. Her gaze had gone to Chad’s, the startled look vowing her innocence.

Leigh gaped at the redhead for a moment. She jumped from the grass unharmed, just unsettled by the near miss. She began discharging rounds to help the others frighten off the menacing buffaloes.

The herd halted at the roaring of guns, bellowed and pawed, then trotted in the other direction to disappear into thickets.

Jace seized the Ross automatic to examine it. He had little time to decide how to handle the near fatal episode. If Leigh hadn’t leaned over to scratch an insect bite, she would be dead. If he revealed the gun had been tampered with, Chad would end the perilous safari and take Leigh into danger in London. Johi checked Leigh’s gun each morning, but not the others. He also cleaned and checked all weapons after each hunt, so this deed had been done after gun reassignment and practice last night. Whoever did it knew Louisa Jennings would carry the rifle today…

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