Page 80 of In the Heat of the Jungle

Leigh knew his words carried dual meanings, so she listened with care. “Paying with its life seemed unfair for a mistake in judgment.”

“That’s the way it is out here: swift and deadly. If you walk a wild trail, you often get lost or slain.”

“I’m not certain I like your Africa, Jace. It’s very cruel and unpredictable. I have trouble understanding its secrets and ways.”

Jace locked his gaze on hers. “But it’s very beautiful, intriguing, and enchanting. It steals your soul if you aren’t careful.”

“A thief, too?” She was aware Chad moved closer.

“Is there a problem?” Chad asked as he eyed them.

Leigh smiled. “No, just talking about Africa.”

~*~

They sighted several male lions beneath a tree in the open space. The beasts had tawny manes near their faces that drifted into black hair around their necks. They appeared noble, and had a wild beauty. Their golden eyes had not seen the hunting party, nor had their broad noses detected it. The solitary tree amidst the honey-colored trio was partially debarked by sharp claws. The large-bodied males were among the finest in Africa, or so Jace claimed. Lions were social creatures who consorted in prides for strength. The hunt was what bound them together. Power, wits, and daring selected the leader.

A pride nearby consisted of five lionesses, cubs of various sizes and ages, and the three males lying in the shade. Each pride claimed a territory, marked by clawed trees and urine-sprayed boundaries. Jace told them how a male would kill the offspring of other males to assert his rank, to allow survival for his heirs, and to put the females in heat.

One male stood and strolled, moving closer to their hiding area upwind, and yawned. “His teeth are yellow and blunt,” Jace whispered. “He’s battle-scarred and old, so you don’t want him. The others are too far away for a clean shot. Let’s move on.”

The next sighting was no better, as the pride was still too distant. With the beasts in the open, there was no way to sneak closer.

They walked farther, and came upon an attack. Several lionesses brought down a zebra. The hair and whiskers near their mouths were red with fresh blood. As two males approached the kill to feed, a fight took place. In a flurry of bites, growls, and claws, one lost ground and bled profusely. As a gesture of defeat and submission, the loser rolled to his back with his mouth agape. The victor roared, and the loser remained cowered. The big cat tossed its head, shaking its amber and black mane. He stalked to the kill, and all moved aside to relent to his rank. The leader’s mouth seized a black-and-white flank and jerked, ripping open a spot where he could begin his feast.

“After he’s gorged himself, the others can eat. When they leave to nap, the hyenas and vultures will take over. There won’t be anything left in a few days.” Jace glanced at the sky. It was getting late. The horizon would soon be blood-red with sunset. “We can’t get near enough today. Let’s try again tomorrow. We need to reach camp before other predators go on the prowl.”

Jace saw Chad talking with two of Jim’s men and not for the first time, he realized. He worried that Jim and those men were Chad’s hirelings. Had he been watching the wrong people? Those men could have easily pulled off those “accidents.” If they and Chad had been spying on him and Leigh, Chad could know the truth about their love affair. Chad’s wooing could be a pretense to fool him and Leigh. The bastard could be after them as originally suspected.

Whatever, he was certain Chad planned to get rid of Leigh because of what she knew. If she held secrets about him, that explained her lack of fear of Chad. But didn’t she realize the bastard didn’t like loose ends? Maybe Chad had set up him and Leigh from the start, and Louisa was to be his scapegoat. The situation was getting more complicated and he needed answers soon.

As Jace lay on his cot, he reflected on this day of torment and ignorance. He had watched Leigh remove her pith helmet to pour water over her face to cool it. Her wet hair had clung to her beautiful face before drying to a sunny gold. He had wanted to lick the beads of water from lashes surrounding alluring blue eyes. He had yearned to yank her into his imprisoning embrace and never release her.

Once, she had grasped the back of her skirttail, drawn it between her thighs, and tucked the edge over her belt for easier movement. He’d glimpsed her sleek, tawny legs and ached for her. When she spoke to him or looked at him, he wished he could trust her.

Mercy, that false angel had him so bewildered and flustered and aflame. His mind was in turmoil. Why couldn’t he forget her treacherous words? Why hadn’t she told him the truth, whatever it was? He had given her many chances to come clean. If she loved him and had nothing to hide, why hadn’t she? The safari was almost over and he was no closer to understanding Chad’s involvement in those London crimes than when the man arrived. Worse, Leigh now seemed enmeshed. The bet and his wages didn’t matter, only exoneration and desire for Leigh.

~*~

Jace, Chad, Reid, Johi, and ten bearers departed to stalk their final quarry. The three women and remaining men were left in or near camp. Chad had worried aloud that the lion hunt was too dangerous for the females, and Jace had ordered them to stay behind today. Mkwawa was told to watch Leigh with his eagle eyes.

The hunting party had been gone for two hours when Louisa told Cynthia, “I’m going to Leigh’s tent and get my vengeance right now before someone else does.”

“You can’t, Louisa; Chad will kill you if you harm her. Here, take your quinine tablet. You’ve hardly used any of them, and I see you sneaking unboiled water. You’re being foolish in both cases.”

Louisa pushed aside the outstretched hand with the bitter pill. “Relax, Cynthia. Chad will never know what I’ve done. It’s past time to deal with that blond harlot. Stay here. I mean it.”

Louisa peered outside. Mkwawa was working at the table, his back to the tents. She didn’t want the head servant to sight her and report to the men, so she crept to Leigh’s tent and slipped inside.

Leigh glanced at the hostile woman as she entered the tent and approached the cot where Leigh was reading. “Hello, Louisa.”

“It’s time you and I have an understanding, my devious rival.”

Leigh looked into the woman’s cold eyes and concurred. “Perhaps itispast time for us to clear the air between us.” The blonde had expected trouble ever since the redhead had been put out of Chad’s tent.

“You think you’re so beautiful and desirable, don’t you? You think because you’re rich now you can do as you please. You think you can walk into my life and steal my man. Tyler Clark isn’t enough for a greedy bitch like you, is he? You crave Chad, and Jace, too. But you won’t want either of them after you learn the truth. Chad can rant and rave, but I’m going to tell you.”

“What truth is that, Louisa?”

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