The Hunted

by Linda Coles

  It was nearly eleven hours and a good deal more conversations about hunting later that Fiona found herself exiting the airport with Aaron. They headed over to a waiting taxi and on to their accommodation. She gave the driver the address, and they both sat back to admire the hot and dusty scenery, dotted with wild animals, as they drove for a couple of hours out to the complex. Conversation came easily as they enjoyed each other’s company. As they neared their destination, Fiona could see the familiar tall chain link fence that often surrounded the hunting complex, as a way of keeping the animals enclosed and away from poachers. A member of staff stood waiting in the entranceway as the vehicle pulled up and they both got out, Fiona stretching her arms behind her as she did so.

  “I've had enough travelling for one day; I hope the bed is reasonably comfortable, though I shouldn’t have any difficulty if I had to sleep on a fencepost tonight. I'm done in!”

  Aaron helped her with her luggage, and they ventured inside to the small reception area. A gentle breeze was blowing through the traditional windowless wooden building, the thatched roof their protection should it rain.

  “Join me for a drink before dinner?” he enquired after they had checked into their respective rooms. “May as well get to know each other a little better if we are going to be staying here for the week.”

  She couldn’t help but like his smile, but also couldn’t fault his forwardness, so self-assured. And his dark good looks made him something rather nice to look at, even though he was already spoken for. Still, that didn’t stop them from enjoying each other’s company before dinner. She thought for a moment, and then said, “Why not? Sounds nice. I’ll see you in an hour? Give me time to freshen up and unpack a little.”

  “Perfect. Until then.” He surprised her by taking her hand in his, giving the back of it a light kiss and bowing slightly. She smiled warmly in response, a little amused.

  Interesting . . . Maybe that was just his gallant way?

  Fiona gathered her bags and headed out down the path towards her chalet to freshen up, wondering about the tall-dark-and-handsome man making himself known to her, being so forward, so friendly. A man she wouldn’t mind finding out more about, a man called Aaron Galbraith.

  Chapter Six

  That night over drinks that turned into dinner, then dinner that turned into nightcaps, Aaron and Fiona shared war stories and conquest re-enactments spanning the eight years or so they’d both been hunting. It seemed Aaron was trying to fill gaps in his collection if only with photographic evidence rather than physical evidence hanging at his place in the Lakes, and he regaled Fiona about the ones that had got away.

  “I'd have liked to have been the one to take Cecil the lion rather than the dentist guy, but it wasn't to be—he beat me to it. Though he set off a bit of a shit-storm in the process, I might add.” Aaron took another sip of his whiskey, and Fiona picked up the conversation.

  “Perhaps not the brightest thing to have done in retrospect. I mean with that particular animal, and all the hoo-ha that went with the licensing of it. The internet went berserk with it. It had a massive effect on his business and personal life, I gather. Glad that one wasn’t me. Though that said, it is a life goal of mine to kill a lion.”

  “I wouldn’t have minded, I don’t think. I’d have bagged the prize and taken the rap. Not sure about the bow and arrow, though. I prefer a clean shot. More humane, quicker. Don’t like to make them suffer.”

  Fiona nodded her head in agreement. He carried on.

  “I don’t suppose my employer would have been too fond of the publicity either. And you just never know where your photos end up anymore with social media as open as it is. When I first started hunting big game, photos stayed in your camera until you got them developed and hung them on your wall or put them in an album, not like today.”

  Fiona laughed. “Now you sound old; you didn't use an old Brownie camera, did you?”

  “Now you're taking the mickey!” he said, laughing at himself. “No, I did not! And I'm quite happy to post them online, in moderation though. And in any case, I don't always get the trophy. No kill, nothing to show, nothing to take a picture of. And as you know, you might hunt for three days straight and not even see what you are after, never mind shoot it.”

  Nodding, Fiona said, “I’ve had a bit of stick in the past but nothing major and it doesn’t stop me from wanting to hunt. People just don’t understand it, what it feels like to hit your target. The thrill of tracking the animal, getting it in your sights, it’s something special, isn't it? I find it quite addictive.”

  “It is for sure,” said Aaron. “It’s sport, no different from duck shooting or fox hunting. Helps to keep the population under control too.”

  She sipped her whiskey. The glass was just about empty. “And my partner couldn't care less either way, so I’ve nothing to worry about.” Not that he knows I’m even here.

  Fiona stifled a yawn and glanced at her watch; it had been a long day.

  “It's getting late, and I'm done in, so I'm going to turn it. Early start tomorrow. Thanks for a lovely evening, Aaron, and if I don’t see you in the morning before you head out good luck.” She rose and stifled another yawn.

  Aaron stood as she did. “And thank you for joining me. It’s been fun. And good luck to you tomorrow too. Maybe we can swap stories again tomorrow night if we have a successful day?”

  “Sounds good. Let’s hope I’ve something to share.”

  Unexpectedly, he bent forward and gave Fiona a light peck on the cheek, and she caught his eye and slight smile before she turned to leave. Aaron stood and watched as Fiona made her way from the lounge bar towards her chalet. She watched him discreetly in the mirror above the bar as she walked away, and just like in another lifetime ago with Michael, she saw him take a moment to admire the retreating view.

  Chapter Seven

  The hot afternoon sun shone down brightly as Fiona and her personal hunter crouched down in the undergrowth. They'd been following their tracker for some hours, and this was the first bit of luck they'd had all day. Off in the distance, a buffalo was now in her sights. It was the closest she’d ever been to one in the wild and wanted to watch it a while from the safety of the brush though she was conscious she’d miss her chance if she left it much longer. Her PH nudged her arm and said something in not much more than a whisper, pointing his thin brown finger to the left of the beast up in the distance. That’s when she noticed it. Next to the animal they were watching was her young calf, with a lighter tan-coloured coat than its dark-skinned mum. It stuck out in the dusty dry conditions and looked more like a baby cow than a baby buffalo.

  “Shit!” she mumbled out loud, knowing full well she couldn’t now take the adult beast with her rifle. “Just my damn luck!”

  “Shh!” her PH urged, not wanting to spook the animals. The mother raised her head slightly, listening for sounds and not liking what she was picking up. She ambled back towards where they had come from, her calf close by her side for protection. Fiona watched as they both sauntered off away from her and she consoled herself she’d done the right thing by not taking a shot and leaving a calf to fend for itself and almost certainly die. Those were the rules, written or not.

  When the two animals were far enough away, Fiona and her guide made their move from hiding in the dry brush and carried on their way, tracking, in search of something else. She'd wanted to do it the old-fashioned way, to track them for hours, and her opportunity with the buffalo had come a lot quicker than she’d expected though not meant to be. But luck was on her side that day because it was only an hour or so later when she again found a target—another buffalo, this time, without its young. And this time, it was going to be hers. Fiona rechecked her surroundings and was happy with her choice. Crouching back in the dirt, well hidden in the long dry scrub, she prepared her rifle and got into position. The beast was not far off. Through the crosshairs, she could see it as clearly as if it was only a few feet away; the animal was unaware it had b
een discovered, unaware that a shot was lined up ready to go. Fiona didn't waste any time, and when she was confident of a kill shot, she pulled the trigger. The sharp noise was deafening to her ears, echoing around the dusty landscape, forcing other smaller animals to make a quick getaway. Birds flew away from nearby trees.

  “Gotcha!” Fiona shouted as the beast went down.

  “Good shot, Ms. Gable. Good shot!”

  Fiona and her guide emerged from their hiding place and made their way over to the downed animal which was lying in the dust, a small blood pool evident from the shot. It had died instantly. The two hunters were very aware of their surroundings, making sure there were no other animals nearby that could put them both in danger. Satisfied that the dusty area was clear, Fiona asked, “Will you take a photo of the two of us, please?”

  The guide took her smartphone as she crouched down and posed beside the huge head of the downed buffalo, rifle in one hand, a big smile plastered across her face. She felt glorious, powerful even, as adrenaline shot rapidly through her veins, giving her the high she so craved. Finally, she had her trophy, and it didn't matter if she didn’t get so lucky again on this trip. At least she’d got one, though it was still her lifetime goal to kill a lion. When the photos had been taken, her guide spoke through his radio to alert the ranch they had a carcass to deal with. Fiona wondered how Aaron was doing. Had he fared so well? No doubt she'd find out later tonight at dinner. Brushing the fresh dirt off her clothing, she smiled.

  “What a great day! What a trophy!”

  “Yes, Ms. Gable. Very well done, though it’s getting late. Shall we make our way back now? The carcass will be dealt with for you, and you must be tired after tracking all day.” She nodded in agreement, and a yawn came from nowhere. She'd had an excellent day, but as the adrenaline shot slowly subsided, she could feel her body start to crash a little, a long journey yesterday and the excitement of the day catching up with her and was glad of her guide and their Jeep to get them both back to the relative comfort of the complex. First a long, hot shower to get rid of the day’s dust, followed by a cold beer, and she'd feel a whole lot better.

  Chapter Eight

  The shower had done her the world of good and her whole being felt much more relaxed, the adrenaline from the kill now well out of her system. Her thoughts wandered off to Aaron as she towel-dried herself in the outdoor shower just off her room, the thatched roof shading her from the late afternoon sun. Had he had a successful day too, added anything to his collection? She’d heard other vehicles returning after she’d woken from her unintended late-afternoon nap, the quick jabber of the locals shouting and laughing to each other in a language she didn't understand. She’d fallen asleep stretched on the small sofa, which wasn’t ideal, but the few winks of sleep she’d grabbed had done her good. Her watch said it was close to 5 pm and her stomach told her it needed filling, so she dressed quickly in clean loose khakis and a fresh T-shirt, leaving her long sun-kissed hair to dry itself in the remaining heat. She applied a little lip gloss, marvelled at what a few hours in the sun could do to a person’s colour, and then she was ready to find a drink, good food and company.

  Everyone rose early and dined early on hunts; that’s just the way it was, and since she was hungry anyway, she didn’t mind the early routine. As she entered the little bar area, she saw that a few of the others were already enjoying a cold beer. She ordered one for herself and took a long glug from the ice-cold bottle. The golden contents felt good on her dry throat, lubricating it and satisfying her thirst at the same time. She was vaguely aware of someone calling her name. Turning, she faced a smiling Aaron.

  “Hello again.” He sounded almost seductive, or was she imagining it? With his dark good looks, he certainly was gentle on the eye.

  “Hi, Aaron! Nice to see you again. How was your day?”

  “Well, no prizes for me today but I did see a lion, and we tracked it for a while so I'm going back out there tomorrow to see if I can't get it then. You?”

  “Nearly had two buffalo, but only bagged the one. Had to let the other go because she had her young calf with her. So, yes, I’m pretty pleased with my day.”

  “Congratulations. Well done. You taking the carcass back with you or just the head?”

  “We brought it back here but I’m not sure I’ll take it back home, not even the head. God knows where I’d put it in my small house. No country house for me, not like you. Photos will have to do, I suspect.” Fiona glanced over the top of her beer bottle and caught his eyes for a second or two longer than was normal. Aaron picked it up.

  “Well then, maybe you could ship it to my place and come on over and see it occasionally.”

  Not quite sure what to say to his invitation, she settled for a light laugh and took another sip of her beer to avoid adding anything further. Though the thought did please her.

  Undeterred, Aaron followed up with, “Have dinner with me tonight? You can regale me with every last detail of your day, and I’ll lap it all up, jealous as hell it wasn’t me.”

  How could she refuse? And did she even want to refuse? Those dark eyes were dancing.

  “Sounds lovely, and of course I’d love to hear about the one that got away, or didn’t come anywhere near, as it were.” She was flirting with him now, and they both knew it.

  “If you’re going to be cheeky about it, I might just change my mind!” But he was smiling as he said it and took her elbow to steer her towards a table in the small dining room, further away from the other hunters present. She allowed him to lead her where he wanted her to go and watched as he pulled a chair out for her to sit.

  Seems to be a gentleman, so far, she thought.

  They chatted easily over a meal of tender zebra, something Fiona had never experienced before, the yellow fat marbling of the meat keeping it tasty and succulent. And it went well with whiskey, the drink of hunters even though there were some spectacular local wines available. As the night wore on and dinner had long been eaten, the dining room emptied out as other guests made their way back to their chalets for an early night and another early start the next day. Fiona and Aaron sat with the remains of yet another whiskey each, Aaron swirling the liquid around in the bottom of his glass, the conversation relaxingly quiet.

  “I think it’s time I turned in, too,” he said finally, taking the last mouthful of the deep golden liquid and setting the empty glass down on the table.

  “Me too. It’s been a long one, but a good one,” and she stood at the same time he did. She felt his hand at the base of her back as he guided her from the dining room towards their chalets, even though she was quite capable of getting herself back unaided. She hadn’t had that much to drink. With an alcoholic partner, she'd seen all too closely what too much could do to a person. No thank you.

  Slowly they walked and chatted until they came to her room and stopped outside. He wished her goodnight, then leaned in to peck her on the cheek once again. Knowing that was his intention but feeling a little more flirty than normal from the relaxation of the whiskey, she turned at just the right time, so his light kiss caught her on the lips.

  “Oh! I’m sorry! I was aiming for your cheek!” he exclaimed.

  “I know, but I figured it was my lips you wanted. You were just being a gentleman. So I gave you them.” Her smile was pure seduction.

  They both fell silent for a moment. She stood staring straight at him, his eyes searching hers for a clue of what to do next. He clearly didn’t want to do the wrong thing. It was Fiona who took charge, sensing he liked to be led, someone else making all the decisions. With her back to the door, she found the handle behind her, turned it and pushed the door open, pulling Aaron in with her other hand. Once inside, she kicked the door closed and led a rather surprised but delighted Aaron over to her bed.

  “Get undressed.”

  She’d gone away to have some ‘me’ time, and while she hunted big game for pleasure by day, nothing was stopping her from hunting at night, either. And Aaron had m
ade it obvious he would have no problem being her ‘prey.’

  Chapter Nine

  She’d had a great time at the ranch, had done exactly what she’d wanted to do—got her adrenaline hit and had got laid into the bargain, though that hadn’t initially been on her agenda. Aaron had proved to be good company for the few days they were together though his tastes in bed were a little off the scale for her liking, for anything long term. And he was married with a family, so there was nothing longer-term on offer there even if they had been a good fit in bed. Fiona idly wondered if his wife knew about his tastes and suspected she probably didn’t, assuming he got his particular kicks by other means. As a working pilot, he probably had a woman in every airport town just waiting for his arrival. Those sultry dark looks would be hard to resist, and there would be no shortage of young attendants lining up for him should the need arise.

  Though she didn't know it, Fiona was correct in her assumptions. As she waited at Lusaka airport wishing there was a comfy lounge to pass the time in, she thought about the life she was going back to, south of London. And the man she was going back to. One thing Aaron had shown her was how a real man could be when he wasn't out of his head half the time or smoking pot, and she craved a little normalcy if the truth be told. It had been so long she'd almost forgotten there was a different way of living with a man. And Michael. Well, he was okay, but again he was spoken for, and fun time aside, there wasn't much else to him. She wouldn't be dating him seriously if he had been available anyway, they were using each other on that score, and both knew it.