by Rifi Strawn
He grinned and tucked his hands in his pockets. “Why? They’re so cute.”
“I don’t like their soft bodies and long tails.” Her searching gaze nervously swept the room for the missing lizard. “Where did it go?”
He found the camouflaged offender in the window sill. On his tiptoes, he snuck up and grabbed it with his fingers. Chuckling, he looked at her. “You’re afraid of this scared little thing?”
She took a step back from him. “Take it away.”
“Lizards eat bugs.”
“I don’t care. I don’t want it in here.”
As he walked outside to release the lizard, Stanley looked at the bed where it had scampered. Upon his return, she gave him a curious look. “When was the last time these sheets were washed?”
“This morning?”
She crossed her arms. “I’d like a clean set of sheets and towels, please. The lizard might have soiled these.”
“I doubt it.” He pointed her to the laundry room outside. “Keep the door closed after you go in there. Last week, a big snake slept on top of the dryer. They like the warmth.”
“Are you kidding me?” She shook her head. “Never mind, I’ll wash my clothes in the sink.”
He scratched his cheek. “Well…”
“What’s in there?”
He cleared his throat. “Nothing.”
She grimaced at the muddy footprints on the concrete floor. “I’ll need this place cleaned, please.”
He showed her the mop and bucket in the cleaning supply closet. “They’re yours to use anytime. You’re the maid, remember?”
A grumble escaped her lips. “I keep forgetting.”
“I hope you’re good at scrubbing and mopping, you’ll be cleaning the guest rooms.”
She just looked at him. “Have you lost any people to animal attacks here?”
He clicked his tongue. “Not yet. Follow the rules, and you’ll be fine.”
“And what are the rules?”
“Don’t feed or interact with the animals, no matter how harmless they seem. I’ll say it again…do not run. Make noise to confuse them. You can’t calm the predators here like you would an excited dog. You have to make them think twice.”
She took a deep breath. “I’ll need weapons for protection.”
“We use dart rifles, flashlights, and slingshots to control the aggressive animals here.”
“Is that all?”
“Our goal at this lodge is to protect the animals, not kill them.”
She slapped a bug on her arm. “Where can I get suntan lotion? Airport security kept mine.”
“You’re welcome to use my supply.” He opened the bathroom vanity and gave her two full containers. “Always protect your skin from sun and insects before stepping out the door. Don’t walk barefoot anywhere, not even in this room. Wear closed-toe shoes to avoid insect and snake bites. I turn my boots upside down and shake them before putting them on.” He checked the time. “Why don’t you settle in? I’ll pick you up for lunch in an hour.”
She crossed her arms. “You can’t leave me here alone.”
He grinned. “You want me to move in with you?”
“I guess not.”
She closed the door behind him.
Too tired and scared to look for more insects and small animals, she entered the mosquito netting just as Jeremy had shown her. For some odd reason, she felt protected under the flimsy fabric like a kid in a cushioned fort.
Stanley sniffed the pillow. It smelled of cheap detergent and insect repellent, but his earthy scent wasn’t so bad. Twisting and tossing, she tried to get comfortable. The metal springs poked her sides and butt. Oh, what she’d do to have her California king-sized soft foam mattress again.
Rubbing the itchy swollen spots on her arms, she cringed at the mosquitoes perched on outside of the netting. The little bloodsuckers were ready to feast on her again. She grabbed the insect repellent from the nightstand. It wasn’t worth getting eaten alive to save her skin.
After one look at the dingy hut, smaller than the size of her closet back home, she hugged her pillow in a fetal position and shed tears. I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere smelling like a stink bomb trying to sleep in broad daylight. How am I going to make it here three months without any friends? I can’t even call Neil.
Chapter Five
Jeremy walked to his hut on the other side of the lodge to clean up for lunch. As he stepped inside, he glanced over his well-furnished, clean, and bug-free place. He wasn’t prepared to host a diva at this lodge. She’d arrived before he could improve the place.
He took off his dirty clothes and stepped into the hot shower and quietly laughed to himself. That woman’s blood-curdling screams from seeing harmless animals and bugs almost stopped his heart like a charging wild elephant.
Protecting this scared pants from the animals was easy, but keeping her out of trouble was going to be a challenge. As he dried himself off with the plush towel, her cringing face flashed through his mind. Maybe I should give her better linens and towels. She isn’t his typical female volunteer.
He walked to his closet and sifted through his clothes. Dressed in tailored charcoal pants and a buttoned-up, light gray shirt, he gave his brown hiking boots an extra shine. He stopped before putting on the aftershave. Why was he trying so hard to impress her? After a quick look at his trimmed beard in his bathroom mirror, he combed his hair.
Hands tucked in his front pockets, he walked out the door and down the path to Stanley’s hut. Her high-heeled shoe prints were embedded next to those of his hiking boots. She was a tougher diva than he’d expected. She’d have no problem surviving in his wild world.
Jeremy tapped on Stanley’s door. Her long delay in greeting him made his heart race. Did she faint from another small animal sighting? What if she’d run out screaming and attracted a lion or an elephant? Nervously, he looked toward the bushes for a wild animal or human predator.
Ear to the door, he knocked harder. “It’s Jeremy. Are you okay? They’re serving lunch.”
“Coming.” Rubbing her tired eyes, she opened the door.
He glanced at her messy hair and the untucked shirt. He’d never met a human female specimen like her. She had perfect proportions and fat distribution. “Did I wake you up?”
“No,” she said. “It takes time to check my shoes for bugs.”
He stepped inside and closed the door. “I’m glad you’re following my instructions.” His gaze switched to her ruffled sheets, and the pillow from the other bed lying in the sag of the mattress. “I’ll tighten the springs for you later.”
She gave the bed a skeptical look. “You mean there’s hope for it?”
“Yes. After I’m done, you’ll sleep like a baby.”
“That’ll be a miracle because I don’t sleep so soundly.”
Her arms were red from scratching bug bites. He checked the bed netting for holes and didn’t find any. “You better use that insect repellent, or the mosquitoes will eat you alive.”
“Are there any natural remedies? I’m worried about the chemicals.”
“I’ll do some research for you.” He looked at the perfectly tied bows of her shoelaces. “You might want to wear good walking shoes for the uneven surfaces around here. I’d hate for you to twist your ankle or something.”
She grabbed her extra pair of hiking boots from under the bed, tipped them over, and shook them before wearing.
“Your fancy shoes are too nice for this job.”
“Don’t let these pretty boots fool you. They have steel toes and built-in arch support for all-day wear.”
He rolled up his long sleeves into even folds, as she tied the shoelaces into perfect bows again. “Don’t forget to wear sunscreen or you’ll burn up in this hot sun.”
She swayed her hips side-to-side to the table, picked up the sunscreen tube, and smelled it before putting it on. Her slow, sensual hands gently massaged the cream onto her gorgeous face and long neck. As she reached insid
e her shirt, she heard the jingle of his keys hitting the floor. He cleared his throat and picked up the key ring.
She gave him a sideways look. “You carry a lot of keys.”
“There’s a separate one for every hut.”
Oblivious to the excitement she’d just caused, she finished rubbing the sunscreen on her arms and hands. “Those brass keys must get heavy. Have you considered putting in digital locks?”
“Our budget doesn’t allow for such luxuries right now.” He checked the time. “We’ll be eating outside on the dining room porch so you can enjoy the view.”
She eyed the insect repellent on the table. “What about the mosquitoes?”
“They don’t bother you if the fans are on.” He gestured her out the open door. “After you.”
“Thanks.”
His heart skipped a beat as she walked past him, smelling like sunscreen made of coconut and honey. He led her down the same dirt path. She tripped on an uneven surface and grabbed his arm. Enjoying her gentle warm hold, he kept his eyes on the ground to warn her about the next hazardous dip.
His slow steps came to a sudden stop. “Don’t move,” he whispered and held her close to him. “Black mamba.”
She looked down at the big snake slithering out from the pile of dried vines in their pathway. They were within inches of a venomous bite that would kill them in minutes. Her mouth opened to scream, but he quickly silenced her with a kiss. The last thing he needed was for her fear to trigger the snake to strike.
In his distraction, he slowly tasted her delicious lips. Perhaps it was the element of danger, but this was the best kiss he’d ever had. He could feel the snake slither over his boot. His kiss intensified. Either one of them could die in an instant. Too afraid to end the lightheaded sensation, he held her close to his thumping heart. He didn’t know if the dizzy spell was from the passionate kiss or a venomous bite. As he released from her tempting lips, he looked down at the dark tail slowly disappearing into the bushes.
After a deep exhale, he looked at her stunned face. “Are you’re okay?”
She nodded with her wide-open eyes. “I think so.”
His lips tingling, he gazed at her mouth, ready to reclaim it again. “That was a close call.”
“This place is a death trap.” Her voice choked. “I’m not going anywhere without you. I wouldn’t have seen that snake, and it would’ve bitten me.”
He held her trembling body until she breathed easy again. “You’re okay.” After a sympathetic glance, he held her hand and led her to the round, white linen-covered table for two waiting for them on the dining hall’s porch.
Lucky, his trusted tracker, pulled out a chair for her. “Welcome, miss.” His yellow, toothy smile quickly faded. “What happened?”
“We had a close call with a mamba,” Jeremy said. “He almost bit us.”
Lucky grabbed the metal rod with a small hook at one end leaning against the wall by the server’s door. “Where is it? I will kill it.”
“Don’t kill it, relocate it by the river,” said the wildlife conservationist. “Stanley needs to know that snakes are important to our eco-system.”
“Black mambas are not good for anything.” Lucky nervously looked at the ground. “They have killed two fishermen and one child in the village this year. It will just come back here.”
“Yes, kill it,” she said.
“Both of you calm down.” Jeremy sighed. “Snakes stay away from noisy, populated areas. They’re scared of us as much as we are of them. I doubt the mamba has a built-in GPS to come back here just to bite us.”
She checked under the table and sat across from him with her feet up on her chair. “Why do they call it a black mamba? The snake was dark brown.”
“Its deadly bite earns it the name,” Jeremy said.
Looking up at the tall, dark man waiting for her order, she extended a hand. “Hi. I’m Stanley.”
He shook her hand. “I’m Lucky, at your service, miss.”
She let go off the firm grip and looked at Jeremy. “I’m with Lucky. I want that snake dead.”
Jeremy crossed his arms. “Don’t forget, we’re in the animals’ territory. We must respect their boundaries.”
Lucky poured fresh water from a cold metal jug into her glass. “Would you like something else, Miss?”
“I’d like a whole jug of that lemonade, please.”
“I will bring you fresh lemon juice.” Lucky took their lunch orders. “If Mr. Jeremy allows me to kill the snake, I will make mamba soup for you. It tastes like chicken.”
She laughed nervously. “I’d like the salad with the meat from the two-legged feathery thing with a beak, please.”
“Yes, miss.”
Lucky mischievously grinned at Jeremy as he walked off. “Why do I feel like I’m the entertainment around here?”
Jeremy chuckled. “Oh, it is nothing.”
“Go on, I want to know what I’m up against.”
He looked down at his drink. “Lucky is on a mission to find me a wife. Every single woman who comes here is a candidate for me. He thinks I need to settle down. Sorry, if he made you uncomfortable.”
Her admiring glance swept his face. “You two must be close for him to play matchmaker.”
“Lucky’s been my trusted partner for ten years. I couldn’t run this business without his loyalty.” His eyes twinkled. “Lucky has been fantasizing about having a second wife ever since he attended his cousin’s third wedding to a girl half his age. Now Lucky thinks he also needs another young bride.”
“Are Lucky and his cousin polygamists?”
“It appears so. Lucky is from Malawi.” He informed her about the tracker’s Malawi tribal traditions. “He can’t afford another family.”
“What does Lucky’s wife look like?”
“You met Tabo earlier.”
“He’s her husband?”
“Yes, she’s been with him since she was twelve, I think.”
“Twelve?” She crossed her arms. “That’s disgusting.”
“In his culture, child marriages are accepted. There’s no in-between—you’re either a child or a woman. The girls are initiated to the “sexual cleansing” at puberty.”
“That’s child abuse.”
“Kusasa fumbi, known as brushing off the dust, is practiced in several African countries.” He looked at Stanley’s cringing face. “If you’re to stay here, you should know about this tradition. Some of those young girls you saw in the village holding babies on their hips, they weren’t their brothers or sisters. Those babies belonged to them.”
She gulped. “Okay. Go on.”
“The sexual cleansing has been going on for a long time in African tribes. Young girls are pressured into this practice by older women. A midwife or nankungwi, teaches girls as young as six about sexual and reproductive health. Their parents pay older men to have sex with their daughters. They’re called hyenas because they come at night. The girls don’t know who he is or when he’ll have sex with them.”
“So, parents pay men to rape their children?”
“Unfortunately, yes. What’s even more appalling, these sex workers don’t wear condoms or any form of protection. It’s against the rules.”
“Horrible.” Stanley sat with her hand on her chest. “This makes me sick. It sounds like a perverted man made this rule up.”
“Oh, you know it.” Jeremy smirked. “This ritual’s sole purpose is to teach a girl how to please a man, so she’s desirable to a potential suitor.”
“Are there any educated women in this culture?”
“Most of the girls’ childhood and their education are cut short,” he said sadly. “They’re married off after undergoing the ritual. STDs and child pregnancies are the leading cause of death for girls between fifteen and nineteen years old.”
“What about UNICEF or the United Nations doing something to stop the tradition?”
“The legal age to get married here is eighteen. These child marriages usua
lly take place in rural areas. The government is doing its best to stop them, but the tribal traditions are hard to break. Steps are being taken every day toward stopping the practice and keeping the girls safe and in school,” he said. “It’s an ongoing battle, just like everything else.”
Her voice lowered as Lucky walked toward them. “This makes me so sad. I want to help these women somehow.”
“You can only change this through education.”
Lucky served Jeremy first and then Stanley. She dismissed his preference to cater to a man as a cultural difference. After a close look at her chicken and vegetables, she took a bite.
Lucky grinned. “You have lipstick on your collar, Mr. Jeremy.”
She gave Lucky that knowing look. “You better keep looking for another woman for Jeremy. I’m stubborn, opinionated, and a control freak. I’d make a terrible wife.”
He pressed his hands in prayer. “Then you are the right woman for him, miss.”
Jeremy sent Lucky off to do a chore as she reluctantly ate her food. “It’s chicken, I promise.”
“I’ve had enough shocks for one day,” she sighed.
“Yes, you have.”
She gave him a curious look, and then began eating her tasty meal. “I keep hearing thunder.”
He pointed her to the large, white cloud of mist on the horizon. “You hear the thunder of Victoria Falls. We’re only five kilometers or three miles away. That’s why they’re so loud. You can hear them as far as twenty-five miles away.”
Her eyes lit up. “Wow. I didn’t know they were so close.”
His chest puffed with pride. “We have the best view of the mist and Zambezi River from here.”
After lunch, he led her to the balcony for a better view of the splashing elephants and cruising hippos in the tranquil river. “The video I just took doesn’t do justice to the real experience. The waterfalls are louder and more majestic, and the elephants are even more intriguing in person. I can see why my aunt wanted her ashes spread here.”
“What was her name?”
She hesitated. “Daisy.”
He tapped his chin. “Hmm… That name sounds familiar. How old was she?”
