by Rifi Strawn
“Mid-seventies.”
“When did she visit here?”
“About six months ago.”
“How long did she stay?”
“Over three months,” she muttered.
His eyes lit up. “Was your aunt from Oklahoma?”
Stanley crossed her arms. “She was born there.”
“I think I’ve met your aunt. She’s the only American visitor we’ve had here with that description.”
Heart racing, she looked away from him and pointed to the brilliant rainbow to divert his attention. “Are the colors of the rainbows always so vivid?”
“Yes.” He leaned on the railing. “That’s what makes this place so magical. Without the life-giving Zambezi River, there would be no falls, rainbows this bright, or animals here.”
“This place must be a doorway to heaven for my aunt to want her ashes here.”
As tears welled in her eyes from the memories of her late aunt, Jeremy dug deep into his pant pockets and gave her a small box of Chiclets. “These are guaranteed to make you smile,” he said.
“Thanks.” She chewed the gum and smiled. “This is really good. What’s in here? I feel better.”
He lowered his voice after a quick look around. “This gum has been infused with vitamins to build the immune system.”
Hand on her chest, she sighed. “Oh, my God, you’re keeping those orphans healthy in the village.”
“These special pieces give them the essential nutrients to fight the deadly childhood diseases that are common here,” he said.
Her gorgeous golden-brown eyes fixed on his face. “You’re an angel in disguise.”
He laughed uncomfortably from her praise. “Oh, please. Don’t give me too much credit.”
“No. You really have a good heart.”
Heat rushed to his face from her continued praise. He cleared his throat. “If you want, I’ll take you to the prettiest spots in the river to release your aunt’s ashes.”
“Thank you. I’d love that.”
He checked the time. “Why don’t you relax for the rest of the day? I’ll be working in my office. If you need anything, come get me.”
“Okay, I will.”
As he walked away from her, he saw her touching her lips. Did she also feel the power of their kiss? Smiling, he sat behind his desk in his office and looked over his schedules. He’d better come up with some good chores to keep her busy during the next three months.
Chapter Six
Stanley stood in a daze as she leaned over the porch balcony outside the dining hall. The hint of wafting mist from Victoria Falls was refreshing. She gazed at the river glistening like a sea of glass in the sunshine. Inhaling the sweet scent of the flowering mimosa trees, she basked in the tropical allure she’d only read about in books.
Shortly, Jeremy joined her and refilled her glass with more lemonade. She looked at him with a tinge of guilt as she accepted the last drop. “I must be addicted to this stuff, I practically finished the entire jug.”
“You must be dehydrated.” His light gray eyes gleamed. “Daisy also loved our lemonade.”
“Aunt Daisy was into the large doses of vitamin C for her good health and skin.”
“Well…The honey and lemon juice in your drink is great for the immune system.”
“Mine should be kicking ass by now.”
He chuckled as she drained the entire glass. “You remind me of Daisy, except you don’t seem like the daredevil type.”
She raised an eyebrow. “My aunt—a daredevil? The woman I knew never took any chances without over-analyzing them to death.”
His eyes narrowed. “Did she ever mention that she swam in the Devil’s Pool?”
“Devil’s Pool?”
He cleared his throat. “It’s a natural, giant infinity pool at the lip of the Victoria Falls. It attracts adrenaline junkies from around the world. The fast-moving, violent water forgives no mistakes. Many thrill-seekers and animals who wander too far down the river have plunged to their deaths. The powerful water sucks them in. I couldn’t talk her out of it.” He chuckled. “She said she’d rather plunge to her death with her head up than die lying down in a rest home.”
“Now that sounds like my aunt. Did she really go swimming there?”
“Yes.” He sighed. “I about had a heart attack when she slipped on a mossy rock and got caught in the current near the edge. If I hadn’t been there, she would’ve plunged to her death, three-hundred-and-fifty-feet into the gorge.”
Stanley gasped. “Oh, my God. Thank you for saving her life and mine.”
“Yours?”
“From that snake, the black mamba.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Was that really a black mamba?”
“Absolutely. I don’t joke about life and death matters. I hope the Devil’s Pool isn’t on your bucket list.”
She laughed nervously. “I came here to release my aunt’s ashes in it, but I didn’t know that water was so dangerous. It was her last wish.”
He shook his head. “I can’t believe Daisy is making you risk your life. I guess just like your aunt, I’ll have to take you there.”
“You don’t have to. You might end up dying being the nice guy.” She smiled. “I’ll find someone else to take me.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” He laughed nervously. “I’d feel awful if something bad happened to you. There’s no one better than me to keep you safe there.”
Her smiling gaze skimmed over his face. “I like how you keep me calm in a panic.”
“I thought maybe you didn’t notice.”
She looked away from his dreamy eyes. “I still can’t get over how vivid the rainbow colors are here.”
“And you’ll love the moonbows here. The moonlight reflects off the waterfall and creates an amazing light show.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” She gave him a curious look. “Why do the falls have a European name?”
“The locals called the thundering water Mosi-oa-tunya. It means ‘The smoke that thunders’. Dr. Livingstone, also an explorer, named them in honor of Queen Victoria.”
Her pronunciation was far from romantic like his. “I’ll stick to their European name, it’s easier to pronounce.” She leaned over the balcony to look at the loud crunching and snapping branches in the woods below. “What’s going on down there?”
He gave her a closeup with his binoculars. “Every day, the elephant herds pass by here on their way to the river to cool off. We call these gentle giants ‘the architects of the jungle.’” They graze on rough vegetation and stomp out new paths in the thicket that we normally can’t get through.”
Captivated by the elephants grazing on tree leaves, bark, and vines, Stanley counted twenty in this herd. “Why would anyone want to kill these beautiful animals? They seem so playful and happy.”
“The demand for ivory keeps the poachers employed. Ten years ago, we used to have twice as many herds come by here. Each year, the numbers decrease. If poachers don’t kill the elephants with their shrinking habitat, they die from drought and starvation in the hot summer months in their search for food and water. The females that lead the herds often have to abandon their sick young and the elderly to protect the rest.”
“How sad.” She jerked from the crackling of repeated gunshots and looked at him in panic. “Poachers?”
His breath quickened as he zoomed in the direction of the shots. He exhaled. “No need to worry. That’s Lucky firing blank shells to discourage the wild elephants from recruiting our rescued orphans. Our tamed elephants don’t have strong immune systems or the instincts to survive in the wild. Over the years, we’ve saved many wounded victims from the brink of death after attacks on their herds. The wild elephants’ instincts are to rescue their kind, so Lucky has to warn them away.”
Her gaze lingered on his face. “So, you’re the savior for these elephants?”
“I don’t know about that. We do our best.”
&nbs
p; “What more can be done to protect the elephants?”
“It takes money, time, and energy to educate the people about the consequences of their actions. I’m impressed that you care. Daisy raised thousands of dollars for our Save the Elephant campaign and promoted it after she left.”
“I remember her talking about it.”
“Because of your aunt’s valiant effort to promote our worldwide campaign, we’ve seen reduced massacres. You’ll learn about the program at orientation tomorrow.”
“My aunt always loved wild animals.” Stanley borrowed his binoculars again and focused on a baby elephant trailing behind his mother. The large female was grazing and stomping on thorny bushes to clear the way for it. She startled from the calf’s sudden shrieks. “Hey, I think that baby’s foot is caught in something.”
Jeremy leaned over the balcony and looked down. “That’s Luki, Makeda’s three-year-old calf. She’s one of our rescues. Luki has been a troublemaker from the womb. She almost lost him during childbirth. One of these days, the little bru’s curious escapades are going to get them both killed.”
“Is Luki in trouble? Are you going to help him?”
Jeremy called Lucky on the walkie-talkie. “Hey, bru, keep an eye on Luki. His foot is caught in some branches. Do you see Makeda?”
“No,” blared Lucky’s voice.
Stanley paced the balcony as the calf’s agonizing cries grew louder. “I hope Makeda gets to him soon.” She sighed. “Can’t you or Lucky go down there and help them?”
“The terrain is too dangerous for us to help. And if we made it in time, the protective herd would see us as predators and hurt or kill us in a panic.”
Jeremy called Lucky on the walkie-talkie again. “Have you seen Makeda yet?”
“I don’t know where she is.”
Jeremy put the walkie-talkie down and anxiously panned the binoculars over the thicket. “I don’t know what’s going on down there. Usually, other members of the herd come to help if the mother can’t. I hope Makeda isn’t caught in a snare.”
“What’s a snare?”
He continued to scan the woods for the herd. “It’s a thorny wire that poachers set to trap elephants.”
A stream of rustling leaves and crushing branches was heading toward Luki. She touched his arm. “I think the mother is coming.”
He sighed with relief. “Makeda is here.”
Tail stiff, Makeda big ears flapped back. The majestic elephant used her tusks to dig and break the tangled web to free her calf. Luki’s agonizing cries got Makeda working harder to rescue his tiny leg and attracted other members of the herd to the scene.
“It looks like the elephants take care of their own,” she said.
“Oh, yes. They’re very protective of each other.”
The frantic mother tossed the brush aside and helped her calf out. Trunk wrapped around her baby, Makeda consoled Luki.
Hand on her chest, Stanley sighed with relief. “I thought Luki was going to die.”
“Makeda wouldn’t let that happen. She’s been very protective of Luki ever since he was born. She had a complicated ninety-five-week pregnancy with him. At times, it was touch and go. I didn’t know if the unborn calf would make it.”
“So, Luki’s a miracle baby?”
“Oh, yes.”
Stanley’s tender gaze lingered on Makeda gently stroking Luki’s hurt leg. The calf stopped crying. “It looks like unconditional motherly love and TLC heals the wounds faster.”
“They must,” he said, after a quick glance at her.
“When Aunt Daisy babysat me as a child and I got hurt, my scrapes and bruises would miraculously heal and the pain would go away the moment she’d kiss them.” Her smile vanished after a look at Luki slowly limping behind his mother. “Is he going to be all right?”
Jeremy studied the calf through the binoculars again. “Oh, yes. His skin is torn up a bit from the struggle, but he’ll heal fast. I’ll check on his wounds to ensure they don’t get infected. It doesn’t look like it, but elephant skin is very sensitive. They can feel a fly land on them.”
“Really? That’s amazing.” She scratched the itchy welts on her arms. “It seems my skin is delicate, too.”
After a quick glance at her mosquito bites, Jeremy gave her the insect repellent from the table close by. “You better use it before you get eaten up alive.”
She cringed and sprayed. “How long have you known Makeda?”
“I saw her being born.” His voice filled with pride. “My father was the vet who delivered Makeda in the middle of the rainy season. Poor thing was covered in mud during the first few days of life.”
“How often do you keep an eye on her and the herd?”
“Every day, we take count of the elephants in the protected area. If one goes missing, we know it. The herd doesn’t return until they’re all together. Elephants help and take care of their own.” He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Thank God for helicopters covering the distance. We can be more efficient in our counts.”
She looked at Makeda and Luki leading the line of elephants toward the river. “Is it true an elephant never forgets?”
“I’d like to think so. When I was studying at the university to become a vet, I had to leave the lodge for months at a time. One summer while I was helping my father here, I got in trouble and got carried away in the fast-moving river. Makeda jumped in. I made it on my own, but I could’ve sworn she was trying to help me.”
“She must’ve known who you were.”
“It’s possible.” He smiled. “Before I could touch her huge ears, she ran off.”
“I bet Makeda knows who you are.”
“I’ve treated her many times for wounds and illnesses that would’ve otherwise killed her. Some of the rehabbed elephants treat me as their own. I’ve delivered many of them.”
She smiled. “When you talk about the elephants, I forget you’re talking about animals. You make them sound so human. You speak of them like a proud father.”
“They’re like my children.”
She looked through the binoculars again. “I’m so tempted to hug Luki. He has the prettiest, heart-melting golden-brown eyes and the longest lashes just like the wild baby elephant we saw earlier.” She sighed at his warning. “Don’t worry; I’m not going near him.”
“Tame or untamed, stay away from the elephants. Never go near them without me. Makeda could easily kill you with her powerful tusks trying to protect Luki.”
“Thanks for the warning. I thought maybe the rehabbed elephants would be different.”
“Most elephants will kill to protect their young.”
“How long do they live?”
“Oh…an elephant can live up to seventy in the wild.”
“That’s almost as old as my aunt. She was seventy-six.”
“Really? Daisy didn’t look her age.” In a quick glance, he skimmed her face and body. “You must’ve inherited her good genes. I hope I’m not dealing with an under-age girl here.”
“I hope you’re not a hyena.”
He gave her a wry smile. “I only kiss girls over eighteen.”
“You came close to breaking the law,” she teased, and noticed Luki nursing on his mother. “Isn’t he a bit old for mother’s milk?”
“In the wild, calves nurse until they’re three. Luki is almost that age and is slowly weaning off. The longer he nurses, the better his immune system. He’ll need the nutrients in mother’s milk to stay healthy.”
Stanley admired the beaded elephant head logo on his shirt pocket. “Where do you have your fundraising campaigns?”
“In Cape Town.”
“I’ve always wanted to see South Africa. Do you need help with organizing, entertaining, or planning the events?”
“We have limited resources for fundraising parties,” he said, glancing at her clothes and painted nails.
“I know how to improvise,” she said. “Have you ever considered having a fundraiser here? Donors would qui
ckly loosen their wallets after getting a first-hand glimpse of Makeda and Luki’s daily life in the wild. That, coupled with your informative talk could raise some serious cash for your cause.” She gestured to the spectacular view. “And the scenery doesn’t get better than this.”
He gave her a sideways look. “This place needs a lot of work, time, and money before we could host wealthy guests.”
“Just sell them on the rustic experience. The visitors won’t be expecting a luxury resort.”
“Hosting an event here the entire weekend could be costly.”
“You can write-off the expenses. You never know, the donors might come back here for a vacation to enjoy the amazing view and the wildlife. It might be worth giving away a free weekend.”
“You’re quite the salesperson.”
“Which could be beneficial to you.”
He checked the time. “I better look after Luki’s injuries. You can stay out here, or I can take you back to your hut to rest.”
“I’ll stay out here.”
“Okay, but don’t go anywhere without Lucky or me. There are wild animals on the prowl here.”
She nervously looked around. “Trust me, I’m not going anywhere without you.”
“Enjoy the view.”
After Jeremy left, Stanley lounged in one of the chairs by the infinity pool and reflected on her day. Eyes closed, she savored the cool mist from the falls, and the echoes of the trumpeting elephants in the distance. Maybe it was a good thing she didn’t get her inheritance right away or she would’ve sold the lodge to the highest bidder. On paper, this place was a liability.
Selling it could have endangered the elephants’ safe passage to the river and cut the funding for Jeremy’s cause. Perhaps, Aunt Zoie had brought her here for more than spreading her ashes. Did she want her to continue her legacy to help save the elephants and protect the village orphans with Jeremy?
Chapter Seven
On her first night at the lodge, Stanley lay in bed looking around the dimly lit room and hugged her pillow. The flickering candles on the table cast scary shadows on the stucco walls. Contorted images of insects seemed like giant ghosts hovering above her head.
