by Erin Wade
“I still don’t know how I got so lucky.” I hugged her tighter.
“I’m the lucky one,” she murmured as she drifted into sleep.
##
The sun was going down when we awoke. I hadn’t planned to sleep the entire day. I was even more exhausted than I thought. I tried to slip out of bed without waking Alex, but soft fingers curled around my wrist and pulled me down beside her.
“I’m starving,” she whispered.
“I’ll check the main lodge to see if anyone is there.” I pulled on my jeans and shirt.
“I’ll go with you,” she said. “I don’t like being away from you.”
The absence of light in the lodge told me there was no one at the compound. I tried the massive door and found it locked.
We walked around the lodge, looking for an unlocked window or loosely fitting door. I finally jimmied a lock and gained entrance.
Alex practically flew to the kitchen and had her head stuck in a massive commercial refrigerator by the time I entered the room.
“Bacon and eggs!” she said, squealing with delight as she pulled the items from the fridge. Then she opened the freezer. “And bread for toast.”
The hum of the refrigerator indicated the generator for the lodge had been left running to provide electricity. I found a toaster and coffee while Alex fried bacon.
I walked through the common area of the lodge and was pleased to find a map of Africa. It showed all the game reserves on the continent. I figured it might come in handy, so I slipped it in my pocket.
After we ate and cleaned up our dishes, we walked toward the barn or farmstall, as the natives called it. I don’t know how I knew that, but I did. I hoped there would be gasoline stored in the barn for use in the generators and industrial-size tractor I’d noticed behind the lodge.
Alex gasped as she spotted a jeep through the pipe fencing around the barn. “The gods are smiling on us.”
“We’ll make better time and get further in the BushCat,” I noted. “We won’t have to deal with checkpoints.”
“Hmm. And that means fewer bodies in our wake,” Alex said. “Travel by air, it is.”
I climbed the pipe fence and sprinted into the barn in search of gasoline cans. Alex was right—the gods were smiling on us. Ten 5-gallon cans of gas were lined up along the back wall behind the jeep.
We loaded the cans into the back of the vehicle.
“We have no key for the jeep,” Alex said. “You’ll have to jump-start it.”
“I’m glad you have so much confidence in me.”
I had no idea how to jump-start a vehicle. I sauntered toward the jeep, hoping Alex wouldn’t sense my general lack of knowledge.
I raised one side of the jeep’s hood. The battery cables were disconnected. I connected the cables and somehow knew the small wire to the cable led to the starter. In less than five minutes, I had cranked the jeep and motioned for Alex to get into the driver’s side.
“Let’s stop by the lodge and stock up on food and water,” Alex suggested. “No telling when or where we’ll land next time.”
We gathered chips, bread, cheese, candy bars and water from the lodge. Alex left two hundred dollars on the counter to cover the gas and supplies then we headed back to the plane.
“We’ll fill the BushCat with gas and carry the extra five cans in the cargo bay,” I said. “That will give us sixteen hours of flying time.”
I didn’t add that we would still be in Africa when we ran out of gas again. Taking advantage of the wind drafts and gliding every chance we had, we could eke out about eight hundred miles on a tank of gas. The BushCat’s tank held a little over twenty-four gallons. The gas we had would get us to Gabon, a tiny country on the African coast.
We still had to fly from Gabon to the Algerian border and then to Morocco. The final leg of our trip would take us from Morocco, across the Strait of Gibraltar into Spain.
Once we reached Spain we could get to the States. Of course, we might be unable to find gas en route, be shot down, or simply wear out the little BushCat’s engine. The plane wasn’t designed for the effort I would require of it.
“We’ll have to fly during daylight hours,” I informed Alex. “I don’t know enough about the mountain ranges in Africa. I’m flying strictly by sight. The plane’s navigation system is an iPad which is worthless out here.”
She nodded and gave me a thumbs-up. Somehow, I knew Alex had always been a trooper. I wasn’t worried about her.
I filled the plane’s tank—saving enough to prime the engine—while Alex loaded the extra five-gallon gas cans into the cargo bay.
We returned to the chalet for a good night’s sleep. I was sore and needed rest. My ribs were killing me, and a dull ache haunted the back of my neck and head. It had been a grueling day.
“I’m not sleepy,” Alex whispered as she wrapped her arms and legs around me and cupped my breasts. Her warm breath on my ear suddenly rejuvenated me. More than anything in the world, I wanted her. I pushed her onto her back and began to kiss my way down her body. “Maybe, I am that guy!” I murmured.
We awoke just before sunrise and drove the jeep to the plane.
I poured a little gas into the plane’s fuel pump to prime it and closed the cowling. Alex was already buckled into the passenger seat. I climbed into the plane, buckled my seatbelt, and kissed Alex soundly for good luck. The engine sputtered for a second, but that was it. I pulled out the choke, adjusted the air mixture, and said a quick prayer before attempting to start it again.
This time, the engine jumped to life and purred like a kitten. I was beginning to have feelings for the tough little plane.
Alex squeezed my arm. “I love you, Sloan.”
“I love you too, honey.” I winked at her as I pushed the throttle forward and the BushCat picked up speed. A few seconds later, we were airborne.
##
Chapter 13
Alex studied the map we had found in the lodge. “It looks like another reserve is about four hundred miles from here. We should reach it just before sundown.
“Sloan, it looks like we might be able to jump from reserve to reserve and get the hell out of Africa.”
“Good, because that’s our only chance.” I grinned at her. Even though we were facing certain death, I couldn’t suppress the happiness I felt being with Alex.
As we flew, Alex read me every piece of literature we had on the BushCat. I felt like an authority on the light bush plane. It was originally designed for game reserves to use in their pursuit of poachers.
Africa is plagued by thugs willing to kill rhinos and elephants for their horns and tusks. The regal, nearly extinct animals are being killed by poachers faster than they can reproduce.
“I could fly for a while,” Alex said. “You need to rest. I’m afraid I didn’t let you sleep much last night.” She nibbled on her bottom lip and cocked a brow at me.
I laughed. “I’m not complaining. Can you fly this thing?”
“Uh-huh. I didn’t want to be the one getting it off the ground, but after reading all this, I’m fairly certain I can keep it in the air.”
“We both have throttles on our armrests,” I pointed out. “Why don’t you take over, and I’ll stay awake and observe?”
“That’s a better idea,” she said. “I’d be more comfortable knowing you can take over in an emergency.”
“Put your hand on the rudder controller.” I winked at her as I covered her hand with mine. “This is your steering wheel.
“Move it right, left, up or down and the plane will respond to your directions.” She nudged the controller, and the plane swayed to the left. “Feel it?”
“I wish we could act on what I’m feeling right now,” she said, blushing.
I moistened my lips and nodded. “There’s not much room in this cockpit.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something once we are on the ground, darling.” She shot me a lust-filled look. “You’ve always been incredibly inventive.”
“You are deliciously evil,” I said, wishing we were somewhere—anywhere—other than the tiny cockpit.
##
“Sloan, wake up, baby.” Alex stroked my cheek. “We’re entering a game reserve.”
I looked around as I wiped the sleep from my eyes. “How long have I been asleep?”
“About three hours,” she replied as she watched the landscape below us. “Why don’t you take over, and I’ll try to find the campsites on the map?”
I took control of the throttle and the controller then leaned over to kiss her.
“Um, unless you’ve come up with some innovative ideas, don’t start anything you can’t finish.”
I pulled back from her. Making love in the cockpit of a BushCat would be harder than making out in a Smart car.
I must admit I’d been eyeing the cramped space behind the seats.
“We should be close to an encampment.” Alex furrowed her brow as she concentrated on the ground below us.
“I see water,” I said with enthusiasm, pointing toward my left.
I know, my mother taught me not to point, but sometimes I get excited and can’t stop myself. This was one of those times. We had eaten all our food and were down to our last few sips of water. We were hungry, hot, dirty, and thirsty.
I lowered the plane and trimmed the speed back to forty-five miles per hour so we could see better.
“Over there.” Alex whispered, as if it would disappear.
Multiple campsites encircled a huge compound enclosed by a high stucco wall. I killed the engine and glided the plane toward a dense copse of scraggly trees about a mile from the compound. I wanted to check out everything on foot.
“Did you see anyone?” Alex said as the plane came to a stop.
“No.”
“Neither did I. I think we’re in Kainji Lake National Park in Nigeria.”
“Those are two good things in our favor.” Grabbing my whip, I crawled from the BushCat and stretched my legs and back. I was certain rigor mortis had settled in my knees.
“Let’s approach the main buildings on foot,” I suggested.
“It will feel good to walk,” Alex said, though I saw a glint of concern in her eyes as she surveyed the thick jungle between us and the compound.
To my dismay, I had not only landed a good distance from the park compound, but I had also landed on the other side of the river from it.
“Where the hell did that come from?” Alex blurted.
I shrugged. “I didn’t see it.”
“Of course, we didn’t see it,” Alex said. “It’s enshrouded in trees. A swim will feel good.” She tried to lighten the mood.
“Not in this river.” I pointed out two pairs of beady eyes floating lazily in the water. “Hippos.”
Further scrutiny revealed a bask of crocodiles sunning on the river bank. A waterfowl landed midstream, and the crocs slid into the river without a sound. A few seconds later, the bird was yanked underwater.
“I’m not certain where we fall on the food chain out here,” I mumbled to Alex. “I think our best bet is to fly the plane to the other side of the river.”
She nodded and turned back toward the plane. I slammed into her back when she stopped dead in her tracks. “Sloan!” she whispered.
For just a second—as her back pressed against me—a wave of desire swept my body. Then I saw the lioness and her two half-grown cubs romping between us and the plane. Damn! Damn! Damn!
“Don’t move,” I whispered, slowly kneeling in the grass. “Maybe they won’t see us. We’re downwind from them.”
It was almost dark when the lioness and her cubs strolled toward the jungle. We waited until they disappeared and ran for the plane.
I helped Alex into her side of the plane and climbed in on the other side.
“Honey, I can’t take off in the dark,” I said, frowning at her. “I’m not certain I can clear the jungle without visibility.”
Alex leaned in for a sweet, soothing kiss. I fought to keep from taking it deeper, because I knew we would only end up frustrated and aching.
Sometime around midnight, the sound of Alex whimpering awoke me. “Cold,” she murmured. She was curled into a tight ball, trying to stay warm.
We had taken the doors off the BushCat to lighten the load when we put the gas cans in the baggage compartment.
Most of our trip had been in sweltering heat. Africa is the hottest continent on earth and the dirtiest. Tonight, frigid air had settled over the area where we waited for the sunrise.
I reached behind me and pushed Alex’s backpack against the side wall then climbed into the narrow space behind the seats. My movements aroused her. I pushed my body as far back as I could to make room for her. She immediately snuggled into my arms. We used the backpack as a pillow.
“I knew you’d think of something,” she mumbled as she spooned against me, wiggling her perfect butt into my lower abdomen.
“I just want to keep you warm,” I whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
“In the morning,” she murmured as she slipped back into oblivion.
##
Chapter 14
“Sloan, stop licking me!” Alex giggled.
“Not me, babe,” I whispered as I opened my eyes to find myself eyeball to eyeball with the lioness. “Lay still. Don’t breathe.”
The big cat and her cubs had made themselves at home in the seats of the BushCat. I didn’t know if she was washing Alex’s face like one of her cubs or tasting her before eating her. I was so wedged into the tiny space I couldn’t move without riling the lioness. Our safest plan was to play dead.
The big cat dragged her tongue across Alex’s face and onto the side of mine. She gave me the sloppiest wet willy I’ve ever experienced. My ear would never be the same.
My lips were right against Alex’s ear. “Be still,” I whispered as the cubs began to wrestle in the front seats.
The two reared up on their hind legs and batted at one another with their front paws. Suddenly, one of them fell backward out of the BushCat. The other one jumped on him, which resulted in a lot of snarling and growling.
The lioness turned her attention to her cubs and jumped from the plane to administer jungle justice. Two blows of her powerful paw sent the cubs rolling in the dirt. They jumped to their feet and ran from their mother. Fortunately, she ran after them.
“Oh God! Oh God!” Alex squealed as she rubbed her face with her hands then scrambled into the front seat.
I realized I wasn’t breathing and exhaled with an audible sigh of relief. “Let’s get out of here before she returns.”
I had learned just the right amount of air and fuel mixture favored by the BushCat. The little plane’s engine kicked off with the first start. I pushed the throttle forward, picking up speed as quickly as possible. I breathed normally once we were airborne.
“Oh my God!” Alex was still shuddering with disgust. “That was the scariest thing I have ever lived through.”
I kept the plane as low as possible to avoid being seen above the trees. About five miles from the encampment, Alex spotted a break in the jungle, and we flew through it. Once we crossed the river, I turned back toward the compound.
Alex released the death grip she had on my arm and began to laugh. “When you asked me to marry you, you promised me three things, Sloan.”
I shot her a quizzical look.
“You promised always to be faithful and to love only me. You promised to protect and respect me, and you promised that life with you would never get boring.
“I can honestly say, Sloan Cartwright, that you have always kept those promises.”
We were still trying to laugh at our predicament when I spotted the perfect place to conceal the BushCat. I landed and taxied into a U-shaped copse of trees.
After I killed the engine we pushed the plane around so it was positioned for a quick takeoff. Alex grabbed her backp
ack, and I fastened on my whip.
I fingered the soft leather. It felt good, almost sensuous. “Are you certain you’ve never let me . . . ?”
“Never.” She laughed. “Never. It’s not going to happen, Sloan.”
“Feel this leather.” I held out the tips of the bullwhip to her.
She played with the fine, soft leather, her eyes glued to mine.
“I wouldn’t be opposed to”—I caught my breath— “using it on you,” she said.
“Oh!” I grunted. “You do know I was teasing, right?”
Her smirk told me she had her doubts.
##
Outside the wall, sturdy huts circled the compound.
We lay on our stomachs and observed the activity as people left the huts and walked inside the wall. A noisy group of camera-toting tourists climbed into a safari bus.
We waited until the bus disappeared then ran to the closest hut. The door was unlocked.
“A shower!” Alex shrieked as she shed her clothes, turned on the shower and stepped under the stream of water. I quickly stripped and joined her.
I can’t remember a shower feeling so good, unless it was the one Alex gave me in the hospital. My body snapped to attention as she slipped her arms around my waist and pulled my nipple into her mouth.
“This won’t take long,” she said as she took away my breath.
Dear God, I love this woman.
We traded our clothes for the clean ones belonging to the tourists staying in the hut. To my surprise, they fit.
“Clean clothes,” Alex said with a loud sigh. “Sloan, I’ll never be particular about clothes again, as long as they are clean.”
I eyed her. The jeans she fastened fit her like they were made for her. My jeans were not as flattering.
“The jeans are loose in the stride.” I pulled on the excess material.
“You have men’s jeans, darling.” Her eyes danced. “They’re like that to keep from binding their junk.”
“Okay,” I said with a slow nod, thankful I had no “junk.”
“Let’s see if we can bluff our way through the general store,” I said as I zipped my borrowed jeans.
