Heart of the Hunter

by Lindsay McKenna

  Little Gaby nestled her face against Casey’s damp neck. Casey smiled and slid her arm along the girl’s thin back. Thanks to Reid, the girl was dressed in new red cotton pants and a white T-shirt with a Mickey Mouse emblem. Through Perseus, Reid had pushed to get the children of Henri’s village new clothing and a number of large corporations had donated a great deal at Morgan’s request.

  Life was fragile, Casey decided as she moved beyond the village perimeter with the children dancing delightedly around her. Fragile but delicious. Was her newfound perspective a result of knowing Reid? Because of their mounting desire for one another? Casey smiled to herself. The sunlight was hot and felt good on her head and shoulders. All day she and Reid had labored beneath the dark roof of the jungle. Out here on the open savanna, the sky was a startling blue with a few white puffs of cloud.

  Halting, Casey set Gabriella on the grassy ground and released her. “Okay, who’s it?” she shouted in their native tongue.

  Instantly, the children shrieked, pointed at her and took off like a startled flock of birds in every direction. Casey ran her fingers through her damp, short hair and laughed. She loved the children’s laughter, their white teeth flashing when they smiled and their eyes dancing with unabashed delight. She took off after the oldest boy. The screams and shrieks heightened, several children, sensing they were no longer the quarry, rushed after Casey as she chased ten-year-old Charles around the savanna.

  Charles was as tall and lean and as graceful as the gazelles that proliferated on the savanna, Casey decided. For his age, he was swift, and she had to push to catch up, reach out and touch his shoulder to make him “it.” But Charles ducked and veered off to the left, giggling. Casey couldn’t make the same tight turn because she was moving too fast. The dried vegetation wrapped around her legs. With a shout, she tripped and fell forward. In seconds, Casey was tumbling wildly in the dry, crackling grass. She came to an abrupt halt. The children laughed and encircled her, teasing her and pointing at her. Laughing with them, Casey let them pull the bits of grass out of her red hair and off her shoulders and back.

  “You slow! You slow like a hippo!” they sang to her.

  “Hippo lady,” Casey agreed, laughing back at them as she got to her feet. Brushing off her pants, she grinned at them good-naturedly.

  “Devil!”

  Instantly, Casey spun toward the boy’s cry of alarm. “Devil” meant only one thing to her: a black mamba had been spotted!

  “Oh no… ” she whispered, following the boy’s pointing hand. The children around her screamed in fear and took off at a run toward the village in the distance.

  There, no more than three hundred yards away from them, was the largest black mamba Casey had ever seen. From where she stood, she would swear the snake was five feet high. And it was slithering toward her at an alarming rate of speed.

  Gabriella burst into tears. She lifted her arms toward Casey.

  Casey jerked her attention toward the crying child—who was directly in the path of the swift, deadly black mamba!

  Without thinking, Casey closed the distance between them. She saw the boy who had spotted the mamba running wildly for the village, screaming “Devil!” at the top of his high, squeaky voice.

  As she scooped Gabriella up into her arms, Casey turned to run. Her heart bounded hard in her chest, and she squeezed the child tightly. Casey knew that a mamba could race along at fifteen miles per hour. That was faster than she could run even if she wasn’t carrying a four-year-old. Looking over her shoulder, she saw the cream-colored underside of the black snake as it zig-zagged with startling speed in her direction. She was the closest target. Luckily, all the other children were well ahead of her.

  Drawing air into her lungs, she lunged forward. Gabriella shrieked. She threw her tiny arms around Casey’s neck in a stranglehold.

  “Hold on!” Casey rasped to the child.

  It was a race between living and dying. Casey sucked huge drafts of air into her lungs. Boots pounding on the hard, unrelenting soil of the savanna, she plunged forward. Wind whipped around her. The dry grass threatened to entangle her feet once again.

  Please, just let me get out of here! The thought was a prayer. Heart pounding in her chest, her breathing ragged.

  Casey ran harder. Then terror shot through her and with a little cry, she skidded to a halt.

  Somehow, the black mamba had not only outdistanced her, but had outsmarted her as well ! The snake had placed itself between her and the safety of the village. Her eyes widened as she stood frozen, her breath coming in sobs. The creature was huge!

  Everything went blank around Casey. All her attention, her focus, was on the black mamba, which was no more than six feet away from her. Though it was impossible to judge how large the snake was, right now it looked about ten feet long to Casey. Her heart skittered in fear. If she moved, the mamba would be merciless and strike out.

  “Don’t—move—don’t move… .” she pleaded in gasps to Gabriella, whose tiny head was tucked tightly beneath her jaw, her face pressed into her shoulder. Oh, God, what could she do? Casey didn’t dare risk looking around. Just the movement of her head could incite the mamba to strike. AH her attention, her pulsing life force, was focused directly on that venomous snake standing like a thick, black-and-cream post in the yellowed grass. Its body shone and glistened in the hot sunlight. Its scales were a dark greenish brown, each lying neatly atop the next to form a seamless pattern. It had a flat, oval head and its eyes, round, large and intelligent looking, were lidless. The stare of its huge black pupils surrounded by olive green engaged Casey’s own widening, terror-filled eyes. The snake did not look as deadly as she knew it was. Its eyes were glittering with such obvious curiosity that Casey would swear there was a human being staring out of them at her. There was nothing stupid or slow about this incredible reptile, whose terrifying reputation preceded it.

  Breath tearing from her, her lungs burning from exertion, Casey gripped Gabriella even tighter as the little girl softly sobbed with fear. The world ebbed to a halt around them. Casey heard the throbbing of her heart in her rib-cage, and each time her heart thudded, she felt her body vibrate. The snake advanced slowly, looking her over. Assessing her.

  There was no way to escape. Casey knew one of them would die. It had to be her. She had to protect Gabriella at all costs. The black mamba moved again. There were fewer than three feet left between them now. Casey gulped. Her mind raced. Her heart, her love, was centered on Reid. Oh, why hadn’t she loved him openly! Why had she been such a coward? She was going to die without ever telling him what she felt. Why hadn’t she told him she loved him?

  Bitterly, Casey held the snake’s curious look. It seemed to be sizing her up like a quarry. Probably deciding where to strike me. Her arms tightened a little more. Whatever happened, she had to protect Gabriella. Could she move fast enough once the mamba lunged forward to strike her? Could she take the venomous, deadly bite instead of allowing Gabriella to be the target? Casey didn’t want to die; she wanted to live. But death was standing erect and demanding, three feet away. There would be no escaping her fate.

  “Don’t move Casey.”

  She went rigid. Was she hearing things? Reid’s voice! Low. Quiet. In control. Oh, God!

  “Don’t move a muscle.”

  No! Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Reid advancing slowly toward her. She saw the 9 mm pistol in his hands, the weapon pointed directly at the black mamba’s head.

  Her heart slammed into her ribs. Reid! He’s here! It wasn’t her imagination! She nearly cried out, but knew the mamba would strike if she even breathed. She had to remain perfectly still, as Reid said. She didn’t even dare speak. Her gaze flicked to Hunter’s sweaty, hardened features as he quietly closed in on the snake.

  “Whatever you do,” he rasped, “don’t move, don’t talk, don’t bat an eyelash… . I’m going to try and blow his head off before he strikes… .” His breath was harsh, his hands held out from his body as he drew a be
ad on the huge black mamba. The snake didn’t move. Its focus was entirely on Casey. Reid knew the snake must be aware of his presence, but it didn’t seem to care. Coming to a halt ten feet away from them, Reid slowly aimed his pistol. He had one shot. One shot only. One chance… If he missed, the black mamba would strike out at Casey and kill her. Never had Reid felt so damn helpless. So enraged at the unfairness of it all.

  Casey stood like a statue, the little girl held protectively in her arms. Her red hair moved with the slight, hot breeze. He saw the perspiration trickling down the sides of her face. Her eyes were huge, wide and frightened. All her attention was on the huge black mamba, which was at least thirteen feet long, its head held four feet into the air. The snake looked amazingly powerful as it began to move its body slightly from side to side. Damn! Reid blinked. Sweat burned his eyes and his sight blurred momentarily. He blinked savagely again. The snake was getting ready to strike. He had to take a shot!

  As the mamba continued the slight, swaying motion, Reid tried to keep his gun sight on the reptile. It was a risky shot at best. The snake’s head was huge, but as it moved, it became less of a sure target. Panic gripped Reid. He loved Casey! He’d never spoken those words. Why hadn’t he? Why had he waited? As he stood there, legs spread apart for balance, his gaze locked on the snake, he cursed himself for his own cowardice in not telling Casey he loved her. When had it happened? How? He had no answers, only fear that she was going to die if he couldn’t kill the black mamba.

  His throat closed up with terror. His breathing shut off. His heart throbbed powerfully in his heaving chest. He’d run from the village, pistol in hand, when the children came back screaming, “Devil! Devil!” Now, his hands sweaty around the stock, his finger resting firmly against the trigger, he watched the mamba sway drunkenly. Any second now it was going to strike.

  Casey couldn’t breathe. She stood there, every nerve in her body screaming at her to run. She couldn’t. She’d fallen under the power of the black mamba’s lidless, hypnotizing gaze as it swayed gracefully from side to side, as if in some kind of ritualistic dance. Her mouth went dry. Her pulsed throbbed violently. She was going to die. Her life was at an end. She saw the pupils in the snake’s eyes suddenly shrink to pinpoints. And then Casey knew. Knew it was going to strike. She tried to prepare herself for the savage attack, tried to anticipate where the black mamba would sink its fangs into her.

  And then everything slowed down. Her heart pounded in slow, exaggerated beats. The world grew white around her; she no longer saw the blue of the sky. She felt the heat of the sun upon her. She felt Gabriella’s tight, strangling grip around her neck. She saw the black mamba arch back into striking position. Her eyes widened enormously. Her lips parted in a soundless scream.

  The black mamba lunged forward, its head moving at startling speed—right toward her legs.

  The firing of a gun roared in Casey’s ears. Pain from the sound tore through her.

  She saw the black mamba’s head jerk backward as it absorbed the shot. From somewhere, Casey heard Hunter’s thundering voice. Her gaze was riveted on the snake, its head partially severed from its thick, powerful body. It thrashed forward, still lunging toward her, its dark green, lidless eyes still upon her. Still intent upon killing her.

  Unable to move, Casey heard and then felt Reid’s presence. She saw him dive between her and the thrashing reptile. With a grunt, he slammed his hands into her shoulders. The power of his thrust sent Casey reeling off her feet and flying backward, Gabriella shrieking in her arms. Before they slammed to the hard earth, Casey saw the thrashing black mamba strike out at Reid. A scream of warning tore from her throat. She saw the snake’s lipless mouth open and snap like a rabid dog several times as it made contact with Reid’s pant leg.

  No! Oh, my God, no! Casey hit the ground on her back, all the wind knocked out of her. Gabriella went flying out of her arms and over her head.

  Stunned, unable to move, Casey gasped for breath. She heard Gabriella sobbing nearby. Reid! Where’s Reid? The black mamba had struck him! She’d seen it. No! Oh, no! Struggling, Casey tried to get up, but couldn’t. Fear drove her to roll onto her side. She had to get to Reid! He’d stepped in front of her and saved her life. Sobbing herself, Casey couldn’t get air into her lungs no matter how badly she tried.

  Other sounds pummeled her. She heard the shouts and calls of villagers rushing to their aid. She saw Gabriella’s mother pick her up and hold her fiercely in her arms. She saw the tears of gratitude in the mother’s eyes. Forcing herself to her hands and knees, Casey fought the weakness she felt. Her shoulders ached where Reid had solidly connected with her and thrown her out of harm’s way. Reid!

  Hands—strong, sweaty hands—closed around Casey’s arms and hauled her up. Up into Hunter’s arms.

  “Reid… !” she sobbed, as she helplessly fell against him.

  “Hush, hush,” he rasped, dragging her tightly against him. Reid sank to his knees with Casey in his arms. All his attention was still on the black mamba, which twitched in the dry grass no more than six feet away from them. Its mouth snapped open and shut in its death throes. “Are you okay? Are you all right?” Wildly, he searched her pale face, her wild-looking green eyes. Running his hand through her hair, down her neck and arms, he looked for any indication of a bite.

  “Fine… .” Casey gasped. “But you—”

  “No… I’m okay… I’m okay,” he said, burying his face against her sun-warmed red hair.

  “But… I saw it bite… .” Casey sobbed for air. She felt like a helpless puppet in Reid’s strong, protective embrace.

  “Sweet God, you feel good to me,” he rasped, holding her so tightly he was afraid he’d squeeze the breath out of her. Her arms went around his waist and he shut his eyes. “I almost lost you… . Casey, I love you! Damn it, I should have told you that before.” He ran his hand through her unruly hair, cupped her jaw and forced her to look up at him.

  Sweat stood out on Reid’s face, and his expression was hard and uncompromising. Casey gulped as she met and held his gleaming, dark silver gaze. He loved her. Was she hearing things? Was she hallucinating in the heat of the crisis? In the face of death? “W-what?” she stammered breathlessly. Without thinking, Casey lifted her hand and slid it along his hard, sandpapery jaw.

  He laughed a little unsurely. “I said I love you.”

  Her heart exploded with joy. Quavering, she whispered, “I love you, Reid Hunter.”

  Casey saw his skin suddenly go pale. Alarmed, her eyes widening, she got to her knees. “Reid? Reid? What’s wrong? Oh, no… “

  Within seconds, Reid’s arms loosened and went lax around her. She saw that burning gleam of life snuffed out of his eyes. She watched as his eyes rolled back in his head.

  “No! “ Casey shrieked. “No! “ And she made a grab for him as he began to crumple to the dry, yellowed earth. “Help! Get help!” she cried to those who surrounded them.

  Gasping, each breath painful, Casey quickly maneuvered Reid so that he lay on his back. He was completely unconscious. He had been bitten by the black mamba! Hands shaking badly, she tore at his right pant leg, where she’d seen the mamba strike at him as he’d bravely and foolishly placed himself between her and the reptile.

  Grandfather Henri, who had just arrived, slowly bent down at Reid’s feet. He dropped his cane, his weathered hands moving toward Hunter’s leg.

  “He’s been bitten,” Casey sobbed. She tore wildly at the pant leg and pulled it upward.

  “There,” Henri said heavily, and pointed to a faint scratch along the side of Reid’s hairy shin.

  Tears flooded her eyes. Casey sobbed. She stared at the scratch. “No!” she wailed. “I don’t want him to die. Grandpa! Help me! Help me to save him!” Her sobs became louder. More desperate. “I love him! I love him, Grandpa. I don’t want him to die! He can’t! Damn it, he can’t! I can’t lose another man I love!”

  Chapter Twelve

  Casey was alone. Alone in a way she never wanted
to experience again. Her face buried in her hands, she sat in a plastic lounge chair on the ICU floor of a Johannesburg, South Africa, clinic. The waiting room was deserted. The hours swam together, congealed into one long and horrifying nightmare. She tried to take in a deep breath, but her body shook with unreleased tears at her potential loss. Loss of Reid.

  “Dr. Morrow? Casey?”

  The deep, well-modulated voice gradually filtered through her state of shock into her spinning mind and tumultuous heart. Casey was reeling with so many raw feelings. Lifting her head, she rested her hands on the thighs of her coveralls. She hadn’t changed clothes in twenty-four hours. Frowning, she looked up… up at a very tall man with dark hair and cinnamon-colored eyes set in a square face. He wore a white, short-sleeved cotton shirt that outlined his barrel chest and thick, broad shoulders. The dark blue jeans and tan work boots completed a picture of someone who was accustomed to being in the Outback, or on safari here in Africa. Somewhere, a memory stirred in her fogged, sleep-deprived brain. She knew this man. From where? Where?

  “Yes… ?” she answered finally, wondering if he was a doctor. A specialist off duty, called in because of Reid and his condition? Her mind simply wasn’t functioning, overrun as it was with grief, shock and terror.

  The man managed a thin, strained smile as he held out his hand. “We’ve met briefly a few times in the past, at the OID building where you work. Ty Hunter. I’m Reid’s older brother. Remember me now?”

  Casey gave a small cry of recognition. She pushed herself off the plastic chair. “Ty… yes… of course I remember you now. I—I’m so sorry,” she stammered, “this just isn’t like me. Of course I remember you.” She reached out and gripped his strong, heavily scarred hand. “I—uh, I’m just tired, and in a little bit of shock from all that’s happened… .”

  “Don’t worry about it. Come on, sit down, Casey. You look pretty rough around the edges right now.”