by Judy Angelo
Ridge only grunted and reached for his canteen. He was in no mood to hear how good they were doing when he felt like crap.
“It’s a good thing I did all those work-outs in preparation for the trip. I spent my lunch hours at the gym. I told you about it, didn’t I?”
Ridge gave her a sour look. “No, you didn’t. How come I didn’t know you were supposed to do special preparation for this trip?”
“Oh. I guess,” she glanced away, looking thoughtful, “I guess it was because it wasn’t in the plan for you to be on this trip.”
In response to that Ridge only grimaced.
Later, though, after their break he began to feel a whole lot better and actually kept up with the two ‘Energizer Bunnies’ ahead of him. And on top of his admiration for Lani’s stamina he now had a healthy dose of respect for Aurelio. Despite his years the man had energy that would rival someone half his age. Maybe the old man was already consuming whatever plant Lani was seeking, the one she felt would be the answer to so many ills. Whatever Aurelio’s secret was, Ridge knew he had to get some.
That night when they made camp as the twilight turned to dusk, Lani came to sit by him and as she leaned against him and he felt the warmth of her body against his Ridge was tempted to wrap his arms around her but he resisted the urge. He still didn’t have a good handle on Lani and her moods. He decided not to make any move and just let her take the lead. That was the safest way.
She didn’t take things any further, seeming comfortable just relaxing against him, probably not realizing the way she was ratcheting up the tension in his body. He was actually relieved when she moved away, deciding to make it an early night. He waited until she’d fallen asleep before stretching out on the leaves beside her.
Next morning they were up early, ready to take on the last lap of the journey. With their new burst of energy from being so close it didn’t take them long, only a few hours, so that by the middle of the day they had reached their destination. Slowly, almost reverently, Aurelio approached the waterfall.
“It is a special kind of fern,” he said, his voice hushed. “It grows in the caves behind this waterfall. We must approach it very carefully.”
“We have to go through the water?” Lani looked doubtful.
Aurelio shook his head. “No, there is another way. I know a path that goes behind it, but it is dangerous.” He glanced at Ridge. “You will hold her as we cross?”
“You bet.” Ridge reached out to take hold of Lani but she shook off his hand.
“Not yet. We’re not even there.” Then she cocked an eyebrow. “And I might have to be the one holding on to you. I’m not a novice at mountain climbing, you know.”
Ridge didn’t even bother responding to that one. He was just glad she didn’t seem scared at the prospect of climbing behind a pounding cascade of water.
After they’d refreshed themselves they started off toward the waterfall. The closer they got the louder the torrent sounded in their ears. The water was pounding as it fell to the rocks below, sending sprays of water high into the air, its deafening roar making it impossible for them to hear each other speak. They were left to communicate by hand signals.
Within minutes they were dripping wet from the spray but they kept going, Ridge staying close to Lani in case she stumbled.
Soon Aurelio was waving them on, directing them behind a wall of bushes so thick it was hard to see farther than a few feet ahead. Their guide did not slow his pace and Lani and Ridge had to hustle to keep up.
Then came the hard part. Aurelio signaled to them to be very careful on the rest of the path with its loose rocks along the winding trail. What made it worse, the trail led them onto a ledge which was little more than three feet wide with nothing but a drop of over a hundred feet on one side. It was along this treacherous path that they had to go to get to the entrance to the cave.
Signaling to Lani to press her back against the wall, Ridge went ahead of her, sidling sideways, holding her hand as she followed every step he took. He could feel her palm grow moist in his hand but he didn’t relax his grip on her until they had shuffled the four or five yards it would take to get them to safety. With the water cascading in front of them and water droplets flying everywhere it was hard to see but Ridge gritted his teeth and kept going until he was finally able to pull Lani to safety within the cavern that lay behind the waterfall.
As soon as she was in she fell to the ground, laughing. “Whew. That was exhilarating. Did you look down?”
Ridge drew his arm across his forehead, wiping away the water droplets, then he gave her a look of disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. I looked down.”
Ridge didn’t know what to make of that. The girl had a lot more backbone than he’d thought. Heck, she was braver than he was. He hadn’t looked down and he had no intention of trying it on the way back, either.
Aurelio was already far inside the cave and as soon as Ridge and Lani realized they’d been left behind they hurried to catch up.
“Come, Miss,” he called out. “It is down here.”
Lani picked up pace, breaking into a run until she’d caught up to her guide. “Is it much farther?” she asked, her voice breathless.
“No, we are almost there.”
They rounded a corner, disappearing from Ridge’s view, forcing him to pick up speed so he wouldn’t lose sight of them. It wasn’t easy going on the slippery surface of the cave floor and if he fell, a big man like him, it wasn’t going to make a pretty picture. So he hurried along, but gingerly.
Just as he turned the corner he heard Lani cry out. “At last. Oh, my Lord. There’s so much.”
He was just in time to see her gazing up at a huge wall covered from top to bottom with thick ferns, their leaves giant in size. She reached out a hand to touch one of the leaves.
“Wait.” Ridge hurried toward her. “There could be anything back there.” He shone the flashlight on the spot she was about to touch, training the beam on the leaves. “Let me check it out first before you touch anything.”
It took only a few minutes for Ridge to give Lani the all-clear and then she started plucking the leaves and dropping them into a big black bag she’d carried just for the purpose. Aurelio held the flashlight while she gathered her select specimens and soon the plastic bag was full. Then she forced the bag into her backpack.
Ridge watched her close it carefully then pass it to Aurelio to carry. He shook his head. “So you’re telling me we came all the way to Brazil, risking life and limb on the edge of a precipice, for this? A bag of weeds?”
“Not weeds. Ferns.” She threw him a caustic glare.
“And you couldn’t have hired someone to come do this for you?”
“No. I had to do it myself. There aren’t many people in Brazil who would take this kind of risk.”
“Of coming all this way and climbing behind the waterfall?”
“No, of touching a plant that’s bewitched.”
“Be…what are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you notice Aurelio hasn’t touched the stuff even though he took us here? Most of the locals consider it bad luck to touch it. That’s why I sealed it in the plastic bag before putting it in my backpack.”
Ridge expelled his breath then planted his fists on his hips as he glared down at her. “So the almost two hundred million people in Brazil see it fit to avoid this plant but you decide you’re too smart to follow their example?”
“Oh, come on, Ridge. It’s just silly superstition, plain and simple. Do you think I’m going to let that stop me?” She shook her head. “The healing potential of this plant is too great for me to let local folklore get in the way.”
“I see,” he said, drawing out the word. “Dr. Fearless to the rescue.”
She grinned. “If you want to call me that I’ll take it. I've been called worse.”
Ridge gave a snort of exasperation. Was this woman afraid of nothing? He turned, pointing the beam of light back the wa
y they’d come. “Come on. You got what you came for. Now let’s get out of here.”
He marched forward, ready to get the hell out of there and back to civilization but he’d forgotten one critical thing. The slimy floor of the cave was as slippery as an oil slick. He took two steps and the next thing Ridge knew his left foot slipped and then his other leg shot out from under him and he was tumbling backwards, the flashlight flying out of his hand to slam into the cave wall. He only had time to let out a yell before he fell backwards to the cave floor.
“Ridge!”
Lani’s scream was the last thing he heard before everything went black.
CHAPTER TEN
“Oh, my God. Ridge. Oh, no. Aurelio, help him. Where are you?” Lani cried out in the darkness, shock shooting through her even as the icy fingers of fear encircled her heart. “Ridge. Say something!”
She flung her arms wide, trying to get her bearings in a darkness so solid it felt like a heavy weight pressing into her.
There was a sudden flash of light and Aurelio appeared. “I found my flashlight, Doctor,” he said. “His shout. He made me drop it. I am here now.”
He ran forward to shine the light down on Ridge who lay flat on his back before them.
Lani scrambled forward and dropped to her knees. “Ridge. Oh, Lord. Ridge. Open your eyes. Please.”
No response.
“Ridge. Please, honey.” Lani pressed her fingers to his neck, desperate to find his pulse.
“He is not conscious, Miss. He cracked his head on the ground.” Aurelio laid his flashlight on a rock so it would shine down on Ridge and then he reached out to loosen the collar of the prostrate man’s shirt. “We must let him breathe,” the elderly man said. "Give him air so he can come back to us.”
Lani began to help Aurelio, loosening buttons like he was doing, and as she did she drew in a shuddering breath. It was all her fault. She should never have let Ridge come on this trip. Worse, she should never have let him hike deep into the jungle with her and Aurelio. If she’d made him stay back at the camp none of this would have happened.
Her heart quaking at the sight of him lying there hurt, Lani leaned down to press her ear to Ridge’s chest. She drew a breath of relief when she heard his heart beating a slow, steady rhythm. And then she heard him groan and it was the sweetest sound she could have heard right then. Ridge was coming around.
“Ugh. What happened?” His words were followed by a moan and he lifted his hand to his head.
“You slipped,” Lani told him. “You fell and hit your head.” She reached out a hand and pressed it against his shoulder as he shifted. “No, don’t get up. Not yet.” Sitting back on her haunches she stripped off her jacket and rolled it up into a ball then, ever so gently, she lifted his head and slipped the makeshift pillow beneath. That done, she looked back at his face. “How are you feeling?” she asked anxiously. “Are you in pain?”
Ridge groaned again. “Outside of feeling like a boulder just slammed into the back of my head, no, I’m fine.”
Lani’s face broke into a smile, albeit a tentative one. “The fact that you still have a sense of humor tells me you’ll survive.” Relief began to loosen the vice of anxiety that had gripped her heart. She was so focused on Ridge that she didn’t even remember their travel companion until he dropped to his knees beside her, a bottle of water in his hand.
Aurelio held the bottle to Ridge’s lips. “Sip,” he ordered. “It will settle your head.”
Ridge groaned again but he didn’t resist. He’d taken only a few sips when Aurelio pulled the bottle away.
“No, not too much,” he said. “We wait a bit and then I give you some more.”
With a sigh Ridge settled back against his balled-up-jacket pillow and closed his eyes.
Lani threw Aurelio a worried glance. “What if he falls asleep?” she asked. “Is that safe? If you have a concussion you’re supposed to stay awake, right?”
“Con…what is that?” Aurelio gave her a puzzled look.
“Never mind,” she said, reaching a hand out to touch Ridge. “I’ll keep him awake.”
“No, he is not sleeping,” Aurelio said, shaking his head. “He is resting. Let him rest. Very important." Now Lani didn’t know what to do – listen to Aurelio who had years of experience behind him and should know a thing or two, or go with her gut?
In the end the gut won out. Ignoring her guide, wise though he might be, Lani leaned down again, this time to whisper in her husband’s ear. “Wake up, Ridge. Open your eyes. I want you to look at me.”
The only answer she got was a deep sigh.
Wanting to waken him but in the gentlest possible way, Lani dipped her head to touch Ridge’s lips with hers.
Immediately, she got the reaction she sought. Like her touch lit a spark within him Ridge gave a soft moan, his lips parting to receive her kiss, his arms sliding up to wrap around her, pulling her down on top of him.
Before she knew what was happening Ridge was the one in control, capturing her head with his hand, deepening the kiss. And it didn’t seem to matter that they had an audience. Ridge was kissing her like a man drowning, drawing from her the air he so desperately needed.
When he finally released her, allowing her to draw back and away from him, he was panting slightly, like the kiss had been enough to drain him of his energy. But he was smiling. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I needed that.”
And just seeing him like that, still on his back but more importantly, with a smile on his face, made Lani smile right back. From the look of things he was going to be all right.
Wanting to give Ridge time to recover from his injury they didn’t leave the cave until a couple of hours later and even then they moved at snail’s pace. Not wanting to take any chances Lani insisted that Ridge get down on hands and knees and crawl along the ledge to safety. She couldn’t risk him standing upright then getting woozy and toppling over the edge. Just to make sure he would comply she led the way, dropping to her hands and knees ahead of him and crawling out of the cave and along the length of the ledge with Ridge close behind. This time it was Aurelio who brought up the rear but he didn’t join in with the knee crawl. He just waited until they’d crossed and then he walked across, as easy as pie.
Now came the hard part. Ridge had been the one carrying the bulk of the gear but with the crack he’d taken to the head there was no way he could manage that. Lani tried to get the bag onto her back but it was too bulky. In any case, Aurelio had given her such a sour look when she’d grabbed Ridge’s bag that she could guess he never would have allowed her to hike back to camp with it.
They ended up having to go through all the bags, ditching as much as they could survive without, and then with the bags half as light as they’d been on the way up Aurelio took Ridge’s rucksack, Lani took Aurelio’s and Ridge took hers. She didn’t have the heart to tell him how comical he looked with her little bag on his back.
It was slow going even though Ridge insisted he was fine. Neither Lani nor Aurelio wanted to push him too much so even when he trudged on ahead of them they hung back, forcing him to slow down. Eventually he got the message.
When the sun set that evening they were only a third of the way back to camp but that was the best they could do, under the circumstances. After refreshing themselves by the stream that was the tail end of the waterfall they’d left far behind they settled down for an early night.
Lani curled up beside Ridge and long after she could hear Aurelio’s snores she just lay there, holding her exhausted husband in her arms.
He’d had a rough day. Although he’d played brave she’d seen the strain on his face and heard his labored breathing. It must have taken all his strength to keep going.
And so she lay there on the bed of leaves, his head nestled in the curve of her shoulder, and as he slept she stroked his hair, knowing that he wasn’t even aware of her caress but happy she could do it, anyway.
And maybe it was a good thing he slept, giving her the fre
edom to explore him to her heart’s content. Maybe if he’d been awake she would have hesitated. But now, with him lost to the world, she let her fingers curl in the dark silk of his hair then slip down to caress the curve of his jaw, now rough and sexy with unshaven hair. She let her hand slide down to stroke the strong column of his neck then steal inside his shirt where she splayed her fingers over his heart, feeling the reassuring thump and reveling in his warmth.
She began to draw her hand out, her fingers brushing his nipple on the way, and it was when she heard his gasp that Lani realized that Ridge was wide awake.
Her gaze flew to his face and she saw that he was looking down at her, his face all but hidden in the shadow of night, his eyes blazing with a fire so intense it made her shiver with awareness.
Lani didn’t move her hand any farther. She didn’t get the chance.
Ridge reached up and covered her hand with his, pressing it into his chest like he was branding it into his skin. Then he reached down to capture her arms and pull her up his body until her face was level with his. “I want you,” he whispered, his voice urgent. “Now.”
Lani sucked in her breath, her eyes widening in surprise. “But… Aurelio,” she whispered back.
“Then we’ll go,” he answered, “far enough where we’ll be alone.” He made as if to rise but Lani pressed her body down on his, trying to hinder his movement.
“But is it safe?” she asked then looked around at the thick, dark, mysterious bushes that surrounded them. “This is the jungle, after all.”
“We won’t go far,” he whispered. “Just far enough.”
“I don’t know,” she began, but that was as far as she got because he was up on his feet before she’d even gotten the words out and he was pulling her up beside him.
“Come.”
That was all he said and then they were tiptoeing away from the fire Aurelio had built, away from their temporary safe haven.
And although Lani wanted him badly she couldn’t help wondering if they were being the worst idiots in the world. Even as she felt her heart quicken in anticipation, the thought did cross her mind - was sex with Ridge really worth the risk of being found by a jaguar? She guessed she would soon find out.
