by Rula Sinara
“I’ll stay awake, and I’m armed.”
“What if a lion comes? Aren’t they night predators?”
“Do you want to stay in the helicopter?” Of course, she’d be there alone and he’d be here watching Nick and the fire.
“No. I’m fine.”
“Generally speaking, what you do depends on the animal and situation. A defensive animal can be as dangerous as a hungry one. Take lions. They have a chase instinct like dogs. If a lion comes up, don’t run. Stand still. Inch back slowly if they’re not paying attention to you. Just don’t trigger a chase. And Nick would be okay. They don’t bother tents much. They think the walls are solid. On the other hand, rhinos are one animal you don’t want to startle. They have a keen sense of smell. Vision, not so much. So if you’re not downwind, you have a chance.”
“I saw a movie once...an oldie...where a tribal child held a thick stick over his head to scare off a hyena. Fact or fiction?”
“Well, they can scare off if you make yourself look bigger, menacing, noisy...the whole bit. Doesn’t mean they won’t attack, especially if they’re in a pack, but you definitely do all that to help your chances. There’s nothing ‘movie’ out here, though. This is the real thing.”
“I know. I know. I just can’t stop thinking about it. Do snakes really like to curl up in sleeping bags for warmth?”
“You’re not in one, Tess. Relax. I’m here.”
Tessa rubbed her arms and shivered.
“That scared?”
“Cold.”
“Late-August nights can get brisk, even when the days are warm,” Mac said. They’d both insisted that Nick take the small blanket stored in the chopper.
“I think my body temperature is dropping from fatigue.”
“Could be. Lie down. I’ll keep watch and keep the fire going.” It’d be warmer by the fire than in the helicopter, anyway. It didn’t hold heat that well unless it was running.
She curled onto her side on the massive leaves he’d laid on the ground.
“You’ll watch for snakes, too, right?” she asked. Her back was turned but her waning voice told him her eyes were closing.
“I have you covered. Go to sleep.” Hopefully they wouldn’t get any unwanted visitors—legless or legged—but he had a gun tucked at his lower back and a preferred tranquilizer rifle a couple of feet away just in case. He’d also shone his LED torch around the area in search of red eyes. No night stalkers turned up. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t.
She shivered again and put her hands between her knees in a fetal position. Mac leaned back and reached over her. He put his hand against her forehead. It felt normal.
“Sorry, just wanted to make sure you didn’t have a fever. You got vaccinated before coming out here, didn’t you?” He kept his voice down, not wanting to make Nick anxious if he wasn’t totally knocked out.
“Yes. I don’t think I’m sick. I’m just freezing. I really think it’s exhaustion and the temperature drop.” Her voice sounded sleepy and weak. Mac laid down behind her and pulled her against his chest for warmth.
“Does this help?”
She nodded, holding onto his hand at her waist. Within seconds, her muscles relaxed and her breathing steadied. He hoped she wasn’t coming down with anything like malaria. He lay there with every intention of staying awake, but the touch of her hair against his face and the warmth of her scent lulled him to sleep for a few minutes. The call of a wild dog had his eyes jerking open. He kept his ears peeled to gauge the distance, relaxing when the sound got farther away.
He’d always been comfortable being alone. He’d always felt at home out here in the Serengeti...but right now, hearing Tessa’s soft breathing and a bit of snoring from Nick, for the first time Mac felt like he was home. This was his family.
The idea shocked him. Panic zipped through his chest. What was he doing? Warming Tessa? Yes. But still, lying here spooned against her was wrong. He slowly unwove his fingers from hers, lifted his arm up and inched his body away from hers. He sat up without waking her and considered the small supply box and tranquilizer gun within his reach. He was here to protect them. That’s all any of this was. Hopefully, Tessa wouldn’t get too cold...or remember being held by him when she woke up in the morning. He wouldn’t be forgetting anytime soon.
He added dry wood and bark to the fire and poked until it came to life. He stared at the largest flame that swayed side to side like a woman tempting a man. Tessa hadn’t done anything wrong. It was all him. Regardless of circumstances, she was a married woman. He had no business letting himself think of her as any more than a sister-in-law and co-guardian. He had no business wishing. Besides, even if she wasn’t taken, this wasn’t her type of life. He’d never be able to give her the predictable, secure lifestyle she wanted or needed.
He took a deep breath and glanced back at her. She was still sound asleep, but she’d curled her knees up closer to her chest, the way a person did when they were cold...or scared. He got up, took off his shirt, then covered her with it. He let himself look at her peaceful face for only a second, then walked to the other side of the fire. He was losing it. Maybe he really had been alone for too long. This was a new low for him. He raked his hair back and paced, scanning the shadows as far as the fire and moonlight would let him. He was a bush pilot. A man with sharp reflexes who knew how to handle—and was always prepared for—the unexpected. He’d never expected to see this side of Tessa, a strength he hadn’t known existed. A side he liked and respected. Of all people, Tessa Henning was messing him up.
* * *
TESSA REALLY NEEDED TO GO to the bathroom. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. Mac’s shirt fell to the ground next to her. His shirt? Her shoulder and hip ached from lying against the ground. She stretched and moved a little closer to the heat emanating from the hot coals and tender flames.
“Mac?”
He had to be nearby, or the fire would have gone out completely. She looked around but didn’t see him. His guns were missing, too. Alarms went off in her head. She got up and unzipped an inch of the tent opening to make sure Nick was all right. He was still there, sound asleep. She zipped it up and went back to the fire. Maybe Mac had needed to use the bathroom, too. She wasn’t going to leave Nick alone. She’d just have to hold it until Mac got back. He better get back here right now.
“Mac?” she tried again. The bush to her right rustled and she was answered with a strange staccato rumble followed by a sadistic laugh. Her scalp prickled. A spotted hyena slinked out of the brush with its mouth hanging open and salivating. Tessa held her arms out.
“Don’t you dare. You hear me? Get out of here. Go!”
The hyena paced back and forth, laughing in a rapid succession of hee-hee-hees that made her skin crawl. Nick was in the tent. Was it lions or hyenas that didn’t bother with tents? Most of the time? Something akin to a bolt of lightning flashed through her. What if Mac wasn’t returning? What if he’d gone after a predator in order to protect her and Nick, but he’d lost the battle? She raised her hands over her head and started waving them like a crazy woman. This was her campsite and her kid. No one messed with Nick. “Get away! Mine! Mine! Mine! Eeek! Woot!” She didn’t care how stupid she sounded or what she said. She was making noise until the hyena left or she got eaten. One or the other. The hyena paced one more time, then took off into the soft light of dawn. Tessa pressed a hand to her chest. She was so not going to need coffee this morning. Her hands shook but her mind felt awake. Alive.
A click sounded behind her and she spun around. Mac stood there uncocking his rifle. Boy was he a welcome sight.
“You were here?” she panted.
“I told you I wouldn’t leave you. I went to the chopper for a minute. I was literally gone less than two.”
“But I called.”
“You handled the situation, Tessa. You di
d good.”
She couldn’t believe it. She’d slept under the Serengeti stars and she’d chased off a hyena. What a power rush.
“Is it safe to come out?” Nick called from the tent.
“It’s safe,” Tessa said. Because of me.
* * *
MAC DIDN’T WANT to leave again, especially after he’d come home to Nick’s disappearance yesterday. He’d meant it when he said that Tessa and Nick came first and he wanted to be around 24/7, ensuring they were okay, but he was really beginning to worry about the state of Air Walker Safaris. If his business went under, he’d never be able to take care of Nick.
Tessa was stronger than she thought. He’d witnessed it himself. Whatever happened with Brice, she’d get her feet back on the ground—no trouble. He wasn’t sure he could say the same for himself if his business failed.
They should be hearing something from Ben soon. Kamau, Anna and Jack had their eyes and ears open and, according to their mapping of where the latest poaching victims had been found, Camp Jamba was a safe place to be. For now.
“It’ll just be half a day. I have to check on things at the office before Hodari Lodge shuts me down and gives my space to someone else. The only delay would be if someone staying at the lodge wants to book a helicopter tour. I can’t afford to say no.”
“Don’t worry about us,” Tessa assured him. “Kesi promised to show me how to make her curry and Mugi told Nick about their computer. He said that if Nick helped clean up after their chickens and put in some time on a few maintenance projects, he’d let him play on it for an hour or so.”
“Bribery, huh?”
“It worked. But what about you? I thought Ben said to lie low. Our connection isn’t a secret, so shouldn’t you be staying away from Hodari, too?”
Our connection. He knew she meant their family connection, but for some reason the words sounded even more personal.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll check on things with Ben and see if anything has come up with the drives and investigation while I’m there. Do you need anything I can bring back from the lodge? If you left stuff in your room, I can pick it up.”
“The room. I’d forgotten. I didn’t leave anything, but I think Nick did. I’m paying per night for nothing. We have no idea how long this will drag on. Will it look bad if I have you check me out?”
She was referring to the hotel room, Mac reminded himself. Man, he needed more sleep.
“It might. I think we should keep you registered until we see what Ben says. If Brice comes or sends anyone looking for you, they’ll stick around the lodge longer if they think you’ll be returning to your room. He knows you brought Nick to see me. He’ll expect you to be there. If you disappear, he’ll start searching every camp in the Serengeti and all the way back to Nairobi.”
“Assuming he really is guilty.”
“No matter what, the man has something to lose. Even if he ends up being clean, no smart man would let you walk away without coming after you.”
As soon as the words left his mouth and her cheeks turned pink, he realized what he’d said.
“I mean, if he sees you’ve had a room at the lodge like you said, he won’t wonder about us.” This wasn’t coming out right at all. “By us, I mean, if he sees the Air Walker office closed and you’ve also checked out of your room, he’ll wonder where we all took off to. Guys get jealous. And if he’s innocent, that might make fixing your marriage more difficult. The whole trust thing and...”
“He’d know Nick was with us.”
“Right.” Mac didn’t fumble words around women. Ever. His face heated. “I just mean, bottom line, you should stay registered. Just in case. I’ll give Ben a call from the office and see what he says.”
“That’s a lot of money per night. If Brice is guilty and gets angry when he realizes what I’ve done, he’ll cut me off from our bank accounts. I opened one on the side about a month ago, when I was planning, but only put a little in it. He scours his books. I didn’t want to raise suspicion. I need to be careful with spending.”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes. It may only be an extra night or two. We’ll figure it out. Safety first.”
“Okay. Just be careful. Promise.”
“I promise.” He slapped his cap onto his head, gave her a wink just to annoy her and trudged toward his chopper. “Stay back,” he yelled as a safety reminder. As if she’d come running after him like a damsel in a movie. That would only ever happen in his dreams.
* * *
SIX HOURS HAD never felt so long to Mac. He’d always lived in the moment, taking lodge patrons on tour at a second’s notice, flying out to Nairobi for a private charter back to the lodge or heading off to help local friends with whatever they needed. Time had never passed so...so slowly. All he could think of today was wanting to be back around Nick and Tessa. He couldn’t get either of them off his mind.
He waved goodbye to the second round of tourists he’d just returned to Hodari Lodge. The first had been a couple from London on their honeymoon and this second one was a small group of friends who appeared to be in their early twenties. Two definitely acted like a couple and the third, a sultry brunette, had gotten uncomfortably touchy-feely with him.
Thank goodness this group hadn’t booked an all-day trip or an overnighter at one of the tourist campsites. The young woman had thanked him profusely after they’d paid, and had even tried stealing a hug—which he’d skillfully managed to slip away from—and then invited him to join the three of them for drinks...and whatever else he had in mind. Her words. Mac was used to dealing with customers like that and was pretty smooth at escape. Customers were customers. He had no interest in crossing that line. But for some reason, today, that client’s come-on had made him want to run. As if he was a happily married man approached at a bar. He’d even blurted something about already seeing someone. What a lie. But it had worked. Sort of. He waved again at the young woman, who was lagging behind her friends and looking at him over her shoulder. It was driving him crazy that Tessa’s face had come to mind when he was dealing with the customer. Tessa was another line he couldn’t cross.
Since Sue was still at Busara, he passed by the concierge desk for mail. Abed, who’d been working there since Mac had started Air Walker Safaris, glanced up from behind the curved solid wood counter backed by floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the lodge’s courtyard garden.
“Mac, my man. Where have you been?”
“Oh, the usual. A few of the research groups lost track of their herds and needed some flyovers. All in a day’s work.” Mac leaned against the counter and casually scanned the lodge. “Any mail or messages?”
“Has Madam Sue returned to America?” he asked as he bent down to search the cubbies and drawers behind the counter.
“Just visiting her grandchildren.” Everyone here knew Anna and Jack. Jack, especially, because his genetics lectures at the lodge attracted business in the form of science conference groups.
“I haven’t seen your friend around, either. Are you taking messages to the pretty lady, too?”
Mac shrugged and scoffed at the notion. “Oh, her? Not the kind of friend I keep, if you know what I mean. She’s my nephew’s aunt. Brought him around to visit. But you can go ahead and give me the message in case it concerns him.”
Mac and Abed always shot the breeze, but given everything, all the questions sent flares up in Mac’s mind. He had about a ninety per cent trust rate going with Abed. He reached into his pocket and folded a few bills into his palm. He could only hope enough shillings would cover the remaining ten per cent.
Abed handed over a small stack of mail and Mac reached out to take the envelopes while smoothly transferring the money to Abed’s hand from underneath the stack. He glanced around the room casually.
“It’s not necessary, Mac. How long have I known you?
” Abed said.
“You’re a good man, Abed. Keep it for your family.” Mac hadn’t meant to offend him. This whole worrying about someone else situation had his caution sensors on high alert. Abed tipped his head in thanks.
“A man called.” He pulled out the yet-to-be-delivered message and handed it to Mac.
Darling, I’m back home. Thought you’d be here by now. Miss you. Give me a call. Love, Brice.
Mac stuffed the paper in his pocket. Here he’d mentioned something to Tessa about guys getting jealous. Why did he feel so uneasy?
“If he calls again, tell him the boy is giving her a hard time and insisting on one safari tour after another, so they’ve been getting in late. If he calls tomorrow, you can say Mrs. Henning took a flight out to Nairobi to do some shopping and sightseeing. It’s more her style than the Masai Mara,” he said with the universal male expression for high maintenance woman. Abed shook his head sympathetically, then leaned forward.
“One other thing. The boss greeted two men here yesterday. Supplied them with drinks and lunch. He took them on a tour of the landing strip. Stopped briefly in front of your office, but I couldn’t hear what was said. The younger of the two seemed a bit overzealous. Left this on his way out.” Abed gave Mac a business card. Amboseli Luxury Tours, Inc. Mac’s jaw twitched. He tapped the card on the counter, then added it to his stack.
“Thanks, man. Grab yourself a Keroro after work and put it on my tab.”
“Join me if you’re around.”
Mac waved as he headed to Air Walker Safaris. He unlocked the door—thankful it was indeed locked—and closed it behind him. He retreated into his quarters and tossed the stack of mail on his desk, then locked up the day’s earnings.
Darling... I miss you.
Brice’s message grated on him. The message sounded so normal. Too normal, if he listened to his gut. Too forced, given how distant Brice had been acting, according to Tessa. First the extravagant fountain pen and now a note too nice for comfort, especially if the man had been home long enough to find his office tampered with and flash drives missing. Something told Mac that a man like Brice paid attention to details. A man didn’t become as successful as he was without noticing everything and staying in control.
