“I don’t know about that, Indie. Right now I’d say let's not stop anywhere unless we have to. Animals are more likely to stay away from a moving vehicle than a stationary one.
“No, stop,” she said again, her voice brooking no dissent.
He stopped.
Indie hopped out of the Jeep then walked off the trail and to a patch of dirt surrounded by clumps of grass. She dropped to her knees and peered at the markings in the dirt. Then she got up and followed a faint trail of dirt across the grass. She stopped after just a few yards and stared out over the flatland toward the copse of straggly trees.
When she got back to the Jeep Stone was frowning at her. “Any signs of animals?”
“Yep, and it’s not good news.” She climbed into the Jeep and slammed the door shut. “No lion but a cheetah was here recently. Can’t be too far away.” She gave him a serious look. “And cheetahs run damn fast.”
“Okay,” he said pressing on the gas, “let’s get out of here.”
“Not without a plan.”
“Which is?”
She glanced at the gas gauge. “Based on my estimate on how far we are from our destination we have just enough gas to get us there. As long as we don’t get lost again. So…” she stood up in the vehicle and when the wind blew off her hat she didn’t even look back, “…I’ll navigate while you drive. That way we won’t waste any gas driving around in circles.”
She heard a grumble at that but he didn’t say anything out loud. He’d better not. At this stage she was their only hope of not spending the night keeping company with the wildlife of Africa.
“Now step on it, Hudson,” she yelled. “Let’s eat up some miles before the sun turns in for the night.”
They drove fast but they drove carefully, with Indie stopping Stone a few times along the way so she could check the trail and keep their nose pointed in the right direction. Night was fast approaching and Indie kept watching the sun slipping closer and closer to the horizon. Come on, sun. Stay with us a while longer. Just till we find the road.
She was trying not to show it but she had a sinking feeling they weren’t going to make it to civilization tonight. It was already dusk and the shadows of night were beginning to shroud the savannah. And if they ended up spending the night in the wild she wasn’t sure an army knife and a shotgun would be any guarantee that they’d get out alive.
She was just about to stop Stone one more time when he gave a shout. “I see it. That’s the landmark I was looking for.”
Indie peered straight ahead. She didn’t see a thing she would call a landmark. “What is it?” she yelled.
“That rock with the little chip at the side. See? It’s an arrow pointing north.” He grinned at her excitedly then he was laughing out loud as the Jeep roared toward the rock.
“That?” Indie said, incredulous. “That little rock is your landmark? No wonder you missed it.”
“Well, I was right and we can’t get lost after this,” he yelled back. “I know exactly where I’m going.”
Oh Lord, not again. Indie rolled her eyes. “Are you sure, Stone? Don’t you think we should head back to the compound?”
“No way. From here we’re closer to Joburg. Better to keep going.” He laughed again. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. I’ll get you there safe and sound.”
Indie rolled her eyes again. “I give up,” she said and flopped back down into the seat. Now that Stone had found his way he was all macho man again. She didn’t have the heart to remind him that she was the one who had taken them back to their route. “Wake me when we get there,” she said in a grumpy growl as she tried to block out Stone’s whoops of relief.
Surprisingly, within fifteen minutes of their finding the trail they flew onto an asphalted road and then five minutes later they hit the highway to the city.
“Yeah!” Stone did not hide his exultation as they cruised toward their salvation. Indie swore silently that she would never let Stone drive her across the South African plains again. If there wasn’t a driver to take her to the city, she wasn’t going anywhere.
CHAPTER NINE
Stone was in love. He stood in the middle of his hotel room, as na**d as the day he was born, and he was grinning from ear to ear.
Earlier this evening he’d seen his life flash before his eyes, the possibility of being devoured by wild animals a stark reality, and then, like a true warrior princess, Indiana Lane had come to the rescue.
He couldn’t believe he was here celebrating being rescued by a woman. Hell, he should be ashamed of himself, getting lost like that. But in the end maybe it had been a good thing because it was that nerve-racking situation that had shown him what a rock Indie really was. He’d never met a woman like her in his life.
She’d shocked him with her calm composure in the face of probable death. And death by lion was not a pretty way to go. Instead of his having to calm a hysterical woman it was she who had kept a level head and kept him going.
To say he admired her was an understatement. And to say he loved her was the truth.
He’d felt it before tonight, of course. That first touch had been the start, and then that first kiss, and then that night when he’d almost gone a whole lot farther than just kissing. But tonight…
Tonight he’d seen a side of her that touched his core. She was honest, she was true and she was brave. And he wanted her in his life. But the big question was, would she have him? They’d known each other less than a month. If he told her how he felt would she really take him seriously? Questions, questions, questions. He shook his head. He would sleep on it and tomorrow he’d decide what to do. They planned to be up early next morning to visit Jenna and her new baby. And then he’d see what the day would hold.
******
“Isn’t she adorable?” Indie cooed as she held little Jessica Diamond Pringle in her arms. She shifted the baby to the crook of her arm and angled her so Stone could get a good look.
“She’s beautiful,” he said, and reached out to pat the tightly swaddled baby on its tiny pink hospital cap. He looked almost afraid to touch her. "And so tiny.”