by Elle James
A shiver rippled down Alex’s spine.
“I have a gun,” Jake said. “We can protect ourselves.”
“And if ISIS hears your gun, they will find you, kill you and leave your bones for the lions.” The woman shook her head. “The morning will be soon enough. My brother has a truck. He can take you to the nearest town. From there, you will be on your own.”
Hope surged inside Alex. A ride to the nearest town would be heaven. As long as the truck made it past the militants without alerting them to the passengers inside.
Then again, Alex wasn’t so sure a ride in a truck was such a good idea. However, she wasn’t sure she could continue on foot, either. Even staying the night in the village held an element of danger.
She held out her hand to the woman. “What is your name?” Alex asked. “I want to remember the woman who saved us from ISIS capture.”
“Sabra,” she said. “My name is Sabra. My brother is Kirabo.”
“Thank you, Sabra,” Alex said, and hugged the woman.
“I learned to read and write from an American missionary,” Sabra said. “We welcome those who come to help, and protect them from those who want to harm our people.”
They were led through the village to a hut on the very edge, farthest away from the road and set back from the other huts. Jake held her hand through the narrow streets.
Alex took comfort in the gesture. She figured she could survive just about anything, as long as Jake held her hand.
* * *
JAKE KEPT ALEX close by his side as they maneuvered through the streets to the hut on the outer edge. A barefoot dark man, dressed in what appeared to be a long white shirt, emerged from the hut and hurried to greet them.
Sabra nodded to the man and turned to Jake. “This is Kirabo. He will help you to the next town.”
Before Jake could thank Sabra, she disappeared back the way they’d come.
Kirabo flung open the door to his hut and waved them inside.
Jake entered after Alex and turned to face Kirabo. “We can leave tonight, if you prefer.”
Their host shook his head. “You will only become food for the lions, or target practice for ISIS. You will remain here until morning when I drive to the market in Ouallam. From there you can contact your people.”
Jake nodded. “Thank you for your help and hospitality. We are truly grateful.”
Kirabo clasped his hands together. “I leave you now. If we are visited again by the men who came earlier, I will alert you.”
“Will that give us time enough to leave?” Jake asked. “We don’t want you or anyone else to suffer because you helped us.”
A flash of white teeth was Kirabo’s response. “We have guards standing watch all night. We knew when you approached our well. Sabra insisted on helping you. Otherwise, we would have left you to the lions. There is food in the basket. My sister made it today. Eat. You will need your strength tomorrow.” With that, Kirabo left the hut, closing the door behind him.
Darkness surrounded them.
Jake found his flashlight, switched it on and, using the red lens, shined it around the room.
A pile of tattered blankets lay in one corner, and a basket sat on a small rickety table.
Alex crossed to the basket, removed the lid and raised a crusty round disc. “Ah, bread.” She lifted it to her nose and inhaled, closing her eyes. Her stomach rumbled loudly and she laughed. Then her smile faded. “Do you realize how precious this loaf of bread is to these people?” She laid the loaf back in the basket and covered it. “I can’t take their food.”
Jake frowned. “You need to eat to keep up your strength.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. They need it more. Besides, we’re heading back to civilization tomorrow.”
Jake handed her the flashlight and removed the cover from the basket. “At least take a small piece.” He tore off a chunk of the bread and handed it to her. “We don’t know what will happen tomorrow, much less tonight.”
Alex stared at the proffered piece of bread, and her belly rumbled again. “Promise me we will return the favor soon?” She shifted her gaze from the bread to Jake’s eyes.
“I promise.”
Alex sighed, took the bread and bit into it. She closed her eyes and moaned as she chewed.
Jake’s groin tightened. To keep from focusing on the way Alex was enjoying the morsel, Jake took another hunk of the bread and replaced the remainder in the basket. The bread was hard and crusty, but after over twenty-four hours of being on the run, it was heaven.
He savored every bite, chewing slowly before swallowing. When he’d finished, he realized he could have eaten the entire loaf, but, like Alex, he couldn’t deprive the people who’d sheltered them of food that was so hard to come by.
He crossed to the bundle of blankets on the ground. “It’s not the Ritz, but it’s better than sleeping with the lions.” He shot a smile toward the woman who’d kept pace with him since they’d left the village the day before. “Alexandria, you can have the first shift of sleep. I’ll stay awake.”
“Alex.” She brushed the crumbs from her fingers and rubbed her hands over her arms. “The only person who ever called me Alexandria was my grandmother. I’m just Alex.” She crossed to stand next to him, staring down at the meager pallet of blankets.
Jake nodded. “Alex, you can sleep first. I’m too wired to nod off.”
“After what just happened in Sabra’s hut, I’m still wound up, too.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “But we need to rest.”
“Right. Tomorrow might not be as simple as Kirabo transporting us to Ouallam.”
“True,” Alex said. “We might run into more ISIS fighters. In which case, we’ll be on the run again.” She shoved her hand through her hair and dropped to her knees on the blankets. “I’ll give sleep a shot, though it would be a lot easier if I had something softer than the dirt floor to lay my head on.”
“I can help you there.” Jake shed his bulletproof vest, leaned his rifle against the wall and sat next to her, bracing his back against the mud-and-stick wall. “You can use me as your own personal pillow.”
She eyed him. “I can’t keep taking advantage of you like that.”
His eyebrows hiked, and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Why not? You seemed to sleep fine snuggled up to me last night in the cave.”
Though he found it hard to tell in the dim light from the red-lensed flashlight, he could see that Alex’s cheeks darkened with a blush.
“Maybe so, but I can’t get used to it. You won’t always be there for me to lean on.”
His smile faded. The thought of leaving Alex didn’t sit well with him. He’d gotten used to traversing the rugged Niger hills with her at his side, and he found her to be good company. She didn’t complain, and, no matter how tired or dirty, she was still beautiful. What would it be like to spend time with her in a less stressful environment? Like a hotel room with a soft mattress and clean sheets?
His groin tightened again and he shifted to adjust his pants. He had no business thinking about bedding the beautiful teacher. She wasn’t the one-night-stand kind of woman. Whatever man she chose to be with had to be there for the long haul. He’d have to want what she wanted: a home, family and children.
Though she hadn’t told him that was what she wanted, he could tell by the kindness in her voice and her desire to help others. She’d been teaching orphans and had seen to their safety before going back to help her missionary friends. The woman had self-sacrifice written all over her.
As a navy SEAL, Jake wasn’t the man for her. He would be away from his home base more than he was there. If he ever married, his wife would be alone more than she was with him. She’d have to raise their children by herself because he wouldn’t be there to help. What woman would sign on for that kind of duty? Marriage should be a
union of two people willing to share in the responsibility of taking care of a house and children. Navy SEALs, by the nature of their jobs, couldn’t be 100 percent engaged in family. Their first responsibility was to their country. Family came second.
Alex sat beside Jake, leaning her back against the same wall. “I came to Africa for the adventure.” She chuckled. “I got it and then some. What I didn’t expect was to fall in love.”
Jake stiffened, his heart skipping several beats before it raced on. All he could think was, Alex had fallen in love? With whom?
The pretty teacher leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. “I fell in love with the children and the villagers who didn’t ask to be caught up in the constant violence. I fell in love with their resilience and ability to smile and laugh even when things were at their worst. I fell in love with the way they made do with what little they had. They always had enough love for their children, and they cared enough to take responsibility for those children who’d lost their parents to violence or disease. I’m sure you’ve seen the same.”
He nodded. “I’ve been in villages ravaged by war, where naked, starving children are crying for their parents and so hungry they can’t remember the last time they ate.”
“It breaks my heart.” Alex turned to him. “I can always go back to the States, where I’m afforded the opportunity to work. I’ll eat three meals a day and never have to worry about where my next meal comes from. I can escape the horror these people have to live each and every day. But they can’t.” She smiled a sad smile that touched Jake’s heart. “I fell in love with their strength of mind and spirit. It made me realize how petty my own problems were and how fortunate I am to be an American. We take so much for granted.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Thank you for preserving my way of life. I just wish I could do more. But what can one person do to change the minds and hearts of those who continue to ravage countries?”
“We all do the best we can,” Jake said. “Each individual’s efforts add up.”
“Not fast enough to help these people now.” She yawned. “Jake, you’re amazing.”
He laughed. “How so?”
“No matter what the situation, you make me feel safe.” She yawned again. “Is it some navy SEAL mojo or something?”
“Or something,” he said softly, and slipped his arm around her shoulders.
Alex pressed her face into his shirt and relaxed, her body molding to his. Soon her breathing became even and deep.
Jake eased her head down to his thigh and stroked her hair, wishing he was in that hotel room with the clean white sheets. He wanted Alex to be more comfortable when he made love to her.
The second the thought came to him, he stiffened. His job was hard enough without wishing for things he couldn’t—no, shouldn’t—have.
The sooner he got Alex back to safety, the sooner they’d part. Making love to the pretty teacher wasn’t in the game plan, he told himself.
As the hours stretched toward morning, with Alex asleep on his thigh, Jake could think of little else. Finally he eased her off his leg onto the pallet of blankets and stood, stretching the kinks out of his muscles. Morning light would come all too soon. He had to be ready to move. Getting Alex to a safe location was top priority. Then he would find his way back to his team and get on with his life.
Without Alex in it.
Chapter Seven
Alex woke and blinked her eyes open to darkness. When she rolled onto her back, she could see the pale light from the stars shining through the open door of the hut. Two figures were silhouetted outside, talking in low, urgent tones.
Immediately alert, she sat up, pushed the hair from her eyes and strained to hear their words.
When she couldn’t make them out, she stood and hurried toward the door.
Jake stood with Kirabo in the darkness, speaking quietly enough not to wake the other villagers.
“What’s going on?” Alex asked, and shivered in the cool air.
Jake slipped an arm around her and pulled her close. “We need to load into Kirabo’s truck before daylight.”
Alex snuggled closer, drawing on Jake’s heat. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Good.” Jake nodded to Kirabo. “Let us know when.”
“Sabra will lead you to my truck. I must go prepare.” Kirabo left.
A moment later, Sabra appeared, carrying a plastic jug of water. “You will need to drink. The day will be long and hot.”
Alex took the heavy jug from her and carried it into the hut. Jake turned on his flashlight while Sabra found a bowl and a cup.
She poured the water into the cup and handed it to Jake. Then she sloshed water into the big bowl. “For you to wash.”
Alex stared at the water for only a second before she pulled her hair back out of her face and secured it with an elastic band. The she scooped water in her palms and splashed it over her cheeks, eyes and forehead, washing away the dust and sweat from her trek through the hills. Once her face was clean, she scrubbed her arms and the back of her neck. If Sabra and Jake hadn’t been in the hut with her, she would have stripped and washed the rest of her body with the meager bowl of water.
Finishing quickly, she stepped aside for Jake to have his turn at the makeshift bath.
“Thank you, Sabra,” she said, feeling more human than she had a few minutes before. She’d feel even better if she had a toothbrush and a comb for her hair.
Jake washed his face and dunked his head into the water, scrubbing his hair clean.
Sabra handed him one of the blankets from the pallet on the floor to dry with when he was finished. He drank from the cup of water.
Alex downed an entire glass of the refreshingly cool well water that filled her empty belly for a short time. She hoped they reached Ouallam before the day was over and that they’d find food there. When they did, she’d make sure to send some back to Sabra with her brother.
When they were ready, they followed Sabra out of the hut and toward an old truck parked on the edge of the village.
The bed of the truck was loaded with crates and stacks of empty burlap bags.
“Where do you want us?” Jake asked.
Kirabo pointed to the back of the truck. “There is a gap between the crates. You and the woman will ride there. I will stack more crates around you. Hopefully, we will not be stopped, but if we are, you will be hidden.”
Alex planted her foot on a tire and pulled herself up on the side rails.
Jake gave her a gentle shove to help her over the top and into the truck bed. Then he climbed in with her.
The space Kirabo had left for them was tight, barely enough room for two people to sit with their legs pulled up to their chins.
But Alex wasn’t complaining. At least she wasn’t walking all the way to Ouallam.
As soon as Jake and Alex were in place, Kirabo shoved heavy crates around them and piled a lighter one on top, closing them in.
Moments later, the engine rumbled to life and Kirabo drove the truck out of the village. Night eased into day with light finding its way through the cracks between the crates.
Traveling the rutted dirt road while sitting on the hard metal truck bed wasn’t luxury transportation, but it beat hoofing it on foot.
Several miles passed in silence.
“Are you all right?” Jake asked.
Alex nodded and rested her chin on her knees. “I’m fine.”
The roar of the engine made conversation hard, but there was no other way to pass time unless she slept. “Did you sleep at all last night?”
“Too wound up,” Jake said. “I didn’t want to be surprised by another visit from ISIS.”
A wash of guilt rushed over Alex. “You should have let me take a shift so that you could get some rest.”
He shrugged. “I can function on a lot
less. I learned just how much less during BUD/S training.”
Alex had seen videos about the navy SEAL training conducted in San Diego, California. It was some of the most mentally and physically demanding training someone could go through. That Jake had survived and completed the training made him one of the best of the best.
“Why did you choose to join the navy?” Alex asked.
He rested his elbows on his knees and stared at the boxes in front of him, as if seeing the past instead of the rough wooden slats. “I needed to get away from home. My father wanted me to go to college and become a banker like him.” Jake shook his head. “I was a good student. I could have done it, but it wasn’t me. I couldn’t be what my father wanted me to be.”
“You had to be who you are,” Alex stated. “I was supposed to marry my fiancé a year ago, when I realized I couldn’t do it. He was the perfect man for me.” She gave a crooked smile. “Or so my parents said. He had a steady job and would have been a good provider for me and whatever family came along.” She paused, sure he couldn’t possibly be interested in her pathetic excuse for a love life. Not when he had real life-and-death issues to deal with on a daily basis.
“But?” Jake prompted.
“He wanted me to stay in the same town where I grew up. He liked that we lived close to both of our parents.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
It was Alex’s turn to shrug. “Ever since I was old enough to understand the world was round, I’ve wanted to travel and explore this wonderful planet. I didn’t want to stay in Virginia for the rest of my life.”
“So he didn’t want to leave Virginia. You don’t have to move away to visit other countries. You can live in one place and travel to others on short trips.”
“He didn’t even want to do that. He was perfectly satisfied to limit our exploring to the state and national parks within a day’s driving distance.”
Jake chuckled. “So he was a homebody. Is that a crime?”
“No, it’s not. And I’m sure there’s some wonderful woman out there who wants the same thing as he does.” Alex snorted. “She can have him. I wanted more.”