Marie Higgins

by Amazon Sunset

  Once again, the words from Mr. Faro echoed in Felix’s ears. "Something magical has taken over the jungle.”

  Gnashing his teeth, Felix was determined that this something magical would not take over the jungle, and especially his crew. Even if he had to put them all in one tent to sleep tonight, he would not lose them.

  He led them into another clearing and raised his hand to stop. “We’ll rest here for a spell and have lunch.” He turned to his men, his gaze moving to each one. “Emilio, Pete—you two find us more fruits and nuts. Carlos and Alexio, you two gather firewood. The rest of you set up the things we need to build a fire.”

  Katrina stood with her eyes on him, wringing her hands against her middle. Exhaustion was apparent on her drooped limbs. He tried ignoring her sad eyes. He wasn’t in the mood to explain to her how her words had hurt him so much this morning. Perhaps he shouldn’t have pushed her so hard. His men could handle it. She—the pampered daughter of a wealthy plantation owner—could not.

  He moved away from her to gather whatever he could that would help set up camp, but her voice squeaked out, stopping him.

  “What do you want me to do?”

  He briefly peeked at her over his shoulder and snapped, “Find something to sit on. You look tired.”

  First Felix helped Carlos and Alexio with firewood, then he hurried to pick some fruit. When he returned, his men had gathered around the small burning fire. Piles of fruits and nuts were placed nearby. Two of his men were busy breaking open the shells to separate the nuts.

  Katrina sat on a rock, staring at the fire. Her frown deepened, and the melancholy on her expression tugged at his heart. He shook off the feeling and placed the items in his arms down.

  As he scanned the area again, something eerie crawled up his spine. He couldn’t quite put his finger on what had bothered him. Once more, he skimmed over their camp, being more cautious this time. His attention stopped on a pile of fruit nearby. They were amongst the ones his men had brought, but he wasn’t sure just what made these appear so different.

  Emilio glanced at the fruit and picked up a banana. Just as he was ready to peel it, his gaze roamed to Katrina. Hesitantly, he reached the fruit out. “Miss Landon? Would you like a banana?”

  A small smile touched her mouth as she took the fruit. “Thank you, Emilio.”

  Suddenly, Felix realized why he thought the fruit looked different—because the color was slightly darkened as if it were old fruit that had been sitting on the ground for days. Something in his gut told him that she shouldn’t eat it.

  “No!” He jumped toward Katrina and snatched it away.

  Anger lit her eyes and even as tears filled them, she glared at him. “How dare you shout at me like that! I know you don’t care if you walk my feet off today, but do have a care about my stomach. In order to continue walking, I need food to keep my strength.”

  “Forgive me, Miss Landon. I didn’t mean it that way.” He lifted the banana to his nose and sniffed. Nothing smelled different. Then again, bananas really didn’t have a scent until they were peeled. As he gently squeezed certain areas, he could tell it was softer than normal, too. “I just don’t feel good about you eating this.”

  “Why?” she snapped.

  “Because…the color isn’t right.”

  Murmurs from his men circled the group, each nodding in agreement.

  Carlos stood and faced Felix. “What are you thinking, Knightly?”

  “I don’t know,” Felix shrugged. “I just know that something is wrong with this fruit.”

  “Mr. Knightly,” Pete said in broken English as he rose to his feet. “I think food is fine.”

  Felix switched his gaze from Emilio to Pete, and asked, “Which one of you brought this fruit?”

  Emilio shrugged. “We both brought it in.”

  “Then why isn’t the color as bright as the other bananas?” Felix questioned.

  “I do not know.” Pete shook his head.

  Felix wanted to believe that the fruit was good, but there were too many things happening that didn’t make sense. “Please indulge me, my friends.” He swept his gaze around the group. “I don’t feel good about this.” He knelt beside the darkened fruit and put them in a pile, moving them away from the fresher-looking food.

  He moved to Emilio who held a variety of fruits in his large arms. Felix took a papaya and brought it back to Katrina. “Here, eat this.”

  Sadness still coated her face. “Thank you, Mr. Knightly.” She turned and sat back on the broken branch.

  In time, the fire was hot enough for Carlos to cook another batch of the Bacaba fruit drink. He also mixed in some of the herbs they’d picked when their quinine had disappeared. Felix said a silent prayer of thanks that none of them were sick with the jungle fever.

  Not yet, anyway.

  Katrina sat in silence as she chewed her fruit, keeping her gaze on the ground. Perhaps he had been a little too harsh with her, but that was what she deserved for lying to him. However, he never really discovered what she was lying about. The longer he pondered on it, the more curious he became. Could it just be a small matter and he was making it bigger than it should be? Then again, this wasn’t the first time a woman had done this—and it wouldn’t be the last time, either.

  There wasn’t much talk amongst the men as they ate, but soon their laughter grew. Felix glanced toward the source of entertainment. A squirrel monkey had wandered into camp. He had to admit these monkeys were great entertainment since they were not afraid of interacting with man. Their long tails, yellow legs and grayish coats, certainly brought smiles to anyone’s face.

  The animal darted toward the darkened fruit and grabbed the banana that Katrina almost ate. The men who sat nearby tried to take it away from the monkey, but the little primate was too quick and scurried up the nearest tree.

  Felix watched as the monkey bit into the end as he gradually took off the peeling. Felix held his breath, hoping the banana was safe to eat. But within seconds, the animal stopped. The half-eaten fruit fell from the primate’s hands before the animal dove out of the tree, landing on the ground in a dead heap.

  Gasps ricocheted around the group. In unison, the men jumped to their feet. Katrina let out a cry and covered her mouth, turning away from the dead animal.

  Groaning, Felix rubbed his forehead. His fears had been correct. The fruit had somehow been poisoned.

  He moved to Katrina and knelt beside her, running his hand up and down her arm. She cried softly in her hands and shook her head. Really, he didn’t know what to say to soothe her fears, only because he had the same worries.

  Lowering her hands, she looked into his eyes. “You were right. I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry.” He swept his thumb across her cheek, removing the tears. “I truly wish I had been wrong. I’m sorry you had to see that.”

  She peeked back over to the dead monkey and quickly looked back at him. “Who could be doing this? Why is someone trying to kill us?” she whispered.

  Shaking his head, he lowered his gaze to her quivering mouth. “If I knew that, I would put a stop to it quickly.”

  “I know,” she mouthed, but no sound came out.

  “But I promised to protect you and deliver you safely to your father, and I will not let anything happen to you.”

  “Thank you,” she said softly and wiped her eyes. “I have tried so hard to be strong for you, but I fear I am not. I know you want me to quit, but I can’t.”

  He cupped the side of her face. “Being out here in the jungle is very difficult for women native to this part of the world, but for pampered women such as yourself—”

  “Don’t call me that.”

  He furrowed his brow. “Call you what?”

  “Pampered.”

  “Why not?”

  Taking a deep breath, she sat up straighter. “Because that’s not who I am.” She sniffed and wiped her eyes again. “Felix, since our first meeting, I have led you to believe I’m someone I’m not.
Just because my father is wealthy doesn’t mean I grew up that way.”

  Her words stunned him, and he dropped his hand from her face. Was this the lie she had muttered while half asleep this morning? “You didn’t?”

  “No. My father left my mother before I was even born. He didn’t help us with money, which forced my mother to work in a tavern. I was born in the slums of Boston without the comforts you grew up with. Mother and I scraped and saved for the little food we ate. Sometimes a kind person in town would help us, but mainly my mother and I made what we could out of our poor circumstances.”

  She kept her voice low, and Felix assumed none of the other men could hear what she said. For the first time Felix could remember, he was speechless. He had no clue that she was a pauper. Why would he? She dressed and acted like a spoiled rich girl.

  “It wasn’t until a month ago when my father paid for my passageway to Macapá and sent me money to buy myself some dresses that I finally felt worthy of being a rich man’s daughter. The only reason I accepted his money and decided to come was because my mother is very ill and needs a doctor. We are very low on funds and can’t afford a doctor or medicine, but if my father gives me my inheritance, then I’ll have the means to get my mother the care she needs.” She took a deep breath and continued, “I am stronger than the woman you expected me to be, but I still need your help getting to my father’s plantation. My mother needs care, and this is the only way I can help her.”

  He wasn’t sure when she’d stopped talking, because his mind was going in several different directions at once. He couldn’t think straight. She stared at him, waiting for him to say something, but his tongue wouldn’t work. He had been wrong about her all this time, and he had treated her so poorly, especially today, thinking that she had lied to him.

  In truth, she had lied, but this was nothing like he’d expected.

  Closing his eyes, he scrubbed his hand over his face. For certain, this woman was different from the others he’d known. But was this the type of woman he wanted to fall in love with? Did he dare trust her with his heart?

  Why wouldn’t he? Katrina proved that she had a heart and cared about others. The only reason she came on this journey was to save her mother.

  To be sure, he’d been a fool to doubt and mistrust Katrina.

  He looked back at her. A different expression had crossed her face. Sadness? Yes, but there was something more…dejection.

  Felix cupped her face again and stared deeply into her eyes. “I will get you to your father. Rest assured, your mother will get the medical help she needs.”

  It took Katrina a few moments to react, as if she pondered each word he said. Her lips trembled, and she nodded as more tears slid from her eyes.

  “God bless you, Mr. Knightly.”

  * * * *

  Katrina’s heart was breaking. It wasn’t until now that she realized how much she’d cared for Felix. In a few short days, she’d been able to see that there was a kind man hiding beneath his hardened façade. Without being able to help it, she’d lost her heart to him.

  Only to have him crush it.

  She’d told him the truth—well, most of it, anyway, but it was apparent by his expression that he pitied her. For many years she’d met people just like him. She recognized the disappointment in their eyes at first, but then they all turned up their noses and acted as if she and her mother were so low that the Landon women weren’t even good enough to be spit upon.

  The group traveled a few more hours before Felix called for another rest. She knew he did this for her, because he couldn’t stop glancing over his shoulder at her, giving her that pitiful look she’d come to loathe for so long.

  Thankfully, the place they stopped at was by another waterfall. So far during today’s journey they had passed several waterfalls, all of them beautiful. Now she was grateful they’d stopped because she wanted to splash herself with the refreshing liquid. Hopefully, she wouldn’t think about the time she and Felix were together in the water as they enjoyed each other’s nearness while playing in the water.

  Her heart wrenched once more. No, she definitely couldn’t think about that any longer.

  Pete cut up a coconut and shared some with her. Slowly, she walked toward the waterfall. A few of the men were gathered, kneeling on the bank as they splashed their faces. Some laughed and splashed each other. Katrina smiled, and for a moment, her heart was light.

  Carlos jumped into a deeper section that reached his knees. He motioned his hands and shouted, “Knightly, come inside. The water feels wonderful.”

  She swung her attention to Felix who relaxed on the ground with his feet stretched in front of him. In his hand he held a kiwi as he munched on it.

  Chuckling, he shook his head. “Not yet, my friend. Will you let me eat first?”

  “Oh, but the water is more refreshing than that kiwi.” Carlos grinned. He turned his focus to Katrina and waved his hand. “Miss Landon, please come in the water. The coolness will regenerate your tired legs, I assure you.”

  Since she was nearly finished with her coconut, she nodded and walked toward him. “I believe I will.” She stopped near the bank.

  “Come inside.” Carlos sunk a little lower. “Never have you felt such—”

  He lost his balance and he glanced in the water. Fear crossed his face mere seconds before he screamed and went under. Frozen in shock, all Katrina could do was watch the terror unfold in front of her. Carlos jumped up for air, screaming in agony. But in a blink of an eye, something pulled him back under the water again.

  She waited for him to resurface. Holding her breath, she prayed he was all right. But soon the water changed to blood.

  Carlos never came up again.

  “It’s a croc!” Felix yelled as he dashed toward the water. Two other men quickly followed. Before they reached the bank, another large, and very long, animal emerged, popping his head out of the bloody water. Beady yellow eyes stared right at Katrina as he sped toward her. His scaly skin bobbed just above the tainted liquid.

  There are two of them? Her stomach lurched, but she couldn’t move. Fear had her immobilized.

  “Katrina!” Felix screamed and ran to her.

  Just before the second crocodile reached the shore, Felix swept her up in his arms and darted back toward camp. Behind them, the other men followed. Their faces pale with fright—some even were teary-eyed.

  When Felix reached safety, he collapsed on the ground, still holding her as he rocked her back and forth in his arms. His hand held her head against his chest. His heartbeat was fast and his breaths were uneven.

  “What just…happened?” she asked.

  “I wish I knew.”

  “Is Carlos…dead?” Her voice squeaked.

  “Yes.” He choked on the word.

  She lifted her head and gazed into his watery eyes. “Would that other crocodile…have eaten…me?”

  He shook his head. “I would never allow that to happen.”

  Her body shook harder the more she tried to relax. She could have been killed, too. Never in her life had she witnessed such an attack. And Carlos, he did nothing wrong. He’d been frolicking in the water, just as she and Felix had done yesterday.

  “Why—why were the crocodiles there?” she asked. “You’d said they don’t live near waterfalls.”

  “They don’t.”

  This couldn’t be happening. Nothing had gone right since they started on their trek. Felix must be devastated. His face was pale as he stared past her. Confusion mixed with grief coated his expression, tugging on her heart more.

  “Oh, Felix. I’m so sorry. Carlos was a good man. He didn’t deserve…” She held back her tears as she stroked his hair. She slowly pulled his head toward her neck.

  With a heavy sob, he fell into her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as his body shook with silent cries. Inside, her heart wrenched, making it harder to breathe.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and he tightened his hold on her. I
t was her turn to rock him as she tried her best to comfort. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she gently stroked his hair and neck. “I’m here,” she whispered. “I’ll always be here for you, Felix.”

  Although she probably shouldn’t have said it, she couldn’t stop herself. She loved him, and at this moment, she wanted to grieve with him. She wanted to share the pain of losing a friend.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Felix pushed his group—whose number was diminishing each and every day—faster. Since he couldn’t figure out what was going on in the jungles, he needed to get them all to safety. He glanced up at the sky, thankful they were at a point in the jungle where the canopy trees didn’t block the sun. Soon it would be night, and unfortunately, they weren’t to the rubber tree plantation yet. Tomorrow, for certain.

  He found another clearing so they could set up camp. His men were devastated over Carlos’ loss. Nobody had spoken a word since they’d left that area earlier. It broke Felix’s heart to lose such a trusted friend, but what disturbed him even more were those crocodiles. What were the reptiles doing out of their element? Crocs didn’t like rushing water. They lived in calm waters.

  Nothing made sense. Not anymore. At times, he wondered if the herbs that they were substituting for the quinine even helped at all. He’d had jungle fever only once since coming here ten years ago, and it was hell. The confusion and strange dreams had made him feel invincible. He’d been dizzy for days, and talked to people he thought were there, but were not. It was as if he walked through clouds of fire—everything around him was hot, but he felt as if is feet couldn’t touch the ground. Now that same confusion filled his mind. Perhaps he did have the fever after all.

  Without much talk, the men set up camp and started a small fire. Katrina assisted them by putting up her own tent. They kept them very close together. He still wondered if they should make a large tent and have everyone sleep in it, but then he quickly decided against it. Instead, he’d set up a night watch. Hopefully, that would work better.