The Ranger's Rules

by Lily Harlem

  “Has it? How long?”

  He glanced away. “Years.”

  Casey paused, wooden spoon aloft. Something in his tone had changed. Not only that, the way his shoulders had tensed told her not to press for more information.

  Has he always lived here alone?

  She resumed her task of mixing the pasta. If she’d had more time with Dan before Rhett had rushed her from the main lodge, she’d have found out a bit more about the man she was not only to live with for the next two weeks, but also the man in charge of her safety.

  The pasta was steaming and her mouth watered in anticipation. Carrying it to the table, she set a full bowl in front of him.

  “Thanks, appreciate it,” he said.

  “No problem.” She sat and picked up a fork.

  “You like to cook?” he asked, stabbing a tube of pasta before popping it in his mouth.

  “I don’t like to eat crap, so yes, I cook. Just simple stuff, but fresh and tasty.”

  “This is good.” He gestured to his lunch with the fork. “Perhaps you’ll cook again while you’re here.”

  “Well, you’re stuck with me for two weeks, so it seems only fair I should.” She caught his eye and in that moment knew she’d forgiven him for the spanking. Rhett Dawson was a complex character, one she was keen to know more about. Perhaps one day she could even write an article on him. There was no question he’d be a good subject for her camera. A fresh shirt, a bit of a stubble trim perhaps, but damn, the guy clearly had no idea how good-looking he was. There were A-list Hollywood stars uglier. He’d put them to shame.

  He slurped in a piece of pasta then wiped the back of his hand over his mouth.

  Okay, so perhaps he’d have to scrub up a bit to fit in with the Hollywood elite.

  She suppressed a huff. As if he’d want to. Rhett was all about Africa and his animals and it suited him. Perhaps that was what made him so damn attractive.

  “You always want to be a photographer?” he asked suddenly.

  “Er, yes, from a young age. Studied it at university then with a lot of hard work and a bit of luck I landed my dream job at Wild World. Been there for five years now.”

  “So now what?”

  “Nothing really. Keep working there, I won a big award last year, I’ve got more I’d like to win so I guess…” Her words trailed off. The truth was she’d accomplished what she’d always craved. Her next challenge had yet to show itself.

  “Well done… on the award.”

  “Thanks.” She paused. “Being a photographer, for many, is like being a documenter of history, but wildlife photography isn’t like that.”

  “No?”

  “No, it’s taking people from their couch, or the train or wherever they are around the world. To visit places they’ll never travel to for a variety of reasons.”

  “It’s history too.”

  “You think?”

  “Yeah, course.” He nodded at the veranda. “The rhinos out there are likely to be extinct in the next decade or two. Future generations will only see them in photographs and films.”

  She was quiet for a moment. “You really think that will happen?”

  “Yes.” He set down his fork, his bowl empty. “Much as it pains me to say that.”

  “But why?”

  “The poachers are winning the war.”

  “Surely more can be done?”

  “I agree.” He took a slug of his beer. “But I am but one man.”

  “But Dan and the other rangers.”

  “We’re doing our best, better than many of the other reserves, to tell the truth, but until the poachers give up, we’re always going to be fighting.”

  “Thank goodness you do.”

  He stood and picked up his bowl. “Thanks for that.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  After setting his bowl in the sink and rinsing out the pot, Rhett settled himself on the veranda. He picked up his hat, dropped it over his face, and crossed his legs up on the rail.

  Casey watched him as she sipped her drink. She guessed the heat of the midday meant nothing happened but sleep for a few hours. The sun induced lethargy in mammals, including humans, and made limbs and eyelids heavy.

  Feeling tired herself, Casey headed into her bedroom in search of the stirring of air the overhead fan would produce.

  A lie down, now her stomach was full and the beer had mellowed her thoughts, would do her the world of good.

  And maybe Rhett wasn’t so bad after all. If he could keep his hands to himself, that was.

  Chapter Five

  Casey wasn’t sure how long she’d slept but when she awoke, she lay quietly with her eyes closed, enjoying the fan overhead that had cooled her internal temperature down a few notches.

  There was nothing to listen to except for the whirr of the blades and she guessed the lodge was still enjoying siesta. Stretching her arms over her head, she gripped the slatted headboard and arched her back, pointing her toes and flexing her knees as she did so.

  A long, content sigh left her. It was good to be back in Africa; something about the unique continent called to a very primeval part of her soul. She wondered if it could ever be a place she’d called home permanently—if ever there would be the chance to.

  Relaxing her spine and legs, she allowed her arms to drop back over her head.

  She opened her eyes. “What the…?”

  Startled, she sat.

  Rhett was sitting on the bed next to her, holding his hat and shades. His eyes were locked on hers and he had the posture of someone who’d been sitting for some time… observing, watching, studying.

  A tingle went over her and her heart rate picked up. Having him suddenly there when she’d thought she’d been alone was a shock to her system. How long had he been in the room?

  “You’re awake,” he said, his voice low and rumbling.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, locking her arms behind herself.

  “Waiting for you.” He tipped his head and his eyelids drooped slightly, other than that his docile expression was unchanging.

  “Well, you could have just called me or something.”

  “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

  Well, he’d disturbed her now all right, staring at her with that brooding, unreadable gaze as she’d risen from slumber. Had his eyes roamed her body as she’d stretched, believing herself to be alone? And if so, had he liked what he’d seen?

  Frustrated with the chain of thoughts rattling through her still sleepy mind, she swung her legs to the opposite side of the bed and stood. “You shouldn’t sneak up.”

  “You’re in my home and in my bed,” he said, standing and running his fingers through his hair. Several strands stuck upward but he flattened them by placing his hat on. “And I didn’t sneak up, I walked in and you didn’t hear me.”

  Casey reached for her brush and dragged it though her hair. What was the point in arguing? He clearly didn’t think he’d done anything wrong.

  He came up behind her, closer than she’d expected. “I’m driving out to one of the radio masts to do a routine check. If you want to come along with your camera you can.” He paused. “As long as—”

  “As long as I follow the rules, yes, I get it.” As she’d spoken a rush of heat traveled over her buttocks. Damn, what was it with this guy? She was letting him treat her in a way no one else would or could. Maybe it was because, as he’d just said, she was in his home and his bed. She owed him her obedience.

  Obedience.

  Tutting, she stepped aside. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

  “I’ll meet you in the Jeep. Five minutes, no longer.” He strode from the room. She didn’t watch him go, just listened to his thumping footsteps. She’d have to get a grip, and not keep getting in a fluster. Sure, he was a nice-looking guy, in an outdoorsy, lion-wrangling kind of a way, but he was so damn bossy.

  But if bossy irked her so much, why did she feel prepared to do whatever he said? Willing her heart to
steady and her emotions to settle, Casey wondered if she knew herself quite as well as she’d thought she did. Other boyfriends had been equals, pushovers some of them, bending over backward to do what she asked.

  Boyfriends. Why the hell was she even thinking about Rhett and the word boyfriend in the same moment? He was not boyfriend material, no way, and likely had never been anyone’s boyfriend. Not least because of that happy-slappy hand of his.

  * * *

  Half an hour later, Casey was rattling over the plains toward a distant mast. This dusty orange track undulated and rolled and had several sharp turns around huge prickly bushes. At one point she had to lean right into the Jeep to stop the sharp branches of a sweet thorn tree scraping over her arm and cheek.

  Rhett bounced as hard as she did on the worn seats, gripping the steering wheel tighter when it tried to drag from his hands. Much as the busy roads in London drove Casey crazy, at least they didn’t try to shake her guts from her body.

  Just when a sense of nausea was sneaking up on her and her teeth had been rattled so much a headache was coming on, Rhett pulled to a halt. The mast was much closer now, just beyond several copses of bushes. “Can you smell them?” he asked.

  “Smell what?” she asked.

  He sniffed the air. “Elephants.”

  “You can smell them?” Really?

  “Yeah, it’s very distinct, earthy and pungent. Once it’s settled in your nostrils you’ll never forget it.”

  “But where are they?”

  “Considering their colossal dimensions, they’re masters of disguise.” He glanced at her. “Smell the breeze, we’re downwind of them.”

  She did as he’d asked. Now they’d stopped moving there was only a light wind tickling over her skin.

  “Close your eyes,” he said, flicking off the engine completely. “Use your senses.”

  Shutting out the harsh light of the day, she concentrated on the aromas around her, allowing them to fill her nose and lace her tongue. There was a trace of something musky and dung-like in it.

  “Can you catch it?” he asked.

  “I think so.”

  “Look,” he said suddenly. “There they are.”

  Flicking her eyes open, Casey saw a huge elephant emerging from the bushes to their left. “Wow, he’s a big one.”

  “He’s the bull, a fine specimen.” Rhett put his hand on the key but didn’t start the Jeep’s engine. “There’ll be others with him.”

  As he’d spoken, several more elephants emerged, including two mothers with calves.

  The bull stopped and stared at the Jeep. He raised his trunk and flapped his ears. The other elephants glanced their way.

  “He’s magnificent,” Casey said, reaching for her camera.

  “You want pictures, take them quickly,” he said. “The bull’s not happy we’re here. There’s babies around and he’s ultimately responsible for them.”

  As fast as she could, Casey zoomed in and took several photographs of the herd with the trees and shrubs behind them. They blended in so well and would make a great section of her article.

  The bull took a step closer, coming up the slight slope toward them.

  Rhett started the engine.

  “Is he crying?” Casey asked. “He’s got a streak of wetness next to his eyes.”

  “No, that’s his temporal glands; he’s hot for his women and leaves a trail of scents so they can follow him.”

  “Oh, I see.”

  Rhett started the engine. “There’s more bulls coming, younger males, but they’ll all be up for a bit of bravado.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “They’ll want to chase us off.”

  “I thought in the Jeep…”

  “Elephants are the exception, too damn clever.” As he’d spoken the largest bull broke into a trot toward them. Again he raised his trunk but this time he trumpeted and flapped his ears to their full extension. This seemed to be a signal for the others to join in the chase.

  Adrenaline flooded Casey’s system, but still she clicked away with her camera.

  “Hold on,” Rhett said, ramming the Jeep into gear then slamming down on the accelerator.

  Casey did as he’d instructed. She had no choice being jolted to the right then the left as Rhett picked up speed on the bumpy path.

  He was studying the side mirrors as they went, but Casey looked back and got the full impressively terrifying view of a herd of elephants on their tail.

  “They’ll soon give up,” he said. “Now we’re leaving they’ve won. That’ll do them in terms of energy expenditure.”

  He was right. Within seconds the elephants slowed then stopped. With trunks still raised they made a show of their triumph with ear flapping and stomping.

  “Bloody hell,” Casey said, turning back to face the way they were going. “That small patch of undergrowth was hiding an entire herd, amazing.”

  “That’s why you have to smell them,” Rhett said, then flashed her a grin. “You get some good shots?”

  “Yes, I’m sure I did, thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me, thank them.”

  They drove in silence toward the mast and once there, Rhett stepped out of the Jeep, slung his rifle over his shoulder, then turned to her. “Wait here.”

  She frowned at him. As if she needed telling.

  “Say you will.”

  “Okay, I will.” She tutted.

  “Good girl.” He pushed his shades up the bridge of his nose and turned.

  A quick flash of irritation sliced over her. Good girl. When had she ever tolerated a man saying that to her? But her irritation soon slipped away as she watched Rhett climb the mast. His biceps bulged against the short sleeves on his shirt and his pants stretched around his butt. And damn, what a nice butt it was.

  She wondered about taking a few snaps of him, for her personal collection, but resisted. Besides, she was quite fascinated now, watching him adjust a satellite dish, fiddling with wires at the back of it and barely appearing to hold on. What was he? Some kind of Tarzan? She chuckled at her silly thoughts, then remembering where she was, glanced around.

  If elephants could hide so easily, what about smaller, more dangerous animals? Lions, leopards, cheetahs, all the things that would have her for brunch as Rhett had pointed out.

  But the plain appeared empty; there were no bushes nearby for anything to hide in. A dip to the right they’d just driven through held nothing but a dried-up stream littered with boulders of various sizes.

  Even so, Casey was pleased when Rhett shimmied down the mast, landing on the ground with a soft whump and creating a billow of dust. He adjusted his rifle then headed back to the Jeep. But instead of going to the driver’s side, something on the passenger side caught his attention.

  Again he touched his rifle.

  “See this?” he said, pointing to the ground.

  Casey strained to see it. About ten meters away a head-sized hole was half hidden behind a rock. “Yes.”

  “Honey badger.” He stopped and appeared wary. “Mean bastards.”

  “Yes, I’ve heard they’re not cuddly.”

  “Too damn right they’re not.” He stepped away, clearly not keen to make the creature’s acquaintance should it appear. “Lions, hyenas, cheetahs all give honey badgers a wide berth. They’ve been known to be bitten by highly venomous snakes, gone on to survive and then kill the snake.” He shook his head. “Got to admire their audaciousness, but best avoided.” He climbed into the Jeep, setting his weapon between them.

  “Do you think he’ll come out so I can get a picture?”

  “It would be a long wait, they’re usually nocturnal.”

  “Oh.” Disappointment poked at her.

  “We can do a night drive, while you’re here, if you’d like that.”

  “Yes, please. Very much so.”

  “We won’t go too far, but these guys are everywhere, there’ll be some nearer to home.” He started the engine. “Speaking of home, it’s t
ime to make our way back.”

  “Will there be more photo opportunities on the way?” she asked hopefully.

  “I’m sure there will be.” He seemed to study her for a moment as if seeing something new in her. But as quickly as the expression washed over his eyes it was gone and he drew his attention to the road again.

  A sudden mixture of sensations—contentment and anticipation—went through her. Where else in the world would she rather be right now than in Africa, with Rhett, in his Jeep and with her camera around her neck? It certainly felt like paradise, even if she did have to keep an eye out for sharp teeth and claws, and charging herds.

  And what was it about the way he’d just looked at her? Did it mean anything? Was he seeing her as a woman and not just an irritation and a favor to Dan?

  Something deep inside her hoped that was the case.

  Chapter Six

  After a simple supper of toast and eggs, Casey excused herself and headed to bed. She was tired after the jostling of the Jeep and the excitement of seeing a herd of impala in the fading light—set against a citrus sky streaked with jet black clouds, their silhouettes had been perfect photographic material.

  Overnight her dreams were full of Africa, the stumpy shape of the baobab trees, the elephants’ flapping ears, the long dusty trails, and the shimmering horizon. When she awoke early and stepped outside, the still air held a smattering of the night just gone—a hint of coolness and the barely there scent of dew.

  She’d pulled on a short pale green skirt and a loose t-shirt and the first rays of the sun caressed her legs. Sipping from her mug of coffee, she stared through the fence at the horizon. To the far right were a group of marula trees. To Casey’s delight she could make out several giraffe nearby, including a youngster. Instinctively she set down her drink and reached for her camera, which as usual was hanging from her neck.

  She took several snaps of the elegant creatures stretching for the highest fruit, but was frustrated by the diamond-shaped wire of the fence Rhett had set up around his lodge. So she moved closer, and set the lens so that it was up against a gap.

  After taking several more images she checked the digital screen. “Damn it,” she muttered. The wire from the fence was still angled across the screen; it was impossible to get rid of completely due to the size of her lens.