บททั้งหมดของ In love... with her own African beast: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

Chapter 1On top of a rooftoptent on a Suzuki Jimney in the African bush, was not the best place to be when a huge live African lion suddenly appeared from nowhere and was now standing right beside the only open door on the driver side of the rather small SUV. His yellow eyes was fixed on her, as if she was the meal he was expecting at three on that sunny Friday afternoon.Leah Hurter froze while holding her cell phone in the air above her head. She was desperately trying to find a signal to make a call to her dad. She hated to do it, but she had to admit that she was lost on a farm where she spent so many of her childhood years. Where she got married to a man who pretended to love her… for herself, only to find out a year later that he was just after shares on this property. Eco tourism, he said, was the best way to make big bucks in South Africa. Dollars from overseas visitors. He suggested a new lodge, a golf course and Olympic size swimming pool with an island in the middle.When

Chapter 3“Yes a doctor of animals. I do not touch human beings,” the big man with the yellow eyes and wild hair concurred.For a moment Leah was stunned, then she started to plead with hom: “Well doctor Sergio Martinez, veterinarian. Please treat my foot as if I am one of your cute little rhinos or elephants or a little wild dog puppy. I will not sue you. I will even sign an indemnity agreement if that will make you feel better.”He was about to say no again. He also looked a little confused. Was she perhaps making fun of him? Certainly not in that state of pain.His eyes softened.“No you do not need to sign anything. Just don’t tell anyone that I operated on you. Rather call it a simple procedure to remove a very stubborn piece of wood or thorn from your foot. Maria, please boil me a kettle of water and bring me a stainless steal bowl to sterilize my instruments. Just one moment, I will have to fetch my bag from my truck.”Perhaps it was from relieve. The idea that her life could be

Chapter 5“Who are you? Guests are not allowed to wander into this area of the farmhouse.” Sergio positioned himself between Ralph and Leah.“No, wrong question, big man. And not the one yóú should ask. Mỳ question then, who are you and what are you doing in my house and in my wife’s bedroom?”“Don’t call me your wife anymore…” “Wait Leah. Don't get worked up tonight.” Leah’s father was also wakened by the commotion. “Ralph, this is doctor Sergio Martinez who is working on the African lion relocation programme. For the moment he is residing in my late father in law’s quarters. I told you about him when you got in last night. He was the one who took care of Leah’s foot yesterday.”“So, this is the lionman… Well thank you for what you did for Leah. You can go back to your quarters now.”That done it for Leah. About one million stars exploded in front of her eyes. The audacity. Humiliating a legal tenant and friend of her dad in front of them all. She leaped from her bed. “Oh my word, yo

Chapter 7Sometime in the early hours of the morning, Leah moved Gato, Sergio's tamed African Wildcat aside. She slipped out from under the comforter and sneaked out of the man's apartment. Somewhere out on the distant horizons, the sun poked its head out in a thousand shades of yellow, orange, purple and red.The promise of a beautiful new day in the northwest of Mozambique near the Lebombo Mountains, bordering the Kruger National Park on the other side.It could have been fantastic to see, but after last night Leah was muted.Why is her ex-husband Ralph Jameson back here at Hurters Retreat? The past two years she stopped thinking about him. Thought he was now distant history, after he was the one who decided to divorce her.Leah even took back her maiden name. On all her documents and bank statements, she is now Leah Hurter again. Which caused her to be alarmed by something he said. Words that kept her awake for much of the rest of last night.How on earth did Ralph find out that she

Chapter 9Leah was crying, yes. But not just for an elephant who suffered so painfully before he was put out of his misery. It was more for what she saw on Sergio’s face. He did not like what he had to do. And as he sat there over the steering wheel, waiting to get better, she got the all-conquering feeling of reaching out a hand and putting it on his shoulder.But she doesn't. She's not at her best herself. Her foot throbbed as if someone had pushed a pre-hot knife tip into it. That's what this morning's abuse and trampling on it did to it. And she doesn't want Sergio to find out, because if he might get it into his head now to comfort her, she'll come home until another year. But Sergio is not stupid. After a second look in her face, he reached to the back of the Landrover and took out his first aid kit. From his small bar fridge, he again took two cans of soda and squeezed a green and red capsule out of one of the cartons."Strong pain pills, actually you should eat first.""Pain pi