River of Desire: A Romantic Action Adventure/Thriller by J. K. Winn Page B

her gut had quieted a bit. “Where are we going now?”
    Dylan pushed an oar through water. “We’re nearly at a Jivaro settlement.”
    A jolt in the raft sent a stabbing pain through her ankle. She clenched her teeth. Took a deep breath. A minute passed before she could speak. “Who are the Jivaro?”
    “They’re what the locals call isolados, an isolated tribe. They’re the fiercest tribe in the Amazon. Head hunters, actually.” He smiled as though to convince her they were merely harmless pranksters.
    That did little to reassure her. “Why visit them?”          
    “They may have information you want. I’ve been the K akaram ’s friend for years. He’s their chief. He’s a good source of knowledge about what’s going on in the jungle.”
    She questioned his choice of friends, not being included in that category. “How does he come by his information?”
    Dylan pushed past a large rock jutting from the water. “These people are hunters and gatherers. They get around. Talk to other tribes— “
    “ When they aren’t shrinking their heads?”
    He gave her a look of exasperation. “You must be feeling better, you’re timing is as wicked as ever.” An overhanging branch slapped his arm and he pushed it out of her way. “They have a finger on the jungle’s pulse, so to speak. We’ll see if we can learn anything from them. At the same time, you might rest that leg awhile.”
    Downriver, Dylan rowed the canoe to shore and they disembarked. After refusing Dylan’s offer of support, Leah limped after him through a thicket of trees and vines. On one particularly thick, twisted vine, a monkey played. The approaching crunch of footsteps alerted it to company and it bolted into the trees.
    Dylan pointed at the root. “See that? It’s called a monkey vine.”
    “Don’t tell me. That’s because the monkeys use them like jungle gyms.”
    “ Ever think of guiding tours?”
    She stepped around a hill of ants the size of cockroaches. “If I survive this trip, I’ll hang up a shingle.”
    Further along the trail, she spied a Rhododendron bush the size of a small tree. Every plant and animal in the Amazon seemed larger than life. Now she was certain she had slipped down the rabbit hole into a Lewis Carroll jungle fantasy. 
    Dylan stopped so suddenly she almost ran into him. He flung out an arm meant to stop her. With his free hand, he pointed at a creature that might have stepped out of a sci-fi movie. Over two feet tall, the furry thing stood on hind legs scratching at a tree with six-inch claws. “What’s that? Its nails are longer than the acrylic ones worn in Los Angeles,” she whispered.
    “It’s a tamandua, an anteater. Let’s go around it.”
    “ That sounds smart.” To keep from walking too close to the animal, Dylan cut a path in the brush with his machete, slowing their progress. Leah’s leg throbbed more with every step. When she stumbled over a branch, her ankle toggled and she moaned.
    Dylan extended an arm. “We’re near the village. How about a lift?”
    She might enjoy being in his arms too much for her own good. “I’m okay.”
    The mud became slicker. Leah slid along, praying they would make it to the village before her ankle totally gave out. Dylan slowed his stride to pace her and help her along. Every so often, she’d falter and he’d quietly grip her arm for support. Gratitude for his unstated thoughtfulness increased with every step. She leaned against him and the warmth of his body comforted her.
    Finally, he slowed. “See that clearing? That’s where we’re going.”
    So close now, she could slide in to home-plate, Leah hurried as much as she could to end the agony. At the clearing, she had to double over to catch her breath. A whizzing sound over her head caused her to jerk upright. A dart flew past her. Another whistled nearby. Before she could react, Dylan grabbed her, threw her to the ground, and flung himself on top of her. Her leg twisted under him