He looked over his shoulder just as his men came toward them. He gestured with his hand. “Carlos, you come with me, and we’ll find someplace where we can rest and eat. Everyone else stay with Miss Landon.”
Felix and Carlos left the others. Felix knew he had to be more diligent in protecting Katrina for the remainder of this journey and stop fretting over the way she made him feel. But no matter how often he told himself his feelings didn’t matter, he realized they actually did. Nevertheless, he would deliver her safe and sound to her father in the next couple of days, collect his payment, and return to Macapá to pack his belongings so he could leave for England.
“How is Miss Landon?” Carlos asked after they’d walked a few minutes.
“She will be fine. The snake’s bite did not break the skin.”
“That is very fortunate.”
“We all just need to be more alert and remember she’s not used to our way of life.”
Carlos chuckled and shook his head. “She is a different woman, I must admit. I see strength inside her most women do not have. I believe she will surprise us all.”
Looking at his friend, Felix arched his eyebrow. “She’s still a pampered, wealthy woman no matter how much strength you think she has.” He switched his gaze back to the path they were taking. “In a couple of days, we will deliver her to her father. Then we can wash our hands of the matter.”
Felix was readynowto wash his hands of the matter. Since Eva Crowley had twisted his heart so badly, and then stomped it to pieces, he had not allowed himself to fall in love again. Or trust anyone. Women of means always wanted more. They were never satisfied.
Perhaps that was why he’d enjoyed being in Macapá and traveling through the Amazon jungle. It was rare to meet a wealthy woman out here. The plain, ordinary women in this country were easier to understand. That was the kind of life he wanted—uncomplicated. Hence, the very reason he was reluctant to return to England. But duty called, and he must go, if only to please his grandmother.
“Look.” Carlos pointed to a spot in the jungle not far ahead. “We could stop there long enough to rest and eat.”
They reached the place and Felix scoured the ground thoroughly until he was assured no harm would come to them. “Indeed, this is where we shall stop. Start preparing a fire and I will collect the others and return.”
Felix headed back at a hurried pace. The quicker they could get here and eat, the quicker they could start back on their journey. And especially, the faster he could deliver Katrina to her father and stop having these insane—and most confusing—emotions fluttering inside his chest.
* * * *
KATRINA SIPPED HERcanteen as her gaze flitted around Felix’s six other men. Most of them dressed like Carlos, wearing a shirt, trousers, and boots, but two of them were dressed more like Indians. They wore no shirts. At least they wore breeches and some semblance of shoes. These two men were the ones with longer hair. They also didn’t speak very much, and when they did, it was a language she had never heard before. Yet, they seemed to understand Felix and Carlos just fine.
“Are you all right, Miss Landon?” The man she’d heard called Alexio spoke to her.
“Thank you for your concern. I’m feeling better.” She smiled at the middle-aged man with bushy eyebrows that were so long they almost covered his eyes.
His gaze sparkled as his grin widened, displaying only a few teeth. He turned and spoke to the others in the odd language. Personally, she thought it was rude for them not to include her in their conversation.
She corked her canteen and stuffed it in her pack. A rumble went through her belly, and she looked back at the trail Felix and Carlos had taken not too long ago, wishing they would soon return. Her stomach was going to start nipping at her backbone for nutrition if she didn’t eat soon.
Alexio said something to the others, making them laugh. Since all eyes were turned toward her, she assumed she was the reason for their humor. Alexio scratched his arm before rolling up his sleeves and continued some interesting—and entertaining—tale for the other men.
Something different on his dark-skinned arm drew her attention. Leaning forward, she peered closer, but tried not to be conspicuous. The whiter markings on his arm looked like scars. They were in the shape of...teeth!
She gasped and jerked back. Alexio turned his head and looked at her with wide eyes.
“What is wrong, Miss Landon?” he asked in broken English.
“Uh... well, I noticed those scars on your arm.”
His attention dropped to his arm as he brought it closer for her inspection. “These?”
“Yes. They look like teeth marks.”
“Oh, it was nothing, Miss Landon. I was just captured by the Turri Indians and they tried to eat me. I escaped with only a few wounds.”
“What?” she cried out, appalled at the mere thought. “They tried toeatyou?”
A grin stretched across his face. “Yes. Did you not know the Turri Indians are cannibals?”
She’d never heard of the tribe before. Her stomach lurched, and if she had anything in her stomach right now, she’d definitely lose it. She slapped a hand to her mouth anyway—just in case something was in there. She couldn’t even fathom...she didn’t want to imaginethat.
