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

plant, but didn’t have any luck.
    Back in the raft, he scanned the horizon, hoping to spot an outcropping. He didn’t want to go too far and leave her alone too long, but what choice did he have? At a second stop, he sprinted through trees, slipping over muddy roots in his path.
    But still no Jergon Sacha.
    He almost sped past a small island, before he spied a row of Jergon Sacha among palms. Nearly overcome with relief, he moored the raft and ran to the spot. Before he reached the plants, he noticed a thick tide of traveling ants emerging from an anthill at their base. He hesitated for only a moment before using a stick to scare away the ants and dig up the tubers.
    While he dug, fire ants returned to cover his hands and arms, nibbling at his skin. He ignored a flame that ignited both hands then insinuated itself into his flannel shirt. He tried to cope by gritting his teeth against the burning pain and thinking about Leah. Her need overshadowed any discomfort he might experience.
    When he finally reached the root, he scratched around to free it from the dirt. Wrestling the pack from his back, he grabbed the jar and knife. With the knife blade, he plied the tuber free from the ground and cut pieces of it to place in the jar. When he had accumulated all he thought he needed, he plucked as many young leaves as he could and stuck them into his pocket. Through his clothes, his skin blazed with fiery ant bites, his head reeled from their poison. After knocking as many ants off his skin and clothes as he could, he rushed back toward the raft.
     
    * * *
     
    Half-asleep, Leah shifted in distress and twisted her leg. The searing pain jolted her awake.
    Sunlight lit the tent’s top. Her heart raced unnaturally. It took her a moment to remember where she was, and why. When she touched her ankle, a spasm flew up her leg. She tried to move, but agony paralyzed her.
    “ Dylan?” she called and waited for his reply. “Dylan?” she raised her voice, but there was still no response.
    In panic, she yelled at the top of her voice, “Dylan, where the hell are you?”
    But no one answered.
    Panicked, she crawled to the tent’s open flap and looked about at the empty campsite, her eyes alighting on the missing raft. Where could Dylan have gone so early? She scanned the area furiously searching for a sign of him.
    As the significance of what she saw sunk into her muddled, desperate mind, it suddenly became clear-the bastard had abandoned her to die. Of course. What did she expect? He was no different from her father, or most of the men she had known. When the going got tough, they got going.  
    Fury mixed with fear propelled her into action. She tried to stand, but her right leg refused to support her. Even the effort sent shock waves through her. She crumbled to the ground.
    She had to find help, even if she died trying.
    How could anyone be so inhumane as to desert another human being, even a complete stranger, in her present condition? A raging hatred of Hart gave her strength to push on, determined to see that his despicable cowardice didn’t go undetected.
    She dragged herself across the tent’s threshold into the sunlight. Digging fingers into soil, she crawled her way toward the water’s edge. The excruciating torture in her leg mingled with the intense aching in her head disoriented her. The farther she crept toward the water, the farther away it appeared. She soon found herself in a thicket of trees. She tried to claw her way out, but the more she did, the more lost she became. Finally, she was totally surrounded, under the jungle’s canopy. The wound’s stabbing spasms ran up her leg. Nausea overcame her.
    She gasped for breath.
    She could go no farther.

Chapter Five
     
    Dylan wrestled the raft ashore and darted to the tent. The flap gapped open, no one inside. Where was Leah? How could she have moved with that ankle? Could someone, anyone, an animal, have carried her off? He rushed to the clearing, hoping to spot