Free The Promise of Rain by Rula Sinara Page B

States. He’d spoken the truth and wasn’t going to back down. Jack held his hands up in a peace effort, but pressed on.
    “If something did happen, there would be all sorts of delays in paperwork. Is that what you want? Not knowing where she’d be in the interim?” He left it at that. One step at a time. No matter where Pippa ended up living, her legal paperwork was a matter that needed to be addressed. He was being straightforward about that.
    * * *
    A NNA WALKED BACK to the tree and, leaning the side of her head against one leg of her platform, tried to figure out if he was manipulating her. It wasn’t in his nature, but tap into anyone’s primal instincts and surprising things could happen. She stared out at a herd of zebras grazing unsuspectingly in the distance. In seconds they took off at a fierce run, a cheetah in fierce pursuit. All made it but one. The youngest. Jack winced.
    Anna turned, leaning her back against the beam and rubbing her palms down her thighs twice before looking at him.
    “It’s nature, Jack. Survival of the fittest. The lack of rain is a predator in and of itself. It’s a spectacular place, though,” she said, looking wistfully back over the dried plains before continuing. “You want me to go into Nairobi with you? Fine. On one condition. You go up there with me,” she said, pointing skyward.
    She pushed off and strode past him not waiting for a response. He’d cornered her and she hated being cornered, especially when she’d given him a means. Nevertheless, she’d seen plenty of critters who, when they couldn’t escape to the left or right, opted for up. Ambosi, for one. And up was a brilliant option. Pure genius, if she could say so herself.
    “You want me to climb a thorny tree with you?”
    “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jack. Up in the sky. In a helicopter, smart one.”
    Jack grinned like a hyena at breakfast.
    “I know what you meant, genius, ” he said, emphasizing “genius,” just as he had back in school, when he’d egg her on until she loosened up and laughed.
    She wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction, but the memory, and the familiar way he was smiling at her... Anna sucked in her bottom lip and bit down. Hard. A reality bite that hurt a lot less than the pain he’d cause if she fell for his obvious plan. Nostalgia had no effect on her. The past was nothing but lies. She gave him her best I’m being serious here look.
    “Didn’t you bring that camera? The one you never let me borrow?” she asked.
    “Of course I did. You’re treating me to photo ops? What’s that got to do with Nairobi?”
    “Nothing at all.” Anna started back toward camp and he fell in step. A great sign that she’d turned the tables. She smiled, half show and half satisfaction. “An aerial view is an efficient way to check on herds, movement patterns, which watering holes and riverbeds have dried. You get the idea.”
    “Checking on poachers?”
    “The authorities do that. If we happen to see something suspicious, then of course we’ll report it, but this is strictly to check on the elephants.”
    “If there’s a helicopter around here, then why did I have to endure that road trip from Amboseli?”
    This time, Anna couldn’t suppress her laugh. “Aw, Jack. Was that a little too wild compared to your pristine lab?”
    “No. Just wondering,” he said, visibly straightening.
    “Your supplies might have been too heavy, but either way, we don’t have an official landing pad out here. Just a grassy area big enough to set down a chopper in case of emergencies, and for chartering the occasional observatory flight.”
    “Your expense list didn’t say anything about charter flights.” The look on Jack’s face told Anna that he hadn’t intended to say that. She stopped and folded her arms.
    “Seriously, Jack? You’re unbelievable. Miller’s minion. I happen to know someone who owns a tourist charter flight company. He donates some flight time each month to anyone at a