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area and to and from the market, but once off the beaten track things were even worse. Gary had explained that part of the ride would be slow going, but she hadn’t taken the discomfort into consideration. They’d been travelling at a snail’s pace for over an hour when Val asked for a break.
    ‘I think my back’s going to break in two, Gary. Any chance...’
    A loud growling roar in the distance cut off her voice. The sound sent shivers up her spine and Gary stopped the vehicle and looked around. They saw the big cat halfway up a tree. It had laid down its small prey and turned its fierce eyes on the vehicle and its occupants. Val was both fascinated and terrified. Gary reversed very slowly and the animal appeared to relax a little, but not enough for Val’s liking.
    ‘Like any animal, they’re at their most dangerous when protecting their food or their young. I don’t like the look of this one so we’re going to go back in the direction we came and find another route. Okay?’
    She nodded while keeping her eyes on the leopard. She knew that Gary had a gun with him and wondered if the leopard took a jump at them, would he choose to drive or to stop and use the gun. She needn’t have worried as the animal continued its feast when it could see that they were no longer a threat and Val was soon able to relax a little. When they arrived at a shaded area a while later Gary stopped the Land Rover and smiled.
    ‘Are you okay?’ he asked, eyes full of concern as he leaned over and patted her thigh.
    His hand stayed there a second too long and Val felt herself blush as memories of being touched by a red-blooded male flooded her mind. It made her think of Ron but strangely enough she didn’t feel guilty. She looked upwards and smiled.
    ‘Val?’
    ‘Yes I’m fine thanks. That was a bit scary though.’
    Gary laughed and Val got the impression that her idea of scary and his were entirely different.
    ‘Can you give me a hand?’ he got out of the vehicle and Val followed him around to the back where he untied the canopy that was covering the boot. Gary unstrapped the bungee cords that were holding a cool box in place and lifted the box. He handed her the blanket that was underneath and walked to the rear passenger seats where his rifle was stored. ‘Insurance,’ he said giving her a charming smile and set off carrying the box and rifle. Val followed and they stopped at a nearby tree, which was on a slight hill. Gary appeared to survey the area and once satisfied nodded his head for Val to lay the blanket. They sat down and looked around. It was a stunning vista of hills in the distance that seemed to end abruptly. Gary pointed and explained that the steep hillside plunged down into a deep ravine and that he’d take her there on their next outing. Val ignored his presumption that they’d have another outing and looked at their surroundings. In their immediate line of sight the open grassy plains were dotted with an occasional tree. They could see for miles and would be able to spot any potential danger long before it reached them.
    ‘Nothing too fancy I’m afraid,’ Gary opened the box and took out two cans of coke. ‘We’ll let them settle for a few minutes before opening them.’ He took out two foil packages and passed her one. ‘Hope you like the local ham.’
    Val nodded gratefully, pleased with his thoughtfulness as he must have guessed that she hadn’t had time for lunch prior to his arrival.
    Shaded under the tree they ate and drank in comfortable silence for a while, taking in the views and the grazing animals. Val hadn’t felt this relaxed for some time and she closed her eyes after she’d finished eating. There were unknown dangers out here but she felt completely safe in the company of the big charming man beside her. She wasn’t sure how much later it was when she felt his hand on her arm and his voice brought her back to the present.
    ‘Sorry to wake you but I think we’d better make a