Read Online Pride of the Veld by LE Franks - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: LE Franks
Tags: M/M romance
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time to climb on top of the disabled Rover, taking photographs across the veld.
Geo watched him for a while. “Hey! Andrea,” he called over to the man. The Italian swung around with a smile and waved. Geo wandered over with a metal case containing their satellite phones and solar charger. He hefted it up to the photographer before stepping onto the doorframe to raise his chin above the roof level.
“Here,” he said, flipping the case open and pointing. “Set this up. Like this…” He pointed out how the array unfolded so the collectors were now pointing up. He plugged their phones into the leads and pulled a couple of bungee cords out of his back pocket.
Andrea was fascinated as he watched the younger man work to secure the equipment to the roof, threading the cords through metal loops on the case before attaching them to the luggage racks. Geo smiled at the question in Andrea’s eyes. “In case of rhinos. We’ve already lost one unit that way. Oupa never lets Danie forget it. Since we’re stuck, I thought we might as well make the most of a nice day.”
“Aren’t all the days nice out here?” Andrea asked, gazing around in awe.
Geo grunted and hopped down to the ground. “Mostly. One day in paradise is much the same as the next. The trick is to not forget that it is paradise. Otherwise you become jaded and nothing is ever beautiful enough again.”
“Hmm… I’ll think on it, caro. But from where I stand, it is not Africa itself that is paradise; it is the treasures one finds there. The true beauty can be found here, in you.” Geo rolled his eyes. Save me from bad Italian poets. He shook his head and smiled at the man grinning like an idiot.
“Danie! I’m going for water!” Geo called out across the empty campsite, slinging his rifle over a shoulder and grabbing two empty five-gallon containers.
He’d gone about three hundred yards into the bush when Danie popped out to his right. “Geo, what have I said about heading off on your own?” Danie looked stern behind his sunglasses, his accent thicker than ever. Geo decided now wasn’t the time to be smart.
“One of us is going to have to be alone at some point.” Geo was trying to be reasonable.
“Why? Drea can just as easily take pictures while you pick up sticks and I haul water. It’s safer that way.” Danie took the empty jugs away from him with a frown.
“No, we’ll be leaving the campsite vulnerable, and I’m really not in the mood for another game of rhino in the tent.”
“That happened once.” Danie folded his arms across his chest making Geo sigh. Stubborn.
“Once is all I need, I’m a fast learner. We’re smack in the middle of their range; I’ve seen signs of them all over the area, and they’ll have their young with them. I’m just as happy leaving Andreaon top of the Rover with my phones, out of harm’s way.’
“Maybe he’s out of harm’s way, but you’re not,” Danie persisted.
“I have my rifle.”
“On your back, Geo! Not much help if you accidently step into the path of a charging animal. Please don’t be stupid now, of all times. We always work as a team. It keeps us safe…” Danie moved closer sliding his palm across Geo’s face, cupping his cheek. “I need you to be safe, Geo.” He gently kissed him before stepping back― unrelenting once more.
Geo sighed, looking back towards the camp. “Fine. I’ll go back and get him. Meet you at the watering hole. Can you manage that on your own or do you need an escort?”
Danie considered the question for a moment, before smirking. “Go get Andrea , but hurry. I think I’ll enjoy letting him get muddy for a change.” He took the empty water containers, disappearing back into the bush.
****
CHAPTER EIGHT
Danie, was a hundred feet from the watering hole. Given the variety of prints at the water’s edge from overnight, he deduced that it was a primary resource for the local animal populations. He identified several varieties of antelope,
Geo watched him for a while. “Hey! Andrea,” he called over to the man. The Italian swung around with a smile and waved. Geo wandered over with a metal case containing their satellite phones and solar charger. He hefted it up to the photographer before stepping onto the doorframe to raise his chin above the roof level.
“Here,” he said, flipping the case open and pointing. “Set this up. Like this…” He pointed out how the array unfolded so the collectors were now pointing up. He plugged their phones into the leads and pulled a couple of bungee cords out of his back pocket.
Andrea was fascinated as he watched the younger man work to secure the equipment to the roof, threading the cords through metal loops on the case before attaching them to the luggage racks. Geo smiled at the question in Andrea’s eyes. “In case of rhinos. We’ve already lost one unit that way. Oupa never lets Danie forget it. Since we’re stuck, I thought we might as well make the most of a nice day.”
“Aren’t all the days nice out here?” Andrea asked, gazing around in awe.
Geo grunted and hopped down to the ground. “Mostly. One day in paradise is much the same as the next. The trick is to not forget that it is paradise. Otherwise you become jaded and nothing is ever beautiful enough again.”
“Hmm… I’ll think on it, caro. But from where I stand, it is not Africa itself that is paradise; it is the treasures one finds there. The true beauty can be found here, in you.” Geo rolled his eyes. Save me from bad Italian poets. He shook his head and smiled at the man grinning like an idiot.
“Danie! I’m going for water!” Geo called out across the empty campsite, slinging his rifle over a shoulder and grabbing two empty five-gallon containers.
He’d gone about three hundred yards into the bush when Danie popped out to his right. “Geo, what have I said about heading off on your own?” Danie looked stern behind his sunglasses, his accent thicker than ever. Geo decided now wasn’t the time to be smart.
“One of us is going to have to be alone at some point.” Geo was trying to be reasonable.
“Why? Drea can just as easily take pictures while you pick up sticks and I haul water. It’s safer that way.” Danie took the empty jugs away from him with a frown.
“No, we’ll be leaving the campsite vulnerable, and I’m really not in the mood for another game of rhino in the tent.”
“That happened once.” Danie folded his arms across his chest making Geo sigh. Stubborn.
“Once is all I need, I’m a fast learner. We’re smack in the middle of their range; I’ve seen signs of them all over the area, and they’ll have their young with them. I’m just as happy leaving Andreaon top of the Rover with my phones, out of harm’s way.’
“Maybe he’s out of harm’s way, but you’re not,” Danie persisted.
“I have my rifle.”
“On your back, Geo! Not much help if you accidently step into the path of a charging animal. Please don’t be stupid now, of all times. We always work as a team. It keeps us safe…” Danie moved closer sliding his palm across Geo’s face, cupping his cheek. “I need you to be safe, Geo.” He gently kissed him before stepping back― unrelenting once more.
Geo sighed, looking back towards the camp. “Fine. I’ll go back and get him. Meet you at the watering hole. Can you manage that on your own or do you need an escort?”
Danie considered the question for a moment, before smirking. “Go get Andrea , but hurry. I think I’ll enjoy letting him get muddy for a change.” He took the empty water containers, disappearing back into the bush.
****
CHAPTER EIGHT
Danie, was a hundred feet from the watering hole. Given the variety of prints at the water’s edge from overnight, he deduced that it was a primary resource for the local animal populations. He identified several varieties of antelope,
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