The Elephant Whisperer: My Life With the Herd in the African Wild by Lawrence Anthony (the ebook reader txt) 📕

closer to him. I stared into his beautiful, serious, deep blue eyes, as he placed his hands on my cheeks. He closes his eyes and I see a tear escape from his lashes.

“I’m so sorry,” I apologize to him. I never considered his pain. I never thought he would worry about me for so long.

“I have thought about you every morning Scarlett and you were the last thing on my mind when I fell asleep. I pictured you cold and hungry, but I couldn’t find you. I didn’t know where to look. I couldn’t save you,” he confided in me as I closed my eyes. I could feel his hands trembling as his lips landed on mine. That kiss that I have been missing for eleven months is finally mine again.

“Scarlett, will you come home with me?” he whispered.

“Oh yes,” I gasp. I’m shaking as I turn from him and run into the house, nearly tripping on the coffee table to grab my backpack. When I'm near him I am calm, happy, it's almost dream like, the way he makes me feel.

“Cas, I’m going,” I yell. She comes running out of her bedroom, throwing her arms around me.

“Be safe Scarlett, take really good care of yourself. Promise me you will come home in one piece,” she said as she releases me.

“I will Cas, take care of yourself too,” I tell her but as I turn to go I catch Cas’ boyfriend, Mitch standing on the porch talking to Buddy. I glance back at Cas and she just gives me a shrug. I watch as Mitch pats his shoulder, still talking but I can’t hear what he is saying. I walk towards the door when Mitch comes over to me, surprising me with a hug.

“Just because you drive me insane doesn’t mean I don’t care about you Scarlett. Just take care of yourself, Cas will be a mess if anything happens to you,” he said as he released me, then turned and walked to his bedroom. I waved to Cas as she blew me a kiss. I smile, closing the door.

I turn to Buddy and reach for his hand as he leads me to the car. Opening the door for me, I get in and take a deep breath. He sits down and stares out the window,  not starting the car.

“Are you having second thoughts? Did Mitch say something?” I asked, trying not to panic. He turns to me, placing his hand on my knee. I look at the silver rings on his fingers. One of the skulls looks like it's staring at me. I look away quickly as I shake my head. Opening my eyes I glance at him, he’s watching me intently.

“Scarlett, that guy, Mitch, he just told me that you have been struggling, sinking actually. He mentioned that you and Cassandra have had a hell of a ride in the last year and that you have addictions you overindulge in. I just hope I am what you need right now. I have my own addictions, my own demons. I can’t help you with that. I can try and I will try if it means you will come home with me, but you have to be sure you want too. I have to know that you really want this. I have to know that you have chosen me too,” he confided in me, looking confused. He tilts my chin up to look at him and I'm lost in his eyes. It still surprises me that one touch from him and all my anxiety, all my fears just fade away. I want him to hold me, nothing else matters. It’s that simple right now. I’ll think about what I need later, what I want is all I’m consumed with at this moment.

“I have never wanted anything more than to be with you. Can I just be with you Willem?” I ask him. He smiles as his eyes close and he leans over and kisses me so sweetly, making the world and all my problems fade away. I linger in his touch, breathing him in.

We stopped a couple of times to stretch and eat on the long ride to his place. We keep the conversation light as we head towards the states but I can’t help but notice that he seems tense this time as we get closer to the border crossing.

“It’s okay, no one is going to report me missing this time,” I inform him as I rest my hand on his thigh. I feel his leg muscles tighten below my touch. He glances over at me with his serious stare.

“I may have to be extra careful crossing, they have my name,” he tells me with a sigh. I hope it isn’t my fault but I have no more time to ask him questions as he drives up. I hold my breath but manage to look casual as Will tells him we were in Toronto to visit friends. Thankfully there’s no drama as the man lets us go. I wait for him to say something as he stares at the road ahead, driving toward the first toll. I’m relieved when he finally looks over at me and smiles.

“Welcome back baby,” he said, leaning towards me. I smile as I lean towards him and he kisses me. He pulls over at the first rest station and we both get out to stretch. We sit on the hood of his car and look up at the stars. He wraps his arms around me, kissing me behind the ear. It has been so long since I’ve felt this happy. No one else has ever been able to make me feel the way Will does. I remember my mother telling me that I was too young to know what love feels like, but she was so wrong. I knew I loved him from the deepest, darkest depths of