Jane

Chapter Ten

  I was in love.

Not with Clayton. With my wild man. Tarzan. Something about him, drew me closer and closer to him each day I was around him. Our time was now up here at camp. Clayton would soon be coming back for us to take us to England. I was hoping to ask Tarzan to come back with us.

He seemed too happy here though. I was not sure he would want to come back with me. Father had been working with Tarzan the last month of our stay. Tarzan was nearly speaking full sentences'.

He could read a few easy reader books. He had so much potential in him to be like one of us. One more day and Clayton would be here to take me home.

I did plan on calling off the wedding to Clayton. I did not want to marry him. I did not see how things could work out for Tarzan and myself though. Long distances relationships never worked.

Besides that Tarzan could not call me. Or write me a letter to keep in touch. There was really no point in writing him. He could never read it. That gave me an idea. I was going to write him a letter. Telling him how I felt for him. He would never be able to read it or know. But at least I could get all my feelings out there for him.

The thought brought me some comfort. While father was working with Tarzan, I got my paper out. Began to write him a love letter. Where to start? I sigh. How could a letter that no one would ever be able to read be so hard to write?

Dear Tarzan,

The day I met you, you changed my world forever. I am so thankful for you. You saved my life twice while I was here. You also taught me many things. I thought I knew what love was. I planned on marrying Clayton. Just to settle down. But I know that is not true love. So I am ending things with Clayton. When I go back home I am not going to be married. I have to tell you these things you may never understand Tarzan. I am so sad to be leaving you. I will always miss you in my heart no matter how far away we are from each other. No one can take away the bond that became between us. You are the first man I ever learned to love. Something about you Tarzan, makes me want to give you all I have. You will always be special in my heart. My heart is breaking right now of the thought of leaving you here. You won't understand why we left you. It was not that we want to. Please understand this. We love you. I think my father sees you as his son. He always wanted a son. Oh Tarzan, if I thought for even a moment you would be happy being in my world, I would make you come with me. Take you home. I am dreading telling you good-bye. It is never good-bye for me. Never.

I guess what I am trying to tell you is, I love you. I think you care for me. We do have a friendship. I think you are smart, sexy. The handsomest man I ever laid eyes on.

That is all I wanted to say Tarzan.

I love you!

Jane

Tears come to me as I fold up my letter. I place it in an envelope. I brush the tears away before anyone can see them. I get a call in from Clayton.

"Clayton?" I answer. He had given me his extra phone after my own was broken.

"Jane, I was able to find something very interesting on your ape brain" mentions Clayton.

"Oh what is that?" I ask.

"He was a son of a lord and a lady. They actually have a home here in England. Servants are running the place waiting to this day for someone to return. The family does not know his passed away. He has a grandfather alive. I contacted Tarzan's grandfather. Get this ape brain's real name was John Greystroke" replies Clayton.

"Seriously? He has family alive? This is wonderful!" I gasp.

"Yes it is. His grandfather is the last of his family that is alive. He wants us to return Tarzan to our land. He will even pay us handsomely for it" brags Clayton.

"I would not do it for money. I would do it anyway. For Tarzan. For his grandfather! How wonderful" I stammer. "I have to tell Tarzan"

"Ape brain, will not understand a thing you say. You have to show him" laughs Clayton.

"He is very smart. Smarter than you give him credit for Clayton" I snap feeling defensive.

"I know. I know. Ape brain is a genius, listen I have a few things to finish here. Stay safe. I will be on my way for you all" replies Clayton. We hang up. I make my way over to father and John....I mean Tarzan.

"John" I call out.

They both look at me with a confused look.

"Jane? Something wrong? No John here" laughs my father.

"That is Tarzan's real name. John Greystroke" I explain to father.

"I take it Clayton found out news on our boy here" says father. I nod.

"Very good news! Tarzan, you have family back home. Near my home. A grandfather. He wishes to meet you. Do you think you would go back with us? You can come home with Jane?" I beg of Tarzan. He looks confused. Did he understand me? I place my hands in his. Father was packing up his things these past few days. I take Tarzan aside.

"Tarzan...we are going to be leaving. I want you to come with me. Do you understand me?" I repeat myself. My heart aches. Poor Tarzan.

He says not a word.

"Go with Jane" I repeat.

"Stay with Jane" I beg of him. I touch his cheek with my hand. He closes his eyes and smiles.

"Tarzan, stay" he replies.

"What?" I stammer.

"Can't go Jane" he knew what I was saying.

"But why?" I beg to know. He leans in and kisses me.

"Jane, family here" he replies.

He did not want to leave his gorilla family behind. They raised him. I could understand that.

"Jane stay" he begs me. Tears come.

"I can't. I would love to. But I just can't. This is not my home Tarzan" I whisper.

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I take off for a walk in the woods. My eyes were filled with tears. Blurring my vision. Why did it feel so wrong to leave him? Why could he not come with us?

His grandfather would be so happy. I would be so happy to have him back home. Maybe he felt he would never fit in. I did not care if he fit in. I loved him for the way he was. Not to be John. I loved him as Tarzan.

I trip on a stick in the middle of the pathway.

"Ouch...dumb ass girl" I mutter to myself as I notice I had a scrape on my leg now. It was bleeding.

I hear a sound. A soft growling sound. I look up to see a black panther snarling at me. Oh s**t! Why did I take off from camp! I was at least safe there! I get up to run. It leaps down at me.

I run as fast as I could. I knew I was no match for the panther. My heart hammers like crazy as I run. The panther was so close to me now. It leaps at me knocking me down on the ground. I cry in fear. This was it. I was going to die. It was my own fault!

It was snarling and drooling at me. Sneaking closer and closer to me. Suddenly I hear her. The gorilla I saved. She leaps over back handing the panther so it falls over to the ground.

The panther now goes after the gorilla. She cries out as the chase is on. She slaps the panther again. The panther growls then leaps back in the air. Oh please make it! It would be my fault if she dies! All my fault! Tarzan was going to hate me if she died!

Just then another gorilla leaps in the air. Attacking the panther. Defending the other gorilla. The gorilla snaps at the panther. The fight was deadly.

The panther swipes at the gorilla. Leaving a scar in the gorilla's flesh. Making the gorilla weaker. The gorilla was defending us. I watch in awe. I tremble in fear. The panther was killing the poor gorilla that was trying to rescue us. I could not stand to hear the sounds. I cover my ears. Tears come to me.

I hear him. Tarzan's call. The panther's ears are alert. I see Tarzan leap at the panther. He grabs the panther by the scruff of the neck. Then snapping its neck. The panther is dead. I look over. Tarzan was checking on the wounded gorilla. He was dying. I make my way over to them.

"I am so sorry....this is all my fault" I whisper.

Tears come to me. Tarzan looks on as he holds the gorilla's hand in his own. "He died trying to save me" I whisper. I head back to came after the gorilla dies breathing its last breath. Maybe it was best I was leaving to go back home. I did not belong here. I was wrecking Tarzan's life.

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