After the initial shock of Shane’s betrayal and aftermath of such, Betty was determined to save her hard won family’s spirit.  The holiday season hovered near.  She had seen the sadness of Staci Simba first hand.  Sean, who was still too young to be cognizant of the wicked things in life, didn’t get the meaning of it all and was aware only of the tension that pervaded his new and formerly happy group.  Betty set about creating a real jollity for the coming season.  She took Staci, Sean and Arlon on shopping sprees to accumulate seasonal items for the home.  Staci accompanied her to the Masai Mara Garden Center to find green wreathes and garlands for the recently built and very extensive house on Leoparde Drive.  Some cheerfulness became infused in the female cub again, realizing that Betty wasn’t going to divorce her father.  Staci Simba loved her stepmother very genuinely.  She had relaxed her resentment of her dad, having always adored him.  Once again the family gathered merrily at the dinner table and discussed their day with great enthusiasm and spirit. 

            Dorian and Cynthia Cheetah, having lost one daughter to death, could not afford to end relations with another.  Caroline continued to visit and her parent’s unrelenting received her as warmly as possible.  One that did not speak when she was there on Caroline’s arrival was her niece, Staci Simba.  Staci adored her grandparents and visited at least once a week.  Twice when Caroline opened the door to her parent’s condo, Staci bid Dorian and Cynthia a loving farewell, brushing past her aunt in silence.  Dorian and Cynthia could not dissuade Caroline of continuing with her pregnancy.  As for Shane, he was not in good shape with his former in-laws.  The less said about him, the better, thought the Cheetahs.  

            Sloane Simba continued seeing Linda Cougar on occasion.  Linda was very sexy and didn’t mind anything kinky occurring during sexual outings.  He held Caitlin Cougar very much in his thoughts since the weekend in Mombasa but still recoiled at the thought of commitment.  Linda provided an uncomplicated means of sex with no attachments emotionally.  Sloane had made it plain to Linda that he would never have a serious relationship with her.   It was the ongoing or nothing.  Linda chose whatever she could get. 

            Caitlin had two dates with Sloane after Mombasa.  He took her to Klip ‘n Dodi’s again and they had dinner at Croc’s Bar & Grill.  Both times they went to her home and made love afterward.  Caitlin had no doubts about her feeling for Sloane.  She was head over heels in love with him.  Sloane’s actual feelings for Caitlin approached a close proximity to her own.  The difference between the two was the fact that Sloane did not want to act on his yet.  Caitlin, being a basically intelligent and savvy female, knew not to press him or even declare herself for the moment.  The holiday season approaching, Sloane invited Caitlin to the Simba pride Christmas dinner that would be held Christmas eve.  This year it was slated to be in the Mara Simba Lodge. 

            Lucy Cougar Simba, being pregnant again, and having her small cub, James, had begun to get stressed once more.  Alexander had a real overload at the Simba Brothers law offices.  Sam was the minister of justice for Kenya, Sefu, Its chief magistrate and Shane the vice president.   Alexander was holding the fort down with one associate, Liz Leopard and his brother, Sloane.  Sloane’s specialty was real estate and tax law.  Alexander had two more brothers about to finish law school in England.  He was hoping for a not too distant arrival so he could get some help and not go home late to Lucy.  His wife’s reaction to his working late was suspicion.  He could understand that but these days, he was delayed by an excess of case load. 

            The two Simba brothers studying law in London are sons of Leander.  They are in no hurry to leave the pleasures of big city life to return to the Masai Mara.  As are all the Simba males, they are thick of mane and fine of body and stature.  They were a big hit in London where the female population, both human and animal, is fond of the exotic.  Sefu Simba put in a call to them to hopefully rush their return.  It remains to be seen as to what will transpire. 

             It also happens that one of Ralph Lyon’s sons is home from a classical education in law.  The son of Maude Lyon, his name is Daniel.  His mother, being a caustic lioness, thought it would be an amusing play on Daniel in the lion’s den.  If Ralph hadn’t seriously protested she was going to make his middle name Inthe.  He was living with Doris in her bungalow in the Lyon Pride Compound.  When he had visited his father upon his return, Ralph had suggested that he apply to Simba Brothers & Associates to get his sea legs.  He had introduced him to Shane who went with him to the law offices and introduced him personally to Alexander and Sloane.  Since Shane, Sefu and Sam are controlling members of the law firm he had the job right away.  Alexander was delighted to have him. 

             Daniel is a very handsome lion in the tradition of the males in the Lyon pride.  He looks like a cross between his father and half-brother, Ashley.  So Daniel contentedly settled into the social life of the Masai Mara.  He had it knocked as the son of the President of Kenya.  His mother, being the testy main decorator at Sylvia Cougar’s CHANGING SPOTS, redecorated the bungalow that Aurora Leopardiaz Lyon had vacated on her marriage to Nat Cougar.  Daniel settled right in.  His first evening in the Watering Hole Pub was a whopping success.  It was recommended to him by Alexander Simba who didn’t dare go and upset Lucy but called on associate lawyer Liz Leopard to introduce him to the pleasures of Wally Warthog’s singles paradise.  Liz was very pleased to escort the handsome lion on his excursion.  Ashley and Leah Lyon joined him for his first evening there.  The first night, he took Liz back to his refurbished bungalow and bedded her.  Liz hadn’t had a serious relationship since Sam Simba had left her for Betty Chimpo.  Liz didn’t think interoffice romances were a problem.  But Daniel was not Ralph Lyon’s son and Ashley’s brother for nothing.  He enjoyed variety as much as his dad and half brother.  He carried the Lyon genes with all their fun loving, sensual aspects. 

 Daniel Lyon, son of Ralph and Maude.  New lawyer at Simba Bros. 

            Shane looked tired when he came home.  Betty and Staci were decorating the mantel when he joined them with a drink.  He lit a cigarette and asked his wife and daughter if he could help.  They thanked him but declined his offer.  He sat on the couch.  A cheery fire was crackling in the fireplace.  He sat gazing at Betty and Staci and thought again of how lucky he was to have married her and found such a warm and loving haven for his children and him. 

 “Betty, would you like to go out to dinner?”

 “Babs has made a wonderful dinner.  I think the children will be disappointed if we don’t join them.”

 “No, Betty, go with Daddy.  We’ll be fine.  We can eat in Arlon’s room and watch movies,” protested Staci who wanted to ensure her father and stepmother’s continued happiness together.

 Betty turned to look at Shane and noticed the fatigue on his face.  She put down the hammer and came to where he sat. 

 “Why don’t we have our supper sent to our room, darling?  If the kids want to watch movies with Arlon, you and I can sit by the fire there.  Would you like that?” she said, taking his paw and laying it against her face.  “You look very weary, Shane.”

 “That would be grand, Fifi.  My ribs have hurt all day.  We’ll make reservations at OKAPI’S for tomorrow night.”

             When he went upstairs, Betty gave the hammer to Staci and asked her to finish the garland.  She asked Babs to bring a tray with some Scotch to their room.  When she came in Shane had taken off his jacket and was settled in one of the big chairs that sat near the fire place.

 “Shane, do you think your ribs healed adequately?  You still have a great deal of pain from them, darling.”

  “Frank Tigeres said that’s not unusual with ribs, especially when you broke every damn one of them,” he laughed. 

 “I worry about you.  You seem so tired these days.”

 “I worry about you, Betty.  All this shit that I caused just because I was too drunk to ward off that damn Caroline.”

 “Shane, we’re moving past that episode.  If you ever do this again, I’ll know your old habits are back but for the time being, I will take your word that it was an incident based on your drunken condition.  As for her cubs, we’ll cross that bridge when they’re born.”

 “Betty, how in the hell did I get so lucky?  If I had known life with you would be so good, I would have married you a lot sooner.”

“There was Catherine, remember?” she giggled. 

 “Yeah.”

             They ate a wonderful meal before the roaring fire.  Later they told the children goodnight.  They made love with the sweetness that had begun to invade that activity recently. 

            Jane, the lioness and Caitlin Cougar had been working on a series of articles they are doing jointly for the Masai Mara Daily.  They decided to go to the pub and wait for Luke Leoparde to pick Jane up for dinner at OKAPI’S.  When they got there, it wasn’t crowded yet, since they had come a bit early.  Standing at the bar was a male lion that wasn’t familiar to them.  He was speaking to a male leopard.  The leopard left.  The lion turned to Jane and Caitlin. 

 “May I buy you two lovelies a drink?” he asked.

 “That would be great,” answered Jane.  “We’re both dying of thirst.”

 When the bartender had gotten their drinks, the lion turned to them again. 

 “My name is Daniel and if you make any reference to the lion’s den, I will make you reimburse me for these drinks,” he laughed.

 His face was filled with such good humor both females relaxed right away. 

 “Daniel who?” laughed Jane. 

 “Lyon with the ‘y’.  Daniel Lyon,” he said giving them both a business card. 

 “As in President Ralph Lyon?” asked Jane.

 “I am his son by Maude Lyon who has an idiosyncratic sense of humor and wanted to make my middle name Inthe.”

 Jane burst into gales of hilarity.

 “That is rich,” she giggled. 

 Caitlin was fascinated.  She found Daniel handsome and filled with funniness.

 “Will you two ladies go to dinner with me?”

 “I’m meeting my boyfriend,” said Jane. 

 “What a pity and you?” he asked, turning to Caitlin. 

 “No. I’m free.  I don’t have a steady one,” she giggled. 

 He laughed.

 “Well there is nothing worse, I hear, than an unsteady boyfriend,” he said.  “How about dinner? I don’t bite – can’t afford to being the president’s son.  It sort of nips my misbehavior in the bud.”

 “I’d love to go with you,” she laughed. 

             Sloane Simba saw Caitlin leave with the new lawyer in his firm.  He was in the parking lot of the pub.  She didn’t see him.  He was unsettled and picked up Linda Cougar that night.  He was so thrown off balance that he allowed Caroline Cheetah to join them.  For the first time ever, his mind was so much on other things that he felt his sexual presentation lacked a great deal.  You couldn’t have proved it by his partners.  They were totally happy with the evening’s package deal until he had them leave early.  He was restless and headed for Caitlin’s cottage.  He was just in time to see Daniel Lyon tell her goodbye at the front door.  He parked in the shadows near by until Daniel’s car drove away.  He then got out and rang her doorbell.  She let him in, very surprised at his coming there at the late hour.  He had never popped in on her before. 

“Got Scotch?” he asked. 

“Yes.  What are you doing out and about at this time of night in this neck of the woods?”

 “Being with you was probably a goal of mine, Caitlin.”

 “I went out to dinner, Sloane.”

 “I know you did, with our new lawyer at Simba Brothers.  I saw you two in the parking lot.”

"He’s very sweet.” 

 “No male lion is SWEET, Caitlin.”

 “Yes, Daniel is very kind and nice.  He didn’t even try to get me in bed.”

 “Would you have, Caitlin?” roared Sloane, knowing he was losing a hefty element of his cool. 

 “I don’t think so.  I don’t drop into bed at the flick of a tail, Sloane.”

 Sloane slumped on her couch, completely out of bluster.  He didn’t like the panic he was experiencing at the thought of this female sleeping with another male.  He suddenly got up and gave her a kiss.  Then he was out the door and roaring his engine toward his home in Lyon Towers.  He had a voice mail from Simone Serval stating that she was back in the Mara.  He called her back and went to her penthouse where he serviced her the rest of the night.  He was a wreck when he got home at five o’clock the next morning to shower for the office. 

            Lachlan Lion sat on my couch facing a cozy fire.  The darkening sky had brought an evening chill which is not out of character for Kenyan nights.  Our short rainy season had come which often fetches a damp chill. 

 “Maury, I wish I could get away and we could travel for the Christmas season.  But, as you know, that is the time of year which produces the most shticks emotionally in all creatures.  And my job is soothing the various degrees of angst.”

 “Lachlan, we will have a special time either here or in Mombasa.  Shall we include Bertram in our plans?”

 “Yes, by all means.  Bertram strikes me as a lonely sort in spite of himself.  And while you’re at it, why not include Gloria Chimpo.  I rather like her.  She’s a fascinating example of a female that is totally contented with the single life.”

 “We can certainly gather all sort of animals that you find interesting in a clinical way,” I laughed.

 “Let’s do that.  You can think of some more, I’m sure.”

            Things were rather tense at Simba Brothers due to Sloane’s aversion to Daniel Lyon who he considered a rival for Caitlin Cougar.  Daniel worked along with the good nature that is so typical of Ralph’s boys.  He whistled as he attacked the cases allotted to him.  Daniel also charmed his clients.  Alexander Simba was delighted with him.  Sloane, not so much, considering him a threat to his single male’s lifestyle.  When he had phoned Caitlin for a dinner date, she had told him that Daniel had asked first. 

Shane and Betty in OKAPI’S

                        The evening was cool and clear when Shane and Betty Simba entered the elegant domain of OKAPI’S restaurant.  The dining area was crowded with Friday night diners.   Ossie led them to their table, himself.  All eyes turned as the Vice President and his wife entered.  Whispers darted about the room.  All were rather surprised that the two were together after the scandalous account in Animal Enquirer.  Betty and Shane gave them the show of a lifetime.  Their eyes never left each other.  They clasped paw and hand across the table when they weren’t actually eating.  Neither saw Caroline Cheetah who was dining with Glenda Gorilla in a far corner.  But they saw Betty and Shane. 

 “I don’t believe your pregnancy is going a long way toward breaching the second couple in the nation,” declared Glenda, popping an oyster laden cracker in her mouth.  “They seem terribly in love to me.  It seems you’re just stuck with a litter and tummy that will begin to protrude.”

 “That’s a terrible thing to tell me, Glenda.  I thought you were my friend,” snarled Caroline, who was most upset at the display of togetherness at the Simba’s table. 

Glenda wiped the cracker crumbs and oyster juice from her lips.

 “I am a pragmatist first and a friend second.  These are the facts as I see them, Caroline.  You should consider an abortion before it’s too late.”

 “Never, damn you.  I will never abort his litter,” growled Caroline.  

 “Have it your way, my dear, but in my opinion you’re shooting yourself in the foot.”