Pride of the Veld

impeccable reputation; his family, this reserve, require it. I’ve tolerated his little expeditions in the bush, but I won’t have it here!” He snapped the last, slamming down his cup, making the porcelain ring from the impact.
    “Well then, I’ll miss you, Oupa.” Neither man had noticed Geo’s arrival, nor how long he’d been leaning against the doorframe listening to them. Geo continued, his face a study of calm determination. “But I’m gay. Life is too short; the last few days have made that obvious to me, if not to you. I’m gay and, apparently, I’m in love with two men.”
    Geo finished his announcement in style by strolling over to Danie, who was still seated at the table, and kissing him in front of the staff and his grandfather.
    “Two men?” Danie teased. “Do I know them?” Geo smirked but didn’t answer, sliding into the seat next to him and picking up the half eaten slice of toast from Danie’s plate. Danie watched Geo smear it with the reserve’s homemade strawberry jam before shoving almost the entire piece in his mouth.
    “This is totally unacceptable, Geo!” The elder Christiansen rose, towering over them even as he leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table. “I’ve made plans for you! You are the only one capable of protecting my legacy here! Your uncles want to turn this into a theme park! I love you, Geo, but you’re naïve if you think you can carry on an open affair with a man here and be safe or listened to!” George slammed his fist into the table, the white, linen cloth deadening the sound. No one spoke. Danie could see the shock and pain in Geo’s profile. All his earlier bravado seemed wiped away, when a small sound broke the silence.
    “I will listen.”
    As one, the three men and a teenager turned to stare at Baruti. Lenka stood frozen, pressed against the dining room wall, looking like he wanted to disappear.
    Danie knew that Baruti’s family had worked for the Christiansen’s for four generations. His ancestors had lived on this land long before the white Europeans wrapped their collective fist around the heart of the continent.
    Baruti himself had worked for George Christiansen for more than thirty years, rising to the position of estate manager, a role uncommon even in the decades since the fall of apartheid and unheard of for a black South African of his father’s generation.
    Baruti’s father only managed to rise through the ranks of workers and staff, becoming the reserve’s head guide in every way but name. He’d passed his deep love for the reserve to Baruti, sending him to university in England to study land management with help from the Christiansen family. From the day Baruti returned to his ancestral home on the reserve, he became the steadfast and devoted steward of both land and family.
    Baruti had been sitting quietly, lingering over his breakfast, making notes to himself about the day’s agenda, when the argument erupted. In all the time he’d eaten at the family table, Danie couldn’t remember Baruti ever standing up to George Christiansen publically. But he spoke now.
    Baruti repeated, “I will listen. And my children will listen, because young George is a good man. Your staff will listen because he is a strong man, a trustworthy man… an honest man. And this community will listen. They will listen because he is an educated man, and most importantly, a wealthy man. We will all listen.”
    Danie was stunned. He marveled at the quiet dignity of the man, educating them all. Geo had tears in his eyes as he reached over to hug him. Baruti himself looked surprised, aghast. Whatever led him to speak out against his employer for the first time in his life hadn’t prepared him for the breach of all social protocols.
    Geo patted his shoulder, quietly thanking him, before turning to his grandfather once more. “I don’t expect you to understand, Oupa. I love you. I love the reserve. This is the home of my heart, and it will hurt me to leave and never come back. But I will.
    “A month ago, I wouldn’t have considered it. I would have kept who I am hidden, pretending I’m something I’m not. I’d like to think that I’d never stoop so low as to let you marry me off to some landowner’s daughter to advance your plans… but I’m ashamed to admit that I can’t.”
    Danie watched George Christiansen turn from white to red as he listened to his grandson’s declaration. It was plain to see that he was about to object when Geo cut