Little Sharpshooter Chap 12

Randy woke when the sun peeked in the windows. Al was the first thing on her mind as she started to roll up out of bed. Trevor’s arm had her pinned and his cheek was on her shoulder. She blinked a few times wondering how he wound up all wrapped around her when she fell asleep with her arm over him. She slid out from under his arm then plucked her clothes up off the floor. Randy was buttoning her shirt when she looked up and saw herself in the mirror on the other side of the room. Something struck her. Pulling her petticoats on under her skirt, she watched her reflection moving across the room until she sat down on the bed where Trevor sat the night before. Pressing her mouth together, she looked over her shoulder. Trevor turned blinking as he struggled to focus on her. Randy slapped his shoulder.

“Ow! What was that for?” He rubbed his arm.

She pointed at the mirror and slapped him again.

“I can’t believe you.” She started to stand up but he grabbed the back of her skirt. Then he held her arm, pulled her over to him as he sat up, holding her wrists so she didn’t hit him again.

“I didn’t look. I promise. My eyes were closed when I realized the mirror was there.”

“I don’t believe you.” Her face reddened.

“I’ve been punched by you before so I know better than to upset you. I promise.” He let her wrists go. “I promise you I didn’t look when you undressed. I did look at your shoulders though before you started to kiss me last night.” His eyes danced.

“You kissed me.” She pushed his chest.

“Only after you chickened out.” He pulled her closer to him. “You can start one now if you want.” His eyebrows lifted as he waited.

Randy flushed. Not able to look at him, she ducked from his stare and pressed her forehead into his shoulder.

“You missed.” He tilted her chin up and smiled. Her chest fluttered so much she thought it would explode as he leaned in and then backed away. “Are you chickenin’ out again?” He sighed shaking his head.

Randy grabbed his chin, looked him in the eye. She leaned in and bumped his nose with hers. She backed away embarrassed. His hand slid to the back of her head, he tilted her face ever so slightly, paused only a second before his mouth gently pressed into hers. His lips lingered on hers with his second kiss. Randy’s hands trembled when he finished.

Randy heard a familiar bang. “Al.” She sighed pulling away to leave and quietly hobbled down the stairs to the stable.

Randy and Trevor were having breakfast when Bronson entered the dining hall. He pulled up a chair, turned it around to straddle it, taking a piece of bacon off Randy’s plate, and stuffed it in his mouth. She glared at him.

“Good mornin’! So I think by mid-day tomorrow I’ll be ready to go.”

“And how far will we get to the next town if we only have a half day to travel?” Randy asked.

“We’ll just sleep under the stars.”

Trevor and Randy looked at each other.

“What? Are you two a couple of sissies? Not able to sleep out with the coyotes, huh?” He gave Trevor’s shoulder a shove.

“We just had an uninvited bed guest our first night.” Trevor answered looking at his plate.

“A spider? Those tarantulas are beasts. Or was it a scorpion? Now those hurt.”

“A rattlesnake.”

“Well, boy, you lived to tell the tale. I say your done broke-in to sleepin’ under the stars now.” Bronson reached for another piece of bacon off Randy’s plate. She slapped his hand. He turned and waved for the lady to take his order.

Randy seethed. She frowned as she tried to figure out a way to deal with Bronson. They weren’t even traveling and he was on her nerves. She didn’t recall Bronson being so annoying. She didn’t want to waste time waiting until mid-day to leave the next day.

Bronson’s food arrived when Randy and Trevor finished. They both stood up to leave.

“Wait, aren’t you gonna stay and hear what all I gotta do to get ready?”

“No, we’re sure you got it figured out.” Trevor pushed his chair under the table.

“Well, Randy, I got something I wanna show ya this afternoon. Bring your pistol when you come. You might need it.”

“Why would I need it?”

“Trust me.”

Randy studied his face, but he was so engrossed in his food, she couldn’t read what he might be up to.

Trevor’s hand slid around Randy’s waist.

Bronson nearly spit out his food as he burst out in laughter. Randy slapped the back of his head before she let Trevor pull her away.

She shook her head. “I have half a mind to leave as the sun comes up tomorrow. No doubt he plans on sleeping off a hang-over.”

“Or a full night at the brothel is my bet.”

Randy did know a little about what being married and brothels had to do with each other. She was too embarrassed to let on, but with how much she wanted to be close to Trevor when he kissed her the night before, she was starting to understand a little bit more.

Randy was reluctant to put on her gun holster later that afternoon.

“I haven’t seen ya shoot yet.”

“Will it impress you if I can shoot well or will it scare ya off?” Randy asked, buckling the belt around her waist. She pulled her pistol from the holster, spun it around her finger, and pointed it at the window. She slid it back in the holster, drew the gun out quick again, and pointed it at the window, glancing over her shoulder to catch Trevor’s reaction. She frowned. He was busy looking at her other gun.

“I think a little of both.” Trevor examined her shotgun. “This is spotless.”

“Yeah, Pa taught me to take good care of my guns. He told me to respect them even more than I respect him. They have the power to take a life. You never take that for granted in a gun. Ever.” Randy opened the cylinder and closed it. “I have a feelin’ I might regret this, but are ya ready?”

“Sure.” He opened the door for Randy.

They stopped to see Al before they met Bronson. He was still stomping and throwing a fit.

“I promise I’ll take ya for a ride this afternoon.” She gave him some pieces of apple and patted his head. She handed Trevor the rest. Al resisted at first. Trevor cringed as Al snorted in frustration several times before his lips wrapped around the piece of apple in his hand.

“He’s warmin’ up to you. No one else has fed him an apple before.” She rubbed Trevor’s back.

“Now you tell me.” He turned around pulling her into his chest. When he was leaning in for a kiss, Al gave him a mighty shove.

Randy was at Trevor’s mercy as he stumbled forward holding her in his arms. Randy’s back pressed into a post once he caught his balance. He got the kiss he was aiming for. She ran her hand through his hair with all the flutters bouncing around in her chest.

“Hey, the horseplay in here is for horses.” The stablehand spat on the ground as he carried in a bale of hay.

Trevor took her hand and she limped behind him as they headed out into the blazing hot sun.

Randy had to squint to see Bronson where he told her to meet him. There was a crowd gathered at the far end of town. The closer she got, the more she slowed down.

“What’s goin’ on over there? You think someone died or there’s a fight?” Trevor asked.

“No. Listen. Can you hear him?”

Bronson’s voice echoed off the buildings as they approached. She stopped and was about to turn on her heel.

“There she is now. Don’t let her scare you off. If you think she ain’t got the stuff, well, you ain’t got nothin’ to lose.”

The crowd parted and all eyes fell on her. She pulled her hand from Trevor’s.

“Damn it.” She pressed her lips together. “Trevor, don’t walk close to me. Don’t act married. Just act like you’re there to watch the show like everyone else.” Her hand was already sweaty clenching the grip of her pistol as she approached.

“What? Why? What’s goin’ on?”

“He’s puttin’ on a show and I’m the main attraction.” She limped up to Bronson with her eyes blazing with fury. Maybe if he was the target it would all be worth it. She would have to think about that. Randy glanced back to make sure that Trevor stayed behind. He did.

“Yep, this little girl right here. Who wants to wager how well she can shoot. Anyone?” No one budged as they looked at one another. “All right then, who wants to wager they are a better shot than she is?”

Almost all the men waved their notes in the air at once. She rolled her eyes.

“One at a time, fellas. One at a time.” He had the men all lined up. On the fence post a short distance away, he cut a gouge in the top, stuck a playing card in it, and ran back. He winked at Randy.

All of a sudden the words her pa had with Bronson and why they had their falling out flashed through her mind. Randy had been through this set-up with Bronson before. This time it was obvious Bronson needed her to earn enough money for him to leave town. That was if the mob surrounding them didn’t chase them out of town first.

“All right now. Let’s have the young lady warm her arm up.”

She sighed, pulled out her handgun, fumbled with it a little pretending she didn’t know a thing, and shot at the card. It blew out of its spot in the post. She already knew she missed it.

“Boy, go fetch that card and tell us if she hit it.” Bronson pointed at Trevor.

Trevor looked around to see if there was someone else he was pointing at and then ran for the card before it blew away in the dust devil that kicked up.

Trevor held up the card. “Nope.”

“All right. Well, put it back. Who’s got a fiver?” He pointed to the first guy in line and took his money.

The guy shot at the card. It fluttered in the air before falling to the ground. Trevor held it up. A bit of the corner was missing. He put it back on the post.

Randy stood, exhaled, drew the gun slowly, held it tight in front of her with locked arms, and shot. The kick made her stumble back. She almost fell with her bad leg.

“Nope.” Trevor held up the card and put it back. Bronson gave the man a ten. He nodded at Randy slightly.

“All right, give the kid one more shot so I can take her for pie for her efforts.”

The man shook his head as he pocketed the money and stepped aside.

“I got another five here. I might be able to do one more.” Bronson dug in his pocket and waved another note in the air.

The next man in line waved his five and handed it to Bronson.

The well-dressed man made an effort to be gallant. “Ladies first.” He held his hand out to the post for her to take her turn.

“No, that makes me nervous to go first. I would rather go after you.” She nodded for him to go and gave him the most innocent, frightened look.

He looked at her one more time before he shot. The card didn’t even move from the post.

“Did you even try?” She asked him before she stepped up for her turn.

He shrugged.

“But why not?” While she looked at him she drew her gun without batting an eyelash and shot. The card flew far back away from the post. She twirled the pistol around her finger before she placed it back in her holster. Trevor retrieved the card and when he ran it up to Bronson there was hole shot through the center of it.

The crowd erupted in chaotic noise.

“You need to try again.” She stepped out of the way. Trevor placed a new card on the post.

The man’s face was beet red. He shot again. The card blew off the post, but off to the side, and when Trevor held it up he shook his head.

One by one each man placed his wager to try and beat Randy. She shot hole after hole in each card only having to rematch with at least two of the men when they made their first shots. The men missed their second. Randy didn’t.

Just like the first time Bronson took Randy to town to showcase her shooting skills for his own little marksman contest, the first man that beat her in the beginning wanted to try again and wager his ten.

Randy was bored by then. He shot and grazed the side of the card like he did the first time. Randy waited while Bronson brought her a second pistol. After Trevor placed the card, she turned her head to the wind and waited for a second for the stiff breeze to ease. Then she shot one right after the other. When Trevor held up the card it had two clean bullet holes in it. All the men cheered as the man that lost his ten threw his hat on the ground. It was clean sweep. She knew Bronson had about a hundred notes. If he stayed with them on their journey west, he would put her up to more contests. She would have to draw the line.

Some of the men walked away in disgust and swore at Bronson as they left. Others came up to shake Randy’s hand before they left and asked how she got so good. She just shrugged.

When she caught Trevor’s eye, he was smiling from ear to ear and leaned against the wall. She was finally done with all the men and could talk to Trevor. He had streams of sweat running down his cheeks from chasing cards. He didn’t stop smiling when he took off his hat and rubbed his hair.

“I ain’t seen anyone shoot that good. Not ever.”

“Well, I don’t ever like drawing that much attention to myself when it’s not my idea.” She shot a death glare at Bronson.

“I knew you wouldn’t take to the idea if I brought it up. You really enjoyed it the first time when we had our little contest back at home. That is until your pa heard. The thing is this isn’t new. There are sharpshooters all over the place earnin’ good money for bein’ a good shot. I heard about this one girl, Annie Oakley. I think she could be as good as you. That’s what gave me the idea. What man wouldn’t want to place a bet to beat a little girl at somethin’ he should be good at to live out here? That’s their folly. Nothin’ dishonest about it.”

“Except that I earned every dollar in your hand. Not you.”

“Then here.” He held out his hand full of notes for her to take.

“I don’t want it. I just wanted to make my point. I’m not stayin’ here until mid-day tomorrow so all those men could have a rematch, you know.”

“No. This is fine.” He ran his thumb over the stack of bills in his hand. “It’s a great start. Look Randy, you should really think about doin’ this. We could get rich. Sharpshootin’ girls are makin’ a fortune. You could be famous like that Annie Oakley.”

“You said yourself bein’ James Carter’s daughter could get me killed.”

“But bein’ a great shot and a legend in your own right could save you. That’s what I was talkin’ about yesterday. Bein’ a good shot that everyone knows about could earn you respect and they will leave you alone.”

“Until I don’t have a gun and then what? I don’t wanna be famous. I don’t want the attention. I just want to go to California, see the ocean, and eat the fruit that grows wild over there.” She turned away from Bronson and closed her eyes.

“This can help us get there so you will have plenty of money to buy a homestead and marry this boy if that’s what you really want to do. I can’t think of any other way to earn money so fast and easy so we can stay at the nice boarding houses when we get there.”

“I can already do that.”

“But for how long?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, you don’t have to think about it right now. At least you know we have options if things get tough.”

“Just as long as you don’t decide to gamble that away tonight before we even leave town.”

“You know, you should hang onto most of this.” Bronson started to hand her the whole stack and then he took it back to pull out some bills. “Here, let me have twenty for tonight so we can celebrate.”