Little Sharpshooter Chap 16

The three of them gathered everything they needed to travel across the desert for a few days and were finally off. Randy was relieved to leave Silver City behind.

It wasn’t long before Randy decided she didn’t like the riding outfit much. It was fitted a little too well to be comfortable. The seamstress said she should wear a corset. Randy would have no part of that or a bonnet. She had half a mind to take off the top and ride in her camisole or just take one of Trevor’s shirts and wear it until she could figure out how to make her new top more comfortable.

Al was eager to be on the trail. He chomped on his bit frustrated with their leisurely pace. Randy was too. If she was more confident as to which way they were going, she would have let Al take off ahead. Bronson was wary that Ernie’s buddies could be hiding out, waiting to ambush them so she stayed put.

Trevor rode beside Bronson as he told stories of when he and her pa were Texas Rangers together. Pa told her once after one of Bronson’s visits how much his tales were exaggerated. Randy figured Bronson exaggerated some but because Pa was so wary of someone seeking revenge, it made her wonder if what Bronson said was true. Bronson never inflated himself with the stories. They always made her pa sound like the hero. Bronson wasn’t trying to impress Randy either. She was too far behind for Bronson to take notice of her.

They stopped to rest at a barely trickling creek. Randy took off her boots to let the water run over her toes to cool off.

Al was drinking when he stopped to perk up his ears. He sidestepped away from the water. Randy wasted no time getting on his back as the hairs on the back of her neck started to prickle.

Bronson and Trevor leaned against a massive stone, passing a bottle back and forth to each other.

The other two horses were edgy too. Looking for movement in the sagebrush or someone on a horse, Randy didn’t see a thing. Randy was afraid to yell out if it was person. She drew her pistol.

A large cat leapt onto Storm’s backside from behind a boulder. She couldn’t shoot it. Trevor and Bronson were on the other side.

Without thinking, Trevor screamed and ran for his horse. Storm lurched forward and bucked, kicking the cougar off his hind end. Randy shot up in the air hoping to scare the cat. The cat let go of Storm and leapt onto Trevor.

Trevor screamed, pinned on the ground fighting off the cougar. Bronson also shot up in the air. The cat paused to eye Bronson and growled at him. It wasn’t enough time for Trevor to get away.

“Find something to hit it with.” Bronson yelled searching the ground around him. He threw a rock at the cat’s hip. The cat didn’t even flinch.

A heavy stick was along the creek bed. Randy jumped off Al’s back to the bank to retrieve it.  She hopped and ran over to Trevor smashing it to bits over the cougar’s head. It backed off Trevor and prowled eyeing Randy. She backed away and fired her gun over her head. Growling louder and baring its teeth, it crouched, wiggled its hind end before it leapt for her. She was ready to fire when Al reared in front of her and kicked the cat onto its back. The cougar took one last look at them before it bounded off.

Randy and Bronson ran to Trevor’s side. He continued to scream holding his arm.

“Hold still, boy.” Bronson rolled up Trevor’s sleeve that was dotted with bloody holes.

Bite marks covered his arm. They weren’t bleeding much but there were plenty of them.

“It kept goin’ for my throat.” Trevor struggled to sit. He trembled all over. Randy slid behind him with his back against her lap.

“No tellin’ what that cat’s been into.” Bronson held Trevor’s arm out. “This’ll burn.”

Bronson pulled a bottle of whiskey out from his coat, pulled the top off, and poured it over Trevor’s arm. Trevor screamed throwing himself back. Randy struggled to hold onto him. Bronson did it again.

“Perfectly respectable bottle gone to waste.” Bronson took a swig of what was left and tossed it aside. “You fit to ride?”

“After I check Storm.” Trevor struggled to stand. Randy held onto his trembling good arm to help him up.

Trevor wouldn’t look at her and frowned as he picked his hat up off the ground dusting it off. “I’m fine. Help me find Storm.”

Randy didn’t need to. Storm trotted up to them as if he had just taken a little trot around the countryside.

He checked his horse. With no obvious serious injury, he mounted Storm and looked over his arm while he waited.

There was a dull ache in Randy’s chest. She wondered why he might be mad at her as she mounted Al and stayed in the back watching Trevor when Bronson motioned for them to move on.

Trevor tried to hold the reins in his right hand but that was his injured arm. He shifted them back to his left. He rode silently beside Bronson listening to his stories.

Loneliness washed over Randy as she hummed softly to Al. He leisurely followed the horses in front of him.

When they stopped for the night Randy had no desire to say a word. They hadn’t bothered to speak to her all afternoon. They didn’t seem to notice anyway.

Trevor gathered wood for a fire around her but didn’t acknowledge her.

Randy brushed Al’s sweaty body to avoid interacting with them.

“Why don’t ya go practice shootin’ that gun and find us a rabbit we can eat.” Bronson leaned casually against his saddle on the ground. Trevor piled sticks and other fire making debris at his feet.

“I’m kinda busy and you’re not.” Randy’s voice was hoarse from not speaking.

“You need to keep your aim up just in case we need it.” Bronson used the tip of his knife to clean under his nails. “Besides I know your pa taught you how to hunt better than any of us.”

“You’ve had a lot to say about him today.” Randy tried to come up with an insult but her heart ached from hearing tales of her pa all afternoon. She decided it was probably best to go for a walk so she didn’t have to hear Bronson’s voice droning on and watch Trevor eat up every minute of it.

When she came back with two rabbits she paused watching Bronson hand Trevor a brand new bottle of whiskey.

“I thought you used it all on Trevor’s arm,” Randy said.

“I came prepared.” Bronson took the bottle from Trevor and took a swig.

Bronson cleaned, skinned and cooked the rabbits on the fire. Randy wanted to sit by Trevor but he was more concerned about sharing Bronson’s whiskey. The more he drank, the sillier he was but his arm seemed to bother him less. She tried not to let it get to her.

By the time they settled down to sleep, Randy stayed clear of Trevor. For the first night since they left his home, he wasn’t seeking her attention. She had never felt so alone in the presence of others as she hugged her knees to her chest. Randy hoped the next day would be better.

Bronson was supposed to keep the first watch. Randy dozed off just barely when Bronson’s deep reverberating snores woke her. When he didn’t stop, Randy found a long stick in the wood pile next to the fire to jab his boot. Bronson stirred but didn’t wake. She hit him again. He jumped, drawing his leg up, scowling at Randy.

“Your snoring woke me up. I thought you were keeping watch.”

“Umm, must a dozed off.” Bronson sat up a little more.

Randy fell asleep only to be jarred awake by him again. She sat up, hugging her knees to keep watch. When she was too tired, she would wake Trevor. His dark hair was the only thing she could see of him in the firelight. She sighed, wishing he was close enough to run her fingers through his hair. But she was still irritated with him. It was just as well he was on the other side of the fire. She couldn’t understand why he suddenly would have nothing to do with her.

The next morning Trevor leaned against his saddle, holding out his arm to examine the bites. Randy’s chest tightened with a longing to be near him as she quietly watched him. The deep bites were pretty swollen. He poured half the contents of another whiskey bottle over his arm, clenching his jaw, and pressed his eyes shut. Trevor took a big drink, shuddered with his face all scrunched up, and tucked the bottle in his coat.

Where were all those bottles of whiskey coming from anyway?

Randy hugged her chest and rocked, full of mixed feelings. Trevor glanced at her as he stood waving his arm slowly so it would dry. He went to grab his saddle with one hand. Randy jumped to her feet, limped over to him ignoring her own pain from stepping badly on her hurt leg. She grabbed his saddle and saddle blanket. He pulled them out of her hand.

“I can do it.” Trevor turned away from her and struggled to put them on Storm. He had to use his bad arm and cringed, clenching his jaw the whole time.

“What has gotten into you? All this time since we left your house you’ve been so good to me. Since we left Silver City, and you’ve been with Bronson, you’ve had nothing to do with me.”

Trevor rested his forehead on his saddle and closed his eyes. “It’s not you. All right? I can do this on my own.” He reached under the horse for the cinch, pulled the leather strap through the ring, and groaned. Randy tentatively reached for the leather. Trevor pushed her hand away. He took out the bottle and drank from it again.

“You know my pa says that’s just a crutch and it makes men do things they regret.”

“I’ve heard plenty about how saintly your pa was. Much good all his wise words were.” Trevor squinted at her and frowned. “The whiskey helps me feel better and drowns out the pain.”

“Which pain? Your arm or somethin’ else?” Randy’s cheeks flushed when she jutted out her jaw. She couldn’t put away the sting of Trevor’s comment about her pa. “You’re quickly becomin’ someone I wish I didn’t care so much for.” Randy stormed off to saddle up Al. When she glanced at Trevor once she mounted, the hurt on his face was evident. She turned Al around to warm up his legs before they set off. Trevor deserved it.

She hoped they would be able to stay in a town that night but there was no town for miles around. It was unfortunate because all Trevor and Bronson did all day was drink whiskey. They were nearly falling off their saddles when they stopped for the night. It wasn’t even dark. They were too drunk to go on.

Bronson was singing some song off key about a barmaid and Trevor thought it would be great fun to sing along. Randy gathered the wood and then took off with Al to hunt for rabbits.

Her anger kept overtaking her shot. She missed the first two, completely unlike her. It took a while for her to calm her nerves before she aimed for the next one. Once her fury settled, she was uneasy. She felt as if someone was watching her. There were plenty of squat pinion pines to hide behind but none of them were dense enough to hide movement for long.  She shook off the feeling and went back to camp tossing the only rabbit she found on Bronson’s lap.

“What? Only one? I heard you shoot more than that. Loosin’ your edge now since loverboy ain’t showin’ ya no love.” Bronson elbowed Trevor’s side.

Randy turned away. Trevor jumped to his feet after her.

“Hey,” Trevor said, pulling on her arm. The air reeked of alcohol the moment he spoke. “I don’t mean nothin’. I just don’t wanna girl dooin’ things I can do for myself.” He swayed. “Why is everythin’ spinnin’?”

“It’s not. You’re drunk. Don’t talk to me until you’re sober.” Randy jerked her arm away from his grip.

“Lover’s quarrel. Ain’t that lovely.” Bronson guffawed falling off his saddle that was resting on the ground.

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do.” Trevor grabbed her arm again and pulled her into the dark. “That’s the whole problem. I let you be in charge from the start and now I’m comin’ off like your little pup. I’m no pup. I don’t need you to take care of me. That’s my job. Don’t tell me you’re off me now.” He pulled her into his chest, kissed her mouth and neck.

“Stop.” Randy pushed him away, blinking back tears. She gagged from the stench of his breath. “I’m not havin’ nothin’ to do with you like this.” She pushed him away again.

That made him furious. He held her by both arms completely forgetting his injured arm. Wrapping one arm around her waist, the other hand fumbled with the top button of her shirt.

Randy wasn’t going to put up with anymore of his nonsense. She pushed him back, and grabbed his injured arm, squeezing just enough to make him stop. He swore at her pulling his arm away. She was caught by surprise when he slapped her across the face.

When she recovered, she punched him square in the nose. He cried out when he fell back with a thud.  She stormed over to Bronson.

“You ruined a perfectly decent boy with your drinkin’ problem.” She kicked Bronson’s legs over and over.

“Hey! What? He did that all by himself.” He grabbed her foot and yanked it. She fell on her side in a heap with tears streaming down her face. “It’s nice havin; a drinkin’ buddy. Maybe you shouldn’t be such a stick in the mud and join us. Then you wouldn’t feel so left out.”

Randy kicked his hand to let go of her boot. She swiped the bottle from his hands and smashed it into the fire. Flames flashed and exploded with the bottle. All three of them backed away and ducked.

Randy got up to find her shotgun. Once she had it, she gave Trevor a shove which easily knocked him back on the ground. He scrunched up and cowered with his hands in front of his bloody face. She knocked his hands out of the way to search inside his coat. She found the bottle and flung it up in the air and promptly shot, shattering it. She clenched his coat in her fist.

“You drink around me again and I’m through with you, you understand?” She pulled him closer to her face. “You’re a mean and sloppy drunk. Your nana would be disappointed in you.” She shoved him back to the ground and ignored the blood that streamed down his face.

Randy went to Bronson’s heavy saddle bags. She searched his bags and found several more whiskey bottles. She gathered them all in her arms and ran off. He was too drunk to move fast. He yelled at her to stop.

One by one she flung each bottle in the air and shot them, shattering them all. The smell of alcohol settled around them like a fog.

“Miranda Carter, I should turn you over my knee.” Bronson staggered over to her.

“You go ahead and try and you won’t be sittin’ pretty on your horse tomorrow.” Randy stood as tall as she could and defiantly looked up into Bronson’s bloodshot eyes.

Bronson was breathing hard, filling her nostrils with his whiskey breathe, and clenched his fists until he was shaking.

Randy flinched like she was going to grab him below the waist. He backed off, stumbling to get a safe distance away. She pulled out her pistol waving it at him. Good thing Pa wasn’t there to see her point her gun recklessly at Bronson. “I have half a mind to leave you both behind. I don’t have to put up with your nonsense. You’re good for nothin’ when drunk and I do a mighty fine job of takin’ care of myself. That’s soundin’ mighty appealin’ right now.” She waved her gun at the two of them. Their eyes were wide. She shoved her pistol back in her gun holster. Planting herself on her saddle in front of the fire, she concentrated on the flames until the fury in her settled. The sting in her cheek kept reminding her that she should stay angry.

Everyone was silent. The crackling fire and the horses chomping on the grass was all that could be heard as the night turned cold. It was going to be a chilly one since they traveled higher in the mountains.

Randy couldn’t stand watching the two of them eye her while Bronson helped clean up Trevor’s nose. She could see in the firelight his nose was swollen. Under his eyes, bruises were already forming.

Bronson finally sobered up enough to skin and clean the rabbit to cook it.

Randy sighed, and went over to Al. She jumped up on his back on the third try and lay down, dangling her legs off his sides. Resting her head where his neck and shoulders met, she softly hummed. Al shifted his weight and deep in his throat he horse whispered back.

The sky filled with stars. The moon big and full rose up into the sky casting blue light over everything. She still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them. She shivered and searched for movement. There wasn’t any.

Bronson called her when the rabbit was done. She wanted to study the blue bushes instead. Footsteps crunched on gravel as one of them approached. She pressed her lips together.

“Randy, I’m sorry.” Trevor gently touched her shoulder. “Man, does it hurt but I deserved getting punched. I really do know better than to treat a girl like that. ”

Randy sat up and swung her leg over to slide off Al. Trevor caught her by the waist as she landed. She leaned back into Al when Trevor leaned closer. Randy covered his mouth.

“I’m not kissin’ you. I don’t even know if I can let go of what you did. You did deserve what you got from me.” She rubbed her eyes so she wouldn’t cry. “Maybe in the mornin’ when you’re really sober and I have had time to forget it, I might feel differently.”

Trevor’s shoulders fell. He hung his head stepping out of Randy’s way so she could claim her dinner.

Bronson and Trevor fell asleep easily. Randy knew they would. She poked at the dirt with a stick to stay awake, sensing there was good reason that night to keep watch. She held her pistol on her lap.

When a hand rested on her shoulder, Randy snapped awake in an instant. A young man she didn’t know rested his hand over hers that held the gun.

Randy tried to lift her gun even though he held it down. He gently placed two fingers lightly over her mouth to silence her. His eyes were wide while he tried to keep her from reacting rashly by shooting him. When he let her hand with the gun go, he lifted his hands in the air and pointed at his own gun several feet away.

“I won’t hurt you. I’m here to warn you.” A young man, about the same age as Trevor whispered. “I have to go back home. Miss Daisy sent me to watch Trevor until I was sure he’d stay outta trouble.”

Trevor and Bronson stirred. The young man cowered. Randy rolled over to follow him to the other side of the horses. She picked up his gun and held it until she was sure he meant her no harm.

“What do you need to warn me about? Trevor’s drinkin? Miss Daisy wants him back?”

“No. I was in Silver City back there and when I was gonna head back home, I overheard some men talkin’ in the saloon that are friends of that outlaw you got arrested. One said you shot his hand and he was gonna kill ya for it. He was makin’ plans on how to get ahead of y’all since he overheard that old man tell the bartender he was takin’ ya to Virginia City, Nevada to cash in all the rich folk there.”

“But we’re goin’ to California.”

“You might wanna make sure. But y’all been going so slow that I think that group of outlaws is way ahead and may ambush ya on the trail or in the next town. That’s all I know.”

“Why didn’t you tell one of them?” Randy pointed with her thumb over her shoulder at Bronson and Trevor.

“Trevor can’t know Miss Daisy asked me to follow him. She wanted to make sure y’all weren’t bein’ fools. I won’t tell her you was pretendin’ to be married when I go back. I already went farther than I intended, but y’all need to know what you’re headed into.”

“Why would you come all this way?”

“I’m a good friend of Trevor’s. I’ve been tryin’ to keep Trevor outta trouble for the past year. It’s not been easy. We had a fallin’ out. Miss Daisy wants what’s best for him. So do I. She asked me to see that he wasn’t usin’ ya to get out on his own to cause trouble. She was pretty sure you could be the best thing that happened to him. I know it’s true after ya lined him and that old man out for their drinkin’. Keep his chin up because when he does what’s right, he’s worth it. Don’t tell them about me or what I’ve told you. You keep your eyes open here on out and keep them sober and watchin’.” He rested his hand on her shoulder. “I’ve heard stories about your pa. The town hasn’t stopped talkin’ bout ya. You’ll survive just fine.” He took her hand and pressed something into her palm. “Especially if you wear this. It will offer you protection when you least expect it if you always wear it.” It was a seed bead necklace with a large oval shaped turquoise stone in the center. “I have to go.”

Randy handed him his gun. When he turned to leave, a long braid swung behind his head, and he was wearing moccasins. Trevor’s friend was an Indian. No wonder he was able to track them unnoticed. He left as quietly as he arrived.

Randy wasn’t tired anymore when she sat down on her saddle in front of the barely warm red coals. She poked at the coals to uncover the warm spots and watched the red sparks trail up into the sky. She examined the necklace wondering how it could protect her. She put it on anyway. It was beautiful but she buttoned her top button to cover it. If she was going to have to be on her guard the next day, she needed sleep. Thank goodness they would be sober, at least until the next town. Randy poked Bronson’s foot with her stick until he stopped snoring and stirred.

“Your turn,” she said crawling under her blanket.

He moaned and carried on grunting and moaning as he rolled up, holding his head. Then he turned to the side and hurled.

Randy scrunched up her face and covered her ears before she gagged.