TIGERLILLY- THE BRAVO BOYS [book two]

Chapter THIRTY NINE

Frankie Xiao

I pick the last piece of my blue raspberry cotton-candy from the stick and offer it up to River as we walk side by side through the carnival..

He leans down, to suck the sticky sweetness from my fingers with a greedy hum.. "Yer' gunna put me in a sugar-coma with all this candy, Wallflower!"

I giggle.. "You don't like sweeties?"

He shakes his head.. "I love 'em, but that's not the point, it's hardly good for me.."

As we pass by the sideshows and carnival games I spy a shooting alley, with air-rifles that kids use to try and pop balloons, in order to win all kinds of toys..

Lovey would love one of those toys, and I would love to give her something special that would make her smile..

"Oooh! River look!" I bounce up and down, pointing towards the game.. "Win me one? Pleeeeease!?"

He glances over to the game with a grin.. "Ye' wanna big one, dont'ya?"

"The biggest one they have!" I cheer as he takes my hand to lead me over to the booth..

"Hows about you win it for me?" He winks, paying the carnival operator for my turn..

River picks up the rifle and hands it to me and I take it, surprised by its weight..

"How?" I turn to look up at him and he grabs the end of the gun, pushing the tip of it away from him and back towards the balloons..

"Firstly, don't point it at me!" He laughs.. "Or anybody else.."

Stepping around behind me, he helps direct my hands into the right position as I lift the rifle.. "Don't squeeze so tight.. Ye' wanna be firm, but ye' don'ae needa choke it.. Keep ye' shoulders down and ye' elbows relaxed, just a little.."

His grip slides up my arms to set them as I struggle not to shake all over with nerves.. "Like this?"

He hums in my ear.. "Perfect.. Now, look down the line of the sights, keep both eyes open, try not to squint too much and don't hold ye' breath.."

"Mmmkay.." I resist the overwhelming urge to close one of my eyes to focus..

"Take a deep breath, let it out slowly and then--"

BANG

"Oh, shit!" I squeal in shock as the rifle goes off and jerks in my hands, my shot completely missing the colourful balloons.. "That's scary!"

River chuckles.. "Try again, now ye' know what it feels like, don't lean away from it.. And this time, keep ye' finger off the bang-switch until yer' actually ready.."

His hands wind down and around my waist to hold me steady as I take a deep breath, and my finger presses against the trigger..

BANG - POP

"I got one!" I cry in surprise..

"Yer' a dangerous woman, Wallflower.." River coos in praise..

I take the rest of my turn, five shots in total, hitting only two of the balloons..

The man working behind the booth plucks a tiny plush pink pony toy from the side wall of the tent.. "That's some mighty fine shooting missy!"

"Thank you!" I take the cute little toy and the young girl who had been playing with her brother beside me sniffles..

"Nawwwh.. Sammy, I wanted that one!"

Sammy does his best to comfort his little sister.. "Sorry, Jenna.. Maybe we can get ya a different one?"

I turn around to see her sad face and it breaks my heart.. "I won it for you, Jenna.. Here."

I hold out the pony plushie and her innocent eyes widen with happy tears.. "Really?! Thank you, thank you so much!! Look, Sammy!" She jumps up and down, clutching the toy so happily..

Her brother smiles gratefully.. "Thanks, miss.."

As they make their way off down the boardwalk, River steps up beside me.. "That was so sweet o'ye'.."

"Well, you're going to win me the big one, I don't need two.." I grin, pushing himback towards the rifle..

River laughs.. "Ye' persistent, I'll give ye' that.. One more round.."

The Tiger takes the rifle, holding it just the same way he'd taught me to, except his hands don't shake like mine..

He exhales slowly and shoots in such fast succession I can barely keep up..

BANG - POP

BANG - POP

BANG - POP

BANG - POP

BANG - POP

River doesn't miss, not once..

The man behind the booth whoops.. "Damn! We got ourselves a sharp shooter! Where'd you get them skills, brother?"

River places down the rifle with a friendly nod.. "I guess Uncle Sam showed me a thing or two."

The carnival man nods respectfully as he pulls a giant fluffy monkey from the wall to pass it over to me.. "I thank you for your service, sir."

River nods.. "Oorah!"

I squeeze the giant plushie that is almost as big as me.. "You did it, River!"

He wraps an arm around my shoulder as we leave the shooting game to continue down the boardwalk together.. "I'd do anythin' to see ye' smile like that.."