Love On The Frontier (A Bounty Hunter's Tale) Book I

Chapter Eighteen | Aim, Shoot

'First Lesson'

New Mexico 1873

Lena may have still been angry with Clayton, for reasons unknown to him, but he still intended to teach her how to properly shoot a pistol.

Lena watched curiously as Clayton began setting up empty tin cans and glass bottles. Soon enough her curiosity got the best of her. She approached him in order to investigate. "What are you doin'?"

"I'm gonna teach you how to shoot. That's what you wanted, right? Unless you're gonna keep ignorin' me all day."

She did, but this lesson of defense was more important than her wallowing in her sorrows. "No," she firmly said. "I want to learn. Maybe I'll even become better than you."

Clayton cocked one brow at her. "We'll see about that." Though it was highly unlikely. Shooting is not as much of a skill for him as it is a talent.

"I can shoot well enough," she claimed. "My pa taught me and he was a good shot." She never actually hit a target, but she could at least pull a trigger.

Clayton grabbed her upper arm and pulled her several yards away. He put a pistol in her hand and pointed over at the targets. "Show me, then."

She jerked away from him. "Quit grabbin' at me like that." 

Clayton folded his arms across his chest as he leaned against a nearby tree and waited for her to display her self-proclaimed skills. She held up the gun and planted her feet. She pulled the trigger and with a loud pop the gun went off, sending a bullet nowhere near the targets. Embarrassment flooded her as she looked over at Clayton who was perfectly amused by her failure.

"I'm shakin′ in my boots," he mocked, feigning a fearful face.

Lena clenched her jaw. She attempted several more shots and each time she missed. "Damn it!" She impatiently stomped her foot.

Clayton watched Lena throw a temper tantrum. He had no idea how he made it thus far with such a pestering girl. In that moment she was too stubborn to ask for help so Clayton just waited until she finally let go of her pride. That tactic seemed to work best with Lena.

"That one was pretty close," he said sarcastically.

She grinned and said, "Really?!" 

"No," he said, chewing on a fig.

Lena narrowed her eyes at him and then plopped down on the ground. She began to pout with her head in between her knees. Clayton chuckled to himself before he pushed off the tree and sauntered over to her.

Picking the pistol up off the ground he said, "Prideful creature."

Lena looked up at him with teary eyes. "I am not!" She watched as he quickly shot down each target with rapid speed.

"Oh. . ." 

Clayton looked down at her. "You going to let me help you this time?"

Lena stuck out her bottom lip and in a hushed voice she agreed. "Fine."

"Well then get up, girl."

Lena groaned as she stood up and took hold of the pistol.

"Alright now, first lesson, your stance is off. There are a few ways you can stand while shootin' a gun and I'll show you the most common ones."

He placed his large hands on her lower back and thigh, helping her reposition herself. Her whole body was set ablaze upon contact. 

"There. How does that feel?"