To Be A Shelby

Chapter Eight

THOMAS

John was talking to Marie when Tommy had finished loading the guns. Thomas looked and they seemed to be getting along which was a relief. He was the one who had talked John and Arthur into treating her better, after all.

After calling out to her, she ran to them and listened attentively as he explained to her the parts of a gun. His brothers have started shooting, so it was just the both of them. She was sitting on the car, the door was open so she could face him as he stood outside explaining.

"Let's go over it again, what do you call this part?" he quizzed her on their quick lesson, pointing to the middle section of the revolver.

"That part's the cylinder," she proudly answered.

"And what does it do?"

"Well, the cylinder has six chambers corresponding to six cartridges and it's all arranged in a circle," she answered without as much as a stutter.

This greatly impressed him and he quizzed her on a few more topics before saying, "Okay, now you're well-acquainted with your gun, it's time you learn to use one."

"Don't get me wrong when I say this, I love learning all this but I don't see the point. I don't even have a gun and let's say I did, when will I ever find the need to use one?" she innocently asked, first staring off to where John and Arthur were and then looking up at him with innocent brown eyes.

"If you want to be a Shelby, you sure as hell need to learn how to shoot someone or else someone else will shoot you first," he casually said as if it was normal for a Shelby to get shot at every once in a while.

"Okay, I guess that leaves me with... I don't have a gun," she shrugged and Tommy almost laughed at her adorable face but he suppressed it.

"Check the grip," Tommy casually instructed as he handed her a revolver. He figured it was best to start small.

When she looked at the grip, she saw that the initials M.S. were engraved into it. She looked up at him with her usual bright smile and it made him smile a little. She looked so innocent holding a gun, it was certainly one of the most ironic scenarios Thomas had seen.

He cleared his throat before saying, "Let's head over to them so you can start practicing."

He walked first, her tailing behind him quietly. Johnny and Arthur stopped firing and went to drink some water. They came back later to observe.

"Which one's your dominant hand?" Thomas asked to which she replied, "The right one."

"Good, now hold the gun with that and extend it forward, use your left hand to support the gun underneath the grip," he instructed to which she followed exactly. Thomas was secretly enjoying how easy it was to teach her.

"Is this right?" she asked and he simply nodded before proceeding to say, "Now put your right foot forward, and put your weight there mostly."

She did as she was told and Thomas said, "That's right, now bend both legs slightly. That'll help with the recoil once you fire. When you get better, you'll start to feel more comfortable holding the gun with only one hand."

She nodded at his words, her face dead serious. Most women that Tommy knew were never interested in shooting or business, thus the fact that he'd only slept with them and hadn't really committed himself to anything serious. At that moment, he thought to himself how different she was from other women, and that had they met on different circumstances he might have considered her a suitable partner.

"What's next?" she asked, which pulled Tommy from his thoughts and back into the practice. "Try shooting the gun," he said.

Remembering what he taught her, she pulled down the hammer and after a deep breath, she pulled the trigger. She was slighly knocked back from the recoil and Thomas' reflex kicked in, putting his arm on his waist to steady her. Their proximity made him uncomfortable, but he had a hard time pulling away from the much welcomed discomfort. He gulped and steadied her before letting go of her waist.

"Now you know how strong the recoil is, you'll balance better on your next try. Shoot again," he instructed, which she did. This time, she was able to stay on her feet, properly anticipating the kickback.

Tommy let out a proud smile and pat her on the shoulder. Johnny and Arthur clapped and said, "That was good."

"How come you never taught Ada how to shoot?" she asked, to which the three of them responded in laughter.

"Ada? That sister of ours has never been a fan of what we do, she wouldn't be interested in all this including the business," Johnny answered.

"She couldn't even commit herself fully to nursing school, she has the patience of a five-year-old when it comes to learning," Tommy added to which Arthur seconded with, "That I can agree on."

"Now we practice your aiming," Thomas said, going back to the order of business.

"Right," she simply agreed.

"How's your vision?" he asked.

"Perfect... I think?" was her unsure answer.

"We'll see," Tommy said instructing Johnny to line up the cans the way he did earlier. The table was at least fifteen to twenty steps away from the line that Arthur drew earlier and he saw her gulp.

"Don't be intimidated by the distance, just focus on one target at a time. Lets start with the one in the middle," Thomas went behind her, from there he could smell her hair, a combination of a floral scent and coconut. Trying his best not to be distracted, he focused on teaching her.

"How do you aim properly?" she asked turning to look at him which added to the heat that Thomas has been enduring because by then their faces were way closer than it should be.

"Entirely up to you," he answered briefly before stepping back. He caught Johnny giving him a weird look which he didn't understand si he paid no mind to it.

"Okay, here goes nothing," she said, her left eye was squinted shut while the other was the one aiming.

His breath hitched in anticipation as she pulled the trigger.

"Yes!" she exclaimed in celebration when the can came flying off. "Tommy did you see that?!" she was jumping in happiness as she approached to hug him.

Thomas went stiff and she must have noticed so she broke the hug and said with a blush, "I-I'm sorry, I got overwhelmed."

He was about to answer when John interjected, "Nonsense! You've got good aim, that calls for a celebratory group hug." And Arthur joined in. He was happy inside, which was a foreign feeling. He looked at her, worried it might make her feel uncomfortable that the two of them were being squished between John and a drunk Arthur but she was smiling from ear to ear.

For once, and for a brief moment, Thomas allowed himself to admire the sight of her and be truly happy.