Heroes STRIKEs Back 3B Heroes/STRIKE Series'

11

**** Rayne watched her sister place everything in the truck bed. Becca was almost bouncing with excitement. It had been months since she'd been on the archery range.

She had spent most of the morning with the little girl and needed some time to herself. She hugged Rayne as their uncle started up the truck.

***

Becca took her position on the archery range and began to gear up. Beau stood behind her trying not to grin. Expert fingers along the surface of the compound bow, enjoying the feel of the wood as she felt for problem areas.

His smile widened, "Meticulous as always.  Ya know, the way you caressed that thing, you'd think it was a boyfriend."

She lay her Phenom SD Compound Bow on the table, and withdrew the arrows from the hip quiver. After examining them just as carefully, she strapped the quiver to her right hip and thigh. The combined arm guard/glove and finger tab came next.

Ash pulled up in a ranch Jeep and quietly stood next to Beau. He had to admit the girl was impressive. She seemed to know exactly what she was doing.

"She really knows how to use that thing?"

Beau nodded, "Took the high school team to Nationals with that bow and rifle both. She's one of the best shots on the ranch. I ought to know, I taught her myself."

Ash looked at the older man with renewed respect. He'd only been on the ranch a few weeks, but in that time; he'd begun to know and respect the man. Many of the hands had spoken of Beau's impressive marksmanship skills with a long list of weapons.

"If she's that good, why does she want to be a vet? It seems to me that..."

Becca turned and glared at the two men, "Would you two mind, please?! I can't concentrate with all that yappin!" She muttered to herself, 'like a room full of old women at a quiltin' bee.'

Ash blinked and found that Beau had covered his mouth, trying hard not to laugh. He whispered to the younger man, "That's why we don't talk when she's practicing. She's got a tongue that'd clip a hedge."

"Uncle Beau!" Becca shot him a dirty look as she adjusted the shoulder brace. "Don't make me call Aunt Drina!"

Beau gasped and held his hands up, pretending to look aghast, "Oh no, please! Anything but that."

Becca swallowed a giggle and went back to work.

Ash crossed his arms and studied her for a long moment, "So, do you mind explaining what all that's for?"

Becca slowly turned to look at the agent nonplussed, "Huh?"

Beau chuckled, "He's not an archer, hon, this is all new to him, probably seeing much of it for the first time."

Ash shrugged, "I'm trained to use most side arms and knives, even sabors and katanas effectively." he shugged, "I just prefer not to. In my line of work, it usually comes down to hand to hand. I resort to weapons only when there's no choice."

Sidetracked, Becca looked at the younger man like he'd turned into a purple unicorn.

Beau couldn't resist interrupting, "Sure, you don't need to check your arrows again? I think you missed one."