THE SHOOTING: FLAME SERIES #19

CHAPTER 2

FIRST SHOT

Cooper huddled down into the tall prairie grass watching his sister practice. Calleigh moved like the gun was just an extension of her arm. Smooth, precise and lightning quick on her every shot. He heard his daddy talk about bad men they called slingers that were fast with a gun. Even though the boy had never seen one, he just couldn't believe they were as fast as Calleigh. That thought led him to a question that he just wasn't ready to find an answer for. Was she faster than his daddy?

It suddenly dawned on Cooper that the shooting had stopped. When he sat up on his knees he could see Belle but Calleigh was nowhere in sight.

"Cooper Reign Dillon! What are you doing out here!"

The small boy whirled around at the sound of his sister's voice. "How…how did you get…?" He gulped down the lump that was choking him.

Calleigh stood with her weight resting on one foot and her arms folded across her chest. "You were daydreaming and I snuck up behind you. Now what are you doing out here?"

Cooper got to his feet, his small face engulfed in humiliation. "I wanted to watch you."

Calleigh let her arms drop to her sides and eyed the curious little boy. "You know how momma feels about this. That's why I always go a long ways from the house to practice. And she doesn't want you around guns."

Cooper stared into eyes that were identical to his own. "Calleigh please. Can't you talk to her? My daddy is the marshal and I'm going to be a marshal someday too-"

"Whoa little cowboy." The redhead broke into laughter as she laid her hand on his shoulder. "I sure wouldn't tell her that. Take my advice and keep that to yourself for a couple more years. Where's Toga?"

With a heavy sigh he pointed over to the patiently waiting bay and trudged over to him with Calleigh at his side. "Would you at least let me shoot it? Just once."

"Cooper-"

The boy quickly positioned himself in front of her hampering her step. "Please, please, please, please. Just once."

"Sweet boy you're too young to be messing with guns." Cooper rarely asked for anything and it broke her heart to say no. Nothing would please her more than to share her passion for guns with the little love of her life.

"Tommy goes hunting with his pa and he's not any bigger than me."

"No he's not physically bigger but he's four years older." She could see the determination on his face. This was not over.

"You think he's more grown up then me?" Cooper tilted his head to one side, his small face anxious for her answer.

Hmmm, that one stumped her. Being raised with all these adults had instilled the boy with a more mature outlook on things. Sometimes, especially now that his body had taken such a growth spurt, she forgot how young he was. "No I don't but you know that daddy should be the one to teach you. It's a father son thing."

Cooper could sense by her tone that she was weakening. He peered up at her with an impish grin. "Yeah but when your sister is a sharp shooter can't it be a brother sister thing too?"

Calleigh cast him a sideways glance. Her eyes full of suspicion. "Did Festus let you shoot?"

"No." Cooper's grin indicated there was more to the answer. "But he's been showing me how to use a knife. Momma let me have a real one after what Mr. Mayford did." He stopped again, blue eyes silently pleading. "Please."

"Have you ever fired a gun before? Any kind of gun?"

Cooper looked as if his body was about to explode. He was afraid to move that she would change her mind. "No, not a rifle or revolver or anything."

"I will show you how to shoot…" His eyes flew open wide and he bit at his lip to keep from yelling. "On one condition" She continued. "IF…if…" Calleigh repeated forcefully. "For any reason momma asks you about shooting a gun you tell her the truth. Even if it means a spanking or some other punishment" For both of us she muttered under her breath. "You admit to what we did. It's bad enough to go behind her back but we will not lie to her. Ever." Calleigh stressed the last word but it wasn't necessary.

"Yes ma'am." The thought of making his mother sad was almost enough of a deterrent to stop him. Almost. He followed his sister back out to the clearing where she had been shooting earlier.

Calleigh pulled her Colt from the scabbard. "I don't need to tell you this is not a toy because you already know that." She let the gun lay across the palm of her hand.

"It looks like Daddy's but it's shorter."

"It has a shorter barrel because, in case you hadn't noticed, Daddy's legs are slightly longer than mine."

Cooper nodded his head with a grin. "Oh yeah ."

"There's two things I want you to remember. First, always respect it for what it is and what it can do. But it's the person holding it that makes that choice. And the second, if you pull the gun, intend to use it. If you wait too long they will trick you somehow and take it away from you. Then you'll be the dead one.

Calleigh watched as Cooper stared at the nickel plated revolver. Every man in his life except Poppy carried a gun, and even he had been known to get one when the situation called for it, but this was the first time he had ever looked at one up close. He knew better than to grab for it or even try to touch it. Finally he lifted his eyes, bringing them into line with hers. "I'll remember." He said quietly. Calleigh knew the world was about to claim another piece of his innocence.

With a sigh, Calleigh began her tutorial. She began by exploring the workings of a Colt Peacemaker and how important it was to keep the weapon clean. Cooper listened patiently while she explained how to load it but was confused about leaving one chamber empty.

"It's a safety precaution." Calleigh explained. "Do you remember when Cort Planger fell off his horse and ended up shooting Chug Brimmey?"

"Yeah I remember." The boys grin matched that of his instructor as they shared the memory of the incident. When Cort's gun fired after hitting the ground, the bullet found its mark in the right cheek of Chug's butt. With one hand plastered to the stinging wound Chug chased Cort all across the corral screaming revenge every step of the way. It took Festus and Wylie both to bring the husky cowboy down and wrangle him back to the bunkhouse so that Calleigh could treat his injury. "I bet he leaves one empty now."

"Absolutely. Chug threatened to kill him if he didn't." Calleigh motioned for the boy to follow her back to the clearing. "Okay, come over here." She pulled him in front of her and put the gun in his hands. Her skilled hands wrapped over his like a glove. "Get a feel for the weight. NO, don't put your finger on the trigger yet."

Calleigh could feel the tension in his body. Relax and brace your feet apart to give you a sense of balance. Cooper did as she instructed. Even with her hands covering his, the weight of the gun was growing heavy. "Be ready for the kick back after you fire. I'm right behind you so you'll be fine."

Cooper looked back over his shoulder as she guided his fingers over the trigger. "What should I aim at?"

"Right now we're not aiming at anything. You're just learning how to shoot." Calleigh motioned for him to turn back around. "Okay, Coop now don't pull the trigger. Squeeze back slowly. One fluid move."

Cooper took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he followed his sister's instruction. His body jerked back against the security of Calleigh's body. The single shot echoed into the stillness that surrounded them. She could hear the slightly heavy breath escaping his young body.

"Coop? Are you all right?" Calleigh quickly turned him around to face her. The moment of panic dissipated when she looked into his eyes. Smiles erupted on both faces. "You did great."

"It didn't kick as hard as I thought it would. Can I do it again?"

"We'll finish off the wheel and then we have to go home. Daddy's still in Hays and momma is going to want you home with her tonight." Calleigh positioned herself behind him again. "Remember – squeeze."