MacKenzie Fire(14)

He stands there and sputters for a few seconds before he finds his voice. “You are something else, you know that?”

I lift my chin. “So I’ve been told.”

Henry walks up with a large box in his hands, saving me from having to listen to Ian anymore.

“Here you go, ma’am. Size eight, just like you asked for. They’re water resistant, too.”

“Thank you so much, Henry,” I say, oozing charm. Opening the box I find the boots I liked inside. The first one fits like a glove and I can’t help but smile at how cute it is on me. “Absolutely perfect.” I put on the second Sorel. It’s gorgeous.

Twisting around and jumping up and down a few times tells me they’re just as comfy as they are cute. Double score. Usually I have to sacrifice one for the other, but not today. Baker City doesn’t suck quite so much right now, even though there are murderers living here.

“Come on up to the register and I’ll show you the guns. You can try out any that you like.”

I gather up the fuglies and put them in the box, wearing my new lovelies right past Ian. He’s become some sort of statue, just standing there scowling at me and Henry. I’m ignoring him completely.

“What do you mean I can try them out?” I put the boot box down on the floor by the cash register so I can see the handguns under the glass. “Like, just pull the trigger here in the store?” I look around but don’t see any bullet holes in the walls or anything. Maybe he has blanks I can use.

“We have an indoor range,” he says, smiling proudly. “It ain’t big, but it does the trick.”

“Cool! I’ve never shot a gun before.”

His smile slips just a little. “Oh, isn’t that … nice. And why are you buying the gun, may I ask?”

“Not to shoot anything,” I say. I try unsuccessfully to suppress the shudder that moves through me.

“Okaaaay…”

He’s apparently still waiting for an explanation, so I continue. “There are some lions out where I’m staying, so I just wanted some protection. You know … in case a lion tries to eat me or my friend. I’ll use the gun to scare it away.”

“Lions?”

Ian is behind me now, snickering.

I roll my eyes. “Never mind. Just show me the guns. Which one is good for protection?”

Henry looks down into the case. “From lions? Well … I suppose any of these could work if you hit the lion between the eyes. Do you think you’re a good shot?” He looks up at me, hopeful, possibly a little stressed too.

I nod enthusiastically. “I’m sure I will be. I’m a hair dresser.”

Henry stares at me. Now he has the statue problem that Ian had. Unfortunately, Ian doesn’t have it anymore himself. He’s standing at my side and pointing to something in the case.

“Show her that one.”

“The nine millimeter? Don’t you think that’s a little much for her?” Henry asks. His happiness is all gone. Now he just looks worried.

I frown at him. “Of course it’s not too much for me. I hold blowdryers and flatirons all day long. Have you ever done a two-hour blow-out? Because I have. Without breaks.” I snort. “Trust me, I can handle it.”

“Okay,” Henry says under his breath, “if you say so.”

A couple minutes later I’m standing at the end of a long hall, holding up the heaviest piece of metal I’ve ever had in my hand, and staring at a target. FYI, blowdryers are way lighter than handguns.

Ian is standing next to me, pointing at the paper that has black rings on it, and generally being annoying. “Just point and shoot. Pull the trigger. And be careful of the kick.” His voice comes to me muffled due to the fact that I’m wearing ear protection.

I totally feel like an FBI agent right now, with my legs spread and my arms out straight, gripping the gun. I’ll bet my butt looks awesome. “The kick?” I look over my shoulder at him. My arms are already getting tired from holding the gun up.

“It’s going to kick back with the force of the shot. Just be prepared for it.”

“Okay.” I squint at the target, holding the gun like I’ve seen FBI guys do it in the movies. I am so badass.

“That’s too high.” Ian says.

God, he’s so irritating! “How do you know?” I have one eye closed and the other squinting so I can see down the barrel of the gun to the far wall.

“I’ve been shooting since I was six, and unless your plan is to hit the light fixture over there, I’d lower it a little.”

I snort, but follow his advice. Before he gives me any more of it, though, I pull back on the trigger. I’ll show him who knows how to shoot a gun.

Even with ear protection, the BOOM is amazingly loud. And I know I was supposed to be prepared for the kick, but mentally preparing for something you’ve never experienced is way more difficult than you’d expect. The sound effects do not help.

The gun goes flying out of my hand and lands on the ground with a giant bang. It sounds like another shot, it’s so loud. Good thing I had my ear protection on.

Ian shouts behind me and then starts jumping all over the place.

“What is your problem?” I ask, sliding the ear muffs off. “I just dropped it, it’s not a big deal. It’s not broken.” At least I don’t think it is.