Page 50 of A Wanderer's Redemption
“I’d rather you yell than get hurt.”
“If I think it’s going to be a problem, I will.”
While everyone else is eating as well, I enthusiastically finish the biscuits and gravy along with the eggs and a few strips of bacon she had piled on my plate, while Jess stands next to me, eating her own breakfast and looking around. Earlier, I had Deven dig out one of the crates in the back of the wagon he had been driving and had him bring it to where we had congregated for breakfast. Handing Jess my plate, I kiss the top of her forehead before heading toward the fire.
“Everyone, can I have your attention for a second?” All eyes turn toward me. “You all know there are many predators in this part of the country, especially in the untamed areas we’re heading into. Mountain lions, wolves, and bears are the ones we can usually see … but let’s not forget the many poisonous snakes,spiders, and scorpions that will be in the rocky areas ahead in a few days. With that being said, how many of you can use a rifle?”
Every hand, including Jessica’s, goes up.
“Deven if you would pry that box open, we’ll proceed.”
Once the crate’s lid is off, I reach into the packing to pull out one of the Spencer Rifles I had bought before leaving New Jersey. I’d already given Jacob his yesterday, because he was in the back wagon, closest to Jess, and I was worried something would happen before I could get to her.
“Before we leave this morning and after handing you one of these, I want to watch each of you load and shoot. Once I’m confident you know what you’re doing, it’s yours for the remainder of the trip, and I expect you to keep it with you at all times. There’s nothing worse than needing protection and not having it. However, if you’re inexperienced, you’re just as dangerous as the predators hunting you, and I don’t want to give you a weapon you’ll hurt yourself or someone else with.”
Marcus is the first up. “Mr. Kerns, I have my own rifles and pistols with me. I simply kept them under a blanket within arm’s reach yesterday when we started out, as I didn’t want to cause a stir. Henry is also a good shot, even though he is small, and can use one well if need be.”
“Thank you, Marcus, for being upfront with me. I should have passed these out yesterday, but it simply slipped my mind until this morning. Colby, Deven, how about you two?”
Deven takes the rifle out of my hand, and it’s easy to see how comfortable he is with the weapon as he expertly loads and fires it into the distance.
“Had a gun in my hand since I was big enough to pack one, Sir.”
I motion for him to take the rifle then hand him two boxes of shells. Colby walks up nonchalantly, with his hand out. I reach in, pulling another rifle out, then hand him one shell. He looks the gun over, then up at me, as I am about four inches taller than he is.
“I’ve used muzzle loaders mostly, so I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of rifle.”
“Thank you, Colby, for being upfront and honest with me about that. Deven, we have about ten minutes or so before we need to start hooking up the wagons. Can you go over the differences between this gun and the one Colby has used in the past?”
He nods his head before reaching over and taking the gun out of Colby’s hand. I watch them walk off and the entire time, Deven is pointing out the different features of the weapon. I am just about to put the top back on the crate when I hear,
“What about me?”
Jessica is standing in front of me with a look on her face I am not sure how to interpret, but I don’t miss Marcus smiling before gathering up his plate and motioning for his son to follow him, to give us some privacy.
“Jessica, with all of us armed, you have no reason to have to carry one of these heavy things around.”
“I still want one.”
“You tell me, who or what is going to get past Zeus to hurt you?”
She puts her hands on her hips. “Reggie, how many of those rifles are in that box?”
“Several.”
“So, is there a specific reason why I cannot have one, or is it just because I am a woman?”
“It has nothing to do with that, it’s …” I look away from her, searching for the right words. “Shit … I just feel like it’s my place to watch out for you.”
“I appreciate that, Reggie I really do, but you are up front or scouting and I am in the back, alone.”
Pulling another one out of the crate, I hold it out to her. “Can you use this?”
“I prefer pistols, but yes, I can use that.”
Hesitantly, I hand the rifle to her with a single shell, and I’ll be damned if she doesn’t cock the bolt open, look down the barrel to make sure there is nothing in it, load the gun, and take aim like she has done this her entire life.
“See that yellow flower about fifty yards out?”
