Page 54 of Colorado Bride

“Not much.A little shooting lesson.”

Emily turned in his arms.

“Seriously?You’ll teach me how to shoot a gun and I don’t even have to beg you?”

He laughed.

“Yes, without any begging.”

She hugged him.

“Thank you.”

Stepping back out of his embrace, she took off her apron and patted her hair down.

“I’m ready.”

“You’ll need a coat.The weather is chilly.”

She grabbed her sheepskin coat off the peg by the outside door and he held it for her to put on.

“Now I’m ready.”

“Follow me.”

He led the way out to the yard and then took her hand and put it in the crook of his elbow for the rest of the walk to the target range.

When they arrived, he removed his pistol from its holster.

“This is a Colt .45 pistol.The chamber holds six bullets.Once you’ve expended your ammunition, you remove the empty shells and reload.”

He unloaded the weapon and then reloaded it.

“Now I want you to do the same thing.”

Ben handed her the gun.

“Oh.”The weight pushed her hand low.“My, this is heavy.”

“You’ll get used to it.”

She grunted and managed to unload and reload the pistol.

“Now do I get to shoot it?”

“Yes.”

He turned and pointed at the cans he’d set up on tree stumps.

“When you’re ready, point the gun at the cans.Use the sight at the end of the barrel to aim with.Pull the trigger slowly and evenly.Don’t jerk it.”

Emily took a deep breath and then nodded.

“Okay.I’m ready.”

She raised the Colt with both hands, aimed and fired.The recoil from the discharge of the bullet sent the gun high, but she didn’t let the weapon go.

“Well, that’s exciting.How’d I do?”