come through his chest. Aidyn? She had a man living with her. She said she had someone waiting at home for her, but he didn't realize they were living together.
11
Walking along behind the line of women, each one with their guns tucked into their chest at rest.
"Ready. Aim. Fire - two."
Observing them as she gave the commands, each one partnered up with another woman for class, watching to offer support and assistance.
The occasional instruction from one of the support partners could be heard. "Finger off the trigger," or "at rest." She smiled. There wasn't a woman here who didn't take this seriously.
"Ready. Aim. Fire - three."
The loud bangs were heard as each of the five women in line fired off their three shots. The little holes appeared on their targets as they hit them. Their shots, over time, clustered closer more frequently. Their aim better each week. It was exhilarating seeing these ladies improve and learn how to keep themselves safe.
"Ready. Aim. "Fire - one."
Never really sure when the command would come or how many shots they would be required to take was part of the drill.
"Reload."
Watching diligently as each woman safely reloaded her pistol and stood at rest, she smiled.
"Ready. Aim. Fire - five."
The loud shots fired, and the air filled with the odor of gun powder. Bridget loved the smell of gun powder. A small smile crept across her face.
"Empty your guns, lay them chamber up in the case and switch positions."
A quick glance at the clock told her this was their last drill for the night. She hated that it was getting dark around 7:30 now. But, the deer were out, and she hated for these ladies to be driving out on country roads with the deer so abundant.
"Ready. Aim. Fire - five."
She continued walking behind the women to look for safety issues.
"Sydney, your gun isn't a teacup. Change your grip, please."
Standing behind Sydney, she watched as Sydney adjusted her grip, then smiled and resumed walking along behind the line.
"Ready. Aim. Fire - one."
"Ready. Aim. Fire - four."
She yelled out quickly not giving them the time to think about when the next command would come.
"Okay, ladies. That's it for tonight. You've all improved so much. Next week it's for all the marbles. If you graduate, you'll get your Certificate of Completion and can move up to the next level. Practice each night. Draw your pistol with no bullets in it. Safety first. Always. Use your practice bullets if you have them. Make sure your grip is perfect, you can rack your gun quickly and safely and practice your stance. Slightly forward from the waist. Butt out. Feet shoulder width apart and your right foot slightly back. You've got this."
Each woman emptied her pistol of ammo. There was no ammo allowed outside of this shooting range until they got in their cars. They could do what they wanted then. She watched each lady pull her magazine from her gun, position it in her gun case, lay her pistol in the case, close up her box of ammo and then remove her ear and eye protection and pack them up in her range bag.
One by one they waved goodbye and walked out the door. Bridget followed them out, and once the last lady left, she locked herself inside. Her house was only over the hill from the range and she had just enough time before dark to shut off the lights and close the lid on her computer. Working quickly, because she was still a bit creeped out by her experience at the airport yesterday, she hurriedly shut the light off, closed her computer and walked to the entrance. Pulling her keys out as she tossed her range bag over her shoulder, she opened the door slightly and felt relieved when she saw two ladies, Sydney and Jennie Lee, chatting by their cars.
She walked to her car, a wave for the ladies. "Good night, ladies. Don't wait too long."
"We won't." They called in unison then laughed.
Bridget got into her car, locked her doors and quietly started the ignition. Waiting for Sydney and Jennie Lee to get in their cars, she let out a sigh and eased her SUV from the parking lot. She watched in her mirror as Sydney and Jennie Lee then followed her from the lot. Feeling more at ease, she turned the corner that took her to her house. A quick check in her mirror and she watched each of the women drive past Mile Road,