many visitors this far north. It’s our pleasure to welcome the newcomers.” Sadie gave Briana a hug. “I’m sorry about what happened to your friend. Just know, we’re here if you need anything.” Hank helped her up into the passenger seat and fastened her seatbelt around her, kissing her gently as he did.
Briana nodded, afraid to say anything lest it come out on a sob. The reminder of Sheila’s death hit her, again.
Hank drove out of the yard and down the gravel path, leading away from the cabin, Rafe and Briana.
As the engine noise faded, silence wrapped around the little cabin in the mountains.
Lucy nudged Briana’s hand, sliding under it. She leaned her fluffy black and white body against Briana’s leg and whined softly.
“I know. It’s really quiet out here.”
Rafe snorted. “Wait until dark. Then every little sound will be like rockets going off. And you won’t know what any of them are.”
“You’re not painting a calming picture for this city girl,” Briana muttered.
He chuckled.
Briana wrapped the lead around her wrist and squared her shoulders. “Come on, Lucy. Let’s explore our little patch of heaven.”
Rafe joined her. “While we’re at it, we can look for a place to set up our firing range.”
“Good,” she said. “The sooner I learn to fire a gun, the sooner I’ll feel better about being out in the woods, far away from everything and everyone I ever knew.”
Rafe slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “Not everyone you ever knew. You know me, now.”
She leaned into his warmth and strength. “That’s right. You’re my friend.” Her friend she was having more than friendly thoughts about. There could be a lot worse things than being alone on a mountain with a sexy former Delta Force soldier.
Chapter 6
Rafe walked around the perimeter of the hilltop, checking out all the potential blind spots an enemy could leverage. While he explored, he found a sparsely treed hill not far from the cabin that would make a perfect backdrop for target practice.
He hurried back to the cabin, collected the weapons and left Lucy with bowls of water and dog food. With Briana, he returned to the hillside. They took advantage of the late afternoon sunshine to familiarize her with the .40 caliber HK pistol Hank had left for Briana.
Rafe set up several soft drink cans on a fallen log. Then he marched five long strides away from the target and motioned for Briana to join him. He handed her a pair of sponge ear plugs and showed her how to roll them between her thumb and fingers and stick them in her ears, where they expanded to fill the space.
She stood beside him, her hands clutched together in front of her. “I really don’t know much of anything about shooting a gun,” Briana said, staring at the .40 caliber pistol Rafe removed from the case.
“You’ll learn,” he said and went into describing each part of the weapon, how it worked and what could make it jam. He showed her how to hold it in her hands, balancing it on her opposite palm while it remained unloaded.
She listened carefully, asking questions and doing everything he said.
“You have to treat the weapon as if it were loaded at all times. Never point it at something, unless you intend to shoot it. If you’re not shooting, point the barrel at the ground.
Then he had her face the cans and hold the gun out in front of her, her finger along the side of the trigger guard. “Now, switch the safety off, and place your finger on the trigger.”
She thumbed the safety. “Like this?”
He nodded. “Yes. Finger on the trigger?”
“It is,” she responded.
“Line up the sights like I showed you and pull the trigger by squeezing it gently until it clicks.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked down the top of the barrel and slowly squeezed the trigger. When it clicked, she flinched then relaxed.
Rafe grinned. “It’s not so bad, is it? This weapon doesn’t have much of a kick. You’ll barely feel it jerk in your hand.” He held out a full magazine. “Once we add the bullets, this weapon becomes lethal.”
She nodded, drew in a deep breath and took the magazine from his hand.
“Slide it into the handle, while pointing the barrel at the ground. Not at your feet, but the ground in front of you. I don’t know how many slap-happy recruits have blown off their toes because they weren’t careful.”
Her head shot up, her eyes rounding. “Really?”
He grinned.