12. Ariella
The next few days go by quickly as Patrick’s team tightens up the security around the ranch. I still haven’t figured out how the two men found us so quickly, but with nothing happening since then, I wondered if they weren’t just two random strangers out for a ride. When I suggested that, Jerry grunted out, “That would be nice, but it’s doubtful.”
Unwilling to accept my opinion, everyone worked tirelessly to set up backstops so that we could learn to shoot in the backyard. Having the means to seek shelter quickly in the event of an attack was of the utmost importance to Patrick. He also installed blinds in the attached pool house so everyone can swim in relative safety. “You can’t shoot what you can’t see,” he told me. For that reason, all the curtains have been drawn closed throughout the house, and the light bulbs have been replaced with ones that have a “daylight” glow.
I pulled Patrick aside and scolded him for making the house a prison. “How long do you expect us to live like this? We can’t stay cooped up forever! That’s no life for a child!”
“As long as we have to until I know you both are safe. Don’t forget, Ari, that Alex is as much mine as he is yours. Whether you like it or not, I get a say in what happens. I’m doing my best to respect your wishes. I’m trying to provide him with plenty of things to keep him busy until we can get him some playtime outside. Please allow me to make it safe enough for him to do so.”
“Don’t forget who hired you, Patrick. As the client, it’s ultimately up to me to decide what we are willing to tolerate,” I told him, thinking that would end the discussion. I was wrong.
“And why did you hire us, Ari? Actually, why did your father hire us? Since he’s floating the bill, maybe we should ask him.”
I know I’m being bratty and need to rein it in. Sighing, I tell him the truth, “He hired you because he trusts you and wants the best.”
He softens his voice and takes my hands, “Then maybe you should, too. This is what we do. Trust us to do our jobs, even if you don’t like what has to be done. We’re doing everything we can to keep life as normal as possible for you and Alex. A few closed curtains and limited outdoor playtime are small prices to pay if it keeps you both alive. Remember that I have as much to lose as you do.”
“Okay.”
“Thank you. Everything should be finished by tonight, and things will start to feel more normal tomorrow. Well, as normal as can be.”
“Aww, you two sound like an old married couple,” Savannah teases, walking into the kitchen and sitting at the table next to Jerry. He had been so quiet that I had forgotten he was there.
Charlie isn’t far behind her and says, “I remember having a few disagreements with your father regarding parenting styles. When Don finally came home for good, it was an adjustment having him here every day. I had been the primary parent for so long that it was difficult for me to relinquish any control. At the same time, Don needed to learn what the rules were before he interjected himself into the parenting role. We had to communicate with each other and establish new boundaries with you, Son. I had to give a little, and he had to bend a little. It’s all part of the process.”
I had to give Charlie credit. She gave Pat and me sage advice without condemnation. I have to give a little, and Patrick has to bend. The thing is, he’s been bending this whole time without any give from me.
“I’m sorry. I appreciate what you’re trying to do. Thank you for that. I’ll try to be more accommodating and less of a pain in the butt about things.”
“You’re not a pain,” he says, followed by Jerry saying, “Speak for yourself!” I glare at Jerry, but once again, a tiny smirk appears, and I can’t bring myself to get mad at his attempt at teasing.
“Where is Alex?” I ask, looking around the room.
“He’s in the pool with Don and Jessie, having a grand old time,” Charlie informs me.
At least Alex seems to be acclimating without any issues. Maybe it’s just me. I’ve always had free roam of the palace without worrying about my safety. Living in a much smaller place with so many people would take some getting used to.
“Are you ready to learn how to shoot?” Savannah asks as Jessie and Jerry carry in a couple of small cases. Charlie and Don follow, carrying much larger ones, which I can only assume are the rifles they plan on using.
Alex bounces up and down with excitement, grinning at his dad. “You promised you would teach me! Which one do I get to use?”
“You get to use the same one I learned with at your age. It’s a Winchester Model 1906. But we are going to go over gun safety first, okay?” Patrick pulls out six tiny blue bullets and sets them on the table.
Patrick explains to Alex that he should always point the gun down range, never point it at anything he doesn’t intend to shoot and to keep his finger off the trigger until he’s ready to fire.
Once Alex repeats the rules several times and commits them to memory, Patrick works with him on his breathing, stance, and how to load the weapon properly. All in all, it takes almost two hours, and we haven’t even left the house yet.
Savannah stands next to me, watching as the men talk about guns. “I hope you were listening. Even though Pat was talking to your son, the same rules apply to you. It would be a shame to have to go through all of that again,” she says teasingly.
I chuckle. “I did. I think I’m almost as excited as Alex is. I’ve never seen him so captivated. He learns things easily and often gets bored quickly.”
“It probably has more to do with who is teaching him rather than what he’s learning,” she says. I can’t help but agree with her.
When Patrick grabs the six blue bullets from the table and begins showing Alex how to load the gun, my eyes widen in alarm. “Are you planning on shooting in the house?” I ask.
Having snuck up on us, Jessie tells me, “They’re just dummy rounds. It’s so that Alex can get used to what the trigger pull feels like. This way, he doesn’t go landing butt first in the snow when he shoots.”
“Like some people I know,” says Jerry, still sitting at the table and staring at the laptop screen.
“At least I gave everyone a good show,” I joke back.
“That you did,” Savannah says. “How about I show you the parts and functions of your weapon while they practice? Patrick isn’t going to let him outside until he knows Alex is comfortable with handling the rifle, which gives us a little time. Since I don’t have to go through all the safety drills, we’ll review the weapon’s features. This is a Glock 19, which takes 9 mm rounds. It’s small enough for your hands but still packs a punch.”
We have a light lunch once the lessons are over, and Patrick tells us how things will go once we get outside. “Jerry will be on the porch, watching the camera feeds on his laptop. Jessie, Savannah, and my mom will teach you how to use your Glock while Grandpa and I teach Alex how to use the rifle.”
All the men are smiling, and Patrick has his hand on one of Alex’s shoulders while Don has his hand on the other. It’s a picture-perfect moment. A warm feeling spreads through my body when I see how happy all three men are and how much Alex is loved and accepted here. My father has always doted on him, but my mother has been an entirely different story. For some reason, she hasn’t taken to him as a grandmother should. Everything is always a lesson with her, and her time spent with Alex is about him learning his duties as a prince. Aaron told me once that she treated him the same way when he was growing up—always a royal first and a son a distant second.
“Ready to do this?” Savannah asks, rubbing her hands together excitedly. It’s an excitement I don’t quite understand.
When we get outside, my mouth drops open at the display. Tons of multiple-size balloons are set up on posts at various distances. Bales of hay have been stacked, spanning the length of the improvised gun range.
“Alex, you always want to know where your target is, but even more importantly, you want to know what’s behind your target. We set up the hay to stop stray bullets from accidentally hurting any wild animals,” Patrick says in one last lesson before they go to their side of the yard.
I empty my magazine, that’s capable of holding more than a dozen bullets, but I don’t hit a single target. Alex does, though, and he gets excited when a puff of smoke is expelled from the balloon after it pops. “Whoa! How did you do that?” I ask.
Charlie explains, “It was Savannah’s idea. Before we blew up the balloons, we put baking powder inside of them. We all agreed it would be better than shattering glass and a whole lot safer, too.”
“Not to mention it’s a lot more fun!” exclaims Savannah.
“That was a wonderful idea! You’ve been really great with Alex. You all have. Thank you for all the kindness that you’ve shown him.”
“He’s a great kid. You’ve done an excellent job raising him. I know all of this is hard for you, but I promise we’ll do our best not only to protect you and Alex, but we’ll try to make it as fun for him as possible so that he doesn’t get scared,” Savannah tells me, placing an arm around my shoulders.
Now that I know she isn’t married to Patrick, I’m much more comfortable around her and her gestures of affection.
“You would make a great mom,” I tell her. “Do you have any kids of your own?”
It’s the first time I’ve seen her frown. “No, I don’t. My doctors have told me that I’m unable to have children. I adore kids, but it isn’t in the cards for me.” She doesn’t explain further; she just points her gun down range and quickly takes five shots, hitting all her targets.
“Save some for us!” Jessie teases, shattering the tension. We all stand in line, taking one shot after another, mine never hitting anything other than the backstop.
“Maybe I can help,” Patrick’s deep voice resonates from behind me.
“I don’t know if anything can help me. I might be a lost cause.”
“It’s your stance and breath control. You’re anticipating the recoil and dipping the muzzle downward while holding your breath. Let me show you.”
He stands behind me and places his hands on my hips, turning them so I’m squared off with the target. Keeping his hands right where they are, he uses the tip of his boot to nudge my feet apart. He slowly slides his hands up my arms and lifts them to position them straight in front of me.
“Now bend your legs just a little to give you some stability,” he whispers in my ear. I shudder at the sound of his sexy voice in my ear but try not to show it and do as I’m told.
“That’s good,” he says, his breath tickling the side of my neck. I close my eyes as I enjoy the feel of his touch. “Open your eyes, Ari. You need to see the target.” I feel his chest shake lightly from laughter against my back. Oh, man! He knows what he’s doing to me and getting a kick out of it!
“Now, control your breathing. Always shoot after you’ve fully exhaled.” I take one deep breath, and once all of the air has left my lungs, I take the shot. My hands would have dipped if he wasn’t holding them in place, but I hit the target.
“That’s my girl. Ready to try it on your own?” he asks.
No. “Yes.” He steps back to give me space, and I go through the motions repeatedly. By the time I’ve emptied my magazine, I’ve hit five out of fifteen of my shots. He winks at me before going back over to Alex.
Savannah sidles up beside me, “Girl, that was the hottest and sexiest shooting lesson I’ve ever witnessed.”
“That’s my son you’re talking about. There are things a mother doesn’t need to witness or hear,” Charlie says lightly.
Jessie waves her comment away, “Pshaw! You have a grandson, Charlie. You must know that certain things had to happen to make you a grandma.”
“Yes, but she doesn’t need to witness it,” Jerry says from the porch. “None of us do, for that matter.”
“You’re such a curmudgeon, Jerry. Someday, you’ll meet a woman who will get those lips to turn up instead of down!” Savannah fires back.
“Those are fighting words! Do you want to take this outside, Savvy?” he yells back.
“But you are outside!” Alex shouts. He jumps in front of Savannah to defend her, pulling his sleeves up and ready to duke it out. “You’re going to have to get through me first!” he shouts in all seriousness, not realizing they’re just messing around.
“Like father, like son,” Jerry retorts. It’s clear he’s trying to hide his laughter but fails. When Jerry smiles, it’s as if the clouds have parted and the sun beams are shining through.
“Well, look at that, Alex! You have just done the impossible!” Charlie tells her grandson.
Without missing a beat, Alex says, “It’s my superpower!”