Chapter 11 #2
She chuckled, no humor in the sound. “It was going well enough until he showed up.” Ella wrapped her arms around herself. “Cody, what if he tries again? What if he shows up when you’re at work?”
Cody plunked the cups in the sink before turning to her. “Have you ever shot a gun?”
Her face blanched. “No.”
He reached out, cupping her arms gently. “I’m not suggesting you’ll have to use it. But if your father comes here and tries to make you leave, it would give you and the children a measure of defense.”
“Is that really necessary?”
Cody felt her shiver. “This is the West, Ella. There are all kinds of dangers here, wild animals and snakes chief among them. Knowing how to shoot is a skill most people have in these parts. I’d feel better if you could defend yourself if the need came up.
” He slid a hand to her shoulder. “Though I hope I’ll be here if you ever need protecting. ”
Her cheeks turned pink. “So do I.” Biting her lip, Ella glanced at the floor, then met his eyes again. “But if it gives you peace of mind, I don’t mind learning.”
“Good. We’ll start first thing in the morning.”
Ella’s eyes widened. “So soon?”
“Darlin’, your father is here now. The sooner the better.”
She chewed her lower lip. Cody’s glance landed there without thinking. He jerked his eyes back up in time to see Ella look at him.
“All right.”
Relief flooded him. “Thanks.” He let her go, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “You’re probably wondering what kind of man you married, huh?”
He meant it as a joke, a way of lightening the mood, but Ella studied him with a serious air.
“You’re the kind of man who buys pretty dresses for his wife because he thinks she’ll like them.”
Cody cleared his throat, heat crawling up his neck. “Mrs. Greyson told you?”
She smiled. “I was bound to find out, wasn’t I?”
“I suppose so.” He rubbed at the stubble on his cheek.
She tilted her head, gaze steady on his. “You had no ulterior motive, did you? You did it because you thought I’d like them.”
The temperature of his skin increased. “Something like that.”
Moisture welled in her eyes. “I thought so.” Leaning forward, she slid her arms around his waist. “Thank you. The dresses are lovely.”
As he had on the night they’d talked about poetry, Cody froze in place. This time, though, he recovered quickly enough to wrap his arms around her before she pulled away. They stood for a few long seconds, close enough for him to feel her heartbeat against his chest.
Pure, strong affection rose inside of him. Ella was becoming a very important part of his life. They might not have known each other long, but for better or worse, she was his wife, and he’d do anything to keep her safe.
Ella huddled in her coat near the barn, eying the shotgun in Cody’s hands.
Morning sunlight glinted off the shiny metal.
The weapon looked menacing. She’d never liked guns, and the thought of shooting one didn’t sit well with her.
But if it allowed her to protect her family and gave her husband less to worry about, it would be worth pushing through her discomfort.
Cody glanced her way. His half smile pulled at his lips. “It’s not gonna bite you, darlin’. You can come closer.”
She preferred the safe distance between her and the gun for as long as possible. “Just let me know when you’re ready for the lesson.”
“I’m ready. C’mon.”
Ella took halting steps in his direction. When she reached his side, Cody nodded toward a tree ten yards away. “That’s your target. We’re going to practice shooting at something large before moving to a smaller target.”
“Smaller?” When did her voice get so squeaky?
Cody slipped an arm around her shoulders, giving her a single squeeze before letting go. “It’ll be fine, Ella. I promise.”
She inhaled through her nose. “All right. Let’s get to it.”
“To start, lift the butt of the gun to your right shoulder.” He demonstrated, then held the gun out to her. “You try.”
The weight of the weapon hung heavy in her hands. Ella hoisted it up and attempted to copy the position Cody showed her. “Like this?”
“Not exactly.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “May I?”
She nodded. Cody moved behind her, his arms encircling her as he reached both hands for the gun. “You nestle the back right here in the hollow of your shoulder.” He pulled the gun to the correct location, pushing it snugly against Ella’s shoulder. “Feel how that holds it in place?”
All she could feel was Cody’s strong chest resting against her back, pushing all thoughts of the hunk of metal in her hands far from her mind. “Mm-hmm.”
“Then you hold it firmly with both hands.” He cupped her hands in his, moving them to the right spot on the gun. Ella closed her eyes and inhaled his woodsy scent. When had pine and cedar wood become such a comforting smell?
“Now all you have to do is aim and pull the trigger…and brace for the kickback. Your jacket should absorb some of the shock.”
That brought her back to reality. “Does it hurt a lot?”
“It might sting at first, but you’ll get used to it. The tighter you hold the gun against your shoulder, the less it will hurt. Now, close your left eye and locate the tree.”
Ella did as instructed.
Cody released her but didn’t step away. “Fire when ready.”
She let out her breath and squeezed the trigger. The gunshot exploded in her ear. She staggered backward into Cody, her shoulder buzzing as she dropped the weapon.
His hands landed on her upper arms. “The hardest part is over.”
Rubbing the sting away, Ella peeked up at him. “It is?”
“Yep. Though we’ll have to see about your aim.
” He winked and scooped up the gun, then started for the tree.
Ella gaped after him, amazed that a simple wink could send her heart fluttering.
This man, this husband of hers, was breaking through her defenses all too easily, gruff exterior and all, chipping away at her walls one block at a time.
“Not bad!” he called, breaking into her thoughts. “You grazed the tree. That’s a good start. Try again.”
They spent the next half hour working on her new skill. By the end of it, she could hit the middle of the tree without much problem. Cody grinned like a proud parent. “I’d say this was a success. Next time, we’ll work on a smaller target.”
“Thanks for teaching me.” They walked toward the house. Ella massaged her shoulder. The pressure gave slight release to her aches. “It does give me a bit more peace of mind.”
“Good. I’ll keep the gun loaded, but far out of reach of the children. There’s a rack above the front door that will hold it. You should be able to get to it easily if needed.” He exhaled slowly. “Though I pray you never need to.”
When they got to the house, Cody hung the weapon above the door. Ella reached up to test the height. To her relief, she could retrieve it without a problem.
He touched her shoulder. “How does it feel?”
“Not great, but nothing I can’t handle.”
Little footsteps sounded upstairs. They both looked up, then at each other. Ella braced herself for Cody’s departure. “I’ll get the kids ready. You probably need to get out to the fields.”
“I’m not going.”
Ella blinked. “You’re not?”
“No. I found Hank early this morning and asked him to keep things running today. The boys will be fine on their own.”
Suspicion raced through her. “Is it because of me?”
“It’s because of your father. I don’t feel right leaving you here on your own, not until we have a handle on what he’s up to.”
“But…are you sure? I know Hank is capable, but you’re the boss. What if they need you?”
“Then they know where to find me.” Cody shrugged out of his winter coat, hanging it on the rack before helping Ella out of hers. “We haven’t really gotten to spend time together as a family, at least not for a full day. Consider this a bonding experience for us all.”
Ella couldn’t help staring at the man she’d married. He gave her another half smile, then turned toward the kitchen. “If you get the kids ready, I’ll make breakfast.”