Chapter Twenty-One

Leaning against the doorframe leading into their bedroom, James asked, “When were you going to tell me you took my gun?”

Lily’s cheeks flushed. She hated getting caught. “I thought you wouldn’t notice for one night.” She shrugged. “It’s not like Manorview is teeming with criminals.”

“Are you going to tell me why you took it?” James hadn’t budged from the doorway, but he put his hands on his hips.

“I wanted to have a little more protection than I usually do when I go out into the field. This way you don’t have to come and save me if things get hairy.”

His eyes went wide. “I thought you weren’t going to put yourself in hairy situations.”

“That’s very unrealistic. I’m not knitting on the side, you know. Besides, don’t you want me to be more protected?”

He stood firm, concern etched on his face. “You’re not going to tell me where you’re going?”

“I’m following a lead. It probably won’t pan out but it’s definitely worth visiting.”

James blinked a few times. “What lead?”

“We didn’t know where Ri—I mean our cult leader would be holding his next ritual on October 5th, but I received information that the guy has a thing for cemeteries so I’m going to show up at Manorview Cemetery and see for myself.”

“Cemeteries? Well, that rules out Rick. He doesn’t have a thing for cemeteries.”

“Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think.”

James rolled his eyes. “You’re going armed? And you think all will be well?”

Lily shrugged. “Hoping.” 

James stepped into the room and leaned against the vanity. “Do you even know how to fire a weapon?”

A glimpse of his teasing lips made her armor drop. “I haven’t fired one yet, but it can’t be that hard.” 

“I’m still upset that you took my gun without asking but if you’d like I can show you how it works.” He put his hand out for her to hand it to him. 

She hesitated but then decided he was right. She had never fired one before. Why had she assumed it would be like riding a bicycle? Taking it out of the nightstand, she handed it over. 

“Do you know if it’s even loaded?”

“Look, I’m not dumb. Of course it’s loaded. Why bother having it?”

“All right, all right. Let’s go out back. Your living, breathing clients are gone for the day, right?”

“Yes, they have left.”

Lily’s tone brightened as she followed him down the stairs and out the back door. She’d expected him to give her a hard time for taking the gun, and maybe it would take some time for him to forgive her, but she believed after catching Rick in the cemetery, James would have no choice but to forgive her. Luckily, she didn’t even have to do all that. 

The cool evening breeze whipped through her hair as they stood in the parking lot of the funeral home. Even better, the backyard had a nice set of tall columnar evergreen trees blocking the neighbors’ view of their lesson. 

“We’re not going to fire a round out here—talk about small town gossip. But we can unload it and practice so you can get comfortable. You’re probably not going to fire more than a few rounds, if that, but this is how you take out the magazine.” He pressed a small button on the side and the magazine slid out. He put it in his back pocket.

“There’s a bullet in the chamber.” He pulled the slide back exposing the bullet and let it drop out from the chamber onto the ground. “There, now it’s unloaded.” He let the slide return to firing position. “Since this is a semi-automatic, you won’t need to reload the magazine for every shot. But to load it you would reverse the steps I just did. Now to shoot. Stand here,” he pointed to a spot in front of him. 

Lily did what she was told and waited for further instruction. His body pressed into her back while his breath warmed her ear. 

Gun lessons aren’t so bad.

He lifted his right arm out in front of her with the barrel pointing directly in front of them. “Take the pistol in your right hand.” 

She followed orders and gripped the handle. 

“That’s too low. Grip it higher for better control on recoil.” 

Lily had no idea what he was talking about, but she listened and moved her hand farther up the gun. 

Keeping his right hand over hers, he then guided her left hand toward the weapon until he had completely encompassed her body. “Now, the left hand covers the fingers of your right hand to add even more stability.”

She stopped breathing. James may be mentally struggling to give her this lesson, but his body sure didn’t let on. 

“Keep your elbows slightly bent and keep the trigger in the ready position.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means the trigger has some slack. It will take longer to fire in between shots if you don’t keep the trigger pulled taut. Try it.”

Lily slid her index onto the trigger and slowly pulled until she felt resistance. 

“Feel it?” 

His voice was so close to her ear it gave her goosebumps. She struggled to contain the shiver in her arms and to keep them pointed on the target. By now, the warmth from his body had generated enough heat for the both of them in the crisp fall air. She could feel his muscles pressing into her back. 

“I feel it.”

“Keep both eyes open on the target and take a breath.”

She breathed in his familiar soap and shaving cream scent—both made with mouth-watering spice and musk. 

Focus!

He took one small impossible step toward her, setting her stomach on fire. “Shoot.”

She pulled the trigger. The gun clicked. Her breath spilled out all at once. That’s all it took to end a life—not a great feeling but she hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

He spun her around to face him. Lips crushed hers in a burst of heated urgency. She dropped the firearm as her arms went around his neck. His hands weaved through her hair and then moved down pressing against her back. An eternity of frustration was wiped away in their embrace. 

“Wait,” Lily pulled away. “Does this mean you believe me?”

James blinked a few times. “Believe you?”

“About Rick.”

James looked up at the darkening sky. Then he looked down at her with an intensity she hadn’t seen in a while—the blue depths of which she could fall into forever. He nodded. “I believe you.” 

“You do?” A smile stretched across her face. “I knew you’d come around.”

“Now hold on there. You haven’t actually produced any real proof that will hold up in court.”

“What?” She took a step back. “You just taught me how to use a gun.” She pointed at the pistol lying in the grass. “Why would you do that if you didn’t want me to do something about it?”

He got closer to her. “I wanted to be near you.” His breath in her ear sent chills all over her body. 

How can she be mad? The fight left her body before she could take another breath.

“I believe you,” he continued, “but I still hold out hope that you are wrong.” 

“Don’t you want to be a united front?”

“You know how I feel about accusing Rick.”

“Even with my track record?”

“Good point. But you are human…most of the time.” 

She smiled. “More like superhuman and besides, I like proving you wrong.”

“I know you do. Now that I think about it, forget everything I just taught you.”

“Not a chance.” Lily picked up the gun. “With so much at stake I think I might need more practice.” 

He gave her a smoldering glance. “What kind?”

“You’ll have to follow me to find out. It’s warmer inside though.” She raised the weapon with the barrel pointed to the ground. “I’m bringing this.”

As she turned to walk toward the back door of the house, he followed. “Of course you are.”