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DAVID WAS AMAZED AT how beautiful and feminine he appeared to be. It disturbed him a great deal. “Do I have to look so pretty? Can’t I be an ugly woman instead?”
“And ruin my fine job of makeup? No sir!” Vivian scowled at him. “However, I do not want you flirting with my gentleman, for I’ve grown fond of him. So, if he flirts with you, ignore him. Hopefully, he will realize you are too young and beautiful to catch his eye. And for God’s sake don’t talk. Your voice is too low for a female.”
“I could talk like this,” he offered, speaking in a higher tone.
“That is quite good. Use that voice if you have to ask questions. However, don’t flirt with my boyfriend.”
David chuckled despite the gravity of the situation. “I promise not to flirt with your fellow. But I am curious, what’s his age?”
“He won’t tell me, but Xavier believes he is in his nineties.”
“Well, that ensures the pretty young woman I am will not flirt with him. However, I will treat him respectfully, given his great age.”
“Excellent! Our carriage awaits us,” Vivian declared.
***
ONCE THEY WERE ON THEIR way, Vivian peppered him with false information. “You will be my grandniece, who has arrived from Scotland. On the way, her carriage was set upon by robbers and one of them had the audacity to kiss her. When she finally arrived at our home, she demanded I teach her how to shoot.”
“Naturally, I would insist she learn to shoot from an expert. I’ve come to ensure my beloved teaches you to be a fine marksman. I think you should learn how to shoot several different types of guns and rifles to discover which suits you. And once you can shoot, I’ll flirt a bit with my fellow.”
“But how do you know he will even have the time to do this?”
“Oh, I called him on the telephone late last night. He knows all about your frightening situation. I expect he will have great advice on kicking a man between his legs.” She paused. “You are wearing your pants beneath your skirt I hope.”
David laughed. “Yes, I certainly am.”
“Excellent! I should have asked before we left, but I’m getting old and my memory doesn’t work as well as it used to.”
“You seem quite bright to me,” David assured her.
“Thank you very much. Now what is your name?”
“I don’t believe you ever told me my name. How about Angela?”
Vivian leaned forward and patted his knee. “Yes, that will contrast nicely with your brassy red hair.”
Do not worry if you slip and curse a bit. We can blame it on being a Scottish girl and your recent fright. You can speak in a Scottish brogue, I hope.
“I can,” he assured her.
***
WHEN THEY FINALLY ARRIVED, a tall white-haired man hurried to welcome them. Actually, his focus was solely on Vivian, but that was fine with David, since they were hugging and kissing each other.
David gave them privacy by admiring the beauty of the lands.
Finally, Harmon led them inside the building. “I hope you’ve got a bit of your great-aunt in you. She learned to shoot remarkably fast.”
“I will try my best,” David replied in a high voice.
To David’s amazement, with the use of the screens, he caught on quickly.
By noon, David had conquered seven screens.
Since David was truly at risk of dying, “Angela” was sent outside where she could shoot actual critters in the woods.
“The girl is a natural!” Harmon declared. I’ve never seen a young woman take so fast to a gun before. And her aim is spot on! Best student I’ve ever taught.
***
ON THE CARRIAGE RIDE home, Vivian spoke up. “You have proven you can shoot a moving sheet of paper and critters in the woods, but can you shoot a woman you once loved? I ask because I assure you that Claire will not hesitate in killing you. If you do not find and kill her, she will find you, and then the nightmares your children have suffered will come to fruition.”
“I realize that. I swear to you I will not hesitate to save my children. If removing Claire was just to benefit me, I could not do it. But for my fabulous children, I can and will do this.”
“That is an excellent attitude. Kill only because she has lost her mind and left you no other option. Never shoot in anger or revenge. Just protect yourself and your children so they may grow up into a fabulous young woman and young man.”
Once they returned to Vivian’s home, David quickly changed from women’s clothes to his own, returned the wig to Vivian, and washed off the lipstick and pale makeup. Having returned to himself, he entered the butler’s room and hugged his children. He was pleased to see they seemed calmer now. He liked knowing he could protect them. However, he would not drop his guard. Claire was a deadly, vindictive opponent.
Still, he had to believe a sane man with excellent gun skills could take on a demented, crazy woman and win.