“Be a good time to learn,” Paul suggested.
“You already pointed out that it’s nearly dark, and we need to get this done quickly,” Archer said. “Besides, this gun is older than me and more temperamental than a cat giving birth.”
“You should go ahead,” Brett said. “I’m sure you have a lot to do for the bonfire tonight.”
“Well, at least get over there and catch it once it falls,” Paul directed his son.
Brett looked at me in alarm.
“Actually, Brett, if you wouldn’t mind, I’ll do that,” I said. “You know, for old times’ sake.”
Archer made a rude sound, and I looked at him, but he ignored me.
Relieved, Brett nodded.
“Which one you going for?” I asked, moving closer to Archer, gazing up at the dark clusters in the branches.
“The one in the middle,” he answered, raising the gun once more.
The one in the middle was the biggest and what I would have chosen too.
For the second time that day, I was reminded of the time he’d hugged me.
“Step back so it doesn’t hit you in the head again.”
I let out a rude sound. “I’m an adult now. I know how to catch,” I retorted, ignoring the way my stomach dipped.
I’d been mortified when Mom brought it up, but hearing him recall it hit a lot differently.
Does he wonder what it would be like to put his arms around me now?
“If you get hurt, it’s on you,” he warned and took aim.
Okay, clearly, he doesn’t.
A few feet away, Mayor Schroder and Brett pressed their palms over their ears and looked up. Made me wonder why they lifted their heads like they were gonna watch if they were just gonna squeeze their eyes shut like that.
Booom!
The blast of the shotgun caught me off guard, and I stumbled as if I’d been the one holding it and the recoil had sent me flying. I landed on my back, breath punched out of my lungs as my ears rang from the deafening sound. I didnotremember it being that intense.
Automatically, my eyes flew to Archer as I pushed up onto my palms. He turned just enough to look at me over his shoulder, a knowing smirk on his stupidly handsome face.
“You did that on purpose!” I accused, scrambling up.
“City boy,” he quipped.
I yelled, but the sound was muffled by another sudden loud blast of the gun.
I fell back, heart slamming into my ribs as I hit the groundagain.Only this time, when I looked up, it was at a large ball of twigs and berries hurtling toward me from the sky.
This is exactly why I don’t come home for Christmas.
Flinching, I threw up my hands to protect my face and braced for the assault.
But it never came.
Peeling my eyes open, I peeked through my arms, sight filling with the back of one large hand. Between the thick fingers poked glossy, almost leatherlike green leaves that were oval in shape. The white berries were small in diameter and easily noticed against the backdrop of the evergreen leaves and dark sky.
