No, her fingers curled around the barrel of the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380 Tyrone had given to her so long ago. The pistol she’d taken with her to the past.
And thankfully, she’d brought the pistol home with her again.
A bullet whizzed overhead and they dove forward to the next row.
Frantically, she checked the magazine. Two bullets. That was it. Not even one in the chamber. Grimly, Scarlett jacked one into the chamber and looked up at Laird looming over her.
“No’ much better than a sword at this point then?”
He kept his body positioned between her and some madman apparently determined to take a life or two. Laird meant to be the one who took the bullet if it came at them.
To give his life for hers.
She couldn’t have that happen.
“Not much. But it will have to do.”
Laird grimaced, his intent expression telling her he was working through their options. They didn’t have many that wouldn’t expose them.
“Can ye run, lass?”
Scarlett wrinkled her nose. “Maybe.”
Another bullet zipped by over the tops of the seats. Whoever was out there was trying to flush them out.
“Definitely not fast enough,” she added.
“Get ready to make that wee thing explode then,” he ordered and caught her around the waist.
In a flash, he was on his feet and racing up the aisle with her in his arms. Gunfire sounded again and again. Scarlett shot over his shoulder at the figure crouched behind the seats in the opposite row. Shot again, and then they were through the doors.
Laird obviously didn’t plan on stopping at the lobby, but Scarlett noticed Janice slumped on the floor near the refreshment counter. She kicked free of his hold and ran to her.
“We dinnae hae time for this, lass.”
“Then pick her up and let’s go!”
With years of familiarity with her stubborn streak and no time to argue, he did just that. The glass door shattered the moment they were through it, but they managed to get to the car without hearing another shot.
Either the would-be killer had run out of bullets or realized shooting into a crowded city street wasn’t the smartest move.
Scarlett started the car and sped away with Laird and Janice in the back seat.
“Is she…all right?” She couldn’t bear to ask if the woman was alive.
“Aye,” he assured her. “She’s got a knot on her head.”
“Let’s get her to the hospital. Then call the authorities.”
“Mayhap she can identify who did this.”
“God, I hope so.”
In the rearview mirror, Scarlett saw Laird wince and whipped her head around to stare at him in horror. “Did you get hit? Did you?”
“Just a scratch, lass. Keep driving.”
“I’m going to kill whoever did this.”
