Free Cassidy (Big Sky Dreams 1) by Lori Wick Page B

"But I might be back."
    "And I might be here," Rylan answered, a little tease in his voice.
    "Well, I can always find you at the livery."
    "I can't be interviewed if I'm working," Rylan took the opportunity to say. "It's not safe in a livery, and Pete Stillwell pays me to work." Abi didn't like being reminded that she was in the habit of dis - turbing folks while they worked. Jessie Wheeler would never talk to
    74 her when the store was open, and if Abi had been thinking right, she would have realized that Jessie had customers who needed her more, and two daughters to look after as well. What folks didn't understand was that she had a book to write, and it was important.
    "Was there anything else?" Rylan asked, and Abi realized she'd been standing there doing nothing.
    "No," she said, her voice clipped. With that word, she turned and walked away. Rylan said goodbye, but she didn't answer, nor did she thank him. She never thanked anyone for their story. What she was doing was important. The folks of Token Creek should be thanking her!
    "It's heavier than it looks," Cassidy said after Trace showed her how to hold the revolver.
    "Use two hands," he instructed, watching her closely. "And you're sure it has no bullets yet?"
    "Here, I'll show you," Trace took the weapon back, broke it open and showed her the empty chambers. "See," he said, holding it for her to examine. "All clear."
    Cassidy looked into the gun and then up into the cowboy's face, shaded by his hat but still very clear.
    "Trace," Cassidy said quietly, "what happened Saturday night that did this?"
    Trace looked into her blue eyes, clear and trusting as a child's. He knew he had to leave Cassidy's life in God's hands, but if there was something he could do to prevent her being harmed, he had to do it.
    "I've been naive about life in town," Trace admitted. "Jeanette is not on Main Street. She's away from the saloons. The other women I know live with their husbands or fathers. You're more alone on Saturday night than I ever realized. Teaching you to shoot does not

75make everything all right, but if there was ever a need to protect . yourself, you would know how."
    Cassidy nodded, not sure she could shoot this gun but not willing to admit that.
    "Okay, take the revolver again, with both hands, and just point it at the target I set up."
    Cassidy did as she was told, finding it a little easier with both hands, but also discovering that her arms tired easily.
    "I think you might take for granted how strong your arms are, Trace."
    "You sew for a living. You could probably crack nuts with those fingers of yours."
    "That might be true, but I don't hold my sewing two feet in front of me, and my strength is not in my arms."
    "Are you telling me you can't do this, Miss Norton?" Trace asked, a clear challenge in his voice.
    Cassidy's chin came up. "I didn't say that."
    "Then get that gun steadied and aimed."
    Cassidy positioned the gun and then looked defiantly at her instructor.
    "Anything else, Mr. Holden?"
    Trace had to grin before saying, "Pull the trigger."
    The weapon trembled a bit, but she did it, her face a mixture of fear and surprise even with that empty click.
    "How was that?" Cassidy asked, a bit breathless, all defiance gone.
    "Very good." Trace's praise was genuine. "Do it again. See if you can get things a little steadier this time."
    Cassidy worked along strongly for the next thirty minutes. Not until Trace noticed the sweat trickling down her right temple did he realize she was without a bonnet or hat and the June sun was relentless above,them.
    "Let's take a break."
    76"A break?"
    "I thought it might be time."
    "I can do this," Cassidy said with certainty.
    "Yes, you can," Trace encouraged, "but it's hot out here, and you're working hard."
    Cassidy agreed and soon after their break learned that there would be no time for sewing that day. With the gun finally loaded, she would not stop working with the revolver until she got it right. Trace pressed her to knock