Ellie's Legacy (14 page)

He held both hands up. “Whoa, you sound like you’re
challenging me to a duel.”

She raised one shoulder in a sexy shrug. “In a way, I guess
I am. Are you chicken?”

“What about your pa?”

She paused for a moment. “I’ll give him his next dose of
medicine and ask Cook to keep an eye on him.”

It was evident Ellie wasn’t going to give up the challenge.
“Why do we have to go clear up to the mine?” he asked. “Let’s ride out on the
south forty and set up a target.”

“What if the hands hear us and think something else is going
on?”

“It’s about time for replacements to ride out. I’ll let them
know that for an hour or so they’ll hear some gunfire. As long as they know
what’s happening, things will be fine.”

“Sounds good to me,” Ellie said with a big grin. “You spread
the word and I’ll go see to Pa, get my gun, and meet you back here.” She turned
on her heel and hurried toward the house.

Ty reached beneath the brim of his hat and massaged his
brow. “How do I get into these situations?” he muttered.

Chapter Eleven

Ellie tapped Pa on the shoulder. “I hate to disturb you, but
you need to take your medicine again, then you can go back to sleep.”

She placed a hand behind his head, helped him into a
semi-sitting position and put the glass to his lips. He thirstily emptied it,
as if the fever had pulled every bit of moisture from his body; even then she
curled her nose wondering how he stood the awful taste.

“How are you feeling?” She set the glass aside and plumped
his pillow.

“Some better, but I can’t get past being sleepy.”

“I’m sure it’s the medicine. You rest and get
well,
Pa. Cook is making you some of her tasty chicken soup.
In the meantime, is there anything else I can get for you?”

He shook his head, his eyes already half-lidded.

“Well, if you think of anything you need, Cook will be here.
I’m…” She thought for a moment. Anything about her and guns was the last thing
Pa needed to know. “I’m going to be outside in the barn for a bit.” She crossed
her fingers behind her back to counteract the lie. If God kept count, there was
no way she’d make it to heaven.

With Pa medicated and tucked back under the covers, Ellie
hurried to her armoire. She flung open the doors to retrieve her gun, but
instead her gaze rested on her new dress. Funny, the question she went to the
barn to ask never got answered. It got lost in the heated discussion about
females and guns. Somehow at the moment, the dance didn’t seem all that
important. Besides, with Pa sick, it remained to be seen if she should even
consider going that far from home.

Ellie pushed her gown aside and reached into the far corner.
Her fingers locked around the smooth leather of her holster and, with caution,
she withdrew her loaded weapon. She donned a jacket then draped the gun belt on
her shoulder and tiptoed down the hall.

Just outside her father’s room, she paused for a moment.
Upon hearing his snores, she quickly passed his open door and went into the
kitchen.

Cook turned from the stove. Her mouth gaped when she spied
the gun Ellie carried.
“My goodness, child.
What are
you doing with that?”

“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later, but don’t worry. I
know how to use it.”

Ellie left the puzzled woman before she had a chance to
respond and hurried out the back door.

She crossed the distance to the barn in giant steps, pleased
to find Ty had saddled both their horses.

“Thanks for saving us some time. I’ll strap on my gun and
we’ll be on our way.” Excitement tingled through her. For the first time she’d
wear her sidearm instead of stashing it in a saddle bag. She fastened the
holster buckle and bent to secure the rawhide strap around her leg. As
exhilarating as the moment felt, her mind questioned her sanity.

“Let me have a look at that.” Ty held out his hand.

Being careful not to put her finger on the trigger, Ellie
withdrew the weapon and handed it to him. “It’s one of the newest from the
mercantile.” She chuckled to herself at the recollection of Percy’s face when
she denied wanting to see the new arrivals. Some day she’d have to apologize to
him.

Ellie hovered over Ty while he carefully weighed the gun in
one hand and admired the shiny metal and smooth grips. He pinched the sites,
turned and aimed at the back wall, then lowered the gun and handed it back to her.
“Pretty nice.
Are you sure you know how to draw, site
and shoot. This isn’t like a rifle, you know?”

“I’m sure,” Ellie said, rolling her eyes. “It has quite a
different kick, but like I said, I’ve been practicing.”

“Then mount up and let’s get goin’.” Ty hefted himself
astride Shadow.

She mounted and followed him out of the barn, annoyed he
still refused to see her as anything other than a helpless female. She’d show
him.

Once outside, Ty spurred his stallion into a run. The bag of
tin cans tied to his saddle horn rattled as he left Ellie lagging behind. She
dug her heels into Chessie’s side, but it was no use. The chestnut mare
couldn’t match Shadow’s speed, besides, the faster pace sent cold air biting
into Ellie’s cheeks. She slowed Chessie to a walk.

Ty noticed, reined his mount and waited for Ellie to catch
up. He swiveled in the saddle and called out, “C’mon, we don’t have all day.”

Ellie wasn’t in a hurry. She wanted to make the time spent
with him last, and if the truth be known, she didn’t mind stalling a bit to
avoid the “show down”. She drew Chessie up alongside Shadow.

“I didn’t know we were in such a hurry. Why can’t we just
enjoy the ride?”

“I did enjoy the ride,” he answered with a smug look on his
face. “You should have joined me.”

She sneered. “All right, you’re an expert rider and a
magnificent shot. I get your message. Has anyone ever told you you’re a
conceited jackass?”

But a handsome one.
It irked her
she couldn’t seem to stay mad at him for any length of time.

He bent and patted the side of Shadow’s neck. “There’s a
fine line between conceit and confidence. I’m confident because I know I’m
good.”

There was no use pursing a conversation about his skills. He
obviously had a pretty high opinion of himself, but maybe it was warranted. Her
nervous stomach rolled as she turned her attention to the incredible scenery.
She pulled the collar of her sheepskin-lined jacket up past her chilled cheeks
and wondered what she had gotten herself into.

Ellie had no doubt her admiration of nature’s beauty posed a
stall for time. A definite winter threat iced the air, but the grass around
them was just as fresh as the first day of spring. A few evergreen trees dotted
the countryside, but the majority of the others had lost their leaves,
stretching naked branches skyward. An occasional rabbit skittered to escape the
horses’ hooves, and in the distance, a hungry hawk circled over his intended
prey.

She turned back to Ty and made a sweeping gesture of the
landscape. “Isn’t this the most breathtaking sight?”

He nodded in agreement, but his gaze never left her face.

They continued to ride, and before long, Ty pointed to a
stand of trees. “Over there. We should be far enough from the house so we don’t
disturb your pa.”

Disturbing her father was the least of her concerns at the
moment. What had she been thinking challenging Ty to a contest? Pa was doing
better, but maybe she should use him as an excuse to postpone the match. She
nibbled her bottom lip and sighed. Ty would see right through that excuse.

Ellie halted Chessie next to the nearest tree, dismounted
and secured her reins to a branch low enough to allow the animal to graze.
Suddenly, her palms dampened with perspiration. She’d bragged about her
abilities, and now she had to deliver. True, her skills had improved, but could
she live up to her boasting?

Here again she faced the consequence of using her mouth
instead of her brain. She took a deep breath, turned and braced herself.

Ty had already tethered his horse and busied himself setting
up a line of cans along a fallen log. Ellie found a stump and sat, her
heartbeat sounding in her ears.

Ty straightened from his task and glanced over at her. “You
ready?”

She stood on wobbly legs. “I…I guess.”

“You don’t sound too convincing. We can call the whole thing
off if you aren’t feeling sure of yourself.”

Oh, that irritating tone in his voice. Call it off? Not a
chance. She could do this—she had to do this. Besides, his attitude was
downright insulting. “I’m quite confident about my abilities, thank you.” Ellie
spoke through clenched teeth.

She brushed by him and walked toward the target area. With a
glance over her shoulder, she feigned confidence. “So how are we going to do
this?”

Ty came and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her. “We’ll take
turns. I’ve set up the first six targets. I’ll go first so you get the idea.”

Ellie stepped to the side to give him room.

Ty’s gaze focused on the cans lined atop the log. Beneath
the brim of his dusty hat, determination knit his two brows into one. He
widened his stance and rested a hand on the butt of his revolver.

As soon as his gun cleared leather, a blaze of gunfire ensued.
With lightning precision, Ty masterfully downed five of the six cans, and
re-holstered his weapon. With a cocky smile, he turned to Ellie. “Well, I must
have been distracted on that last one, but five out of six is pretty good,
seeing as how it probably only took ten seconds or so.”

Ellie exhaled. There was no denying he’d done a good job.
Her heart really started to pound. What if she wasn’t as skilled as she
thought? While watching Ty set up six new cans, she mentally pictured her
makeshift target filled with holes made by expertly placed shots. The whole
time she fought rising nausea.

Ty strolled back. “It’s your turn.”

Her stomach clenched.

“Thanks. I kind of figured that,” she snapped, surprised by
her snippiness. This was her idea, not his. She swallowed hard, determined to
mellow her tone. “Could you do me a favor?”

“What?”

“Can you please stand back a little ways?” She motioned over
her shoulder. “It distracts me to see you out of the corner of my eye.”

“Sure, no problem.”
He backed up a
few paces.

It didn’t help. He was distracting anywhere, anytime. Oh, if
only her mouth didn’t get her into these messes.

Ellie swiped at the beads of perspiration on her brow.
Despite the brisk air, the pressure of the moment burned beneath her skin. She
wiped the offending moisture on her pant leg, broadened the distance between
her feet, and readied herself. She briskly rubbed her palms together, and since
they were in the perfect position, she took a brief second to mutter a silent
prayer. Please God, don’t let me make a fool of myself.

With determination, she eyed the cans and locked her fingers
around the rosewood grips. Recalling exactly how she’d riddled the floral
material at the old mine, Ellie drew her weapon and fired. One after another
the first four bullets found their mark, but the last two dug deep into the
earth beyond the log. Two cans remained. Ellie’s jaw tightened as she shoved
her weapon back into its leather restraint.

“Not bad, not bad at all. I’m impressed.” Ty said, with a
smug grin.

Perhaps it was his attempt at a compliment, but it sounded
more like taunting.

She turned and gave him a forced smile. “You don’t have to
rub it in. You won, I lost. It’s as simple as that.”

“I’m not rubbing anything in. I thought you did a good job
under the circumstances.”

“And what circumstances are those?”

“You-me…a shoot-off for the first time.
I didn’t expect you to hit anything.”

“Well, thanks for the confidence. I am only a woman, after
all.” Ellie seethed inside.

“Ah, Ellie, don’t get mad. That’s not what I meant. You
wanna try again?”

Her mind screamed no, but her mouth overrode the warning.
“Sure, set ‘em up. Why not shoot at the same time this round.”

“Really?”
He eyed her suspiciously.

“Set ‘em up, I said.” Ellie reloaded her revolver, wondering
why he stirred her need for rivalry.

When would she learn? She’d seen Pa put a mouthpiece on
mares that nipped. Maybe she should wear one to keep her words in check. Her
competitive nature was going to be the ruination of her.

Ty fished inside the burlap sack and produced the last ten
cans. He spaced them perfectly atop the log, then returned to stand beside her
and reloaded his own gun.

Again he assumed his shooting stance. He grasped his gun
butt and turned to Ellie.
“So, on my go.
I’ll take the
first five, you take the last. Are you ready?”

Ellie sucked in a breath and got into position. Her
heartbeat pulsed in her temples, but she maintained a steady hand. Her only
thought was showing Ty what she was really made of. She tensed, but remained
focused.

“Go.” Ty’s body reacted to his own cue.

Ellie’s gun cleared the holster. Her rapid gunfire
synchronized with Ty’s, sending one can after another leaping into the air and
tumbling to the ground. Her last shot sounded just slightly after his, but when
the last bullet was fired, only one can was left upright—one of his.

She holstered her gun and did a little dance. “I got ‘em
all, I got ‘em all.”

Suddenly, she stopped, realizing her reaction belied her
statements about being an adult. With hands on her hips, and a cocky tilt to
her head, she asked, “So, Mr. Bishop, what have you got to say for yourself
now?”