Page 74 of Barbed Wire Hearts

“A clever woman,” he chortles. “That’s not like you, Young Steele.”

Dakota frowns but Wiley snickers. “He ain’t wrong.”

“Now, when you aim and your finger is on the trigger,” he instructs, gesturing for me to get into position. “Take a deep breath as you aim. When you release it, squeeze the trigger at the same time.” He grabs my shoulders and repositions me. “You’re shorter and these mountain cowboys aren’t accountin’ for that. Take notice of the wind, acknowledge the wind may move the trajectory and correct for it.”

“Yes, sir,” I say, taking aim. The wind is low today but it’s blowing so I move my aim just slightly to the right in case it changes it.

“When you’re ready, go ahead and squeeze the trigger,” he instructs.

I take a deep breath and when I let it out, I do as he says. I squeeze the trigger. The sound echoes around us a split second before the sound of shattering glass echoes with it. I gasp and lower the gun.

“I hit it!”

“You did,” Ned gushes. “You did a good job.”

I hand the gun to Dakota and throw my arms around Ned. “That’s the first time,” I tell him. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

He smiles and hugs me back. “You remind me of my daughter,” he murmurs, patting me gently on the back.

“Oh! Is she here?” I ask, looking around. “I thought I was the only woman.”

He shakes his head. “No. She died a few years back.”

My smile falls. “I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be,” he says with shake of his head. “She would’ve liked you, Miss Kate.” He glances at the guys all watching behind me. “Make sure you take good care of Miss Kate, boys. We need more people like her out here.” But then his eyes meet Levi’s. “Good to see you walkin’, kid. Proud of ya.”

Then he tips his hat and walks back the way he came, rejoining his people up further on the ridge. I turn back to Dakota with a grin.

“I hit it,” I declare.

“You did,” he nods. “Now do it a hundred more times and maybe I’ll think you’re good enough to carry your own gun.”

I scowl. “You could at least be proud of me.”

“I am,” he answers, his expression still the same.

“You don’t look it,” I sigh. “You never look anything less than stoic.”

He blinks. “What would you have me be like, Kate?”

I shake my head. “Nothing,” I say. “Don’t worry about it. I’m gonna go settle down for the night.”

“We should still practice,” he says.

“Tomorrow,” I reply. “I’m tired tonight and my shoulders ache.”

As if it’s a reminder of why my shoulders ache, his eyes widen before he nods. “Of course.”

When I meet Wiley’s eyes, he grins and wiggles his eyebrows. “Look at you, Calamity Jane! Before long you’re gonna be shootin’ the wings off a fly.”

There’s the excitement I was looking for. Even Levi smiles proudly at me. But Dakota? Nothing. Just instructions to do it again and again.

When Levi pulls out a guitar that night, I stare at him with wide eyes at the unexpected reveal. I’ve not seen him play the guitar at all, so when he starts playing it like an expert and starts singing, I nearly lose my mind. The words flicker through the air around us and I find myself enraptured by him. I’ve heard the song play on the stereo, the lyrics of “Neon Moon” wrapping around me like a warm coat, but when Levi sings it, it takes on a whole new meaning. When his eyes meet mine as he sings, I melt, completely awestruck. The man sings like a literal angel, and I could listen to him sing forever.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks so.

I nearly scream when the little creature comes rustling out of the bush near me, drawn in by Levi’s voice.

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