It Had to Be Him(68)
Meg moved by his side. Then, loud enough for everyone to hear, she said, “You don’t have to do this, Josh. I know you’ll bring her back.”
A little trust from Meg. At last.
He shot her a smile, but if he didn’t at least try, the rest of the town wouldn’t fall in line. His negotiation training told him upping the stakes on the other side would be the next move. Remembering something Zeke had told him the other day, he said, “I’ll take the shot, but only if you take the shot too. If I hit and you miss, you’ll have to break down and finally accept Zeke’s offer for dinner and a movie.”
Chuckles sounded all around.
Zeke called out, “Never known you to back down from a direct challenge, Ruthie. What’s it gonna be?”
Meg’s grandmother sent Zeke a scowl.
Josh added, “But if we both miss, the whole deal is off, except you’ll have to quit pointing guns at me when I come to visit Meg and Haley.” He held his hand out for her to shake.
Everyone waited silently as Meg’s grandmother stared at Josh’s hand while she considered. “You think you’re pretty clever, don’t you, Granger?”
Meg laughed. “Welcome to my world.”
Meg’s grandmother turned and checked out the target again. “You figuring what I am? Maybe thirty-five, forty percent chance we can hit that?”
She might be old, but she was still sharp. “Yep.”
“And you’re still willing to take the challenge?”
He nodded.
“Okay then, we got ourselves a deal. A body’s gotta eat dinner anyway and a movie won’t kill me.” She returned the shake. “You want to go first or second?”
“Ladies first.”
As Meg’s grandmother moved into position, Josh grabbed a handful of straw and tossed it up so they could both see how the wind took it. “A little to the left if it holds steady.”
Her eyes shifted toward his. “But it’s gusting a bit. What we’re both going to need is luck.” She lifted the rifle, stared down the sight, then whispered, “You bringing her back, Granger?”
“Yep.”
“I’m so old I’ll just plead Alzheimer’s or something and take you out if you’re lying to me.”
“Understood.”
He moved aside as she set up for her shot. After she pulled the trigger, the flapping of startled birds filled the air, but no glass breaking.
“Darnation!” She handed the gun to Josh.
He glanced at Meg, silently asking what he should do. If he missed, it’d save her grandmother’s pride, she wouldn’t have to go on the date, he’d be safe when he visited the guesthouse in the future, and he’d still get to take Haley to the ranch.
He should probably throw it.
After Meg shrugged, her grandmother called out, “What’s this going on between you and Meggy there, Granger? I’ll have to accidentally shoot you in the ass too, if you don’t get up there, be a man, and give it your best shot!”
Clearly, this was where Meg got her attitude from. Related by DNA or not.
After Meg smiled and nodded, he stepped up to the bale of hay and lifted the rifle to his shoulder. Slowing his breathing and his heart rate, he blocked out all the sounds around him, lining up the pane of glass glistening in the sunlight. He set his body, closed his eyes, then moved only his trigger finger, waiting for the outcome.
The sound of glass breaking sent a cheer up from everyone except for Meg’s grandmother. “Guess we got ourselves a date, Zeke. But that doesn’t include any monkey business. Just making that clear right now.”
Zeke chuckled. “We’ll see. Might be, you’ll finally see what a charming guy I can be when I put some effort into it. You’d be worth the effort, I reckon.”
Grandma rolled her eyes.
Still smiling at his victory, Josh handed Meg’s grandma the gun. “I respect a woman who drives a hard bargain. I think you should have the honors of blowing up the car.”
“Don’t mind if I do. Nice shootin’, Granger.”
She took aim, pulled the trigger, and then winced as the big boom filled the air. The car’s body blew five feet straight up off the axle, just as he’d planned. By the time it landed, fire engulfed the inside, flames flaring out all the window openings to add drama.
It’d worked perfectly.
“Now that was fun.” Meg’s grandmother smiled. “If you have any trouble with Haley this evening, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks.”
Ryan appeared beside him. “YouTube, huh?”
Josh tilted his head as he watched the fire crew trip over themselves as they tried to put out a fire that’d go out on its own if they didn’t hurry. “The Internet is an amazing thing.” He clapped his hand on Ryan’s shoulder, then went to talk to Meg.