Target Shooting

Jake was contrary enough that he didn’t want to give the old man that much satisfaction. He set his stance, held the shotgun ready in the gun-down position, and nodded.

“Pull!” Gardner called.

The targets flew spinning into the air. Jake brought the shotgun smoothly to his shoulder, tracked the leader, squeezed off one barrel, shifted his aim just slightly, and fired again.

Tiny fragments of both targets pelted to the ground, all that was left of them.

Gardner frowned and asked, “How long’s it been since you did any target shooting, boy?”

“At targets like that? Seven years. Maybe eight.”

Gardner just shook his head in admiration.

“You’ve got a knack for it. Always have. Never saw a boy who could handle a gun like you, even when you were a little kid. You could shoot like a grown man when you were twelve years old.

- Chapter 3