Page 15 of Yours To Take
Blake bursts out laughing. “You’re right.”
“C’mon, Aunt Gemma. Let him come shoot arrows. I bet I’m better than him.”
“Willow!”
“She’s right.” Blake has an easy smile on his face. “I don’t think I’ve ever shot a bow and arrow before.”
“Well then.” I grab Willow’s hand. “I think we’ll need to show you how.”
“Yes!” Willow runs off ahead of us, knowing exactly where to go.
“That’s your niece?” Blake holds the back door open for me.
“It is.”
“She’s feisty.”
“I don’t know what gets into her.”
“She must get it from you.” Blake winks at me.
“Just shoot me with an arrow,” I groan.
“I might. I’ve never done this before.”
“Aunt Gemma is a good teacher!” Willow chirps. She’s vibrating with excitement. This is one of her favorite things when coming out to the ranch.
The archery range is a small clearing near the pasture. Far enough away to not cause any scares to the animals. There’s a fair distance between the targets and the line. Willow has a bow for each of us.
“Okay. How do we do this?” Blake takes the bow from Willow.
“You knock it, aim, and then shoot,” Willow tells him.
“That’s it?”
Willow’s answer is showing him how it’s done, including firing a bullseye. Girl knows how to shoot.
“Damn,”—Blake whistles—“I don’t know if I’ll be able to do that.”
“Watch me, then you can try it, then I’ll help if you need it.” I give him an encouraging smile. Knocking my own arrow, I step up to the line.
I can feel Blake’s watchful eyes on me as I step into position. I could do this in my sleep, but I want to impress him. Setting my feet, I pull the bow up and anchor my hand before aiming and firing.
Dead center in the ring.
“Wow. You’re both scary good at this.”
Willow is beaming as she shoots another arrow.
“You try. I promise it’s not as hard as it looks.”
“I don’t know about that.” Blake’s movements are awkward. Willow comes to stand next to me as we watch him.
“Want to bet that I can get a bullseye?” Blake asks her.
“Daddy usually asks me that when he thinks I think he can’t do something but actually can.”
Willow has never met a stranger, and Blake takes it all in stride. “I don’t know how good I am. But if I don’t get a bullseye, I’ll buy you a sundae back at the ranch.”
