She bites her lower lip. “Only if Bethany doesn't want to come. She said she had some things she wanted to talk over with Waverly today, so I suspect it won't be a problem.”
The fact that she doesn't want to take Bethany is a relief. I can't forget she's a spy. I should be better around Cynthia, but she knows I've been out on my own. With all the time she's spent with Zade, I doubt she really believes he's suddenly trying to be harder on me anyway. “I suppose it'd be fine, as long as we don't go anywhere besides the wood worker.”
“Let's go then. We can't have the Master of the house uncomfortable.”
“You really want to go out of the house without a warlock to chaperon?”
“Well, Zade isn't here and it needs done. Nothing's happened to you yet.”
“Your first unchaperoned outing. I'll hold this memory forever.”
I laugh. She goes on ahead to call for a carriage while I hide Julia's journal in my room to peruse later. Hopefully, Waverly won't find it while she's cleaning.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Several days later, Zade corners me on my way out from sneaking a snack in the kitchen. Thankfully Phyllis wasn't there, but she may have been a better choice than him. His face is stern, not a hint of lightness in his eyes. Did he find out we were in his room? Is he angry we went to town and ordered things without him?
“Today, you're going to use a gun.”
Not problems with the furniture then. I'm not sure this is any better though. “I don't know if that's a good idea.”
“You'll learn to use a revolver.”
The air is sucked from me. He's never forced me to do anything. I hate the change so much, I'm willing to risk contradicting him. Once I've gotten a hold of myself, I say, “I don't care what the law says, women don't touch them.”
“Most don't live with a man who has a price on his head.”
He has a good point, but is such a drastic action needed? He leans against the wall next to me. Our arms brush. A tingle rushes through me.
“How seriously are they trying to harm you?”
“The intruder in your room was the first attempt. I finally caught up with him. Seems someone mixed up our rooms. He's taken care of now.”
Taken care of? I shiver. “First attempt? Don't evade me this time, how many more have there been?”
“Enough that you need to protect yourself.”
Still evading, but it sounds bad. I clench my jaw. I don't want anything to happen to him. I want to do this, but it's hard to ask. “Will more kissing help?”
He pinks and shrugs.
My chest stings at the rejection. “Is there anything I can do?”
“Learn to shoot.”
I bite my lip. “What about Cynthia and Bethany?”
“I'd like to teach them, but with your Father still their owner, I have to be careful. They've got extra wards on them.”
“Can't you do that for me?”
“I'm doing what I can, but I can't do everything. You shouldn't worry about them. You're around me more than they are. Plus, you're the one engaged to me, not them.”
“I don't think it's a good idea.”
“You need some means of protecting yourself, though I pray you never have to use it. Please do this for me.”
I don't want to touch a gun, let alone use it. But people rarely use the word please, and never a warlock. Plus, there was the moment when we met Councilman Barkley that I wished I had a gun. “When do we start?”
He slouches against the wall a moment, before coming to his feet. “Right now. Follow me.”
We leave the house, but instead of going to the gardens, we go to the side, trailing along until we come to a field. My muscles tense more the closer we get. One side has stacks of hay set up. He leads me across from the hay about two hundred paces away.
“This is your revolver. When we're not using it, keep it strapped to your leg where you can reach it through the pocket Katherine made for you.” He pulls out a black gun and lets it rest in the palm of his hand. The sun glows on it, making its deadliness shine.
I swallow.
“Never, ever point this at something you're not willing to destroy.”
“This really isn't a good idea.”
He grabs my hand and presses the gun into it, wrapping his own hand around it. “You can do this.”
The metal is cold against my skin. He takes his hand off mine and points to the long end of the gun. “This is the barrel. This is the hammer.” He flips a lever back. “Pull it back half way to open the loading gate.” He pushes it back up. “You try it.”
My fingers quiver as I pull it back. “Now what?”
He spins the middle part of it. “This is the chamber that holds the bullets. How many are there?”
I reach up to spin it myself and count. “Six.”
“Right. Always keep track of how many you've shot.” He reaches into his pocket and pulls out some small brass items. “These are bullets. You slip them in the chamber with the point side down.” After showing me once, he holds them out. “Give it a try.”