Gun and Charlie came out of the cabin, and Gun ran to Reggie before he could even shut his bike off.

“Little dude, how’s it going?” I lifted my brow to Ace and Shane.

“There’s a reason they’re a few minutes behind us,” Ace grumbled. He was never one for smoking pot.

“At least he didn't do it here,” Shane laughed. This was true and I didn't give a fuck if my brothers smoked.

“Well, did you bring it?” Gun asked Reggie just as Charlie found her place next to my side.

“Bring what?” she asked knowing that those two were thick as thieves.

He grinned opened his backpack and pulled out a gun.

“The fuck is wrong with you? You’re not giving my kid a gun.”

“Relax, bro. It’s a BB gun. I promised him we’d shoot.”

Mouse laughed. She must’ve already known about this because she joked so casually, “A BB gun! You’ll shoot your eye out.”

Ace’s head snapped towards Charlie. He looked at her like he’d never seen her before.

“You know what? A little target practice is a great fucking idea,” I said kissing Charlie’s temple.

***

“You know, I did shoot a gun before.” Charlie looked at me like I was completely ridiculous for teaching her to shoot. “Yeah, and you got lucky. So, the basics. This is the magazine. Your bullets go here. You release it by pressing this.” I showed her the release and the bullets that I had in the chamber and pointed. “Barrel. This one’s easy, it’s the trigger. Now, this is your sight, and this right here is your safety.” I pushed my jean clad leg in between her black yoga pant covered legs and moved her legs apart with mine. I adjusted her arms so that she was holding the gun correctly and noticed the smaller goosebumps break out over her skin. “It’ll have some kickback and it’ll be loud. Don't let it scare you. When it’s in your hands, it’s an extension of you. You have control of it and there is nothing to be afraid of. Now, I want you to focus on the tree. When you feel comfortable pull back and squeeze.”

She focused for a few seconds staring through the scope then she squeezed the trigger. “Did I get it?” she asked not fazed by the blow back of the gun.

“No, completely missed. Don't worry. Let’s try this again. Your hips were in front of your shoulders. Try to move your shoulders forward, like this.” I adjusted her body by grabbing her hips and pulling them back into me. I had to restrain myself from pressing my half erect dick into her ass. This wasn't the time for that. I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner, but Reggie wanting to teach Gun how to shoot made a light switch go off in my head. For Charlie and for myself, I needed to teach her how to protect herself. I planned on always being with her, but I didn't want to take any chances. After moving her into the correct position and placing her hands on each side of the gun, I ordered again, “Aim, and shoot.”

She did and this time, I’ll be damned, she nailed it!

“Again,” I commanded. We did this over and over again until it was the most natural thing to her. When we were finished, I taught her to clean the gun and take it apart. There was nothing to be afraid of when it came to guns as long as you knew what the fuck you were doing, and you didn't leave one where a kid could play cops and robbers with it.

“Your kid’s a great shot! Check this out!” Shane slapped a hand on my shoulder, and Charlie and I followed him to where Gun was shooting his BB gun with Reggie. The rest of my brothers all stood around cheering him on as he aimed at a row of pop cans that were set up fifteen feet in front of him.

Pop. Pop. Pop.

He took out all of the cans, knocking each one over with precision.

“Damn, kid,” Shane ruffled his hair.

“Son,” I called.

He gave me a chin lift. Seven years old and he’s giving chin lifts. Ace saw this and grinned at me.

“Yeah, Dad?” I’d never get over that word, dad.

“Great shot.”

He smiled, “This was fun, can we practice sometimes together?” I nodded. His hazel eyes caught the light, looking almost golden as he smiled hugely at me. Charlie kissed him on the top of his head and whispered something in his ear.

“You’re a lucky man,” Ace said for my ears only.

Didn't I know it.

‘You got any grub on?” Donnie asked. That man was always thinking with his stomach.

“I already checked, man. They got shit,” Knuckles said joining the group. I hadn’t even realized he was gone.

“Good thing, I brought extra,” Donnie laughed and pulled a small cooler from his side bag. I shook my head. He always had something cooking.

A few hours past and we were all very full and content. Charlie was sitting with Anthony's old lady and Gun’s head was in her lap, where she lovingly stroked the side of his head.

Ace caught my eye. I kissed Charlie on her forehead, “I’ll be back.”

“Everything alright?”

“It’s fine, Mouse. Just need to talk with the guys about a few things.”

I followed Ace into the early evening air. Shane was already sitting by the recently lit fire pit. “You got it?”

Shane grinned while Ace retrieved something from his bike. He reached in his pocket and handed me a box. “You sure about this, man?”

“As long as you’ve known me, you ever know me not to be sure about this?”

“Relax, he’s just pissed ‘cause you’re the first of us,” Ace said handing me a bag.

“Keep an eye on Gun?”

“Jesus, we got it,” Shane said waving me off.

I made my way back into the cabin and Charlie’s head was thrown back, laughing at a story Donnie was telling about me.

“He didn't,” she said wiping a tear from under her eye.

“He did too, he was so drunk…”

I cleared my throat and shot Donnie a look that said, “I’m going to kill you if you don’t shut your fucking mouth.”

Charlie looked at me and grinned.

“Mouse, come with me. We’re staying in cabin two tonight.”

“But… what about Gun?” She asked visibly confused.

“We got him, sweet heart. Don't worry about a thing,” Mary, Anthony’s old lady, said.