Page 176 of New Storm Rising
“There? What do you mean, there?”
“They’re catching up. We have to make a stand sooner or later. We’re going to make it there, at the top of that cliff.” I glanced back at him. Eyes sparkling icily, he sent a challenging look my way. “Tell me…how many bullets do you still have left?”
A vicious grin spread over my face. “Lots!”
***
Mr Ambrose was as swift as he was efficient in setting up defences. Knapsacks and other pieces of baggage were dumped between rocks at the top of the cliff, creating an almost continuous bulwark. The steel-reinforced carriage was placed right at the top of the path leading up the cliff, blocking anyone from moving past it.
Seeing that, I cast a glance at Mr Rikkard Ambrose. “Um…you did remove the prisoners from the coach before using it as a barricade against gunmen, didn’t you?”
All Mr Rikkard Ambrose did in answer was to send a look back at me. One that clearly said,Now, whyever would I do such a thing?
I made a mental note to never ever leave any house guests in the loving care of my husband.
Bam! Bam!
I swallowed.
That’s if you’re ever gonna get the chance to have house guests, Lilly.
Cocking my revolver, I pressed myself tightly against the large rock that served as my cover and tried to steady my breathing.
“Get ready!” Mr Ambrose commanded. “They’re coming!”
And they came. They came with a vengeance. Water splashed in every direction as they galloped through the river. Not even stopping to dismount, they leapt from their saddles and dashed towards the path up the cliff.
Not so fast!
Cocking my revolver, I took aim.
Bam!
The man seemed to move instinctively, just as my finger hit the trigger. I’d been aiming straight for his heart, I was sure of it! And yet, somehow the darn desperado was still running, with nothing but a small graze on his shoulder.
Damn they’re good!
Muttering French curses under my breath, I took aim again and—
Bang!
Crap! Missed again! And now, the frigging man was already ducking behind a rock, taking aim over the top. With another curse, I threw myself to the ground and rolled, just as—
Bam!
A bullet whistled right above the place where I had just been sitting, chipping some bits off the rock. But by that time, I was already three yards to the left and coming up from behind my new cover, taking aim.
Bang!
My answering bullet blew the hat off the desperado’s head, but otherwise left him unharmed. Damn it! Again! Roll, come up, aim, and…
Bam! Bam!
“Aaargh!”
Yes! Finally!
Again, I moved, aimed, fired. And again. And again. After five minutes of continuous fire that seemed to stretch into hours, I had already injured three desperados. Duck. Roll. Come up and aim. Fire. It was an excellent tactic, and worked splendidly so far.
