Chapter 53

Scott and Michelle were ready when they arrived. Scott had a couple of range bags containing their guns and gear, and Jessica and Alex had brought his own in a pair of similar ones.

"Looks like you found everything." Scott said.

"We found a lot," Alex said, "but I'm wondering what I was doing with some of it."

"I'll get down there one day," said Scott, "and can have a look at it together. Ready to go?"

"Ready when you are."

They walked the short distance to the firing line of Scott's backyard range.

"Let's see what you brought," Scott said, setting his bags on one of the tables. Alex set his on the other and unzipped them, began taking the guns out.

"I brought one of my Glock .40s, one of my .45s, and a Ruger like yours. Only with a different barrel. Was I into target shooting?"

Scott took the Ruger, ejected the magazine and pulled the slide back to ensure the chamber was empty.

"You were pretty good with this," he said, aiming at one of the targets. "Nice gun, yeah, you were better than me. But you liked the heavy barrel for general use." He put the Ruger down and picked up the Colt.

"Your favorite .45." he said. "You put a lot of rounds through that one. Have you got your reloading gear set up yet?"

"Apparently not, since I don't remember... yeah, the equipment is there though. Another thing I'll have to get used to."

"You had the same Dillon set up I've got." Scott said. "I can give you a hand getting it set up when you're ready. Do you know where you're going to be living yet?"

"No, it'll be wherever I end up buying something. You come up with anything around here?"

"As a matter of fact, let me give Laura a call and when if she's free today. She has a few places you might like, see if we can go look at a couple after lunch."

He made a call and talked for a few minutes.

"Laura's with Sanders Realty," Scott said, "I was telling you about her. She'll come by about one, that gives us a couple of hours."

"I guess if I used the .45 mostly I'll try it first."

The gun he had brought had several loaded magazines and two full boxes of cartridges.

"These have been in here for over a year," he said. "I don't guess that'll be a problem."

"Ammunition can sit around for years," Scott said, "the only thing about leaving magazines loaded for a long time is the springs may get a little weak. Watch out for a feed failure causing a jam."

Alex slid a magazine in and seated it with a rap with the heel of his hand.

"That was about the last of the decent Colts," Scott said. "I bought one just like it about the same time. After the 80 series quality declined. These bring a pretty good price these days."

Alex pulled the slide back, released it.

Little stiffer than Scott's Glock. What's with the...

Yeah, single action. Gotta pull the hammer back for the first shot. Good, comin' back.

He aimed at one of the targets, thumbed the hammer back. Sighted. Fired.

Yeah. That kicks a little.

He fired the remaining six rounds, about two seconds apart.

Slide locks open when it's empty. Right.

"Not bad," Scott said. "Got'em all on the paper, last couple in the eight ring. Not bad at all."

He fired the remaining four magazines, improving a little with each one.

Jessica helped him load the four magazines he had brought with the Ruger and he fired all of those.

On the last two he took an aggressive stance, crouching slightly and firing as fast as he could. All hit near the center of the target.

That's easy. Light recoil. Looking good.

Jessica and Michelle helped him load the Glock magazines. He had brought four, in two belt carriers.

Alex emptied each one into the targets.

Kicks a little more actually. Recover quicker though. Fifteen rounds ain't bad. Guess if I was good enough I could shoot twice.

They spent another hour or so, Jessica and Michelle taking a turn.

"We better get some lunch," Michelle said, "before Laura gets here."

Scott looked at his watch.

"Yeah, let's pack up. You're doing great Alex. You'll be back to your old self in no time."

Yeah, it is looking better.

"We'll get lunch," Michelle said. "You guys have a smoke. Be ready in a few minutes."

Scott and Alex stayed outside and smoked small cigarillos before going in. Michelle and Jessica had sandwiches and chips on the table, and they had just finished when they heard a car arriving. The crushed rock driveway announced the arrival of even a quiet car.

Laura wasn't driving a quiet car, or even a car. She was in a new Jeep Wrangler. A four-door, but not big enough for all of them to be comfortable.

"We can take Jessica and Alex and follow you," Scott said. "Like your new ride."

Laura smiled.

"I got it because I liked yours," she said. "I find myself driving off the pavement quite a lot these days."

"Lead on," he said, "we'll be right behind you."