Chapter Nineteen
Two Days Later
Hunter
“Your mini-me seemed to be his old self again.” Garren returned to my desk, delivering a gun that a customer was coming in to check out. I worked on the papers, issuing the permit and license for the new gun owner.
Vince was reading one of the books Mrs. Tomms gave him days ago. He looked better, finally returning to his cheerful and talkative nature. His cheeks were rosy again.
“He’s doing much better. I think getting him on insulin has made a huge difference. I never thought I’d say anything like it, but I’m grateful the little guy got the flu. We wouldn’t have known he had diabetes otherwise.”
Garren watched as I signed some of the papers that needed my authorization. “That’s great. Are you still checking his blood sugar regularly?”
I handed him the paperwork and stood up from my desk. “Yep. Vince is working hard to live a normal life like the other kids around him. He has taken so well to being a diabetic.”
“That’s great to hear. He is in good hands.” He patted my shoulder, giving me praise for being the hands-on father I hoped to become.
I looked at him as he busied himself with the book he was reading. “The doctor told me that people with diabetes live completely normal lives. He said Vince is improving fast. I hope it only goes well from here on out.”
Garren gave me an affirmative nod.
As we met the customer, I greeted him warmly. I taught him the tips and tricks in using his new gun, as well as the limitations of his use.
“The license and permit serve as an evidence of your huge responsibility to society. Owning a gun does not mean you can use it however you want. It means you have accepted the challenge of embracing duties attributed to the power you now have. I may sound silly, but you should always keep that in mind.”
The young man who purchased the gun looked at me with a bizarre stare. At some point, I thought I scared him. He looked bewildered by my words, but my anxiety was soon replaced by relief when he burst into laughter.
“Yes, sir. I won’t let you down.” He had shaken my hand before he left, promising he would return to ask more about using his gun. I had always talked about that to my customers, and I had no plan of removing that stage of the purchase.
Garren gave me a sarcastic look he used to irritate me, but I just let out a chuckle. Instead, I returned to my desk and worked on the new issuances I made, collating them based on dates and gun types.
No sooner had I sat down than Garren interrupted me.
“Man, there’s someone who wants to talk to you.” For the first time, I heard him nervous. I managed to laugh at him, amused by his sudden mood shift.
“What is it that made your knees shake?” I asked.
He replied with nonverbal language, pointing with his hand over to a man who stood before the display case.
I stood up, brows wrinkled on what the fuss was all about.
The man was thin and pale. His expression was unchanging—a bored look mirrored through his eyes. He kept his gaze on the shelves facing him, staring at the snipers on display as Garren and I walked over to meet him.
“What can I do for you, sir?” I scrutinized him further as I stood before him. He was a thin man who wore a black shirt and dark trousers. He was holding a hat in his one hand and a duffel bag in the other. He was a new face, someone I had never met before.
“I am looking for the Scythe.” His voice was husky and dry. The distinct sound was unmistakable. He searched for the Scythe.
“I’m afraid you’re looking for something illegal, sir,” I responded, keeping my eyes on him. He looked suspicious as hell. I had been living around Mesquite for a long time, meeting everyone from around here, but I’d never seen him before.
He kept his facial expression consistent. “Yes, I know. I don’t care. I want one.”
“Sir, that type of gun is illegal. Normal people can’t buy those without any authorization from the government. It’s a crime to buy or sell something that dangerous.” I explained the rules laid out by the law for him. Despite me explaining further, he didn’t seem to give a shit.
“I know that. No need to give me a lecture. So, how much are you selling it for? I’m willing to pay the price; just name it.” The muscles in his face barely moved.
The asshole was pushing my limits. I wanted to yell at him, just in case he failed to hear my point. Or perhaps he was up to something fishy.
“Why are you buying the gun, sir?”
His expression did not change nor did he move. He kept his eyes on mine, his lids half closed suggesting his bored expression.
“If you’re not selling the gun, then I think I don’t need to waste any more of your day. Thanks for your time.” He looked around once again as if memorizing the place. He turned his back and left, letting his voice linger in the air. I tried to memorize any details prominent about him. He was up to something nefarious, no doubt.
“He’s a weird looking guy. What a waste of time.” Garren looked pissed, but I felt off. I hoped I could have one more look at him, just in case I could find a clue what he was up to.
“Something’s up with that guy. We need to keep an eye out for him. I don’t like the way he thought he could come in here and push us around. Not to mention the asshole wanting to buy something illegal.” I sat back at my desk, still trying to figure out the man’s purpose. There must have been something I missed in the conversation between us.
Thankfully, we had a busy day at the gun shop. More customers came by to ask for additional tips about their guns, even requesting for a short gun practice at the range. Some purchased guns, both from new and previous customers. The daily sales were pretty good, enough to surpass the average sales we had for the week before.
After we had closed the gun shop, Vince and I drove home. We reached our house safely and found Kylie waiting outside on the front porch. I parked the car in the garage and apologized for getting home late.
“Have you been here long?” Vince came running along, bringing his bag with him.
“A little bit. No biggie.” She smiled, and my heart raced.
I unlocked the door immediately for her to come inside.
“It’s been the third day now. I should get my key duplicated so you could have your own.” She shook her head; her cheeks turned rosy pink.
“No, it’s fine. No worries about it, Hunter.”
Vince sat on the couch and turned on the television. I watched as he took his book out of his bag, looking eager to continue with his latest book adventure.
“You need it. Sometimes, we come home late, and you can’t be outside for too long. It’s for your own safety as well.” I wanted to reach out and touch her, but not in front of Vince. Not yet at least.
She nodded, agreeing. “Thank you.”
Vince was reading the book out loud, the kid getting down harder words than I had at his age for sure. I laughed as I watched him, distracted by his loud voice.
Kylie laughed as well, finding it funny that Vince seemed to notice the awkwardness between the two of us as we tried to figure out what to do. You didn’t sleep with someone twice and then treat them like a friend a few days later. It was on me to make a move, but I needed to figure a few things out first, and I would.
“By the way.” I stopped laughing, returning to my sober self. “I’m planning to go hog hunting soon. You should come along. Watch how I shoot the hogs. That way you can learn how to shoot at a moving target.”
She stood up straight. She nodded, her eyes determined and eager to witness the scene. “I would like that. I think.”
I’d like it too. Any excuse for more time with her was a good enough reason for me to suggest just about anything. “Just in case you see something again, you won’t be afraid to pull the trigger anymore.” I smiled and reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ears. God, she was beautiful. Insanely so.