“How do I get to the range?” After Jed gave him general directions, Danny went out the back door, jogged to his car, and drove out onto the street. A few turns later, he spotted Mandy’s green Subaru. He followed her. She took a side street and drove through a section of residential homes that declined in value and upkeep as they left the main business section. Glossy shutters and wide lawns gave way to narrow lots and peeling paint. Deep green grass shifted to clover. She came to a stop sign. He saw her glance in her rearview mirror.

Snagged.

Danny waved. Mandy ignored him and continued out of the town proper. A couple of miles later she turned onto a dirt lane. A sign read Huntsville Gun Club. Danny parked next to her in a dry but rutted lot. “What are you doing?”

“Making sure I’m able to protect my family.” She grabbed a nylon bag from the passenger seat, closed the car door, and walked away from him. Danny hurried to catch up.

It was an outdoor shooting range. No store. Just a shack with a soda machine under the overhang. A long wooden roof on posts angled away from the rough building. Underneath, picnic tables were spaced end to end. Targets dotted the expanse of meadow that stretched away from the tables. Big grass berms rose at the rear of the range to catch stray bullets.

Two men were popping off shots with handguns. Mandy gave them an absent wave and set her nylon bag on a center table. She pulled out ear protection, both foam plugs and over-the-ear muffs, and safety glasses. “If you’re going to stand there, put these on.” Without looking at him, she handed Danny the muffs. She rummaged around in her bag, dug out a spare pair of protective glasses, and handed them over. She looked all business. He did what he was told. When Danny’s sister eyeballed him like that, he knew better than to argue.

Mandy pulled a revolver out from under her sweatshirt. What the fuck?

“Where did you get that?” he yelled.

With a sigh, Mandy pulled the foam plugs out of her ears. “I’ve had a concealed carry permit for years, but I admit, until this winter, I didn’t carry that often.”

“But you do now?”

“Every minute of every day.” She put the plugs back in and turned back to the range. Danny noticed the two other guys had stopped shooting. They were watching Mandy.

She took her stance, brought the gun to level with both hands, and squeezed off five rounds at the twenty-foot target, hitting it smack center each time. She reloaded and put the next five into the next target with equally impressive aim.