Lily pushed up the window and took careful aim at the man who had probably shot Caleb-the fat man with the funny hat. "Drop that gun and let him pass," she said clearly, "or I'll blow you into pieces so small they'll be able to sweep you up and carry you off in that hat of yours." Caleb grinned at that, despite his wound. When the bandit dropped his rifle into the dust Caleb dismounted, strode over to collect it, and entered the house through the back door. If the others were looking on, they were apparently afraid to move-Lily couldn't see them from where she stood. Caleb glanced at Baker, still lying unconscious on the floor, his hands bound behind him with a cloth that had part of the word Tuesday embroidered on it. "What happened to him?" "He met up with the big skillet," Lily answered, peering at Caleb's wound. "Let me have a look at that." "It's nothing," Caleb answered, shuffling her aside. "How many are there?" "Four, I think," Lily answered, frowning thoughtfully. "Besides this fellow and the fat man, I mean." "What do they want?" "Me," Lily said succinctly. "Can't blame the poor bastards for that," Caleb remarked with a wry grin, striding to the gun cabinet and taking out a rifle. "Too bad I'm going to have to kill them." "Caleb, you're hurt-let me take care of you." "That'll have to wait," Caleb answered, going to the front window to stand just to one side of it, looking out. "Get out of the middle of the room, Lily, before they take a potshot at you." Lily ducked behind the wing-backed chair, her teeth biting into her lower lip. The glass in the window shattered in the next instant, and Caleb fired. "Never pays to stand out in the open!" he called to his victim. "Is he dead?" Lily's fingers were digging into the leather of Caleb's favorite chair. "No, but his mama will probably never have grandchildren."
( Linda Lael Miller )
[ Lily and the Major ]
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