I wasn’t any better prepared for the bang when it came the second time. The gun still kicked but I’d braced for it this time, and watched with pride as the ceramic vessel exploded to smithereens, sending blazing blue debris flying into the air.
“Got it!” Decker yelled out, raising a fist toward the sky. “Second try. I knew it!”
I lowered the gun as he trotted back.
“Hopefully, we won’t need that skill, but I’ll be glad to have it. Just in case.”
He didn’t finish the thought, didn’t have to. Despite my promise to Grace, we both knew the type of situation we’d pointed ourselves toward. A colony of vicious, razor-sharp creatures hell-bent on terrorizing our town. Every chance in the world existed I’d have to fire at least one more shot.
Decker took the revolver, ejecting a spent shell an
