1 Target of Death by Madison Johns

further from the truth. My
interest in him is only in what he can bring to the table.”
    Dixie laughed. “You do know how that sounds,
right?”
    Instead of answering her, I took my bow and
arrows down the stairs and met Daniel out front. He held a Hoyt Pro Edge Elite
bow and I had to bite my lip to stop from oohing and aahing. I gripped my Bear
Home Wreckerbow that happened to have the ‘Bear’ name on it in pink. It’s
the perfect bow for me, since its shorter draw length accommodates my chest.
    I followed Daniel out back, where he had
two targets set up on bales of straw. Not exactly the correct height for a
competition, but good enough to show this man who was boss.
    He snickered. “Cute white and pink
fletches, and that pink on your bow ... it’s so girly. I can already see you’ll
be easy to beat.”
    Okay, so he wants to judge me for having
pink on my bow and arrows? “This is one girly who is gonna show you what’s
what.”
    He rolled his eyes at that. “Doubtful.”
    Changing the subject, I announced, “I only
brought two arrows.”
    “I’ll only need one to send your sorry
behind straight back to Louisiana with your tail ... well, I guess you don’t have
a tail, but you do have a pretty fine looking ass.”
    He roared in laughter as I gritted my teeth
and went into my stance. He had no clue with whom he was messing. Just as I was
at full draw, Daniel walked in front of my target. “Knock it off!” I shouted,
but he was trying to be cagey so he kept at it. Instead of letting this bastard
get the best of me, I aimed between his spread legs, sinking my arrow, narrowly
missing him.
    “You almost hit me!” he shouted.
    “Luckily for you, your package is small.”
    “How would you know? It just might be
bigger than you think,” he said with a wink. He took his place beside me, drew
back, and easily hit the target. “Your turn.”
    Instead of taking a turn, I whirled away.
Not because I couldn’t do it, but because I could have really hit Daniel and
maimed him for life. That’s not how I wanted my competition days to end, by
some stupid mistake. Tammy, get ahold of
yourself , I told myself.
    When I rounded the corner, Dixie stood
there with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. “Here,” she said. “Don’t let that
man get the best of you like that.”
    “You have no idea what I just did.”
    “Sure I do. I was watching out back with
half the town, I think.”
    “I didn’t see anyone.”
    “Course you didn’t. They all cleared out
when you almost lanceted the local hot shot.”
    “I didn’t meant to do that—”
    “I know, you lost your temper, but Tammy,
you could have maimed that man for life.”
    “I know. I just lost it when he kept
walking in front of my target.”
    Dixie gulped, her eyes widening. “I sure
hope the sheriff isn’t here to talk to you, then.”
    I turned to greet the sheriff, who stopped
mid-stride, glancing down at my bow that I still held. “Isn’t it bad enough
that I already suspect you of murdering Clayton Percy?”
    “I’m not sure I know what you mean, Sheriff.”
    “That little stunt you pulled today. I
received at least five calls claiming you shot your bow when Daniel Adams
hadn’t cleared the target area.”
    “That wasn’t my fault. My fingers slipped.”
    “Why were you at full draw, then? Everyone
knows you don’t do that unless the target area is clear.” When I gave the
sheriff one of my questionable looks, he added, “I’ve been around the
competition circuit for quite some time now. My grandson, Chad, competes, too.”
    “Oh, and how old is your grandson?”
    “He’s twelve and placing well in
competitions in his age bracket,” he said with pride.
    “That’s great. So, Clayton Percy was the
name of the man murdered?”
    “Yes, we contacted his wife earlier today
so it’s now official. I still would like to know why you’d have an interest to kill
Clayton?”
    I moved my toes inside my boots to keep
them warm. “I already told