Southern Charms by S. E. Kloos

it pissed him off every time.
    Nodding his thanks, Xander and Kyle followed their parents up the steps to the front door, waiting for it to be opened after their mama knocked.
    After the greeting, Mrs. Johnson noticed Xander’s crutches. She blinked at him, bringing a hand to her chest as concern flooded her voice. “What happened?”
    Xander shook his head while sighing. “Small accident last night, Ma’am. It ain’t nothin’ ta worry over.”
    His mama glared at him. “He was stomped on by a bull ‘cause he was being a cocky little thing, like always.”
    Xander gave his mama a look. “Mama, I have every right to be cocky after gettin’ the buzz off that particular bull. ‘Sides, it could’ve been worse. It could’ve been like that sumbitch from Cheyenne last year.”
    It was then Mr. Steele cocked a brow at his youngest. “You sassin’ your mama, Boy?”
    Shaking his head, “Wouldn’t dream of it Pa; simply telling the truth. That guy’ll be lucky to ever have babies.”
    Kyle grimaced. “I ‘member that. Carried on somethin’ awful, too.”
    Before Xander could say a word to him about, ‘No shit. His nuts prolly exploded’, Mrs. Johnson cut in, seeing the look Xander was giving his brother. “Well, come on in. Boys, Eribeth’s out at the barn.”
    Heading through the house, Kyle took a detour to the bathroom while Xander went straight out the back door into the yard, making his way across to the far side of the barn where he could hear the Little Darlin’ throwing one hell of a fit about something. Peeking around the side, he saw her with a BB gun pointed at makeshift target lined with cans... and wasting the fuck out of some ammo.
    Leaning harder on his crutches, he crossed his arms and took a look at her stance, seeing nearly right off what the problem she was having was. Mouth working faster than his brain, he called out. “You droppin’ your elbow.” He grimaced when she shrieked and whirled around, the end of the gun pointed right at him. Raising his hands, he rushed to say, “Whoa there, Little Darlin’. I’m unarmed this time.”
    Quick as she could, Elizabeth dropped the gun, covering her mouth with the tips of her fingers. “I am so sorry. You scared me, I didn’t mean to.” Then she blinked in shock, “Jesus, what the hell happened to you?”
    Xander shrugged before making his way over to her, his voice off hand. “Pissed off a bull, nothin’ big.” Then he nodded to her, “Let me see your stance again. Let’s see if we can’t fix it for ya.” Taking up a position behind her, he checked her out -in more than one way- but his thoughts on the elbow were right. Before he did anything, he spoke, “Alright, Little Darlin’. Focus right quick on how you standin’ right now feels.” Giving her a few seconds to do that, he then gently pushed one shoulder down while at the same time, lifting the elbow of the other. “Feet shoulder width apart.” Once she had her feet in the right position, he moved back a bit, saying. “Feel the difference between how you is now, and how you was a moment ago?”
    Elizabeth nodded. “Yeah, this is a lot more uncomfortable.”
    Xander nodded at that while tsking, “That’s how you know you doin’ it right, Sugar Britches. Go’n and take a shot.”
    Bristling a bit at the name, she did as she was told, shocked speechless when a can went flying off the wooden horse. Slowly lowering the barrel of the gun, she stared wide eyed for a second before scoffing a tad. “Well, I’ll be damned.” Then she turned to looked over her shoulder at Xander, who was smirking nice and big. “I was doing exactly what Mark told me to do.”
    Xander snorted hard at that and shook his head once as he clicked his tongue. “Well, that explains that then. Mark can’t shoot for shit.”
    Elizabeth cocked a brow at him, “And you can?”
    Grinning wide, Xander nodded a bit. “Youngest ever to get the sharpshooter title in these parts. I can shoot a flea off