Chapter 1 - Show Some Respect
The old veteran caught Garrett Vance by the wrist and wrenched his arm behind his back.
Garrett’s expensive competition shoes scraped across the wet concrete as the veteran forced him to his knees. The crowd recoiled. Phones lowered. Someone gasped near the sponsor benches.
Sarah Vance stood beside them with her battered Remington lowered safely at her side.
Duct tape held the cheek pad together. The stock was scratched. The metal had lost its shine years ago.
Sarah had not.
The veteran tightened his grip.
“You don’t touch her again.”
Garrett twisted, rage and humiliation burning across his face.
Sarah looked down at him, the scar along her cheek pale beneath the harsh Wyoming light.
“A fluke? You watched all three rounds land.”
The distant steel target was still ringing.
One sponsor stared toward the thousand-yard line as if the sound itself had accused him.
The veteran turned Garrett’s wrist slightly.
“Tell them who trained you.”
Garrett’s expression changed.
The arrogance left first.
Then the color.
He looked from the veteran to Sarah.
“She was my father’s sniper instructor.”
The crowd went silent.
Sarah stepped half a pace closer.
“And your father knew exactly who I was.”
The veteran leaned near Garrett’s ear.
“Show some respect.”
May you like
Garrett remained on his knees.
And for the first time all afternoon, nobody was laughing at Sarah’s rifle.
