Coffee? Tea?” Elizabeth wasn’t sure what the protocol was here. What were the requirements of a hostess whose house had been commandeered at 4 AM by armed women? “Gwenna’s got that handled. You come set. I hear you had quite a night.” The windows behind them suddenly went dark. Elizabeth could hear the women inside quietly moving things around. Maggie took the rocker closest to the door and with the clearest view of the yard. She placed her rifle across her lap and bent to open the duffle she had placed beside the chair. “Brought you a present from Marshall.” She grinned as she pulled the shotgun from the bag. “He figured you were already cozy with it.” It was the one from Marshall’s mudroom. Elizabeth returned Maggie’s grin. “Sure as hell beats a broom.” “That it does. Don’t have the range of a rifle, though.” Once seated, Maggie never took her eyes from the yard. “You ever shoot one?” “A rifle?” Elizabeth laughed and patted the shotgun. “I never held a firearm of any sort until I held this one.”
