Brian bought the three coats they'd eyed and he bought Khaat a new pair of black leather gloves. They were light and supple and would be good either for mission work or for cold winter weather. Khaat was drawn to a rack of hand tooled wallets near the door of the shop. She was fingering a tan wallet tooled with roses.
She looked over, saw Brian standing at the counter while the clerk packaged the large coats, and he looked
at her and smiled. Brian didn't relax easily but he was having a good time today. She was glad.
"You see something else?" he asked her, going over to her.
"I want it all," she laughed. "I just want to buy Italy and keep it all." He laughed. He reached over her head, picked up a leather Stetson style hat and put it on her head. It was way too big. They laughed.
"Not quite right, is it?" he laughed. As he spoke, she heard a distinct popping sound, and pain tore through her shoulder. Brian tossed the hat aside, and shoved her to the floor, reacting before Khaat even knew what hit her. One moment they were looking at a hat, and the very next instant he was on top of her on the floor, staring out the door.
"Stay down," he told her. He was extremely serious.
"What are you doing?" she frowned, confused and embarressed.
"Guns," he told her softly, his face close enough that his breath caressed her face. "Muggle guns. You're hit."
"I'm what??" she nearly came unglued.
"Easy," he soothed. "I'm right here. That's my job. You're alright."
"Where?" she asked.
"Your shoulder. Its just a flesh wound. It'll be alright. I'm right here. Easy. Take it easy."
"Gelding?" she asked.
"Yep. That's my bet. Maybe him, or one of his men. Damn. I didn't bring a gun here. And I can't use my wand..." he said. He was cut off by Angus entering the shop, brandishing a pistol. Brian looked at him frowning incredulously. "You don't think that's going to scare anybody, do you?" Brian asked him.
"It was worth a try," Angus said, as Brian moved from Khaat. Angus handed Brian his clean handkerchief, wadded up, and Brian shoved it against her shoulder. He reached for Angus's gun, took it, and pulled the trigger. Instead of a gunshot, the end of the barrel merely sparked into a tiny flame.
"Only an idiot comes to a gunfight with a cigarette lighter," Brian shook his head.