Read Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) for Free Online

marksman to make such a shot.”
    “I agree,” said Joseph.  “Might I trouble you for a
ribbon to mark the target?”
    “Of course.”  She pulled a blue ribbon from her
coiffure.  A long red curl tumbled down after it.
    Joseph’s breath hitched just a bit as he reached up
and took the ribbon.  Both he and she wore gloves and his fingers were numb
with cold.  But the brief touch sent fire through his hand.  From the way her
eyes widened, it appeared she’d felt it, too.
    He turned, then awkwardly slogged through the snow
toward the woods, calling out as he did so. “Kensington, do be so good as to
keep your rifle pointed at the ground.  You wouldn’t want to shoot me.”
    “Oh, wouldn’t I?” asked Kensington, who then laughed
at his jest.
    “No,” said Joseph without bothering to turn around. 
“Because I would then be forced to kill you.”  He continued pacing until he was
almost out of sight.  Then he climbed a tree and tied Evelyn’s ribbon around a
branch. 
    “I don’t know what he’s trying to prove by placing
the target so far away,” Kensington said to Evelyn.  “It’s not as if I would
ever have to make such a shot hunting.  Many times you can catch the animals
completely unaware and only yards away.  I do not think this is necessary in
the least.”
    “Yet, I am sure it will be entertaining,” said
Evelyn as Joseph grimly trudged back through the snow.
    “All right Kensington,” he said.  “We’ll see which
of us comes closer to the ribbon.”
    “While I always welcome a challenge, should we not
wait until you have a rifle?”
    “I will not need one.”
    Kensington laughed.  “That shot would be impossible
with a pistol.  Perhaps we should close the gap a bit.”
    “I think not.”
    Kensington took his time getting into position,
slowly moving forward a half step at a time.
    “Mr. Kensington,” said Evelyn, barely suppressing a
laugh.  “I believe the line is back here.”
    “Of course,” he said stepping back so he was only a
foot or so in front of it.
    “All the way back here,” she said sweetly.
    Kensington reluctantly moved back to the line,
raised his rifle and shot.  His aim was wide.  The ball hit a branch to the
right of the tree and a good three feet above the target.  But once the smoke
cleared, he appeared surprised to have done so well. “That’s not bad, if I do
say so myself.”
    “And you do,” muttered Joseph as he took his place
at the line.  He aimed his pistol for a quick moment, then shot, obliterating
both the ribbon and Kensington’s ego.  “I believe I owe you a ribbon, my lady.”
    “I shall be certain to demand recompense,” she
replied.
    “Where the devil did you learn to shoot like that?”
asked Kensington, affronted by Stapleton’s accuracy.
    “Bow Street, among other places.  I am an inspector.”
    Kensington’s surprise was obvious.  “And why are you
here?”
    “I have come to Oxfordshire on holiday.”  He didn’t
want Lady Evelyn’s suitors to know he was investigating them, no matter how
informally.  Yet, he also didn’t think it hurt to make his profession known to
this jackanapes who had no business handling a firearm.  “The Duke of Lynwood
was kind enough to allow me to stay at his estate.” 
    “You know Lynwood?  That’s most queer.  He isn’t in
trouble is he?”  From the tone of his query, Kensington rather hoped that he
was.
    “No.  Frankly, I cannot imagine a man less likely to
go afoul of the law.”
    “Yet, you claim to be friends.  With him a duke and
you a policeman,” said Kensington in wonderment, as if Stapleton had also
claimed the ability to fly.
    “Inspector Stapleton does not claim to be friends
with the duke.  He is friends with him,” said Evelyn icily.  “Now if you
gentlemen would please mount, I would like to return to the house.  The day is
a bit too chilly for me.”
    Kensington looked like he wanted to object, but
thought better of it as he walked