“ThankGod,” Cooper breathed as he lowered. With one knee on the ground, he opened his arms. “Give her to me, Reeves.”
Reluctantly, Seth transferred Cassandra into Cooper’s arms as if she were a child.
“I can walk,” she protested, but her entire body shook. Nervous giggles escaped her, even with tears free-falling down her face. “You can put me down, I’m fine.”
“No.” Cooper’s face became as solid as ice.
“I’m fine!” she yelled and wiggled as Cooper stood.
“You’re crying.”
“I’m fine! I’m not hurt, I’m not—”
She brought a hand to her face and glanced at her tear-stained fingertips in wonder.
Her giggles turned into a choked sob.
Seth’s heartbroke.
“Brother,” she cried. “I was scared.”
“You’re safe, little sister,” he said, as if he were convincing himself as much as her. He turned to Seth, and it looked like he was on the verge of shattering. “Thank you.”
Not trusting his voice, Seth swallowed hard and nodded.
After her tears subsided, Cooper set Cassandra on her feet. Wrapping his coat and his arm around her shoulders, he kept her to his side.
“I don’t ever want to be on a horse again,” she mumbled as DukeKendall arrived with Lord Bolderwood. The former appeared delighted, while the latter looked murderous.
Dismounting, Duke Kendall skipped to them. “Has she been injured?”
With his teeth bared like a snarling dog, Cooper twisted Cassandra from the Duke’s view. Seth moved in front of them and tried to school his expression. Where had the Duke come from? He prickled at the morbidity of his interest.
“I don’t think so,” Seth answered for the family.
Duke Kendall’s face fell, but he said, “Good. Good.”
“What happened?” Lord Bolderwood demanded, his face red.
Bishop emerged from the woods side by side with Sir Reginald and Mr. Nott, with a victorious smirk, white teeth brilliantly beaming.
“I won,” he gloated. “The stag should be dying as we speak, bubbles in the blood. He ran right past Mr. Nott, if we track him now—” He stopped and took in the scene. “What happened?”
The atmosphere charged with hostility and Cooper pushed Cassandra behind him. She wobbled on her feet and grabbed onto the back of his shirt, leaning her head against his back as Cooper seethed.
“You spooked her damn horse is what happened!” Cooper spat, fists clenched, poised to strike. “The round whizzed right past my ear! You could have shot any one of us!”
Bishop stomped forward. “I fired one round and my aim was true. Maybe it wasyourmonstrosity that misfired!”
“I heard two shots, I’m sure of it,” Mr. Sanderson said to the Earl. “Oneafterthe whistle.”
“You can check my rifle,” Mr. Nott said at once. “I haven’t fired it since the target competition.”
“I can attest to my nephew firingoneround,” Sir Reginald said.
“Am I to understand that a spare round magically materialized in my forest?!” Lord Bolderwood bellowed.
“Admit that you shot twice!” Cooper snarled at Bishop. “Didn’t trust the first shot so you decided to give it another?”
