AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTER21
Sophia heard the gun just as she saw Nick stand out from the tree line surrounding the house. She didn’t need to look long before she knew where he was aiming.
Throwing her body forward, she pushed Jeremy out of the way. He fell to the ground, stumbling around as he did so, falling onto his back.
The pain that struck through Sophia’s leg was so sudden, she cried out, uncertain even what sort of sound it was that erupted from her lips. Never had she known a feeling like it, of something that had undeniably pierced her skin.
“Sophia!” Rachel screeched her name as Sophia fell forward, unable to keep standing on her leg.
Jeremy was there, his arms outstretched as she fell. He caught her, holding her to him on the floor, his blue eyes wide.
“Sophia,” Jeremy murmured, blinking, evidently realizing what had taken place.
“My leg,” she whimpered.
Jeremy’s head shot to the side, and she followed that look. Between the trees and striding forward was Nick, he had his gun cocked and he was putting a new cartridge inside.
“That ba–”
Sophia didn’t hear the end of Jeremy’s curse. She was rolled over, planted to the floor as Jeremy covered her with his body.
“Stephen!” Jeremy barked for his friend’s help.
A second shot ran out. From the sound of wood splintering, this one landed in the carriage behind them, but no one screamed in pain. Sophia hid her face in Jeremy’s jacket, trying to stay hidden, and yet cling to him, as if she could keep him safe from those shots.
“Get off me.” Nick’s unmistakable snap of anger was the thing that made her look up.
Lord Thorne was wrestling with Nick over the gun, trying to get the weapon back. With the barrel high in the air, another shot could go off at any second.
Sophia’s body turned cold as Jeremy’s body left hers. He jumped to his feet and ran off toward Nick and Lord Thorne, joining the fray. Just as Lord Thorne managed to wrench the gun out of Nick’s grasp, Jeremy was there. He struck Nick clean in the gut, making him double forward.
Such pain was starting to emanate up Sophia’s leg that she sat up and looked down, scared to see what she would find. The pale skirt of the blue gown had turned a deep blotchy red.
“No,” she murmured, not wanting to believe it.
His shot. It struck me!
“Sophia! Sophia?” Rachel was suddenly beside her. She gulped and looked away from the sight of the blood on her gown. “Oh, good Lord, we need to get you to a physician. Now.”
“Yes. Help me up. Please.” Sophia gave her hands to Rachel and was pulled to her feet. She swayed a little, struggling to stay standing because of the pain in her leg, but Rachel brought an arm up firmly around her waist, keeping her still.
Sophia’s frantic eyes twisted to the other end of the drive, watching as Lord Thorne unlocked the gun, making it safe.
“Get a constable here, now.” He gave quick orders to the butler, who grabbed the nearest horse off the second carriage and went himself.
Behind him, Jeremy was still fighting with Nick.
“Release me!” Nick demanded, but Jeremy did no such thing. He shook Nick’s jacket, grabbing it by the lapels, and used it to hold him up.
“You shot her!? How can you declare to care for her at all –”
“I was aiming for you.”
“Then may your guilt be your punishment for what you did to her,” Jeremy hissed with anger, shaking Nick for good measure. “But in case that is not enough.” He punched Nick another time. Nick’s head tipped back, and his eyes glazed over, before he fell backward, landing in the gravel and dirt, sending dust up into the air around him.
“Enough, Jeremy.” Lord Thorne grabbed the back of his jacket. “You knocked the man clean out. He won’t be getting up again for a while.”
Jeremy backed up, his feet scuffing up the stones. Sophia watched as he turned to find her, his eyes wide when he saw that blood.
