Never Turn Away (Kellington Book Six) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the saddle, but the first lad blocked the way with a
horse.
    “Beg pardon, milord,” said the groom, who didn’t
look all that apologetic, especially as it gave Joseph the opportunity to
assist Lady Evelyn.
    Kensington looked like he wanted to yell at the lad,
but ground his teeth as he hoisted himself awkwardly into his saddle.
    “Is that a hunting rifle?” asked Evelyn with some
surprise.
    “Yes.  I thought you might like to see me shoot.”
    “I do not believe there is cause for a shoot.  I
know my larder is well stocked and I can only imagine your mama’s is, as
well.” 
    “But I’ll be shooting for sport,” said Kensington,
as if this notion made all the sense in the world on an outing with a lovely
woman in need of a husband.   
    “Is it not dangerous to go shooting in the woods at
this time of day?” asked Stapleton.  “There might be people walking through
them.”
    “I am sure they will clear out at the sound of the
first shot.  At any rate, it won’t be dangerous for us,” said Kensington. 
“Don’t tell me you’re scared of guns, Stapleton.”
    Joseph restrained himself from knocking the git
senseless.  “I have no fear of firearms, only of those who wield them
unwisely.”
    “Then you have nothing to fear here,” said
Kensington smugly.  “Shall we, Evelyn?”  With that, he kicked his mount and
cantered awkwardly toward a field.
    Evelyn turned to Joseph.  “Have I expressed my
thanks for your accompanying us?”
    “Not enough, my lady.”  He smiled, then enjoyed the
sound of her laugh as she set her horse into a canter.
    An hour later, Joseph was feeling considerably less at
peace with the world.  Though Rocinante made his way through the deep snow
drifts as if he’d been born to it, Joseph was cold – it seemed colder in the
country than in London – saddle sore and bored beyond endurance with
Kensington’s prattle.  He didn’t know how Evelyn could seriously consider the
pup as a possible husband.
    The pup was also a dreadful shot, in part because he
talked so much he frightened off his prey.  Joseph preferred it that way. 
While he understood the need to hunt for food, he’d seen so much killing – and
done a fair amount of it himself – that he had no taste to see it done for
sport.  And from the look on Evelyn’s face every time Kensington took a shot,
it appeared she agreed.
    “There!” said Kensington, dismounting, as he pointed
to a deer in the nearby woods.  “She’s a beauty.”
    “Then why must you shoot her?” asked Evelyn as she
looked at the doe, who had her head turned away.
    “Because it is what men do, my dear.  At least it is
what real men do.”  Here, he glanced disparagingly at Joseph.  “Sure you don’t
want to have a go at this one, Stapleton?  I can give you pointers, if you
like.”
    “Thank you, but no,” said Joseph, using up the last
of his restraint.  “I have never wanted to kill for sport.  And even if we were
killing for food, I would not shoot a doe.”
    “How positively sentimental of you,” said Kensington
as he made a great show of aiming his rifle at the doe, who was still looking
away.
    Just as he was about to shoot, Evelyn sneezed
loudly.  It startled the doe, who looked around, then darted out of harm’s
way.  A moment later, three of her fawns joined her, only to be quickly ushered
away by their mother.
    “I’ll be able to get one of them,” said Kensington. 
Joseph, who’d quickly dismounted, took the rifle out of his hands.  “Ho!  Not
very sporting of you,” said the squire’s son in response.
    “My thoughts exactly.  It is obvious you would like
to impress Lady Evelyn with your shooting skills.  To facilitate you in your
goal, I suggest a shooting match against a target – an inanimate target.  That
would impress you just as much as killing an animal would it not, Lady Evelyn?”
    “Much more so.  A target would be smaller and placed
further away.  It would take an excellent