Chapter 6 – Chester (Part 9)

The game continued. It was Bryant’s turn next. Bang! Bang! Bang! He fired three consecutive shots, causing the pheasant to momentarily lose its balance. However, it did not fall. The bird wobbled and disappeared into the forest, and the shooter shrugged with a regretful smile.

“It’s not easy.”

“You seem to be getting the hang of it.”

Jared’s words were true. Bryant hit successively with single shots in the next round. However, he couldn’t make up for the failure of the first three shots. He hit half of his eight shots, while Jared missed only one out of six. Evelyn looked at the nine pheasants piled between the two men with a sense of dismay. 

Poor things.

“Four hits, that’s impressive.”

“You did wonderfully, Your Grace. You’re a marksman.”

“I’ve been doing this for over three years. It would be embarrassing to lose to a beginner.”

“I should have asked for horses instead. Maybe then I would have been less humiliated.”

The two men seemed incredibly cheerful. They praised each other’s skills and maintained a humble attitude. They were the epitome of gentlemen, fully committed and indifferent to the outcome.

“Horses, you say. Mounted shooting would be even harder.”

“Shooting from a stationary horse. Polo players do it for training; it helps with balance and concentration.”

“I’ve never heard of such a game. Sounds fun.”

“Let’s do it together next time we meet. Hopefully, by then, you’ll be able to engage in dangerous leisure activities.”

Bryant said as he removed one of his gloves.

“I’m well aware of how dangerous horseback riding can be.”

The conversation paused there. Evelyn watched their expressions. The two men were still smiling at each other. After a moment of silently looking into each other’s eyes, Jared spoke.

“Let’s try it now.”

Evelyn saw one corner of Bryant’s mouth twitch slightly.

“Are you sure?”

“If we’re not galloping, there shouldn’t be any danger.”

“The gunshot will startle the horse. You’ll need to control it well.”

“I understand. I’ve done my fair share of hunting.”

Jared reassured him with a gentle smile. Bryant nodded as if he had no choice and began putting on the glove he had just removed. Thus, a second competition was suddenly agreed upon.

“Gordon, bring the horses.”

“Your Grace.”

Willis, who had been watching, stepped forward. Jared, who had just instructed the butler, turned his head in that direction. Evelyn couldn’t see their expressions, but she knew. What the Duke’s attendant was concerned about. And how Jared dismissed it.

“Understood, Your Grace.”

The butler also understood the situation. Gordon, the butler, stepped in at the right moment and followed his master’s orders courteously, preventing the atmosphere from becoming awkward. That was precisely the role of an experienced butler, wasn’t it?

However, the concerns of the loyal attendant Dean Willis were indeed more than appropriate. The horses at this mansion were only carriage horses and riding horses. Horses used for hunting were accustomed to gunshots, but riding horses were not. Moreover, to shoot from horseback, both hands were needed, and after firing, one had to grab the reins with one hand to control the horse. Losing balance could result in an immediate fall.

It was a highly dangerous task.

The stable hand, having received the instructions, brought out two horses. Everyone present couldn’t hide their tension. Only two people appeared relaxed. The ones who would be doing the mounted shooting.

“Shall we try two shots each?”

“Sounds good. This time, since you’re the beginner, I’ll go first.”

“Please do. I’ll have to watch and learn.”

Jared smiled as he broke open the barrel and loaded the shells. With a smile in return, Bryant handed his loaded gun to the servant and approached the horse he was assigned. Evelyn watched him stroke the horse’s neck a few times. Her heart started pounding when he swiftly mounted the horse. It already looked dangerous.

Once he was settled, he extended his hand to receive the gun and took a shooting stance, clamping his legs around the horse’s belly. Everyone’s attention, including Jared’s, was focused on him. The sun, past noon, was shining warmly. However, the air here was taut with cool tension.

On the other side, with a flutter, a pheasant took flight.

Bang! The sound of the gunshot echoed loudly through the forest. Both horses simultaneously became agitated and stepped back. Bryant maintained his balance on the moving horse and held the reins. His horse, which had been walking a few steps back and forth, soon calmed down.

“Ha…”

Evelyn couldn’t help but exhale a sigh of relief.

“It’s a hit.”

Jared murmured in admiration.

Bryant turned the horse’s head while holding the reins. After making eye contact with Jared as if to acknowledge him, he looked towards Evelyn. When their eyes met, Evelyn responded with a smile. 

It’s the first time I’ve seen him on horseback. 

She finally had the leisure to think that.

But there was no time to admire the man on horseback. When Jared mounted the horse, she had to tense up again. Everyone around grew even more tense. Willis barely blinked as he watched the horse’s condition.

Jared mounted the saddle with light movements. The process of receiving the gun from the servant and taking a shooting stance was also very stable. Evelyn watched the backs of the men who had mounted their horses side by side. It seemed less dangerous than before because there were two of them. Bryant’s horse stood about three yards away from Jared’s.

Bang!

The moment the gun fired, Evelyn held her breath. She saw Jared’s horse jump in surprise, lifting its front legs as if it had seen a mouse. The horse rearing almost vertically was a momentary sight.

Evelyn involuntarily stood up.

“Your Grace!”

A scream burst forth, though she didn’t know whose it was. Jared was hugging the horse’s neck, having dropped the gun. To Evelyn’s eyes, it looked as though he had barely managed to hang on after losing the reins. 

Oh my god! 

She covered her mouth while standing. Her hands, as well as her legs, began to tremble.

Attendant Willis was the first to run over. The servants were flustered, and the butler didn’t know what to do, his face pale. The only calm person was Bryant, who was watching the scene from atop his horse.

Jared’s horse wouldn’t calm down easily. It bucked so violently that the stable hand couldn’t even approach. The hunting gun that had fallen to the ground was trampled by hooves, rolling around. The horse seemed determined to throw off the man clinging to its back.

Jared still hadn’t grabbed the reins. He was just hugging the neck of the repeatedly rearing horse. It was only much later that Evelyn realized he was calming the horse. By twisting its neck to one side, the horse stopped rearing at some point. After the violent outburst subsided enough, he finally straightened his body and grabbed the reins.

Jared, holding the reins with one hand, ran his fingers through his disheveled hair. Phew. Someone watching let out a deep sigh. Evelyn exhaled a thin breath and blinked. Her tense body was still trembling.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

Willis quickly approached and took the reins. Even after the Duke safely dismounted, he was restless. It seemed that Jared was the one reassuring the attendant. He also spoke lightly to the stable hand who stood there not knowing what to do.

“It’s quite a timid one.”

The stable hand bowed his head as if the horse’s rampage was his fault. Jared turned as if nothing had happened. Only then could Evelyn see his face. Apart from being slightly flushed and his bangs being messy, his expression and demeanor were calm. He didn’t look much different from usual.

He’s safe. Thank goodness. 

As she repeated it in her mind, their eyes met. Evelyn couldn’t decipher the meaning in those eyes.

“Your horseback skills are impressive.”

Bryant, having dismounted, spoke. Jared turned his head towards him and smiled.

“It’s a shame I didn’t hit the target.”

“You showed us something even more impressive.”

“I’d like to switch horses and take my remaining shot, but as you can see, it seems the people around won’t allow it. I’ll have to be satisfied with having tried it today.”

After saying that, he looked towards the game. Ten pheasants lay in a row on the green grass. Looking at the dazzling feathers of the dead birds, Jared continued.

“Let’s settle the score next time.”

And he turned his head to meet his opponent’s eyes. Bryant responded with a willing expression, slightly tilting his head in acknowledgment.

“Anytime, Your Grace.”

“Riding after such a long time has made me hungry. Let’s have lunch together, Mr. Clifton.”

“Of course.”

“And you too, Miss Dale.”

Saying that, Jared turned his gaze. Both men looked towards her simultaneously. Evelyn looked between them and then responded naturally.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Jared nodded and turned his body. His attendants and butler followed him as he walked towards the mansion. The remaining servants began to tidy up the two horses, the two guns, the scattered shell casings, and the ten dead pheasants.

“Let’s head inside too.”

Bryant, who had approached, said as he removed his hunting gloves. Evelyn looked at the man’s fully exposed hands. There was a slightly unfamiliar smell coming from those large hands. The scent of sweat-soaked leather, gunpowder, and a faint smell of blood.

The smell of blood. It probably came from the game lying over there. 

Evelyn thought so as she looked at the man, trying to erase the tension by exchanging a light smile with him.

Then, consciously avoiding the sight of the dead pheasants, she walked towards the mansion.