Isla was a little more than half that distance, and the three playing cards tacked to the target’s surface appeared as small white dots. How could Captain Balfour evenseethe playing cards from three hundred yards, much less hit one of them?
The men stood back from the target, but still close enough to have a clear view of where the bullets might land.
Unlike with his previous shots, Captain Balfour took a moment to center himself. He looked to the targets, lifted his rifle, and fired.
He was so far distant that Isla saw the bright yellow flash of the bullet exiting the rifle before thecrackof the retort reached her ears.
The card to the left exploded.
Isla had scarcely drawn a breath. She whirled back to Captain Balfour to find him reloading his rifle with shocking speed.
The ladies erupted into euphoric applause, clapping and voices carrying.
Captain Balfour knelt, one knee in the grass.
Lift. Aim. Fire.
The playing card to the right disintegrated.
Miss Crowley squealed in delight, jumping up and down, grabbing Isla’s elbow from behind. Isla tightened her grip on the handrail.
The level of Captain Balfour’s skill simply boggled her mind.
Not a fluke.
Not an instance of luck.
No. Tavish Balfour displayed an almost mythical ability.
Why had he never told her?!
Methodically, Captain Balfour reloaded.
He moved from kneeling to sitting on the ground, propping the barrel of the rifle on his toes with the butt of the rifle against his shoulder.
He aimed.
Crack!
The third card disappeared.
Colonel Archer whooped, tossing his hat in the air. The three other ladies cheered, raising their arms and calling their zeal.
Captain Balfour leapt to standing, waved to them, and began walking back toward the targets. The gentlemen were gathered together, bending to pick pieces of the playing cards out of the grass.
“He is truly the most remarkable—” Miss Crowley pushed past Isla in a rush to greet Captain Balfour.
But in the girl’s haste, her feet slipped on the mossy planks, pitching her sideways. Her shoulder caught Isla in the chest.
Isla stumbled back, careening into the wooden railing with force.
The handrail pressed against the small of her back for the space of a heartbeat.
Then, with a loud snap, the wood gave way.
Isla teetered on the edge for one terrified second, arms wind-milling, frantic for purchase.
But then gravity asserted itself, pulling her down to the water below.
