Page 39

“Now, Ophelia! Go!”

In a blink, he brought Baldric around and kicked the horse's sides. The gelding lurched forward at the exact moment Opal did.

“No matter what, Ophelia.” Stanford’s words came harsh and choppy. “Do not stop. You must get to the stables. My men will know what to do.”

A shot rang out, cracking through the air like a blast of thunder.

“Goddammit,” Stanford roared, looking behind them. “Ride, Ophelia, ride.”

Ophelia wasn’t a talented rider. In truth, she’d only taken up riding after Sophronie had volunteered to give her and a few others riding lessons. At this pounding pace, she struggled to keep her seat and control Opal.

Jaw set, she focused on the stables.

Searing pain lanced her back before she heard the report of the second gunshot.

“I think…Stanford.”

She swallowed against the agony burning in her back.

“I’ve been shot,” she mumbled as a buzzing began in her ears and misty gray obscured the edges of her vision.

In the distance, men ran toward them, shouting. A few stable hands charged forward on horses too.

“Oh, God,” Stanford half groaned, half-shouted. “No. No. Please, God. No.”

Would the crazed gunman try to shoot Stanford too?

As Ophelia tipped to the side, she let the reins slip from her fingers.

She was going to fall.

The stables were too far away.

I’m sorry, Stanford.

Stanford was there, catching her in his strong arms and pulling her onto his lap.

A scream tore from Ophelia’s throat as unimaginable pain nearly made her swoon. Or wretch. Or both.

“Forgive me, my love.” Hunched over as if to protect her, he cradled her to his chest.

Forgive him? Why?

“I did this to you, my dearest love. This is my fault.” Stanford’s voice cracked on the last words.

Why was he talking such gibberish?

Of course, it wasn’t his fault.

It was so hard to keep her eyelids open. The buzzing had increased to a thunderous roar, and only a pinprick of light was visible, though her eyes were open.

“Stanford?” she managed weakly.

“Shh,” he murmured in the tremulous tenor of a tortured man. “Save your strength.”

“I must tell you…” Ophelia’s words slurred together.

Talking had become difficult too.