Perhaps I should…. Ciaran looked at Red, and the memory of their kiss came back to him in a rush. Och! Ciaran excused himself and walked behind the shooters to get closer, then stopped a few feet away.
Red took the same stance with Fiona he’d had with Ian. He leaned closer and said, “Deep breath. Let it out, then squeeze the trigger.”
Fiona nodded, then did as instructed. She hit the target an inch away from Ian’s, touching the line of the center circle.
Ciaran held his breath.
“Aye! That was amazing!” Ian ran forward and did the weird hand slap thing with Fiona that he’d done with Red.
Amazing was right. Ciaran had fully expected Fiona to turn around and gloat.
Red took the rifle from her, then met Ciaran’s gaze. A blush stained his cheeks, and he gave Ciaran a shy smile. “Hi.”
“Did ye see that? Ciaran? Did ye see it?” Fiona ran up to him, and Ian wasn’t far behind.
“Aye. I saw it. Ye did better than Angus.”
Fiona crowed, and there was more backslapping from Ian. It was the most bizarre thing Ciaran had seen in ages. They were supposed to be shoving each other and trying to one-up each other.
Ian asked, “Did ye see my shot?”
“I did. Ye did well.”
With that, they both started chattering to each other.
Ciaran shook his head and smiled at Red. “How’d ye do it?”
“They are naturals.”
“Nae that. I mean they arenae fighting.”
Chuckling, Red nodded. “That too. I told them if there was any squabbling, then neither of them could learn to shoot.”
“I thought ye hated hunting?”
“I do, but I love to shoot. I’m the best shot in my family.” Red shrugged. “Actually, I’m the best shot among my friends as well, though Louie and Wi—er, Trouble, do come close.”
Louie growled at him and mumbled, “Would you like to test that theory and see who is the better shot?”
Ciaran wasn’t sure who Trouble was, but he was certain he didn’t want Louisa and Red trying to outshoot each other. Something told him it would get ugly. They were both too much like Ian and Fiona. “How about we just call it a draw?”
Red practically preened. “Fine with me, but it really isn’t a draw. I’m by far the superior marksman. I could even shoot an apple off of someone’s head.”
Louisa glared at him and pointed one delicate finger at him. “Well, I can shoot a grape off—”
Oh brother. With a grin, Ciaran stepped between them before they started trying to prove their points. “Why dinna ye teach me?” he asked Red.
Louisa leaned around him, punched Red in the shoulder, and mouthed the word “Later.”
Giving Louisa one last triumphant smirk, Red turned his attention back to Ciaran. His smirk morphed into a genuine smile, and Ciaran swore his heart stuttered. Damn, but he’d been thinking about that kiss and much more all night long, which was part of the reason he was so tired today.
“Sure.” Red held out the rifle to him.
Ciaran stared at it for a few moments, then glanced at his men standing around waiting for their turns. Louisa had taken over for Red and was now instructing Ian with a pistol, and Patrick was teaching Greer. “Let us go farther down the lists. There are more targets set up for bow and arrow practice.” Ciaran told himself it was so his men didn’t see his bumbling first attempts, but that wasn’t the only reason. He wanted to be alone with Red. He needed to tell him of tonight’s plan, because something told him they might need Red’s superior marksmanship.
Red shrugged and slung the rifle strap over his shoulder, wearing it over his back, much like Ciaran did his sword. “Okay.”
Walking side by side they made their way past the stables. An awkward silence settled between them, and Ciaran was very aware of Red’s presence beside him. The top of Red’s head might only come to Ciaran’s shoulder, but he walked proud and tall, like a man much bigger than his diminutive size. It was still hard to believe Red was actually older than him. “Do ye often shoot things off of people’s heids?”
That grin made another appearance. “That was Timothy’s idea.”
“I’m beginning tae see why Timothy gets ye intae so much trouble.”
Red chuckled and stopped in front of the targets. He turned toward Ciaran, and a whole new awkwardness took hold. They stared at each other, much as they had last night, and Ciaran found himself