Page 11 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

As she burst through the forests and out into the clear green hills, the sounds of cheering grew louder. They were behind her, both the contenders and their crowds.

And in surprise, Aileen realized they were cheering for her. As she increased her speed, the throngs of onlookers grew ever denser.

Now she was cantering across the hills, her hands tight on White Star's reins, flying as high as a bird. For the first time, she felt free and as if she really had a chance of getting first.

Aileen was not sure how long she held the lead for, but it felt like a mighty long time. She was so far ahead, that at one point, she began to wonder if she was in the right place. It was hard for her to be sure; she had never been to the McLeod estate before.

Just as Aileen was losing her nerve, and wondering if she should stop and turn back, suddenly a huge cheer erupted. Looking around, she saw she was in the final lap. Somehow, she was approaching the finish line.

In surprise, Aileen sat up firm. People lined the hillside, appearing from seemingly nowhere to yell and clap. Spurred on, Aileen bade White Star to go faster. Just as she began to believe that maybe she could win this thing, out of nowhere, another lead pulled by.

The man on the large stallion was approaching her, brushing past her at speed. With no warning at all, she was on the back foot.

Now with the finish line in sight, this was not a thing that Aileen was about to accept. Incensed, she quickened her pace. It was too close now; there was no way she could do anything but win.

With all her might, Aileen poured herself into maintaining the lead. But it was not to be. With the finish line in sight, Aileen closed her eyes. She was steeling herself for another superhuman feat.

Then...panic.

She was thrown into the air, suddenly sailing from the horse's back up into the sky. Holding back a scream, Aileen tried her hardest not to panic. With no warning at all, she was sailing through the air, going at full tilt in the night.

The world threw itself up and down and then up again.

Aileen gritted herself and prepared for the worst. He was not following her. It was all in her head. As Aileen soared through the sky, she said a silent prayer.

As she careered hopelessly off course, Aileen got an even ruder awakening. She was no longer in the lead.

While she had not been looking, the second rider had surged ahead, and now he was within seconds of the finish line.

The sight of her competitor gaining ground stung deeply. So much so, she almost did not feel the urgency of her situation.

Aileen hurtled through the air, closely behind her main competitor. Then, just as quickly as she had started, she came to an abrupt stop.

Whack!

From head to toe, she was covered in bruises, not to mention scratches as well. Pain ripped all the way through her spinal column. Everything hurt. All she wanted to do was cry and lose her edge, but she could not. Just then, she was aware of a deep scratch that ran all over her body.

She lay bleeding and injured. From the sidelines, the people chanted. One or two ran close, trying to help her. The clamoring and noise were overwhelming.

The man behind her surged ahead, leaving her spread-eagle on the floor. Dismayed, she was forced to watch the second rider, the one whom she had overtaken earlier, get ahead. Effortlessly, he leaped over the finish line to the cheering of the crowd.

Now back at the start line, Aileen succeeded in picking herself up, albeit in a very sorry fashion.

Now, one or two others had come to her aid. They helped her to her feet, and Aileen felt sure they would remove her visor if she were not careful.

Dusting herself down, Aileen forced herself to summon some grace. She did not know where she was, but she was bleeding. A primitive fear told her to settle down.

She would bleed to death if she did not get help soon. She needed to get home, and fast. But there was one problem—she could not get off her knees to help herself.

In fact, she was completely stuck.

Looking up to the sky, Aileen prayed hard. Certainly, they would come and help her. But she knew if she was found out, there was no one and nothing on the earth that could help her.

Pulling herself up painfully, she tried her hardest to get to her feet. She had to run.