Page 46 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Looking around, she got the lie of what was going on. Men were racing about placing bets before the race was started. From the looks of it, there were a series of shorter races, and then one grand finale.

A sudden surge of impatience took Aileen. Watching them all preparing to race, she wished desperately to be competing herself. And glancing at Scott, deep in conversation about the race, she advanced to one of the lay bookmakers.

Two could play that game!

"Come on, Dunelm!" yelled Scott. He was on his feet yelling at the horses. All of a sudden, his passion was back with a bang.

"Ye can do it!" Scott's eyes followed feverishly across the open glenside. There, a pack of horses chased each other to within a minute of their lives. Beside him, Aileen tutted.

Ever since they had arrived, Scott had pretty much ignored her. And now, his blue eyes widened like a sun to stare at the horses galloping across the horizon.

Aileen blinked as if trying to get his attention. Somehow, Scott did not notice. His face was engrossed in the race. And didn't Aileen know it!

"Dunelm!" called Scott, as the animal failed to make it first across the finishing line. In fact, not one but three others got there first. Seeing his face, Aileen watched unsurely. "Och! Fanny baws!"

The expression on Scott's face said it all. He was not happy. Thundering back from the race, he scowled.

"I shouldnae ha’ been distracted," he said, chewing his lip bitterly. "I lost a whole purse o' monies there!"

He looked appealingly to Aileen for help. She squeezed his hand momentarily. It was hot and real. A strange perspiration took Aileen.

Another race was now underfoot. But instead of turning her full attention to Scott, Aileen focused on the ongoing race.

In the short time she had been watching, she had been heartened to see her favorite candidate push into the lead.

"An' Highland Heather is coming into win!" she heard a man say. Clamoring to look over all their shoulders, Aileen struggled to have a look. In truth, it was difficult for her to hear or see anything. But she did manage to press forward just to see Highland Heather rounding the curve to the finish line.

"Och, Scott," she said, Aileen's hand moving to comfort Scott. They had been side by side for what felt like forever. She could not bear not touching him for any longer.

Scott gazed at her awkwardly. "Well, I should at least apologize," he said. "I had hoped to shower ye wi' gifts from the winnings!"

The twinkle in his eyes told Aileen he was joking, but even so, his flattened-out features looked disgusted. Instead, she played along.

"Oh dear," she said, ruffling his hair. "But there's always next time, an’—"

Whoosh!An unexpected sweet hotness came upon her. It must have been obvious because even Scott stopped and stared at her.

"An’ Scott, look!" Aileen leaped up excitedly to see Highland Heather, a beautiful dark gray mare pushing through the finish line by a nose.

"Braw!" said Scott, but looked unenthusiastic. Shrugging, he looked up to the clouds. Thick souwesters were gathering, and Aileen realized she was in for the drubbing of her life shortly.

Quickly, she darted off to find the man she had spoken to before. When she came back, he had something in his hands.

"Here," he said, surprising Aileen. Pushing something into Scott's hands, he almost leaped. Looking around, he eyed her with suspicion.

"What is this?" he asked, as Aileen thrust a purse of monies into his hand.

Grinning, she looked at him. "Yer winnings!" Aileen could not help but enjoy the look of him there, mystified and bewildered, with the night sky beginning to come in.

Scott looked more perplexed. "But I dinnae have any." He was clearly struggling with this.

Finally, Aileen set him straight.

"Let's nae fash, but I helped ye out a wee bit by betting on this one, ye see. Like ye said, I recognize it from a horse fair." Her eyes smiled sweetly at Scott. "It was the sister o' White Star!"

Her lips split into a grin, and now too did Scott's. But picking up the purse, he held it back to Aileen.

"Well, well, well," he said, shaking his head and laughing. "But I am afraid I cannae take this I..."

With the noise and clamor of the race all around them, suddenly Scott and Aileen felt they had the space all to themselves. Unsure, Aileen moved a little more closely.

"Ye can an' ye will," she said seriously. "Ye saved my life, so I must thank ye."

Scott smiled. "Well, I thank ye," he said. He still looked uncertain. And at that minute, Aileen wished to slap him over the head.

Pressing into him, Aileen shook her head slowly. "An' that's nae all ye'll take," she said. "Ye can take this too..."

And before she had a chance to say any more, Scott had his lips locked with Aileen's, kissing her for all he was worth.