Page 5 of Highlander’s Dangerous Gambler

Aileen's blue eyes shone into Billie's. She smiled keenly. "Come on, Billie. Ye ken I'm as good as any man."

"The day after tomorrow," said Billie. "Up at the McLeod estate. But as for going, well, lassie, it's nae for ye. As if a lassie can compete!"

He scoffed so utterly that Aileen all but spat in his face. Incensed, she tried her hardest not to let her hot temper get the better of her. The tiny bairn in the center of the crib moaned softly as she went to rock her back to sleep.

"Och, I dinnae want to compete," murmured Aileen beneath her breath. It was a lie, but she knew she had to be smarter if she wanted to find out more. "I just wanted to watch it."

But Billie shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "It is nae for the ladies, an' the laird o' Mcleod wouldnae allow it...anyhow, the lands around there are notorious for bandits. It would nae be safe for ye e'en to set foot on them."

Aileen's eyes penetrated his beseechingly. She was hoping for a reprieve, but it was not to come.

"No," said Billie, even more firmly. He smiled, drawing a line under the subject.

Frustrated, Aileen had no choice but to accept it. Biting down her frustration, she forced herself to smile.

"Alright," she said, with as much grace as she could muster. "But I just wanted to ken more about it, such as where it starts from. It's um, the first time I ever heard o' it."

Her eyes hit the right note of innocence. Billie just nodded. "It goes from the main castle on the estate at twelve noon," he said, before making to leave the room.

"So dinnae fash, wee sister. I will go, an' tell ye all the tales ye are missing. When I get back...!" Grinning, Billie picked up his brat, which he must have discarded, and made to leave the room.

Reeling, Aileen tried to compose herself. How did it come to this, with Billie getting to tell me what to do? she wondered. It hadn't been that long ago he was the family joke. But over the last few years, he had matured and begun to take on more of an active role in the clan.

"Alright," she said reluctantly. Again, she looked at the wee bairn in the crib and began to gripe. "Och, where's Mary when ye need her!"

Aileen searched for her maid. Billie smiled. By now, he was at the door to the corridor.

"Dinnae fash, wee sister," he said, his blue eyes glistening with amusement as he watched her rock the bairn. "It's all good practice for when it's yer turn...will nae be long!"

Aileen felt her heart turn to ice. Before she could speak, Billie left the room, laughing.

"Ye’re a natural, Sis!"

She watched closely as he left the castle, waiting for him to mount his black stallion and trot off into the distance. Then, she stared in dismay at the griping baby in the crib.

Practice for when it's yer turn, indeed. Aileen felt a shiver go through her.

Over my dead body, Brother!

But despite her annoyance, Aileen smiled deeply. Billie had let slip everything she needed to know about the competition, and Aileen resolved to get to the McLeod estate, one way or the other.

It would take all her stealth and skill just to get there.

One thing was for sure: this was not over.

She would run in this race if it were the last thing she did.