Chapter 112

Two new decks of cards and new tablecloth were brought in and the old was taken out. The deal passed to the left and the cards were dealt again. Frang watched closely as the cards were shuffled. The backs of the cards were similar, but he didn't see the strange fluctuations in the backs as they were mixed. He relaxed.

"It's best the women don't come to these games," Frang said. "They don't understand the nuances of gambling." Everyone laughed again.

Immediately, the table changed. Everyone won occasionally, even McTavish, but Frang's ability to read the faces and reactions of his opponents, even the smallest tics, and his ability to assess odds, soon had more of the pots moving steadily in his direction. McTavish played more conservatively than before, but his money pile started to dwindle. Frang soon had all his money back and then some. The play went on for another hour and finally the chance he was waiting for presented itself. It was obvious from the betting and the visible cards, McTavish had four Kings. He had four Aces, but none of his cards were visible. He kept calling whenever the turn passed to him, but never raised. McTavish was doing all the raising, confident in his hand. All the others dropped out of the betting after the second King appeared, realizing what McTavish held to be so assuredly bidding. The most Frang could hold from the visible cards was a straight or possibly a flush, which wouldn't be enough to beat four Kings.

"I'll raise 100 pounds," McTavish said, gloating. Cameron would either be substantially increasing the pot, or folding right now.

Frang studied him for awhile as if he was trying to determine whether McTavish had the four Kings suggested by his bidding. McTavish did what he could to wipe the smirk off his face, put a little frown on his face. Maybe if he looked worried, Frang would take the bait, think he was bluffing, and call again. This was going to be so easy.

Frang apparently made a decision. "I'll see your 100 pounds," he studied the pile of money still in front of McTavish, "and raise 500." He pushed most of his money into the pot.

McTavish was stunned. Frang either didn't believe he had four Kings or was trying to run a bluff himself, trying to make him fold. He glanced at his money and saw he could barely cover the 500. Cameron at least could count how much money he had. What a fool he was. This was working out better than he thought. This would empty Cameron's pockets for sure. He matched the sum, saying, "I call." He put down his hidden cards confirming the four Kings. "Four Kings beats your straight, Cameron. Thanks for all the money." He reached for the pot.

Frang put his hand over Abner's and said, "It doesn't beat four Aces, however," setting down his hidden cards.

McTavish felt like he'd been slugged in the stomach. He could barely catch his breath. "Why'd you not bet this hand, Cameron?" McTavish gasped. "I'd have bet the farm on this."

"You've already bet the farm, McTavish. That's why I own it. You were doing all the betting for me. If I bet like you did, I'd have given away the fact my hand was so good. That's the difference between you and me. I set a trap for you and you fell into it, happily thinking I was the one too stupid to know you had four Kings. You never think, McTavish, why I would stay in the game when it was obvious what hand you had. You knew a straight or flush would never beat it. But you continued to pour money into the pot thinking it was all I had. It's why you lose all the time. Close me out, gentlemen. We're done here."

Frang collected the money in the pot and dumped it into his sporran. "You need to quit gambling, McTavish. You're no good at it." He left, slyly collecting the ruined card deck and tucking it in his sash, leaving some money with the owner for the ruined table cloth and then some.

He went to the Inn, hoping Isobel had gone there with her escort. Isobel and he knew Stuart and Ailene had planned taking a room at the Inn and it was the most likely place for her to go. Frang found all three of them in the common room.

"Husband, I'm assuming from the big, fat grin on your face, you've won your money back," Isobel said.

"That, and another 700 pounds, I think. McTavish's luck didn't hold past the change of cards." He pulled them out of the sash. "I need to look these over and see how he was cheating. That way, I can keep an eye out for decks like it. Isobel, I'd like you to come with me, please."

"Are we going to take a room like this happy couple who look like cats who got in the cream?"

"You try going without for a week now you've discovered how much you like it," Ailene laughed.

"I don't think I need to wait. It appears Frang can't do without me until we get home tonight," Isobel batting her eyelashes at Stuart and Ailene.

"Actually, Isobel, I can wait. We're not taking a room," Frang said, smiling. "We're going shopping."

"You're going to buy me some new clothes with your winnings, Frang? Thank you."

"I didn't think of clothes, we can buy a new outfit or two after if you wish, but I have something else in mind."

"What are we going to buy, Frang?" Isobel asked.

"We're buying a new house," Frang said. Isobel gasped. "I know how many bad memories you have of the house now. It's too small and not easily defended, and we all know sound carries far too well for any privacy. It's time for you to have a house you've had a hand in designing so it meets our needs, has room for the wee bairn you're carrying and any other children we have. There's no need for the house to remain at the same location either, I was thinking a hill closer to the Keep so it's not so far for any of us to ride."

Isobel was clinging to Frang and started crying, hugging him so fiercely to herself. "Frang, I can't believe you're going to get me a new house. Thank you so much. It's more than I ever expected."

Ailene stood and put her arms around both of them. Stuart quickly followed. "Frang, you're a good man," Ailene said. "It's so good of you to do this." "Well done, brother," Stuart added.

"It's about time I do something with my winnings besides letting it accumulate," Frang said. "It's not that big a deal, really."

"It means the world to me, Frang," Isobel said, kissing him soundly on the lips. "It's the best gift I could ever receive."

"I'm glad you like it. We have a meeting with the builder this afternoon. We can let him know what we're looking for in the way of a new house. I mean to have it ready by the time the bairn is born. We'll see you later. By the way, does anyone know where Thorburn is?"

"Need you ask?" Stuart replied.

"Well, I imagined I would have heard Teárlag by now if he was over there," Frang laughed, "but I haven't heard any sudden loud noises, so wondered if he was elsewhere. Maybe her house is sturdier than Lady Luck or the Keep. I wanted his advice on defensive characteristics on the new house. Perhaps I should ask Bjarkë instead. Thorburn may be busy the rest of the afternoon. Where's Bjarkë?"

"He was at the tavern with a bunch of the men, having lunch and a few drinks last I heard," Stuart said.

"I'll check to see if he's still there on our way to the builders. If you should see either Bjarkë or Thorburn before two, tell either to meet us at McNulty's. What would you like for lunch, Isobel? I've worked up a bit of an appetite."