Billionaire Flawed 1(87)

He smiled, running his eyes over the tall brown building. He kept it in excellent shape, giving everything he had to make it look like the best there was.

“I love my horses. Thank you for the compliment. We’ll stop here and go around the building so you can see what’s on the other side.”

“I think I see part of it.” She could see the rings running around in a half circle and then going back in the same direction. “You have a racetrack here.”

“Yes.”

“Well, that’s very interesting.” She nodded, appreciatively. She knew nothing about horse racing, only how to breed, train and care for them. When she looked at him, she noticed something strange. It looked like he wanted to weep. His face had turned a bit red and he took a moment to place his hand firmly in front of his mouth and gaze at her. “Are you all right?” She asked.

When he responded, she could tell he only had it there to keep in a laugh. “I’m just glad you aren’t shocked by any of this. You seem like a real decent woman. How is it you haven’t been married before?”

Margaret shook her head. “I never found the right one. The men were just…”

She made a disgusted face, and he let out his laughter. “Well, their loss, I’d say, is my gain. Come and meet the men.”





Chapter Three

Margaret’s introduction to the men had gone swiftly. She made friends with most of them right away. They seemed impressed with her knowledge about horses and the entire industry. She learned about racing just as fast but kept herself mostly to the care of the animals, instead of what they did on the track.

Before she knew it, three months had passed. She had written as many letters and received two back from her father. Their business in Virginia continued to thrive, leaving her with feelings of homesickness. She wanted to see her father but knew that it wasn’t possible.

She had made friends with the wife of one of the men at the stables. In fact, they had become close almost the minute they met. She called her “Ellie”, which was short for Eleanor, a name her friend couldn’t stand to be called.

She saw Ellie standing in front of the market stand, looking through apples and approached from behind. “Ellie! Good morning!”

Her friend turned and looked at her with a large smile on her face. “Margie, how good to see you this morning! I didn’t know you were coming to the market today!”

“I have to see Doctor Joe.” Margaret hooked her elbow around Ellie’s and walked with her. “I haven’t been feeling well and Mark wants to make sure I am not ill.”

Ellie’s face turned to a look of concern and she stopped walking. She scanned Margaret’s face. “You don’t look ill to me.” She said. “You look fit as can be!”

Margaret nodded. “I feel fine most of the time. But I feel terrible in the mornings, almost every day for a month now. And I feel heavier. My dresses are a little tighter. I’m no child but I’m pretty sure I’m going to have one.” She smiled at Ellie, whose face immediately lit up.

“You are! Oh, I just know it! That’s wonderful news, Ellie! Can I go with you to find out?”

“Of course!”



It was a few hours before they stepped back out into the light from the doctor’s office. He had confirmed Margaret’s suspicions and had even given her a round-about date when she should expect the child to arrive.

“Oh, Margie, there are so many things to ponder now, so many decisions to make! I can’t believe it…no, of course I can believe it, you and Mark…Oh, Margie, I’m so excited for you!”

“You better help me out, Ellie.” Margaret directed her friend in a serious tone. “You’ve had a baby so you know what’s coming!”

Ellie nodded. “Yes, I will help you, of course, my dear. You will need all kinds of things for your baby, like a crib and you’ll have to clean out one of those rooms in the back where Mark’s been keeping all of his junk.”

“It’s amazing how much junk he has.” Margaret said. “I don’t know where he collects all those things.”

“Probably from his track. Sometimes people don’t have the money to pay him. I’m kind of surprised that he even has anything left from the money he’s lost.”

Margaret stopped walking and looked at her friend. “What do you mean?”

“You don’t know?” Ellie’s eyes opened wide. “Margie! Mark has been gambling on every race ever run at that track since it opened up. Didn’t you know that?”

Margaret felt a chill run through her. He had been gambling? Questions jumped to her mind and she felt the words tumbling from her mouth. “What money is he using to gamble? He’s been doing it for all this time and I didn’t know?”