Page 63 of Highland Flame

“You didn’t want her, just admit it,” snapped the monk. “It’s absurd to even think you could care for her by yourself. You don’t even have a wife.”

“Mayhap no’ now, but someday I will,” Cam answered, feeling defeated.

“I am goin’ to marry him,” Yvaine spoke up. “We had planned to raise Avianca and my bairn as our family.” She put her hand on her belly and rubbed it when she spoke.

“What? Cam is gettin’ married?” asked Nash in surprise.

“To Yvaine?” Gavin looked just as surprised and confused.

“How much did we miss while we’ve been away?” asked North, scratching his head.

“It’s true we were talkin’ about marriage, but nothin’ was determined for sure,” Cam told his friends, glancing nervously over at Yvaine. Part of him was happy she’d come to his rescue. Another part of him despised that she said this aloud when they’d never finished their conversation regarding her deep, dark secret. For all he knew, she might be right. Once he knew her hidden truth, he might not want her as his wife, after all.

“Sister, you are not marrying this barbaric Highlander,” warned Gillies, angry with Yvaine now.

“Why no’?” she asked. “Because he is a Scot? Dinna forget that we are Scottish, too, even if ye speak and act like a Sassenach now. I will do whatever I please and ye canna stop me, Brathair.”

“I might not be able to stop you two from getting married, but this is my priory and I insist you both leave at once.” He looked up at Cam’s friends. “All of you. I want you all gone by tomorrow.”

“But where will I go? Please dinna make me leave,” pleaded Yvaine. “Gillies, I am yer sister. Let me stay here. For now, at least.”

“I never should have agreed to let any of you stay here. Now once again, I expect you all gone by the end of the day tomorrow.” He turned to walk away, but Cam reached out, gripping his arm tightly.

“We are no’ goin’ anywhere until ye tell me where ye took my daughter.”

“Let go of me,” the monk commanded, gaining the attention of the rest of the monks now who came hurrying over to see what all the commotion was about. “I found a good family for the girl, and I’ll never tell you where I took her. She is so much better off without you.” He shook out of Cam’s hold and glared at Yvaine. “She’s better off without any of you.”

Gillies walked off with the rest of the monks. Cam took a step to follow, but Gavin stopped him, holding him back.

“Nay, Cam, dinna do it. Ye’ve already made the monk angry and he’ll most likely tell our lairds things that will keep ye from bein’ accepted back into the clan.”

“I dinna care anymore,” Cam retorted, struggling out of Gavin’s grip. “That bastard took my daughter away from me, and I will no’ stop until I find her and bring her back where she belongs.”

“Nay. Cam, he’s right,” said Yvaine with a sad sigh. “Being angry isna goin’ to do anythin’ to help the situation, or to find Avianca.”

Cam was ready to explode. “I willna let him get away with this. I swear, I will kill the man if need be, but no one takes away my daughter and gets away with it. Ever.”

“Dinna talk that way,” said Yvaine, seeming to become so upset with him all of a sudden. “Ye dinna want to kill anyone.”

“I’m a Highland warrior, Yvaine,” he told her through gritted teeth. “I’ve killed many men, and will kill many more in my lifetime. One more doesna matter at all to me. Even if the man is yer brathair, I swear I will make him pay for what he’s done.”

“Nay!” she shouted, crying now, and getting the attention of all Cam’s friends. “Ye dinna mean what ye say. I ken it.”

“How could ye even ken what I’m feelin’?”

“I ken, because I killed a man and wish every day that I could go back and change what I’ve done.”

“What did ye say?” asked Cam, thinking he’d misheard her.

“I am a murderer, Cam. I am evil and now I’m goin’ to hell,” she cried.

“Nay, lass.” Cam tried to calm her down. “Dinna say that. Ye couldna hurt a fly.”

“I’m serious,” she said, her voice shaking as well as her body. “I killed a man, and it’s true. Now ye all know my deep, dark secret that I tried so hard to forget and no’ to tell anyone.”’

“Really?” asked Davita, her eyes darting back and forth. “What do ye mean? What are ye sayin’?”

“Aye, lass. Explain,” said Nash. “Who could ye have possibly killed?”