Page 72 of Highland Flame

“Gillies, please, just listen to Cam. Oooooh,” cried out Yvaine with her hand on her belly.

“Come on, Brathair.” Gavin’s big body blocked the monk’s way to keep him from entering the room.

“Close the door when ye leave,” Cam called over his shoulder. As he gently laid Yvaine down on the bed, he heard the stone sliding back into place behind him.

“I’ll need privacy,” said the nun, pulling the long purple curtains closed around the bed.

“I’ll help ye,” offered Davita, quickly looking back at Cam, then disappearing behind the curtains as well. “Cam, we’ll need some rags and a basin of water,” she called out after several minutes.

“I’ve got some fresh water right here.” He handed the basin and some rags through the curtain. His heart almost broke when he got a glimpse of Yvaine lying in a puddle of blood.

“Oh, my. I’m goin’ to need more rags and some buckets to haul away the soiled ones,” called out the nun.

“I’ll get them,” said Cam, hurrying to the door.

“More fresh water, too,” called out Davita as he left the room.

When Cam returned, he met Davita at the door.

“I’ll take those. Thank ye.” She reached out for them.

“Is she . . . is she all right?” asked Cam, stretching his neck, trying to see Yvaine.

Davita looked up at him and nodded slowly. “Yvaine will be fine after some rest, but it seems she’s lost the baby.”

“Damn,” said Cam, running a hand through his hair. “Let me in. I want to see her.” He started to take a step into the room, but Davita’s hand on his chest stopped him.

“Sister Edna has asked that ye send a few of the nuns here to help clean up and change the beddin’. She has also asked that ye and the others stay out for at least a few hours to give Yvaine time to rest and accept what has happened.”

“But I should be there with her.” Cam looked up and once again tried to enter.

“Cam, please,” said Davita. “Yvaine has gone through a lot and needs a little time alone.”

“Of course,” he said, taking a step back out of the room. “Please let me know as soon as I can enter.”

Cam turned and left the catacombs, feeling as if life were crashing down around him more than anything right now.

*

“Let him in,”said Yvaine later that day, after having rested and accepted the fact that she’d lost her child. Sister Edna and Davita had tended to her, and even the rest of the nuns had helped in cleaning up the mess.

“I will be going now,” said the nun, following Davita to the door of the secret room so Cam could enter. She held on to her healing bag and looked over her shoulder. “I really am sorry that you lost your baby. I’m also sorry about Avianca,” she told Yvaine. “I wish there was something I could do to help you find her.”

“Thank ye. Do ye mean that?” asked Yvaine. “Because if ye do, I will involve ye, but ye ken that Brathair Gillies will no’ approve, and canna ken anythin’ about our plans.”

“Do you mean to go out to look for the girl?” asked the nun.

Yvaine and Davita looked at each other but didn’t answer.

“I promise not to tell him.”

“Guid,” said Yvaine. “Then be back here at sunset to help. Come by yerself and dinna mention this to anyone since the walls seem to have ears.”

“Very good,” said the nun with a nod, leaving the room as Cam entered.

“Yvaine!” Cam rushed over to the bed. “How are ye?”

Cam’s friends started to enter the room as well, but Davita blocked their way.