Page 8 of Highland Flame

“Pardon me?” she asked, looking up at him. She knew what he meant, but thought he sounded rude when he answered.

“My name is Cam. My friends are North, Nash, and Gavin,” he told her, pointing to each of the men in turn.

“I’ll secure some horses for the rest of us,” said Gavin, heading away.

“I’ll help him,” said North. “We’ll meet ye at the gate, Cam.” He started to walk away, then noticed his brother, who looked like a twin to Yvaine. He still stood there gawking at her. “Let’s go, Nash.” North reached out and pulled the man along with him.

“I just thought the lass might need help, that’s all,” said Nash.

“That’s what Cam is for,” she heard North answer, and he and his brother started toward the door. “After all, Cam is always tellin’ us how guid he is with the lassies. Let’s see how guid he is with this nun-to-be.” He chuckled as the two of them headed off after their friend, Gavin.

“Ye’ll have to excuse them,” said Cam. “I’m afraid they have no manners at all around a lady.” He held out his arm to escort her to the wagon. She looked down at it but did nothing to take it.

“Well, dinna fash yerself, because I am no’ a lady,” she retorted.

“What?” He grinned crookedly, looking amused. Suddenly, she realized how bad this sounded.

“Nay! I dinna mean that I was a . . . a . . .”

“Whore?” he asked, raising one eyebrow. “Dinna worry, lass, I can tell ye are no’.”

“I’ll bet ye can,” she said, taking the little girl’s hand. “Come along, Avianca.” She headed away, thinking of how many times she’d seen Cam with Violet and Red, the town’s whores who worked at her brother’s tavern. The last man in the world she wanted escorting her to the priory was a lustful cur like him. She swore, if he even tried to touch her, she would hit him over the head with a candle holder the way she did to Dun. Horrid thoughts of Dun laying at her feet in a puddle of blood filled her mind. She stopped in her tracks and swayed, feeling as if she were about to swoon.

“Are ye ill?” asked the little girl.

Feeling pressure on her shoulder, Yvaine’s eyes sprang open. Clutching Avianca’s hand, she whipped her head around to see Cam standing right there, boldly touching her. The feel of the man’s hand on her only brought back terrible memories of Dun’s hands on her as well.

“Nay! Get yer hand off of me,” she spat through gritted teeth, pushing it from her. She jumped backward, almost tripping over the little girl. Fear filled her being, and she wanted to run. Her breathing labored and she felt heat rise to her cheeks quickly.

“My mistake,” said Cam, holding his palms outward in surrender. “I didna mean to frighten ye, lass. I was only tryin’ to keep ye from fallin’ since ye looked like ye were about to faint.”

“Well, I’m no’.” Yvaine wondered if the man could hear her rapidly beating heart that pounded in her ears. “I – I am fine. Let’s just please go to the priory.” She turned to leave the great hall, not looking back at all.

“Ye’re a little jumpy, lass. Is there a reason?” he asked from behind her.

“I’m just . . . still upset after what happened to my husband.” She stopped and turned and feigned a smile. “I’m sure ye can understand. I’m in mournin’.”

“Aye. Mournin’,” he said perusing her up and down.

“Why are ye lookin’ at me that way?” she demanded to know.

“I was wonderin’ why ye werena wearin’ black and also no’ wearin’ a head coverin’ since ye are in mournin’ as ye say. After all, it is proper.”

“I wouldna think a man like ye even kent what the word proper meant,” she threw the words back at him.

“Lass, I dinna even ken ye, but yet ye are so fast to judge me. Why?”

“I ken yer kind.”

“My kind?” He looked confused. “Och, ye mean Highlanders? Dinna worry, the rumors are no’ always true. Besides, I’m a lover, before I’m a fighter.”

“That’s exactly what I meant,” she said under her breath.

“What did ye say?” He cocked an ear toward her.

“I’ve seen ye comin’ out of my brathair’s tavern with no’ only one, but two . . . wenches on yer arm.” Her eyes shot down to the man’s bastard daughter. She didn’t want Avianca to hear her talking about whores, even if the girl’s mother was one. After all, she was just a child, and didn’t need to be exposed to the sins of the world.

“I can see this will be a long journey,” Cam mumbled, walking past her, leading the way to the wagon.