Page 84 of Highland Flame

“Well, we’re home,” he said softly, not wanting to wake the wee lass.

“Aye. We’re back to Hermitage.” Yvaine didn’t look happy at all.

“I wish yer brathair wouldna have sent the lairds the missive sayin’ I didna cooperate. Now, I’ll have to start my sentence all over. All I wanted was to be welcomed back into the clan.” Cam sighed. “It doesna matter. I would serve a hundred sentences to get my daughter back.”

“That’s wonderful that Avianca was returned to ye,” she said, flashing a smile that didn’t last.

“What’s the matter, Yvaine? What’s botherin’ ye?”

“Cam, this is yer home, but no’ mine. I have a wagon filled with my things, but nowhere to put them. I’m sure the chandler’s shop has been rented out by now. But even if it isn’t, I would never go back. There are too many bad memories there.”

“Dinna worry about that, Yvaine. We are gettin’ married. Ye’ll live with me and MacKeefe Clan now. Well, as soon as I finish my sentence, that is.”

“I suppose.” She looked off in the other direction.

“Did I do somethin’ wrong?” he asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious.

“Nay, Cam.” She reached out and gently touched him on the arm. “I am just havin’ a hard time, that’s all.”

“If ye’re concerned about . . . about what happened to Dun, dinna be. Yer secret is safe with me and my friends. Ye need no’ worry.”

“That’s just it. I dinna want to live a life of secrets.”

“What are ye sayin’? Surely, ye dinna plan on tellin’ everyone what happened.”

“Ye are the one who said I did nothin’ wrong.” Yvaine looked at him with hopeful eyes.

“In my opinion, ye didna, but I am no’ so sure everyone will see things that way,” Cam answered. “Yvaine, please, just remain silent. We’ll marry soon and move to the Highlands and ye’ll never have to be worried again. We just have to wait a little longer.”

“I suppose ye’re right,” she said, leaning over and giving him a quick hug. “I look forward to marryin’ ye and bein’ Avianca’s mathair.” Her hand went to her belly, and her smile disappeared. That told Cam what else was bothering her.

“Ye’re feelin’ blue because ye lost yer bairn. Am I right?”

She nodded, biting her lip, looking like she wanted to cry. “Even though I ken it is for the best, I still canna wonder if my bairn was a lad or a lassie and what they would have looked like.”

“We’ll have plenty of babies together, and then ye’ll have no doubt in yer head.”

“Cam, ye’re back!”

Cam looked to the side of the wagon to see Red and Violet running alongside them. He wondered what the whores were even doing here at the castle.

“Red? Violet?” he asked. “What is it?”

“Cam, ye’ve got to help us,” cried Violet. “Somethin’ horrible has happened.”

“What?” asked Yvaine.”

“Keithen has been locked away in the castle’s dungeon, and he goin’ to be sentenced to death,” Red cried.

“What? My brathair is in the dungeon?” asked Yvaine as Cam stopped the wagon. “Why? What happened?”

“It was my fault, I’m afraid,” said Red, crying hysterically now. “I was careless. When Dun’s brathair paid me a visit, he was askin’ about his brathair’s death. He was ruthless and sneaky, and must have kent I had information about it. I sort of . . . told him what really happened to Dun.”

“Nay!” cried Yvaine, jumping out of the wagon. “How could ye?”

“Gavin, can ye take Avianca?” asked Cam, getting to the ground and handing the child over to him.

“Of course. I’ll have Davita put her to bed inside the castle,” said Gavin, looking over at the whore. “What’s goin’ on here? Is somethin’ wrong?”