Page 10 of Highland Flame

“I have no idea what ye are talkin’ about.” Now, it was her turn to look the other way.

“I think ye ken exactly what I mean.”

“Never mind,” she answered.

“Nay. I want to ken. Why did ye say that?”

She didn’t want to explain herself to him, nor to have to give him an answer if she didn’t want to. “All this talkin’ is keepin’ Avianca from fallin’ asleep. I suggest we refrain from conversation for now.”

“Gladly,” he grumbled, looking at the road rather than at her or the child. “God’s eyes. This is goin’ to be a long trip,” she heard him say under his breath.

“Please refrain from cursin’ around the wee lass. It’s no’ a guid way to raise yer daughter.” Yvaine continued running her hand gently over the little girl’s head. Avianca’s eyes drifted closed and her breathing slowed.

“She’s been raised in a whore house,” he snapped. “There is no worse way to raise a child, believe me. Plus, I’m sure she’s already heard every curse there is, as well as seen a few things no’ meant for the eyes of the young.”

“Mayhap ye’re right,” she answered. “After all, ye seem to ken more about whore houses than anyone.”

“Ye have no idea,” he said softly. When he glanced in her direction, she was surprised to see sadness and despair in his eyes. Still, her comment shut him up. When he turned his head, she noticed a slight tick in his jaw. It seemed he was clenching his teeth. Her work was done.

Yvaine smiled and released a deep breath. Closing her eyes, she reveled in the feeling of the warm breeze against her, and lifted her face to the sun. This was her road to freedom – a brand new life. She wasn’t going to let anyone – not even this Highlander, ruin it for her. This was her second chance now, and she would embrace it, raising her baby by herself if she had to. No more would she have to fear for her unborn child’s life, nor fear that she was going to be beaten again.

Yvaine felt good about everything, except that she’d killed her husband. That secret would go with her to her grave. Even though she’d have a new life now, deep in her heart, she knew that she’d never be happy until she found and married a man who would make a perfect father for her unborn child. It was crucial that she find someone who could protect her baby if she ended up not able to do it herself. If her secret was discovered, and she were condemned to die, the man would have to raise her child. The only problem was, she was starting to wonder if all men were alike. Dun was physically abusive, but other men could be just as bad by being mentally or verbally abusive instead.

Her eyes opened slightly and she peeked out at the handsome Highlander named Cam. Too bad he didn’t even like children. It was a shame that he shunned his own child, because a Highland warrior was just what she needed, she decided. A Highlander would be able to protect her baby, should anything happen to her. However, not this one, she sadly realized. She closed her eyes again, trying to push away the vision of her dead husband that was embedded in her mind like a thorn in the thumb. Just the thought of what she had done would haunt her forever.

*

It hadn’t takenmuch more than a half-hour before they made it to the Scottish border. Gavin held up his hand from in front, stopping the procession.

“Why are we stoppin’?” North called out.

“Is somethin’ wrong?” asked Nash, riding up to join North.

Gavin turned his horse and headed back to them. “I suggest we stop here, and no’ cross the border yet.”

“Stop?” asked Cam, his only focus on making it quickly to their destination. “Why?”

“I dinna see Lord Rook or his men yet who were supposed to meet us at the border. We need to give them more time.”

“We can keep goin’,” said Cam. “I’m sure we’ll meet them on the road soon.”

“Unless ye’ve forgotten, this is the point where I turn around and head back to the castle to spend time with my new bride,” Gavin reminded him.

“Och, I suppose ye’re right.” Cam hopped off the wagon, leaving Yvaine and Avianca, heading over to talk to his friends in private.

“Gavin,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure Yvaine hadn’t followed him.

“What is it?” asked Gavin, while Nash and North dismounted their horses, coming closer to hear the conversation.

“When ye get back to Hermitage Castle, see if ye can talk the chieftains into givin’ me a different punishment.”

“What for?” asked Gavin, looking down at him from atop his horse.

“I dinna want to spend the next fortnight or so with her,” he said, nodding back at the cart.

“I dinna see what ye’re complainin’ about,” remarked Nash. “I think the lass is very comely.”

“That’s exactly why,” Cam explained. “I canna spend time near her, because I keep thinkin’ about doin’ other things with her, like kissin’ her and makin’ love. Of course, since she is soon to be a nun, I canna do any of those things. I swear, I will go mad before my sentence is over.”