Page 57 of Highland Flame

Chapter Fifteen

“Ithink that’s it,” Yvaine told Avianca, closing the last box of the candle order the next morning. Avianca had been helping her – actually slowing her down and breaking candles, but still, Yvaine didn’t complain. She enjoyed spending time with the little girl. It made her wonder what it would be like when she had a child of her own. Mayhap it wouldn’t be as frightening as she thought earlier. She supposed she had been jumping to conclusions, and having her own child wouldn’t remind her of Dun that much, after all. Or, at least she hoped not.

“So, we’re goin’ to the castle like Cam’s friends?” asked Avianca.

“Aye. We’ll only be gone for a day, but will be back on the morrow.”

“Yay!” shouted the little girl with excitement.

The door to the room burst open and Cam stood there, dirty from head to toe. His breathing was labored, as if he’d run up the stairs.

“Cam?” Yvaine looked at him and laughed. “What have ye been doin’ to get so dirty?”

“Cam!” cried Avianca, running to him, but he held out his hands to stop her from hugging him.

“Dinna touch me, Avianca. I am covered with horse dung.”

“Eew,” said the little girl, wrinkling her nose. “Ye stink.”

“She’s right,” said Yvaine, waving her hand in front of her nose. “Ye’d better stay in the doorway, Cam. I canna risk my candle order smellin’ like . . . like that.”

“I was muckin’ out the stables like yer brathair insisted, so what do ye expect?” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “One of the horses decided it didna like me and I ended up in a pile of sh–”

“We get the idea,” said Yvaine, stopping him from swearing in front of his daughter. “Did ye want somethin’?” Yvaine busied herself with the boxes.

“Aye. I want to ken why ye have been avoidin’ me.”

“Me?” That statement surprised Yvaine, since Cam had been going out of his way to steer clear of her all day yesterday. “It seems as if ye are the one avoidin’ me instead.”

“Cam, I canna wait to go to the castle with Yvaine,” said Avianca.

“Call me Da,” he told her, managing to surprise Yvaine yet again. “Avianca, ye arena goin’ anywhere.”

“Yes, she is,” said Yvaine. “Avianca is comin’ with us. Dinna worry, we will be back tomorrow mornin’.”

“So, it seems everyone is goin’ to Naward Castle but me,” complained Cam.

“I’m sorry, but ye are no’ allowed to come.”

“Da, I want to go with her,” said Avianca excitedly.

“Nay,” he said again, causing the little girl to frown.

“Why no’?” asked Yvaine.

“Because I said so.”

Cam didn’t likethe fact that Yvaine was planning on taking his child with her. He felt left out, and it only made him despise his punishment even more. Mayhap having his daughter here with him would make him feel better and not so alone. Avianca seemed to like being with him, and he was getting used to the idea of having a daughter. He wanted to get to know her better. This would be the perfect chance to do so, without all the others around.

“I dinna think ye’re bein’ fair to the lass,” Yvaine told him.

“I dinna think ye were bein’ fair to me, by no’ tellin’ me ye are bairned.”

Her head snapped up and her eyes popped open wide. “Avianca, sweetheart, can ye wait down in the courtyard for us?” asked Yvaine.

“All right,” said the little girl, leaving the room.

Once she was gone, Yvaine continued.