Page 73 of Highland Flame

“It’s all right, Davita. Tell them to enter, and close the door behind them. I want to talk to everyone at once,” said Yvaine from the bed.

“All right.” Davita stepped aside. Gavin, Nash, and North entered the room. Then North pulled the lever to close the door behind them.

“I wanted ye all to ken that I lost the baby.” Yvaine had spent hours crying, but decided to finally accept it.

“I’m so sorry, lass.” Cam looked at her with such sad eyes that it almost made her want to cry again.

Yvaine cradled a mug of hot cider in her hands, and slowly took a sip before continuing.

“It’s all right, and I dinna want anyone to feel sorry for me.”

“I’ll kill Gillies for this, I swear I will,” Cam ground out.

“Nay, ye willna, and I dinna want to hear talk like that again. This wasna his, or anyone’s fault.” She handed Cam the cup of cider and he placed it on the bedside table.

“Ye certainly are takin’ this well,” said Nash, sitting down at the table with the chessboard.

“Aye. I canna believe ye dinna even blame yer brathair.” North sat across from his twin to play a game of chess.

“It was an accident. Besides, I had time to think, and I realize that everythin’ happens for a reason,” she answered.

“Lass, what reason can there possibly be for losin’ a bairn?” asked Cam under his breath.

“It was a message from God,” she told Cam.

“Nay,” he said, shaking his head. “Ye are no’ bein’ punished for killin’ Dun, if that is what ye are goin’ to say.”

“I did think of that, but I dinna believe it’s true,” she answered. “I decided it was a gift from God instead.”

“Now, I’m really confused,” said Gavin, pouring himself a cup of hot cider from a pitcher on a table near the door.

“Yvaine told me that she has accepted the loss, and that it will actually be for the best,” said Davita, taking the cup from her husband and taking a sip.

“For the best?” Cam looked up, confused. “That is insanity talkin’.”

“Nay, it’s no’.” Yvaine reached out and took Cam’s hand in hers. “I think the child didna want to be born. No’ yet. That is, mayhap my child shouldna ever have to ken their faither was abusive and its mathair killed him.”

“But it isna the child’s fault,” said Cam.

“Nay, but I believe when my name is cleared and we start a family of our own, that child will come back . . . but as our child instead,” she told him with a smile.

“Ye are stronger than I could ever be,” mumbled Cam. “I’m glad ye have a positive outlook.”

“Why shouldna I have one?” she asked. “After all, it is ye who promised ye’d help me clear my name, so I willna go to prison. I have nothin’ to worry about, do I?”

Yvaine almost laughed aloud when she saw Cam squirm in his chair.

“I’ll do what I can,” he said, looking at the floor, not sounding as confident as he was earlier.

“Enough talk about me,” said Yvaine. “I wanted ye all in here so we could discuss our plan for savin’ Avianca.”

“Savin’ here?” asked Nash, moving his knight on the chessboard. “I thought she was already gone and given to another family.”

“She is,” said Yvaine. “However, I found out from Sister Edna where Brathair Gillies took the wee lass. So tonight, we’re goin’ to get her and bring her back.”

“We?” Cam looked at her and raised a brow.

“Well, no’ me, I’m sad to say.” Yvaine sighed. “Sister Edna said I needed to rest and stay in bed for a few days. I would only slow ye down. However, she offered to help, so she will be takin’ my place.”