Page 76 of Highland Flame

“Shhh,” he told her, holding a finger to his lips, but it was too late. The door to the bedroom was flung open, and the room filled with light from a lantern being held by a man.

“Who’s there? What’s going on?” called out the father.

“I’m no’ goin’ to hurt yer children, I promise.” Cam lifted his hands above his head. “I’m only here to get my daughter, Avianca, and then I will leave. Where is she?”

“You’re too late, Cam. She’s no longer here.” Another man stepped into the light of the lantern, and to Cam’s dismay, it was none other than Brother Gillies.

“Nay! No’ ye,” said Cam as the front door smashed open and North and Nash ran in with their swords drawn.

“We heard a scream,” said Nash, holding his sword in two hands.

Now, the peasant’s wife screamed, running to the bedroom, gathering up her children. “Please, don’t kill us,” she cried.

“Put away the swords, boys,” growled Cam, thinking his friends were making matters worse.

Then the back door was flung open and Gavin ran in with his sword drawn as well. Sister Edna was right behind him.

“Stop!” yelled Cam, pushing his way into the main room. “Lower yer weapons, ye fools. These people are unarmed.”

“Brathair Gillies?” Gavin saw the monk and lowered his sword. “What are ye doin’ here?”

“Me? What are all of you doing here? Especially you, Sister Edna?” asked the monk.

“She told him our plan,” shouted Nash, glaring at the nun.

“It was a set up all along. We shouldna have trusted them,” said North.

“I didn’t tell him, honest I didn’t.” Sister Edna looked very upset.

“She speaks the truth,” said Gillies. “I overheard your plans through the vents, standing right outside your door.” He chuckled.

“Where is Avianca?” Cam demanded to know. “What did ye do with my daughter?”

“Your daughter?” asked the male peasant, looking over to the monk. “I don’t understand. You told us she was an orphan.”

“So, she’s here?” asked North. “Just give her to us and we’ll leave.”

“Nay, you’re too late,” said the monk. “I got here before you and the girl has been moved to a different place. You see, this family was just holding on to Avianca until the arrangements could be made for her to go to her permanent home.”

“With whom?” asked Gavin.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy and can’t tell you that,” said Gillies.

Cam reached out and grabbed the monk by the front of his robe, pulling him close and growling in his face. “Dinna test me, Monk. I’m still no’ certain that I shouldna kill ye, after all.”

“Nay, no killing, please,” said the man, holding out his palms. “I was told my family would be safe.”

“Don’t worry, he’s not going to kill anyone,” said Gillies. “If so, that would make him no better than my murdering sister.”

The woman gasped from the other room, and her children cried now.

Cam released the monk, still feeling like he wanted to kill him. “Yer walls with ears are goin’ to get ye in deep trouble someday, Brathair. Now, I willna ask again. Where is my daughter?”

“Do what you want, you’ll never find her.” Gillies headed for the door. “And don’t bother to threaten this nice family because they have no idea where I took the child either. Now, I suggest you all get back to the priory and continue packing since you’re leaving on the morrow.”

Brother Gillies left, taking his horse that was tied to a tree.

“I’m sorry about this,” Cam told the family. “We were never goin’ to hurt any of ye. I am just desperate to find my daughter.”