Page 83 of Highland Flame

“Yes. I will tell them that I am convinced she is your daughter and that the girl should live with you and not me.”

“Then I agree,” said Cam, holding out his hand for Lord Clifton to shake it.

The border lord shook Cam’s hand and then pulled him into his arms and hugged him, making Yvaine’s mouth drop open in surprise.

“I am so glad to have found you, Son. Libby will live on through you.”

Cam remained speechless, and did not return the hug.

“Now, tell me where I’ll be able to find you.” Cam’s father released him and straightened out his clothes.

“He’s with the MacKeefe Clan now,” Yvaine told him, when Cam didn’t answer. “He’ll either be at Hermitage Castle or at the MacKeefe camp in the Highlands.”

Robert chuckled. “Well, I don’t think an Englishman traveling to the Highlands is a good idea. However, if you’d be kind enough to send me a missive at Castle Clifton in Brampton when you’re at Hermitage, I’ll make the trip up to see you. And to see my granddaughter, Avianca, as well.”

“What do ye say, Cam?” asked Yvaine, when Cam seemed hesitant to answer. “I ken it isna the ideal situation, but at least ye’ll be with yer faither, and Avianca will have a grandfaither now.”

“I dinna ken,” said Cam, holding his jaw firm. “It’s a lot to ask, after what I’ve been through.”

“I’m giving you your daughter back, MacKeefe. At least do me this small favor. I may have caused you and your mother heartaches, and for that I am truly sorry. But it is in the past, and I can’t change it. Libby is gone now, and I feel the least I can do to make it up to her is to spend time with her son and granddaughter.”

“It’s no’ right,” said Cam. “Ye have another family that ye’ll be lyin’ to. I think it’s best if we forget the past and both move forward instead.”

“Cam,” whispered Yvaine, not wanting things to end this way.

“Nay. He’s right,” said Robert, looking over at Yvaine. “I don’t deserve to spend time with you or Avianca. I know it is not right to live a secret life and keep this from my daughters. But you have to understand that it isn’t fair to them either. So, I guess this will be hello and goodbye all at the same time. Even still, I am happy to know you are alive, Cam. I feel at peace just to have met you. In time, I hope you’ll tell Avianca who I was, but if not, I can’t blame you. I will be leaving now.” He turned and headed to the door.

“Thank ye,” said Cam, causing the man to stop and turn around.

“For what?” he asked.

“Thank ye for no’ takin’ my daughter from me. I have held anger in my heart my entire life for ye. I hated ye for what ye did to my mathair, but now I think I can see things from both sides.”

“So, does that mean you forgive me?”

“Nay. No’ yet. But in time . . . mayhap. Just no’ yet.”

“I understand,” said Lord Clifton with a nod. “Time heals many wounds, Son, although the wounds I’ve inflicted on you might take longer to heal than the time I have left on this earth.” He knocked on the wooden door, and Gavin opened it from the other side. “Goodbye, Cam. I wish you a good life. Take care of Avianca.”

“I will,” Cam answered. “Gavin, please escort Lord Clifton back through the catacombs.”

Once they left, Yvaine slipped her arms around Cam, giving him a big hug. “I ken how hard that must have been for ye. But do ye think ye were too hard on him? It wouldna have hurt to let him visit ye and Avianca once in a while, would it?”

“I’ve had enough heartache in my life, and I feel I need to protect Avianca from livin’ a life of hell.”

“Does that mean ye’re never goin’ to tell her that Lord Clifton is her grandfaither?”

He shook his head slowly. “I think if she kent the truth, it would only be harder for her. The wee lass thinks he’s the villain right now, since she almost had to live with him. He was about to take her away from me forever.”

“Dinna let her think that about him the rest of her life.”

“Please, Yvaine, dinna tell me what to do.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, dropping the conversation, since she could see how upset it made him. He obviously wasn’t ready to forgive his father. Not yet, but hopefully in time he would.

*

Cam held hissleeping daughter on his lap as he directed the wagon through the gates of Hermitage Castle just as the sun set on the horizon. Yvaine sat on the wagon bench next to him. The wagon was filled with Yvaine’s belongings. They hadn’t spoken much on the trip home, and neither had Cam’s friends and Davita who rode their horses in front and behind them.