Elizabeth O'Brien could never forget Jamie Fraser no matter how much she wanted to or hard she tried to.
She could never forget what he did.
Or what he claimed he had to do.
She had grown up with the Fraser boy and was often seen running around his family with him chasing after her, their hoots of laughter and giggles echoing in the countrysides open air. But, as she was there with him when they had their childish fun, she was there when his father punished him for his immature behavior. The comfort she offered him became a routine as he would run towards her after his father's reprimand.
She was there when he fell off his horse at age eleven and broke his leg, the same as she was there when he got so terribly sick, sleeping next to his bed and praying morning and night for him to get better. She even refused to leave when her father left, stating that she knew her father would come back but she wasn't sure if Jamie would.
She was there when Captain Randall attacked the Fraser farm and led Jenny away, kicking and screaming. And she was there when Randall's men led him away, fighting against their grip and getting back up every time they pushed her down.
Elizabeth O'Brien was there.
Jamie Fraser could never forget Elizabeth O'Brien, not that he ever tried to.
He was there when she accidentally fell into the stream while she tried to catch some fish, and he was there when her sister, Fiona, was born and when her mother died, cradling her as she broke down in sobs.
He was there when she helped him back to the house after he broke his leg, laughing when she tripped over a stick and through the pain when she dropped him. But, as she was there for him, he was there for her when she dropped a scalding pot of boiling water on herself after she tripped on her dress skirt.
He was there when she later caught his sickness and stayed by her bedside, praying morning and night. Not even the threat of a punishment was enough to get him to leave the bedside, to leave her.
He was there when Captain Randall attacked his farm and led his sister away and watched as soldiers grasped at Elizabeth, his blood boiling and letting out a roar as one of them groped her breast.
He remembered watching the blood run down her chin after a soldier backhanded her, and he launched himself at the soldier, barely getting halfway before he was tackled and beaten. He tried to fight them off, to get to Elizabeth, but there were too many of them.
He watched as the tears streamed down Elizabeth's face as she tried to reach for him, calling out his name as they forced him away, and he closed his eyes. It was easier to listen than it was to see her in pain, to see the pain he could have prevented if he were stronger.
He was there.
And as Elizabeth watched Jamie fade into the distance, she couldn't help but close her eyes and slam her fist into the dusty, dirt road. Her sobs quieting as she collected herself, knowing that she wasn't going to get anywhere just by crying about it. Slowly, she stood up and stared down the road he was taken, her heart aching as her mind raced.
Yes, Elizabeth would never forget Jamie Fraser, and that day she made a promise to herself.
She promised that she would be strong and fight back.
She promised herself that she wouldn't allow Captain Randall or any of his soldiers to hurt her again.
She promised herself and Jamie that she would find him again.