Chapter 4: Meadow Larking

Disclaimer: D. Gabaldon owns all rights to Outlander.

Appalled could not adequately express the horror I felt as his story unfolded. "Oh, Jamie, I'm so sorry. Some day, Captain Randall will pay dearly for his crimes ... the Black Watch also. And yes, I've heard about them. How could they turn against their own people? They're just as bad if not worse than the British soldiers."

A wry smile lit his countenance. "We best broach a different subject. I expect I'm talkin' too much 'bout topics I shouldna ought. My uncles dinna trust ye, Sassenach. They think ye're a spy, ye ken."

"Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ! Now I ask you—what use would any information concerning Leoch be to the British Crown? Spy indeed."

I looked deep into his eyes. "You don't believe that, do you?"

"Nay, I just think as ye're a most beautiful woman lost in the Highlands."

I colored at that. "Thank you, Jamie."

Just then, Alec came muttering, and Jamie had to get back to work. Our little respite had come to an end.

# # # # #

Auld Alec made a pest o' himself, intrudin' on our time t'gether. "Are ye gonta sit there all afternoon chawin' whilst I do yer work for ye?

"Jamie—get yer arse out here. Brimstone can use a good curryin', and Thunder needs to be shod."

I huffed in frustration, and brushed the bits o' straw from the fabric o' my kilt. The man could be a might irritatin' at times. And now was one o' those times. "D'ye havta be so ill-mannered. There's a lady present, ye ken."

He mumbled, "She's no a lady. She's a Sassenach spy, and ever'one kens it."

Claire quickly gathered op the leavin's o' our lunch. I kent by the way she avoided our eyes as she heard ever' word as the clot-head spouted.

"Dinna mind Auld Alec. He's getting' on in years, and I expect, a might touched to boot."

"It's all right, Jamie. I realize the people here don't trust me, and they have every reason not to. I should really leave you to your work now. I enjoyed what time we spent together, and getting to know you better."

"Sorry, I blathered on so long. Next time, I'll let ye do some o' the talkin' as weel."

Walkin' her to the gate, we said our goodbyes. I watched as she left, but noticed her stop along the way to argue with Rupert. It looked to me as he'd been followin' her. Dougal's idea, I supposed. I laughed tho', as the feisty lass gave him what for. Ah … she was a most singular woman, and I was fallin' deeper and deeper into the quicksand o' love.

I talked to Rupert tryin' to glean anathin' 'bout Claire. "I saw ye havin' a verra heated discussion yesterday."

"Aye, the warchief told me in nay uncertain terms to trail after the Sassenach ever' time she left these walls, like some bluidy hound. I'm to keep track o' her whereabouts at ever' moment."

"Weel, if it's that much worry to ye, I'll gladly take op the job. Workin' in the stable is a bit difficult what wi' one hand tied op. I'd take it as a favor in fact."

"Och … nay. Dougal wants ye far from the lass. He sees the way she looks at ye. I believe he's jealous."

My heart sped op. "How d'ye mean? Looks at me in what way?"

"Are ye blind, Lad? Why, she's all mooney-eyed when she spots ye, just like ye are when ye look at her. We've got eyes; we see the two o' ye.

"Anaways, ye're wastin' yer time. The Sassenach is MRS. Beauchamp. So, there's gotta be a MR. Beauchamp somewhere."

"It's no so, Rupert. She told me herself. Her husband is deceased. She's but a widow."

Rupert leaned back agin' the wall, his eyes round as bannocks. "A widow, ye say. Ahh … now, that puts a whole new perspective on the situation. Ye'd best be watchin' yer back, Lad, forbye I'm tellin' ye as Dougal has designs on her as weel, what wi' his wife gone to her grave year last."

I left Rupert holdin' op the wall while I sprang op the stairweel to my room, lighthearted, and almost giddy wi' joy.

Much to my sorrow, the joy was fleetin' faster than leaves in the wind. Murtagh came to me wi' the news as Claire would be gone by the weekend, travelin' wi' Eoghan, the tinker, back to her home. For the rest o' that week, I tried as I might to see or be near the lass as much as possible on the chance as I could persuade her to stay here and no return to Oxfordshire.

Standin' in the courtyard that verra morn, I waited to see if Claire would venture outside. I noticed as Rupert was actin' flirtacious with a buxom woman as was larkin' 'bout the yard. Seein' as he was busy wieldin' his charms on the lady, I took it opon myself, to aid him in his amorous affairs by offerin' my escort service to one certain lass with eyes the color o' sherry. I nay sooner approached him wi' the offer, when the Sassenach, herself, exited the castle, a basket danglin' from her hand.

I tapped my cousin on the shoulder. "Auld Alec hasna need o' me t'day. So, I was thinkin' as I'd be glad to take the Sassenach off yer hands, seein' as ye're busy right now. Nay a one will be apprised o' the changin' o' the guard so to speak. It'll be our own wee secret, aye?"

He gazed at his lady companion, weighin' my words, then back at me. "All right, Lad. Just this once, ye understand."

"Oh, aye. Just this once."

I gleefully trotted toward the object o' my affection, and was rewarded wi' a nod, and a wan smile. My breathin' came rapid in my chest, and my heart thundered, roilin' 'bout fierce enough to crack a rib or two. Ah, Claire, what have ye doon to me?

"Where's my jailor?"

I jerked my thumb o'er my shoulder. "Ye mean, Rupert, then. He's occupied wi' other activities."

She snorted, wavin' at the man. "I'll bet he is."

Claire looked me op and down. "So, Ginger, are you to be my escort now?"

"Aye. Where is it ye'd like me to take ye?"

"I don't imagine you could take me to Oxfordshire?"

Frowning, I shook my head.

"I didn't think so, but it was certainly worth a try." She sighed, and said, "Well, I guess no place in particular will have to do, just some place where lots of different herbs grow."

"Ye'd be wantin' to go to Sheep's Head meadow then."

Sassenach hooked her arm on mine, and said, "Lead on."

I took Claire back to the stable and saddled op Donas and Brimstone. The poor lass looked petrified wi' her face all pale as new-fallen snow. "Dinna fash, Sassenach, her name may be Brimstone, but she's gentle as a lamb. Ye dinna hafta be scairt o' the animal."

"So you say." She shook her head. "Jamie … I've never ridden alone on a horse before."

"Is that so? Weel then, just hand me the reins after I get ye settled on the beast, and we'll walk along slowly."

Helpin' her onto Brimstone's back, I clambered aboard Donas and sidled up to the mare, taking the reins from Sassenach.

The meadow wasna that far away. We came to the place shortly, and I helped her down from the saddle. Stars and stones, she felt good in my arms. We fit t'gether … like a metal clasp.

# # # # #

Sheep's Head meadow was a veritable sea of indigenous plants and herbs. I was so overcome with awe at the abundance and was instantly plucking at the leaves and berries, and filling my basket. I recognized bearberry, and valerian, burdock, and thistle, but some of them I hadn't ever seen before. I lifted one and asked Jamie. "Do you have any idea what this plant is called?"

"Oh, aye. It's crios chuchulainn. My da used it to heal sores and such on our horses and cattle."

"Here's another."

"Ah … I ken that wee bit o' green. It's called grainseag. The beaton had Fitz make me a tea from it when I had trouble passin' my water."

"And this one?" I showed him a stem with three leaves and red berries.

His eyes widened, and his hands extended out to stop me. "Dinna touch it, Claire."

I jerked, dropping it immediately, and waited for Jamie to explain.

"I expect as that there is devil's bane. Ye'd best no handle it for too long or yer fingers will prickle and then go numb."

Gazing at the innocent looking little plant, I peered up in time to see Jamie holding back a laugh.

"That's not funny, Jamie."

"Aye, it is, for I made it op. And ye believed my ever' word."

I rolled my eyes, and harrumphed in irritation.

"I'm sorry, but I'm no familiar wi' herbs, only the ones as was given me at Leoch by the Beaton. I ken as there's a tome in the surgery as can help ye wi' the names and uses for these."

"Yes, I imagine so."

Jamie helped me gather a few more, then we sat on a hillock and talked for awhile.

"You mean to say you've never had a sweetheart before? A big handsome lad like you?"

"Nay, like I told ye afore, I'm no exactly a suitable mate for a girl. So I ne'er wish to break a lassie's heart. Leastwise, I've ne'er been in love wi' anyone here."

"Well, that's … sad."

"Aye. Plannin' to put it right, tho'."

His eyes remained trained on me as he abruptly changed the subject.

"Sassenach, I need to ask ye somethin'. Rupert says as ye'll be leavin' wi' the tinker when he comes to Leoch. And I was wonderin'. D'ye suppose ye could stay a bit longer?

I'll miss ye sorely when ye go."

I had to look away from those beautiful eyes before I started to cry. "I'll miss you too."

"Can ye no change yer mind, then?"

"I'd stay … really, I would, but I can't. It's impossible. I don't belong here, Jamie. I have to go home." As much as I'd love to stay here with you.

Sitting quietly for a few minutes in the grass, Jamie pulled up a blade and twirled it about between his forefinger and thumb, staring at it blankly. He let it flutter to the ground, his head turning toward me.

I tried to get the comfortable feeling back. "It's beautiful here in this meadow. Thank you for bringing me here."

"It was my pleasure, truly."

With a loud sigh, Jamie smiled, saying, "Weel, I ken as ye like to hear stories, but dinna ye have any to share wi' me? Can ye no tell me 'bout yer family, yer sisters, yer brothers, yer home if ye will?"

I explained my traipsing about the globe with my uncle.

"Ah … I'm sorry ye have nay other kin."

"Don't worry about it. It's actually all I've ever known since I was ten."

Clearing his throat, the Scotsman then quietly spoke. "Can I ask ye somethin', Sassenach? I'll understand if ye decline to answer, but I'm a bit curious, ye might say. D'ye wish to tell me 'bout yer husband? Ye dinna hafta if it makes ye uncomfortable, tho'. I canna abide makin' ye cry agin."

I licked my lips, and lifted my head toward the clouds above, as if to pull down a satisfactory description from them. "Frank was a scholar. He taught history at the university in Oxford. He was very quiet and introspective."

"Yer husband wasna a soldier then."

I chuckled at the expression on his face. "Oh, god, no—quite the contrary. He wouldn't exactly fit the warrior mold; he was older than most foot soldiers as well."

"Older ye say?"

"Yes, he was thirty-nine years old when …" I glanced at the gold band still sitting on my left ring finger, and choked back the words which would complete that thought. … I left him behind.

"It's all right, Sassenach. Ye dinna hafta say the words."

Bloody hell. I could see the compassion in his lake-blue eyes, and my heart thudded against my will. Under all the weaponry, Jamie was a gentle soul, a sweet tempered man; I couldn't deny it.