Chapter 10: New Horizons

Disclaimer: D. Gabaldon owns all rights to Outlander

A/N: To Logi, a guest here on this site. Thanks for all your reviews.

One evening while lying quietly in bed, Jamie asked, "What is it, Sassenach? Ye're no keepin' secrets from me agin, are ye?"

Lifting my shoulders slightly off the mattress, I turned to him. "No, not as such. It's … well, do you remember me telling you about a great battle that will end the Scottish clans and culture?"

"Aye … so?"

"It pains me to say it, but it's right around the corner. The battle will take place in just a few months' time. Bonny Prince Charlie will rally his men, and send them forth to awaiting death, a bloody massacre."

"Och … I didna ken as it would be so soon."

"I'm so sorry. The fact of the matter is, if we stay here we'll face certain doom. To survive, it'd be best if we emigrated to another country—perhaps the American colonies?"

He took a strand of my hair in his fingers, and rubbing it between them, answered, "I canna discount as ye ken this to be true, so I expect we'll be goin', aye?"

Murtagh passed me his flask o' whiskey, and scratched his heid. "And ye believe the lass?"

I took a quick swig, and wiped my mouth. "Aye, ye saw for yerself as she's from another time. I was there, wi' her, Murtagh, and there's nay denyin' it."

He huffed. "Weel then, I suppose I'll be leavin' wi' ye. I canna protect ye if ye're so far away, ye ken."

He grinned widely and ruffled my hair. "Forbye, I always wondered 'bout the colonies. Maybe this is destiny callin' to me."

"Maybe."

Angus pooh-poohed the notion of traveling from Scotland. "Are ye daft, Lass? Why would I wanta take op roots and move to the colonies? It makes nay sense."

"Oh, bloody hell, I'm trying to save your worthless hide, but I see it's useless."

Rupert was bent over, laughing. "When Prince Charlie is back on his rightful throne, I'll see as ye get my missive."

"Laugh all you want, Rupert. I tell you, we need to leave and promptly."

"I'll no stop ye, but Angus and I will die on this land."

Yes, you will.

Jamie grabbed my hand. "Come along, Sassenach. They've made op their minds, and nothin' we can say will change it."

With Rupert and Angus rebuffing our plea to leave with us, we traveled on to Lally Broch to try our hand at convincing Ian and Jenny to come with us. The obstinate Scots wouldn't budge, excepting of course, young Ian, who thought it a great adventure. We all stood around the front courtyard, discussing the plans for departure.

"Can I Da?"

Jamie said, "I'll see to it as nay harm comes to the lad. I'll treat him as if he was my own flesh and bluid."

With arms crossed over her chest, Jenny scowled. "I'll be holdin' ye to it, Jamie. No a scratch on that lad's heid, ye hear?"

Young Ian turned to his parents. "I can go then?"

Jenny looked at her spouse. He shrugged and said, "It's op to ye, Jenny, ye're his mum."

She pushed closer to her son, and remarked, "I suppose so. But, see as ye write to me ever' month or so, mind."

Young Ian's eyes brightened at that comment, and he nodded readily in affirmation.

Casting her eyes at Murtagh, Jenny shook a finger at him. "I see as they convinced ye into goin' wi' them as weel."

He looked down at the gravel in the yard, sliding his foot back and forth. "I'm only followin' my destiny."

"Oh, destiny is it now? I count it as foolishness, but ye can just follow along like a mindless sheep, and good luck to ye. Pray ye dinna get yer fleece sheared off afore yer time."

She pivoted again, facing her son. "Ian, ye get yerself op to yer room and pack op yer belongin's. Seems yer uncle is in a hurry."

"Aye, we wanta make it to Beaully afore nightfall."

After several weeks on the ocean, I found myself reflecting on our future, that is, when I was wasn't wiping the brow of my seasick husband. On one day, when he wasn't looking quite so green, he approached me as I stood at the railing. I said to him, "I don't know what will happen to us once we reach America, but whatever befalls us, we'll face it together and somehow muddle through."

He held me tightly and kissed my forehead.

And while the war rages in Scotland, we'll survive, Jamie, Murtagh, Ian, me, and one other—one not yet born.

The ocean swells lapped at the prow of our ship, pushing us forward, a gentle preamble to an exciting new life.

The End