CHAPTER 26

When Skylar woke up the next morning, she sleepily rolled over and went to put her hand on Ian's chest. She was surprised when her hand fell onto the blanket instead. She opened her eyes and saw he was already gone. She figured his excited restlessness had gotten the better of him and he had already joined the others.

She forced herself from the bed, got dressed and brushed her hair. She walked into the dining room, looking for everyone else. Jamie and Claire had told them they were likely to stay the night at Governor Tryon's mansion, so she was just looking to find Ian, Fergus, Marsali, and Lesley. She found two of them sitting at a table, each eating a bannock and drinking something that wouldn't surprise her if it had been some sort of alcohol, even before 12:00.

"Good morning," she said to Fergus and Lesley as she sat at the table as well. They greeted her the same. "Where are the others?"

"Marsali is still laying down. Her nausea is very bad today," Fergus told her.

"And Ian?"
"Um, I'm not sure."

"I think he went out te walk fer a while," Lesley added. But Skylar saw the awkward glance the men gave each other and she knew they were lying.

"Where is he?" she asked again, her tone and face making it clear she knew they knew where he was and there was no use trying to get out of it.

"He, um, he told us not te tell ye," Lesley said. "He's fine and safe, but he said ye wouldna like it."

"Well, now you absolutely have to tell me where he is." She raised her eyebrows at the two as she stared them down, and they could tell she wasn't going to give up.

"He's at the docks," Fergus confessed.

"Doing?"
"He's trying to win money to help us get home."

"He's gambling? Please tell me you're joking." But the way Fergus and Lesley were trying to avoid her eye, it was obvious they were not. "Omigod. I'll be back." She pushed herself away from the table and left before either man could attempt to argue.

While walking, she was thinking, This is not good. He doesn't know how to gamble! That's why Jamie keeps telling him not to! If he ends up losing all the money with nothing else to bet…I need to find him before that happens.

She knew she was at the docks when a near overwhelming smell of fish and low tide hit her. But she ignored it as she scoured the space trying to find Ian.

He knows that if he just leaves without telling me it's gonna worry me out of my mind, she thought as she looked from face to face. Since Jamaica, all of their group, but Skylar especially, always made a point to know where Ian was at all times. She was glad he had at least told Fergus and Lesley where he was going, but for her not knowing where he was at this moment just brought her right back to the exhausting months on the Artemis.

She started asking random people if they had seen a tall, skinny, pale boy with red-blonde hair. Almost everyone either said no or completely ignored her. At last, one man said yes. He had seen him go inside a small pub with a bunch of sailors. He pointed out the pub and she ran towards it, yelling "Thank you!" over her shoulder.

She found Ian immediately. She had just walked through the door when she saw him get pushed to the floor by a man at least twice his age.

"Ian!" she yelled. His head snapped to her, as did the other men at the table. Ian had some slight fear in his eyes at being caught. "What the hell is going on? What are you doing here? I've been looking everywhere for you."

He stood up and walked closer to her.

"We need money, Yank," he told her. "I'm just tryin' te do me part te help with that."

"This is not the right way to do that. Jamie is going to kill you when he finds out. And from what I walked in on, you're not doing very well."

"Yer mother come te take ye home, lad?" one of the men called to Ian, mocking him. "Get caught playin' where ye aught not te be?" He and the others laughed.

Skylar took Ian's arm and tried to pull him out. "Let's go." But Ian pulled from her.

"Let me try again. I have a good feelin' about this next one."

"Youngin', I don't think-"

"Skylar," he interrupted, "I love ye with me whole soul, but I'm stayin' a while longer. I'm no leavin' til I win."

She crossed her arms and stared at him. She adored this boy devotedly and would do anything for him, but there were definitely times where she easily could strangle him; and this was one of them.

"Fine," she said, recognizing she had lost this argument. "But I swear to God, if you end up losing so badly that you get sold onto someone's ship as crew, I am not chasing you to Jamaica again."

Ian just chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Wait fer me at the tavern wi' the others. I willna be long."

She scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, okay. I'll just leave you alone with these men who we have no idea who they are as you gamble away our money. Mmhm, sure." He rolled his eyes in response with a grin, amused at her stubbornness, and went back to the table.

As the men reset their dice game, Skylar looked around the room and found the one thing that made her being there better.

"Dog!" she cried, and ran to the dog next to Ian's game table. He looked like a larger version of a Huskey and his fur was a very light grey. She sat next to the dog and started petting and rubbing and scratching him. "Hi," she spoke to him in a high pitched excited voice. "Oh my goodness, you're so pretty. Such a good boy, yeah? I love you. I love you so much. I just met you, but I would die for you."

Ian smiled watching her love on the dog. "Yer lucky charm, is he?" he said to the man who had mocked him moments ago.

The man looked at the dog then back at Ian. "I certainly don't keep him fer his companionship. We'll see how he fares at the dogfight this evenin'. I'll likely skin him alive if he loses."

Like he understood what his master was saying, the dog let out a whine and put his paw on top of Skylar's hand.

"I won't let him hurt you, don't you worry, baby boy," she whispered to him. She looked up when Ian knelt next to her and started to pet the dog as well.

"Don't think about feedin' him," the same man told him. "Hunger makes him fight more vigorously."

"If yer finished yammerin', can we get on wi' the game?" another man called out. They went on to start the next round without Ian.

The dog obviously hadn't experienced anything close to the kindness and affection Skylar and Ian were showing him. He nuzzled against them and kept pawing at them. Skylar couldn't imagine having to leave him behind with the man who clearly abused him.

"How can someone be so cruel to such a sweet creature?" she thought out loud. She kissed the dog's head and he licked her face. "There has to be a way we can help him." Ian looked back at his owner and something he saw made his eyes go wide. "What is it?" Skylar asked.

"Maybe we can," he said. "I have an idea." He stood up and went back to his spot at the table, only making Skylar's anxiety rise.

He leaned onto the table, getting close to the man and said, "I'll play ye fer yer dog."

"Ian, what are you-" Skylar started, but he put up his hand to stop her.

"Ye have nothin' te gamble with, save yer worthless life," the man stated.

The man sitting next to Ian could tell the teenager getting too involved with this sailor would only end badly. "This one'll slit yer throat. I've seen him do it. Boy, ye don't wanna risk it."

Skylar could tell he had no intentions of backing down, so she quickly went to him and said, "You do not have to risk yourself like this, Youngin'. Jamie can come and figure out a way to get the dog. Your pride has gotten you in danger before. Don't let it happen again."

The man Ian was challenging seemed interested in seeing how far he could push him. "What'll ye stake, eh? I'd gladly play ye fer an hour alone with yer bonny lassie here. From the looks of her, she hasna been touched by a man and would make fer a good time." He slapped Skylar's rear and laughed with his friends. Skylar stiffened at his action and wanted to slap him back across the face, but somehow was able to control herself. Ian found it more difficult to not act.

He got in the man's face and said through gritted teeth, ready to attack, "Ye dinna touch her or talk te her, or I swear I'll gut ye clean." Skylar jumped to pull Ian away from him, but she didn't get far before he wrenched himself from her, still staring the man down. The sailor seemed entertained by Ian's response.

"I'll wager 100 shillings. 5 pounds," Ian offered, still seething but keeping his voice calm. He sat back down. "My uncle, he can pay. I swear it."

"Ian, we cannot lose that money. We need it to get home," Skylar said from where she stood.

"Yer uncle sent ye te town te buy a cow, did he?" the man said back to Ian. He looked at the others and went on, "That's a right tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, aye lads? Enchanted beans are no good te me."

"I'll get ye yer money if I lose," Ian promised. "If ye lose, I get the money and the dog."

"Know that if ye can't pay, he's not lyin'," gesturing to the one who gave Ian the warning. "I'll open yer throat fer the world te see. And I'll have yer lass fer more than just the hour. And me friends'll get te enjoy her as well." Skylar swallowed and glanced at the others around the table, all looking her over and giving her tasteless looks.

"Ian, think about this," she begged, coming behind him and putting her hands on his shoulders.

"Fe fi fo fum, I smell the blood of a wee Scotsman," another taunted. But Ian wasn't put off. He was bound and determined to play the game.

"Any last words?" the main man at the table said.

Seeming confident, Ian looked at him and replied, "If I am te die teday, would ye grant me my dyin' wish?"

"And what might that be?"
"Privilege of usin' the dice of the man that is te kill me." Looking him straight in the eye, Ian took the cup that held the man's dice. His smirk dropped as he figured out what the young lad was up to. Skylar still didn't understand, but seeing the man get nervous raised her hopes a little.

He looked from Ian to the other sailors, and felt the pressure to accept. He took Ian's original cup with his dice. Ian didn't break eye contact as they shook their cups and slammed them on the table. The man lifted his first.

"11," one of his friends announced as the number he had rolled.

Ian pretended to be impressed but then said, "The odds seem te be weighted in me favor. 12." He lifted his cup and revealed that he had in fact rolled a 12 and won the game.

Skylar let out the huge breath she had been holding and loosened her death grip on his shoulders.

Not looking at Ian, the man simply said, "Take the wretched mongrel and the money, and go. Don't let me see ye here again."

As Ian collected the money, Skylar went to the dog and took the rope that was tied around his neck and led him away.

"Pleasure doin' business with ye, lads," Ian told the group, then joined Skylar outside.

They stopped for a minute when they got out the door.

"How did you know it would a be a 12?" she questioned, really curious.

"He was cheatin' with weighted dice. I saw him switch them." He knelt down to who was now their dog and spoke to him while scratching his head. "Lucky roll of the dice, eh. What do ye think of that fer a name. Rollo. Yes?" Seeming to agree with it, Rollo licked Ian's face happily.

Skylar laughed at the interaction. "We should get back. Jamie and Claire will be at the tavern any minute. And we need to introduce them to the newest member of the family."

Continuing to pet Rollo, Ian looked up at her and they smiled, both very happy about their new addition. He stood up straight and, taking Skylar's hand, they walked back.

When they got back to the tavern, the teenagers sat on a table in front of the building with Rollo at their feet. Neither could keep their hands off him. They were so relieved to have gotten him away from his horrible ex-owner and just wanted to shower him with love.

"There ye two are," they heard Jamie say as he and Claire approached them. "Fergus said ye ran off a while ago, Skylar."

"I was looking for him," she explained, putting a hand on Ian's shoulder.

Jamie then noticed they weren't alone. "What's this beast ye have with ye?"

"He's not a beast! He's just a little puppy."

"Isn't he a handsome dog, Uncle?" Ian said.

Claire didn't agree. "I don't think that's a dog, Ian. More like a bloody wolf."

Skylar bit her lip to keep from laughing at Claire's words. As Jamie bent down to Rollo to pet him and scratch his ears, the dog just looked so sweet and adorable, almost smiling with his tongue hanging out.

Yeah, a real bloodthirsty wolf here.

"Broader through the head and chest than a wolf," Jamie corrected. He stood up and asked, "He's a fine creature. Where'd ye get him?"
"I won him," Ian told him. "Lucky roll of the dice. So I called him Rollo."

"Ye were gamblin'?" Jamie pressed, his face and voice very disapproving.

Ian's smile shrunk seeing that he was in trouble. "Aye, with sailors."

"Yeah, just sailors. Sailors that were threatening to slit your throat if you lost," Skylar added, not letting him forget that she was still not happy with him taking part in the activity.

Ian looked back at her, his expression reading, "Do not help."

"But he's not the only thing I won," he continued, turning back around. He reached into his pocket and took out all the money he had collected and handed it to his uncle.

Jamie looked impressed at the amount, but said, still disciplining him, "Christ, ye shouldna stake yer life gamblin' wi' sailors."

"That's what I said!" Skylar voiced.

"But yer always at it, Uncle," Ian argued. "Every tavern we've seen fit te rest, ye've wagered our coin."

"That's cards, not dice. And I ken what I'm doin'."

"Well, I won, did I no?"
"Only by a very very lucky roll of the dice," Skylar reminded him.

"If yer mother hears of this…" Jamie said, Jenny being what Jamie was most afraid of.

Ian held back rolling his eyes and sighed. "I won't do it again. Promise."

"You're right, you won't. And you won't need to," Claire put in. "We've plenty of money now. We found a buyer for the ruby last night."

Ian's shoulders slumped slightly. "Well, that's some good news, Auntie." He tried to sound optimistic, but Skylar could tell perfectly well he didn't mean it. He didn't want to leave America, and neither did she. She wanted to stay and watch the land she grew up in become its own country. To not only witness history but to be a part of it was less than a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it devastated her to not have that experience. But at the same time, she knew it was better for them to be in Scotland. It was familiar, and everyone they knew was back there. She could also just imagine how desperate Ian's parents were to have him home again.

"Aye. Well, bring yer mongrel and we'll go inside," Jamie instructed. "We'll have some food. Then there's some things we need te talk about." He and Claire exchanged a look like they had a secret they were wanting to tell. They walked inside leaving the younger two alone.

Ian stroked Rollo's head, his body language much more sullen than it had been a minute ago. Skylar looped her arm through his and said to him, "Hey, after everything that's happened, won't the slower pace of Scotland kind of be a relief?"

Still looking down, he answered, "Or it'll be even more boring than it was before."

"Think about it this way, knowing everything that you went through and survived, your parents are going to have a very difficult time seeing you as a little kid and treating you like one. Plus, Lallybroch will have so much more room than here for Rollo to run around and play in. And I'll be right there with you. I can promise you that."

Ian turned to look at her. "Are ye sure ye want te promise that? Ye'll settle fer a plain life on a farm? Ye deserve so much more than that. Ye should be a princess livin' in a grand castle wi' servants waitin' on ye hand and foot."

"I finally get you and you really think I'm gonna leave you? I told you this a long time ago, Youngin', but I'll say it again. You're stuck with me forever. And besides, I already have my prince so anywhere we live will be our castle." She cupped his face and brushed his cheek with her thumb. She tried to keep a straight face but she couldn't help but laugh at what she had just said. "Omigod, I almost made myself throw up saying that."

Ian smiled at her and laughed, which still filled her with butterflies, and kissed her. They let it go on for a few moments until she pulled back and said, "We should get inside before Jamie sends out a search party." He gave a nod in agreement and stood up. He picked up Rollo's rope then offered his hand to Skylar. She took it, standing as well, and they walked into the tavern.

They found their group at a table with food on it already. Jamie and Claire had warned the others about Rollo, so when Ian led in the massive dog, they weren't completely shocked. But they definitely were still a little wary of the animal under their table.

As they ate, Jamie and Claire made their announcement; that they would not be returning to Scotland and would instead stay here in North Carolina.

Fergus almost spat out his drink when they said it. "Staying in America?"

Ian lit up when he heard their plan, automatically assuming he would be joining them. Skylar sat up straighter, hopeful as well that this would include the two of them.

"Aye. Claire and I have decided te try and make a life here," Jamie confirmed. He took Claire's hand and they looked at each other both proud and confident with their decision, as scary as it might be.

"That is a fine Idea," Ian spoke in agreement. "We could stay-"

But Jamie stopped him. "Not 'we', lad. Ye'll still be on a ship bound fer Scotland."

"Oh, please, Uncle. I'll no be a worry te ye. Truly, I swear it. I'll work te earn me bread. I've a talent fer sellin'. Fergus'll tell ye." Fergus gave Jamie a nod, acknowledging that was true. But Jamie wasn't sold.

"Ye ken I would like nothin' more than te have ye with me, but what in God's name would yer mother say?" Again, the fear of Jenny's wrath being the main force driving his argument.

"I dinna ken. But she'd be sayin' it in Scotland, won't she?" Skylar chuckled at that and put her arm back through his. "She kens I'm safe with ye. Ye wrote te her back in Georgia."

"I canna say that particular bit of knowledge will be over-comfortin' te her, Ian," Lesley added.

Jamie continued, trying a different way to reason with his nephew. "Yer parents dinna want a vagrant's life fer ye, lad. They want ye te grow te be a man of learnin' and influence. A man of worth. Ye'll amount te somethin' fer yer mother's sake if it kills us both." He grabbed the boy's arm affectionately. "Yer life's no meant to be wasted. Especially if ye mean te provide as a husband and father one day. Those are jobs in and of their own, and ye need te prove yer deservin' of the lass ye make that life with." His eyes shifted quickly to Skylar then back to Ian. Ian saw him look to the girl, and he did too. He held the hand she had wrapped on his arm and kissed her head. He did want to be able to give the woman who he loved almost too much a good life and have her want for nothing. He just desperately wished he could do that in the New World rather than the one he was already too acquainted with.

"Of course, it is your choice, Skylar," Claire said to her. "If you want to stay here or go back to Scotland. Though I'm fairly certain what your choice will be." She smiled sweetly at the 17 year old.

"I think it's more than understood by now that wherever he goes, I go. And if that's Scotland and Lallybroch, then that's where I'll be." She held Ian's arm tighter and the two smiled at each other, so full of unwavering and deep adoration for one another. She kissed his shoulder, and they turned their attention back to everyone else.

"Where will you settle?" Fergus directed to Jamie and Claire, bringing the conversation back to them.

"We don't know yet. We thought we would work on that when we're visiting River Run," Claire answered.

Jamie turned to his adoptive son and said to him, "Fergus, I want ye te have a portion of the profit from the ruby. It will pay fer ye and Marsali te return te Scotland, if that's what ye choose. And there's a bit fer Marsali te take home te her mother. Fer the alimony I promised." Marsali looked at him, very appreciative that he had not forgotten about that and still meant to honor it. "There's enough fer ye as well, Lesley," he added, not wanting to leave out his friend.

"I appreciate it, Mac Dubh. But I'd have ye keep yer coin if I may travel with ye a bit longer," Lesley countered. "This is a wild country, and my place is at yer side."
Smiling at the sentiment, Jamie nodded. "Aye, ye may."

Skylar knew Ian too well that when she felt him move forward, she knew he was going to assert that he felt that way too and should be allowed to stay as well. But she stopped him, whispering, "Don't do it, Youngin'. Arguing will not help."

She heard him take a breath and he sat back in his chair.

Fergus then made his own similar announcement regarding himself and Marsali. "We would like to stay in North Carolina as well, Milord. Marsali would not be well-suited to a long journey."

Everyone at the table was confused by what he meant; except for Skylar and Ian.

Omigod omigod! They're finally telling everyone! she thought excitedly. She tried to play along that she had no idea while waiting with anticipation for them to say it.

Marsali seemed very nervous to actually say it to everyone, even though she had been so willing to tell Skylar the night before. Fergus understood, so he said it for her.

"She is with child."

Jamie's eyes went wide with surprise as he looked between them. "What?!" he responded, laughing and smiling with joy. His reaction now was so much different than when they had first announced they were married.

Seeing everyone so happy over the news, Skylar didn't even have to pretend to have big emotions over it. She felt the same excitement all over again as when Marsali had first told her.

"Well, this certainly is a wonderful surprise," Claire commented.

"Aye, it was a surprise te us as well," Marsali said back. Skylar could almost hear the silent conversation the two women were having, and she knew Claire had known as well that Marsali had wanted to wait a while before having kids, and wanted to make sure this was something she was happy about.

"Of course, we are delighted," Marsali said, reassuring Claire. The obvious joy in Marsali's smile and voice made it perfectly clear there was no falseness in her words.

Jamie could barely contain his excitement, and he hit the table as he said to the soon to be parents, "May God bless ye both."

"For now, Marsali and I will stay in Wilmington," Fergus continued to explain their plan.

Marsali went on with, "It's a wee bit bigger than Broch Merdha. I hope te find work as a seamstress, while Fergus seeks employment himself."

"Aye, he'll do fine Marsali," Jamie promised, then turned to Fergus. "And ye, ye'll make a fine father."

Fergus appeared very honored and touched at Jamie's praise. "Thank ye, Milord."

"This baby is truly blessed with the best parents he or she could ever have," Skylar complimented.

"And he will adore his Auntie Skylar; who, I promise, he will see many many times," Fergus replied, being able to read her mind. Though she absolutely could not be more ecstatic for him, she also felt a pit form in her stomach at the idea of being an ocean away from her brother. Looking at her with a touch of sadness in his eyes, he was clearly thinking the same thing about his sister.

She looked back to Jamie when he changed the subject, directing his statement to her, Lesley and Ian. "The Campagnia leaves in under a fortnight. Ye three will accompany us te River Run until then." Ian nodded seriously in agreement, but Skylar could see the grin he was fighting back at the knowledge that they were going to be able to travel a bit more before being forced home.

As the others went back to congratulating Fergus and Marsali, Skylar whispered to Ian, "Maybe if I get pregnant too, they won't make us go back." She laughed, not in the slightest bit meaning it. Ian knew very well she was joking too, but his whole face and neck turned tomato red at her suggestion, and he was stuttering so badly he couldn't get out a response.

Lesley leaned into the two and said, with a tone of caution, "I heard that."

Damn bat ears.

Sorry for not posting yesterday! Life decided to be a thing…

Who else saw the deleted scene that got released of Ian winning Rollo? I saw it and I immediately thought OMIGOD I HAVE TO USE THIS!

Please review/favorite/follow and see you next week!