Title: Charlotte's Tumbling TIme Travel: Lottie of Lallybroch

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters on Outlander.

Author's notes: Hello everyone! I hope you have had a fine holiday, despite the state of the world right now. Here is chapter 7 of the story. Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 7

Lottie pulled Seoc to a halt in the yard and dismounted him with a pat on his shoulder. She led him to the stable and fed him in his own stall, thinking he seemed happy to be home. The feeling was mutual. She felt like she could finally breathe again. Although when she rummaged around in her pocket in search of the piece of carrot she knew she had in there somewhere her fingers instead grasped something else. Her stomach began to hurt again when she realized what it was. Jamie wasn't going to be happy with her this time.

As she was standing there shifting her weight from foot to foot she pondered the idea of approaching Claire instead. Yes, that's what she was going to do. It was a good idea. With a plan in motion she headed to the house to look for Claire. She sometimes helped with dinner around this time in the afternoon so Lottie ran up the stairs into the house and towards the kitchen area.

When she came running into the kitchen she ran smack right into Jamie who gave a little omf sound as she collided with his chest and stomach. Shaking her head and taking a step back she looked up at her red haired guardian. He was standing talking to his sister who was stirring the insides of a big bowl at the same time.

"Oh, so ye're home. Good. Ye can help Jenny with dinner," Jamie said with a smile. "How was school?"

Lottie tried to wipe the expression of surprise and caught off guard off her face but she knew she was failing. Jamie quickly became suspicious. He was very good at reading her and she found it nearly impossible to keep anything hidden from him.

"I...uh…" she began. "Where's Claire?" she said and attempted a smile of innocence. "I uh wanted to talk to her before I help."

Jamie and Jenny exchanged glances and Jenny raised a brow but said nothing, just continued to stir and stare at Lottie.

"Why the hurry to speak to Claire, lass?" he asked and leaned on his hand against the counter.

Lottie's bad temper began to resurface and she threw her hands in the air.

"Because I just do, okay? Jeez, do you always have to treat me like some sort of prisoner you're interrogating?"

"Perhaps because ye're acting just like someone who should be interrogated for your suspicious behavior."

"Oh God, never mind. Here you go! Read it and enjoy!" she pulled the letter from schoolmaster Fordyce from her pocket and slammed it into his hand before he had much time to take in what it was.

When Jamie realized what it was he had just received he threw out a hand and grabbed Lottie by the back of her dress before she could get far. He moved from her dress to her upper arm and kept a firm grip there while he read in silence. Jenny left the cooking and came to read over his shoulder when she understood he wasn't going to read the note out loud.

Dear Laird of Broch Turach

I am sorry to inform ye that yer ward has on several occasions this week conducted herself disrespectfully in my classroom. On this day she attempted to loudly refuse to attend her class as well as tried to coerce the other girls to follow her example. I had to administer punishment for this behavior.

Schoolmaster Fordyce

Jenny mumbled as she read the note and Lottie's cheeks began to burn. Jamie turned her to face him and held up the note in front of her face making her flinch.

"What did I say about receiving any more notes from the schoolmaster, Lottie huh?"

She swallowed and searched for her voice which seemed to have disappeared as the note was read.

"That...that...I wouldn't like the consequences," she said in a low voice.

"Wait for me outside by the stairs," he ordered and sent her moving with a small push in the direction of the doorway.

Lottie cast a quick pleading look at Jenny but found no sympathy in her eyes so she continued walking. When she had exited the room Jamie turned to his sister.

"Gah! That lass canna keep out of trouble for just one week." He said.

"How do ye intend to handle it?" Jenny asked.

"I'll handle it like father did with us. If she's been in trouble at school then she'll pay the price fer it here at home too, by me." He said with exasperation as he took off his belt and folded it in half. "She kens that and that's why she wanted to give the note to Claire so she could try and appease me first before Lottie had to face me."

"Aye, that was quite clear."

"We'll be by the fence."

He strode out of the kitchen and left his sister to the cooking. Lottie was seated on the stairs as he came out into the autumn sunshine. When she didn't get up as he approached he pulled her to her feet and continued to march her down the stairs and across the yard. They rounded the house and headed out towards the back where the fence and gate was. There Jamie stopped and looked at her.

"Do ye have anything to say, lass?"

"Only that Fordyce is an ass and so are plenty others in that stupid school."

Jamie's face became even more grim.

"Ye ken the rules, Lottie. If ye get punished fer something ye did at school then ye get punished at home. Ye will accept schoolmaster Fordyce orders in school and do what he tells ye. Even if ye dinna agree at the time."

Lottie shook her head.

"No, I will not accept them or him," she said stubbornly.

Jamie sighed and nodded towards the wooden fence rail.

"Bend over the fence, lass."

Lottie gulped. Her pride kept her from apologizing for the note because she didn't really feel she had done anything wrong. She knew Jamie didn't see it that way though because in school the schoolmaster's word was the law and she should accept it. That was the way adults saw it in this time and place no matter what.

She bent over the fence so that her arms and upper body were hanging on the other side and she could see Jamie's breeks and boots. He lifted her dress but left her shift in place when he delivered ten wacks with the belt while keeping a steady hand on her upper back.

"Ow! Please…" she sniffed as he delivered the tenth stroke. She heard him put the belt back on and felt him relieve the pressure on her back, allowing her to slide back down on the ground. She wiped at her tears with the back of her hand and stared at the ground.

"No more getting in trouble at school," he said and put a steady hand on her shoulder.

Lottie shook her head and glanced up at him.

"No, Sir."

She definitely didn't want to get another strapping anytime soon, but a part of her knew that she was being a little naive when she said she'd agreed to keep out of trouble at school. Fordyce didn't like her, that was clear, and she didn't like him either. That didn't bode well.

To be continued

A/N: Please let me know what you think should happen next. I have a plan but sometimes I change it a little when I get great suggestions from you all.