CHAPTER 41
"You were just gone for a while. Do you really have to leave again?" Skylar said to Ian as he attached a small bag of food and belongings to Finley.
It had been just over a month since he and Jamie came back from their failed attempt at recruiting settlers, and now Ian was off again, but on his own this time.
"The Cherokee have never asked me te join them without John Quincy Myers, so the fact that they want me te come huntin' wi' them on me own, it's verra excitin'."
"And I'm so happy for you and that you're so excited. I know you're going to have such a good time, but I'm just gonna miss you." She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck and he pulled her into him by her hips.
"I'll be back before ye know it. But I certainly will miss ye as well. I'll be thinkin' of ye nonstop until I'm back with ye." He kissed her deeply, and when he broke it, he said softly to her, "Konnorónhkwa."
She pulled her head back farther to look at him better. "And what language is that? I've never heard you use that word."
"It's Mohawk fer 'I love ye.' Myers has started teachin' me that one as well since I picked up Cherokee so quickly."
"I just perfected how to say 'gvgeyuhi' and you've already moved on to Mohawk? How am I going to keep up with you?"
"I suppose we'll just have to increase the number of yer language lessons," he suggested with a flirty hint in his voice. He clasped his hands together on her lower back to bring her closer.
Skylar grazed her lower lip with her teeth and went on her toes. She brushed their noses together and replied, keeping her lips just from touching his, "Well then, it's a good thing I have such a handsome teacher so I won't get bored during class. Though it will be hard to pay attention." She kissed him first this time, keeping it sweet and slow. She then decided to try out a bit of a new language she had been learning. "Gach uair a phògas mi thu, bidh mi a tuiteam ann an goal leat a-rithist1."
It was now Ian's turn to be surprised. He raised his eyebrows and asked, "When did ye learn te speak Gaelic?"
"I started when Murtagh got here. I asked him to teach me."
"Why Murtagh? Uncle Jamie or I could've started a long time ago if ye wanted te learn."
"I wanted to surprise you, and I didn't think Dad would be too keen to teach me how to say such mushy things to you."
"How much do ye know so far?"
"It's taken me almost the full time he's been teaching me to just learn to say that one phrase. Picking up languages it definitely not my strong suit, as you know." Ian chuckled, remembering their early Cherokee lessons and how she would get very frustrated at not getting it right away and quit at least once a week. "But it's okay. That's all I need to know to say right now, because it's very true that I do." She brought his face down to hers and pressed her lips against his for a couple seconds. She pulled back just enough so she could say, "A-rithist." She kissed him again. "Agus a-rithist2." And the last one she said still against his mouth, "Agus a-rithist." They connected once more and didn't stop until Jamie's voice interrupted them.
"Ian, isn't it time ye were on yer way, lad?" Skylar turned to face him, pressing her back against Ian's chest so he could hold her around her waist. Jamie had stopped in the middle of the steps when he saw them, then continued down as he said, "They'll be waitin' on ye, and ye dinna want te be late." It was clear from Jamie's poorly hidden look of paternal objection to what he walked in on that he was less concerned about Ian being on time, and more so wanted his nephew's hands far away from his daughter's body.
"Aye, Uncle Jamie," Ian answered. "I'm preparin' te go now."
"I'm just seeing him off," Skylar added.
"Ye've been seein' him off fer more than ten minutes," Jamie stated.
Skylar then came back with, "Well, if you left us alone, we could get on with it."
Even though Jamie still had a long way to go in learning how to deal with a having daughter with a boyfriend, he was beginning to understand which battles he needed to give up; and this was one of them.
So instead of arguing, he simply looked at Ian and said, "Take care of yerself out there, lad. We want ye back in one piece."
"I will. Will ye tell Auntie Claire and Murtagh goodbye fer me again?" Claire had been called away earlier that morning to check on a sick child in a neighboring family, and Murtagh had escorted her there for protection.
Jamie nodded. "I will." He then went back up the stairs and into the cabin.
Skylar turned to face Ian again and their hands returned to their original spots.
"With all these goodbyes, it sounds like you're leaving forever instead of just a few days," she commented.
"I could never leave ye ferver. Ye ken I canna live without ye. If that were te ever happen, I would have te take ye with me."
"We could run away together like Romeo and Juliet."
"Didn't they both kill themselves in the end?"
"Um…yeah, we'll just skip that part and go right to the happily ever after."
"Sounds perfect." He couldn't resist kissing her again, but then had to force himself from her and say, "I do have te go. Uncle Jamie was right about them waitin' fer me."
She sighed. "I guess the sooner you leave, the sooner you'll come back. Have fun, but please be careful."
"I will." He kissed her one more time, making it count, and then climbed onto Finley's saddle.
Right before he left, Skylar touched his leg and said, "Hey." He looked down at her. "I did learn one other very important phrase from Murtagh."
"What's that?"
"Thig dhachaigh sàbhailte3."
He smiled at her and took her hand. "I always do."
She gave a small smile back and squeezed his hand. She told him when she let go, "Get out of here so you can come back. I love you."
"Yank, ye have no idea." He flicked Finley's reins and he took off.
Skylar watched until he was long gone from her sight. She took in a large breath and let it out as a loud sigh, then went about her work for the day.
Only a couple of hours later, Claire and Murtagh came back. Skylar was in the middle of feeding the animals when she saw them ride in.
As they brought their horses into the pen, Claire asked her, "Has Ian gone?"
"Yep. He's out in the great unknown facing who knows what," she replied.
"He'll be fine, lass. A bit of danger and adventure is good fer a young man his age," Murtagh commented.
"I think he's had plenty of dangerous adventures for one lifetime. I know I have. I'm looking forward to our next big adventure of settling down and starting a family."
"Just take it one day at a time, Skylar," Claire advised. "I'm in no rush to be a grandma for a second time. I feel old enough as it is." She gave a small smile and touched Skylar's shoulder before going inside the cabin.
"Oh, Murtagh," Skylar stopped him as he went to leave too. "Thank you again for helping me learn those couple phrases in Gaelic. Ian was very surprised and he really liked it."
"Yer verra welcome, lass. I'm glad I could help make the both'a ye happy."
"I'd really like to keep going with the lessons. I want to learn more. I really like the language. If you're okay with continuing to be my teacher, of course."
"Bhithinn toilichte. Leanaldh sinn a-màireach4?"
She looked at him blankly for a moment and then asked plainly, "Is that a yes? I only know those two sentences so far."
Murtagh chuckled. "Tis a yes. Tomorrow afternoon?"
"That's perfect. Thank you."
"Tha fàilte mhòr ort5." Skylar just smiled politely at him and nodded. Murtagh shook his head in amusement. "Tha tòrr obrach againn ri dhèanamh6," and then went into the shelter that he shared with Ian.
Over the next couple days, Skylar tried to distract herself from worry over Ian by doing any and all chores she could find around the Ridge and making sure each one was done perfectly. She also tried to have Murtagh make their Gaelic lessons as long as possible. She wanted to impress Ian more by being able to have a simple conversation with him by the time he got back. But it wasn't going as well as she had hoped. She was still struggling with simple phrases, but she wanted so badly to get them right that she was finding any chance to practice. That was why she had volunteered to go get more water from the river with Claire and Murtagh so that he could quiz her.
"It's verra nice te meet ye. What is yer name?" Murtagh asked as they walked to the river. The quiz involved him asking questions in English and then Skylar answering in Gaelic, as if they were just chatting casually.
She knew this one and answered confidently, "Is e m'ainm Skylar7."
He gave a nod in approval. "And how are ye teday, Skylar?"
She thought for a minute, then spoke, "Tha mi an seo8." Murtagh held back a grin at her wrong word, making a mental note to go over that again. "Agus esan9?"
"He is here as well, if ye were meanin' te ask me if I am well."
"I got both of them wrong?" Skylar asked, feeling a bit dejected.
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Claire told her. "You're already doing better than me. I was married to Jamie for over a year before I could say just one or two of the phrases you've already mastered."
"Let's keep goin'," Murtagh pressed as they reached the river. He knelt by the water and filled the buckets while he continued. "What do ye think of the weather teday?"
Skylar was now second guessing herself. "Um…chan eil an aimsir blàth an-diugh10."
He heard her very simple mistake, but he wanted to see if she could catch it on her own without him saying anything. "Really? What makes ye say that?"
She thought hard about every word as she said it, and answered slowly, "Tha a'ghrian glè shoilleir agus blath11."
"That was verra well said and yer pronunciation was excellent. But ye did contradict yerself. Ye told me that it was not warm teday and then said the sun is verra bright and warm."
"This is hopeless! I'm never going to get it," Skylar exclaimed.
Claire tried to reassure her with, "Gaelic is a very difficult language, and it's one you never heard a word of for the first sixteen years of your life. You can't expect yourself to become fluent overnight."
The three of them picked up the now full buckets of water and started back for the Ridge.
Skylar felt differently. "Ian learned Cherokee so quickly, and now he's speaking Mohawk too. He's so incredible with languages, and if I can't learn just this one, I'm nervous he'll think I'm too stupid for him and he's just wasting his time with me. I want him to think I'm smart."
"Now, I havena been here too long, but I can tell as clear as the sky is up above and the dirt is below, Young Ian worships the ground ye walk on," Murtagh said. "That boy's love fer ye is unconditional and never endin'. I promise ye, lass, ye have nothin' te fear wi' losin' him."
"You are also extremely smart on many things that Ian doesn't understand," Claire added.
"Yeah, about technology and other shit that won't even exist for another 200 plus years," Skylar argued. "That doesn't matter now in this century."
"Ye need te study hard then until I return and we can resume yer lessons," Murtagh said. He was planning to leave the next morning to go back to Woolam's Creek.
"Are you sure you can't stay?" Claire asked. "Having you here has really made Fraser's Ridge feel like home."
"I have the forge te run. If I'm te stay in North Carolina at all, I'll need te pay my taxes. And ye ken what that means."
"I do, unfortunately." Claire shared a look with Skylar and she knew what Claire meant. In just a short number of years, the Revolutionary War would begin. Skylar was eager to see how she and her family would play a part in it, but she was also terrified because she knew Jamie and Ian would be drafted to fight. Fergus would, thankfully, be spared due to his hand, but it scared her far beyond any fear she had ever felt to think about her father and, likely by that time, husband, fighting in one of the most important wars in the country's history; and what side would they fight on, or be forced to fight on?
Murtagh continued, "As we speak, two of our best men are presenting the governor with our petition fer fewer taxes."
"Your regulator friends?" Claire questioned.
But before he could answer, they all heard a young boy cry out, "Help! Get them off me!"
"Who is that?" Skylar asked to no one in particular.
They followed a voice and found a boy about 12 years old sitting on a stump. He seemed to be in pain so they ran to him to help.
"What is it, lad?" Murtagh asked him. When they got closer, they saw what looked like black slugs on his legs.
"Oh, they're just leeches," Claire observed. "They won't hurt you."
"Please, can you remove them at once? They're vile creatures," the boy requested.
"If you keep insulting them like that, they're certainly not going to want to be nice to you either," Skylar joked.
"They also have some pretty special uses. And if you can stand it, it's better to wait until they drop off by themselves."
The boy disagreed. "I hate them, and I'd rather not wait. If you please."
"Very well then," Claire gave in. "Skylar, can you bring over a bucket? Don't want to waste them. They're very effective in reducing the swelling of bruises." Skylar brought over one of the buckets and knelt on the other side of the boy, opposite from Claire. "I'll do these, you get those," Claire instructed, meaning Skylar would take care of the leeches on his right leg while Claire the left.
"Alright, let's get these little suckers off of you. Literally." Skylar smiled kindly at the boy and his whole face turned red and he looked away from her.
One by one, the women picked the leeches off and dropped them into the bucket. After just a minute or two, they were all gone with just a small drop of blood left behind from where each had been attached.
"I want my father," the boy told them, sounding a little afraid.
"Where is he?" Murtagh followed.
"I'm…I'm not sure. He told me to wait here while he went ahead to speak to a friend, and then he was going to come fetch me again. But that was several minutes ago. I'm afraid he's gotten lost."
"What is your name?" Claire asked, hoping if they became more familiar with each other he would feel at ease with them.
"William, ma'am. William Ransom."
"It's very nice to meet you, William. My name is Claire. This is my daughter, Skylar, and our friend, Murtagh."
William looked to each one as he greeted them again with, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Now, our home is very close by. Why don't we take you back with us, and then we, along with my husband, can figure out how to find your father."
"I'm really not supposed to talk with strangers."
"You've trusted us this far," Skylar pointed out. "You're also going to need those spots from the leeches cleaned, and you can't do any better than having Claire help you."
The 12 year old boy decided to listen to the pretty older girl, especially if it meant he could be around her for a couple extra minutes.
"Very well. After you."
"Good choice." Skylar smiled again, then she and Claire stood up and, along with Murtagh, led William back to their cabin. They also brought with them the horses that William said were his and his father's.
As they walked, Claire asked William, "How long have you and your father been here?" They could all tell that he was far out of any environment that he was used to. He was wearing green velvet and fur, and his shoulder length red hair was properly primped and groomed. He absolutely was not raised living in the backcountry.
"We arrived just a few days ago. He has work in Virginia and he wanted to pass through here on our way there to see an old friend."
"That's sweet of him. I'm sure his friend appreciated that," Skylar commented.
"Here we are, home sweet home," Claire announced when the cabin came into view. "Let's all get inside and we'll get you something to eat. I'm sure you must be hungry."
"Thank you, ma'am."
When they walked through the door, Skylar almost crashed into Claire because she stopped so suddenly.
"Lord John," she stated in disbelief at the man standing next to Jamie.
Skylar recognized him too. He had been the Governor of Jamaica when they had been there to rescue Ian. Lord John had also helped Jamie escape from the sea captain that was wanting to arrest him there.
"Mistress Fraser. It is a pleasure to see you again," Lord John replied and bowed.
"You know my father?" William questioned.
Omigod, John Grey is this kid's dad? Then the friend he said he was coming to see… She looked between the gentleman and Jamie and was able to put their pieces together. Wait, he had a child with a woman? She remembered when she met him and could tell immediately that he was gay. Not only that but was in love with Jamie, and she felt she could safely assume those feelings had not gone away. I guess in this century there really is no other option.
Still in shock at the surprise, Claire answered William's question, "I do. The pleasure is mine." She curtsied to John.
John then noticed Murtagh and an expression of many different emotions crossed his face. "A reunion indeed. Mr. Fitzgibbons." He bowed to Murtagh as well and Murtagh barely nodded his head in reply. "You appear well after all this time."
"Tis the mountain air I expect," Murtagh said back, a little sharp.
Please, for the love of God, someone give me a backstory! How does Murtagh know him? Skylar thought.
John's eyes lastly landed on Skylar. He took a beat before he spoke, as if he was wondering why she looked so familiar. "Pardon me, but I'm afraid I have not had the honor or learning your name."
"My name is Skylar Kelley, sir. I'm Jamie and Claire's daughter." She followed suit and curtsied. She was slightly relieved he didn't remember her. She was still embarrassed of how she acted at the ball.
John's eyebrows shot up. "Daughter?" He looked back at Jamie then to Skylar again. "I believe my sudden appearance caught him so off guard that he had not yet mentioned his daughter living here with him."
"That's understandable."
John turned to his son and said to him, "I see you've made the acquaintance of our gracious hostess. Will you not also pay your compliments to our host?" He gestured to Jamie.
Skylar looked to Jamie as well and was confused by the look on his face. He was almost in a trance staring at William and he looked like he could cry at any moment.
"I don't believe I've been given your name, sir," William said to Jamie.
Skylar could practically hear Jamie's heart break at that sentence, though the change in his face was very subtle.
"How impertinent of me," John spoke up. "May I present Mr. James Fraser." Jamie bowed to the young boy.
"Mr. Fraser, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He copied the actions of the other men and bowed to Jamie as a greeting.
"Yours as well, Master William," Jamie responded.
Skylar knew her dad well enough that, though a happy smile had lit up his face, she could tell there was pain behind the joy as well.
Who is this kid? She wanted to know why he was so important to Jamie.
Claire then told John, "The young master encountered some leeches down at the stream. With your permission, I'd like to take him out to clean the wounds."
"Yes, of course," he answered.
"Skylar, will you help me?" She grabbed a couple clean linens and a bottle of whiskey as she asked.
Skylar agreed. "Sure."
"Come along," Claire called to William and he followed her and Skylar out. They had him sit on the bottom step of the cabin porch.
Claire first washed the spots with plain water, then she had Skylar pour a bit of the whiskey on one of the linens to clean them more.
William hissed in discomfort when Claire dabbed the alcohol on.
"I know it stings, but that's going to make sure there's no chance it'll get infected," Skylar explained to him.
William straightened his back at her comment. "It doesn't hurt at all. I can't even feel it."
She smiled at his obvious lie, but humored him. "Well then, you're definitely braver than I am."
"You are all set," Claire told him when she had finished. "Those will heal in no time and you won't have any sort of scar. No one will ever know they were there."
"I thank you, ma'am, for your assistance. And you as well, Miss Kelley," William said.
"It was no problem at all. You were a very easy patient." Claire smiled at him.
Skylar added, "And you can just call me Skylar. We don't need to be so formal."
He blushed slightly at the attention from her. "If you wish…Skylar."
It was decided that Lord John and William would stay until the day after the next, and Jamie, Claire and Skylar would all bunk in the shelter with Murtagh.
John tried to argue against that. "Oh no, we would never dream of putting you out of your beds."
"Nonsense. Yer our guests. We dinna mind in the lease," Jamie finalized.
At dinner that night, they were all just talking and enjoying everyone's company. Though Murtagh seemed very wary of John Grey. But him being a Regulator fighting hard against the English government, it wasn't too surprising.
"Did ye sail inte Wilmington?" Jamie asked when they were discussing his friend's travels to the Colonies.
"New Bern, sir," William answered.
"Governor Tryon was kind enough to offer us respite at his new palace," John went on.
Skylar glanced nervously at Murtagh for how he would react to Tryon's name.
Jamie could also feel the tension rise as Murtagh shifted in his seat and stared intensely at the Englishman. "Ye ken the governor then?"
"Yes, we met some years ago in London. We're both members of the of the Society for the Appreciation of the English Beefsteak." He explained to Claire and Skylar, "It's a gentleman's club in London."
"Sounds fun, just a bunch of men talking about and eating steak," Skylar joked.
John laughed. "Quite."
"Ian would love te hear of such a club," Jamie said.
Skylar smiled at that. "He'd be the president."
"Ian is your nephew?" John wondered.
"Aye," Jamie told him. "He's out huntin' wi' some of our Cheokee neighbors as we speak."
"He lives here with you?" Jamie nodded. "I'm very sorry to find him absent. The young man for whom you crossed an ocean."
Skylar groaned. "Please do not remind me. Just thinking about those endless months searching for him makes me sick."
John then had a lightbulb moment. "Yes, that's it! I knew I had met you before but I could not for the life of me remember where. At the ball in Jamaica, you introduced yourself to me as the young woman who was in love with Jamie's nephew."
Skylar ran a hand through her hair, feeling very awkward. "I was so hoping you had forgotten that. Definitely not my finest moment."
"And? I must know, did anything come from that, with you and him?"
"Too much came from that," Jamie said first.
Skylar rolled her eyes and answered with a soft smile from thinking about Ian, "We are currently very very happy together."
"He is courting you?" William deducted.
"He is."
"He is a very lucky man to have won the affections of someone as lovely as you."
Skylar looked quickly to Jamie and Claire, both biting back their reactions to such a formal compliment from someone so young; as was his father.
Skylar swallowed a laugh and said, "Thank you, William. That's very sweet."
Murtagh then suddenly changed the subject, like he had been wanting to talk about it for a while and couldn't hold back any longer. "The Governor's built himself a palace, then?"
"Yes," John told him. "When it's complete, it will stand as a symbol to stability in the Province. A true monument to elegance."
Oh no. Skylar looked back and forth between John and Murtagh like she was watching a tennis match.
Murtagh scoffed. "Elegance?" The faces Jamie and Claire were shooting to him were silently screaming at him to not talk about this now. But he ignored them. "Where's the money coming from?"
Claire spoke to try to keep this unavoidable discussion civil. "A rather untimely investment, perhaps. Given the debts of the Province due to the recent war."
"I believe the Governor has asked the Assembly to allocate funds," John told them. "Though it appears some here in the backcountry are rallying against the taxes levied to build it."
"Because the taxes are excessive. And rising," Murtagh fought.
Jamie also put in his two cents to try to get Murtagh's point across before things got aggressive. "No doubt they feel a palace or a monument is not the best use of their hard-earned coin."
John looked a little shocked at his friend. "They? By 'they' I suppose you mean the mob, for that is what they inevitably turn out to be."
Skylar was feeling very comfortable watching this all play out. Omigod, I hate politics. In any century we can't talk about them.
John went on. "And take these Regulators for instance. By all accounts, they're unreasonable and dangerous. A menace to the backcountry and given to causing disruption by means of riot." He was saying all of this directly to the unknown Regulator sitting across from him, and the older man's face was getting red with anger. John then turned his focus to Jamie. "Have you encountered anything of the kind here?" Skylar held her breath.
Jamie chuckled. "There is the backcountry, John, and there is the wilderness."
"Not likely to have that sort of trouble here at Fraser's Ridge," Claire added.
Murtagh couldn't let this go now that the can of worms had been opened. "By all accounts, it's the Governor himself who's unreasonable and dangerous."
John gathered his thoughts then recounted an event he had heard about recently. "Those Regulators tied a sheriff to his horse and marched with his beaten body through the streets of Hillsborough. There were women and children present. Would you call that reasonable?"
Murtagh shook his head, laughing condescendingly. "Exaggeration and falsehood."
"I'm told there were many witnesses." He took a breath to compose himself. "Have you not fared well in the New World?"
"Oh, aye. I have more than rats to eat now, my Lord."
The already thick tension in the air was now made indestructible by that statement. There was some underlying message to those words from how John and Jamie reacted to them, and Skylar was itching to know what it was.
But William just found it amusing, after sitting silent through everything. "You've eaten rats, sir?"
Claire quickly "corrected" him. "Mr. Fitzgibbons has a very peculiar sense of humor."
"Aye." Murtagh went along with the joke and winked at William. He then stood up and said to Claire, as she and John stood as well, "Thank ye fer dinner."
"A pleasant evening indeed," John said back, bowing once again out of respect and to save face in front of his son and Jamie.
Murtagh stormed out, nearly letting the door slam, but Claire caught it in time and closed it gently. She began to clear the table and Skylar got up to help.
When he was calmer, John sat back down and suggested to Jamie, "Can I interest you in a game of chess?"
"I'm afraid I dinna have a chess set," Jamie told him.
"Fortunately for you, I brought mine. I'd never travel without it."
"May I be excused?" William asked.
Able to sense what he needed, Jamie said, "There's a privy just behind the cabin, Master William."
The boy, who was used to having the best of everything and servants waiting on him, was flabbergasted to hear about an outhouse and him being expected to use it. "Outside? Won't someone fetch a chamber pot?"
Skylar grinned to herself as she continued to help Claire clean and put things away. She remembered the shock she felt when she first had to use a chamber pot and could completely understand William's hesitation at something so unfamiliar.
However, John explained to him, "You must become accustomed to using the privy while we're guests here at Fraser's Ridge."
"Yes, Papa."
Jamie stood up. "I'll show ye where it is. A leannan," he called to Skylar, "could ye bring the blankets out te the shelter?"
"Okay," she said. She picked up the blankets and pillows they had brought out and left on Jamie and Claire's bed. She followed Jamie and William outside, but parted with them as they went to the privy and she headed for the shelter.
She looked back at the two before going inside. They were walking slow and talking together. Just seeing their silhouettes in the dark, it was amazing how much they looked alike in how they carried themselves. There were also physical similarities between them a blind man would notice. Between the hair, face and jaw shape, and his nose and eyes, he was a mini Jamie. She thought it had been a funny coincidence when she saw William how much he looked Jamie. But now, after watching how Jamie interacted with him all day and how obvious it was from his voice and expressions that he cared deeply for this kid that he had seemingly just met, it was probably not just a coincidence.
But that was a part of Jamie's story from long before Skylar came into his life. If he chose not to share something, there was a good reason and she needed to respect that.
She turned her back to their conversation and went into the shelter. She found Murtagh on one of the beds, drinking from a bottle of whiskey and furiously writing. He looked up when she came in for just a second before going back to his work.
"What are ye doin' out here, lass?"
"I just came to bring blankets and pillows for us." She crossed to the other bed and placed them down. "What are you writing?"
"Notes fer tomorrow night. We're gatherin' te discuss our next moves, and that Redcoat bosom buddy'a Jamie's has given me plenty of ideas fer what te say."
She wanted to try to lighten the mood, so she decided now would be a good time to practice her Gaelic. "Ci amar a tha thu12?" She sat down across from him.
Murtagh lifted his head to look at her and gave a half smile at her efforts. "Tha mi feargach."
She knew he said he was angry and tried to think of how to reply correctly. She ended up piecing together, "Is lugha leam dhusta."
He laughed. "I appreciate what yer tryin' te say. But I think ye meant 'Tha mi duilich dhut;' 'I'm sorry fer ye.' Not 'I hate fer ye.'"
Skylar dropped her face in her hands. "Omigod."
"But at least ye ken the word fer hate."
She sighed and sat up. "I guess."
"That future Redcoat bastard was right. Young Ian is verra lucky te have ye, as is Jamie. And me, fer when I need a good distraction from me thoughts."
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Murtagh left the next morning without waking any of the other three in the shelter. Skylar was sad that he had to leave, but it was better for everyone that he was not there while John Grey was.
The day went by pleasantly. They had taken the day off from their regular chores and jobs around the Ridge to entertain their guests. Jamie found any excuse he could to be around William and spend as much time with him as possible. He and John would also go off alone to have private conversations that Claire seemed to understand and not ask questions about. And if Claire was fine with it, Skylar didn't ask any questions either.
Skylar was also liking getting to know John Grey. They got along well and she enjoyed talking to him. He told her about his upbringing in England and how he played his part in the Battle of Culloden. Jamie couldn't stop himself from telling the story about how he and John first met in the days leading up to Culloden and how he had bravely defended Claire's virtue.
When John ended up asking how Skylar came to be in Jamie's care, she gave a less detailed version of her regular story because she did not want to offend him with painting the British as evil. She told him it was, "A horrible run in with some unfortunate Redcoats that's were nowhere near as kind as you are."
During the day, William followed Skylar like a puppy. He would always claim he needed to go with her everywhere "to protect a lady such as yourself from any improper villains that might show themselves," when he really just wanted to be around her because he had a massive crush on her. Skylar didn't mind though. She thought it was funny and adorable.
The others picked up on it as well. When they were getting ready for bed that night, Jamie said to her, "It's a good thing Ian isna here. Otherwise, I have no doubt William would challenge him to a duel fer yer hand."
Skylar laughed. "He's a sweet kid. But for 12 years old, he talks like he's 30."
"I suppose that's what happens when you're raised in the pinnacle of high society by Lord John Grey," Claire stated.
"Aye, from the moment he could walk and talk, William acted like the true Earl he's in line te be one day John has told me as such, I mean," Jamie added quickly at the end. He looked at Skylar from the side of his eyes, but she hadn't noticed.
The next morning went a bit slow with getting John and William packed up. This was due to John seeming to have no energy to move and was very tired, like he was in a daze. He was acting like every action was a struggle.
"Are you feeling alright, John?" Skylar asked him as he put on his coat at a snail's pace.
Breathing heavy, he told her, "I'm afraid I had a rather rough night. I believe I'm coming down with something."
Horrible memories of her sickness played in her mind and it was making her fear the worst. "Maybe you should have Claire check you out before you go."
"I wouldn't want to waste her time. I'm sure it's nothing but a cold."
Claire came back in after attaching a bag of food to John's horse, and when he saw her, he said to her as thanks, "Mistress Fraser, your hospitability these past few days has been greatly appreciated." When he bowed to her, Skylar was nervous he was going to fall forward. Claire was nervous too.
She lifted his head to look at his face while Jamie said, "I'll escort ye te the road that'll have ye on yer way te Virginia."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Claire disagreed. "You're burning up. He has quite a few of the same symptoms you did, Skylar."
She came over to see him again. "Oh no, are you serious?"
Claire looked behind his ears and, sure enough, the small red dots were starting to appear.
"There's a measles epidemic in Cross Creek. Did you travel through there?" Claire questioned John.
"Yes," he answered. "Have I got the measles? If so, you must keep William away."
This cannot be happening again, Skylar thought, less freaking out and more annoyed at the situation repeating itself so soon.
To double check what she already knew was true, Claire instructed him, "Open your mouth." When he did, she saw the same white spots inside that Skylar had. She brought him to a chair as she continued to question him. "How long have you felt ill?"
Jamie and Claire helped him to sit, and when he was down, he told her, "I felt somewhat lightheaded when I retired last night. I awoke with a bad headache, but I thought it a consequence of Jamie's so-called whiskey."
"Your symptoms came on a lot faster than mine did," Skylar said.
"You've had the measles recently?"
"Yes, about a month ago. But it took a week of me thinking I just had a bad cold before my rash showed up."
"Well, seeing you all bright eyed now gives me hope for my own recovery."
"I'll put some willow bark to steep. That will help with the headache. But you need to rest." Claire headed for the kitchen, subtly gesturing for Jamie and Skylar to follow her.
Before she did, Skylar said to John, "Just to warn you, the willow bark tea does not taste good. But it does the trick and will help ease the pain."
John let out a dry laugh. "I appreciate the warning."
She gave him a small smile then went to join Claire and Jamie.
"He's very infectious," Claire said as she gathered materials to make the tea. "Thank God you both have already had it."
"Murtagh as well," Jamie informed her. "It willna infect us?"
"No, nor me either. I've been inoculated."
"How does this keep happening?" Skylar thought aloud. "Me, the Muellers, and now Lord John. Are we just a magnet for the measles?"
Claire went on, "William may have been exposed to the same source as Lord John and just not shown signs of it yet. Pass me the pot." Jamie picked up said pot from the fireplace and put it on the table for her to use. She told Jamie, "You need to take William and stay away for at least six days. Hopefully by then, John will well be on his way to recovery. Or…" She and Jamie stared at the man half asleep in the chair, their faces finishing that dark sentence.
"No," Skylar argued. "No, no, no. You didn't let me think that was a possibility, and we're not letting John think that either. He will get better and he will be fine."
"Skylar, I want you to go with Jamie and William as well."
"I'm not having you heal another measles patient on your own. That's not fair to you to put you through all of that again. I know how much trouble I was. I know what to do. I can help."
"I know you can, darling. And I love so much that you want to help me. But with you having had it so recently, I worry that your immune system might still be a bit weak and you'd have an easier time catching anything if you're exposed, even if you can't get the measles again. Plus, William really likes you. He's going to be scared and having you there as well as Jamie will be a comfort to him."
Skylar let out a sharp breath. "Fine, I'll go. But I'm gonna feel guilty about it the whole time."
"I promise, the next case of measles, I'll take a break and let you solo nurse them back to health."
With that decided, Jamie announced to John, "Skylar and I'll take the lad fer a tour. Show him Fraser's Ridge." John could barely turn his head to acknowledge what Jamie had said.
Jamie went outside first to tell William what was happening and get the horses ready. Skylar followed after packing a few blankets and some extra food.
As she got ready to go, Claire said to her, "Please be careful out there. And make sure they don't end up getting themselves killed."
Skylar chuckled. "I'll try my best. If Ian happens to come back before we do, tell him I'm safe with Dad. He'll be worried."
"I swear, you two spend more time worrying about each other than anything else."
"Yeah, that's because Dad won't let us do anything else." She smiled at her adoptive mom, then joined Jamie and William outside. She made it out in time to see Jamie dragging William by the collar as he kicked to try to get away and stuck him on his horse.
"You, sir, are a lout," she heard William say to the Scot.
"Aw, William. You're not looking forward to our trip through Fraser's Ridge? I thought we would. Have fun," she said to the boy as she climbed onto Claire's horse.
William's face down to his neck turned red when she appeared. "I apologize, Skylar. I didn't mean for you to witness me behaving like a child."
Says the child, she thought, jokingly.
But out loud, she said, "It's alright. I would be acting the same way if I was in your position."
With Jamie mounted on his horse, the three set off on their week long excursion.
GAELIC TRANSLATIONS (if any of you actually know Gaelic please do not come for me if these seem totally wrong! I just used Google Translate!)
1 Gach uair a phògas mi thu, bidh mi a tuiteam ann an goal leat a-rithist – "Every time I kiss you, I fall in love with you all over again"
2 Agus a-rithist – "And again"
3 Thig dhachaigh sàbhailte – "Come home safe"
4 Bhithinn toilichte. Leanaldh sinn a-màireach? – "I'd be happy to. Shall we continue tomorrow?"
5 Tha failte mhòr ort – "You're very welcome"
6 Tha tòrr obrach againn ri dhèanamh – "We have a lot of work to do"
7 Is e m'ainm Skylar – "My name is Skylar"
8 Tha mi an seo – "I'm here"
9 Agus esan? – "And he?"
10 Chan eil an aimsir blàth an-diugh – "The weather is not warm today"
11 Tha a'ghrian glè shoilleir agus blàth – "The sun is very bright and warm"
12 Ci amar a tha thu– "How are you doing?"
Even with doing the super extra long chapters, this one was far too long to subject you all to in one chapter. So a shorter part 2 will be out early this coming week with chap 43 still next Saturday.
I hope you're liking the post-hiatus uploads so far. Many more to come :)
To all of you who celebrate, I hope you had a wonderful and merry Christmas! I love ye all verra much and I will see you soon for part 2!
