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[Four Days later: A Small Village outside Castle Leoch]
Bella had proved to be helpful with healing those that got hurt on the journey. She knew basic first aid, but that was it. But Dougal saw it as an opportunity for her to earn her way on this trip back to Inverness.
She had been able to sneak a few looks at her Highland guide she had in her bag. She learned that the clans during this time consisted mostly of the Mackenzie's, Frasers, MacGregor, MacLeod and MacDonald. She knew that Jamie was from Clan Fraser because of his father, but his mother was a Mackenzie, which is how Dougal and Colum were his uncles. The Frasers and the Mackenzie's did not get along and his mother marrying his father, caused a rift. She knew that Rupert was a Mackenzie and Angus was a Mackenzie by association. Murtagh was a Fraser as well and was Jamie's Godfather.
Now they were in the first village outside the castle collecting rents. Bella watched Ned, the lawyer and bookkeeper, take the rents. He was a pleasant old man. She enjoyed talking with him. Ned was a romantic and Bella found him charming. Dougal was an aggressive alpha male and Bella didn't particularly care for him, but she minded her tongue and just waited until it was time for her to make it back to Inverness.
Jamie seemed concerned with the state of the village, but he hadn't said anything verbally. Bella just went along with everything. When night fell, they were able to camp there, which Bella was thankful for. Camping out in the wilderness with little protection wasn't Bella's favorite thing to do, but it was the choice she had. At least in the village, they had actual houses to shelter them. For now, they were in a cottage, where ale was handed out and rations dispersed amongst the men and Bella. Dougal started a tale. Talking about how awful the red coats were. How they were invading the lands and stealing everything from the rightful Scots. Jamie sat silently, just staring into his ale before Dougal ripped Jamie's shirt off, revealing awful scars on his back.
Bella's hand went to her mouth in surprise. She hadn't seen the scars before. Jamie never was shirtless around her, so she had no clue that he had suffered greatly at the hands of the red coats. Even with the shock of the scars that riddled his back, Bella saw through to Dougal's ploy. He was using Jamie and his experience to gain favor and funds from the people in the village. They gave Dougal coins, which Ned collected. It infuriated Bella that Dougal would use his nephew for his own personal gain. She couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
"It's a shame that you're using Jamie to deepen your pockets." Bella said lowly, as she approached Dougal after his speech. There was too much noise in the cottage for others to hear her, but Jamie himself, who sat nearby.
Dougal looked at Bella, grabbing her hard around the waist with one hand. "You will do well to mind your tongue lass. Ya don't know or understand what's going on."
"I know that you're exploiting your nephew for personal gain." Bella retorted.
Jamie stood then. "Enough." He said sharply and then left, going outside.
Bella watched Jamie leave, upset with either his uncle or her. She didn't want him to be angry with her, so she tried to follow him, but Dougal stopped her. "Don't. Touch me." Bella spat and pulled out of his grasp. She picked up her skirts and hurried outside to a brooding Jamie. "Jamie." She called him.
Jamie was standing, staring up at the night sky, the coolness of October was still there. November would be there soon, and it would get colder. "He's right. Ya don't understand."
"No. I don't. So, tell me." Bella said gently.
Jamie sighed and turned to look at Bella. "I have a dark history, Bella. It's not yer concern." He said and started to move around her, but she stopped him. He stared down at her, seeing the concern in her eyes for him. For… him.
"Jamie, I want to know. Please. Tell me."
Jamie studied her some more before he sighed, giving in. "I was lashed, back in Lallybroch, my home. First it was for my sister. To protect her. He lashed me a few times there in front of her. Captain Randall, the red coat that attacked ya. He went for my sister. I told her not to go with him. I took the lashing instead, but in the end she… she went inside and he…defiled her."
Bella covered her mouth again, sadness touching her heart as she listened to Jamie.
"That isn't the end. Sometime later, I was accused of thievery. Captain Randall wanted to make an example of me. So, he tied me to posts and lashed me again. The lashes tore my flesh and all I had to do is give up. All I had to do was concede to Captain Randall, but I wouldn't speak. It was like my tongue had forgotten how to work in this instance. The pain was great. Though I deserved it. I had let this monster hurt my sister. I was lashed until my blood ran from my body and I fell unconscious." Jamie said, looking at his hands. "I'm a fugitive Bella." He murmured and looked up, looking her in the eyes.
Bella had teared up, listening to the story. His painful story. "Why?" She managed to whisper.
"Because they think I killed a man, though I didn't. Captain Randall is hunting me again. There are posters up in Inverness and major cities. Smaller villages that are loyal to Dougal and Colum, they would never turn me in, but there are some villages that would."
"Why not stay at Castle Leoch?"
"Because that would make me a coward. I am hiding from my home because of him. One day, I will face him." Jamie said with a nod.
Bella was quiet, a few tears falling down her cheek.
Jamie frowned, reaching a hand to out to swipe the tears from rolling down her cheek. "Don't weep for me." He murmured.
Bella shook her head, taking a step back and wiping her own face now. "Um. It's just… sad. You endured so much and Dougal… he's just using you."
"Maybe." Jamie said with a nod. "But at least someone can gain from a horrible experience. You should go back inside. Eat more, rest. The trip to the next village is a long one."
Bella sniffed a little and then nodded. "I'm sorry that you have gone through so much."
Jamie smiled. "No apology is needed. It's not yer fault that this happened to me."
"I know, but I still want to say sorry. Your experience… it scarred you and you live every day with it. And your sister." Bella murmured.
"Aye, I live with it every day. I live with the fact I failed my sister and my family."
"It wasn't your fault." Bella insisted. "You can't keep carrying it with you like that. There's only so much one human can take before they break."
Jamie looked at her and how passionate she was. It pulled at something in his heart, maybe the way she was so caring. It surprised him and he wanted to welcome it, but Bella was special somehow, he just knew it. "Aye, yer right. I will agree with ya for now. Though it is getting late. Eat some food and drink some ale, before resting."
"Will you come back inside with me?"
"Aye. I will." Jamie said in agreement. He followed her back inside.
[Three Weeks Later: Crieff]
Bella had to put up with listening to Dougal's same pitch at every village and at every village he would tear Jamie's shirt off, showing off the scars on his back. It disgusted Bella, but Jamie had told her that it was okay. That he was okay and that it wasn't worth fighting Dougal. So, she tried her best to stay quiet. They arrived at Crieff. It was a market town that was just a city they were passing through before going on to the village they really needed to get to for rents. Crieff was home to some red coat soldiers, so Jamie had to hang back out of sight for this journey. They needed to resupply here so they could make it the rest of their journey and Bella understood that.
She was with Murtagh and Angus now, walking through the town. Angus wasn't thrilled having to stay tied to Bella when he wanted to seek out the comfort of a woman willing to give him the time of day, but Dougal was adamant about keeping close to Bella. Murtagh sighed when he saw the bulletin board. It had a flier of Jamie on it, so he pulled it down, crumpling it. He frowned when he saw another flier. This flier had a woman's face, and it held a very strong resemblance to Bella.
"Angus. Cover her." Murtagh said quickly.
Angus frowned but he pulled Bella's hood of her cloak up to cover her. "Aye, what's wrong?"
"She's wanted." Murtagh said lowly. "Take her back to the horses. Stay with her. I'm going to find out more information." He said quickly.
Angus nodded, putting his arm around Bella's shoulders and walked with her. "Don't say a word." He warned, as they walked back through the town.
When they made it to the horses, Jamie frowned. "What's wrong?" He called out.
"She's a wanted woman." Angus said and pulled the flier out and handed it to Jamie.
Bella threw her hood back and looked at the flier. "What? How?" She genuinely had no clue how she was wanted in 18th century Scotland.
Jamie shook his head. "He wasn't drunk enough."
"Captain Randall?" Bella asked, still in shock.
"Aye. He saw yer face; he knows yer not English or Scottish. He attacked ya and he's a ranking officer. Ya saw his face too. Means ye could be telling anyone right now what he done." Jamie said. "Doesn't fair well for him. So, he counters with making ya a wanted woman. That way if ye told anyone, it's discredited."
Angus spat on the ground. "The bastard." He muttered.
A short while later, Murtagh approached and Jamie called to him. "Anything?"
"Aye. She's wanted in association with James Fraser. An accomplice."
"An accomplice to what?" Bella asked.
"Fugitive." Angus said, piecing the puzzle together. "She's wanted for helping ya. Even if that isn't what happened."
Jamie frowned and looked at Bella. "I'm sorry."
"No. Don't be sorry. You saved me. There's no telling what he could have done to me Jamie. You saved my life and I am grateful for that. Maybe I can- "
"There's more." Murtagh cut her off. "Bella has no protection from any clans. That means that she can be extradited to England at a moment's call."
Bella shook her head. "Why? What happens there?"
"Executions." Angus said. "The English fuck coats have been executing people more. The only thing that saves a Scotsman is his clan."
Bella was stunned. This was turning into a nightmare. "What do I do?"
"It means ya can't return to Inverness. The moment ya show yer face…" Murtagh drifted off.
"What if she's not a foreigner?" Jamie asked.
"She talks like she's from another world Jamie, how the hell do ye expect to disguise that?"
"I can try to talk… Scottish."
Angus snorted. "Scottish. Listen to that."
Bella raised a brow. "Okay, English." She tried an accent.
"That's rubbish." Murtagh said and shook his head. "Scots aren't just Scots by birth."
"Marriage?" Angus asked and laughed. "That'll be the day."
Bella shook her head. "There has to be something."
"Aye, there has to be." Jamie agreed. "Let's wait for Dougal. He's bound to see the fliers by now."
"Aye, he has and he isn't happy." Murtagh said. "He said to kill her and cut her loose, though I reminded him that Colum promised her safe passage."
Jamie sighed. "Always quick to killing people." He muttered and looked at Bella. "We'll find a way Bella."
Things were quickly turning into a disaster for Bella. How was she supposed to get back to her time period now that her face was on fliers in every major town? She was wanted by a man that tried to take advantage of her. In what universe was that fair? Though life wasn't fair.