Je Suis Prest – The Calving Shed Day Two Part I
Claire had finished the breakfast dishes and had started on the picnic lunch Jamie had requested. She found a basket in the scullery, wiped it down and placed a towel in the bottom. She had hard boiled a couple of eggs, found a jar of bread and butter pickles someone had put up and a couple of apples. She placed them in the basket along with four bottles of beer and her cream crackers. Her nausea had been getting worse. The smell of the boiling eggs had not helped. She kept a package of the crackers upstairs under her pillow and another in the pantry. Usually the mornings were the worst and Jamie was always up and gone before she rose with the first light. A couple of crackers, before she got out of bed, with the glass of water she brought up with her at night and she was good to go, as long as she was careful about what she ate throughout the day. This baby was already letting her know they did not much care for certain smells or meat. If she kept to steamed vegetables and plain toast, she'd be fine. So far Jamie seemed to be oblivious to her morning sickness.
She done the math and figured conception had been three weeks ago; their very first night together. The hospital required her to have missed two complete cycles before they would run the test and she knew her last cycle had been the week before her birthday. She had already missed one period, the week she and Jamie were separated. She would need to wait another four weeks. She was determined she would not tell Jamie until she was certain. If he asked, which he hadn't thus far, she would just tell him she had an upset stomach.
She was in the process of making bacon sandwiches for Jamie when Murtagh entered the kitchen. She discreetly placed a towel over the couple of crackers she had out on the table, that she had been nibbling on. She had just about lost it while she cooked the morning's bacon and her stomach was a little topsy-turvy over handling it again. The smell was nauseating but it was one of Jamie's favorites. As she wrapped one of the sandwiches in waxed paper, she asked "would you like one, Murtagh? I'm making a couple for Jamie and have plenty to make one for you."
Murtagh walked over and lifted the towel, uncovering the crackers. "Now what are ye eat'n them fer, Claire? Tasteless tack if ever there was any. Ye can'na tell me ye like 'em."
"Well, as a matter of fact, I... I eat them all the time... with my tea... instead of biscuits..." she managed to stutter out.
Murtagh leaned forward, hands on the back of the chair across the table from Claire. "Is that a fact? Like 'em ye say?" and he picked one up and popped the entire thing in his mouth. "Mmmmprhph" he managed to sputter out as he choked it down.
"What? Claire innocently asked.
He picked up one of the beers from the basket, opened it and drank half in one breath. He wiped his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. "Well, I can certainly see why ye eat them..." he said sarcastically. "Who would'n enjoy a hand full of those?" and he shook his head.
"Well... I happen to." Claire pronounced defensively, took a small bite of a cracker and then picked up her glass of tea.
"John says the only reason he kens anyone eats them is for an upset stomach," Murtagh said as Claire took a sip, and then added, "said his wife use to eat them all the time when she was with child. Ye would'n happen te be with bairn, now would ye, Claire?"
It was all Claire could do to prevent herself from spewing her tea as she choked. Cough, cough, cough.. cough. She shot him a look that could kill. Cough "Pregnant?" Cough "Who? Me?" Cough Cough.
"Aye, lass. I'm talk'n to yoo. Are ye, perchance, with child?"
"Do I look pregnant, Murtagh?" She asked as she waved her hand over her stomach area. "Or are you just calling me fat?"
"No. Ye ken ye are no fat. And ye do'na look pregnant either. I'm ask'n because of the crackers you have been secretly eat'n since you've arrived. 'Matter of fact, I ken you brought the tasteless things with ye when ye came this visit, because no one here purchased any. Jamie says ye have another package tucked upstairs under ye pillow. Why would you have the foul things with ye unless ye were feel'n sick to your belly and if that was the reason, why would ye no tell us yer were no feel'n well?" Murtagh questioned her. "John says, for certain, it's a sign that a woman is in the family way."
"Oh, and is John suddenly an expert on pregnant women?" Claire snapped. Then sighed. "I'm sorry Murtagh, I did not mean to bite your head off just now. I just don't know. Even if I were, there would be no way to know, positively, without a test and it's too early to have one done." She replied and rubbed her belly. "I do not want to tell Jamie I might be pregnant only to have it turn out that I'm not. It would not be fair to him."
Claire heard the unmistakable sound of a throat being cleared behind her. She turned to find Jamie standing in the entry way from the scullery. She had been so engrossed in her conversation with Murtagh, she had not heard him come in from the yard. She pulled out a chair and sat down. From the look on his face, she knew he had heard the whole exchange.
Jamie said nothing as he walked into the room, pulled up a chair and sat down beside Claire. He took her small hand in his large one and just held it for a moment.
"I should have told you, Jamie."
"Aye." He raised her hand to his lips and kissed the inside of her wrist, at the base of her palm. Lightly.
Claire could not take her eyes off Jamie as he did. When their eyes met and he smiled his Jamie the Charming smile, she turned red and looked to the floor for a moment. When she raised her head she said, "I guessed" and cleared her throat. "Before you went back to the stones I had a feeling I was. I was going to tell you the night before you and Murtagh were to leave, but then you told me I couldn't go with you and I became so angry... and I did not want the possibility of a baby to be the reason you stayed... or allowed me come with you... and you were so adamant about leaving... and I needed to be brave enough to let you go." Claire stopped and gasped for a breath and continued... "I wanted you to stay because you chose to, because you chose to be with me... Does that make sense?"
Jamie nodded his head, never taking his gaze from her face. His eyes darkening.
Claire lifted her hand, gently scratched his chin's morning stubble and returned Jamie's gaze.
"So, I don'na ken. Is Claire with bairn or no?" Murtagh interrupted.
Both Jamie and Claire turned to him in unison, both having forgotten that Murtagh was even in the room, let alone sitting across the table from them.
"Please don't get all excited and your hopes up." Claire said emphatically. "I won't be far enough along to take the pregnancy test until just before I return in the New Year. I will have the hospital run the test and then we will know when I return. I promise I won't read the test results until we are altogether. Alright? You can keep quiet until then, yes?" Claire's eyes looked back and forth between the two of them.
One look at their faces and she knew they would not be able to keep their mouths shut. She quickly envisioned the next several weeks of Wednesday Night Gàidhlig lessons and the possible new vocabulary options in her head. "Jamie, you and Murtagh can not say anything to anyone, until we know for sure. Please." She implored. "I mean it. I don't want anyone to know that I might be pregnant before we are married, Jamie" she pleaded. "When I return, I will have the test results. If you want to tell people after that we need to be properly married first. Do you understand me, James Fraser? No one in this bloody town is to know I might be in the family way, until Father Brown has married us. In a church. With the banns read. The way you insisted" and she thumped Jamie in the chest with her finger. "Swear to me that you will not tell anyone until I return."
"Swear Jamie won't tell anyone what until you return, Claire?" John asked as he walked into the kitchen. "That you are pregnant?"
"How...?" Claire started to ask.
"The crackers, a 'bhò (the cow whisperer). Dead give away" John replied before she could finish her question.
Both Jamie and Murtagh gave John a look.
"A 'bhò?" Jamie repeated, raising an eyebrow at the man.
"What?" Claire asked looking at Jamie. "bio means life right?" Claire smiled at John.
"Aye" Jamie said, "That it does in Latin." except the man was speaking Gàidhlig, he added under his breath.
"Finally! So do we ken when the wee lad will be born?" Murtagh asked look'n directly at Claire and grinning like a Cheshire Cat.
"If I am pregnant..." She began.
"Which ye are..." Jamie added with an equally large smile on his face. He placed his hand on her belly. "Though yer no so large as most of the lasses I've ken that were pregnant. I can hardly tell."
Claire gave Jamie a stare. "Three months before..." she muttered. "The baby will be..." She tried to complete her sentence.
"The lad..." Murtagh repeated.
"Or lassie" John added.
"Lad or Lassie? Oh, are we talking about the baby?" Frank asked as he entered the kitchen. Both he and John pulled up chairs and sat down at the table on either side of Murtagh.
Claire released an audible sigh and allowed her head to pitch forward. Her forehead thumped the table. "I hate all of you right now" she declared.
"Even me, Sassenach?" Jamie asked as he placed a kiss on the back of her head.
Claire, riding William Wallace, and Jamie, on Rob Roy, rode off through the cow pasture toward the hills of Jamie's youth. John, with Murtagh behind the wheel, left in the truck for the Macvey's. Frank volunteered to make the run to The Green Grocer in town to pick up the items on the list Claire had made. Sunday, all the stores would be closed, so today was the last day to shop for basic supplies as well as the items Claire needed for tonight's dinner. Jenny honked goodbye as everyone left the yard in a variety of directions
A little over an hour later, Jamie helped Claire down from her horse. He hobbled both and then, basket and plaid in one hand and Claire's hand in the other, he steered her passed the rather large, very old, apple tree and onto a very worn path behind it. They climbed the hill slowly, Jamie being careful not to push Claire too hard. When they reached the top, Claire gasped. She found herself with a 360° view of Broch Mordha and the outlying area. She turned in a circle and took the entire landscape in. "Look Jamie," she gasped as she pointed. "It's The Broch Tuarach, the north facing tower of Lallybroch. What a view. Absolutely Amazing!"
"I ken Sassenach." Jamie said and grinned at Claire's enthusiasm.
"Oh Jamie. Spectacular. You can see for miles. How long have you known this was up here?"
"About 200 years." He said with a mischievous smile. "That apple tree was a great deal smaller the last time I climbed it. My mam and I use to come here. She loved this spot. Broch Mordha was not so large as it is now, ye ken, nor were there so many farms about, but ye understand what it was for me." Jamie came up behind her, encircled her waist with his arms and pulled her tightly against him. "All this," and he waved his hand to the left, "all of it was Lallybroch land, mostly tenants homes and farms. The mill, by the pond," and he pointed, "that was part of Lallybroch as well. I learned to swim in that pond. Willie, Jenny and I. Sometimes Angus, John's lad, would swim with us. My da had a wonderful dog. A large, brown and black beast, named Bran, that would run around the pond bark'n at us because he was afraid of the water and did'na like us be'n in it." Jamie laughed. "I will show all this to my son. When I explain to him about where I come from." He kissed the back of Claire's head. She turned in his arms to face him and he kissed her on the lips, long and lovingly. When the kiss ended, she rested her head against his chest and sighed as he tightened he hold on her once again.
"I was think'n, after we're married, Sassenach, if ye did no wish to live in the big house with John and Murtagh..."
"And Mary, if you three don't drive her away while I'm gone..."
"Aye, Mary and wee Rabbie... once the snows stop, I could begin repairs on one of the tenant cottages for us... te raise our family in. We'd be close enough te the main house to still help and maybe take some of our meals there. At night, we'd be alone, just you and I..."
"But the children" Claire said with a sigh. "I hate that we might not raise our children in the house that you grew up in. Though, I don't suppose either John or Murtagh would want to live with a newborn, let alone a toddler or several rambunctious small children in the house. To have our own home, for us and our family... Would you mind that too terribly? To raise our family somewhere besides Lallybroch?"
"It would still be Lallybroch, just no the main house. Ye ken I do'na mean to say it does'na matter to me, but for us to be together is more important to me than the house we raise them in. Where ever we are, will be our home, Sassenach, as long as we are together."
Claire kissed Jamie's chin and replied, "Do you want to talk to Murtagh and John about it first, before we decide?"
"Aye, Sassenach, a dozen wee bairn is a lot to ask even of Mary and Rabbie to share a house with, let alone two aulde, bachelors like John and Murtagh. Maybe we should ask John a'fore the rest of the house. After all, Lallybroch is his, by right and he has been verra generous to Murtagh and I... I would no want to impose on his kindness without ask'n him what his desires are first.
"Hummm, a dozen you say? I could live with that" and she kissed Jamie's neck where it met his jaw. Do you suppose Murtagh would continue to live at Lallybroch if we set up house elsewhere? You never know, Murtagh might want a small cottage to call his own. He and Mary seemed to be very chatty yesterday."
Jamie pulled back and looked down his nose at Claire's face full of mirth. 'Ye ken my godfather has never wedded, aye? None of yer womanly matchmake'n, ye need te leave him be, Sassenach."
"That doesn't mean he never wanted to marry, Jamie. Maybe he never met the right girl. Or maybe the girl he loved never loved him back." Claire said thoughtfully. "I won't push anything, Jamie. I promise. I'm just telling you what I saw with my own two eyes this morning."
"Weel, Sassenach... if ye want te see somethin'n with ye own two eyes, I might be able te help ye out..." and he raised an eyebrow at her, knowingly.
"Oh? Claire responded and cocked her head. "A little show and tell?"
"I do'na ken a little show and tell..." Jamie started to say as Claire backed out of Jamie's arms a couple of steps, un-tucking her shirt as she moved.
"Oh, yoo show 'n I ken tell" and he bit his lower lip as he watched her. His eyes darkening with every step she took. "Perhaps I can help ye with the buttons..." and he walked toward her, with outreached hands, fingers wiggling with anticipation
Neither noticed the black wolf, hunkered down, watching, from the dense brush a mere eight yards from where they were standing.
Beval had waited in the brush on a small rise near Lallybroch's cemetery since late last night. It afforded him a good view of the main house without alerting that damn goose to his presence. He had stupidly approached the farm after dark to see if Claire would venture outside He had an uncontrollable desire to see her. The urge made him careless, less wary than he should have been. He had scanned the yard, smelled no dogs and approached the house without any further hesitation. That goose started a ruckus before he came anywhere close to the house. He was still trying to figure out where it had lay in waiting. He had been lucky, the farm truck pulled into the yard just as the breathing feather pillow sounded the alarm. The house must have assumed that the return of the old men was what the gander had alerted them to. It seemed no one notice that the bird had continued to honk at the yard wall at precisely the spot where he had cleared it when he exited hurriedly. No one the wiser to his visit. Claire had come outside with the others to welcome the two men back and had lingered on the back steps after everyone had gone back inside. In repose. Fraser had come back out to collect Claire before he even had time to work out how he would get down to her without the goose sounding the alarm again. Before Fraser turned to follow her back inside, Beval could swear the man looked right at him, like Jamie knew he was out there. Watching. Waiting.
While he waited for morning's light and the house to shake sleep from it's inhabitants, he relived the memory...
His father and he had been traveling alone for awhile. They had left the gypsy caravan's protection. His new sister was stillborn and with the difficulty of the birth, his mother had met her own death as well. They had been traveling with his mother's people and even though the family told his father they would always have a home with them, the matriarch did not ask them to stay when his father told them they were leaving. Neither the gypsies nor their animals were comfortable having a shifter among them. His father's wolf form had always been an issue for his mother's people, even though they had reaped the benefits of his nightly hunts. With little sadness, they had left them at the base of the Northern Mountains in Turkey and headed South, perhaps into Damascus, his father had said. Or Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea, to pick olives in the Fall. His father had helped him shift for the first time on their journey. "You're early," his father had said. "Usually shifting starts around the age of twelve." His father was teaching him to hunt when they had reached Göbeki Tepe (Potbelly Hill). There they discovered an archaeologist by the name of Quentin Lambert Beauchamp and his five year old niece, Claire.
Even in the dark cover of night, with only the stars as light, Claire had stumbled upon him while fetching water from a stream near camp. He had his first solo kill. He had caught a rabbit and was going to present it to his father. He had stopped at the stream to quench his thirst. She was on one side, he was on the other. In two quick bounds he had crossed the stream and stood before her. He was all of nine then and in full wolf form and she had shown no fear. She had simply waited as he set the rabbit at her feet. He then, laid down in front of her, his head up, ears and eyes alert. He waited to see what she would do. She set her water jug on the ground next to the rabbit and knelt in front of him. One hand, she rested on her thigh and other she extended, palm up, toward him. She could have easily reached him but she stopped half way, allowing him to smell her appendage first. Her scent was light, most probably because she was young. He lowered his head and allowed her to pet him. He, to this day, has never been able to rationalize why he had permitted her to touch him like that on their first meeting, almost like he knew she owned him. Two weeks later he knew it was because he loved her. He heard his father howl and he had leapt to his paws. He crossed the stream at a run, not bothering to leap. Once on the other side he stopped and turned to look at the enchantress. She was still kneeling where he had left her but holding his rabbit up by the ears... He'd forgotten his first kill. He bowed to her then turned and ran off.
He had spent the morning observing. He was still trying to process why neither Fraser could drive a motor vehicle. Certainly odd. When the lessons ended, he had expected them to all go back to the Macveys except Claire, but Jamie Fraser had stayed behind and brought her here. The top of what the locals called Box Hill.
Murtagh parked the truck in the Macvey yard.
John climbed out of the truck and slammed the door. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Murtagh. If ye had drive'n any slower, we'd have been parked. I think I saw a rabbit with a broken leg pass us."
Murtagh laughed. "I got ye here, didn't I? Safe and sound" he said as he adjusted his dirk and they walked toward the pasture where the men were gather'n. Last night, while Claire was have'n her wee soak, Jamie had John, Frank and he all meet in the kitchen to devise this plan. How to correct the town's exclusion of Claire. It had been decided since these were John's friends and acquaintances they were about to confront. John would ken how best to handle the conversation that needed to take place. Murtagh was to come along and be John's second, to help when needed.
John had decided it best to speak to the men and no the women, even though it was the women that were give'n Claire the rough go. They all agreed that the men were much more rational and level heided. They would understand and see the issue at hand and gladly help repair the riff. The men ken Claire, she was no stranger te them. She had sat amongst them yestereday afternoon, give'n every male ample opportunity to talk with her. Jamie had strategically placed her next to the water bucket and just about every male work'n that afternoon found a reason to have a chat with the Sassenach while they quenched their thirst. The lass had her healers box with her and had managed to dig a few splinters free as well as tend to their numerous cuts and scrapes. There were a great many clot-heids among them yesterday, Murtagh thought. More than half the men left that afternoon, with a white bandage of some sort wrapped around an arm, a leg or hand.
The four of them all ken Claire would no return to the barn raise'n today. She had'n said anythi'n to anyone except Jamie, until this morning, but they all ken last night. Know'n that, they had decided Jamie should no return to Macvey's today, until the afternoon. "Spend some time with the lass 'afore she leaves and let the dolts at Macvey's realize just how much ye've done," John said. "Let it sink in just how important to the community you've become, in the short time ye've been here; just what a natural leader ye are."
It took some work, but Jamie had agreed, quite quickly, when John pointed out that if Jamie came to the Macvey's, Claire would be left alone at Lallybroch with only Jenny to protect her. The Keirs still fresh in everyone's mind.
When Murtagh and John walked through the gate into the pasture, Seamus called 'oot "Where's our fearless leader?"
"Jamie is home at Lallybroch, with Claire." John said nonchalantly. "The ladies, it seems, did'na desire the lass's help yesterday, so Claire thought it was best she stay home and keep oot of everyone's way today. Jamie, no want'n to leave his lass at Lallybroch alone, made the decision te stay home with her."
"Oh?" Seamus said. "Is that a fact? The lass was certainly a help te me yesterday. Saved me an hour's work fetch'n the coo's like she did, though I think aulde Jack here," and he placed his hand on his border collie's head, "was a bit confused as to no have'n to work for his supper yesterday" and he laughed.
"I believe Claire said somethin'n about catch'n up on some wash, cleaning the house and cook'n some meals for us before she goes back to Inverness tomorrow," Murtagh added.
"Go'n back? Where's she go'n?" Rabbie Macvey asked. "I was look'n forward to converse'n with her again."
"Converse'n, aye? Flirt'n is more like it" Duncan MacLeod said. "Best be careful. Jamie will no like ye fer that. The bonnie healer is his, ye ken, Rabbie. Ye best keep yer flirt'n to Mortag's friend Laoghaire Mackenzie. She's plenty bonnie enough fer ye."
They all laughed at the rub.
John cleared his throat and began to re-direct the conversation again. "Claire was say'n over breakfast, how much she's enjoyed life on the farm but she did no find herself fit'n in with the Broch Mordha community yesterday. The lass didn'a think that we want her here, that she has no use. If she does'na find any work here, why would she leave a life and a job where she is?" John emphased. "My health, the way it is, would benefit greatly have'n her here in Broch Mordha. Certainly yesterday was an example of just how fortuitous it would be to have a person in the medical profession living among us. I have already asked Jamie and Murtagh about stay'n on permanently, even if my health improves. I can'na run the farm alone any more. Jamie was say'n how his home is where ever Claire is."
"What is that nonsense?" Michael McMahon spoke up. He placed an hand on Aiden Grants shoulder so that he would also stop talking and listen to what was being said.
"I was just say'n to Seamus that I suppose when I get my health back, that Jamie will go back to Inverness te be with Claire since the lass does no feel verra welcome here by the women folk."
"Aye, and Claire and Jamie were going to have Father Brown wed them when the lass returned at Yuletide. But she's a healer, she needs to be help'n others. To serve her cause." Murtagh added.
John gave Murtagh a look that told him to be quiet and let him do the talking. They had the men right where they wanted them, sympathetic to Claire's plight.
"'Tis a shame, truly," He continued. Jamie was say'n te me just this morning, during chores, that Claire wished they could stay; te raise their family here.
John knocked Murtagh in the shoulder with his hand. "When they are married and ready to start one that is," John quickly added. "Absolutely no hanky-panky go'n on under ma roof. No sir." He, once again, shot Murtagh a look that said Be Quiet.
The men all looked at each other and then Hamish Rose, a sheep farmer from the next village said "Well, if Broch Mordha has no need of a healer," and he looked around at almost a dozen men with bandages of some sort on their arm or leg "then perhaps my town of Dingwall might could use one. As to Jamie, I am quite sure I could find work for James Fraser at my place, until he found a place of his own." He nodded his head at John.
William MacDonald, the President of the Scottish Highland Society, cleared his throat to quiet the disgruntled crowd. "I can speak for ma town of Nairn. We could use a trained Nurse like Miss Beauchamp. I had an informative conversation with Jamie's lass yesterday. We spoke of starting a Women's Clinic in our town. We have need of one. The idea was well received by both she and Jamie. There is old man Campbell's place that's up for sale. I offered to help Jamie purchase it, in any way that I could. So you get on with let'n your ladies have their way. Between ma Janet and Hamish's Kathy, we'll steal Claire, Jamie and Murtagh right 'oot from under ye." He smiled at the crowd, large teeth showing. "Now lets get te work on the shed Mr. Fraser so kindly gathered us here te build, aye? See if we can'na finish it today" and he removed his jacket, laid it on the stone wall and walked toward the shed, rolling his sleeves up as he walked. John, Murtagh and Hamish following right behind him, leaving the rest staring dumbfounded at them, mouths agape.
If Murtagh or John had turned around they would have seen the disapproval on the face of Jane Macvey. She was sitting on the wall with arms folded, watching and listening. John Murray and Murtagh Fraser had the right idea, they were just going about it all wrong, she thought to herself. The basic plan was a good one. Just focused on the wrong group. She needed to have a wee chat with the misguided fools. She wanted Claire to stay as much as they did, apparently. A progressive woman like Claire would not come along to their tiny, unsophisticated, and uneducated, village every day. And Claire wanted to stay, to make it her home. Their plan could still work, if she could just implement some changes to it. She hopped down and followed her quarry.
Claire squealed as Jamie grabbed her. He leaned in to kiss her, as his fingers worked the buttons of her plaid, flannel shirt, when he thought he heard a growl. He stopped and listened. Body tense.
Noth'n.
Claire stepped back and playfully unbuttoned the top two buttons and opened the collar and exposed her throat. The movement drew Jamie's full attention back to her and he took another step forward. A large, ground eating step. Jamie fumbled with the buttons again as he kissed her.
She stepped back, playfully slapping his hands away and unbuttoned another, exposing part of her breasts.
"Are ye no wear'n yer wee breast corset, Sassenach?" His eyes totally focused on her chest.
"Eyes up here," Claire said. She snapped her fingers in his face to get his attention. She unbuttoned another button. "Show and Tell, remember?"
"Oh aye, Sassenach. I remember." He took another step, and quick as a snake, his hand reached out, grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.
Claire squeaked.
Jamie froze. It was a growl. Most definitely. He heard it again, clearly. Coming from behind him.
"What, Jamie?" Claire asked as she noticed Jamie's buoyant demeanor suddenly go rigid with concern.
"Shush, Sassenach. Stay behind me." He turned, his hand slipped to his dirk hilt. He did not usually wear it any longer. There seemed to be no need, in this time. But last night he had a feeling that something had been watch'n them. No, watch'n Claire. That Jenny was not sounding the alert because of the truck's return. He had looked up the rise, past the yard wall and thought for a moment he had seen a pair of yellow eyes look'n down on them. He decided it was no but an aulde barn owl, if anythi'n. He just had a feel'n in his gut was all. That gut instinct had saved him once or twice, he reminded himself as he rub the scare on the back of his head. He had decided, at the last minute, to carry his dirk today, when he saw his Godfather put his on. Now he had that feel'n again and he was glad he had it on him. He took a step forward. "Is someone there?" He asked.
The brush in front of him moved.
He felt Claire's hand grab the back of his jacket. He reached back and felt for her arm. Finding it, he grabbed it tightly. "Stay here. Do'na move unless I tell ye to" and he gave her arm a shake. "When I tell ye to run, go, as fast as ye can, back to the horses. Free one and flee. To the nearest farm and do'na look back, aye?" Jamie's voice was calm. Deep. Firm.
"But Jamie..." Claire started.
"I need ye go, Claire. To ken ye are safe. There is a time and place for argue'n. Now is no one of them. Do as I tell ye." A no-nonsense firmness inflected in his tone. "Do ye hear me?" His fingers wrapped themselves around the hilt of the dirk.
"Yes Jamie. Whatever you say." Claire's voice whispered, hinting at the sudden fear she felt take over her body. She knew he was not asking, he was telling. Jamie must sense something was very wrong for him to act this way.
Jamie was not convinced that Claire would, in fact, leave him when he commanded her to. Damn woman he thought to himself, but it was one of things that drew him to her. Her fierce independence. He would find a way to protect her, if she did'na do as he told her. "Who's out there? Show yerself."
Another growl, low and hostile, was the reply.
Jamie realized it was personal. Meant for him, as a warning, and suddenly he knew. "Keir? Is that you?" He asked as he took another step forward.
The brush moved again.
"Beval, I do'na have a grievance with ye. I hold no ill will toward ye fer yesterday at the Macveys." Jamie took two steps forward and partially drew his dirk.
Nothing. Silence was the response. Jamie knew he was right. Was Beval man or beast, he was no sure. He would find out in moments, he was quite certain.
He took another step forward. Another step and he could touch the brush. "Claire. Get ready to run. On my mark. Ye ken?"
Nothing. Silence. No response. Jamie checked his panic, held his breath and turned. There was Claire, turned to face the path. But the path was blocked by a verra large, black wolf. With golden eyes. Staring right at Claire.
Jamie felt his heart leap to his throat. There was no way he could get between the wolf and Claire in time. "Beval" Jamie almost shouted, trying to avert the wolf's attention to himself. The wolf did not shift it's focus from Claire, rather, slowly, it took a step forward, toward his Sassenach. That's when Jamie noticed the dead rabbit in it's mouth.
"Beval?" Claire asked.
The wolf took another step forward.
"Beval? Is that really you?" Claire whispered softly.
Jamie was rooted in place. He could'na move. Arm nor leg. He was sure if he did the wolf would attack Claire. In horror, he could only watch.
The wolf dropped the rabbit at Claire's feet and lay down. Head up and ears alert. Eyes focused on nothing but Claire. The little girl from so long ago. He had found her. He wanted to wagged his tail with joy. He whined.
Claire knelt. As she had done all those years ago in Turkey. She extended her hand, open palm up. Half the distance. Allowing the wolf to smell her. Suddenly her hand glowed a soft blue as she released her scent. Just as her father had taught her, all those years ago, never to do. She knew Beval would remember because she had not listened to him then either.
Jamie watched with trepidation as the wolf sniffed and lowed it's head, allowing Claire to run her nails though the silky-soft ebony fur as the wolf closed it's eyes.
Jamie could swear he heard the beast sigh. He moved several steps toward Claire. The wolf opened it's eyes and leapt to its feet as Jamie moved. It's attention now focused on Jamie's every move. It raised it's upper lip, to display an impressive set of teeth, that included two very large, canines. The wolf licked it's nose, emitting a low, threatening growl as he did.
Jamie was in no doubt of the message.
"Stop Beval." Claire commanded and grabbed the wolf's fur at the neck. "Jamie is the one. I found him."
The wolf turned it's head and looked at her. Claire released her grasp, stood and walked to Jamie. She came to a halt directly in front of him and whispered, "I promise I will explain everything." She turned and took her place next to Jamie, resting her hand safely in his. They would face the wolf together.
Jamie gently caressed the back of her hand with his thumb.
The wolf openly growled, revealing that the lower teeth were as equally impressive as the uppers. The fur on his back raised. He had surmised yesterday, that it was when the two touched, that their scents combined and he could finally smell Claire. Now he noticed that the phenomenon did not stop there. Not only did Claire's hand glow blue, but when she took Fraser's, their linked hands illuminated a strong, purple. In Turkey she had always referred to him as the red man, never by name. Now he understood, she was not referring to his hair or skin color but by his aura. Fraser's was most obviously red.
Claire released Jamie's hand and stepped in front of him. She stamped her foot on the ground to get the wolf's attention. "No, Beval. My father told me I was made for The Red Man, not for you. I explained that to you at Gőbekli Tepe. I thought you understood. I have found him. Jamie," and she turned briefly to gaze upon him, "is mine. I can not... will not, allow you to harm him." Her eyes glowed with fury. "You said we could be friends..."
The wolf went back, picked up the rabbit and set it, once again at her feet. He looked up at her with great expectation.
Claire did not kneel this time. She looked down and said "No Beval. Jamie is my warrior. My protector. My provider. He is my heart. I'm sorry. I thought you..."
The wolf met Jamie's stare and added an angry glare to it. He turned and in three leaps he was gone from sight.
"...understood." Claire finished sadly.