Je Suis Prest – The Calving Shed Day Two Part II
Jamie watched Claire's anger reduce slowly into sadness as she realized the ramifications of her decision. It had cost her… what exactly, Jamie wondered. A friend? An admirer? An unrequited lover? Perhaps something more, that he could not begin to understand. She would need to explain the relationship to him so that he might make sense of it. He picked up the dead rabbit and jostled it, still warm in his hand and fur soft to the touch. It was of good size and not a mark on the pelt. The wolf had taken care not to mar the kill, must have snapped it's neck. His godfather would appreciate such a display of skill and cunning, perhaps even admire the man for it. That acknowledged, Jamie could no allow Claire to accept it. He understood the significance of the wolf laying the rabbit at her feet. He certainly did not need Claire to explain it. Beval had presented Claire with a gift. No, it was more than that, a reminder of a previous declaration, or promise, and the wolf had been surprised at Claire's rejection of it. Beval had clearly expected it to please her. Had she accepted such a presentation before? Had she now, understood the message the wolf conveyed and rejected it along with all it's implications? Yes, he thought, and felt his heart swell in the knowledge that she had once again, selected him. He spun, hurtling the carcass into the brush as hard and far as he could. He wanted the damn offering gone. Out of sight. Away from Claire. He roared as he sent it flying.
The roar. It was a deep, visceral sound like Claire had never heard before. It vibrated against the clouds. She walked to the basket and picked it up. Such a waste. Neither of them would be hungry for food now she believed, as she waited for Jamie. His face was deep in thought when he turned; a million miles away. He strode to her, grabbed her by the wrist and silently led her down the trail, back to the horses. Once under the apple tree, he released her and walked several yards away. He abruptly came to a halt and turned to face her.
Arms folded across his chest... defensive, not open or receptive. Glaring eyes... angry. Firm, straight lips... non communicative. Standing straight, shoulders back... He definitely thinks he's right. Feet, firmly planted, shoulder width apart... he's not budging on his opinions or ideas. Silent... He was waiting for her to explain. If his roar had not told her, his body language certainly did... Jamie was clearly upset. She had watched as he had thrown the rabbit carcass about as far as humanly possible, then turned and looked at her as if it had been her fault. Though she was not really sure she understood why. She had done nothing wrong. It was not like she had asked Beval to meet them up here or kill the bloody rabbit for her. She had tried to give the first one back, all those years ago. Nor had Beval committed what she considered to be a major infraction, though she was sure the growling, snarling and glaring at Jamie had not helped that cause either. She set the basket down, blanket on top of it and stepped forward. Toward Jamie.
"Jamie," She began.
His eyes lifted from her chest to her face. She stopped. "Really?" She questioned.
Jamie motioned at her with his chin. She looked down. "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, Jamie" she snapped as she buttoned her shirt hurriedly. "Seriously, I'd forgotten all about Show and Tell. My mind was elsewhere."
Jamie almost smiled. God he loved her. Claire could be so fierce. But he needed to convey the seriousness of the situation. There would be time to laugh later. "Before, ye begin explain'n, remember that we promised each other truth, in everything we share" Jamie began firmly. "We have no room for lies between us. Secrets, aye, clearly there are secrets, but do'na lie to me, Claire. Can ye promise me that?" Jamie almost demanded rather than asked. He needed the truth. The whole of it. How much did Claire ken? The wolf could shift into a man's shape, that much he now knew. He wondered if it was the same as with the selkies. Many had called his verra own father a selkie. Brian Dubh (Black Brian) said to have come from the sea, shed his seal skin and won his mother's heart right out from under his two uncles and a slew of suitors at The MacKenzie Gathering. But unlike the tales, his father had not dragged his mother back into the sea. His father had stayed and lived with her on land. That is, if he was foolish enough to believed the stories Mrs. Crook told him when he was just a wee laddie. No, he needed to hear of Claire's meeting the wolf. Then decide what believe and do. His fingers drumming on his thigh as he thought.
"Yes, Jamie." Claire began with a strength in her voice. "I told you I would always tell you the truth. I will not lie to you now. I just don't know that I have all the answers you need but I will tell you all I know."
Jamie nodded. Her heart was his, he reminded himself, no Beval's or Frank's or whoever else she unknowingly attracted. She would tell him the truth of it. His body relaxed a little.
His Sassenach took another step forward. This time Jamie moved back a couple of steps. If she touched him, he'd be lost to his passion for her... her wiles. Bad enough he had to stand there and watch while she closed her shirt, knowing that she was bare underneath. It made his heart race. He shook his head to clear where his mind had gone. There would be time for that later. Now he needed Claire to tell him how all this with Beval had come to be in order for things to be settled and set aside, and he needed a clear head to listen.
Alright, boundaries set then, Claire told herself. She turned and walked back to the tree. Jamie would have to come to her then. She just needed to convince him that he wanted to.
"My father is Raymond of Magdalene." Claire stated with a strong, clear voice filled with determination as she looked Jamie straight in the eye. She had decided it would be best to start at the beginning. Come clean about everything. Let Jamie see she was telling him all she knew, from the beginning, just as he had told her that first night. She knew she would tell him things she had never said out loud before, to anyone. The chips would have to fall where they may. "He is called Master Raymond, because he is a Master Healer, as his father was before him. As I will be some day. I do not know who my mother is; I have never met her nor has Raymond ever talked to me about her." She paused, took a deep breath and uttered the dreaded words... "Raymond is also a Traveler, Jamie. He uses the stones to move through time."
Jamie lost his ability to speak. It took all his skill at cards to keep his face from showing the shock his racing mind was spinning in. That was certainly not the way he expected their conversation to begin. He set his hand, as casually as he could, on the hind quarter of the horse next to him in order to steady himself, and prepared for whatever else Claire had to tell him.
"I..." Claire stuttered, "I was born in a place called Israel, the land where my father's family is from. In another time. He traveled, you see and brought me here much the same way that you and Murtagh arrived. My father can control the time aspect of the travel. He can open the stones and travel to any time he wishes. Forward or back, either way. He does not depend on the seasons or the solstice, contradicting what Mrs. Graham has told us. I think that Raymond must have opened the stones for you to come here, to me. To protect me, Jamie, though from what or whom, I have no idea." Claire had been looking straight at Jamie up until this point. Now she turned away. She had never been afraid of anything in her entire life until this moment. The fact that Jamie now realized that she had known, all along, that her father was capable of taking he and Murtagh back... she did not think she was brave enough to look that truth in the face. "It was a very dangerous time, where we lived when I was born, and Raymond thought it best to send me away, for my safety."
Claire did not want to pause, to give Jamie any chance to comment. She plowed ahead, babbling the information as popped into her head. She was sure she was not being coherent. She could only hope Jamie could connect the dots.
"Lambert was in Egypt when Raymond found him. They have been friends forever, known each other always, as Lamb tells it. Lamb thought a dig site was no place for an infant so he took me to England and left me with Henry and Julia, his brother and sister-in-law. They could not have children, you see, and wanted them, desperately."
Claire kicked at the ground and turned to look off to the left. A field of lavender. With enough purple and green to still cover most of the slope. She closed her eyes, inhaled and held the scent in her lungs, to calm her and clear her head. She released the air and repeated the breathing a second time. She felt better, her head clearer.
She turned back to Jamie, who watched her intently. "I remember asking Henry where I came from," she began again, "and he replied that he had found me in the garden, under a cabbage leaf. I'd run, right then, into the garden to see if a brother or a sister was there waiting for me to find. I believe they truly loved me, Jamie," and she finally found the courage to look at him, "like I was their very own. But then they both died, suddenly, in a car accident, and Father and Lamb came to get me. The short of it is, after those first five years, I have lived most of my life with Lamb. Moving from place to place, dig site to ruin. All around the world. Hidden mostly in this time. Raymond would come see me often in the beginning but by the age of 8, his visits were almost non-existent and when he came he stayed but half a day at best. Like now, I hardly know he's here. Father told me that I have always been safer with Lamb, that his own movements could lead others to find me." She sighed and took a breath. That's how I came to be in Turkey. At a dig that Lamb was evaluating for the local government. And where I met Beval Keir."
She sighed again. Jamie had not moved so much as a hair since she touched the tree and looked up. His face was stoic, giving no clue as to what was going on in that hard head of his. She knew what he wanted to hear... she had just taken as long as possible to get there. She needed to let his anger about Raymond subside a bit, so that he would not explode when she explained. Why was this so difficult? Her heart ached so.
"What is important for you to know is that, if, Magda Keir is who I think she is, then she is my father's sister. My aunt. And yes," Claire said as she tucked her loose curls behind her ears, "I suppose that would make Beval, Chal and I, all related." Claire stopped talking and looked at Jamie to see how receptive he was to this new family dynamic of hers.
Jamie blinked. Was there a hint of disbelief in those blue eyes? Claire worried. "First, I am not a shifter; I can not change forms. I am a Healer, nothing more. I can travel, like you and Murtagh, but I have no real control. I've only used the stones with Raymond, never alone or without him. He guides both Lambert and myself when he needs to move me. I do hear the stones call, though Murtagh says they buzz like bees, I hear them roar with pain. They frighten me."
Jamie nodded his head as if he understood, all the while he was really desperately trying to make sense of even just pieces of it.
She decided to keep talking rather than fall silent. "I think my aunt would actually be Beval's step-mother, because he was eight or nine when Beval's father actually met her. And I swear to you, Jamie, I did not know that's who they were yesterday. At Macvey's. I did not recognize them. Although the names should have jarred a memory, they didn't until the wolf showed up today. Then things seemed to fall into place for me." She held up her hands, palms toward Jamie, in her defense. "And just to clarify, I certainly had no idea they were living in Broch Mordha. Here. Now. How could I? Why would I? I only met them that once. For a week, in Turkey." She paused to see if Jamie would say something...
Jamie shot her an Oh, really. I'm suppose to believe that kind of look.
"Alright, maybe it was more like two weeks, but it was all twenty years ago, Jamie and I am telling you the truth. I met Mr. Keir and Beval and then a couple of days later my father and aunt arrived," Claire said as she watched her fingers pick at the tree's bark. "I did not even know my father had siblings until that moment. I've never met any of the rest of his family. As I have said, for as long as I can remember, I've lived with Lamb or his brother."
Jamie cleared his throat. Claire thought perhaps he might ask her a question but he only nodded his head for her to continue.
Claire took a large breath of air and began again. "Right, Lamb and I were at Göbekli Tepe, the site of the dig Lamb was working at... I went to fetch water... and I stumbled upon a young wolf at the stream..." Claire looked down at her feet and rubbed her forehead in thought. "...that same night, a man and his son came into camp... God love Lamb, he's never had a fear of strangers, so he invited them to shared our supper... and then... well, they were still there, sleeping by the fire the next morning. Mr. Keir, and his son, Beval, stayed with us for the entirety of our visit. Mr. Keir helped Lamb, translating for the workers. Beval and I became... friends" and she smiled slightly at the memory.
Claire stopped and looked at Jamie. He had moved closer. His stance had softened, no longer rigid, angry and stern. He had un-hobbled the horses and was adjusting their girths as he listened, even if he was not asking questions. He was processing the information she had giving him, of that she was sure. Every once and a while she'd catch him drumming his fingers as he tried to work out something she said. It was a lot to take in, and under the circumstances, he was doing better than most. She had once been so desperate to work out some of her own questions, and having no one else she could trust, almost told Frank. But the vision of Frank dragging her to hospital and checking her into the 4th floor Psych Ward and Nurse Ratched, had kept her from sharing her secrets. She trusted Jamie, he was the right choice. He would help guide her. She had just given him a lot to process. She was asking him to believe that a boy she knew, could shift into wolf form and back and that she wasn't crazy. Of course, Jamie had traveled two hundred years into the future, simply by touching a stone, so maybe there was hope he would eventually speak to her again. Preferably before she went back to Inverness. She dug into the lunch basket and pulled out one of the beers. She offered it to Jamie, but he shook his head no. She released the bail lid and took a deep drink from the bottle, closed her eyes and gathered her thoughts.
"You know Jamie, I've had dreams about you for as long as I can remember, long before the one we shared about Culloden. Before I met Beval, they started. I think they are similar to the ones you had about me. Sometimes we are in period clothing like you and Murtagh arrived in and the theater gown I was going to wear had I returned with you. Sometimes we are very elegantly dressed, ride in carriages and going to gay parties. Once we were on a ship almost the entire dream. It sailed into a fierce storm that tore the ship apart and we survived, washed up on a shore. Another was in a village with American Indians and the village caught on fire. Once we climbed a mountain, to look out over a modern city and you laughed because I had hiked in boots with heels. Though we never start out together, we always find each other, in these dreams. Your hair is long and plaited like it is now, but sometimes it is short, auburn or once even a soft brown. But your eyes, your eyes are always the same. They are the most beautiful cerulean blue with that lovely cat eye shape... and I knew one day I'd find you and that you would be mine. When Raymond reads the bones for me, he always refers to you as The Red Man. He never gave me a name or a description. He said I'd know you... the minute I'd met you, I'd know you were the one, and so I believed and waited" and Claire looked up. "And I did Jamie. The moment I saw you, I knew. I really did."
Jamie, lead the two horses to Claire. He pushed her against the tree and kissed her hard. "Remember that Sassenach. Remember that it's me. Always" and he kissed her again.
"I had other plans for us this morning. Your game of Show and Tell would have ended with you naked on that blanket, over in the heather with me settled between your legs" and he allowed his hand to cup one of her breasts and bit his lower lip as he thought of what he might do.
Claire closed her eyes as his hand caressed her. The touch elicited a moan, full of longing from her. Without thought, she subtly shifted her weight and separated her legs. Presenting herself. Preparing.
Jamie felt her movement and smiled. "But that will have to wait for now" and Jamie rested his forehead on hers. "It is getting late and I want to make sure everything is fine at the Macveys before we head back to Lallybroch.
Claire knew she had misheard Jamie. She leaned against the tree, eye still closed and waited to be kissed again.
Jamie straightened, placing a kiss on her forehead as he did so. "So up ye go on Rob Roy here and we'll be off.
"What?" Claire uttered with complete surprise, as her eyes flew open. She looked at Jamie smiling at her. The rotten bastard she thought and then quickly added, "I thought I was riding, William."
The look on Claire's glass face made Jamie laugh. "No, Sassenach. The way things have gone this morn'n, I think I want ye to ride with me, at least to Thistle Pond. So up with ye..."
For once, Claire decided not to argue. She really felt a need to be near Jamie right now, so this new riding arrangement would do just fine. She handed the unfinished beer to Jamie, stepped into the stirrup and slid into the saddle.
Once Claire was settled, Jamie handed her Williams lead and climbed up behind her. He finished the beer and placed the bottle in the basket, tied to the back of Williams saddle. He adjusted his dirk and pulled Claire close. He took the lead, clucked to Rob Roy, gently pressed his heals into the horse's sides, and off they went. Jamie had mixed emotions as they turned South, away from Box Hill. Sad to leave behind a place that left him filled with such fond memories of a time spent with his mam. Yet relieved to leave it, with its fresh memory and of what might have occurred had things ended differently when Beval came to challenged him.
"Are you alright with everything I told you, Jamie?" Claire asked as they rode away.
Jamie snorted. "Ye stumbled into a wolf? Yer tell'n me that the wolf I just met," and he pointed behind them, toward the hill, "did'na hear yoo come'n? He'd have heard you a mile away, Sassenach. Smelled ye too, I'll bet." He smiled though Claire could not see it. "You'd be an easy one to track, aye? Ye certain that's all ye want to tell me about that, Claire?"
"Yes. I have left nothing out."
"Yer no attracted to Beval, are ye Sassenach? Maybe ye had a first wee heart break over the lad?"
Claire turned and looked up at Jamie. "Oh stop, Jamie. Really, I was only five or six years old," she snorted back at him, then continued. "Beval wasn't much older. We were just two, unsupervised children, that's all."
"Twice yer age, Sassenach." Jamie clarified. "You were five and ye said Beval was 9." An eyebrow was raised to make the point.
"Well, yes. I suppose that is right, Jamie" Claire looked up at him slightly confused.
"Claire."
"Yes, Jamie?"
"Do ye ken any idea, at all, as to why I am upset?" Jamie asked as he shifted forward in the saddle.
"Yes... you are angry about Beval..."
"And why, exactly, am I angry about Beval?"
"Because I did not tell you he was a wolf?"
"Ah, well, aye, I can say I am a little disappointed there, Sassenach. That ye did no see fit to tell me about that unnatural ability, Beval seems to be in possession of. A wolf that shifts to a man, is none too common. It would have been good to ken" Jamie said as he knocked her gently with his shoulder. "But then you said ye did no recognize him yesterday. At least no as a man."
"Y..ee..sss." Claire replied slowly. She smelled a Jamie Trap. This was not going to end well for her. He had this technique down to a science and it made her just a little nervous. So nervous, in fact, that her skin was covered in goose bumps.
"When he came to you today, you recognized him?" Jamie asked as he placed a kiss on the back of her head.
"Well yes... er, no, not really" was her reply.
"Which is it Sassenach? Aye or Nay? Did ye or did ye no recognize the wolf just now?" He asked with a clear directive and prodded her with his shoulder again.
"Well, Jamie," she said with some hesitation. "A pure black wolf is a bit uncommon. Anywhere, not just here in Scotland. It brought back the memory of Beval, I will say that. But it was more what he did, rather than what he looked like, that helped me piece it all together, Jamie. Plus you called him by name, remember?"
"Aye, but that was a guess on my part." Jamie said and smiled to himself. "What was it, exactly, that he did that helped ye te remember him, Sassenach?"
"When he gave me the rabbit. It was exactly what the wolf had done when I first met him in Turkey. Beval was a wolf... black as night and those eyes like melted gold. I was fetching water... at first I did not see him... the wolf crossed the stream... laid the rabbit at my feet... allowed me to pet him... bowed and left."
"That's it? Noth'n more, Sassenach?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, it was awhile ago. I suppose I could have forgotten something. But I did not realized the boy and the wolf were the same until several days had past. I was foraging for nettles, herbs and berries when I stumbled upon a horned viper. Very poisonous if it strikes you. The wolf appeared out of no where and quickly killed the snake. I was shaken by the event and had dropped my basket, spilling all that I had collected. The wolf shifted in front of my very eyes. It went from the wolf to the boy I shared a camp with in the blink of an eye. All I could do was stand there starring at him, shaking. He helped me gather my spilled herbs and such and walked me back to camp. After that, he went with me where ever I went. We were almost inseparable." Claire leaned back into Jamie just as his arm tightened around her waist, holding her against him. She had not realized that reliving the tale had made her start to shake all over again.
"Oh Jamie, I did not realize just how scared I was at the time. If Beval had not shown up and killed that snake, it would have bitten me for certain. I'd have died in minutes. There would have been nothing anyone could have done. Help was too far away to reach me in time. I knew that at five."
"Shush, Sassenach. Yoo are alright. Beval saved ye." Jamie whispered in her ear. "Yer safe now, Sassenach. I have ye." Beval had saved her, Jamie repeated to himself. Now he knew and he could not fault either of them for it.
Claire had no idea how Jamie knew where he was going. The sun came out from behind the clouds often enough to allow Jamie to adjust their general direction, but other than that, she had not a clue where they were. They rode through field after field, opening gate after gate and finally she realized they arrived at the calving shelter from the far west of the very field it was so happily situated in. When they reached the Macvey's, the men were back at work and the women were almost finished clearing the yard of the tables and chairs.
"We will no stay but a few moments, Sassenach" Jamie said as they approached. "Ye do not even need to dismount."
Claire was thankful Jamie did not see her roll her eyes. She knew those men would never allow him to just stop by, look and then leave. Jamie would be at least an hour, quite possibly longer. She half predicted that Jamie would have his jacket off and shirt sleeves rolled up, working within the first fifteen minutes of their arrival. She'd just have to be patient and wait. Where was Murtagh, she wondered as she scanned the faces. He was always up for a little Jamie wager.
They were quite as they rode over to the stone wall of the new calving shed's pasture. Jamie slid down off Rob Roy and placed a hand on Claire's thigh and said, "Wait here. I won't be but a few minutes. Then we will leave for home, aye Sassenach?"
Claire nodded her head and leaned down and kissed Jamie. "I'll wait," she whispered. "And thank you."
"You do no ken to thank me, Sassenach. Though I must say that it has been a less than normal day for me. This seems to happen daily since I've met ye, lass" and he smiled at her. "Ye are no dull, I'll say that fer ye. No wonder Master Raymond said I needed to guard yer back."
"Did Raymond say that? And just when was that?" She asked and smiled. "Oh, Jamie" Claire called out as he began to walk away, "Give this to Murtagh. I don't suppose we need it any longer." and she held out the basket. "Someone might as well eat it. I can not see good food go to waste."
Jamie returned, took the basket and said, "I am sorry that things did no go as I planned them this morn'n. I had hoped te have a different sort of day with you." The look on his face told her that he meant every word of it.
"Don't punish me for something I had no control over. Love me because I choose you" she whispered to him. She did so love this man and it must have shone on her glass face, for Jamie's face shifted to one of such gentleness and softness as his eyes darkened slightly with lust. He raised his mouth to hers and she kissed him. Softly.
"Oh, do'na worry there Sassenach. I am yours as much as you are mine." He said when they separated. He turned and as he started toward the working men, he commented to her over his shoulder, "The day is no over ye." He heard her snort with laughter as he walked away.
Claire remained on Rob Roy and watched as one by one the men stopped their work congregated to Jamie. Within minutes he was surrounded. "This is certainly going to be more than a few minutes," Claire said with a sigh.
"Chair!" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
She turned and there was Fred, and of course Brom, standing on the wall. Fred was almost eye to eye with her with an enormous grin on his face. He had a very plumb grouse in his hands.
"Fred" Claire said and smile back. "What do you have there? An injured bird?"
Fred nodded his head furiously.
"Well, hop up then. Lets see what I can do for your feathered friend there." And she slid back in the saddle and raised her arm to allow Fred to climb up in front of her. Brom hopped onto the croup of the horse's back, behind Claire. Claire thanked the stars that Rob Roy was older, and not a skittish colt, as the horse only turned its head to give her a look rather than start bucking. "All aboard Rob Roy, let's make for the barn" and she nudged him gently with her heels and turned him toward the open gate. William Wallace, his lead still in Claire's hand, followed along behind, amiably.
In minutes they were at Fred's zoo. Dismounted and the horses tied to one of the nearby barn pillars, Claire took a look at the grouse. "It is a fine, fat specimen, if ever I saw one" Claire said to Fred. "but it looks to have broken a wing."
Fred made a frown. Brom barked from his perch on the exam table.
"Sadly, I do not have my bag with me. Let's see what I can do with a just my hands then shall we?" She whispered conspiratorially to Fred as she checked to make sure no one was watching. Fred adjusted his hold on the black bird, covering the red crested head with his other hand, stilling the flustered bird. Claire placed the injured wing between her hands and let her hands glow blue. The bird stilled. After a couple of seconds, Claire examined the wing, then gave it another few seconds between her hands. After a third treatment, she released the wing.
Fred looked up at her and said, "Done."
"Yes, Fred. All finished. You can put the bird back where you found him." She smiled at him. "Birds have hollow bones, you see. It helps them to fly. So it does not take long for me to heal them. Shall I see to my other patient while I am here?"
Fred nodded his head as he placed the grouse into one of the empty boxes and closed the lid. Claire pulled the hare's box forward and lifted it's lid. The hare was huddled in the corner, and as Claire suspected, it had shredded yesterday's bandage. "Can you lift him out and let me have a look, Fred?"
Fred reached in and removed the hare by grabbing the ears. With his other hand he cradled the body to his chest. Claire could see the leg looked no better than yesterday so she, once again, placed her hands over the torn flesh on the leg and allowed her hands, once again, glow blue, this time for almost a full minute. Yesterday's time had been too short she decided and since she was leaving tomorrow, this was her last opportunity to help the injured animal heal. When she removed her hand the hare struggled once again but this time it used both legs. Yesterday the injured leg had hung lip and useless.
"Done" Fred said excitedly. "Hare home too" he announced with a huge smile on his face.
"Yes" Claire said. "Tomorrow you can let them both go home." She could not help but giggle at Fred's exuberance. It was really quite contagious. "Any more patients for me, Master Fred?" Claire inquired.
Fred shook his head No and placed his hand in hers. Claire smile. "I like you too. Would you like to ride the horse back or walk Fred?" she asked.
"Up" Fred stated vehemently.
Claire helped him up into Rob Roy's saddle and then handed Brom to him. Claire untied both horses and they walked back inside the barn. Entering, at the opposite end was Jane, Fred's sister.
"Ja!" Fred screamed and wave a hand frantically in the air.
Claire, once again, counted her blessings that the horses were old and less likely to allow Fred to startle them.
"I thought that was you, Claire." Jane said as she approached them. "I am so glad you came back today. You left yesterday before we had a chance to chat." She had a warm, friendly smile on her face. "Fred, are you riding a horse?"
Fred smiled ear to ear and nodded his head at least half a dozen times. Claire was afraid he would give himself whiplash.
"Is it not alright? Claire asked with concern as Jane reached them. "I asked. Fred said he wanted up." She added as she stopped the horses in the middle of the barn.
"No, no it's fine" Jane replied. She placed a hand on Fred's thigh. "Are ye alright up there Brom?" and she scratched the dog's ear. "It's just that Fred has never ridden a horse before."
Claire's glass face must have shown her shock because Jane burst out laughing. "I ken, right? Fred, born and raised on this farm, aye. Born in the coo pasture in fact. But we do'na own a single horse. Never have" and she laughed. "Most of the horses ye see around here are just for pleasure, ye ken. No too many of us have the time nor the money for that. That's why these two are so old. John's had them go'n on twenty years, I'll bet. He bought them the summer before Willie and Mr. Murray Senior disappeared. John and Willie would ride over for a visit on Sunday's after church. I think it gave Becca, Mrs. Murray, a bit of peace and quite on The Lord's Day. My brother David and Willie were the verra best of friends" Jane said wistfully. "David died in the war, ye ken. Hugh and David both. Everything fell onto Thomas' shoulders with them both gone" she added with a heavy sigh.
"Too many died in that bloody war. We lost so many fine young men." Claire added companionably and they started to walk again. "I was a nurse, stationed in France. I saw enough senseless death to last me a lifetime. My heart aches for the families that lost loved ones."
"Though a necessary evil, I'm afraid." Jane continued. "Several families in Broch Mordha took in children from London. We had two Pied Pipers, both boys, about a year or two older than Fred stayed with us. Almost five years, they were here on the farm. Their da was a policeman. Their mam and da came up to get them, be about March since they've been gone now. We had a letter from them. Started back to school." Jane smiled. "I think the McGowan's in Nairn still have their one girl. The mother died in one of the shelters, during a bombing and the father is still unaccounted for. An orphan most likely, though they have hope that an aunt is still alive. The lass is older, 15, I believe. It's the wee ones that miss their parents so," Jane whispered to Claire so Fred would not overhear.
Fred was so happy to be on the horse, he was paying no attention to their conversation. His hands were full of the horse's mane and Brom proudly standing lookout with his front paws perched on the animal's withers, poised to bark the alarm should anything become amiss.
"Oh, how sad terribly for them. I am afraid we'll read stories about this in the paper for quite some time." Claire said, shaking her head sadly. "We sometimes forget just how far reaching wars can be. I was working field triage and an American soldier was brought in, severely wounded. His father was a High Up at Eastman-Kodak in New York and he was telling me that in his home town of Rochester, over two dozen families voluntarily took in employee's children, from our British subsidiaries. People can rise to meet the need. We are nothing, if not resilient. Do you suppose things will ever be 'normal' again?"
They had reached the other end of the barn and continuing their walk, out the door and turned toward the almost completed shed and the working men.
"Normal? No. I do'na see how, Claire. Especially for families and communities like us. We lost so much. No to say no one else did, but my two eldest brothers are gone. My father should be pass'n the farm on to his sons and slow'n down some but Thomas can'na carry it alone. And Rabbie, he's so angry, two of his big brothers are gone... There are too many widows and orphans for me. I do'na see how ye bounce back from that."
"King George says we will re-build. I suppose, if we believe we can, we will." Claire answered. "Here today is a great example of how pulling together can make things happen. Broch Mordha should be very proud of itself for rising to this challenge, helping one of her own in need."
Jane stopped Claire just before they reached the pasture wall. "I wanted to talk to ye Claire. About yesterday. How verra sorry I am for the way ye were treated. The women folk did not..."
"Thank you Jane." Claire interrupted and placed her free hand on Jane's arm. "That means a great deal to me. For the apology. But I am leaving tomorrow night and I won't be back until the New Year." She blinked and nodded at Jane's reaction. "I will be back. I have made some commitments over the next six weeks and I need to keep them. Then I will return. To stay for good." Claire moved her hand to Jane's shoulder. "I will not let the women of Broch Mordha drive me away. I am just going to place it on a back burner for now. When I return, the ladies won't know what hit them." and Claire winked conspiratorially at Jane.
Jane laughed. "That's the spirit, Claire. Why don't you come to church tomorrow. Listen to Father Brown's sermon. He can be rather inspirational when the spirit takes him." Jane said with a smile. "He can be quite the motivator when he finds his theme. Mass starts promptly at 10am. Yoo do'na want te walk in late... interrupt while the good father's talk'n..."
"Jamie said he would like us all to go. So that's the plan..."
"What's the plan lass?" Murtagh asked as he approached.
"Church tomorrow." Claire informed him. "10 o'clock sharp apparently or we'll be locked out."
Jane looked at Claire, shocked. "I no said..."
"I was just was teasing Murtagh, Jane." Claire turned to Murtagh. "Mutagh, this is Jane Macvey. Seamus's younger daughter, Tomas and Fred's sister." And she looked up at Fred still smiling up on the horse. She then turned to Jane and said "Jane, this is Murtagh Fraser, Jamie's Godfather.
"Chair, red man come" Fred announced.
Claire stopped talking to Murtagh and Jane and looked up at Fred. "What did you say Fred?"
"Red man, Chair, for you." Fred said and he pointed to the field.
Claire turned. There was Jamie walking toward them with John. He smiled at her when their eyes met. She initially smiled but then furrowed her eyebrows and looked back and Fred. "Who are those two men, Fred?" she asked.
Fred looked down at her and said "Jury and red man" and smiled. Brom barked and wiggled like a worm in Fred's arms.
"Jury and red man" Claire repeated.
"Jury is Fred's word for John Murray. J for John Ury is really Murray. Fred has simply shortened it to something he can pronounce. Like Ja for Jane" Jane explained. "I've never heard Fred say reddmann before" with a perplexed look on her face.
"So Jury is really Jurray." Claire repeated. "Fred, you are really quite cleaver."
"Red man?" Murtagh asked his eyes meeting Claire's. "Does the lad ken..."
Claire returned the look and waved an extended finger in front of her face as she casually shook her head side to side. She could tell Murtagh understood because he quickly changed the subject by simply turning to Fred and inquired, "That's a find dog ye have there. What's his name then?" and he reached up to scratch the pup behind the ear while it wiggled and clamored all over Fred's lap and the horse's front quarter.
"Brom" Fred said. Brom stopped wiggling, turned and licked Fred's face then turned right back to watching Jamie and John approach, wiggling like he was excited to see them.
When Jamie and John reached them, John turned to Jane and said, "So I see ye found Claire for Jamie here. Thank you for returning her." and he gave her a hug. "And just what are you and Master Brom here up to, Fred? Is Claire teaching you to ride a horse? Your bicycle not good enough for you then or do ye want my Roy here for yer animal collection?"
Fred giggled. "No. Love Roy" and the boy threw his arms around the tolerant horse's neck, flattening the puppy in-between them.
"Well so do I," John said as he patted the horse's neck. "He's been a good friend for twenty years." John buried his face in the mane of the horse and whispered "Yes, you certainly have, old man." and he patted the horse's neck again. "It's nice that Jamie, you and Murtagh will ride them. Poor beasts get no exercise from me any longer, Claire."
"Turns out Claire is a verra capable horsewoman, John. But William Wallace is really quite a tame mount, not true a test of her skills though I do'na think I will be putting her on Donas anytime in the near future."
"I should think not" Claire said with a laugh. "Jane, have you met Jamie?" She asked as she turned from one to the other.
"Aye," Jane answered. "I managed to make a Gàidhlig lesson one Wednesday night, though I don't think I did verra well. And, sadly, I've no made it back to another."
"Aye, I remember." Jamie said with a smile as he walked up to stand beside Claire, placing an arm around her waist. Jamie looked only at Claire as he spoke to Jane. "Seem to remember ye had a good ear for the pronunciations. Ye just need to work on learning the words." He tucked some of Claire's crazy curls behind her ear and asked "Where'd ye ride off to? One minute ye were on the horse with me, I dismount and walk a couple of steps, turn around and ye are no where in sight. Neither yoo or the horses. I shall have te tie a bell about yer waist, if ye keep disappearing on me." and he pulled her against him and kissed her cheek. "I only have one more day with ye before ye leave. I do'na plan to spending hunt'n ye down, Sassenach."
"Well maybe you best not leave me alone then," she said as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Have you finished? Are we leaving now?"
"Aye. We should go, if ye are finished with Jane. And yoo Master Fred... let me help ye off Rob Roy here." He started to reach up when the puppy jumped into his out stretched arms. Wriggling and jiggling and licking Jamie uncontrollably. Jamie almost dropped him twice; Brom almost wiggled himself out of Jamie's grasp in his excitement.
"Well, Jamie," Claire managed between giggles as she and Jane watched him struggle to control Brom. "It looks like someone is very happy to see you."
Jamie managed to ensnare the twisting, squirming ball of fur, placing his large hand on the top of the pups head to keep it from licking him. "Yer pup is certainly friendly, Fred." and he set the puppy down on the ground and reached up to help Fred down. Brom, still a pup in motion, now with the ability to run circles around Jamie, barking and pulling at his kilt. " 'Tis alright Brom, I will be verra careful helping Fred."
"No." Fred said quite clearly. "Brom me Chair Red man go Lally. Peas, Ja. 'K?"
Claire looked from Fred to Jane to Jamie and back to Jane. "Well, I suppose it would be alright, if it's alright with his mother. Do you think your mother would be alright with it, Jane? I have to get back to Lallybroch. Mary MacNab and her son Rabbie are coming to dinner tonight. They will be moving into the estate to help take care of the house. Fred can help me make the dessert, pie, if he would like." Claire said.
"Pie? Yer make'n pie? Apple?" Jamie asked as he and Murtagh looked at her with great expectation.
"Apple" she said and nodded her head. Jamie and Murtagh smiled. "
Fred nodded his head. "Me hep pie." He smiled happily.
"Hep Chair make three" Murtagh said to Fred. "One for me, one for Red Man here" and Murtagh nodded his head toward Jamie, "and one for the rest of them te share." He gave Fred a mischievous grin and waggled an eyebrow. "Oh, and get her to make some clotted cream as well. Help a man 'oot, aye, Fred?"
Fred giggled and nodded his head.
"Weelll, I suppose my mam..." Jane said, then added "Yes. That will be fine. I'll tell my mam" and she winked at Fred. "You be on best behavior for Claire and Jamie, Fred. Do you hear me?"
Fred nodded several times. Smile beaming.
" 'Tis alright lass. Murtagh and John are collecting Mary and her lad when they leave here. Claire and I would be happy to bring Fred home after supper. He'll be fine. I'll have him ride on Rob Roy with me though, Claire" and Jamie stopped to pick up Brom again to keep him still, "Brom will have te ride with yoo as he seems verra excited to go as well and I do'na think I can manage both."
"I do'na think the pup is excited about the ride Jamie." Murtagh interjected. "I think he has an attachment to yoo."
Jamie looked down at the squirming dog in his arms. Brom immediately stopped jiggling and started to lick Jamie's face. Jamie immediately handed the dog to Claire and the pup struggled to get away, pushing his paws against her chest as he leaned back toward Jamie and began to whimper and whine.
"Uh, no, I don't think so, Jamie. Clearly Brom prefers you" and she handed him right back. Jamie lifted the pup up to Fred. "Alright then, Brom. You can ride with us but sit still. All your struggling is making the horse a bit nervous."
Brom barked once and sat quietly on Fred's lap.
Jamie helped Claire on to William Wallace and as he started to mount his horse, Murtagh pulled Jamie aside. "Do ye notice anything familiar about that pup, Jamie?"
Jamie looked at Fred with the pup sitting straight up in his lap, head cocked like he was listening to them talk. "Aye, he reminds me of that pup my da had, when we were wee... Bran. Yoo remember him, Murtagh? This pups coloring is almost the same."
Brom barked. Twice.
Both Jamie and Murtagh looked up at the pup and then to each other. Jamie shook his head and muttered "No, it can'na be" and mounted Rob Roy without any further discussion.
He and Claire road out of the yard. Murtagh scratched his head as they road away. John placed a hand on his shoulder. "We should help clean up a bit then leave as well. Mary is expecting us to pick them up at 4. She said she wanted to help Claire with dinner. Give them a chance to get to know each other before the lass has to leave tomorrow."
As they rode back to Lallybroch, Claire realized that Jamie had taken the road that led them through Broch Mordha.
"Jamie, John was telling me about the statue here in the square" and as they approached the small park. "He told me it is a representation of the first Laird of Lallybroch, Brian Fraser and his two sons, William and James." She watched Jamie's face as she spoke. She reminded herself to Never, Ever play cards with Jamie. His face showed absolutely no hint of any emotion, Happy or Surprised. How could he possibly know about the statue, she asked herself.
Jamie stopped and turned in the saddle to see if Claire was joking, but clearly she was not. She was serious. He snorted and rode the horse up onto the square. Seated on the horse, allowed Jamie a fairly good look at the walking figure and to his surprise, it was a fairly good likeness of his da. The two boys resembled he and Willie a great deal as well, but he surmised that they had used the Lallybroch portrait to render their likeness'. But there was no portrait of his father that he was aware of. His mother never could get his father to sit still long enough for her to take his likeness.
The horse could be any horse, except this one was most definitely one of the Lallybroch draft horses. Their mam would send Willie to fetch their da te supper. Willie would run the entire way, with him lagging behind, legs too short to keep up with his older brother. Their mam would send them almost every night. It was almost as if their da wanted them to come and waited for them. He would lift them up and let them ride 'Gaoth' (Wind), a huge but gentle beast back to the barn. A Percheron, he was. And a beauty. White, with gray, dappled flanks. A long flowing mane and the only horse around with feathered feet and a docked tail.
He did not know how, but Gaoth was the horse in the statue. Jamie was stunned, staring at what he knew now, was a likeness of his da, when suddenly, Brom leaped onto the back of Gaoth, behind Willie. Jamie gasped. A shutter ran through him. Bran used to ride behind Willie, just as the pup was now. The pup was Bran. No question in Jamie's mind. He did not understand how or why the pup was here, but that was his father's dog. The pup he had grown up with. That had sired several generations of pups at Lallybroch over the years. The dog had died while he had been living with his uncles at Castle Leoch. Jenny had written to tell him. Suddenly, the fear receded into calm and he ken without looking that Claire had rest her hand on him. She did not speak, just calmed him the only way anyone besides his mam had been able to, simply by touch. He closed his eyes and exhaled. When he opened them, he whistled for Bran, who jumped back onto Rob Roy, behind Jamie, took Claire's hand and headed home. He had some questions for Fred.