A/N: Based on S1E2 and S1E4 - Matthew B. Roberts.

If you are at all interested in my silly propensity for bringing in random quotes from other sources watch out for the one from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.

….oOo….

Dougal was infuriated by the reception Jamie received after his 'oath' to Colum the night before. When it should have made all the clansmen hate him it only seemed to raise their level of respect for the youngster. He had to do something to remove Jamie from the running for the lairdship.

As he returned to the castle from the hunt the next morning, adrenaline pumping from the thrill of the battle plus the stress and sadness of losing his old friend Geordie, Dougal felt the need to release some of his pent up energy. The shinty game was just the thing and there was that upstart nephew of his handling the ball with such skill and precision, of course he had taught the boy how to play the game himself. He threw down his hunting rifle and removed his coat and plaid never taking his eyes off of his redheaded kinsman. He grabbed the first shinty stick he saw and rushed into the fray determined to take out his frustration in the game and especially on the lad who now seemed poised to take everything for which he had worked so long and hard.

Boy, could that lad take a thrashing and give as good as he got. Dougal gave him a sound beating but Jamie was a fighter. He wouldn't be baited by Dougal but he would never give in either. He bested Dougal in the end and even though he accepted his nephew's hand to raise himself from the ground where Jamie had soundly thrown him, he stomped off just as frustrated, if not more so, than when he had initially joined the competition. The confrontation did nothing to improve Dougal's chances for the lairdship and only made Jamie look like the better person.

….oOo….

After his successful handling of the oath taking debacle, Jamie was in high spirits the next morning.

He was planning to go on the boar hunt because Claire would be attending in case her healing skills were needed. As he walked to the stables to get his horse he was trying to come up with ways he could creditably, but not severely, injure himself so as to be the recipient of her tender care once more, when he heard Murtagh calling for him.

"Jamie," said Murtagh, "We need ye for the shinty game. The MacKenzie men of the castle are linin' up 'gainst the men of the village and us Frasers are gonna step in and help them out. Trobhad (come)." Murtagh beckoned him to follow.

"I was gonna go out for the boar hunt," Jamie replied.

"Why would ye do that?" asked Murtagh, "Ye never liked those kind of hunts a'fore. Come on, let's go, the game is about to start."

Murtagh was right, he despised these massive boar hunts and he certainly could not confess to his godfather his true reason for wanting to go, so he reluctantly gave in and told Murtagh he would join the game. He followed Murtagh back toward the castle removing his coat in preparation.

The game was a lot of fun and his team was actually winning when his Uncle Dougal, returning from the hunt, decided to join in. The man was rather violent in his passion for the game but that was the nature of shinty in the Highlands. He seemed rather more aggressive toward Jamie, however.

Upset with himself for being twice caught napping by his uncle, Jamie upped his game refusing to let the man get the better of him again. He had to tolerate many blows and refused to resort to such violence himself, however, his cooler head prevailed and he bested his uncle in the end.

Jamie was having too much fun and was in too good of a mood to read anything more into his uncle's aggression than that of extreme passion for the game and the excitement of the gathering.

After his uncle stomped off like a bratty schoolboy, Jamie, panting to catch his breath, looked up and saw Claire. He smiled and nodded at her. He was happy to see her but hadn't realized that she had been watching. At least he had acquitted himself respectably and with some measure of decorum. It stoked his ego that she had witnessed it. Murtagh came up and patted him on the back. Too caught up in wrestling with Dougal, Jamie didn't even know if his team had won so he asked Murtagh and the reply was a satisfying 'Aye'.

….oOo….

Dougal returned to his chambers determined to come up with some way he could remove his nephew short of killing him himself. After he cleaned up and changed out of his dirty clothes he poured himself a dram of whiskey and sat down to think. But all that came to his mind was the passing of his friend Geordie. He silently toasted the man. The two of them grew up together and had shared many adventures and many bottles of whiskey. He would be sorely missed.

He thought of Mistress Beauchamp and how well she had handled that situation. She was a competent healer and not squeamish in the least. She must have seen men die before and by violence, he concluded. She tried to do what she could for Geordie's body and when that turned out to be futile she did what she could for his peace of mind. She took him to a peaceful place, and that's all any of us can ask when we pass.

His mind now turned to his pending rent collection trip. He was thinking how it might be wise to have a healer such as Mistress Beauchamp along with them, especially one that does well under strain, there's a lot of that on the road.

This led him to considering the other members of the rent party: Ned Gowan, the lawyer, of course, to collect and account for the rents; some well-trained fighters, Rupert, Angus, and the up and coming Willie, for defense; a few others to tend the horses and such.

Then there was the 'other business' he was going to attend to. As he contemplated his strategies in that regard he decided it would be quite useful to have Jamie along. His fighting skills would be helpful to the rent party in general and his back would be helpful in raising funds for the cause. But Dougal had an additional purpose in mind…

He would have to get Colum's permission to bring Leoch's healer as well as Jamie. Colum would likely allow Mistress Beauchamp to go but would be against sending Jamie. Dougal knew his brother had a partiality for their nephew. He would be afraid the English would capture him or someone would turn him in for the price on his head. Although Dougal would never hand Jamie over to the English himself, there would be no love lost for him if it happened. His sword, his back, and the potential of getting rid of him were the reasons Dougal added Jamie's name to the list of desired rent party companions.

Dougal went to discuss this with his brother. He tapped lightly on Colum's door and walked right in. He always had Colum's ear.

Colum looked up from the letter he was writing and putting his quill aside he said, "Ah, brother! What can I do for ye this afternoon? Are ye ready for yer trip to collect the rents?

"Aye," replied Dougal, "That's what I've come to discuss with ye."

Colum indicated a chair and said, "Well, have a seat. What is it?"

"I would like to take Mistress Beauchamp with me. She did a fine job this morning on the hunt."

"Aye, I heard about Geordie, I'm sorry," Colum solemnized.

"Aye," Dougal replied, "He was a good friend."

"But Mistress Beauchamp could do nothing for him?" Colum questioned Dougal's assessment.

"He was beyond saving. She could have helped with his leg wound but his abdominal wound was fatal. No, what she did was comfort him in his final moments while I held him. He died peacefully. You should have seen her though. She tramped around the hunting ground like it was her second home. She tended to the injured and was in no way squeamish or faint of heart at some of the worst wounds I've ever seen."

"So you want to take her on the road," it was a statement, not a question.

"You know the things that can happen out there. Her skills would be handy to have with us. She could also treat any of the villagers that are ill. Your people already love you but sending your healer to them would be an extra kindness."

"Hmm," thought Colum, "Very well. But be sure you have plenty of guards. Ye'll need extra with a woman along."

"Aye," replied Dougal and seizing the opportunity he said, "That's why I'd like to bring Jamie."

Colum sat back at this comment, eyeing Dougal a little suspiciously.

"He's a good soldier and gets along well with my men," added Dougal.

"I don't like it," replied Colum, "The lad's got a price on his head. You run in to the British, which is likely, or the watch…"

"We are usually forewarned and can avoid any British entanglements, and he can always make himself scarce when need be."

Colum thought for a few moments then replied, "Let's talk with him about it after supper."

Dougal stood and said, "I'll go inform Mistress Beauchamp."

….oOo….

After Dougal left the surgery, Claire removed her apron and headed to the hall. She did not want to miss out on her last good meal before hitting the road and, like Dougal suggested, she did not want to incur Mrs. Fitz's wrath by being late either. She wasn't sure what being on the road would be like but it would get her away from this dank dungeon where she felt like she was being held captive. Maybe she would even find herself near Craig Na Dun. Ever since her initial escape plan had failed she had been trying to think of another way to get out. This may just be her opportunity.

Claire entered the hall. Colum and Dougal were seated at the head table. At one of the other tables she saw an empty seat, across from Jamie and Murtagh, and moved to take it.

"Good evening, gentleman," she greeted them.

"Aye," they replied simultaneously.

"Interesting game this morning," she said, beginning to eat.

"Aye," replied Jamie, "I don't suppose they play shinty in Oxfordshire?"

"No," she replied. She wanted to tell them that they played football instead but she wasn't sure if the sport had been invented yet or if they would have even heard of it so far north. "It didn't look like some people were playing very fair, though. Is there a referee or a judge to make sure the rules are followed?"

"Ach, no," replied Murtagh, "the players take care of the fairness themselves."

"Yes, I saw what you did to poor Angus in the name of fairness," Claire replied, giving him a pointed look, "I'm surprised he didn't show up in the surgery afterwards - must be that damn Scotch pride. You as well, Mr. McTavish, it looked like Dougal may have reinjured your shoulder."

"Aye, I guess it was pride for me too, Sassenach," he confessed. Then leaning closer to her with a smirk he said, "As much as I enjoy your ministrations, I wouldna want Dougal to think that he beat me bad enough to need a healer."

"Well," teased Claire, "You may wish to take advantage of my healing skills today, while I am still here. I am to go on the road with Dougal tomorrow for the rent collection. So he informed me just before supper."

After expressing their initial shock at her announcement the pair of Scotsmen went on to explain to her what it meant to be a part of the rent party. She had hoped to hear that Jamie would be coming along as well but no such information was relayed. The men did detail the traveling experience, sleeping arrangements, and potential problems. Claire was grateful for the information as it gave her a better idea of what to pack. She excused herself when the meal was over and returned to the surgery to prepare for the trip.

….oOo….

Jamie was not only crestfallen but quite concerned to hear that Claire would be gone for who knows how long. His apprehension about his uncle's interest in her had only increased after she had to beat the man off with a chair the other night. He didn't like her going off with that group of men. Add to it that she was English in a place where that's not a pretty thing to be and he was concerned that some Highlanders, MacKenzie or no, might decide to score one for the Scottish by assaulting an English woman. He had promised her that she would be safe if he was around. He held that promise at the same level, if not more so, as the oath he had made to Colum. Therefore, he was determined to find some way to join the rent party.

He and Murtagh stayed in the hall conversing well after supper was over. He felt justified in expressing his concern for Mistress Beauchamp to his godfather as he knew the man felt somewhat responsible for her himself as he was the one who rescued her in the first place. They brainstormed ideas for some time until young Tammas Baxter approached to inform Jamie that the Laird had summoned him. Maybe this was his opportunity. Taking his leave of his kinsman, Jamie rose and went to see Colum.

When he stepped into Colum's room he found Dougal there too. He greeted his uncles with a bow and awaited Colum's instructions.

Colum looked up at him and said, "Well, Jamie lad, I'll get right to the point. Your uncle Dougal here would like you to go on the road with him to collect the rents."

Colum paused and Jamie was on the verge of declaring his hearty assent that moment, but Colum continued, "Now, I am concerned about the price on your head. A trip like this will give you lots of exposure and you will likely run into redcoat patrols as well. Dougal suggests that you can make yourself scarce when such problems appear. You have sworn obedience to me while on MacKenzie lands. However, as it will be your neck at the end of a rope, I give the decision over to you. Would you be willing to go with the rent party, or no?"

Jamie pretended to think for a bit. He had mastered his earlier enthusiasm and realized that he didn't want to come off as overly eager. "Red coat patrols can come here just as easily, uncle," he replied in measured tones, "and with all of the outsiders who come to visit ye I am more likely to run into people from other clans or even foreigners here than on the road. My Laird," Jamie said with a bow, "If my Uncle Dougal requires me then, I will go and Murtagh will join me as well."

"So," concluded Dougal, "That's the business settled. We leave at first light."

…..oOo….

A/N: Although modern football (soccer) may be able to trace its roots back to late 17th century England, it wasn't until the mid-19th century that the rules were standardized (source: English-online dot at, European Football – Soccer). So I am guessing that 18th century Highlanders probably hadn't heard of it yet.