The morning dawned bright with a light mist still hanging over the fields. After finishing their campfire breakfast, the rent party was packing up to travel on to the next village. Jamie was joking with Murtagh and some of the other men as they dismantled the tents and packed the supplies from their camp that morning. His head jerked around when he heard Claire's voice.

"I'm going to the river to wash," she announced.

He stood and turned around. Dougal was sitting with Ned Gowan discussing the rents. Stepping forward, as did Rupert and Angus, Jamie intended to volunteer as her escort but instead he heard Dougal say in a flat tone, "Let her go."

"Now, as regards the transactions...," Ned was saying to Dougal.

The others went back to their work, but Jamie just stood there. Surprised by their leader's decision, he glanced back and forth between Dougal and Claire.

Dougal was listening to Ned discuss business, but his eyes followed Mistress Beauchamp.

The lawyer continued, "We've been comparatively successful despite the earlier setbacks."

Claire looked astonished that Dougal did not seem to be concerned about her, but she gladly took her horse and left. Being away from Leoch like this, she could easily bolt. Maybe Dougal figured she was too smart for that or maybe he was hoping she would run so he could catch her and feel vindicated. However, Jamie was suspicious of his uncle's motives and so he kept an eye on him while he finished packing up.

Ned quickly concluded his summary of the monies raised for the Jacobite cause and took advantage of the absence of Mistress Beauchamp to inform Dougal of his conversation with her at breakfast the day before.

"I must say, she's got a good head on her shoulders, and a tongue for argument as well," Ned opined, "She has figured out what we are really about and tried to persuade me to give up the cause. She is convinced we are certain to lose, as if history had already been written."

Dougal grumbled and got up. Jamie watched him pace around, seething for a few minutes, kicking at anything that got in his way, and occasionally glaring in the direction that Claire had taken. Then sure enough, he stormed off to follow her.

Jamie was incensed. Dougal obviously intended to come upon her by surprise, but to what end he did not know. Jamie didn't like it one bit but there was nothing he could do about it. He just hoped that she would not have disrobed for a bath in the river by the time Dougal arrived. He couldn't chase after him. Not only would that draw the unwanted attention of the others, but it would also fly in the face of Dougal's authority. That was a line Jamie was in no position to cross. He turned back to his work with considerably less joviality. However, he kept a vigilant eye in the direction the two had disappeared and was ready to jump if he heard any sounds of distress.

Murtagh approached him. He had noticed Jamie fixated on the track that Claire had taken, followed by that cad of an uncle of his.

He said to his young friend, "That's one bold lassie. She can handle herself, lad."

Jamie glanced at his godfather and nodded.

"Aye," he agreed, "I just have a bad feeling about this and I'm not entirely sure it has anything to do with Dougal."

….oOo….

It wasn't long after that when Dougal came riding back on his dapple grey. He was alone. Jamie was instantly concerned for Claire. Where was she? Had she run and was now gone forever? Or had something bad happened to her? He did not know which concerned him more. That evil premonition he had was getting worse.

Pulling up in front of Ned Gowan, Dougal quickly slid off his horse and swore, "That god-damned bloody British officer we ran into has returned with a detachment, sticking his nose in where it doesn't belong."

The men all drew nearer grasping their swords, ready for battle. Dougal held up a hand and shook his head signaling that violence was not necessary.

He went on, "He questioned Mistress Beauchamp, but she assured him she was our guest and was well taken care of. However, he insists on bringing her back to speak with his Garrison Commander at Brockton."

"Then I am going after her," asserted Jamie, slipping the scabbard of his claymore over his shoulder and heading for the horses.

"Don't be ridiculous," replied Dougal stopping him with a hand on his chest, "they would cart you off to Fort William the moment they saw you with your red hair and your muckle size."

Jamie accepted this and hung his head, still fuming at the audacity of the British Army in questioning Claire's wellbeing.

Dougal continued, "As War Chief and representative of the laird, I will accompany her. They are waiting for me back at the river. I just wanted to tell you that we would be gone for who knows how long. I ken she wants to get back to her own people, but I don't trust these redcoats. No matter how much she defends us, I want to ensure they don't use her presence among us as a reason to tighten their grasp. Continue on our intended route. I'll meet up with you along the way."

Jamie noticed that Dougal did not include Claire in his last statement. That could only mean that he did not expect her to return with him. Jamie's heart sank.

However, his desire to protect Claire overrode his self-pity. As Dougal turned back to his horse, Jamie pulled him aside and, looking him in the eye, said, "Watch out for Randall. She's had an unpleasant run in with him once. I wouldna risk her being taken prisoner by that man. Who knows what he would do with her if he got ahold of her again."

Dougal looked over Jamie's expression carefully, recognizing in it something more than just friendly concern. He nodded and said, "Aye, I understand. She seems ready to defend us. I will protect her." Then he swiftly mounted his horse and rode off.

Jamie did not like it that Dougal was the one going with her. He still suspected his uncle of wanting Claire for himself, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Dougal was right, his rank and position will carry more weight with the Garrison Commander. Jamie would only risk exposure and capture if he went along and for Claire to be seen with him probably wouldn't do her any good either.

Unfortunately, he also risked never seeing her again. For Claire, this was her opportunity to get back to her family in France. He knew how much she desired that.

"At the very least," Claire said, "I hope I've earned a measure of trust from Colum."

"Aye," Jamie replied, "He's taking credit for bringing you on as healer to the Mackenzies. I doubt he'll want to see you leave anytime soon." Jamie smiled as this reflected his own sentiment.

Claire gave an exasperated sigh of frustrated resignation and said, "I'll never get out of here."

He remembered from another occasion:

"I need to leave this place," Claire insisted, "As you so plainly stated, I'm an outlander, just a Sassenach." She spit out the word as if it had a foul taste.

"If I offended ye," Jamie backpedaled quickly and apologized, "I'm sorry, Claire."

"I know you didn't mean it like that," she conceded, "It's just... I've been planning this escape for some time, and to have all my hopes shot to hell just in a moment…"

He sympathized with her disappointment but was secretly happy that she didn't get away.

This time she may well be successful in her quest to leave, and without even bidding him goodbye. He could already feel his heart ripping in two.

….oOo….

Jamie spent the rest of the morning brooding about and trying to accept the now inevitable departure of Claire. Murtagh noticed the change in his companion's disposition and was fairly certain he knew the reason for it. He was glad when Jamie had transferred his attentions from that girl, Laoghaire, to Mistress Beauchamp. She was just the type of woman to be a laird's wife and perfect for Jamie. He, too, was sad she was leaving. He did his best to cheer his friend, but it was to no avail. Murtagh knew exactly how awful it felt to lose the woman you loved.

Dougal met up with them in the early afternoon and questioned the men regarding their activities while he was away. He wanted to be certain that none of them, especially his hot-headed nephew, had gone off halfcocked, attacking and injuring the British soldiers. Ned assured him that they had all remained safely together on their journey.

"What happened?" Rupert asked.

"The redcoats escorted us to the Inn at Brockton," replied Dougal. "A travesty," he said as an aside, "the village is now overrun with British troops, and on MacKenzie land too," he shook his head in disgust. "The British officers and especially the General were all tripping over themselves to accommodate Mistress Beauchamp, while at the same time being as rude as possible to me."

Dougal started to laugh, "However, in defense of us Scots, the good lady called them out on their behavior, including the General, and soundly put them in their place too."

Jamie smiled to himself. That definitely sounded like his Claire. His smile faded quickly, however. He had to remind himself that she wasn't 'his Claire' and not only would she never be but he would probably never see her again either. He was anxious to hear what was to happen to her.

Dougal continued, "The general even declared he would love to commission her a colonel for her ability to order men about."

This statement was met with many chuckles and nods of the head from the MacKenzie men.

"They invited her to dine with them while I was happy to wait for her in the tap room. It does seem that they will provide her with safe passage to Inverness, possibly even this evening."

Jamie hung his head. He lost hope at this revelation and his heart was cloven in two.

"However," Dougal added, "Randall showed up before their meal was done."

Jamie's head sprang up, with his nostrils flaring and fire burning in his eyes.

"He recognized me," Dougal said with a smirk, "eyed me up and down. I smiled and lifted my mug of ale to him before he stormed off to the General's dining room."

Jamie was on the verge of dashing off to Brockton. His desire to protect Claire, especially from that scoundrel, Black Jack Randall, was strong. Murtagh discretely wrapped his fingers around Jamie's arm to still him.

They listened as Dougal continued, "Not too long after that the inn doors flew open and an injured soldier was carried in. It seemed some of our countrymen decided to fire upon some redcoats just outside of town, they killed one and wounded two others. And, well, you know Mistress Beauchamp, she had to come out and help with the casualties."

Again, a round of nods from the men as hands subconsciously touched wounds she had mended, while Jamie wallowed in thoughts of Claire and her boundless compassion.

"I tried to warn her about Randall, but she insisted she was fine. She was more worried about us and requested I leave to avoid being blamed for the crime. So here I am."

"You can't leave her there with that madman," Jamie pressed, stepping forward. There was more bobbing of heads as the other men stiffened up and reached for swords or defensively crossed their arms over their chests. Just as they defended her honor at the tavern, they would gladly protect her from any other harm as well.

"I know, I know," Dougal held up his hands in surrender, "I intend to head back shortly. After I speak with Ned about a few legal issues that I am afraid might arise."

The barrister and the war chief then walked off, out of earshot, for their conference. Jamie and Murtagh observed the two men. Dougal appeared to ask many questions while it seemed Ned gave lengthy explanations. The consultation ended when Dougal smiled and clapped the lawyer on the shoulder. As they walked back toward the others, Jamie heard Dougal say to Ned, "Go ahead and draw up the papers, then." Dougal looked at Jamie with a triumphant smile, mounted his horse and rode off toward Brockton. Ned glanced mischievously at Jamie and went to find his legal books.

With arms still crossed, Murtagh leaned toward Jamie and said, "Those two are up to something."

"Aye," replied Jamie with suspicion, "and why do I get the feeling it has something to do with me?"

Jamie spent the rest of the afternoon worrying about Claire and speculating with Murtagh about what was going on. His idleness in the face of her danger was driving him nuts. He kept an eye on Ned Gowan, scribbling away on his papers. Occasionally the lawyer would glance up at Jamie, chuckle and shake his head, then return to his work. Jamie found this unnerving.

Toward evening Dougal returned again. Without speaking to anyone else, he immediately entered into a private conversation with Ned during which he reviewed the documents the lawyer had drawn up. With papers in hand, Dougal stomped off into the nearby woods.

He returned a few minutes later empty handed and called Jamie over to where he and Ned were standing. Murtagh followed as well.

As they reached Dougal's side, Jamie asked the one thing he was dying to know, "Where's Claire?"

Indicating the nearby copse Dougal said, "She's just over the hill there."

Jamie gave a very perceptible start and visibly had to restrain himself from flying to her that instant.

Dougal snorted at his nephew's reaction. "Seems I guessed right," he said, mainly to himself.

Placing his hands on Jamie's shoulders he forced the lad to bring his eyes back to him. "Here's the deal, laddie" he said, "Thanks to Randall," Jamie bristled at the name, "her reunion with her countrymen did not end well."

"What!?" asked Jamie.

"Let's just say, when I reached her, she was doubled over on the floor, gasping for air, and on the verge of becoming reacquainted with her lunch."

"I'll kill him with my bare hands!" Jamie exclaimed, nostrils flaring and face reddening.

Dougal shook his head, his hands still on Jamie's shoulders trying to hold the lad in place, "I had to threaten war to get that bastard to release her to me. But he ordered me to deliver her to Fort William by nightfall tomorrow."

"Well, we're not going to do that!" Jamie insisted, "Murtagh and I will take her and run."

He turned to Murtagh for confirmation and received it, "Aye, we can survive for a long time in the wild. We've done it before."

"Jamie," Dougal interrupted him, "Ned and I have a better idea."

"What is it? How can I help? I'll do anything," Jamie eagerly replied.

"Anything?" Dougal asked, with an eyebrow raised.

"Anything," Jamie emphatically confirmed.

"Good then," Dougal smugly replied and patted him on the shoulder, "you are to marry her tomorrow."