Chapter 11: Skye Life

Disclaimer: D. Gabaldon owns all rights to Outlander

Jamie and Ian were relaxing in front of the hearth. I interrupted their conversation. "Jamie, may I talk with you for a moment?" He stood, nodding at Ian, who said, "Weel, I best be turnin' in anaways. Jenny will be wantin' some help wi' the bairn."

After he left the room, I continued, "I've researched all the areas we could possibly emigrate to, and I believe the Isle of Skye will meet our requirements."

"Where is that, Sassenach? I dinna believe I've e'er heard o' such a place."

"Of course you have. It's that big island off the west coast."

He scratched at the back of his head. "Oh, aye. Ye must mean An t-Eilean Sgitheanach."

"Whatever its name, that's where we headed."

It was heart-wrenching to say the least when giving our goodbyes to Ian, Jenny, and their brood. I'd never actually had a family like here at Lallybroch, and the pain of severing that relationship rent a jagged tear through my heart.

"Ye take care now on that island o' yers," Ian said, as he clasped Jamie's hand.

I felt my composure crumbling at his words, and got a tad misty-eyed when I faced Jenny. She frowned at me, and taunted, "Dinna get all mawkish on our account. I expect we'll meet again sometime in the future."

She hugged me fiercely, then lifted Brianna up into her arms. "Give yer Aunt Jenny a kiss, Lassie, for I'll no see ye for a while."

Brianna's little face wrinkled in confusion. "Why?"

"Weel, ye'll be movin' far away from me, ken?"

"Nay, I dinna wanta go. I'll no leave ye, Auntie."

Our little one clung to her aunt like a stubborn barnacle. Jamie had to forcibly extricate her as she kicked and screamed. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, it was challenging enough for Jamie and me, but Brianna bawled and bawled as if her heart was breaking in two.

Murtagh missed all the kerfuffle; he had gone on ahead to secure lodging for the night.

It took six days to reach Kyle of Lochalsh, where we would board a ferry to transport us to Kyleakin. In all that time, Brianna remained unusually quiet. Every time I looked into those sad, little, blue eyes, the guilt would rear up and eat at me, despite the fact that I was doing this out of preservation for our family.

The ferry ride across the narrows of Loch Alsh went smoothly. It wasn't an overly extended journey, thank heavens, since I remembered how green Jamie got on our last sea voyage. However, it wasn't without some minor disturbances, as Donas did not take to traveling on the ocean, and Jamie and Murtagh had their hands full, trying to calm the beast at regular intervals.

We arrived at Elgol by the next three days and were verra successful at procurin' a croft wi' the purse Jenny had given to me. What wi' my godfather helpin' us, the place was fit to live in—in nay time atall.

Brianna became accustomed to the place and met op right quick wi' a young bairn as was her own age soon after we moved in. I was verra pleased.

Murtagh had been earnin' money by harvestin' the kelp on the coastline. He came back e'er few days or so, and this day, he found me out back curryin' Donas and Brimstone. He was all aquiver wi' excitement. "Have ye heard, lad?"

I put down the brush, and asked, "Heard what?"

"Why, the Jacobites have been defeated, and the clans are nay more. Culloden was the last stand. I expect as our fightin' kin were lost as weel on that bluidy moor. Yer Sassenach warned us as much, and right she was, ken?"

I nearly fell to my knees and leaned agin' Donas to prevent my doin' so. "They're all dead?"

"Aye, but we're still alive, thanks to yer wife."

The news spread amongst our neighbors 'bout the Jabobite cause bein' quashed. I told Claire, during our dinner one e'enin', "The clishmaclaver hints as the bonny prince was rescued, and may e'en be hidden on this verra island."

She swallowed what she was chewin' and replied, "That is true. He was saved by a woman named Flora MacDonald, and she smuggled him to Kilmuir." She glared at me, and shakin' a spoon in front o' my nose, said, "I'm warning you, Jamie, stay away from that place."

"Ye have my word."

Brianna sat op in her chair, and looked from Sassenach to me. "What's a Jack-er-bite, Da?"

Christ … "I'll tell ye when ye're older."

Claire surprised me what wi' all her knowledge o' the rebellion and the fate o' one, Charles Edward Stuart, but e'en more surprisin', was what she told me two months later. While we were gettin' ready for bed, Claire turned to me, wi' a funny look 'bout her.

"Sassenach, are ye alright?"

"Of course. It's just that there's something I must tell you."

I pulled my sark op o'er my head. "Aye, go on."

"Well, it's this—would it be upsetting to you to become a father once more?"

I threw the sark to the floor in my excitement. "Are ye sayin' as ye're wi' child?"

"Yes, that's precisely what I'm—"

I hoiked my woman op off her feet and kissed her soundly. After settin' her down agin, I grinned like a fool, and said, "I expect as I'm the luckiest Scotsman in this land."

Cockin' one eyebrow, she saucily replied, "Am I to assume that this wasn't unwanted news, then?"

"Och … nay, ye've made me verra happy—so happy as I may break out in song."

The years passed, and I gave Jamie two more bairns, Ian and Jenny. We were content in our little croft.

One day, Jamie, while staring into the fireplace, asked me, "How old are ye, Sassenach?"

"Oh, no, now that's a secret that I will never divulge. A lass has to have some mystery about her, aye?"

I winked at my Scotty and smiled.

The End