Lochlainneach

M'Anam, Mo Chridhe

Featured Gaelic and Pronunciations:

- m'anam (mah-nahm) - my soul

- mo chridhe (moh kree) - my heart

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8 December, 1746

Lallybroch, the Highlands, Scotland

CATRÌONA POV

"Just rest her there. Mrs. Crook! Fetch a pot of tea and some water, will ye?"

"What's goin' on? Is that..."

"Catrìona, aye."

"Oh, feasgar math. Seàrlas MacBean, Catrìona's cousin. I accompanied her here from Barra."

"Barra?"

"Aye, Barra. We both told Jamie that her bein' there was possible. He didnae want te listen. Just wanted te be stubborn as usual."

"Does she ken aboot him?"

"Aye, she does. Tha's why she's swooned."

"Wait, she's comin' to..."

I felt very groggy, and when I cracked my eyes open, the light of the day stung my corneas and I let out a soft groan. They adjusted quickly, and the faces of Jenny, Ian, and Seàrlas came into view, all three of them hovering over me. "What..."

"How do ye fare, cousin?" Seàrlas asked me.

"Gave us a right scare," Jenny chimed in, still holding Brèagha in her arms. I had to think for a moment... Jenny and Ian. That meant I was at Lallybroch. That's right, I wanted to visit Lallybroch after Bréagha was born. Apparently, I had fainted - why? Oh, yes, because Jenny told me that Jamie was alive.

Blessed Bride. Jamie was alive.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up, Seàrlas's hand on my back to support me. "Take it slow, Catrìona. Ye've fainted," he told me, but I wasn't focused on that anymore.

"Ye said Jamie was alive," I said to Jenny. "Where is he?"

"Nearby, in a cave," Ian told me.

"Can I see him? Please, I have te see him," I said quickly, moving to get up, but Seàrlas stopped me.

"Oi, easy now. Yer no' supposed te be runnin' aboot. She just had the bairn a month ago, on All Saints' Day, and from what I've heard, she had a lot of trouble," Seàrlas told Jenny and Ian. "Our grandsire didnae even want her-"

" Where is Jamie? I want te see Jamie," I demanded from the group.

"It's not safe fer him te come here in daylight. The English ken he's near," Jenny told me.

"So take me to him. I have te see him, now ," I demanded furiously.

"And ye think it's safe fer you ? Red Witch ? Ye shouldnae have even come, though I'm glad ye have!" Jenny told me firmly.

"They dinnae recognise me like this," I said, referring to my coloured hair.

"No, but they've been suspicious," Seàrlas replied. "Hope ye'll pardon the lie, but we told them Catrìona is Mr. Murray's sister, Mairead, and they think she's my wife."

"But she isnae," Jenny replied, as if confirming.

"No," Seàrlas replied.

"I refused te remarry, but not like it matters, considering my husband is bloody alive, and I want te see him!" I spat at them.