A Rift in the Fabric of Time

Chapter 20: Isle of Dreams

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Things fell into a comfortable routine at the castle, until one day, Dougal came by while Jamie and I were lunching in the stable. With his brows knit together, the bumptious man spat, "Eat op, Lad. Colum wishes to have a word wi' ye." What now?

Standing, Jamie brushed away the bits of straw clinging to his kilt. "Weel, what does he want wi' me?"

Our impatient messenger frowned, and huffed, "If I kent what my brother wanted, then why would I need to send ye to talk to the man, ay?" Dougal turned and strode out of the stable, grumbling under his breath.

Maybe the matter had to do with something rather trivial, or just nothing at all, but it still made my heart beat faster.

Jamie grabbed the last of his food off the blanket that was laid out, then leaned toward me. "It's all right, Sassenach. If it was somethin' I did as was wrong, he'd no send Dougal to be tellin' me, but havin' me dragged to his study under guard, I expect.

# # # # #

In spite o' what I said to Claire, I was shakin' in my verra boots when I rapped my knuckles opon my Laird's door. What could he possibly wanta talk to me 'bout?

Colum's voice came from inside the room, "Ye needna stand on ceremony, Lad. Come in; I was expectin' ye."

My uncle, gestured to me, and bade me sit down. "Ye dinna be worrit, Jamie. I'm no here to chastise ye, on the contrary, I'm in need o' yer help."

"Help, ye say?"

"Aye. Ye've heard me speak o' Letitia's brother, Robert. Weel ... he's in a bad way wi' the dropsy.  I'd count it a blessin' if ye and the missus would go on op to the Isle o' Lewis and stay in the summer cottage there, as a favor to me. It's just a bit down the road from Robert, ye ken.

"What wi' Mistress Fraser bein' a healer, perchance she could ease his sufferin' somewhat. And I'd be most appreciative if ye could manage his place for him, as he canna do for himself."

I nodded, relieved that Colum put his trust in me. "I'll speak to Claire and see if she's willin' or no."

"Whether she's willin'?  God, man, yer wife has no say in this. It's my pleasure as ye both go."

I stiffened at his harsh tone. "I suppose we'll be goin' then."

His eyes bored into mine, wi'out so much as a blink. "Aye, ye will."

. . . . .

"Why of course, I'll go. Why wouldn't I? It sounds as if Robert is suffering from congestive heart failure, and I have just the thing to assist him. The man certainly needs help, and if I can be of service then so be it."

Pacin' 'bout her surgery, I asked, "But what o' yer work here?"

Claire broke off some dried digitalis leaves from a bunch hangin' from the rafters, and began grindin' them to verra fine particles wi' a mortal and pestle. "You've seen Elspeth  and Kate. I've been training them off and on since our return. They can both read, and I've scribbled notes in a ledger for reference. If they get into trouble, they can always send for Geillis. I hear she's very much alive. The rumor is that Dougal snatched her from off the scaffold. Heaven knows what that was all about, but I do have some theories."

Surprised I was, as she would let that name fall from her lips. Geillis! I sputtered, "Dinna mention that woman's name in my presence."

She ne'er looked op at me, but continued crushin' the leaves o' the foxglove in the mortar. "Oh, Jamie ... let bygones be bygones. It wasn't her fault that we were both accused of witchcraft. I was in the wrong place at the right time for her enemies to nab me. If anyone is to blame it's that bloody Father Bain. He hates me for besting him in healing that poor child. It was my word against his. He felt the miracle was of the devil—superstitious old fool."