The Strength of a High and Noble Hill (An Outlander Story)

Chapter 20: Coming Together

On the way to the Ridge, Brian and Ellen get a rundown of how it's been progressing. Jamie has built a small cabin for him, Mama and Young Ian.

Some settlers have moved onto the land. This includes the Lindsay brothers, their wives and children as well as a Ronnie Sinclair. All the men were in Ardsmuir along with Jamie.

Jamie and Mama explain why they were in Wilmington. It started a week before when Jamie received a letter from Governor Tryon inviting him and Mama to attend a play with him. Turns out the Governor was attempting a trap for the regulators, including Murtagh, Jamie's godfather. Thankfully Murtagh had been warned and suspicion had fallen upon Colonel Washington(!) instead. Jamie had explained it in such a blasé tone while Mama had simply smirked in amusement as Brian and Ellen's eyes bug out of their skulls at the mention of the man. It's times like this that Brian is truly reminded he is in the past.

Jamie and Young Ian have also set up a whisky business. They have a malting floor about a couple of miles from the cabin in a small clearing. Jamie tells them how he had distilled the Ridge's first batch of whisky last autumn. They invite Brian and Ellen to have a look soon.

——

"Brian!"

Brian looks up from where he'd been cutting up wood to see Jamie standing there with another man next to him. The man is lean but muscular. His arms are long, and his skin is spotted by smallpox. His eyes are black, his forehead narrow and his jaw narrow with a grey bushy beard and dense and expressive eyebrows.

The two men walk over to Brian. Jamie is smiling happily while the man has an inquisitive look on his face.

"Murtagh, this is my son Brian, Brian this is Murtagh, my godfather." Jamie introduces.

Murtagh stares at the young man in front of him before glancing at his godson. He looks shocked and overwhelmed.

"Hi." Brian greets awkwardly.

This breaks Murtagh out of his shock. "What took ye so long, diabhal beag?" He chuckles, pulling Brian into a tight hug which Brian reciprocates.

Brian looks over Murtagh's shoulder to see Jamie grin and he grins back. Brian doesn't understand what Murtagh called him but the words fill him with warmth.

Murtagh pulls back, holding Brian at arm's length by his shoulders. "Christ, Jamie, ye dinna tell me he's yer splittin' image."

Jamie chuckles with pride while Brian just blushes awkwardly. All of this, having his biological father around, is taking some getting used to.

——

"Your mother would like you to write more often." Brian remarks to his cousin as they all sit down to eat. "Don't know what made you think once a month was good enough."

Young Ian rolls his eyes, annoyed and slightly embarrassed.

Jamie finds it amusing. "Aw, yer ma chidin' ye from across the seas."

"Aye, and if ye have any sense ye'll pay heed, or no doubt she'll cross the sea herself," Murtagh continues to tease. "Been tha' way since she was a lass."

Ellen gets a mischievous look on her face before her gaze settles between their father and Murtagh. "What was Jamie like as a boy?"

"Och Christ–" Jamie rolls his eyes as his godfather is all too cheery to tell the tale.

Things soon turn to laughing about stories of Jamie's first kiss. A tale of milk pails, Leoch, and an unfortunate method of conversation stirred, as the cabin once again erupts with laughter, recalling memories, and joy.

——

Jamie, Murtagh and Mama are on hand to help Brian and Ellen settle into life in the 18th century, adapting to more laborious jobs. Brian hadn't realised how much harder daily tasks would be now that early his 20th century necessities have been taken away.

Extending the cabin is also a strenuous job. With all the extra people, they need more space to fit them all. It was decided that Ellen and Lizzie would stay in the shelter and Brian and Ian will sleep outside until a second one is built. Murtagh is with them until a shelter on his own land is put together for him.

Everything is going great except one thing. It seems Brian has a follower.

It's Lizzie. It seems she has a crush on him. She is able to find any excuse she can to be around him, even if it is to just be working outside at the same time as him where she can see him or playing dumb to get him to help her with the simplest tasks. She compliments him constantly and always is the first one to jump up if he needs assistance. Brian is too polite and worried about hurting her feelings to deny her. She's just a kid.

Everyone seems to find it hilarious, particularly Jamie and Murtagh who are no help. Mama thinks it's sweet.

Brian wonders if it had always been there and he just hadn't noticed. Granted his mind had been on other things, getting them to the States, Lizzie being ill, Ellen's attack then finding their parents. Settling on the Ridge had been the first time in a while that Brian has been able to breathe.

He's not sure what to do.

——

A/N: There'll be some Jamie and Brian bonding next chapter.

Diabhal beag = little devil

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