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

Chapter 33: Purpose

When he and Ellen first travelled back, Brian's sole purpose was to warn his parents then it became comforting and protecting his sister after her rape and the wait for Roger but now all that was sorted, he became a bit listless.

Now Brian has been thrown into building and expanding the Ridge, he has also been Da pulling him into helping with his whiskey business. Brian finds himself quite enjoying it. They go to the still to brew the newest batch of whiskey a couple of times a week.

Initially, Brian had slotted quite easily into the rhythm Da, Ian, and occasionally Murtagh, had developed but since Ian's sacrifice and Murtagh less and less able to venture outside often, it was left to just Da and Brian at first. But, due to the growth of the Ridge, a few of the other settlers, farmers, now come by to bring the barley they have grown and to put in orders for casks also helping to distribute it. The plan is to bring some of their whisky to the gathering next month at Mount Helicon.

The smell of the fresh barley used to make Brian feel sick when he first was working with it, but now he shakes it off and perseveres. He finds himself quite enjoying it, especially when he and his Da would bond over their similar professions. While journalism of the 20th century is a far cry from what Da had done in his printing business in the 1760s, Brian realises that there are similarities that they can bond over.

——

September 1770

News has reached them about Hillsborough. Once again, Brian is reminded that he is living through history. The fight by the regulators is only one part of America's fight against British rule. Brian knows there's worse to come.

Brian looks down at his new niece, Joan Laoghaire Claire Fraser. He smiles softly when she makes a small, disgruntled sound, likely still not happy with her new environment or the fact that she's wrapped up in a blanket and can't move her limbs, which is probably annoying after having just escaped a tight space.

Not for the first time he wonders about having this himself. His own family that is his. Mama has Da, Fergus has Marsali, Germain and Joan and Ellen has Roger and Jeremiah. To find someone to have this with...

Mama was lucky to find Da, someone who listened to her and did not accuse her of being a witch while Ellen had Roger who is from the future as well. Admittedly, Brian has his male privilege which means he'd have no witch hunts coming after him, but things won't be easy.

Admittedly he hasn't been too opposed to either sex. In his teenage years, when the hormones kicked in, it wasn't long until he realised that while he fantasised about girls, he would also fantasise about boys in the same way. Having crushes on Lenny and Ellena Abernathy at different points throughout knowing them was a blaring signal but the 1960s and 70s had made things a little difficult to explore even if it was legal, Brian found a way to in college with his new friends and surroundings. However, now in the 1770s, it's become even harder. Both because of its unlawfulness and the lack of opportunity.