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After ensuring that Marsali was healthy, as was the baby, Beth had gone to the cabin with Fergus and Marsali to give the new mother time to rest with the newborn baby girl. As she made her way through the open fence – now back at the main house on the Ridge, Beth let out a soft sigh. She was almost certain she looked a mess. Her dress was torn in two; her skirt completely off and the top was mussed with bodily fluids from having assisted in a birth.

"Beth?"

Ian stood up from the porch quickly upon noticing the brunette walking towards the house. In her state, it was hard to miss her. "What happened to ye?"

Beth could hear concern in his voice, Claire and Bree now joining him on the steps.

Beth held her hand up, stopping Ian from rushing towards her. "I'm just fine, Young Ian." She grinned at the nickname, glancing over his shoulder to Claire. "Marsali went into labor. It's a girl." She announced with a nod.

"Resting back at the cabin now. But I believe they will be heading over here in a little while. They'd like to introduce the new babe to their grandparents." Beth smiled at Claire, who looked happy at the news.

"How is Jamie doing?" Beth now looking at Ian as she noticed him staring at her dress and slightly sheer shift covering her legs.

"Brianna was able to figure out how to inject him with some medicine. He's going to be ok. Leg and all," Ian told her with a smile, moving to take her hand and help her walk closer to the house and up the steps. Beth couldn't help but notice the looks he was giving her.

"What is it?" She asked flatly, glancing over at him as she watched Claire and Bree walk back inside to tell Jamie the good news about Marsali and Fergus.

"Nothin', Beth." Ian said, whistling over to Rollo to nonverbally instruct the wolf to follow them inside.

"I look like a hideous swamp monster, I know." Beth laughed, glancing down at herself for a moment before she looked back to Ian. "Can you fetch Lizzie and see if she'll help fill a bath for me?"

Ian chewed on his bottom lip, "Aye." He had to stop himself from thinking about Beth taking a bath. He watched her walk up the steps, Rollo obediently following behind her. He was beginning to wonder if Rollo now saw Beth as his master.

Once the deep basin was brought in, filled with water, and warmed over a fire, Lizzie left the room quickly. Beth thanked her on her way out, her hand rubbing along Rollo's back as he curled up on her bed. Ian was standing in the doorway, glancing through the threshold at Beth.

"It's probably very inappropriate for you to stand guard while I bathe myself, Ian." Beth scolded him, though a laugh escaped between her lips as she sat down to pull the shoes on her feet off, undoing the laces of her stay before tossing it into a wicker basket by the door. Turing around to face him, now only dressed in her shift.

Ian was silent. His hands clasped behind his back as he watched her undress. "I..." He cleared his throat and let his eyes travel up and down before finally landing on her face. "I'll see you later." And with that, Ian quickly grabbed the doorknob and shut the door. Leaning back against it for a moment to catch his breath, Ian closed his eyes and shook his head. He was done for. He knew it. And a part of him knew that Beth knew it as well.

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With Jamie's health back, everyone gathered to formulate the plan for the meet up with Stephen Bonnett in Wilmington. Bree, Claire and Beth were going to run errands in town. The Mother-Daughter duo came up with the idea to try and create a syringe.

After the near-death snake bite experience, and Bree's quick thinking on the venom, they had come up with a plan to get glass cylinders made to be the base of a syringe. Beth agreed that it was a wonderful idea – and it made sense. They all just hoped that they could find a glass blower to create what they needed.

The men had their plans set in motion, as well. Beth couldn't help but be nervous. She never met Stephen Bonnett, but she knew he was a dangerous man.

"Please be careful." Beth pleaded, her hands grabbing onto Ian's as she looked up at him with wide eyes. She was scared. Scared for him, for Roger, for Fergus, and for Jamie. They had no idea what kind of men Bonnett had playing his hand for him.

"Dinna fash, Mistress Montgomery." Ian grinned, leaning down to quickly peck her lips before moving to her forehead.

"You know I hate when you call me that." She grumbled, her arms now crossing over her chest as she watched Roger bid Brianna goodbye and Claire bid Jamie goodbye.

"Aye, I ken that. But it won't make me stop, will it?" Ian joked, stopping himself from taking Beth in his arms again. "Ye be careful as well, Beth." He told her with a smile.

"Aye," She teased, "I will be." She nudged him towards Fergus and Roger before she moved back to the horse she would ride to the beach with Claire and Bree. The women had decided to take some time to themselves after they ran the errands they needed.

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The ride to the beach wasn't too long. All three women seemed to enjoy the wind blowing between them before they dismounted and found a tree to tie the horses to.

Beth let Claire and Brianna enjoy time with one another, walking ahead of them and collecting whatever kind of whole seashells she could find. At some point she had sat down close enough to the incoming waves to reach down and touch the water. She had removed her boots and stockings, lifting her skirt, and sighing happily as the tip of the water edged closer and closer to her toes.

After dipping her toes in for a few more minutes, Beth picked up her boots and stockings and walked through the sand towards some grassy dunes. The wind felt amazing through her hair, the sand even better between her toes. A melody started playing in her mind, a song that her Father used to sing while dancing with her Mother in the kitchen during dinner.

"At last, my love has come along
My lonely days are over.
And life is like a song
ooh yeah, yeah... at last
the skies above blue
My heart was wrapped up in clovers
the night I looked at you..."

Beth continued singing, her fingertips running along the taller blades of grass she was walking adjacent to. She was slowly starting to walk further and further away from where the ocean met the shoreline.

"You smile, you smile, oh and then the spell was cast..." Beth continued throughout the song and when she was just about finished, she could feel eyes upon her back. She turned around just in time to hear,

"My My, you have a lovely voice, lass."