Near dinnertime, I was quite famished from my day's excitement. Briefly, I considered taking advice from Jamie and keeping a stock of food in my quarters. Aside from medical school, I always had food available to me whenever I grew hungry. Not that I had ever cooked it. There was always someone about to do it for me.

I wasn't sure it was proper to ask for more food, especially not knowing the state of affairs of the people of Leoch. Not to mention that my previous assessment of being able to remember my way to the kitchen proved false. After Jamie had left my room, I had attempted a walkabout only to find myself completely lost. Thankfully a woman, who must have held some position in the castle, took pity on me and brought me back to my quarters, much to my embarrassment. But in my defence, the last time I had visited the kitchen was 200 years in the future.

My stomach grumbled just as a small knock came at my door. It must be time for dinner. Mrs Fitz promised to send someone to escort me down to the great hall for the meal. Secretly, I had hoped that Mrs Fitz would send Jamie to fetch me for dinner, but I was disappointed to find a young boy who introduced himself as "young Alec." Forcing myself not to show my disappointment, I smiled at the young boy. He smiled back before he led me to the hall where dinner was being served.

So far, I found the people of Leoch to be rather friendly. Aside from Dougal, of course. Him I still wasn't too sure of. By now, my conversation with Colum had likely reached the ears of the residents of Leoch. They were very kind, although it did seem like they were keeping a slight distance from me. Probably until I proved myself not to be a spy, which hopefully shouldn't prove too difficult, since I wasn't a spy at all. Just someone lost out of time, trying to find my way.

Young Alec came to a swift halt as we entered the hall, which was a long, narrow room outfitted with tables down the length of each wall. Servants walked in and out of the room from both ends ladening the tables with bountiful trays, trenchers, and jugs. Seeing all the food laid out before me, I made a plan to sneak some fruit and bread into my overly large pockets to store in my quarters. Why had they done away with pockets large enough to sneak food in my time? Or rather, my former time. Such thoughts of comparison and contrast of time were terribly confusing when dwelt on for long.

After thoughts of my time, my eyes were then drawn to the architecture of the room. It was magnificent. Even my vivid imagination hadn't done the room justice on my trip with Lottie. The late sunlight poured in through the high narrow windows giving more light to the room than just the sconces holding lit torches. And between the windows banners and tartans hung on the wall. This room looked almost nothing like the crumbling one I had last seen. It was magnificent, especially considering the modern tools and conveniences they lacked to build such a place. I had to fight to keep my mouth from hanging open out of pure awe.

The room was abuzz with conversation in Gaelic. I couldn't help but wonder if most of it was about the strange woman, myself, being led to the head table by young Alec. This was one moment I was rather thankful I didn't yet know the language, but I was determined to learn it - especially considering I was planning on making this land my new home. I was also rather thankful that most of the forty people dining kept their eyes politely on their plates. Not that it stopped their chatter.

Colum was already seated at the head of the room, his stunted legs tucked out of sign beneath the scarred oak. I couldn't help but wonder if people thought less of him because of his condition. In my time, there was still prejudice on such things. I could only imagine it was worse at this time. It felt like Colum watched me walking toward him the entire time, but I breathed a sigh of relief when he nodded his head graciously and waved me to a seat on his left.

A passing servant pulled out my chair at Colum's request before I sat down. Colum then introduced me to the pretty red-haired woman on his right - his wife, Leticia.

"Very pleased to meet you," I told her, nodding my head slightly. "I certainly appreciate the hospitality I've been shown thus far. Truly."

Leticia smiled. I was then introduced to Colum's son, Hamish. The young lad couldn't have been more than seven or eight and he had inherited his mother's hair. He looked like all the other MacKenzie males I had seen - the same broad, flat cheekbones and deep-set eyes. Although, when Dougal leaned over to take notice of me I couldn't help but think that Hamish resembled him more than Colum. Not that I would ever broach such a subject. It wasn't my place.

Dougal offered me a friendly smile before he snatched a platter from under the spoon of one of his daughters. "Ha' ye no manners, lass?" he scolded the girl, Eleanor. "Guests first."

The girl muttered an apology before slumping slightly in her seat. Dougal then turned and looked at me. My face flushed. I wasn't sure whether Dougal had miraculously had a change of heart since I had last seen him or he was setting me up for some sort of test. I couldn't help but assume the latter. And assume that he hoped I miserably failed his test.

But I wasn't one to give up easily. So, I picked up the large horn serving spoon offered to me. I managed to put some smoked herring on my plate along with a dish I wasn't familiar with. It was then I noticed Dougal watching me closely. It had to be some sort of test. Only I didn't know what I was being tested on - which hardly made it fair. Not that women were typically treated fairly, to begin with.

After my blunder last night of forgetting my prayers, I didn't want to forget to say grace now. Even in this sea of unknown people. So, I folded my hands, bowed my head, and closed my eyes. My father had made sure that I grew up in his religion and that of my mother, I had learned several table prayers. But which one was more appropriate and less likely to give me away as a time traveller? It took me a moment to determine which was more fitting. I opted for the Catholic table prayer because the wording was likely better suited for this time.

"Bless us, oh Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Hamish added a resounding, "Amen!"

Once again, it felt like all eyes of the head table were on me. But Dougal seemed slightly deflated. Had I just passed the test he set out for me? Had he expected me not to pray? But why? That was a question I was going to have to seek an answer to.

Remembering that I was the guest they were waiting for so that they could eat, I took a small bite of herring. Herring didn't even have a spot on my favourite foods list, although my father loved to eat the small fish pickled around Christmas. I was rather thankful that Colum passed the mutton in my direction. He also passed me some bread. Both food items seemed to have been guarded by Dougal. I was rather grateful Colum had thought to pass them my way. He seemed to notice things that other men didn't. But perhaps that came with his condition - he needed to rely on his eyes rather than his legs.

The mutton was quite good and the bread was delicious. Especially with large dollops of fresh unsalted butter. When I thought that no one was looking, I managed to sneak a few pieces of bread into one of my pockets - without the butter of course. In the other pocket, I snuck two handfuls of fresh blueberries. Under my breath, I muttered a prayer of thanks for large pockets.

I was quite thankful that conversation at the table was limited to occasional requests for further food, as everyone settled down to serious eating. It meant that I didn't have to endure any further interrogations. Although, I suspected that Dougal wanted nothing more than to question me. It probably did seem rather odd that a woman wouldn't put up much of a fight to travel with a band of Scottish men. In fact, I could almost understand why he thought I was a spy. But I wasn't. And after I had seen and heard what the English had done to Jamie - I wanted nothing to do with them in this time.

As I ate my food, I intently looked at the people in the crowd, hoping to find the one person in Leoch I considered a friend. After my first look, I thought that perhaps I had missed his mop of red curls. So I looked again. Once more I was disappointed to find that Jamie didn't seem to be at dinner. I frowned slightly before I took a small bite of the food that I wasn't sure what it was.

"He's no' here," Colum whispered, leaning toward me.

With my eyes wide, I turned toward him. "Hm?"

Colum chuckled. "Jamie isna here."

I swallowed the food I had been chewing. "Oh," I responded rather lamely. It was strange, but at that moment it felt like my heart sank. Perhaps I had been reading too much into things. It made sense that he would leave. He did come into my room for his belongings. Maybe it was for the best. I was already getting too attached to him.

Colum seemed amused by my reaction. "He's still at Leoch, Mistress Tallmadge," he said with a grin. "I only meant he no' here for dinner."

"Oh," I responded again, in a much higher pitch. My face felt like it was on fire as Colum chuckled to himself. He must already suspect something on my part, which was rather embarrassing. Especially considering I hardly knew Jamie.

"Dougal, what'd ye do wi' Young Jamie?" Colum asked as I took a drink of my ale in an attempt to cool my face.

His brother shrugged his shoulders, keeping his eyes still on his plate. "I sent him down to the stables to help auld Alec wi' the horses."

"The stables?" Colum inquired.

I continued to sip my ale, listening to their conversation.

"Seemed the best place for him, all things considered. Dinna want him within the walls." Dougal then raised his eyes to meet his brother's gaze. "Or did ye have some other idea?"

After some thought Colum responded, "Nay, I reckon he'll do well enough there."

I couldn't help but wonder why they wanted Jamie outside the castle walls. Could it be something to do with his status as a criminal? But then why would they offer any refuge to him. Clearly, I wasn't trusted with all the information. Hopefully one day soon that would happen. Until then, I would play my part and use my ears to pick up the bits and pieces that were shared around me. And I was going to have to somehow learn Gaelic to understand what they said that they didn't want me to hear. There was only one person at Leoch I dare ask such a favour of.

Besides, I likely ought to check on him anyway. Given that an eighteenth-century stable wasn't the best place for a patient with a gunshot wound. From my time in the war, I knew that men were stubborn enough creatures to do as they pleased; but it didn't mean that I couldn't pester them into doing as I wanted. Sometimes all it took was a kind smile and if that didn't work, a very stern talking to.

After our meal, we were served pudding that consisted of oats, cream, blueberries, and honey. I was surprised at how delicious it tasted despite its simplicity. It seemed simple enough that perhaps even I might one day learn how to make it. My brow furrowed at that thought. I had absolutely no experience in the kitchen. How was I to explain that? I suppose the truth, coming from wealth out to explain it; but it still somewhat ashamed me. If I was going to survive here, I was going to have to learn, which meant finding someone to teach me. But for now, as long as I was a guest of Colum, I would graciously accept the meals presented to me.

The meal was all but concluded when I turned to Colum. "Could you perhaps direct me on how I might find my way outside?" I asked with a small smile. "I was hoping for a small walk before turning in for the evening."

Colum seemed to look at me rather curiously.

I cleared my throat. "It's a tradition my father and I started when I was young and I must confess that I haven't yet outgrown it."

He chuckled. "Ye wouldn't be headed for the stables on this walk, now would ye?"

I lowered my gaze as my cheeks flushed. It was strange to be teased in such a manner. The last person to have teased me like this was my father when I was younger and pining after some boy who was nothing but trouble. But I needed to be as honest as possible, especially if I wanted these people to trust me.

"If I somehow managed to stumble my way there, I would like to check on the injured party. He seems like a stubborn one and very likely not to heed my advice about his shoulder - even if he says otherwise."

Colum chuckled again. "Yer a quick one lass. Men of MacKenzie blood need lasses like ye to keep them in tow."

I wasn't sure what he meant. First, he was teasing me about Jamie and now he was teasing me about men of MacKenzie blood. I simply smiled and offered a small chuckle. Hamish then asked to be excused so he could play outside. Colum agreed as long as Hamish took me outside with him. While the young boy didn't look overly enthusiastic about being my escort, he was willing enough to help me so he could go outside.

"Are ye coming?" Hamish asked rather impatiently.

I nodded my head. "I suppose that's my cue," I told Colum and Leticia as I stood to my feet. "Thank you for the delicious meal."

"There'll be more if ye accept the offer," Colum said lazily, causing Leticia to look over at him curiously. He must not have told her yet about the offer he had made for me to be Leoch's healer. The look on her face said they'd likely be having words later.

I smiled and slightly bowed my head before I followed after Hamish, who was nearly halfway down the long row of tables, headed outside. I clutched my skirts before I jogged to catch up to him. He had spirit. I would give him that.

We walked in silence most of the trip until we were alone in a corridor. "Are ye a Sassenach?" Hamish asked, his brow furrowed looking at me quite curiously.

If I recalled correctly, Sassenach was a rather derogatory term for an English person. I had heard Stephen Sr. use the term quite frequently since. I arched an eyebrow at Hamish and asked, "Do I sound like an English to you?"

He shook his head. "No, but ye could be pretendin'."

"That I could. But I'm not. In fact, I make a terrible English accent. It's rather embarrassing, really."

It was the truth. The girls in medical school would always ask me to speak in one because it made them laugh. I sounded very much like the Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. We spent many a late night staying awake to study because of my attempts.

So I offered young Hamish one of my more exaggerated Cockney attempts, "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain." Lottie had me say that line more times than I'd care to admit. It bought a smile to my face to think of her and our nights spent rolling on the floor in laughter.

But my words also brought a smile to Hamish's face.

"I told you," I said to him, folding my arms across my chest.

That brought a slight chuckle from him. He was warming up to me. That was good. It was obvious that he was the apple of his father's eye. So, I would take any help where I could in that regard. Hamish then looked over at me. "Where are ye from then?" he asked me.

"The colonies." I gave one of my shoulders a shrug at the truthful answer.

"Weel those people had to come from somewhere, no?"

"I suppose so," I said, biting my lip and mulling over how to continue my response carefully. "After one's family has been in the colonies for several generations, you begin to come from all over."

"And your family?" he asked.

I folded my arms across my chest. "I don't have a complete family tree mind you, but I do recall a few French and Scot ancestors back a few generations." A few generations was an exaggeration, it wasn't a lie. While I much preferred Revolutionary War history, probably because of my father, there was a French Musketeer in my lineage as well as some relation to Mary, Queen of Scots. Not that I could ever share such a revelation in this time. They would probably try and corroborate it. I deemed it best not to share that I did in fact have English ancestry.

Hamish was about to ask me something else when a head looked in our direction from the end of the corridor that led outside. The young boy then took off in a sprint before he stretched his arms out wide and flung himself at the person. I found out that person was Jamie when I reached the end of the corridor where the two boys were speaking to each other in Gaelic. Jamie had gotten on his haunches to be more at Hamish's level.

Upon noticing me, Jamie seemed to switch their conversation over to English. "Now, what were ye doing with Mistress Tallmadge, Hamish?"

"Making sure she isna a Sassenach spy."

Jamie's eyes seemed to widen as he looked at me almost apologetically. He then looked about ready to chastise Hamish, but I chuckled and held a hand out to stop him. "I knew I'd have a few tests to pass upon my arrival," I told them before I looked at Hamish. "I'm sure he was only doing his job as the son of Himself."

Hamish looked at Jamie, whose good arm was still wrapped around him, and gave a slight nod. Jamie chuckled under his breath. "And what did ye conclude?" He tickled Hamish about his ribs, which made the smaller boy squirm.

I was thankful that Jamie seemed to be following along with my game rather than chastising Hamish.

"I canna say for sure," Hamish started, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze. "But I dinna think her to be Sassenach spy. I dinna think they could bear it if she tried to talk like them. They're probably after her for talking like that."

I snorted and Jamie looked between Hamish and me quizzically. "Let him play," I said, folding my arms across my chest. "And I'll explain if you'd like."

Jamie nodded his head. He whispered something in Hamish's ear before he tousled the boy's hair and Hamish ran off. Jamie then stood up and leaned against the wall looking at me rather intently. I blushed under his gaze. Despite having been married, this situation felt completely different and I wasn't entirely sure how to approach the situation.

"Weel, are ye gonna tell me?" Jamie asked.

"Oh!" My face flushed all over again. I cleared my throat. "I–erm, I attempted to give Hamish my best English accent. Needless to say, he wasn't very impressed."

"Go on then."

"What?"

There was a teasing glint in his eye. "Ye can perform for wee Hamish, but not the man who rescued ye?"

I smirked, taking a step closer to him and readjusting my arms. "You must promise me you won't laugh. It's rather embarrassing."

He nodded his head. I truly didn't expect him not to laugh. If he was going to tease me, I was going to tease him right back. My father had taught me to give as good back as I got in that aspect. I took a deep breath, exaggerating it, before giving my best Eliza Doolittle impression. "The rain in Spain stays mainly on the plain."

Jamie's lips disappeared and his shoulders began to shake as he tried to contain his laughter. I gave him a pointed look. "You said you wouldn't laugh."

He doubled over and the laugh escaped from him. "I'm verra sorry."

I still kept my stern expression, although truthfully I didn't care that he was laughing it was rather humorous.

"Hamish is right." He couldn't stop laughing. "That right there might be precisely why they're after ye."

"Ha. Ha," I said without any emotion.

Fearing he must have offended me, his head whipped up to make eye contact with me. I offered him a warm smile as his ginger curls bounced against his head. He breathed a sigh of relief before he chuckled.

"I had you going for a moment there," I teased. He gave a slight nod of his head. "Not to worry. My friends thoroughly removed any true embarrassment from it by having me repeat it over and over countless times growing up." I then smiled.

"Yer different than most lasses I know."

I stood there shocked for a moment, wondering if I had given too much away. Thankfully, I was good at keeping up a facade because it took me a moment to realise that he wasn't talking about it in a you're-from-the-future sort of way. I chose to brush it off by continuing our banter. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and then started to walk toward him. "You can't have met very many lasses then."

Jamie looked rather affronted by that statement, which made me throw my head back in laughter. "I'll have ye know that I've met plenty o' lasses."

I looked at him rather pointedly before I rolled my eyes and continued past him into the torch-lit light outside. I heard the pounding of his boots against the stones and knew he was following behind me. That made me smile.

"Where do ye think yer going?" he asked.

I stopped and looked over my shoulder at him. "I'm going for a walk. Is that alright with you?"

"Ye shouldn't be out on yer own."

I arched an eyebrow. "You let Hamish go running off."

His expression grew a little sterner. He folded his arms across his chest and stood a little taller. "Weel, that's different. He's the chieftain's son. Yer – not," he said finishing rather lamely.

"If you're so concerned, then come with me," I told him. "I'm not planning on going far. I just like to walk a bit before bed. Being out in the fresh air gives me time to clear my head." I then reached into my pocket and pulled out a chunk of bread. "I'll have you know I'm not above bribing if that helps you make up your mind."

His expression softened as he reached out and accepted the bread from me. I smiled and took that as a sign that he was willing to walk with me, so I started down the path. He walked beside me, although with his long stride he had to stop himself from getting too far ahead of me every now and then.

"Do you always miss dinner?" I asked him.

He shook his head as he stuffed the last bite of bread into his mouth. "No," he answered between bites. "Auld Alec had more work wi' all the horses after their journey."

"You didn't do anything to hurt your shoulder did you?" I asked him, with a hint of sternness in my voice.

"No. But Auld Alec said I didna have to pay mind to a lassie and I told him he hadna heard yer threats."

That made me chuckle. I stopped walking and reached into the other pocket to pull out a handful of blueberries. "Then I suppose you've earned yourself some of these."

He held his hand up. With my free hand, I cupped my hand to the side of his so that the blueberries wouldn't fall. Once all the berries were out of my hand, I slowly removed my hand that was touching his warm one. Jamie then popped all the blueberries into his mouth at once. I gasped and threw my head back in laughter as he chewed. I playfully shook my head at him and he grinned, with blueberry juice dribbling down his chin. He then wiped his sleeve against his face.

Unsure of what to say, I started walking again and Jamie continued with me. We walked together for a time in silence. We were about to turn around when Jamie stopped and stood still. He narrowed his eyes and peered off into the distance.

"What is it?" I asked him, barely above a whisper.

"There's a rider headed this way," he told me. "Back inside wi' ye, lass. An' be quick about it."

I wanted to ask him more questions, but if there was a rider headed toward Leoch, I was scared that it might be Randall out looking for revenge. "Be careful," I told Jamie. He nodded his head and I did as I was told. I hiked my skirts up a bit and ran as fast as my legs would carry me, silently praying that this rider didn't spell trouble for me . . . or Jamie.

Author's Note: Another chapter! My job has gotten a bit crazy and by crazy, I mean stressful to the point that I am now job hunting for something else after this school year. To those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope yours was better than mine. My sister who was supposed to come over basically ghosted me and my father came all the way to the city where I live on Christmas . . . for a football game. Didn't even bother to meet up with me. Needless to say, I've been in a bit of a rough patch, well a rougher patch of the already rough patch.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! :) Also, just as an FYI - due to ongoing guest harassment on FFN, I no longer post my stories there. (Good thing I protected myself like that, because my life got a lot worse and I don't need that drama too)

As a plus, I got a new kitten! His birthday is the day my brother died - so I think it's kinda fate that he needs to be part of my family.

BIG THANK to my reviewers: AnnieLyons, kyxgarra21, PhoenixForce127, MissHiraeth98, kmhappybunny240, grndelwald, HelloWorld67, nurselaney, fandom_addict_aesthetics, lostnights, rosiekay, MoonChild

Much love!