My heart pounded heavily when I finally came to a stop, safe within the castle walls. I leaned against a stone wall and closed my eyes, attempting to focus on my breathing. While it seemed rather unlikely that the unknown rider was there for me, I couldn't help but think that Captain Randall had found me, which would mean that someone had betrayed me. The latter thought was the one that worried me. My mind immediately thought of Dougal. He wasn't as enamoured with me as some of the others. Then again, I suppose it might have been a disappointment to have me tag along instead of a cow.

I saw a few men run down the corridor I had just come from. They were likely going to investigate the matter of the strange rider too, which meant Jamie wouldn't be alone for long. I knew some guards stood high up on the walls of Leoch, I had seen them on my stroll with Jamie, but I couldn't help but worry about him. I didn't fully understand why. I mean, beyond fancying him, of course. While I hardly knew the man, I knew enough to know him to be kind, loyal, and incredibly stubborn. That last trait made my worry soften, almost into a smile.

After a small sigh, I muttered a prayer for Jamie's safety and continued down the corridor until I found a set of stairs. I sat down on the third stair from the bottom and smoothed my skirt. The handsome red-headed Scot wasn't the only one who was stubborn. I was going to sit on those stairs until I saw him again. Although as I sat there, I began counting all the flaws of my plan. What if Jamie came back inside through a different entrance? What if Jamie didn't come back inside? What if something happened to the castle and forced me to flee again? What if he was forced to flee and I never saw him again?

I rubbed my face in frustration. How was it I had only known this man a matter of days and I had come to care for him so much already? It was rather ridiculous. Or rather, I was ridiculous. For all I knew, he was simply flirting with me to get more information out of me. Part of me wanted to begin to pull away from him and not care quite as much. But I needed him and I knew it. He was the only person seemingly on my side here at Leoch and he didn't seem to mind so much when I made modern mistakes that made me stick out like a sore thumb. Clearly, I had some trust issues and being stranded in the 18th century hadn't changed that.

Nervously, I began to fiddle with my skirt and wiggle my feet, something my father often scolded me about as a child. Reminding myself that I was a grown woman, I reached for my cross instead and fiddled that between my fingers while asking the Lord for peace for myself and safety for Jamie.

It wasn't until I heard Jamie's laughter echo down the corridor that my worry dissipated. I wasn't sure how long I had been waiting, but to hear the sound of his voice sent my heart soaring. He was safe. He was alive. He was in good spirits. Although given that he was a stubborn man, I wouldn't know if he was unharmed until I saw him with my own eyes.

I brought myself to my feet and leaned against the stone wall with my arms folded across my chest. While my heart beckoned me to run toward Jamie, my head told me to stay and wait for him. Despite having a small crush on the man, I would not act out the schoolgirl fantasies my heart desired. I reminded myself once more that I was a grown unmarried woman in a strange time. A reminder of which my heart did not approve.

Like a hawk, I watched down the corridor until I saw the light glint off a tall man with red hair. I softly began to smile until I noticed that his gait was a bit slower and that there appeared to be a woman on his arm. The corridor was still much too dim to make out facial features, but I immediately felt my heart twinge with jealousy.

I thought I had outgrown such a quick reaction to jealousy. I tried to tell myself there was no reason for it. But my heart did not agree to relieve the slight pain there. It was a complicated thing to reason to my heart. It wasn't as if Jamie was mine to begin with. He was merely the man that had come to my rescue. Nothing more, no matter how terribly my heart longed for something else. But my heart believed none of my reasoning. It still was jealous at the sight of Jamie with another woman.

I was about to take a step backwards and conceal myself on the stairs when Jamie must have caught sight of me. "Mistress Tallmadge!" he called to me.

While I was prone to distrust, I was also too quick to trust too much once someone had crossed the threshold from distrust into trust. The pang of jealousy within me made me want to run away and cry. But I told myself that besides perhaps a slightly shattered heart, no harm could come from the current situation.

So, I forced a smile on my face and turned to face Jamie and the woman on his arm, not even noting the other men walking behind them. I saw Jamie point out my position to the woman. She released his arm, picked up her skirts, and began to run toward me. My jealousy quickly turned to confusion. When I was finally able to catch sight of her facial features, the confusion turned to recognition and my feet found themselves running toward her. Running toward Mistress Campbell.

I hardly knew the woman beyond her kindness, but there was one thing I had a sneaking suspicion about since the day we met - she was like me, a woman out of time.

We stopped a few feet from each other and smiled at each other. Then she did something that surprised me. She bridged the distance between us and enveloped me in a hug. She held onto me tightly as I felt tears beginning to sting my eyes. I was so wrapped up at the moment that I didn't even notice Jamie approach us.

She gently placed a kiss on my forehead before she pulled away. "Are ye well, m'eudail?" she asked, looking me directly in the eyes.

I sniffled a bit before I nodded my head and tucked any stray strands of hair behind my ear. I wasn't quite sure what m'eudail meant, but the way she had said the word, it sounded sincere and like a term of endearment.

Mistress Campbell nodded her head and smiled before hugging me tightly once more. I closed my eyes and leaned into her embrace. I had never known what a mother's embrace to feel like, but this was certainly what I imagined it would be like.

Jamie shuffled his boots, causing both of us to turn to look at him. He looked directly at me. "Why did ye no say Mistress Campbell was yer kin?" he asked beside us.

I looked at Jamie with a furrowed brow. What did he mean by Mistress Campbell being kin? I then turned to look at Mistress Campbell once again recognizing her strong resemblance to Lottie. Something was beginning to dawn on me.

"Because I hadn't the chance to tell her, Jamie Fraser. She'd never seen me before, ye numpty. And then ye stole her from my land," Mistress Campbell turned toward him and gently chided with her hands on her hips. She then lowered her voice. "And as I seem to recall we had a deal about takin' cows, not pretty lassies, aye?"

Jamie blushed, all the way up to the tips of his ears. His gaze was cast toward the floor when he gave a slight nod of his head, which made Mistress Campbell chuckle. Despite her height, she reached up and ruffled his hair. "I'm only teasing ye, lad. Ye did good, Jamie boy. Savin' her and for that, I'm forever grateful."

He raised his head slightly and offered Mistress Campbell a boyish grin. Seeing that smile made my heart skip a beat. I pursed my lips, trying to get my emotions under control.

"But dinna let it go to yer head, ye hear?" Mistress Campbell chuckled again. She then turned to face me again and a veil of sadness seemed to cover her face. Then she cleared her throat. "I suppose I owe ye a proper introduction."

She paused for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing. Tears were shining in her eyes. "My name is Caitriona Campbell. I'm your Stephen's mother."

My eyes widened in shock as the full impact of her statement hit me. Suddenly everything seemed to make more sense - why she looked like Lottie, why she had reacted so strongly to news of my husband's death, why she didn't seem so shocked by my modern appearance.

While I wasn't normally prone to go weak at the knees, I could feel mine begin to tremble. Jamie must have noticed and caught my arm to steady me. My head was swimming. While I could rationalize what she was telling me, part of it didn't make sense. Lottie had told me that her mother died.

"Are ye alright, lass?" Jamie asked, still holding on to me.

I managed to stand up, but I still leaned heavily against Jamie. "I–I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting . . . "

"Yer mother in law, " she said quietly and I nodded my head. "I dinna mean ye to think you unwelcome in my home. I just wasna prepared for the news ye brought of Stephen."

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Mistress Campbell, I swear that If I had known . . ." My words trailed off and I pursed my lips. I wanted to ask her more, but doing so in front of Jamie probably wasn't the best option. As much as I had grown attached to him over the last few days, I was not ready to divulge my biggest secret. Nor Mistress Campbell's.

She reached out and clasped one of my hands between hers. "Please, call me Caitriona, if ye are no ready for Mother."

Mother. That word panged at my heart. I had always dreamed of a mother who would love me and care for me. But given the state of my marriage to Stephen, especially at the bitter end of our time together, it seemed wrong to call her that. But I also couldn't manage to force her given name from my lips. So, I simply nodded my head as my eyes welled with tears, unsure of how to proceed.

Caitriona smiled and squeezed my hand. "We have much to discuss," she said to me.

Again, I nodded my head in response, unable to formulate the proper words because I was still in a state of shock.

"Jamie, why dinna ye make yourself useful an' fetch my bags from my horse," Caitriona said turning toward the young man still standing there, watching the two women in front of him.

"If he did as he was told, I already told Rupert to see to yer bags." Jamie folded his arms across his chest. He seemed to stand much taller, but given our height difference, he always seemed tall to me. I couldn't help but wonder if he now found me to be a fool or if he was beginning to doubt my story. Jamie was a hard book to read and would likely need more than just a few days to understand.

Caitriona offered Jamie a soft smile, which he returned before she gently patted his arm. "Ye always were a good lad, Jamie. Bit mischievous and stubborn, but a good lad."

That made Jamie's soft smile widen a bit more before the sound of a rather slow gait making its way toward us down the corridor. The three of us turned to find Colum MacKenzie moving slowly toward us. I glanced at Caitriona with a puzzled expression on my face to see the faintest sight of a blush tinge on her cheeks. I then looked back at Colum to see him grinning. I hadn't received such a warm welcome and I had taken care of the wounds on some of his men. Instead, I had been escorted to his study the morning following my arrival.

"Mistress Campbell," Colum said, bowing as low as he could so that he didn't fall. "It's a pleasure to have ye grace Leoch's halls once again."

Caitriona offered him a small curtsy. "The pleasure is mine." She then stood once more and her eyes were intently focused on Colum. "I see ye've been getting to know my son's wife," she added with a glance toward me.

A small glint of surprise followed by amusement was barely visible on Colum's face. If one hadn't known to be looking for it, they likely would have missed it. Then again, Colum's poker face shouldn't surprise me given his state as chieftain of Clan MacKenzie. How he could stand the politics of it all was beyond me.

"Son's wife, aye?" Colum said with a glance toward me. "An' where's her husband?"

Mistress Campbell didn't seem bothered at all by his questioning. She stood tall against him and responded, "She travelled from the colonies and brought me news of my son's passing."

Colum hung his head a tiny bit, almost looking remorseful. "I'm verra sorry, Caitriona. Verra sorry." Mistress Campbell seemed to relax a bit as she offered Colum a nod of acceptance for his apology. He took a rather ragged breath. "I dinna know she was speakin' of yer son when I asked after her husband. I can see know by the look on yer face she was speakin' truth."

Caitriona folded her arms across her chest. "It's not me ye should be apologizing to Colum."

I looked at Jamie. He looked rather amused by what was happening before him. It was almost as if he had never seen anyone dare talk to Colum in that manner. When I thought of it, that surprised me too. Why would he allow Mistress Campbell to do so?

But Colum wasn't one to be bullied into doing something. "Did she no tell ye I offered her a position as healer of Leoch? She tended to one of my men as well as Jamie, here, on their ride to Leoch."

Caitriona nodded her head slowly. "So, I see ye trusted her more'n ye let on, aye?" She then offered him a teasing smile. Colum gave a slight nod of his head causing Caitriona to throw her head back in a chuckle. "It truly is good te see ye again, Colum. It's been too long."

"Far too long," Colum agreed. "Yer welcome to stay at Leoch as long as ye like, Caitriona." He sighed and then lowered his voice so that only those close by could hear. "I can offer ye protection while yer man is away and can send a few men to watch yer croft if ye like."

She bowed her head slightly in thanks. "I'll ponder the offer. 'Tis greatly appreciated."

Colum nodded his head and then turned to me. "Regardless of the change in yer situation, the offer still stands. From what I've been told about yer healin', Leoch could use ye."

I too bowed my head. When my head was upright once more, I made eye contact with Jamie and felt a small tingle in my stomach. I couldn't help but smile at him, but I quickly glanced away. While I would need to have a chat with Caitriona, both my head and my heart were telling me to stay and accept Colum's offer.

"Jamie'll help find ye a room, Caitriona. Won't ye, Jamie?" Colum said with a tone of command in his voice.

"Aye," Jamie agreed, seemingly standing a bit straighter. He looked like a soldier given an order.

Mistress Campbell rested her hands on her hips and shook her head. "I appreciate the kindness, but I could hardly put ye out more, Colum. If Ruthie dinna mind, I'd rather share with her. We'll likely be up most of the night gabbin' anyway. No need te make up a room for me that'll hardly be used."

Column looked at me.

"It's fine with me," I responded, giving my cross a slight twist.

He gave a slight nod and gestured his hand to the stairs before he took his leave, walking slowly back down the corridor from which he came. Caitriona watched Colum walk away with a hand on her chest and a sorrowful gaze. Jamie then offered her his arm, drawing her out of her reverie.

"I think I can help her find my room, on my own," I offered.

"Aye, that may be," he said, looking at me rather pointedly. "But I wasna raised to be a cad."

I rested my hands on my hips. "And what exactly were you raised to be?"

Jamie opened his mouth to say something but then thought better of it. Caitriona looked at him with a furrowed brow before she looked at me and sighed. She must know something that I didn't. "Let the lad help," she gently chided me, patting my arm. "Besides, we need someone to move my things. We might as well make use of the lad."

She offered me a grin which made me chuckle softly. But upon seeing Jamie's expression, my laughter grew a little louder and echoed down the corridor. Mistress Campbell placed her hand on Jamie's arm as he walked with her up the stairs. I followed behind, this time feeling no jealousy seeing her hand on Jamie's arm. Although, I was going to have to be careful about my feelings budding feelings toward Jamie. Jealousy would not help me survive, especially in this time.

Jamie and Mistress Campbell conversed with each other in Scots Gaelic on our way to the room. Clearly, they knew already knew each other. I'll confess myself curious as to how they knew one another, but I suspected Caitriona would explain things once we were alone.

When we made it to the room where I was staying, Caitriona smiled gently at Jamie before she patted his cheek and thanked him. Jamie was then off to find where Rupert had placed Catriona's things. Once inside, Caitriona shut the door and turned toward me.

"We have much to discuss."

~*~ Dictionary (according to Google) ~*~

M'eudail: my dear; my darling

Author's Note: This is my chapter getting back into writing after getting really really sick. If you follow me on Tumblr, then you know. If not, I got influenza over Christmas break, which turned into pneumonia. I went back to teach and caught COVID and I was already immunocompromised so I got it pretty bad. So bad that I didn't teach for almost 6 weeks (and owe $2,200 for subs) and the COVID turned into bronchitis. While it isn't as bad as it was, I'm still battling post-covid brain fog - hence the shorter chapter. I wanted to get something to y'all as soon as I could. I hope you still enjoyed it.

*Also any typos or weird letters randomly placed would be from my kitten Merlin. He thought he needed to "help" while I was editing. So, if I didn't find all his additions, sorry! Haha.

Hopefully, I'm able to write more soon! I have spring break for a week, the week after Easter. I'm hoping to work on the next chapter of The Prayer - my Merlin fic and potentially another chapter of Entreat Me Not to Leave.

Much love!