The Fiery Cross

Jamie returns to the camp; he is unconcerned when Claire informs him that Hayes came looking for him. Claire is also worried by the presence of Abel MacLennan, a man who participated in the Hillsborough riot, and Andrew Ogilvie, a young soldier at the camp. Technically, Ogilvie would be required to arrest Abel if he learnt of his participation. Ogilvie cheerfully explains that he is returning to Scotland soon; the other regiments have already departed the Colonies since “everything’s been quite peaceful for a good time now, and doubtless it’ll stay so” (41).

Jamie privately tells Claire that since the regiment (including Hayes and Ogilvie) is going to be leaving so soon, the soldiers have no real investment in finding out who participated in the riot. He doesn’t have any concerns for Abel’s safety. Jamie agrees with Claire that something else is going on, the reason behind Hayes seeking him out. However, Jamie wants to focus on enjoying the upcoming weddings.

Jamie resolves a conflict in which a man named Harley Boble, who is working as a “thief-taker” has run afoul of a local family while attempting to arrest their son. Abel MacLennan reminisces about how he became involved in the Hillsborough riot, revealing that he was driven by grief and despair rather than any strong political sentiment. After telling his story, Abel leaves the Fraser camp.

Brianna asks Claire about contraception and admits that she is afraid of having contracted a sexually transmitted infection when she was raped. Claire reassures her that there is no evidence of Brianna, Roger, or Jemmy being infected. However, preventing pregnancy is a different concern, and Claire privately wonders why Brianna is adamant about not conceiving another child. She ponders whether Brianna could be hoping to return to the 20th century once Jemmy is grown.

As Brianna and Claire, who was a doctor in the 20th century, begin providing medical treatment at the Gathering, they face conflict with a local apothecary and surgeon, Murray MacLeod. Because Claire has access to medical knowledge from the 20th century, she knows that Murray’s treatments, like bloodletting, are archaic and harmful.

Roger runs into Duncan Innes, the man who is going to marry Jamie’s aunt, Jocasta Cameron. Duncan confides that he, like Roger, is Presbyterian, but he has kept this information secret from Jamie. Roger tells Duncan that he thinks Duncan can, in good conscience, go through with a Catholic wedding ceremony without being Catholic himself. Roger reflects on what it means to marry Brianna, who stands to inherit wealth both from Jocasta and, eventually, from Jamie.

Claire continues to tend to a range of medical ailments. She treats a man named Mr. Goodwin, who was injured by the Regulator rioters in Hillsborough. Brianna sees that Roger has approached the area where she and Claire are treating patients and goes to join him in the woods.

Brianna tells Roger her fears about childbirth: In the 18th century, many women die while giving birth, and there is no reliable contraception. Roger tells Brianna that he will live celibately if that is what she wants. The two of them make love and, afterward, continue to discuss their future. Roger does not want to endanger Brianna, but he admits that he would like another child, especially because he may not be Jemmy’s biological father.

Roger also confides something to Brianna that he has already shared with Jamie. When Roger was in the 20th century, before he followed Brianna into the past, he found a letter written by Frank Randall, Claire’s first husband and the man who raised Brianna. The letter explained that Frank had a gravestone erected with Jamie’s name and date of death on it, implying that Jamie died at the Battle of Culloden, knowing that Jamie was not actually buried there.

Brianna is shocked because this means that when she and Claire lived in the 20th century, believing that Jamie had died at Culloden, Frank withheld the knowledge that Jamie survived the battle. Roger expresses some sympathy for Frank’s decision, believing that he wanted to spare Claire and Brianna the terrible decision of whether to return to the 18th century.

The conversation turns to Brianna and Roger’s situation: She makes him promise to never tell Jemmy about the possibility that Stephen Bonnet might be his father. She also admits to Roger that she told Stephen about her pregnancy; she did so when she believed Stephen was about to die. However, Stephen survived, and now he believes that Jemmy is his son.

Hayes asks for medical aid from Claire, and she removes some shrapnel that has been lodged in his body for decades. He hints that he may know one of the men who served in the same regiment as Stephen Bonnet, leaving Claire uneasy. Hayes reveals that Jamie saved his life at the Battle of Culloden more than 20 years before. He gives Jamie a letter from Governor Tryon: In light of the recent Hillsborough riot, Tryon orders Jamie to raise a militia, available to serve should Tryon require armed men to assist with any other uprisings or insurgencies.

Duncan introduces Roger to a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Bug. He explains that Jamie has hired Mr. Bug to work as the factor (overseer and manager) at Fraser’s Ridge. Roger is somewhat surprised and hurt, since he had hoped that his father-in-law would entrust him with these responsibilities. After Duncan and the Bugs leave, Jamie tells Roger about the order to raise a militia. Roger is pleased to realize that Jamie anticipates the two of them leading the militia together.

Claire tries to remember if the political turmoil unfolding around her represents the stirrings of the American Revolution; she is frustrated that she doesn’t know more about the history of North Carolina. She suspects that the coming years will be violent, even though the start of the American Revolutionary War is still about 5 years away.

Meanwhile, Jamie enlists Roger’s help in finding and notifying various men who are present at the Gathering that they will need to take part in the militia. Roger feels proud of sharing Jamie’s leadership but also feels nervous about the responsibility.

Claire is approached by a woman named Mrs. Bacon, who is bearing gifts from her mother-in-law. Claire provided medical treatment to the older woman, Grannie Bacon, a few months earlier, and in return, Grannie Bacon has sent her a plant used by local Indigenous women to prevent pregnancy. Claire reflects that this is “a singularly well-timed gift, considering [her] earlier conversation with Bree” (145). Claire overhears Jamie mention Stephen Bonnet while speaking to Hayes and hurries to ask what he is saying. Jamie admits that he was trying to find out if Hayes knows Bonnet’s whereabouts. Claire pleads with him not to try track down Bonnet. She fears Jamie will endanger himself or their family by seeking revenge.

Roger stops by Jocasta Cameron’s tent. Jocasta explains that while she previously intended to leave her wealth and plantation to Brianna, she now intends to change her will and leave everything to Jemmy. Since Brianna is about to legally marry Roger, he would have control of the inheritance if it went to her, and Jocasta does not trust Roger. She is also including a stipulation that the inheritance will revert to Jocasta’s nephew Hamish if anything should happen to Jemmy; Roger realizes that Jocasta suspects he might kill the child to access the inheritance. Furious, Roger makes a rude comment and storms off.

Claire is increasingly irritated by the chaotic and cramped nature of camping at the Gathering, and she longs to return to Fraser’s Ridge. Jamie hopes to have a young boy named Josiah Beardsley come to Fraser’s Ridge as a tenant. He points out that every man between 16 and 60 will soon have to depart to serve in the militia, so the presence of boys who are almost mature but slightly too young to serve will be helpful. While neither Claire nor Jamie is happy about all the able-bodied men being sent away for service, they cannot defy Governor Tryon. Soon, several conflicts and small crises require Jamie’s attention, and the conversation is cut short.

Claire and Jamie resolve a comical dispute about how to prepare roasted meat. Jamie goes to look for Father Kenneth, the Catholic priest scheduled to perform the wedding ceremonies. He also sends Roger to negotiate the release of Abel MacLennan, one of the men who took part in the Hillsborough riot. Having heard the story of Jocasta’s confrontation with Roger, Jamie and Claire surmise that Jocasta cleverly tricked Roger into confirming that he genuinely loves Bree and is not marrying her for her money.

Claire and Jamie learn that Father Kenneth has been arrested and is being held by a man named Mr. Lillywhite. Jamie tells Claire to pretend that she has arrived to provide medical treatment to the priest. Since Claire is well-known as a healer, he hopes she’ll be able to “learn why they’ve taken the priest and what they mean to do with him” (190). Claire approaches the camp, where she meets Sheriff Anstruther and tells him that she needs to provide medical treatment to the priest. She is surprised by Anstruther’s claims of having arrested the priest on grounds of it being illegal to practice Catholicism—this is technically true but rarely enforced.

Jamie arrives a short time later. He and Claire learn that Father Kenneth is being required to renounce his Catholic beliefs, which he is refusing to do. Jamie tries to negotiate for Father Kenneth to be allowed to spend the night at the Fraser camp, knowing this will allow him to perform the weddings. When this fails, Jamie tricks Lillywhite into leaving him alone with Father Kenneth. He then rushes to have Jemmy, Germain, and Joan brought to the tent. The priest hastily baptizes all three children. The weddings will have to be postponed, but Claire deduces that Brianna and Roger have begun making plans to be married by a Protestant minister instead.

A Presbyterian minister named Reverend Caldwell marries Brianna and Roger. Duncan and Jocasta choose to postpone their wedding, since they insist on a Catholic ceremony.

At the celebration after the wedding, Jamie affirms his commitment to the various families who now live (or will soon live) at Fraser’s Ridge. They will serve him and demonstrate loyalty, and he will protect them and their interests.

Brianna and Roger make love; she uses the herbs Claire has provided in hopes of preventing pregnancy. Brianna is also unable to achieve orgasm with Roger and satisfies herself later, while he sleeps next to her. Nonetheless, she is hopeful that she will in the future.

Claire and Jamie discuss the events of the Hillsborough riot. They both feel trepidation about what lies ahead, especially because they are aware of the imminent violence of the American Revolution. However, they draw comfort from their love for one another.