OUTLANDER (2026) 03 805 MacDubh
Josiah and Keziah Beardsley's wife Lizzie was a fair conspirator, as much as any woman he'd relied on for secretive activities, be it Claire, Brianna, and his sister Jenny in particular. He knew his orders would be followed to the letter by his fellow Ardsmuir men, those who still called him "Mac Dubh," son of the black which was a reference to his father. Jamie dressed carefully and formally in kilt for Lodge, assured Claire that neither she nor bairns would be harmed because it made political sense rather than from any sense of honour. She also knew where the guns were. Jamie didn't want to scare the devil- he needed him on his side. Though he hadn't yet heard from Josiah about his letter, he still had a plan. And a few others. "Dinnae fash."
Despite Claire's wish for avoidance, this treason by his tenants was something Jamie had to deal with himself, as his MacKenzie uncles would have done. Authority was one of the useful things they taught him. Without it, your land would be taken from you. Never had that been so painfully apparent to Jamie after Culloden. Claire had not experienced it. She was yet pessimistic so Jamie laid it out. He had Keziah and Buck, plus the Ardsmuir men at the meeting. If Cunningham captured him and the Loyalist militia came before his reinforcements, then he would fight. It was that simple, something else he learned well at the MacKenzie hand and Culloden. Fight for what is right, fight for your life. His family and ancestors' war cry was very much on his mind.
Je suis prest. He and his men were ready for an evil night.
