Claire learns more about the MacKenzie clan’s history after meeting Colum’s solicitor Ned Gowan on the journey with Ned, Dougal, and Jamie to collect rent throughout MacKenzie lands. Dougal displays Jamie’s horrendous back scars, wounds inflicted at the hands of the British, to raise money for the Jacobite cause. Claire grows angry at the way Dougal exploits Jamie. Feeling used, Jamie lashes out at a passerby who makes a personal remark to him and gets into a nasty fight. Afterwards, Claire tends to Jamie’s wounds. She asks Jamie how he learned to fight so well. He replies that his father taught him. Claire comments that Jamie’s father must be proud of him. Jamie tells Claire that his father is no longer alive.

Claire and Jamie are interrupted by Murtagh. Claire gleans that Murtagh has brought Jamie a new piece of information. She suspects the news is about the mysterious Horrocks.

On the way to Fort Williams, the party spends the night at an inn where Claire has a private room. After investigating a strange noise, Claire bumps into Jamie, who is sleeping outside of her door. He explains that he chose to sleep there in case any drunken English soldiers try to break into Claire’s room and sexually accost her.