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“Lie down,” I said firmly, and pointed to my lap.
“Nay, I’ll be f—”
“I don’t care whether you’re fine or not,” I said. “I said, lie down.”
“I’ve work to—”
“You’ll be flat on your face in another minute,” I said. “Lie. Down.”
He opened his mouth, but a spasm of pain made him shut his eyes, and he couldn’t locate any words with which to argue. He swallowed, opened his eyes, and sat down beside me, very gingerly. He was breathing slowly and shallowly, as though drawing a deep breath might make things worse.
I stood up, took his shoulders and turned him gently so I could reach his plait. I undid his ribbon and unraveled the thick strands of auburn hair. It still was mostly red, though soft white threads caught the light here and there.
“Down,” I said again, sitting and pulling his shoulders toward me. He moaned a little, but stopped resisting and lowered himself very slowly, ’til his head rested heavy in my lap. I touched his face, my fingers feather-light on his skin, tracing the bones and hollows, temples and orbits, cheekbones and jaw. Then I slid my fingers into the soft mass of his hair, warm in my hands, and did the same to his scalp. He let out his breath, carefully, and I felt his body loosen, growing heavier as he relaxed.
“Where does it hurt?” I murmured, making very light circles round his temples with my thumbs. “Here?”
“Aye… but…” He put up a hand, blindly, and cupped it over his right eye. “It feels like an arrow—straight through into my brain.”
“Mmm.” I pressed my thumb gently round the bony orbit of the eye, and slid my other hand under his head, probing the base of his skull. I could feel the muscles knotted there, hard as walnuts under the skin. “Well, then.”
I took my hands away and he let his breath out.
“It won’t hurt,” I reassured him, reaching for the jar of blue ointment.
“It does hurt,” he said, and squinched his eyelids as a fresh spasm seized him.
“I know.” I unlidded the jar, but let it stand, the sharp fragrance of peppermint, camphor and green peppercorns scenting the air. “I’ll make it better.”
He didn’t make any reply, but settled himself as I began to massage the ointment gently into his neck, the base of his skull, the skin of his forehead and temples. I couldn’t use the ointment so close to his eye, but put a dab under his nose, and he took a slow, deep breath. I’d make a cool poultice for the eye when I’d finished. For now, though…
“Do you remember,” I said, my voice low and quiet. “Telling me once about visiting Bird Who Sings in the Morning? And how his mother came and combed your hair?”
“Aye,” he said, after a moment’s hesitation. “She said… she would comb the snakes from my hair.” Another hesitation. “She… did.”
Clearly he did remember—and so did I recall what he’d told me about it. How she’d gently combed his hair, over and over, while he told her—in a language she didn’t speak—the trouble in his heart. Guilt, distress… and the forgotten faces of the men he’d killed.
There is a spot, just where the zygomatic arch joins the maxilla, where the nerves are often inflamed and sensitive….yes, just there. I pressed my thumb gently up into the spot and he gasped and stiffened a little. I put my other hand on his shoulder.
“Shh. Breathe.”
His breath came with a small moan, but he did. I held the spot, pressing harder, moving my thumb just a little, and after a long moment, felt the spot warm and seem to melt under my touch. He felt it too, and his body relaxed again.
“Let me do that for you,” I said softly. The wooden comb he’d made me sat on the little table beside the jar of ointment. With one hand still on his shoulder, I picked it up.
“I… no, I dinna want…” But I was drawing the comb softly through his hair, the wooden teeth gentle against his skin. Over and over, very slowly.
I didn’t say anything for quite some time. He breathed. The light came in low now, the color of wildflower honey, and he was warm in my hands, the weight of him heavy in my lap.
“Tell me,” I said to him at last, in a whisper no louder than the breeze through the open window. “I don’t need to know, but you need to tell me. Say it in Gaelic, or Italian or German—some language I don’t understand, if that’s better. But say it.”
His breath came a little faster and he tightened, but I went on combing, in long, even strokes that swept over his head and laid his hair untangled in a soft, gleaming mass over my thigh. After a moment, he opened his eyes, dark and half-focused.
“Sassenach?” he said softly.
“Mm?”
“I dinna ken any language that I think ye wouldna understand.”
He breathed once more, closed his eyes, and began haltingly to speak, his voice soft as the beating of my heart.
Click here to visit my BEES webpage.
I also posted this excerpt (“Daily Lines”) from GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE, Book Nine of my OUTLANDER series of novels, on my official Facebook page on January 11, 2018.
Oh, how lovely. Thank you.
It is moments like the one in your excerpt that are the heart of a long term good marriage – a deep spiritual connection that has some words, beautiful ones but also silences and physical lovemaking that “speak”. People who focus on only the sexual communion between Jamie and Claire, some wanting less, others more are looking at the warp but not the weft of marriage intimacy which is a tapestry woven of words, non-carnal touch, sex and mindful silences – mindful of our partner’s needs. Taking turns ministering to each other’s unspoken needs because we can “read” them automatically is so important that I prefer the term “help-mate” to all others describing a spouse, though “husband” as a verb does mean to protect and nurture.
In as perfect as union as we humans can manage, helpmates do not let strong individuality and commitments to the larger world trump the challenge of tracking our partner out of the corner of our eye, being available and ministering even when not requested, at times over-ruling the rejection of our help as Claire does to Jamie in your above paragraphs. Of course, the crux of things is how a duo manage when both are needy at the same time. Jamie and Claire have learned to manage those times as well, staggering perhaps, but staggering together, each holding the other up.
This symbiosis that already became apparent in your first book and first season of the TV show that followed the book reasonably closely was lost by writers starting in the second season but especially noticeable after the reunion episode in Season 3 when Jamie and especially Claire were written as not intuitive or patient with each other, (supposedly as a more “realistic” outcome of a 20 year separation) instead of their relatively seamless re-integration in the book as one for both and both for one. (The Three Musketeers have nothing on Mr. and Mrs. Fraser). THAT is what drew Claire back 200 years against the sacrifice of further time with her daughter and the comforts of a modern age – loving and being loved in a sublime way – mind, body and soul. Even a putative obstacle in the path like an ill chosen marriage to a hated rival becomes a mere pebble in the Unity Road. The woman who fought Redcoats and wolves for Jamie is not going to be cowed by a mere brothel or snippy sister-in-law when 20 years more mature and wiser! The TV scene of Claire still vacillating on the hilltop during Ian’s abduction is totally foreign to the phenomenal almost supernatural dynamic that drew her back through the stones and has been maintained through 8 soon to be 9 books.
Dear laine–
Well, as I keep saying [wry g], the books are the books and the show is the show. I have some input on the show–I’m a consultant and they do show me scripts and episodes and invite my comment. Sometimes they accept my comments and sometimes they don’t. Naturally, they have a LOT less room in the TV series than I do in the books, so have to make choices as to how to handle things that take a good bit of time (and space, and resources) in the books. Often, I agree with what they do, and sometimes I don’t–but it _is_ their show, and the scriptwriters are entitled to their own creativity.
Best,
–Diana
WOW!
Can’t wait to read the book!
I red Claire’s (and Jamie’s) history more than one time, but in the french translation. I am looking forward the next tome. Thousands of « mercis » for these excellent novels.
I leave you my hotmail address. I made a mistake wryting my first post.
Dear Francoise–
Merci beaucoup!
–Diana
A wonderful tease to the new book. I am so looking forward to it as well as the next season of Outlander. Also, a belated Happy Birthday. You share a birthday with my father – the most wonderful man I have ever known. My hero.
Dear Joanne–
Happy birthday to your father–and thank you!
Best,
–Diana
I`ve read or rather listened to all 8 books over six times. You were quite right that the time in which Jamie & Claire find themselves is far more interesting. I do follow other writers but they also write in the 18th century. I’ve read your blog on your process for writing & I’ve listened to a few videos where you are speaking. I don’t recall if you ever said how you hold all this together. I mean you once said you write in scenes so do you use OneNotes or a program like that to stay organized?
I was wondering how you might or what are your thoughts are on where or when to put an event in a story? There are so many events and twist or turns in all your books and to me they flow as if they were always meant to happen this way but truly you must have words on how best to set up such events/happening?
What are your thoughts on the matter?
Debbie
Dear Debbie–
No, I’m not very organize, I’m afraid… [g] I don’t write with an outline, I don’t write in a straight line, and I have no idea where the beginning or ending of a book is until I’ve written them. As for keeping things in order…I really don’t. All I do is manage to _find_ a piece when I need it. What I do is pretty crude, but it works: For each book, I have a Word file (I hate Word, but haven’t had time to sit down and learn to deal with Scrivener) called the MFILE (for “Master File”). All this is, is a list of filenames, along with a few keywords for each. So when I’ve written something and realize that something else goes with it, I can pull up the MFILE and do a quick search on some unique (I hope) keyword, like “gangrene” or “sawmill”, and there’s the filename I need. So then I can pull up that file and paste it into the document with the new file, making a longer piece (then, if I remember, I’ll make a note in the MFILE listing, like “JAMIE9#.114 (inc. JAMIE9&.N6)”–that means that the file for GO TELL THE BEES THAT I AM GONE (“JAMIE9″) that I began on January 14 of 2018 now includes the older file that I began on November 6, 2017.
Basically, it’s just a list of unique filenames, with enough keyword information as to allow me to find the one I want quickly.
Hope that helps!
–Diana
First, you and my GMA Vera share the same birth date. Cannot wait for this amazing next novel.
Dear Sylvia–
Thank you! And Happy birthday to your grandmother!
Best,
–Diana
Well, LOL…. it doesn’t help me but I love your response and find you writing style quite fascinating. You truly have a gift from God; I am convinced. It’s like trying to figure out Michael Jackson’s creative genius, you just can’t!
You have to just trust in the process and enjoy the end product. To say I love the story is an understatement. I like reading your commentaries and wonder just where you find the time to speak on so many venues or if you ever sleep.
I shall continue to listen & read and generally hang on to every word.
Thank You! For taking the time to speak to me. I am truly honored.
Deb
Have read all your books and have the tv series “DVR.” Your research is outstanding as is your “story telling.” Look forward to your key note presentation and meeting you at the Savannah Book Festible.
I just finished your first novel (“Outlander”) after starting it earlier in the week and LOVED it. I literally could NOT put it down until reading the last page this morning. Wow! I wish I had the words to describe the feelings I had as I went through each page. You are an incredible story-teller and author, and your adjectives and detailed descriptions of everything (flora and fauna, weapons, landscaping, clothing of that era, cultural beliefs, etc.) are totally mind-blowing as well as educational. Now I’m inclined to research this period of time, especially as it occurred in Scotland since some of my heritage is of Scottish origin. Thank you! I can hardly wait to start the next novel in the “Outlander” series but wanted you to know that I “fell into” this first story and did NOT want this novel to ever end. The romance between Claire and Jamie is simply of fairy tale genre, and I simply fell in love with this strong, morally upright and gentle giant and his love, Claire, the time traveler whose nursing skills and kind, loving heart endear her in this different world she becomes a part of. Thank you again and a belated “Happy Birthday”!
Diana, I don’t even read fiction books but somehow read Outlander and was hooked. I love the Starz series also.
Somehow I picture the book Jamie and Claire people differently but enjoy both, actually like the books better, they are more in depth of course. I’m just an old 78 year old lady enjoying your wonderful books. Thank you, keep writing, how wonderful it must be to provide people so much enjoyment. Blessings to you and yours!
Diana,
I am definitely a late bloomer when it comes to your books. In October of 2016, my husband and I took a 2 week vacation to Scotland. My husband of 34 years had never traveled outside the USA. We chose Scotland because we were intrigued, and new there was some connection that he has with Clan Douglas (lowlands). On a 3 day excursion to Skye the mini bus we traveled on had passengers who mentioned the STARZ show. I knew nothing about it and had not heard of your books at the time. We had a wonderful two weeks, and promised each other we would return soon.
When I got home from Scotland my brother, who is a Catholic priest gave me Outlander. He said I should try it out. Well, I never got around to it till August 2017. Last night I finished book #7 A Breath Of Snow and Ashes. In October I canceled HBO and got STARZ. My husband and I are hooked and can’t wait for Season 4. I have decided to not pick up book #8 for a while, because I can’t get anything done. I get up every morning, go to work, come home, eat, then read!!. I will be 64 in March, and during my birthday week, we are going back to Scotland!!
Your writing is very inspiring to me, as I always said I would like write a novel someday. I have only written short stories and have some ideas in my head. I hope going back to Scotland will further inspire me to put pen to paper.
Thank you so much for taking me places that help me escape from the everyday grind, into a place that is exciting, fantastic and yes funny. Claire and Jamie are aging gracefully and I’d like to think they are helping me do the same.
Best Wishes,
Susan Francine
Dear Susan–
Hey, if you want to write a novel, start! You never know what you can do ’til you try!
Best of luck!
–Diana
Muito obrigadaD iana!/ Thanks a lot Diana!
I look forward to read the new book.
On my other comment i wrote “Robert” D. Moore instead ” Ronald” D. Moore.
I search now in the Wikepedia and I think you inspired your books and character Jamie Fraser from Clan Fraser of Lovat and their origins of the surname[ Fraser.
Did you inspired when you create James Alexander Malcom Mackenzie fraser by “Another John Fraser, who was Provost of Inverness, tried to get fair treatment for the prisoners.”?
I saw too the 18th list of Provost of Inverness “1764–1767: James Fraser”.
Once more, your books are fabulous and you have done an excellent research and wrote this fabulous historic and romance books inspeired by Clan Fraser of Lovat and their origins of the surname[ Fraser.
A big hug from Sintra, Portugal.
Carla Manita
Muito obrigada, Carla!
No, Jamie wasn’t based on a specific historical Jamie Fraser (though many of them had aspects similar to his!). There were a lot of them, as you noticed. [g]
Glad you’ve been enjoying the story!
–Diana
Dear Diana,
These books! The texture and tapestry of these stories! I was so late to the party-just started reading last year when i picked up book 1 in the library. I was supposed to be shelving-I work there part time. Read the first paragraph and I have barely come up for air since. I checked out Outlander and EVERY other book of yours that we had. I felt like a greedy thief leaving that day with my bulging tote but I knew I was in the midst of a game changer. Love that I take my book and my dictionary everywhere! (I must look a bit kooky juggling my reading supplies in the car -while parked and waiting on a child not while driving lol). Love translating Latin with my husband (he has far more than me)! LOVE all literary references, and Diana, the history. My God the history. Thank you for feeding this hungry soul:)
Amy
Thanks so much, Amy! So pleased you (and your husband) have been enjoying the books!
Best,
–Diana
Diana, is your husband ever jealous of Jamie?
Dear Leasa–
My husband _is_ Jamie. [g]
–Diana
Whaaaaaat? Your husband is Jamie? I feel terrible but I inevitably compare my husband to Jamie (sorry baby) and it’s fascinating to me to see the similarities and the differences. My husband is fiercely protective, loyal, and all the good things that make Jamie a “man” (you often describe what Jamie seeks to be, often more than anything just a man of quality. My husband is this). All to say, my husband is, but not sooo practical, well spoken, educated or stubborn. He is all those things, just not to the magnitude that our Mr. Fraser is. THUS- my main point- I love coming away with an appreciation not just for my husband (who is Jamie, accept the personality traits I mentioned) but for men in general. I admire a good strong woman, but I feel like our appreciation for a strong, capable man has been diminished in our society in recent times. “Let me talk to the boss” he says (he being an American husband although not mine). Just my thoughts. Love your books. Obviously.
Diana, I just love that you said that. I like most have probably started out watching the Outlander series. But I knew I had to read the books. T.V series always leaves out too many of the finer details that you get from a good read. My “Jamie” (Steven) got me my first book this past Christmas and the other 7 followed shortly. Hardcover of course. You have a great gift and I thank you for sharing it with the rest of the world.
Hi Diana,
Just to congratulate you,
I am / was NOT a reader at all. I am 42 years old, and I think I have read 4 books that I can remember in my life. I saw series 1 of Outlander and enjoyed it so much I thought I would attempt the book connected to it to see how close they stuck to the actual story. Oh my word! In 10 days I now have 10 pages left of Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager is ready and waiting for me. (I am full time employed, and a mother, and wife…..) so this is serious achievement for me!
Very well written, and thank you so much. Your novels has got me to read at last, all 3 my kids are amazed that mom is actually reading, no longer a case of do as I say, now they do as I do
I will get through all of the,, including your add on’s (Lord John…. to seven stones)
Thanks again.
Tania
Dear Diana,
As you write my mind absorbs. Thank you from our heads and hearts for the fabulous characters and robust stories you magically provide your hungry fans.
I am very happy you are not challenged to replicate our beloved ‘Jamie & Claire’ to match the Starz version using ‘Sam & Catriona’. I adore your ‘Claire’ much more than the TV version. The producers decided to focus on Claire’s shrillness and obstinate nature that makes their version so inflexible and less sympathetic than the original delightful ‘Claire B. R. Fraser’ (my view). They chose to represent ‘Jamie’ as a more rounded character and as a result ‘Sam’ fits our impression of ‘Jamie’ better.
Needless to say, I too await the ‘birth’ of your ninth ‘child’ with bated breath and hope for another adventure filled with hours of delightful transportation, via the written word, to Fraser’s Ridge and all who live there.
Thank you from a reader who started with ‘Mary Poppins’ in 1959 to ‘Bees’ in 20?? I truly adore what your pen discloses – and inspires old women and men to dream. BTW: Happy belated birthday!
Gayle from Midland, Ontario, Canada – where the scenery is very much like Fraser’s Ridge.
I have loved your books since the 1990′s. I wait with baited breath every 4-5 years for the next one. I have owned all of them several times keep giving them to libraries. Then keep buying more. Hiding them in my dresser drawers from the kids in the early days. Finally stopped doing that since I am now your age. No kids at home just grandchildren around. Loved the CD music. Love the Starz series. But waiting so, with baited breath for Bees. You are a very good writer and may I say great. And your research surpasses all. Love the herbal stuff. Waiting.
Dear Diana,
Love all eight books so far ( re-read them twice). They have spiced up my marriage of 26 years. Both my husband and I watch the series together . Then when the season is over we rewatch the whole thing from start to finish again and again.
Patiently waiting for season four and book nine.
Carlene
Diana,
I just want to thank you so much for your books. Not only is the whole story so absorbing and entertaining, but the characters are my fictional best friends! The other reason I wanted to thank you is that you have managed to bring back so many happy childhood memories of visiting my great-grandmother (Granny Rilda) at her little house tucked away in a hollow up on a ridge in Eastern Kentucky. After I would get home it would be weeks before my mom could get me to brush my teeth with a toothbrush. Granny used willow twigs and I thought that was just too cool. I loved drinking water out of the dipper from the enamel pail she kept on the back porch. She didn’t have a springhouse, but she had a wellhouse that was always cool and damp inside. Not only was her well in there but also her food. Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, and the smells were so distinct. She kept “Banty” chickens and my child self loved those perfect sized portions of chicken and tiny eggs! But I think what brings my grandparents back with the most force is your dialogue. My pa (left us 10 years ago) used your words. Slugabed, crack-brained, thrapple, and so many more of the. Reading an aggravated Fraser makes me always think about my pa and my heart smiles. You haven’t used two of his favorites yet, about to perish with a thirst, and larupin. I can’t wait to stumble on them someday! Again, thank you for all of the enjoyment of your stories, and for bringing back beautiful parts of my childhood!