These excerpts from "The Fiery Cross" by Diana Gabaldon focus on the lives of the Fraser family and their associates amid impending conflict and personal drama. The text details intimate moments between Jamie and Claire, reflecting on their relationship and family matters, including Roger and Brianna's turbulent engagement and wedding, Roger's discovery of Brianna's past trauma involving Stephen Bonnet, and his own concerns about their future inheritance. Simultaneously, the narrative is set against a backdrop of increasing political unrest, as Jamie, compelled by a letter from the Governor, prepares to lead a militia against the Regulators, highlighting his conflicting loyalties and the danger faced by his family and tenants. Subplots involving a fever outbreak, a mysterious death, and the unresolved history of French gold further complicate the family's situation.
