Even though Jamie and Claire Fraser find themselves back home at their Ridge in season 8, they haven’t quite yet managed to escape all the complicated adventures life has in store for them. In episode 3, titled ‘Abies Fraseri,’ both begin to unravel certain mysteries that promise to have a bigger impact on their lives going forward. As Captain Cunningham, a new resident in Jamie’s land, receives some guests, the retired soldier’s intentions and objectives begin to come under questioning.
Meanwhile, in extending a helping hand to a neighbor in need, Claire ends up getting a glimpse at something inexplicable. Through it all, the spouses also find themselves in a lovers’ spat when Lord John Grey reaches out to Claire for seemingly innocuous reasons. The governor himself deals with uncertainty when Williams insists on holding out hope for his cousin’s survival. However, things grow complicated once the retired soldier grows close to Ben’s widow and the mother of his son, Amaranthus Cowden Grey. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Lord Grey Sends Correspondence to Claire and Brianna
Jamie has always had a hard time accepting the circumstances that led Claire to marry Lord John Grey, even if only in an attempt to keep herself safe. Therefore, he’s less than enthused to see that the Governor has written to his ex-wife. However, as the healer reveals the letter’s contents have less to do with her and more with Bri. John has extended an invitation to the young woman with a request to paint a portrait of his new niece, Amaranthus, and her son, Trevor. Even though the decision is between Bri and her husband, Roger, Jamie tries to forbid his family from making any travel plans to go see John.
This proves to be especially infuriating since the invitation gives Bri and Roger the perfect cover to procure some firearms, as a safety precaution for the war they know to be looming on the horizon. Still, the fact remains that the two were only asking for his blessing rather than his permission. Furthermore, Jamie’s problem with their plan isn’t really about the plan at all. Instead, it’s a manifestation of his jealousy of John. The Scot can’t bear the knowledge that the Governor was once married to his wife and had even lain with her. Even though it wasn’t infidelity and John remains a close ally and friend to Claire, Jamie’s stubborn jealousy remains. Fortunately, in the end, Claire is able to remind him of the love that thrives between the two of them, clearing the air of the petty grudge.
William Finds Ben’s Tin Soldier
Back in the Grey household, William returns and shares his findings about Ben’s grave with his uncle. John remains relatively skeptical of the whole thing, believing it is much more likely that they simply made a mistake during burial and that his nephew is buried in a grave under another man’s name. Still, he offers William the opportunity to investigate further by attending a social event where General Leslie, Ben’s commander, would be present. Even though it’s really a ploy to get the young retired soldier back into society, the latter agrees to it since it serves his purpose well enough.
In the build-up to the event, he’s visited by Amaranthus, who has an unexpected present for him: an embroidered waistcoat. Although she had made the garment for her late husband, she wants his cousin to have it now in his passing. This opens up the door to some conversation between William and Amaranthus, wherein the Lord’s son gets to know more about the riveting life and family history of the latter. Later, the party proves to be a disappointment since even Leslie seems to firmly believe Ben is dead. On the other hand, John has an interesting conversation with Percy, wherein they strike up a quid pro quo deal of transaction of information.
Later, Williams has another encounter with Amaranthus, this time to hand her Ben’s uniform, which he procured from the prison he visited earlier. As the widow puts away her husband’s belongings, the cousin notices a tin soldier in one of the drawers. William had given this soldier to Ben in their youth, and its absence from his belongings was a crucial part of why he thought his cousin could still be alive. Therefore, the knowledge that Ben had left the soldier behind with his wife to be shared with his son before heading out to his final battle wipes out the last of his hopes about his cousin’s survival. Afterward, he and Amaranthus share a walk around the estate, where they talk some more about her interests in bugs and beetles. The walk comes to an end with the two sharing a brief and unexpected kiss. Naturally, the nature of their relation, bonded through Ben’s death, is bound to complicate any chances of romance.
Claire Helps in the Delivery of Twins and Saves a Life
Shortly after making up with Jamie, Claire gets an unexpected visitor at the house: a young Black girl named Agnes Whitaker. As it turns out, the latter’s mother is in labor and needs emergency help from a healer. Consequently, Claire rushes to help the mother, Savannah, bringing her and her midwife, Binta, into her home. With some inspection, she concludes that Savannah is actually having twins, with one of them blocking the other’s path out of the womb. Although it’s tricky, Claire is more than equipped to help the expecting mother with the labor. Initially, when Savannah’s husband arrives, he’s reluctant to accept help from a white family. Nonetheless, Jamie and the others are able to convince him otherwise.
Thus, Claire stays by Savannah’s side well into nightfall when the babies finally move into the right position to go through with the delivery. Unfortunately, while the first twin is born well and healthy, his sister proves to be initially stillborn. Yet, regardless of the tragic nature of the birth, Clarie tries to save the baby by administering CPR. The situation obviously proves to be a sour reminder of when she herself gave birth to Faith, who was stillborn. However, as emotions run high, the healer feels a blue light within her that somehow reaches the newborn baby and brings her back to life. Later, Claire discusses the matter with Jamie, recalls how she felt something similar when Richardson healed her in a cell. She wonders if he had saved Faith with the same impossible abilities and if she herself showcased a glimpse of the same with Savannah’s baby.
Jamie Learns the Truth About Cunningham
Between running into unpleasant soldiers in the market and witnessing Claire’s petty fight with Jamie, Fanny has been having a tough time. For the same reason, Jamie ends up taking her out into the woods to offer some comfort by showing her Jane’s cairn and assuring her that the Ridge is her home forever. During this time, they overhear gunshots, which attract their attention. The sound had come from Cleveland, who had shot two soldiers after finding them smuggling firearms into the Ridge. Although the other man is eager to dole out his brand of justice by hanging the soldiers’ dead bodies as a warning against loyalists, Jamie prevents this from happening. However, he also finds out that these soldiers are the same ones who had visited Cunningham earlier in the day.
Given Captain Cunningham’s history and which side of the war he fought on, Cleveland and his allies have been wary of his presence in the Ridge. Nonetheless, Jamie had chosen to trust the Captain and his word about retiring from the army to enjoy a life of peace. Yet, as the ensuing confrontation between the two of them reveals, Cunningham has been lying to him from the start. As it turns out, he is actually still a Loyalist working for the crown. In fact, the reason he’s at the Ridge is to recruit new people to the cause to grow the King’s army. The fact that he seems to believe many of the people on the Tidge have grown more loyal to the crown than Jamie, their landlord, proves to be troubling. Therefore, Jamie worries that his death, as predicted in Frank’s history book from the future, might ultimately prove to be true.
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