Has he come armed, then?” she asked anxiously. “Has he brought a pistol or a sword?” Ian shook his head, his dark hair lifting wildly in the wind. “Oh, no, Mam!” he said. “It’s worse. He’s brought a lawyer!

Lord that she might be safe. She and my children.

You are my courage, as I am your conscience," he whispered. "You are my heart---and I your compassion. We are neither of us whole, alone. Do ye not know that, Sassenach?

Then kiss me, Claire," he whispered, "And know that you are more to me than life, and I have no regret.

I can bear pain myself, he said softly, but I couldna bear yours. That would take more strength than I have.

No wonder men got impervious to superficial pain, I thought. It came from this habit of hammering each other incessantly.

I shook so that it was some time before I realized that he was shaking too, and for the same reason. I don't know how long we sat there on the dusty floor, crying in each others arms with the longing of twenty years spilling down our faces.