Beans, Beans, They're Good For Your Heart...

SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you've read Chapter 14 in The Fiery Cross.

Why, oh why, must Diana wave this horrible fear that Jamie is going to die in front of my face on a constant basis? He and Roger have been rounding up the men-folk for the arduous task of standing up to the backwoods hicks from the western part of the state. All in the name of the crown, of course. And this is what I dinna understand, Sassenachs. If the crown wants so badly to keep the peace, then why don't they STAY in the colonies and do their own, damn dirty work??  Private Ogilvie  is hoping to get on the last boat to Scotland just as soon as Lizzie stops filling him with eggs and strawberry preserves. (How cute is that, by the way?) Why doesn't HE stay and fight the backwoods folk instead of JAMIE always having to do everything? Riddle me THAT, Batman! *Thanks to osv.org for the photo.

And am I the only one who seems to have a morbid fascination with all the weird ailments Claire treats? I was on the edge of my seat when she was cauterizing the poor slave's nose polyp. Wasn't it exciting? I wanted to hold that blade in the fire and do it myself! This might be due to my lack of medical fun around my own house as my husband won't let me near the occasional pimple... and the kids run from me when they have a splinter. Can't a girl play doctor once in while?? (And I'm not talking with JAMIE unfortch.)  I wonder why I want to. I loved Biology class... maybe that has something to do with it. At any rate, do you find yourself thinking up new and even more weird ailments for Claire to handle? I know I do. *Thanks to nlm.nih.gov for the photo.

So I have a new Kindle... and I find myself highlighting every time Jamie and Claire have a special little moment together. Kindof like this:


"And then I want to go home," he whispered... His forehead was pressed against mine, and his eyes very blue. "I want to take ye to bed-in my bed. And I mean to spend the rest of the day thinking what to do to ye once I've got ye there...."

Melt. OK focus, Carol.

Or how about this:


"Did I ever think to thank ye, Sassenach? he said, his voice a little husky. "For what?" I said, puzzled. He took my hand, and drew me gently toward him. He smelled of ale and damp wool, and very faintly of the brandied sweetness of fruitcake. "For my bairns," he said softly. "For the children that ye bore me." "Oh," I said. I leaned slowly forward, and rested my forehead against the solid warmth of his chest. I cupped my hands at the small of his back beneath his coat, and sighed. "It was... my pleasure."


le sigh... Does it get any better than that? I'm thinking no...

OK so before I leave go read, I must say that I verra much enjoyed the way Roger stood up to Jocasta when she dropped that "you're only marrying my niece for the money" bomb on him. That was uncalled for. And yet, I can't let it make me too mad at Jocasta just yet. I feel like she's got a plan - even beyond the plan Jamie and Claire were discussing (Jocasta trying to save Roger's rep in a way?) And how much did I love Jamie's reaction to the whole thing. His booming laugh is something I will mourn when this book series is over, Lassies... I truly will.

I also loved his "whooping laugh" when Claire recited the little beans jingle. When I was a kid, we weren't allowed to say "fart" - so we had to change it to the following:

Beans, beans, the musical fruit
The more you eat, the more you toot
The more you toot, the better you feel
So eat your beans at every meal

LOL! Can't you just hear Jamie laughing now????

  

*Thanks to Mary Hattler from al.com for the photo.