Summary

Chapter 18: "Distant Thunder" opens as Claire washes off after helping deliver a pig. Suddenly, two men named Granger and Partland arrive and ask for directions to Captain Cunningham. With a storm coming, Claire invites them home and they recognize Jamie. However, he does not know them.

Meanwhile, Bree and Fanny gather food from the root cellar. Fanny reveals that she saw the men at the brothel before she and her sister ran away. Now, her sister is dead and William gave her to Jamie.

Jamie is also wary of the men, especially Partland. Eventually, Partland asks why Jamie resigned when officers were wanted regardless of experience or reputation. He accuses Jamie of desertion, but Jamie says he resigned to save Claire.

The next day, Bobby arrives and says he only heard the children talk about the men. When Jamie mentions a...