Buck’s presence at Lallybroch brings up many memories for Bree and Roger. They debate telling Buck who his real parents are, as Buck does not know. Roger feels that even if “Knowledge might be a poisoned gift […] few people would voluntarily give it back” (1014).

Bree notices the wooden snake in the study has been moved and that the first letter from Claire and Jamie is missing. Mandy wakes up screaming that Jem is gone, having had a dream about the standing stones near Inverness. Bree tells Mandy that Jem is on a sleepover at Rob’s nephew Bobby’s house. However, when Bree calls to check on him, Bobby’s mother knows nothing about the sleepover and confirms that Rob’s car is missing. Buck and Roger rush to the standing stones and find Rob’s truck nearby. Roger nearly falls through time, but Buck saves him.

In December 1777, John helps William prepare to cross enemy lines in search of Denny. Denny, Rachel, and Rollo travel to Philadelphia so Denny can perform surgery on Henry. During the surgery, William holds Rachel’s hands for support. Denny successfully removes one of the two bullets and uses a poultice he learned from Claire on the wound.