"I just asked Daddy if he remembered a Gathering we went to a year ago. The Clans were all called at a big bonfire, and I handed Daddy a burning branch and told him to go down to the fire and say The MacKenzies were there.”
The significance of family is vivid in the novel Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. Jamie and Claire have always worked closely with other family members to ensure they build a strong bond despite living in different centuries. Claire is coming from the mid-20th century after living many years in the 18th century to reunite with the rest of her family in the 17th century. Brianna and her husband, Roger, escaped the 20th century with their family to rejoin their parents and the remaining clan in the 17th century. During the gathering, Brianna reminds her father of the many family gatherings they had celebrated, showing that the family has built a strong bond among its members.
"Go back to sleep. It won't be the dawn for another hour."
One vital activity during the 17th century was hunting, and surprisingly, women took part. Brianna is an expert in hunting, and when she is asleep, she wakes her husband to alert him that she is about to join other women going hunting. However, Roger urges to go back to sleep because it is the middle of the night. A clear reverse of gender roles becomes evident in this age. Under normal circumstances, women are supposed to remain at home to take care of the children and household chores while men go hunting. In this case, Brianna wants to go hunting with other women leaving Roger sleeping.
"I know, Sweetie. Don't worry; I don't think it will come back, but I'll kill it if it does."
One of the vital responsibilities of a father is to protect his family and instill confidence in his children. Roger is one of the fathers who does not take chances when proofing that he is in control and his family is safe. When Mandy sees a spider, she gets scared. However, the father tells her he is in control, and if the spider reappears, he will kill it. Mandy feels safe and secure in her father's hands; she is assured that her father ahead will counterattack any danger.
