After serving as an Army nurse for the British Army during World War II, Claire and her husband Frank Randall focused on their married life. In1946, the Randall couple visited Inverness, Scotland, for their second honeymoon. While Frank is researching his family history, Claire spends her time gathering herbs.
One day, she goes to the hills, where she accidentally touches a magical stone and faints. After waking up, she encounters Frank’s ancestor, Captain Randall. Captain Randall tries to harm Claire, seeing her all alone, but a member from Mackenzie Clan saves her. The clansman takes her to their chieftain. Meanwhile, Claire treats comrade Jamie’s dislocated shoulder, and her medical skills impress everyone.
Claire concludes that she traveled back to the time of 1743, and to go back, she will need to go back to the hills. She gets a chance to travel when the chieftain's brother, Dougal, takes her and Jamie with him for a tax collection. Captain Randall again captures Claire on his suspicion of her being an English spy. Black Jack Randall tortures her in the name of questioning, but Dougal comes to rescue Claire. Dougal tells Claire to marry a Scot to avoid Randall's suspicion and suggests Jamie Fraser as a suitable partner.
At first, she feels reluctant but gives her consent for the marriage. Jamie’s dedication and respectful nature move Claire’s heart, and they grow closer. After a series of incidents, Claire and Jamie tell each other their true Identity. He believes in the story of Claire and takes her to Craigh na Dun, but Caire realizes her love for Jamie and decides to stay. Jamie wants to reclaim his position as Laird of Lallybroch, but he is still a fugitive of the British and gets captured by the British after a betrayal by one of his tenants. Jack Randall meets Jamie at Wentworth Prison, where Jamie is locked up. Claire breaks into the prison to save Jamie, where Captain Randall captures her. Jamie sacrifices himself and lets Randall torture him to save Claire.
After escaping, Claire seeks help from Jamie's brother and Marcus MacRannoch, and they rescue the injured Jamie. Captain Randall's torture affects Jamie's spirit of living, and he goes into depression, but Claire doesn't leave his side and tries to heal him. To avoid the Jacobite rebellion, they both decide to go to Rome. At the end of the story, Claire tells Jamie of her being pregnant with their child.
