A heavy object, possibly a cane, had been used with brutal force across Jamie’s shoulders, leaving deep, painful wounds. Claire carefully applied a thick pad of lint to the worst of the damage, offering a measure of comfort amidst the pain. Her eyes traced the contused swelling on Jamie’s left side, a sprawling patch of black and purple, evidence of broken ribs that would need attention. But her attention was abruptly drawn to the livid patches on his neck and chest, where the skin bore the telltale signs of burn injuries. Puckered, reddened, and blistered, the edges of one patch charred and rimmed with white ash.