Having been led by providence to Fraser’s Ridge, Jamie, Claire and Young Ian begin to build a home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. In the 20th Century, Roger tries to reconnect with Brianna.
Common Ground opens with Jamie signing the land grant offered to him by Governor Tyron. Governor Tyron gives Jamie all the documentation about the land he’s been given and offers Claire a place to reside while Jamie is surveying the land though Jamie declines as Claire will be joining him. Tryon cautions Jamie about the men he takes on as settlers as some of the people in the back country who call themselves Regulators do not pay their taxes and the tax collectors can’t be trusted as they steal the sums they collect.
Tryon suggests the Highlanders have much in common with the Indian savage but Jamie’s seen savagery from prince and pauper alike. Tryon presses the issue in what seems like a test and a dig at Jamie who doesn’t rise to the occasion but plays himself the Governor’s man.
In Wilmington; Claire, Young Ian and Jamie are getting ready to set out into the back country. Claire asks the innkeeper for some provision and Marsali admits she thought to put some provisions together for them but she can’t stand the thought of food with her pregnancy. Claire suggests she chew peppermint and have many small meals.
Claire notices Marsali is upset and Marsali confesses that she misses her mother though she knows there is bad blood between Claire and Laoghaire. Marsali also wants Claire there with her when the babies born but Marsali fears having a child to then raise. Claire tells her that her mother did well with her and she will do well with her child.
They say their goodbyes to Marsali and Fergus and Young Ian promises to build them a fine cabin. Claire is saddened when Fergus and Marsali leave and Jamie guesses Claire is thinking of Brianna. Claire worries about not being there for Brianna should she have her own children. Jamie tells her Brianna will manage just as they did when they were young.
On Fraser’s Ridge; Jamie, Claire and Ian are marking off the boundaries of Fraser’s Ridge. Claire quotes the song ‘America’ which is the same melody of ‘God Save Great George Our King.’ Jamie asks if the Americans stole the song from King George and made it their own and Claire tells him, “We did.” Jamie encourages Claire to sing more of it for him and she declines but he tells her when she sings it makes him want to do indecent things. He begins to tell her what things when Young Ian calls for him.
Young Ian has found some witness trees which are on the far edge of their land. They carve the tree so people will know they are entering Fraser’s Ridge.
Claire and Young Ian talk of wild animals in the hills when Rollo hackles rise. Out of the woods the Cherokee appear. Jamie takes a knife from Claire and walks out with his arms out; dropping the knife and announcing his name. The Cherokee turn and go but do not seem friendly.
In 1971 Oxford, Roger’s colleague is speaking but Roger’s mind is on Brianna. Roger pulls out the book Bree gave him with the picture of the two of them. He then notices an entry in the book about a place called Fraser’s Ridge in North Carolina. Roger turns the book over curious about the author who he writes too.
On Fraser’s Ridge; our trio is clearing trees and making lumber for their building. Claire comes out to Jamie’s building site to see what is going to be going up and Jamie tells her where everything will be. The smoke shed, for jerky; her herb shed; and the cabin. Young Ian runs up with the Cherokee in pursuit. They return Jamie’s boundary markers and don’t seem pleased.
In 1971, Roger receives a package from the author of the book with a photo of the deed, a photo map of the area, and some Xerox copies of other documents pertaining to Fraser’s Ridge. As Roger goes over the enclosed papers he finds Jamie’s signature on the deed and a letter by a young woman (Marsali?) speaking of Jamie’s wife, a healer.
Roger calls Brianna who is shocked. She’s been thinking of him and wonders if his holiday was nice (Easter?). Roger gets to business and tells her about Fraser’s Ridge which was located on Mount Helicon which is now called Grandfather Mountain. Brianna is stunned they were early Americans. She is very grateful for Roger’s research and the two have so much to say though they don’t.
Back on Fraser’s Ridge, Jamie and Claire discuss their situation with the Cherokee and Claire suggests they move further from the shared border but Jamie says their location is the most desirable for their needs. Claire wonders if the skull and ghost she encountered where actually warning them away from something bad that would happen there. Jamie is worried he can’t speak with the Cherokee and tell them he plans to be a good neighbor. Claire suggests and offering and Jamie says he’ll speak with Myers.
They wake to Rollo barking at something. The trio investigate thinking it is the Cherokee. Outside, Young Ian notices their meat is gone and thinks the Cherokee mean to starve them. A noise from the bushes draws their attention. Jamie and Ian aim their guns but what stumbles into the clearing isn’t the Cherokee but their horse Finley who looks like he’s been clawed by a bear.
Jamie goes to see Myers about the offering to the locals and Myers suggests tobacco and that maybe he should be the one to deliver it. Jamie is grateful and the two speak of the bear which Myers has heard talk about from the Cherokee who call it an evil bear.
Back home, Claire and Young Ian are doing some chores gutting fish and repairing nets when Claire confesses she can’t knit. Young Ian is shocked she can’t “click it.” Claire learns something new about Jamie namely that he can knit and Young Ian promises to teach Claire. Young Ian goes to check on Finley but worries the bear is still about.
Jamie returns to Claire practicing her shooting and Jamie takes a shot. Claire wants to be prepared should the bear come back around.
That night there is another disturbance. Outside they find Myers who has been attacked by the bear. Young Ian and Claire work on saving Myers while Jamie hunts the bear.
Meanwhile, the Cherokee are gathering in their Council House where a ritual is happening to cleanse the evil spirit of Tskili Yona.
In the woods, Jamie hunts the Tskili Yona through the brush and is attacked not by a bear but by a man dressed as a bear. Jamie fights the man who is trying to kill him and eventually kill him with one of the boundaries stakes. Jamie drags the man into the Cherokee village on a litter and tells them the bear was no bear and he doesn’t wish to fight with them. He wants peace.
Tawodi tells Jamie the man was once a great warrior who raped his woman which is not the way of the Cherokee. He was banished but kept returning to them though they refused him. He lost his mind and took the form of a bear coming back to the village destroying and stealing but they couldn’t kill him because he was already dead to them.
Jamie asks if there will be trouble for him and tells Tawodi he wants to live in peace. He gives his word.
Back in camp, Claire is checking Myers wounds and tells him to walk every day to keep his strength up. Jamie welcomes Myers to stay with them until he’s well.
The Cherokee come into camp and Tawodi introduces their chief Nawohali who says he wishes no more blood to be spilled between them. Nawohali gives Jamie the name Bear Killer which is how the Cherokee will know him.
Claire meets Giduhwa who introduces their healer Adawehi. Adawehi tells Claire of a dream she has of her where Claire turned into raven and brought her a stone that held great magic to heal sickness. She tells Claire her medicine will grow and with age she will be more powerful. She then delivers a cryptic message that death is send from the gods and it will not be Claire’s fault.
Back in 1971 Scotland, Roger is visiting Fiona and retrieving the rest of his boxes. Fiona wants to know if Roger has mended things with Brianna. Roger isn’t sure if Brianna was happy to hear from him or just happy about the news… which Fiona knows is about Claire going back in time to be with Jamie Fraser. Roger is stunned but Fiona reminds him the walls are thin and her grandmother was the lead caller so she knows the stories.
Fiona tells Roger she came across something of her grandmothers which appears to be about Jamie and Claire and is an obituary stating Jamie and Claire died in a fire that destroyed their home in 1770 –something.
Roger tells Fiona he can’t tell Brianna. Fiona argue he should tell her but Roger says she’s been dead for 200 years and he can’t break her heart again.
In 1768; Jamie, Claire and Young Ian are milling wood for their cabin. Jamie shows Claire the layout of the cabin and where things will go.
In 1971, Roger calls Brianna but gets Gayle who tells him Brianna went to Scotland to visit her mother much to the shock of Roger.
