Jamie, Claire and Young Ian embark on a long uncertain journey to rescue Roger, while Brianna forges a friendship with one of Jamie’s old friends as she fends off Aunt Jocasta’s attempts to secure a husband.
If Not for Hope opens on Roger in the shower washing off his ordeal with the Mohawk. When finished he goes to the steamy mirror and wipes the fog away only to see a Mohawk warrior standing behind him. Roger comes out of his daydream and is still with the Mohawk and has just cleaned up. It seems he was imagining what it would have been like to have gone back. One of the Mohawk throws him his clothing and they continue on their journey.
At River Run, Brianna is drawing when Lizzie interrupts her with refreshments. Lizzie becomes concerned Brianna is possessed when she sees the picture Brianna is drawing but Brianna says she’s just hurt and angry. Lizzie apologizes again for her part in Roger’s fate but Brianna tells her she made an honest mistake. But Lizzie pushes her about forgiving Jamie but Brianna can’t forget the things he said to her.
On the road to find Roger, Jamie is curious about what Claire has heard of the Mohawk in the 20th century. Claire relates there are moving pictures but it is hard to know what the truth is. Jamie believes if there was a moving picture about him he would be seen as a fearsome brute and Claire does nothing to dissuade this notion.
Young Ian returns to them with news that the Cherokee they’ve come across believe the necklace was from a Mohawk village called Shadow Lake. Jamie hopes the Cherokee will escort them to the village but Young Ian tells him they have no reason to go so they won’t accompany them. Young Ian tells Jamie he can speak some Mohawk so he can be their guide. Jamie reminds them both he and Claire know about not knowing if the other is alive or dead and now Bree is suffering the same.
The trio makes camp though Jamie and Claire seem distant. Young Ian thinks Claire should go to Jamie and wonders if she’s still angry with Jamie. She tells him she’s not and Ian urges her to go to Jamie.
In Wilmington, Fergus is asking after Bonnet in a tavern but when he goes to leave he notices a broadsheet which advertises Murtagh as a wanted man. Fergus rips it down and returns home. Marsali asks after Fergus’s job prospects but apparently he’s having little luck because of the missing hand.
Marsali is annoyed Murtagh and his compatriots are hanging about mostly because Murtagh has enlisted Fergus to help him capture Bonnet, a dangerous criminal. Fergus tells her Bonnet will be in Wilmington in a week. Marsali against complains about the Regulators being in their home and how they are also harboring a wanted man though Fergus knows Murtagh would do the same for him. Fergus relays the news of Bonnet to Murtagh.
Back at River Run, Brianna is sitting in her room when Phaedre comes in to fit her for a new dress for a dinner Jocasta is throwing in a week. Brianna doesn’t think she needs a new dress but Phaedre says it will hid her condition. Also there is a Lord from Virginia who is the Mast of Mount Josiah (Lord John) coming to the party.
Brianna asks Phaedre to say still after seeing her in the light of the window. She grabs for her drawing implements and Phaedre wonders what Bree is doing. Bree wants to draw her because she’s beautiful which surprises and pleases Phaedre. Phaedre protests saying Mistress Cameron will be displeased but Brianna says she’ll worry about Mistress Cameron.
Downstairs, Bree is reading when Jocasta comes to talk to her. Jocasta offers her some earring which will go with her dress and Brianna tells Jocasta she doesn’t need a new dress which is why Jocasta had one of her old ones altered for Bree.
Jocasta says she gets Brianna is consumed with worry but there is comfort in others will she not enjoy some food and lively conversation. Bree says she’d rather be by herself to read and draw which surprises Jocasta as Ellen and she were artists. Bree is very much like Ellen and Ellen was their father’s favorite. Their father wouldn’t force her into a marriage she didn’t want and when he died she married the man she truly loved Brian Fraser. Bree says conversation is good for a worried mind and goes off to let Phaedre alter Jocasta’s dress for her.
Marsali wakes Murtagh in the night to have him ask Fergus to fight with him and his Regulators. Murtagh thinks Marsali wants Fergus gone and says he’ll take him out back and shoot him but if Marsali wanted him shot she could do it herself. However, she’d shoot Murtagh first for putting his boots on her blankets. Murtagh is reluctant because of Fergus’s hand but she wants Fergus to feel like a whole man.
At River Run, Jocasta’s guests are gathered as Brianna comes down the stairs. The men are clearly taken with her. She is introduced to everyone and they inquire what she’s been occupying her time with and she tells them her drawings. But when they ask what she’s been drawing Brianna tells them Phaedre which shocks them. They wonder why she would draw a slave when there are landscapes, however, the Judge thinks well of her for drawing what inspires her. Lt. Wolff, who is clearly taken with her, hopes to take her on an excursion to New Bern.
Forbes steps up to ask that she join him in the parlor. He presents a box with four gemstones (sapphire, emerald, topaz, or diamond). He wants to make one into jewelry (wedding ring) but is curious which stone she thinks he should use. Brianna doesn’t want to give her opinion without hearing the Judge’s mother’s opinion but before it can be given Ulysses announces Lord John Grey. Lord John greets Jocasta and her guests and is then introduced to Brianna. He immediately tells her he knows her parents which doesn’t seem to please Forbes and Wolff.
Back at Fergus and Marsali’s, little Germain is crying much to Murtagh’s dismay. Murtagh is telling Fergus he needs as many rifles as possible. While Fergus is calming Germain, Murtagh asks Fergus to join his militia. Fergus is stunned but he knows his limitations and his needs to take care of his family so declines. Marsali overhears this and is pleased. She tells them the Glorianna is in port and, as the men head out, she thanks Murtagh.
At River Run, everyone is around the dining table. Lord John finishes up a tale and asks Brianna to take a turn. She does a psychology test on them but only gets an answer from Judge Alderdyce whose answer appears to mean he harbors secrets. Judge Alderdyce goes out for air seeming a little upset which impresses the others.
Lord John goes next and when he says the person in the forest was Jamie, she gets quiet. She wants to know why he would see her father and John covers by saying Jamie wanted him to look in on her. He assures her Jamie only asks him to check on Brianna and didn’t say for what reason as Jamie is an honorable man. This upsets Brianna who excuses herself from the table. Forbes is eager to share who he saw in the forest but Brianna pretends to faint to get away.
Lord John takes Brianna to the parlor where Phaedre gives her a cool cloth. Brianna is clearly fine but Lizzie comes in worried and mentions her condition outing her to Lord John. Lizzie goes off to ready Brianna’s bed-chamber.
Lord John asks if Brianna lost her husband and she tells him in a way. Jamie allowed him to be traded to the Mohawk and are now out searching for him. She explains Jocasta appears to be trying to marry her off because she and Roger were hand-fast without witnesses. John now understands the predicament. John gives her a letter from Jamie. Jocasta comes in and John turns in for the night.
Brianna and Jocasta talk and Brianna confronts her about trying to marry her off. Jocasta explains Brianna is going to be a mother and she needs to think of her security. Brianna wonders why she can’t marry for love but Jocasta tells her if her child is not born in wedlock he will be branded a fatherless bastard. Jocasta believes Roger isn’t returning and wants Brianna to accept she needs to move on.
In Wilmington, Murtagh goes after Stephen Bonnet who tries to get away but Murtagh knocks him out. Fergus and he carry Bonnet away.
At River Run, Brianna can’t sleep but isn’t willing to read Jamie’s letter. She goes downstairs to find something to eat and hears muffled noises. She investigates and finds Lord John and Judge Alderdyce in a compromising position.
In Wilmington, Murtagh and Fergus are trying to deal with Bonnet when some colonial militias appear and wonder what he’s up too. Murtagh whispers for Fergus to go home before punching him in the gut to make it look like Fergus is not with him. Murtagh then tells the men who Bonnet is but the two recognize him as well and arrest him.
The next morning, Phaedre wakes Brianna with news that Forbes intends to propose. Brianna wants Phaedre to tell them she already when on her morning walk and promises to join them in a hour. She then enlists Lizzie’s help asking Lord John to join her.
On her walk with Lord John, Brianna proposes to him. At first, John thinks it is a joke. John let’s her down easy but Brianna threatens to expose his nightly activities. Lord John becomes upset and wonders if she’d do it knowing the severity of the punishment. She then threatens to tell Jamie. But Jamie knows. Brianna realizes John likes Jamie. John tells her he is tempted to take her up on the offer and Brianna realizes he would be a true husband to her and her plans deflate.
John tells her he can’t marry her. Brianna apologizes for her actions. John tells her he does think of Jamie but also Claire because of their love. He agrees with her aunt she should marry but believes Jamie will bring Roger back. John wonders if there is more to the story and Brianna tells him she was violated and the baby could be her attackers. Roger doesn’t know and she isn’t sure he’ll want to be married to her. She then tells him Forbes is about to propose and should she marry him; she’ll be trading hope for a broken heart but she will do what she must for her child.
In the parlor, Jocasta and Forbes are waiting for Brianna and clearly plotting. Brianna enters and is about to say something when John appears and asks if she’s told everyone their news. He then announces he proposed and Brianna said yes which shocks but pleases Jocasta. Forbes on the other hand is upset and stocks from the room. Brianna thanks Jocasta for convincing her to marry so she could open her heart to Lord John. Jocasta privately congratulates her and calls her a true MacKenzie.
On the road, Claire is getting water when Jamie injures himself but when Claire inquiries about it he tells her it is nothing and she doesn’t press the issue which shows the tension between the two. Meanwhile, Young Ian is wrestling a bone away from Rollo and discovers it is a human bone. The trio investigate and find the remains of Caleb who Young Ian remembers being with the Mohawk he sold Roger too. They all go off hoping not to find Roger’s body. All three return with nothing to report.
At River Run, John and Brianna are on the porch. John tries to come to Jamie’s defense but Brianna isn’t having it. John then speaks of his own son which surprises Brianna. John confesses his son isn’t his blood but he truly loves him which, of course, Brianna can appreciate. John tells her to have hope because it is at the heart of love. When John goes inside Brianna decides to read Jamie’s letter.
Jamie, Claire and Young Ian bury Caleb. That night Claire joins Jamie who is clearly worrying over Roger and Brianna. Claire explains that after Frank’s death it was just Brianna and she so any secrets were between them. Claire is upset with herself for not telling Jamie about Bonnet and Jamie is worried Brianna doesn’t need him and doesn’t think him a good man. He even worried Claire felt the same. She calls him a fool but insists Brianna is just like him. They both get in a temper and say things they don’t mean which Jamie understands.
Claire comes to him then telling Jamie to warm her and the two make up with quiet ferocity.
