Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 6 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

Jamie is alone in the cave. This is where he has been for so long, and he has his books to read to at least avoid going bored. However, he’s still caged in a way.

When he hears voices from the path, he sneaks a look. There are Redcoats out there, which means he can’t get out of his cave for some time. He notes that his water jug is almost empty, so this isn’t great timing.

However, there is a commotion going on. Jamie sees that Fergus is bringing a cask of ale. Of course, the soldiers want it, which is a shame for Jamie. He is more concerned about Fergus, though. The boy can’t help but taunt the English. He has a bad habit of testing authority, and this time he pays heavily for it.

Jamie can just watch as Fergus’s hand is chopped off. Jamie faints at the sight of it, but sees Fergus’s hand on the ground as the last thing.

When he wakes, Fergus has been taken away. Rabbie comes to him a couple of days later to give him the all-clear to get to Lallybroch. That’s when he finds out that the English soldiers took Fergus back to the house and left a gold coin with Jenny as an apology for their actions. Jenny has made sure Fergus’s life is saved despite the loss of hand.

Jamie goes to see Fergus, where Fergus brings up the promise Jamie had made in Paris. If Fergus should lose an ear or hand in Jamie’s service, Jamie will look after him for the rest of his life. That’s exactly what Jamie agrees to. There’s no way he would turn his back on Fergus now.

However, Jamie needs to do something first. He can’t allow the family to put their lives on the line for him. He needs to turn himself in. Jenny won’t have it, but Jamie isn’t up for arguing. There’s a price on his head, so the tenants can gain that money. He says that Joe Fraser can “betray” him.

It takes two months to organize, but finally the “ambush” is set. Mary MacNab makes sure Jamie has a last good meal and also sleeps with him the night before Jamie is set to be “ambushed.”