Outlander Book Club: Drums of Autumn Chapter 14 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter picks up with Jamie, Claire, Young Ian, and John Quincy Myers trying to get Pollyanne to safety before the sergeant turns up. Pollyanne has been kept safe for now, and other slaves know where she is, but they’re not going to say anything.

Understandably, Pollyanne is worried about leaving with this group of white people. However, she does sense some safety in Claire and clings onto Claire when they’re riding. Eventually, Pollyanne starts to feel a little more comfortable with the group, especially when she helps them with the ticks with seeds that are poisonous if swallowed.

Claire thinks about how expressive Pollyanne is. Despite Claire not understanding much in terms of language, she does get what Pollyanne is mostly saying, showing her patience in understanding and her ability to watch for physical signs.

Under other circumstances, Claire and Pollyanne could become friends. It reminds me that I still love seeing Claire find female companionship that isn’t her daughter. I really miss Claire and Jenny’s bond.

The group finally makes it to the mountains. It’s time for John Quincy Myers to take Pollyanne to the Native tribe. She’ll be going to the Tuscarora tribe, which had faced almost being made extinct but had been adopted by the Mohawk tribe. Myers knows that they will take her in, despite a different skin color.

Myers also explains that she will be safe. The Natives are very female-friendly. The women choose who they sleep with and who they marry. Rape isn’t a thing that happens, and I love that this is pointed out. If only it was more widely known to make it clear they weren’t the savages that the whites claimed they were! The Natives were better than the whites in some aspects.

Young Ian makes it clear that he wants to leave with Myers and Pollyanne to see the Natives. This isn’t a request, and there’s no way that Jamie can say no.