Outlander Book Club: Drums of Autumn Chapter 43 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
We spend time just in the everyday life at Fraser’s Ridge to begin with, which includes a young man Claire doesn’t really like, especially the way he looks at Brianna. Being in her 20s and unmarried would usually be a concern during this time, especially as the only daughter of Jamie Fraser. Surely he should try to arrange a marriage.
However, Brianna is holding out hope that Roger will return. He said he would, but she also knows that there’s danger. Claire thinks about the danger. She knows that Roger has gone to steal some gems to help them travel through the stones again, and Claire knows what could have happened to Roger.
Yet, Bree tries to hold out hope. She tries to think that Roger is trying to get back to her and asks people to look out for Roger Wakefield.
She only uses the name Wakefield. I would have thought she’d have heard Roger’s crewmate use the name MacKenzie, but maybe Brianna wasn’t paying that much attention when she was in shock. It does hint of something to come.
At the same time, Lizzie wants to know about her father to see if he’s made it. She’s a shy young thing who doesn’t really speak to Claire and Jamie, but she does pluck up the courage to ask Claire about her father, who is likely in South Carolina.
I’m not sure how Lizzie would work this out. She must have known something about some sort of deal being made in Scotland, but we never get to know that. However, Brianna does later ask for people to look out for Lizzie’s father, too.
The big focus is on a button, which Germaine picks up and puts in his mouth. Up to this point, it’s just been cockroaches and they never considered a button in the middle of the earth. It’s only when he starts choking that they realize something has happened, but Brianna manages to dislodge the button and save Germaine.
Naturally, Marsali is shook up, but she does thank Brianna before she leaves. The focus for Jamie is on finding out who the button belongs to. It was too close to the whisky, and that is concerning for Jamie. If this was someone he knew, he wouldn’t mind so much. The missing button belongs to someone who didn’t even come up to the house for a bite to eat.
However, the conversation has to move onto the selling of the whisky, which includes a discussion about the Tuscarora and the Native Americans in general. Brianna is worried about them getting alcohol that they can’t handle. Claire points out that the world “alcoholic” isn’t used yet. Someone who has a drinking problem is considered weak, and Jamie confirms that with a mention of how the bottle doesn’t pour itself.
At the very end, Kenny Lindsay notes Brianna’s nickname. Jamie points out the meaning of “Bree.”
During the chapter, there is also a bonding moment for Brianna and Jamie. They watch Claire as she works in the garden.