Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 6 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Brianna and Roger together. They have a quick discussion about celibacy, as it’s the only way to definitely avoid pregnancy. This all comes up because Mrs. Buchanan gave Bree some embroidery silk so she can work on a shawl for when she dies. After all, women don’t have a long life expectancy in the 18th century.
Roger says that he would happy to live a celibate life, but it’s soon clear that’s not the case. Shortly after this, they end up sleeping together, and Brianna thinks about how much she wants Roger still. Celibacy is not an option.
The conversation moves onto Roger sharing about Jamie’s headstone in Scotland. Brianna is angry that Frank put the headstone there, viewing it as a selfish reason. However, Roger points out that it wasn’t just selfish. There was actually something kind about his actions.
Frank knew there was a chance that Claire would research Jamie. Putting the headstone at St. Kilda meant that Claire would believe he did die at Culloden. She then wouldn’t be torn between staying for Brianna (which Roger knows Claire would have done) and going back to the past for Jamie. It would have been terrible for Claire to feel so torn.
Brianna realizes that Roger has nobody in his life. She has Claire and Jamie, the family at Lallybroch, and even Jemmy. In fact, Jemmy is the person who keeps her grounded, and Roger doesn’t have that certainty in knowing Jemmy is his.
As she thinks of this, she gives Roger a chance not to marry her. That’s not going to happen. Not only has Roger made his choice, but he comments about how Jamie would hunt him down if he did that. Brianna is slightly happy about that knowing that her Da is so protective of her.
Brianna uses this time to tell Roger the truth about Bonnet, that she went to see him and told him about Jemmy. At the time, she thought Bonnet was going to die.
Roger is hurt. Does that mean Brianna believes Jemmy is Bonnet’s son? Not at all! Brianna has no idea, but she had to find a way to forgive Bonnet, and she didn’t want him thinking that he was going to die without something of his being left behind.
At the end, three men stumble upon Bree and Roger. They speak in Gaelic, which Roger can translate better than Bree. They recognize Roger as a singer, and invite him to an event in the spring, which turns out is going to be a wedding. Roger makes a comment about herring, which only the older man in the group understands. It turns out the sons were born in the colonies and have lost some of the traditions from Scotland.
As the men leave, Roger refuses to believe that Jemmy is Bonnet’s child. He has made a commitment. Jemmy is his child. He promises Brianna that he’ll never tell Jemmy anything about Bonnet should something happen to her.