Roger learns that Bonnet is still after Jemmy in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 15
This chapter of Outlander Book 6 starts off pretty quiet, focusing on catching us up on things at River Run. However, it ends with a reminder of Stephen Bonnet.
Roger catches us up on events that involved the tenants. He even admits that it was a good thing to have Christie and Arch Bug there. We then get a catch up on things involving Ulysses.
The most important part of the chapter is at the end of the chapter. Phaedre shares news that a man turned up at River Run that day asking about Jemmy. Roger immediately knows who it is. There’s no doubt about who would want to get close to Jemmy without anyone else seeing him. It’s fortunate that Phaedre was around, and now Roger needs to get Jem to safety.
The chapter certainly foreshadows a major plot point to come. It is an important chapter for us as readers. It’s that reminder that Stephen Bonnet is still around.
However, it’s not been used in the series and it won’t be. I’ll get to my thoughts on that in the adaptation section.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 15.
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with Roger thinking about the tenants. They’ll be ready to head off to Fraser’s Ridge, and Roger thinks about how having Christie and Arch Bug was a good thing. It prevented Roger putting his foot in it, and it also helped to convince some of the settlers who were worried about life on the Ridge.
He then goes to talk to Duncan Innes. When Roger asks Duncan about a scar, Duncan explains that he had a split lip. A surgeon sewed it up, and Roger starts to wonder if there is another time traveler around—or at least if there was!
When Jocasta arrives, we also find out that Ulysses is there. Roger has to catch us up on that since Ulysses went to another colony in the fifth book. We learn that Lieutenant Wolff wasn’t a big problem after all and Ulysses was able to return to Jocasta’s plantation.
Roger heads inside to see Jemmy. That’s when Phaedre gets a chance to tell Roger about a man showing up. Roger immediately gets a sense that something is wrong, and it’s clear that it’s all about Bonnet. We get that reminder that Bonnet wants Jemmy, and he will do whatever he can to take the child.
Roger wants to go off and hunt down Bonnet to protect his family. He knows that isn’t an option, though. He needs to get back to the Ridge with Christie, Arch, Jemmy, and the new tenants. This isn’t the time for the Bonnet problem.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
It’s clear that Bonnet is going to become a bigger problem in this book. Bonnet wants Jemmy, and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. That’s going to lead to the big storyline that sees Brianna abducted to get to the boy.
Another bit of foreshadowing is in the discussion about surgeons. Roger thinks about the time travelers he knows about. There has to be more, and we get that foreshadowing that there are more time travelers to come in this saga. Why would they be naive enough to think they’re the only time travelers.
While Duncan is talking to Roger, he also talks about how his grandmother was executed by drowning. This is clear foreshadowing of what’s to come for Bonnet. We just don’t realize it at the time.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
This chapter isn’t going to be adapted in Outlander. It’s too late for that. Season 5 brought an end to Bonnet’s storyline.
The chapter wasn’t used then. The show put the thought of Bonnet in through another method—the Irishman who left a coin for Jemmy. Mrs. Bug didn’t sense anything off, but it starts Brianna’s fears that Bonnet will come for them.
I don’t mind that this chapter was skipped over. There wasn’t really a need for it in the show’s storyline. We had the consistent reminders of Bonnet in other ways; ways that made more sense for the method of storytelling for a series. With Bonnet’s storyline over, everything that involves him in A Breath of Snow and Ashes isn’t going to be in the series.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 15? Let us know in the comments below.
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