Claire treats one of Tom Christie’s injuries in Outlander Book 6, Chapter 21
We get a couple of things going on during Outlander Book 6, Chapter 21. The main part is getting to know a little more about Tom Christie.
The chapter actually starts with Mrs. Bug jumping to the conclusion that Brianna is pregnant. It turns out Bree certainly isn’t, and that is something that comes up later in the chapter.
The main focus is all about Tom Christie, who is struggling with an injury to his hand. Claire had wanted to fix the main problem a while ago, and now Tom has no choice but to start trusting her. However, we also get to see the tension between Tom and Jamie. It’s clear that these men don’t like each other, and this is important for the rest of the story.
It really does foreshadow a few things in this chapter. I’ll get to that in the foreshadowing section.
So far, this chapter hasn’t been used for the series. I expect some of it will be in Outlander Season 6, and I’ll get to that in the adaptation section of this post.
Let’s dive into A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 21.
Just the Outlander chapter
We start the chapter with family dinner. Mrs. Bug jumps to the conclusion that Brianna is pregnant, and gets excited about it. However, that’s not the case, and Mrs. Bug goes on to blame Roger that he may be the problem. Bree says a few choice words and then leaves.
I don’t blame Bree for reacting the way she does. I’d react the exact same way. We have to remember that Bree is from the 1960s and is a little more outspoken than Mrs. Bug would have been.
Later in the chapter, we revisit the couple. Roger is concerned that Bree isn’t pregnant yet. They have been trying and it’s clear that Roger fears that he is the one that’s causing the problem. Maybe Bree thinks the same thing. Brianna has already had one baby, so maybe Roger is shooting blanks.
This is a time before secondary infertility was understood—it is a real problem. It can also take up to a year for two healthy adults to get pregnant. This isn’t a concern yet, but it’s understandable why Roger worries.
The rest of the chapter involves Tom Christie. He shows up with an injury to his arm, which has happened because he still hasn’t let Claire fix the problem he already came to the Ridge with. This problem is getting worse, and Claire points out that Tom won’t be able to write soon. That is a concern. It’s the only real standing that Tom has on the Ridge. If he can’t write, what can he do?
Tom and Jamie do have a moment between them. They try to remain somewhat civil, but it’s clear that they’re not friends. They have little respect for each other. Jamie wouldn’t have let Tom stay had he been able to welcome the man to the Ridge.
What’s surprising is Jamie using the term “Sassenach” toward him. It’s with the vitriol that Claire had heard it used against her by anyone other than Jamie. It isn’t an endearing name when said to and by most people. Claire sees a slightly different side to her husband. She also doesn’t really like Tom, but it’s too late now.
This is the first real chance we’ve got to see Tom. He turned up in The Fiery Cross, and he’s been mentioned since. This is really the first time we’ve seen him and Jamie interact, and there’s more of that to come.
Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter
This chapter foreshadows two things. The first is that Bree and Roger will see their family grow. It may not be at the rate of most people on the Ridge, but they will see their family grow.
The second is the continued role Tom will play throughout A Breath of Snow and Ashes. This is just the start of the drama. Tom is forming a bond with Claire in this chapter, and expect that bond to continue to grow. We’ll also see his and Jamie’s relationship turn extremely sour, and that’s going to continue with Tom’s children and Jamie.
Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter
We haven’t yet seen the chapter used on Outlander, but I think we’ll get to see some of it. We need to get to know Christie, and this chapter is a good one. We should see the interaction between Tom and Jamie, especially since we didn’t get to see him during the Ardsmuir scenes.
We also might get to see something about Roger and Bree trying for another baby. This is the one I’m not expecting as much. They can have Mandy without a big storyline around them trying for the baby. There are only eight episodes to Outlander Season 6, so the storylines need to remain contained. The Christies are the most important.
What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 21? Let us know in the comments below.
Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for the latest from the Outlander Book Club and much more.