Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 35 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with mundane life at the fort. After that, Claire goes about as a doctor. One of her patients is a young boy with suspected mumps, and Claire is worried about that passing on. Jamie is too when he learns what it can do.
After that, Claire goes to see Captain Stebbings, who is still alive and kicking. He refuses to allow anyone but Claire treat him, although Guinea Dick refuses to disappear. He wants to see what Claire is doing, and he looks over Claire’s shoulder all the time.
Life in general at the fort is unpleasant. Claire talks about all the diseases that are spreading, and there are plenty of drinking idiots. She worries that something will happen while she’s there, and I love that her fears are echoed by Bree and Roger in the previous chapter when they learn Claire and Jamie make it here.
While in the middle of the thoughts, Ian interrupts. He starts with comments on the bridge that is being built and how General Burgoyne is planning on using the Iroquois League as weapons against the Americans. Claire doesn’t really understand why Ian is telling her this. It’s clear that Ian has another matter that is more delicate.
Claire finally gets Ian to share why he is there. It turns out that Emily had a healthy child, and Ian is upset about that. It’s not that Emily had a healthy child, but that it wasn’t with him. What does that mean about him? Can he not have children? Ian goes into the Mohawk beliefs surrounding spirits, but Claire explains that there could be something else.
It’s all about blood conflict that can cause stillbirths and miscarriages. Claire shares a little about mismatched Rh factors, and she makes it clear that Ian and Emily can’t blame themselves for stillborn children. This also helps Claire stop blaming herself and Jamie for losing Faith.
I love that we get this moment. Ian trusts Claire to be able to bring a scientific answer, and that’s just what she does. She does it in such a loving way, too, furthering that bond between aunt and nephew.