Outlander Book Club: An Echo in the Bone Chapter 85 breakdown

Just the Outlander chapter

The chapter starts with questions over whether Buck can be trusted. Understandably, Roger and Bree don’t trust him. After all, Buck was the reason Roger was hanged. However, Amanda trusts Buck.

We have to point out at this point that Roger isn’t the greatest judge of character. He’s trusted bad people in the past and vice versa. So, it’s hard to trust Roger’s judge of character right now.

What we do find out is that Buck has been around for a while. He thought Roger was an Old One, which would make sense considering Roger survived a hanging and is in another time. Buck didn’t come straight to Roger and Bree out of fear, and Bree points out that Roger and Jamie have acted similarly when they were scared.

That night, Amanda wakes up screaming. It turns out that someone has taken Jem, and she makes it clear that it wasn’t Buck but Bobby’s dad. Rob Cameron has taken Jemmy, and the “wocks” have him. Roger notes that a letter from Jamie and Claire had been taken from the box. Roger puts it all together and figures out that Buck has taken Jem to Craigh na Dun.

Roger and Buck head to Craigh na Dun. Buck has a lot of questions about blood and getting through the stones. Roger is about to be sucked in, but Buck pulls him back. Buck wonders if it makes up for him having Roger hanged.

Why is Buck so “good” in this chapter? Is it that he was just misunderstood, or is it just that he needs Roger’s help right now? Maybe he’s always had the ability to be a good person but was put in a difficult life.