Outlander Book Club: Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone Chapter 83 breakdown
Just the Outlander chapter
The chapter starts with the Murrays getting closer to Canajoharie. Rachel is getting nervous, especially as she hears Ian speak to Oggy in Mohawk more and more. I love that Rachel is nervous but that she doesn’t stop Ian from being who he is. He is both Highlander and Mohawk.
Jenny can tell that Rachel is nervous. She makes it very clear that she is inclined to be rude to Emily. After all, Jenny is not happy that someone rejected her son. Jenny also points out that Ian loves Rachel very much. It’s clear that Jenny will stand up for Rachel if it’s needed.
Young Ian writes a letter to the Mohawk leader, Joseph Brant. We get a little bit of backstory about him, including that he has been to London. It doesn’t take long for Brant to invite Ian and the others to tea. Everyone needs to look their best, and Ian makes sure that everyone is reminded of Emily’s name so that they know when she is being spoken about.
During the meeting, Brant serves tea. This is something that none of them have had for a while. Ian says that it’s due to Jamie sneezing from it, but we know the time period as well. Tea wasn’t easy to come by in this time period. But the mention of Jamie helps to bring up the fact that Jamie is known as “Bear Killer” and “Nine Fingers.”
The Murrays also meet Mrs. Brant, who curtsies and is confused when nobody curtsies back. There is a funny thought from Jenny about how she wouldn’t even curtsy to the King of England.
The conversation avoids politics, but there is talk of needing a peace-talker. Mrs. Brant shares that if Ian can’t have both wives, Mr. Brant will take Rachel as a peace-talker.
I love the ending to the chapter. Sachem appears, and he turns to Jenny with word from her husband Ian. He shares that Ian says that he now walks on two legs. There is no way that Sachem would have known Ian Murray alive, and I just adore that this tells Jenny this man is the real deal. It’s such a touching moment for a woman who hasn’t really seemed to have the time to grief the loss of her husband.