The SPOILER Thread can be found here.


VOYAGER CH 6 – Being Now Justified By His Blood

Jamie keeps his promise to stay away especially with the patrols happening more frequently around the area. He stays in his cave reading books that Jared has sent. The patrol has settled for a rest outside his cave just as Fergus is approaching with a cask of beer. They demand the beer but instead Fergus decides to antagonize them. In the ensuing melee, a soldier raises his sword and slices off Fergus’ hand. Jamie has to hold himself back from interfering. It was 2 days before Rabbie comes back to tell him that Fergus is Ok and that the Capt was sorry for what has happened paying Jenny a gold sovereign.

Jamie finds Fergus ensconced in the nursery and begins apologizing to him for what has happened. Fergus tells him not to trouble himself “Me, I have been fortunate.” “Do you not recall our agreement, Milord?” Jamie recalled telling the little pickpocket that if he lost an ear or a hand while doing his service that he would support him for the rest of his life. Jamie tells him that he can trust him to keep his bargain. “Oh, I have always trusted you, milord,…For in one stroke, I am become a gentleman of leisure, non?” How can you not love this little guy!

Jamie has come to a decision which he discusses with Jenny. He cannot hide any longer putting the family in danger. He plans to have himself ‘captured’ for a reward to be paid to the tenants/family. The night before the “capture”, Mary MacNab comes to visit Jamie with his last meal. Then, she makes it obvious that she’s there for more than the food. It’s funny that Jamie asks her if this is her idea or Jenny’s. After an argument, Mary settles it by telling him that she wants to give him something that his sister and the children cannot and proceeds to seduce him. He tells her that he hasn’t done this in a long time to which she tells him “Neither have I…But we’ll remember how ‘tis.”

This is a short but sweet chapter. Everyone has made the ultimate sacrifices for life and family. Fergus loses his hand, Jamie exchanges his freedom for the family’s security, and Mary gives her body for Jamie’s last chance for female comfort. Although, I have to wonder if Mary hasn’t been lusting after Jamie all along and used this as an excuse to finally go at him.

Fergus losing his hand had me cringing, and his reaction did endear him to me even more - he faced his fate with the memory of Jamie's promise but never for a moment did I believe he'd really live his life out as a man of leisure, he'd help Jamie and Jenny/Ian however he could as a man of honor, like his foster father. What a hard decision Jamie had to make, as a prisoner of the crown he'd have no reassurance of his life but as always put the family first.

Loved your observation about Mary, Pauline! No doubt Mary McNab had an eye out for the bonnie Jamie along with every other woman at Lallybroch, in France, and even at Castle Leoch Those feelings might have been made even stronger with heartfelt gratitude for helping her and her family escape further abuse at the hands of her former husband. What if a child had resulted from hers and Jamie's union?

Good observation of the parallels. Not only sacrifices on each individual's part but also a show of gratitude. Fergus is grateful to Jamie and will pay the price of losing his hand; Jamie is grateful to his family for their love and devotion to keeping him safe for those long 7 years; Mary is grateful to Jamie for protecting her young son from an abusive father.




Just loved the way you put that!

Well, of course, she was! Aren't we all?!

When the soldier cut off Fergus' hand I was shocked. I wanted to scold him---Why didn't you give up the keg? WHY?!?

This was a sad chapter. The moment shared between Jennie and Jamie was very touching. When she told him that he might be killed and he said, "Do ye think I care?"

As for Mary McNab... Come on you gals aren't being very fair---she sacrificed her body, so that she could keep Jamie 'whole'. Do you really think that she enjoyed one single moment of it? Actually I agree with you Pauline, I imagine Mary had been planning that moment for 7 years and I imagine she got a wee bit of enjoyment out of it too!

I am shocked, I say shocked, by some of these statements.

I will tell that my bad thought here was what happened to the cask? Didn't anyone go after it when the English cleared out? It must still be floating down that burn, cold and well aged.

Seriously, I loved Fergus' reaction to Jamie's concern and Fergus' reminder to Jamie of his promise. Of what use is this promise with Jamie in a cave or prison and the family destitute? Still, Fergus remains loyal. I think that the loyalty between Jamie and Fergus is very much deserved (may I add rewarded here?) on both sides.

Jenny is right to be concerned about Jamie's future. The executions of Jacobites are in the recent past and Jamie was notorious. I can understand Jamie's desperation to do something to end his burden on the family, and turn the burden into a gift. Besides, he was willing to die at Culloden, should we expect less of him now?

(Great job, Pauline!)

I adore Fergus. To maintain his sense of humor when he was in obvious pain and when he lost a hand which they all knew had to affect him for the rest of his life, shows so much about his strong character. And, I love the mutual loyalty he and Jamie share.

I think you are right about Mary McNab. But, why shouldn't she get a little enjoyment out of it too.

OK, ABL! These comments about Mary McNab remind me of a love scene in the movie Armageddon (a favorite in our house near July 4th), I think with the animal crackers which I found very touching. Anyway, the sentiment is expressed that if many people are not doing the same thing (making love) at that very moment, what are they risking their lives for? (The movie is sci fi, but has many touching moments in it, as well as funny scenes.)

Yes, Mary is entitled to some joy herself out of sharing joy with Jamie. I applaud her efforts.