“No, sir. I wouldn’t do that. Believe you me, I’m a stickler for rules myself.”

“Good. Because we all have to follow rules. Laid out by God and government.”

“Yes, sir. Amen.”

“My last overseer, and others, committed the sin of fornication.”

“Sir?”

“God’s got a rule against that. I expect you know that fornication, even with a slave, is against God’s law.”

“I suppose it is.”

“Now, the Devil’s always at work.”

“Yes, sir.”

“He can send a lust on a man,” Master snaps his fingers. “Like that. But on a sanctified plantation, and that’s what Jubilee is, we have to renounce the Devil and his temptations.”

“Amen, sir.”

“And I’ll tell you something else. God didn’t ordain we should be masters over the Negro race to teach sin. We’re to teach them the righteous gospel of the Bible.”

“Well, I sure am a God-fearing man, sir.”

“That’s good. Christian slaveholders and overseers have to bring light into dark minds.”

The aching in my arms spreads around my shoulders and crawls all down my back till I’m burning up with tired. I roll my shoulders but keep the fan waving, hoping Master won’t notice me shifting about. When Bessie comes feeling her way around the side of the house and Master shifts his attention over to her for a minute, I tuck the long handle under my shoulder to try to ease the heavy in my arms.

Bessie tests the ground and inches forward. Watching her makes me think on a timid bird. She’s nothing like the woman she was when I first met her less than a year ago, all sure steps and swagger.

“This one’s Bessie,” Master says. “Come here, Bessie.”

She gropes her way up the stairs.

“I set Bessie free last week. I’ll bet you thought I forgot about that.”

“No, Master.”

“I haven’t had time to sort out your free papers yet, but don’t you worry. They’re coming.”

“I been meaning to talk to you about that, Master.”

“Something on your mind?” He lays his cool glass against his face.

“I was wondering. Well, I was hoping. It’s just that my Ben’s buried over yonder, and Samson and Clover’s here. And Callie May and the children. Little Patsy and Shine and Tally and Hep.”

“Bessie, I know my slaves. What’s this about?”

“Well, Master, I appreciate you giving me my papers. I do. But I want to ask you if I can stay put.”

“Stay?”

“Don’t got that many days left no more. This here’s the only home I know. Please, Master. I won’t make no trouble.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.” He slams down his drink and turns to the new overseer. “Do you hear this, Mister Laramie?”

“Don’t mean no harm by it, Master. I’m grateful for what you done.”

Master straightens tall in his seat with his chest puffed out. “I gave this woman her freedom, and you hear what she says? She wants to stay here.” He jumps up out of his seat, knocking over his glass of sweet tea. It spills from the small table on to the white painted porch.