“Good girl,” I hear him call after me, and I just run and run.

Bessie sits crouched next to Ben’s grave like I knew she would be. She’s talking to him and stroking the grass that’s sprung up out of the mound of dirt covering him. I reach her, panting for air. The rasping of my in-and-out breaths fills my ears.

When I can get the words out, I tell her Master wants her to come on so they can take her with them to Richmond.

She lays her hand flat on top of Ben. “I’m tired,” she says to the grave.

“You got to go,” I say.

She shakes her head. “He’s gonna keep dragging me out till I fall over.”

I crouch beside her and sling my arm over her shoulder.

“This ain’t the kind of staying I meant,” she says.

“At least you’ll lie next to Ben like you wanted,” I say.

“Lord knows I’m ready.”

I get up and help her to stand. She’s shaky on her feet and I take her arm to steady her. I been thinking so much about Henry and me, I barely thought about Bessie, but I see what I been missing. Her skin sags off her bird bones, her eyes sink into her face, and her hair’s fallen out in two bald patches. It takes her a spell before she can walk with me and she has to go slow, leaning on me the whole way.

When I get her to the wagon, Master, Missus and Master Thomas are nowhere around. Maple’s gone off too, and it’s just Red there stroking the horses while he waits. The disappointment in his face is a terrible thing to see. I slip my hand in his and squeeze. I hope he can forgive me for leaving without him.

“There you are,” I hear the Missus exclaim behind me, and I slip my hand away. She shoos Master Thomas along in front of her and he don’t seem happy about it.

He mopes and drags his feet. “But I don’t want to go. Why do I have to? I could stay here and Sarah could look after me.”

I look away from him. I don’t want to tear up seeing him go, but I don’t want him to stay and make me have to leave him.

“Matthew, would you talk to your son.”

Master comes stomping out looking pleased with himself. He calls Thomas to him and the boy bolts up the porch steps to his father.

“Let me tell you something, Thomas. This whole plantation,” and he sweeps his arm around in an arc, “is going to be yours one day. But there are Yankees up north who want to take away our very way of life and destroy the plantations across the South. We have to stop them and that’s why we’re going to Richmond. I know you can’t understand it all now, but one day soon it’s going to be your job to keep this for your children and your children’s children. In a way, Thomas, we’re going on this trip to protect your future.”