With his daddy’s full attention on him, Master Thomas quiets down and takes his daddy’s hand. He walks down to the carriage and climbs in without a fuss. Missus goes to follow him inside, but pauses just before she does.

“You should sit next to Red,” she says to me. “Bessie won’t mind being on the edge.”

I can’t find my tongue as she climbs in and then the Master after her.

“I’m supposed to come with you?” I finally ask, stricken.

“Of course,” she says, peeking out the window. “I told you this morning, we’re all going. You have to look after Thomas.”

From being dead set against going a little while ago, Master Thomas is calm and peaceful sitting next to his daddy.

“If he don’t want to go,” I try, “I could stay here and watch Master Thomas.”

“Don’t get him started again,” Master says in a tone that means he don’t want to hear no backtalk. Then he knocks on the frame of the carriage. “We’re ready, Red,” he calls out. And to me he says, “Sarah, get on your seat.”

Bessie’s slumped next to Red on the bench seat. She shifts over to make room for me. I’m in a panic. I look around wildly for a way out. Red reaches down to help me climb up between them. All the pain and anger I feel is pouring out of his eyes. Neither one of us is running tonight, and no way Finny’s gonna wait around till we get back. I tuck my hands under my thighs and grip so hard I’m making welts. Tears blur my vision and soak my cheeks. When Red clicks his tongue and flicks the reins, the horses trot, pulling us away from Jubilee.

Chapter 60

Henry

I wait in the woods from before sunset, watching the shadows spread long, until well after darkness settles thick and true. I sit and stand and pace and wait some more. When I can’t take it another minute, I sneak to Sarah and Bessie’s cabin under the cloak of black and find it empty. Then I make my way to Red’s cabin. It’s empty too. I rake my fingers through my hair and pace his floor, worrying. They were supposed to wait for darkness. I don’t know if they changed the plan because they saw a chance to go and took it, but my gut is twisting in knots thinking of Sarah out there without me.

I know she’s headed to Culpeper, to the green house at the start of town, so I creep back to the woods and make my way to the road. I can travel faster out in the open than she can slinking through the forest, so I figure if I head for the safe house I might get there first. I can make sure it’s really safe before she arrives. I tell myself all this to calm my nerves and stay positive, but ten steps down the road I have to stop and lean against a tree and breathe. Anything could happen to her on the run.