I flatten my hands across my belly. “Good night, Bessie.”

“You got to go to Red’s,” she says.

“Henry’s coming for me,” I tell her. For us.

In the morning, I lie on my pallet listening to someone draw water at the well. I’m so tired, my arms and legs weigh down like logs. I hear fast footsteps and then Red comes bursting through the door.

“Get up, both of y’all,” he hisses. “Quick, before he sees.”

Even if I hadn’t understood his words, the tone of his voice would be enough. I jump up. Fear is like a bolt of lightning that will get a body moving every time.

“Master’s coming, Master’s coming,” he says, pushing my pallet under Bessie’s bed. He pulls Bessie upright and when she wobbles, I rush over to keep her standing. That’s when Master walks in the door.

“There you are,” Master says, and I don’t dare look at him in the face.

“Morning, Master,” I say, and prod Bessie to say the same. Since she started her happy-to-be-a-slave tours, all she do is sleep, drag herself up to Ben’s grave, and stay away from Master.

“See, here she is, Master. In here helping Bessie like I say. Every morning and evening.”

“Well, that’s good. That’s good. I didn’t think of how pulling Sarah out would affect you, Bessie, but I’m glad you’re being looked after.”

“Yes, sir,” I say when she don’t say nothing to that.

“You two settling in all right?”

“Yes, sir,” me and Red both say.

“Good. Good.” He purses his mouth looking at us. “I was thinking we should have a celebration to mark your union. What do you think of that?”

“No, Master.” I shake my head and both he and Red look at me like I done lost my mind, but I don’t want to celebrate me and Red. Not with Henry’s baby in my belly and me waiting every day on a way out of here. “I mean, you don’t need to put yourself out on account of us. Ain’t that right, Red?”

Red don’t say nothing to help and Master plows on, “Nonsense. It’ll be good for the whole plantation. I’ll let you all cut off an hour early tonight and I’ll send down a ham and some of Old Willie’s hooch.”

“Thank you, Master. We both thank you for this kindness,” Red says, swinging his arm around my shoulder and squeezing to warn me from saying anything else.

Master waves Red’s thanks away. “You’re two of my best slaves. It feels right to celebrate the two of you together. It’ll be good for the plantation. You’ll be our new Bessie and Ben.”

He slaps Red on the shoulder and leans in close. “She looks exhausted, Red. You should ease up on her a bit. Let her get some sleep or you’ll wear her right out.” Red and I keep our mouths closed as he slaps him a second time on the shoulder and saunters out.