“Keep away, or I’ll come for you.” I don’t mention her name. I don’t have to.

He’s pleased with himself. He wanted to get a rise out of me, and he’s got it. “Ain’t you got work to do, blacksmith? Idle hands is the Devil’s work.” He digs his heels into the horse’s flank and trots into the cotton rows. “Get that water out in the fields,” he shouts to the children.

They heave their buckets and spread out from worker to worker while I stand there grinding my teeth.

By the time I turn and leave the fields, I’m tight as a bowstring. I find her in a cellar room off the carry-through, fetching apples with Thomas.

“Are those for the horses?” I ask. “You’re going to make them sick with too many apples.”

She holds her apron full of fruit. “He wants to feed them.”

“Thomas, go down and see Red,” I say. “He can help you give them a sack of barley. It’d be better for them.”

Thomas rushes out without a further thought to the apples in Sarah’s skirts. She turns to the crate shelf to replace them. I step up behind her and, when she’s finished, I press in close. She stills and leans back into my chest. I run my hands down her arms, and weave my fingers between hers and feel myself ease, just from touching her.

Chapter 36

Sarah

“Look, Sarah! Look at me,” Master Thomas yells from up on top an old mare.

He grins from ear to ear and I grin right along with him. Henry jogs beside the boy, his face a mask of concentration.

“Don’t lean forwards, stay upright,” Henry calls out. “And keep your legs strong.”

Henry slows the horse down before Master Thomas bounces himself clean off the seat with his trotting.

Behind us we hear clapping and spin around. Master stands there watching. My heart thumps and my palms prickle with sweat. I think back, hoping there weren’t nothing going on here that he shouldn’t see.

“Well, this is a happy sight,” he says. “Thomas, you look like a natural up on that horse. Like you were born to it.”

Henry and me don’t say a word, but I reckon we’re both thinking the same thing. You can encourage the boy without outright lying.

“Doesn’t he look fabulous up there?” Master asks us, and we both agree. Ain’t like we’re gonna say no. He comes over and shakes Henry’s hand. “I can see you are a man of many talents,” he says. “Sarah mentioned you were helping with this.”

I’m glad he remembers and this looks normal to him. Glad he hasn’t seen how me and Henry been looking at each other all afternoon. Glad the overseer didn’t talk to him about the other day.

“I’ve come to collect you, Thomas. We’re riding into Fredericksburg. Your mother too. Your aunt and uncle have bought a new house, and we’re going to go take a look.”