I’m changing the tablecloths in the dining room when I hear an angry voice in the front hall. I freeze. Mulch is back and he don’t waste no time before coming to talk to Master. I poke my head into the hall, and I see Master leading him into his study. His face has puffed into a blue-black mess.

I strain to listen from where I stand in the hallway, but I can’t make out more than a loud rumble. When Maple comes by and sees me, she grabs my arm and yanks me outside. She’s hung rugs on the line and sets me to beating them. The dust flies in my face, making me cough, and she smirks. I swear, she’d set me to work in the fields if she could.

As I’m pounding and coughing, Annie rushes out of the house and over to the forge. In a minute, she’s leading Henry back to the house. I stop beating, watching him go. Maple comes back out threatening to have me whipped for laziness.

I’ve walloped two rugs when Master bellows my name. I freeze for a second and then I come running, scurrying into his study. Master sits at his desk with Henry and the overseer standing in front. I hover by the door clutching the rug beater.

“Yes, sir,” I pant, out of breath.

“I understand there was an incident here in my absence.” His neck is splotching red, which means he’s already angrier than what’s safe.

I drop my gaze to the floor and feel the eyes of all three men on me. “Yes, sir,” I say.

“I told you what happened,” Master Mulch says. “What are you asking her for? She’s just a slave, for Christ’s sake.”

Master glares at him with flashing eyes. You can’t be taking the Lord’s name in vain with Master.

“She’s just a slave,” the overseer grumbles, correcting himself.

“You’ll want to watch your tone and your words, Mulch. I won’t have that in my house.”

“This man attacked me unprovoked.” The overseer waves his ruined hand, straining to keep his composure. “For the second time.” He pulls back his sleeve to the lingering whip scar on his arm. “He’s out of control and dangerous.”

“You deserve worse than you got,” Henry snaps.

“Sarah,” Master says, “did you see the blacksmith attack Master Mulch?”

I open my mouth and close it again. I won’t say yes. I bite my lip, thinking.

“Was Master Mulch instructing you in the stable? And Mister Taylor struck him from behind?”

I look over at Henry. Either he didn’t tell his side of it yet, or Master already decided to believe the overseer.

“Master Mulch was trying to sin in the stable and Mister Taylor stopped him,” I say.

“Lying whore,” the overseer cries.

I shrink away from him and Henry steps between us.

Master studies the three of us. “In what way did you think he was sinning?”

My mouth is sticky with thirst. Words swoop and dive in my mind like bats I can’t get hold of.