Next thing I learn, soldiers go out hunting for Robert McKellar. Find him up in Montego Bay, put him in chains, drag him off to the gaolhouse. Before too long, word reach Rock Pleasant that backra accusing McKellar of murdering Massa and them going put him on trial.

When Stella hear, she take the news hard. The dark cloud round her shoulders get even darker, and grief join the fear that spread tight cross her face. Everybody must think the grief for Massa, but I know is for McKellar. He is her long-time special friend. She been seeing him from when I was a pickney. I remember how on market days after all the selling, she used to take me to the rum shop and McKellar show up. Him was always pledging him life to Stella. And when she smile sweet at him, him used to tell her, ‘Me going do whatever it take.’ Maybe she ask him for something special, something too big. But when I ask her if she know what happen, she tighten her lips and say nothing.

Finally we get the news. McKellar been found guilty. Him going hang. Next thing we hear, McKellar family come down from the mountains, ride into Montego Bay, collect the body and take it back up to them village. McKellar was well respected, liked and the funeral turn out to be a big one, with many people attending to pay them respects. Stella wanted to go bad, but is two days travel just to get there. And she know Mistress Margaret going never let her go to the funeral of the man that backra say kill her son. During the day, Stella too proud to show how she feeling, but Eliza tell me, every night she weeping till the first cock crow.

‘First Massa. Now McKellar,’ Calla start up after a day of work when I go visit her and end up sitting outside her hut drinking bush tea. ‘Death come to visit too close together,’ she say, shaking her head. ‘Snatch away the two men that love up Stella.’

‘Massa love Stella? Must be keep it well hidden.’

‘Not just one type of love,’ Calla say. ‘Love can rope people together in warmth in kindness, keep the shadow at bay. That is the kind of love McKellar give her. Then there is the kind Massa hold to. A jealous, cruel love that entangle dem, drag dem down, give the shadow plenty to gnaw at.’

‘You think she love dem back?’