“It isn’t right, them… being together not married.” She fiddled with the shoelaces and dropped her gaze. A mouse scurried into a far corner. “She loves Ned, and he loves her.”
Devon swiped his brow with his neckerchief. “Morning Fawn, it’s not that simple. It’s not even up to them. And who is Ned, anyhow?”
“A slave on a neighboring plantation. Works as a carpenter. And itshouldbe up to them. We could do it secretly.” She bit her lip and stepped closer to the mare.
Devon blew out a breath and tossed the comb on the tack shelf, rattling the other tools. A piece of straw clung to his sleeve. “From what I can tell, LeBeau would never agree to it.”
“If you noticed, I said ‘secret.’ I bet Ned’s master would be willing. He allows Ned to sneak over here occasionally.”
Devon laid his arms on the mare’s back. “LeBeau has the authority to marry her off to whomever he pleases, to whatever field hand or house servant he favors. It doesn’t matter how many ‘I do’s’ Lucy says in the dark. There wouldn’t be anything legal about it.”
A lock of rich brown hair dipped down to his eyepatch.
Morning Fawn exhaled. The hard-soled shoes clunked together as she moved her arms about. “I reckon we’d have to deal with that if the time came.”
He shook his head and lowered his voice to a mere breath. “Helping could land us all in a heap of trouble.”
“I’m willing to take that risk.”
His brow furrowed. “What does Lucy say about all of this?”
She shrugged. “She likes the idea, but she’s afraid. For all the reasons you said and then some.”
He shoved his fingers through his errant hair, sweeping it back off of his forehead. “Just between you and me, LeBeau is mighty protective of her. Called me into his office Monday and berated me again for overstepping boundaries. Said I was welcome to avail myself of any of his other female slaves, but not her.”
She gaped at him.
A blush spread across his tanned cheeks. “I’d never ‘avail myself’ of anyone.”
“I don’t even want to know what that word means, but I can guess.”
“I just want you to know he’s not likely to tolerate her being married to anyone. Ned would be better off if he stayed away.”
She jabbed a hand to her hip. “Would you?”
“Would I what?”
“Stay away from the woman you loved because it was safer?”
“Maybe safer is better.”
“I don’t believe that.”
“You’ve been reading too many novels.”
“You never answered my question. What would you do if it was the woman you loved?” She winced. How could she dare such boldness?
His arms slipped from the back of the mare. A muscle twitched beneath his light layer of beard. He turned away. “Isabelle, my wife, was the daughter of our cook on our plantation. A hired Mexican. You don’t fall in love with the help.”
Morning Fawn bit her lip, then whispered, “What happened?”
The bay mare nickered.
Devon stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I didn’t stay away.” His voice trailed off. So did his gaze.
Morning Fawn shivered. He’d loved his wife. Still did. “I’m sorry you lost her.”
Devon startled as if he’d forgotten her presence. “Long time ago.” He cleared his throat and stepped away, leading the mare to the feed sack. A sigh rattled through him. “If Lucy is serious about this, I’ll help.” His back still to her, he picked up the curry comb he’d tossed aside and hung it on a nail. “Only, she should know, and probably already does, that it could bring her a world of heartache. We’d all face your uncle’s and the community’s wrath. All she has to do is end up with child for LeBeau to get wise.”
