Miss Labrie was an advocate for slaves, and she was fond of Isaac. Perhaps it was time to tell her the truth.
“Isaac isn’t free according to the law, but I figure that the law here doesn’t need that information.”
“You don’t have his papers?”
He shook his head.
“Nor can he buy his freedom,” she said, seeming to speak more to herself than him.
“He doesn’t owe me anything.”
“A slave hunter could steal him away.”
“No one here knows he’s run away,” Alden said. “As long as people think he’s my slave, he’ll be safe.”
“You and I both need to stay in the shadows, then.”
“Forgive me, Miss Labrie, but it doesn’t seem like you’ve been living in a shadow.”
She gave him a shaky smile—the first time she’d ever smiled at him. “All is not as it seems, Mr.Payne.”
He pointed toward the stack of bags. “Are those from the hotel?”
She nodded. “I need to leave this morning.”
“The Golden is still standing,” he told her. “If the structure is safe, Isaac and I can help you restore it.”
“I’m not going back to the hotel.”
He leaned toward her. “What’s wrong, Isabelle?”
She didn’t correct him when he used her first name, didn’t even seem to notice that he’d said it. “There’s someone in Sacramento trying to harm me.”
He pressed his hands together. “After today’s trial, you probably have many people angry at you.”
“It’s more than that,” she said. “It’s someone from my past.”
He could hear the fear in her voice, and he understood.
She stood back up, clutching the box to her chest. “I’m going to purchase a stagecoach ticket.”
“To where?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“You need someone to go with you.”
She shook her head. “There’s no one—”
“Isaac and I were thinking about going to Columbia,” he said.
“To see Judah?”
He nodded. “If he hasn’t moved on.”
“I suppose I could go to Columbia too. For a season.”
“How much, exactly, does a stagecoach ticket cost?” he asked.
