The door opened, and Sassyann walked out in shackles followed by a guard, her tearstained face bone-white and paling against Death Row’s assigned red garb.
When Sassyann brushed past, she touched my hand, and I gripped back. “My boys finally came. Thank you.” The guard stepped between us, breaking off what I feared would be her last comfort of human touch.
“I’ll see you now, Cussy Lovett.” The warden opened and shut her palm, beckoning me to hurry inside.
I looked back at Sassyann, watched her head hang defeated, feeling something horrible was happening.Had her boys forgiven her or damned her to hell?
My mind ticked over the books I’d read to her. Fretted if there had been one that might have offended the warden, a book I’d let slip in—
“Hurry in, Lovett. I’ve got a lot of work to tend to on my day off—a holiday, at that. I’m eager to get back to the comforts of my easy chair with a good book and a cool drink.”
Irritation plastered Warden’s face, and I stood in front of her, worrying my hands until she curtly gave a nod, silently ordering me to be seated.
She thumped her stack of papers.
Alarmed, I jumped.
“Ma’am,” I dared speak, “is something wrong?”
“Everything,” she breathed wearily and cocked her head to the window, a hardness cutting her face.
I was drawn to the papers on her desk, and that’s when I saw it. Saw Sassyann’s damnation. The official execution warrant signed by the governor.
“Warden…?” The unfinished question lodged in my throat.
She caught me staring at the document and nodded. “You can take Sipes off your library visits. She’s being transported down to Eddyville, where they will carry out the signed warrant.” Her eyes were troubled. Distant.
The grim prison known as the Castle on the Cumberland, where they executed Kentucky inmates with ol’ Sparky. Sickened, I gripped my hand, the one she’d held just seconds ago. Silently, I begged for her mercy.
Warden pushed the death warrant aside and said quietly, “I’m grateful for your work with her. Because of this, she was finally able to visit with her sons. Even a sinner like her deserves a last wish. Thank God they didn’t strip her of that.” I strained and had to read the next word on Warden’s lips, which she uttered under her breath: “Bastards.”
She cast her eyes to the paperwork, and her voice wavered before she cleared her throat. “Now, we have other problems to address, and they concernyou.”
I waited, and when she didn’t speak, I said, “Warden, if I’ve done something wrong, please let me know. I’d like a chance to fix it.”
“No fixing this,” she mumbled, scattering papers. Then she picked up a letter and snapped it in front of me. “You’ve been granted an eight-day furlough, Miss Cussy Lovett.”
I could feel my eyes widening in disbelief, and I gripped the chair.
“It seems Warden Alton attended the mayor’s weekly luncheon in Louisville and spoke about your work with the Pack Horse librarian project and your current prison work. The mayor was impressed. He called the state director over Corrections and requested you be given a community furlough. You’ve been assigned to help with the Louisville Western Colored Branch’s latest outreach program. You’ll be leaving tomorrow morning.”
My color rose hot on my skin. How could I leave with Jackson so close? I’d miss the chance of seeing him. “Warden, I’ve had eight more women sign into the library and—”
“Damn you,Alton, for stealing my librarian,” she blurted. “My money’s not foryour men’sprison. You were scheduled for your procedures next week. Now I’ll have to try and reschedule with Dr. Kennedy.”
I leaned in closer. “Ma’am, I’ve been wanting to talk to you about this. Please don’t—” The plea broke in my throat. “I can work more hours. Just let me keep the babe. I’ll—”
“I must follow the rules, Lovett. Sterilizing and abortion are simple operations that will benefit you in the long run. It’s for the best.” Her thin smile betrayed the declaration.
“Please, ma’am. Don’t do this.” I stood and took a step toward her.
Warden flinched, souring her mouth.
“Please.” I fought to compose my mounting panic.
She raised her palms. “It’s out of my hands. The medical committee ordered your sterilization after consulting with the board in March. They decided you don’t have the capacity to rear children. It will reduce the threat to society and—”
“Could you please contact my doctor back home?”
