“What?” says Sara, shooting straight up like a rocket. “Are you serious?”
“Don’t get too excited for me just yet.”
“Why?”
“There ain’t no way Kemp’s selling me right now.”
“Did you tell her that?” Sara says, as if she can’t quite believe it.
“Lay back down, will you?”
She does as he asks, and when she’s in his arms again, he says, “What I told her was that, if she wanted to thank me, she could come over here and offer to purchase you.”
“Me?”
“She’d buy you off the Prestons, then get you your free papers.”
Sara looks at him like he’s speaking French.
“I know I should have checked with you first. But there wasn’t time. And if you get free, you can work, start saving. One of these days, when Kemp’s cooled off or—better yet—is in the ground, you can buy my freedom.”
“Oh, Gillie.” Her voice sounds far away.
“I won’t always be so expensive,” he says. “I’ll get older, I promise.”
She rolls her eyes at him, which is really just an invitation for more.
“I’ll get to the point where I won’t even be able to swing a hammer.” He glances in the direction of his pants. “Of course, by then I won’t be able to swing much else, either.”
She lets loose a low rumble of a laugh, which is what he’s been after all along.
“It won’t work.”
“Why not?”
“Elizabeth ain’t going to give me up, even with Louisa gone.Especiallywith Louisa gone.”
“It’s General Preston’s decision. He who owns all of y’all now.”
She gives him a look, like she’s offended by what he’s said, even though all he’s doing is reciting the law.
“Mrs. Johnston says he’s got big debts.”
Sara’s mouth drops open. “So, the silver that keeps disappearing is him?”
Gilbert nods.
“I knew it,” she says, staring up at the ceiling.
“This can’t wait,” says Gilbert. “These white ladies are grateful, and they’re ready to empty their reticules. But give them two months, and they’ll forget all about this plan of theirs.”
“It’s just, Louisa—”
“Baby, Louisa’s gone, and without her, you don’t got a job to do.”
She flinches.
“I’m sorry,” he says, running a soft knuckle along the side of her face. He lays a series of small kisses on her eyelids, her cheekbones, her earlobes. When his mouth is close to her ear, he whispers, “There’s something else I got to tell you.”
