...She wanted to see Sam, but she feared she’d just bring more trouble to him and his.

It seemed liked she’d laid here forever. No one moved down below. She glanced up at the sun. It was straight overhead. If they were coming in to eat, it should be soon.

She heard a door bang. It had to be at the back of the big house, which she couldn’t see from here. Maybe if she moved over some, she’d be able to see who was out there.

Then she heard a bell ringing. The dinner bell? Maybe whoever was behind the house was calling the others in to eat.

On most farms and plantations, only the masters ate at noon. The slaves got a morning meal and an evening meal after being in the fields all day. They were lucky to get water to drink on a hot day.

Nothing about this place was like any other.

She heard the door bang again and looked toward the fields. Why weren’t the children out playing? There was a passel of them. They should be making noise.

She stared toward the field. Men appeared. She could make out Cooper and Arnou. Becka walked with them, wiping her hands on an apron. Surely she hadn’t been out in the fields. She was a lady. Even Jubilee could tell that. Becka had a French accent, which led Jubilee to believe even more that she was a fine lady. What she couldn’t figure was why she lived on this little bit of a farm. Seemed they should have more.

Then she saw him. Sam. She couldn’t mistake him. He moved with an agility that belied his size. He caught up with Cooper and fell in beside him. She could tell he listened while the others talked. Sam didn’t seem to have much to say.

She rose and brushed the dirt from her blouse and skirt, then straightened her scarf. She wished she’d had a bath.

“You’re being a goose,” she said to herself. She was here to get Jedidiah and travel north again. Not that she really wanted to go north so soon. Those men she’d run abreast of on the trail two days back could still be hunting.

She sighed. Fixing her scarf, she trudged across the land between her and the house. They’d only be glad to see her so she could take Jedidiah off their hands. Sam wouldn’t care that she’d returned. She was letting herself dream dreams that had no place in her life.

Jubilee stomped down the hill toward the group coming from the fields. She saw Jacob, Rye and Tane. She didn’t see Jedidiah, which made her stomach flip. What if he’d died after she left? She had no way of letting Kianna know, unless Becka could write a letter. But then who would read for Kianna?

She didn’t want to face Kianna with the news and she wasn’t going to go north just to tell her. She had to find Leon, and he was south.

She got halfway across the distance to the house when she heard Sam shout, “Jubilee.”

She looked up, and he came thundering toward her. She stood perfectly still, not sure whether to run away or toward him. He was a frightening sight running full out.

He stopped just in front of her. “You’re back.”

“I said I would be.”

He smiled at her. “Thought you’d run into trouble.” His eyes lit up.

“Once or twice, but nuthin’ big.” She wanted to touch him. Actually, she wanted to kiss him again. Instead, she just stared at him.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” He swept her into his arms and twirled her around. “I thought never to see you again.”

Then he kissed her, a fierce, hungry kiss.