Chapter 50

“He’s on the other pallet, doin’ bout the same as you, I s’pect.”

“How?”

“How’d you git here?” she said.

“Yeah.”

“A couple of your people heard what was happening, and I sent them up to the blacksmith shop to bring you here.”

“They’ll be looking for us.”

“Ain’t nobody gonna look for you here, don’t you worry about that.”

“Thank you,” Wade said, and passed out.

* * * *

A few days later, Wade was hidden in the shrubbery, watching as his parents and brothers drove off in a buggy to attend Sunday services at St. Paul’s Church in the nearby community. As soon as the buggy was out of sight, he made his way upstairs to his room, and with Moses’ help, rounded up enough clothing for the both of them. While Moses packed the clothes, Wade went downstairs and raided the cash box in his father’s office. Then they saddled a pair of horses and left the property for good.

First thing Monday morning, Wade walked into his bank in Savannah, and withdrew most of his money.