“ANTONY!”
Ben’s voice cut through the storm.
Antony froze.
Talbot was riding toward them, whip raised.
Antony released Isaac instantly, stepping back.
Isaac stumbled, then straightened, wiping dirt from his shirt. His eyes gleamed with triumph.
Talbot reined in his horse. “What’s goin’ on here?”
Isaac opened his mouth.
But before he could speak, Charlotte stepped forward.
“Sir,” she said quickly, “Isaac slipped in the mud. Antony was helpin’ him up.”
Talbot frowned. “That true?”
Isaac hesitated.
Charlotte’s eyes locked onto his.
A silent warning.
A silent promise.
Isaac swallowed. “Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s true.”
Talbot grunted. “Get back to work.”
He rode off.
Isaac glared at Charlotte, then at Antony, before slinking away.
Charlotte exhaled shakily.
Antony stared at her. “Why’d you do that?”
“‘Cause you ain’t thinkin’ straight,” she whispered. “And I ain’t lettin’ you get whipped for me.”
Antony stepped closer. “Charlotte—”
“Don’t,” she said softly. “Not here.”
But her eyes told him everything her voice couldn’t.
By late afternoon, the storm broke fully. Rain poured from the sky in sheets, drenching the workers. Talbot finally called them in, shouting over the thunder.
Antony and Ben hurried toward the quarters, soaked to the bone.
Charlotte walked ahead of them, her dress clinging to her legs, her hair plastered to her skin.
Antony wanted to run to her.
He wanted to pull her close.
He wanted to protect her from everything — the rain, the master, Isaac, the world.
But he couldn’t.
Not here.
Not now.
As they reached the cabins, Master Edgefield stepped onto the porch of the big house, watching the workers scatter.
His gaze found Charlotte.
She froze.
Antony felt his heart stop.
Master Edgefield smiled.
“Charlotte,” he called over the rain. “Come inside.”
Charlotte’s breath hitched.
Antony took a step forward.
Ben grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”
Antony’s voice was barely a whisper. “He gon’ hurt her.”
Ben’s grip tightened. “And if you go up there, he gon’ kill you.”
Charlotte turned slowly toward the big house.
Her eyes met Antony’s.
Fear.
Apology.
Something like goodbye.
Then she walked toward the master.
Antony stood in the rain, trembling with helpless rage, watching the woman he loved disappear into the house of the man who owned her.
The door closed behind her.
And the storm swallowed the world.