Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4 Nate's mind swirled. He was afraid he might vomit. It wasn't Storch's moans of pain that sickened him. It was knowing what would happen to Theo. Storch would sell him for sure. Eliza would lose him forever, just like she'd lost her husband, Gregory.

Nate rushed over to Theo, who was trying to hide behind the cherry tree. Nate lifted Theo up and hugged him close. Eliza was on the porch now, bending down to help Storch. Eliza looked up. She spotted Nate and Theo. Her eyes locked with Nate's. And in that split second Nate could see she understood exactly what had happened. Nate had to get Theo out of here! "Don't worry!" Nate whispered to Theo. "I won't let anything happen to you." But Nate's words seemed to scatter in the wind. Of course he couldn't just run off with Theo. Theo wasn't just any little boy. He was a slave. To Storch, Theo wasn't a person. He was valuable property. Storch wouldn't just let him go. He'd hire slave catchers. He'd offer a fat reward. He'd never stop looking. There was nothing Nate could to do help Theo. Unless…

An idea flickered in Nate's mind like a little flame. Storch hadn't seen Theo throw the stick, had he? His back had been turned. What if Nate could trick Storch into thinking someone else had thrown the stick? Then Theo would be safe. Nate put Theo down. "Run behind the barn," Nate whispered. "Never tell anyone what happened with that stick." "You come, too." Theo said, clinging to Nate's arm. "Soon," Nate said, struggling to keep his voice steady. He hated lying to Theo. But he had no choice. Theo turned and dashed away. Nate stood up. With clenched fists and shaking legs, Nate made his way to where Storch was now sitting up. Eliza was pressing a rag to his bleeding head.

"I'm sorry, sir," he said. "It was an accident. The stick slipped from my hand." "Nate," Eliza whispered. Storch struggled to his feet, glaring at Nate with fury. If Storch's eyes had been cannons, they would have blasted Nate into the sky. He lunged forward. Smack! He slapped Nate across the face. Nate staggered back. His face felt like he had been scalded with boiling water. Tears sprang into Nate's eyes — tears of relief. That slap meant that Storch believed him. That Theo was safe, at least for now. But Nate was not. Storch lunged forward and grabbed Nate by the throat. His hands were like iron claws. With his bulging eyes and blood-smeared face, Storch looked like a sea monster from Nate's worst nightmares.

Nate struggled but couldn't break free from the choking grip. Eliza screamed, but the voice inside Nate's mind screamed louder. He's going to kill me! With his last ounce of strength, Nate whipped his arm up and bashed his fist into the side of Storch's head. Storch lost his grip and fell back. Nate took one last look at Eliza. "Go," she mouthed. Nate turned and ran.