Matthias heard her before he saw her. A vision of beauty astride a black horse tearing through the pasture toward his sister’s house. He rubbed his eyes and did a double take.
“Annalise?”
A mixture of elation and concern filled Matthias. Why was the woman he had recently grown so fond of riding toward Betsy’s home? And bareback?
“There’s something wrong,” he muttered.
Betsy joined him on the porch. “Now, now, Matthias. Don’t always think the worst.”
“No, Bets, there is something wrong.” Matthias felt it in his entire being. He marched down the two steps of the porch and hurried to meet Annalise. From the look on her face as she drew nearer, Matthias knew his assumption was correct.
Something threatened the Underground Railroad and his role in it.
“Matthias!” Her voice alone caused him concern.
“Annalise? Is everything all right?”
“May we step inside?”
Even though she had apparently ridden a great distance from her home to his, her beauty had not been compromised. A strand of blond hair cascaded near her right cheek, and Matthias resisted the urge to reach for it.
Her uneven breath that came in almost gasps caught his attention. “Are you all right?”
“Please sit and have some tea,” offered Betsy.
“I regret that I don’t have the time for formalities, but thank you just the same, Betsy.”
Her face showed grave concern, and he longed to embrace her and tell her all would be well—to hold her in his arms and shield her from whatever burdened her.
But he couldn’t very well embrace a woman he wasn’t courting; nor could he reassure her that all would be fine.
For what if it wasn’t?
Her blue eyes lit with fear. “Matthias, you must be careful.”
“Whatever do you mean, Annalise?” Betsy moved toward Annalise.
“Matthias’s life is in danger.”
“Danger?” Had he heard her correctly?
Annalise’s words tumbled out in rapid succession, one word overlapping the other as she laid out the trap her uncle and his cohorts were setting to catch Matthias. She told of the slave bait plan and the planned riots. Annalise leaned toward him and whispered, “They know you are part of the Underground Railroad.”
“How can they know?”
“I’m not sure.” She looked at him with a troubled expression. “Surely you don’t think I’m the one who revealed your role in freeing the slaves?”
Matthias shook his head. “No, Annalise, I do not think you would ever share such information intentionally. However, you may have—”
The hurt in her eyes was almost more than he could bear, and he regretted his insinuation. “Annalise, it’s just that you may have unknowingly—”
“Never, Matthias, never!” Her voice went up an octave, and tears streamed down her face. “You must understand that I would never lead them to you. Why would I?”
“Annalise, I’m sorry, I just…If they’re watching you, as I believe Sheriff Bleyer to be doing, he may have ascertained my involvement—and yours.”
“With so much at stake, I would be an utter fool as to allow that.”
Matthias again longed to draw her into his arms to comfort her. Only this time the comfort was for the hurt he had just caused her. “I only meant that such a mishap is possible given your uncle’s suspicions of you and Sheriff Bleyer’s observations of your comings and goings.”
“I believe this conversation is over. Matthias, I rode out here risking my life to tell you that yours is in grave danger. Don’t think for a second that they will not draw you into this trap if you are not wise and disregard the slave’s request. Do not give in when a slave asks for help. No matter what. Do not offer to assist him. For if you do, Uncle Phineas plans to have you hanged.”
“Thank you, Annalise. Thank you for telling me. But it will be difficult for me to turn away a slave in need.”
“You must. There is no other choice. It could be the very slave Uncle Phineas uses to trap you. I must go.” Her voice took on a sarcastic tone Matthias had never heard from her, and her eyes narrowed. “I’m sorry if you believe I am to blame for their knowledge of your role in the Faith Train.”
Before he or Betsy could respond, Annalise marched toward the door. “Goodbye, Matthias. Betsy.”
Matthias wanted to go after her. He wanted to explain his error and seek her forgiveness. But she rode through the woods away from the house before he could convince his own two lethargic feet to move from where he stood.
What have I done? Lord, please forgive me.