Read Colorblind (Moonlight) for Free Online Page A

sounded on his door. “Yes?”
    Julia slipped into his office, her head lowered as she moved toward him. Like Jolie, Julia had pale skin with gray eyes. Their resemblance was so uncanny that they had to be related, possibly sisters. While Jolie was more forward, Julia was shy. She was older than Jolie, possibly somewhere between twenty and twenty-four, and there was much in her demeanor that said she’d suffered more.
    “Not tryin’ to bother you, Massa, but Miss Catherine send ova a boy wit’ a letter.” She held out a sealed letter to him before retreating, head still bowed, and waiting to his side.
    “Miss Catherine?” he queried, taking the letter and undoing the wax seal. He’d never heard of a Miss Catherine before.
    “Miss Catherine is Massa Ryder daughter. He lives ’cross the bayou but ’im and Miss Catherine was travelin’ ’til yesterday.”
    “Ah,” was all Leon said as he scanned the contents of the letter. It was a quick note, welcoming him to the neighborhood and inviting him to supper tomorrow. “Thank you, Julia.”
    “Yes, Massa,” Julia said, beginning to fidget with her hands, while shifting nervous glances to him. Leon watched her for a few seconds before saying, “Was there something else?”
    “The boy—he waitin’ for a response, Massa.”
    “I see,” Leon said, nodding as he grabbed a sheet of plain paper and the feather pen and began writing. He thanked Catherine for her invitation, and said he looked forward to meeting her and her father tomorrow evening for supper. Once finished, he used the wooden ink bloter to soak up the excess ink, before folding the note, placing it into an envelope and attaching his seal. He handed it to Julia. “Thank you, Julia.”
    She bobbed her head and walked quickly from his office. Jolie had mentioned Ryder before, but he’d forgotten about them after being here in the weeks since without additional mention. As a plantation owner, he would be expected to be friendly with Ryder. Leon hoped the man didn’t make the task too difficult.
    ***
    “That bright smile you wearin’ got anythin’ to do with that white man?”
    Penny blinked and returned her attention to Hyacinth, who was peering at her curiously as she stirred the contents of the large black cauldron in front of their quarters. It was close to lunchtime, and soon the field slaves would be crowding around for their meals.
    “Which white man, Old Ma?” Penny asked, knowing exactly whom she referred to. Leon . She hadn’t seen him for the day as today was one of the three days she worked the fields exclusively.
    Hyacinth only gave her a knowing look before returning her attention to the boiling pot. She lifted the lid, placed it onto the pot, and gingerly made her way back to her wooden chair. Penny continued to lean against the side of the shack.
    “I been on this earth longer than you, Penny, seen things you can’t even imagine,” Hyacinth said with a little smile. “I know you feel something for that man.”
    When she was younger, Penny had learned there was no point lying to Hyacinth. She had an uncanny way of always knowing the truth.
    “He’s different,” Penny said softly. They were the only two around the shack so she was able to speak freely. “He’s not like…the rest.”
    “Not like Adam Thorn or his demented daddy, you mean? That family full of mean-spirited people,” Hyacinth said, in a strong, clear voice.
    Penny nodded. She didn’t know much of his father, outside of the story that he’d shot her mother, but Adam Thorn had been the embodiment of evil. He’d been a few years older, and had enjoyed torturing the slave children when he was younger. She’d faced punishment at the hands of Mr. Pleasant numerous times because of him. Old Ma had protected her when she was younger, keeping her away from the master’s son by having her stay close to the slave quarters, but Adam would always find ways to get close to her.
    The first time she’d felt the