Page 51 of Freedom Mine
She patted his knee. “Thanks, Masher.” After peeking at his cards, she whispered in his ear.
“Quarks!” Masher said a moment later, switching out a card with one laid out in the third column on the crate.
“That’s cheating, Blue!” Eight called after her, but she smiled. There was something so refreshing and uncomplicated about Masher and Eight, but Masher was right. She needed to forget everything and start over, to be Alli, not Blue. Maybe then she could figure out how to get through to Kayo and let him know he wasn’t alone.
* * *
KAYO
“The men will have the trail and the mine entrance cleared by end of the day,” Jace said as he handed Kayo a canteen and joined him on the felled tree by the trail to Freedom Mine.
“Good. Before we send anyone in, I want to walk through with Liet, see where we need to shore up supports.”
“You’re going in?”
“I know that mine and its history better than anyone.”
“All right then.”
“If you have something to say, say it now,” Kayo said.
“Nothing to say. It’s the right call. Freedom isn’t producing, and Sanctuary had a good record, or she did before the cave-ins.”
“Nothing to say, my ass.” Jace could be really tight-lipped sometimes, but that didn’t mean he had nothing to say.
“You’re reading into things again. By the way, have you been up to Freedom lately?”
“No, why?”
“Blue built an aqueduct out of spare pipes to bring water from the river, really close to the mine entrance. It needs a spigot, but it’s a hell of a time saver. No more lugging water from the river. She put herself out of a job there.”
“She didn’t tell me.”
“Or anyone. We found it late yesterday. We should have thought of it.”
“I’m sure she’ll be happy to hear you like it. She worries about her place here.”
“She’s a hard worker. Ranth says she’s good with the harkifa too. We can shift him to the mines as needed. He said he’ll do whatever it takes to earn his freedom status.”
Kayo chuckled. “That’s good to know. We can discuss if further after I’ve taken a look at Sanctuary. How about dinner later, unless you’re eating with the men.”
“Depends. Will Blue be there?”
“Does it matter?”
“I wouldn’t want to interrupt anything.”
“Did she tell you. . . Damn, Jace, you’re good.”
Jace smiled. “If I asked outright, you’d deny it. Don’t let your status keep you from pursuing her, Kayo.” Jace slapped him on the back and walked away.
Maybe Jace was right. Maybe he should just let things happen between him and Alli, especially now that he’d finally figured out what to do if neither mine produced in time.
It was a relief knowing that no matter what, he had a way of ensuring Alli’s safety, everyone’s safety. He might still find a large enough vein to pay off his creditors and buy freedom status for a few of the men. But if they didn’t, his backup plan would keep them safe.
Would Jace or Alli be upset with him if they discovered what he’d done? Probably, but it was a good solution, as good as he’d get.
With the stress of their fates gone, he felt lighter, freer than he had in some time. He wanted to run to Alli, to tell her everything would be fine, but he hadn’t seen her since last night when she’d come down for dinner. The second she’d spotted him in the kitchen, she’d grabbed a plate of food and retreated to her room.
