Thomas took the trunk and offered her his arm. Together they began walking toward the northern part of the property, where Maria had confirmed the guards would be distracted. The plan worked perfectly for the first 20 minutes. They managed to avoid the main guards and reached the edge of the
They had been venturing into the plantation undetected. The road to Havana stretched before them like a promise of freedom, but their luck ran out when they encountered an unexpected patrol. “Stop right there!” a voice shouted in the darkness. Two Spanish soldiers emerged from the trees.
Their uniforms gleamed dimly in the starlight. They carried muskets and swords, and their faces wore the immediate suspicion one might feel walking the roads in the dead of night. “Who are you and what are you doing right now?” asked the sergeant, a tall man with a thick mustache. Isabella felt herself being watched.
