Hopeless Night: Day 13

Word Count: 78,006

Summary of Events:
Chapter 25:
While Emma and her friend Olga shelled peas Emma encouraged Olga to look into learning about something she liked more than kitchen work. Herr Reiter asked Magnus to come work with some horses and showcase his talent and Magnus had a wonderful time.
Chapter 26:
Herr Reiter assigned Magnus to be a groom and trainer — the first ever slave he'd trusted to do so — and Magnus set to work with his guard Jeremiah. Emma saw Magnus as she was trimming beans and was initially afraid of him, until she remembered that Herr Reiter wouldn't deliberately endanger anyone.

Excerpt of the Day:
""Have you heard?" Olga asked.
"I've heard plenty," Emma replied, smiling. "Whether or not I've heard what you want to tell me, I cannot say."
Olga flashed no smile in response — as she often did when Emma responded in that way to her announcement of news — instead forging on:
"Father says that one of the slaves is going to be allowed to work in the main yard every day with the horses!" Olga exclaimed.
Emma startled. "But such a thing has never been allowed before."
"Yes! But he's going to do it!" Olga said. "Herr Reiter seems to have become careless all of the sudden! He had a slave working with the horses yesterday too!"
"He did?" Emma asked.
"Yes, I saw him," Olga replied. "He had a collar around his neck."
Emma looked toward the horse pastures. She couldn't see anyone out working with the horses yet, of course breakfast had yet to be served, and aside from cooking there wasn't much of any work done before breakfast.
"What was the slave charged with?" Olga asked. "What if he suddenly decides to commit the same crime again? Or what about a worse crime? He could be very dangerous out here in the main yard! Does Herr Reiter even realize what kind of danger he's putting us into — especially young women like you and I — by doing this? Is Herr Reiter loosing his sanity?"
"Oh I don't know," Emma replied. "I think that Herr Reiter probably has taken great care and concern in even considering doing this. I'm sure he's not exactly doing this on the spur of the moment either. Herr Reiter must trust this slave. And I know that Herr Reiter will make sure that the slave is severely reprimanded if he ends up doing unacceptable. I doubt there's really any reason to panic."
"No slave is worth trusting!" Olga exclaimed. "Father doesn't even trust that the slaves will always be obedient when he gives them orders! I hope you don't forget, Emma, that these slaves are convicted criminals!"
"I don't," Emma replied. "But I don't fear them."
"How can you possibly not fear them!?" Olga exclaimed.
"Because they've not ever done anything threatening to Papa, to Herr Reiter, to his farm, or anything else," Emma replied. "And even if they decided to do anything, I have faith that God will provide protection for us against any ill that any slaves might intend against us unless it is His will that such trials come upon us. And if they do, I have faith that He will give us the strength and courage to make it through them well."
Olga stared at Emma dumbfounded for several moments before speaking. "This is an incredible threat!" she cried. "How can you be so calm!?"
"Because I have faith I would guess," Emma replied.
"Aren't you the least bit afraid?" Olga asked.
"Not really, no," Emma replied. "I see no reason to be afraid."
"You are crazy!" Olga said. "I'm terrified!""