Freedom in My Soul

Freedom in My Soul tells the story of Samgirl, a young slave in Mississippi who desperately schemes her way toward freedom. Having craved her emancipation since the age of 13, when she was subjected to the repeated sexual attentions of her young master, Samgirl plans an escape for herself and her family when she learns that her Chickasaw owners have decided to relocate to Indian Territory.

The journey to Chickasaw Nation land, however, turns out to be a traumatic one. Samgirl tries her first escape and ends up with a "P" agonizingly branded on her chest for her troubles. Once in Indian Territory, it takes Samgirl years to assemble everything she needs and to get her confederates in line. Finally, she, her brother, parents, and half-brother make a dash across Texas toward Mexico. Their way is fraught with hardship, including Samgirl's capture and sale at a slave auction, from which she is saved by Levi, her companion and a slave blacksmith.

Reilly leads her characters at a cliffhanger pace through their danger and their terror, drawing closer to the moment when Samgirl can at last lay her burden of slavery down and take up instead the freedom that has always dwelled in her soul. Yet even as they near their ultimate destination, tragedy continues to lurk at every turn. A buffalo stampede, vicious slave-catchers, ' and despair threaten to destroy Samgirl's family before they ever reach their final destination.