comparing it other, dear Clotee.)
But mine was better — because Mama had made mine. (9 words, true, but you don't need endless compare and repeat that we already know it already, girl.)
Aunt Tee 'llowed that I could dance the cakewalk this year with a boy other than Hince. (17 words, that's becauee Hince found his girl.)
Me and Buddy Barnes, Miz Clarissa's carriage driver, stepped together. (10 words, this is the first time we ever got his name.) He swung me up and swung me down — from side to side and up the middle. (16 words, at least he'll know how to be mighty nice and kind just like Hince always was.)
"You look mighty nice, Clotee," Buddy Barnes said. (8 words, the first compliment from a strange boy of her own race. That had to feel good, you agree?) My face turned hot and my head topped light — as light as my feet felt dancing with Buddy Barnes. (19 words, yes it did, because he made you react with a bright blush.) As long as I live I will never, ever forget dancing with Buddy Barnes — even though
Spicy and Hince were the cakewalk winners. (23 words, I'm not all that surprised that you will always remember this moment.)
They each took a slice of the cake for themselves, then they let everybody else have a bite. (18 words, that is such a sweet gesture of gratitude from Hince & Spicy to those in their community and it was well received gratefully.)
Of course Missy was a sore loser — but she only makes herself look bad — keep pushing, pushing. (17 words, very true.) Everybody knows how Spicy and Hince feel about each other. (10 words, also true.) Missy should just give up. (5 words, yep definitely true too.)

152: 171st diary entry annotated.
Friday, December 30, 1859
The Week of Sundays has gone so fast. (8 words, I believe that.)
Like most holidays it's been filled with work — up the stairs, down the stairs. Bring me this, Clotee. (18 words, lots of running around doing errands for everybody staying there.) Take that there, Clotee. Clotee. Clotee. (6 words) I wish I could change my name. (7 words, many people wish that when they get ordered about like this.) It is always late when we finish. (7 words, not really all that surprised.) Eva Mae was so tired this evening, she just fell fast asleep up in the attic. (16 words, not really surprised period.) I eased out of the kitchen without waking her. (9 words, if you are a light sleeper and work really hard some days you find at night you'll go into a deep slumber.)

153: 172nd diary entry annotated.
Saturday, December 31, 1859 — New Year's Eve
In the Big House all the talk is about the race tomorrow. (12 words, I don't feel good about this period.) The Campbelles are here with their horse and rider. (9 words) Their horse looks like a real champion — named Betty's Son. (10 words, what kind of silly name is that for a horse. The horses I ride once a week have nicer names than this.) The rider is the size of a boy, but he has a lot of years in his face. (18 words, another advantage in their favor.)
I heard one of the Campbelles call him Josh. (9 words)

Later

The Campbelles brought along three of their slaves who stayed in the stables with Hince. (15 words, one of them is up to something.)They also made good dance partners for us. (8 words) Missy took one look at the young man named Booker and claimed him for the rest of the evening. (19 words, now that is a surprise.) Aunt Tee called her a shameless hussy. (7 words) I danced with the one named Obie. 7 words, so she gets to dance with another boy.) He was fun and had a happy laugh, but he wasn't near as good a dancer as Buddy Barnes. (19 words, so glad, you both tried to have some fun.)
The one named Shad seemed shy — didn't dance, didn't talk. (10 words, his silence and inactivity means he waits for people to be too wrapped up in their dance party to not follow him around Belmont.) He left before the party ended. (6 words, that's so suspicious honestly.)
After one of the dances the straw in the barn started me to sneeze. (14 words, I'm not allergic anything barn animal related. Dusty tack might make me sneeze though.) It always makes me sneeze and cough. (7 words, when other people lay down on it their skin itches, not really surprised about this, Clotee.) Aunt Tee took me outside to get some fresh air — and sent me to the cabin to get some cough syrup. (21 words, why didn't you bring that with you, Clotee? You knew you were going to be in the barn tonight anyways?) When I passed the stables, I saw Shad standing at Big Can's stall. (13 words, these Campbelle guys are cheats the minute I knew about them being back on property I would never ever have gone to the dance but instead stand with my back against Can's stall so nobody could damage him in the first place.)

154: 173rd diary entry annotated.
Sunday, January 1, 1860 — New Year's Day
My God. Hince lost the race! (6 words, it was an unfair feat from the Beginning.)
As best I can tell, this is what happened. (9 words) This morning it was bright and sunny, but cold — not a cloud in the sky. (15 words, we really don't need to know it's a nice day.)
The course was from Belmont's front steps down to the road and back, past the Big House, down to the river and back again — about a half mile. (28 words, that's still quite a long ways to go.) Carriages full of people began gathering on the grounds all morning. (11 words, everybody wanted to see Hince win.) Hundreds were here by mid-morning. (5 words, not surprised but they're about to be as surprised as Hince.) A few minutes before noon, Hince walked Can up from the stables. (12 words, the poor horse. And the poor boy.)
I could tell something was wrong with the horse. (9 words, I believe you the Campbelles are really big cheats. So much so they probably Shad with his life to get the horse drugged.)
Can looked spooked, jumpy, hard to handle. (7 words, the horse was drugged and this is unlawful drugging.) I caught a look of worry in Hince's face. (9 words, shouldn't have let your overconfidence get to ya. Specially with these Deep Southerners were involved Hince.) That spooked me. (3 words, of course you'd be upset if your brother-friend was worried about his steed. I feel you girl that would be me too.)
At exactly noon, the gun fired and Can reared up, losing time that he was never able to catch up. (20 words, Deep South people don't play fair most of the time, Skylights.) The other horse won! (4 words, of course it did the Campbelles cheated so badly.) We all were too shocked to believe what our eyes had seen. (12 words, of course, you were all so shocked.)
Hince wasn't supposed to lose. (5 words, no he wasn't supposed.)
Right away, Hince commenced to hollering that Can had been drugged. (11 words, smart kid.) He was right. (3 words, true!) And I knew who had done it. Shad! (8 words, the Campbelles, Drugging is a form of injuring an animal like horse that was owned by Master Henley and in this case is actually illegal Animal Cruelty Abuse which was illegal for the Campbelles to do since Florida was still part of the United States for 9 days and a year more and it would be punishable by law since Animal Abuse Cruelty laws for farmers which Master Henley is starting passing as early as 1820s which was 40 years earlier. They also forced shade into Coercion another illegal crime also punishable by law, and also might be able to raise it up to extortion as well. Anti-Extortion started in the 1200s.)
"I seen him at Big Can's stall last night." (9 words) I went running to Mas' Henley, all the time pointing a finger at Shad. (14 words, the trying counts these are serious offenses the Southern Strangers committed. In Texas which also hasn't left the United States either the mere Coercion crime they committed would be a class A misdemeanor charge.) He glared at me. (4 words, he's studying you to know whether or not you're speaking the truth this time.)
"Please save Hince," I begged. "Shad did something to Can, I know he did. I seen him, honest!" (18 words, you're right, and I do believe he already had that guess himself.)

"I seen him, too," said Aunt Tee. (7 words, now you know Master Henley believes her because Aunt Tee backs her up with the same evidence too.) "Left the dance early last night." (6 words, I don't know why he wouldn't think it wasn't fishy doing that.) Shad didn't say anything. (4 words, probably been threatened not to talk or confess by the Campbelles.) The Campbelles stayed calm. (4 words, cheaters are the calmest when they win their really wanted prizes. They really wanted Hince to be theirs so bad, Skylights.)
Everybody started talking to one another, whispering about what had happened during the race. (14 words) The Campbelles called for several men — all good horsemen to check out Big Can. (14 words, not good enough horsemen, I would have called a vet as soon as I heard about the possible drugging of the horse.) Rouse Mosby and Len Beans checked out Can. (8 words, I believe they were only looking at the outside of the horse nobody checked what was going on inside which is what a vet would do as a first checkup. I believe it might have been he was fed a sleeping pill that slowed his nerves and braincells down until it was morning time.) They said there were no signs of the horse being drugged. (11 words, stupid, foolish idiots, you aren't vets and I'm guessing you bribed also to lie again.)
"Were they blind?" Can wasn't acting hisself. (7 words, they weren't they were bribed to lie or they were indeed blind and not thorough. This is the second historical fiction book I have read when a cheating scenario is not exposed as early on as it should have been the other book being a Saddle Club book called Photo Finish and that was at the Kentucky Derby Racecourse for Horse right before that very famous race was to start.)
Anybody could see that — who wanted to see it. (9 words, a vet would definitely be able to tell surely.) The next few seconds were like hours. (7 words, yep that's so true.) The Campbelles claimed that the race was fair and they had won the bet. (14 words, such faulty despicable, disgusting diabolical liars!) The crowd agreed and sent up a cheer. (8 words, they deserve no cheering.)
"You've cheated me, Amos Campbelle — you have, but I can't prove it," Mas' Henley said real angry-like. (17 words, see Master Henley knows how bad these people are, he's not as dumb as everybody might think just because he's a slave master. He believed Aunt Tee and Clotee and he doesn't believing that suspicion of the Campbelles.) Then he ordered them off his property. (7 words, yeah get out and off indeed!)
The Campbelles tipped their hats and said they had other business in the area before going home. (17 words, don't tip your hats at us like you still be gentle gentlemen cause you're not at all.) Say they'll be coming in several weeks to pick up Hince. (11 words, several people won't look forward to your return including Master Henley.)
"Please do something, Miz Lilly," I begged her.
"I saw Shad in the barn doing something to Can. He did. (20 words) Please help Hince. Please don't let them take him away. Please." (11 words, why are you even asking her we all know she always hated Hince being around period.) Miz Lilly snatched me by the arm and pushed me toward the house. (13 words, that's the most brutal thing she ever done to Clotee.)
"Hush all that crying, before I give you something to cry for. (12 words, so rude, but also never should have asked her, Clotee.) You'll say anything to save Hince." (6 words, true guess.)
Through my tears I could see her mean eyes, and I knew she wasn't about to help Hince. (18 words, you always knew that.) She was happy to be rid of him. (8 words, of course she would be so happy about this even if it were illegal which it is. The form of cheating was indeed illegal.) It's hard trying not to hate Miz Lilly — but I do hate the cruelness that lives inside her. (18 words, absolutely hate the cruelness that keeps living on inside her. That is the right thing to hate, dear.)

Later
Hince been like a wild man — walking, walking, never stopping. (10 words, you pace when you're nervous and uncomfortable with your situation, lions do this in the Lion King movie Simba does it a lot especially around adult Nala in the Jungle and Rafikki in the next scenes after that. But people also do it too.)
Say he aine going with the Campbelles. Spicy been crying all day, limp with crying. (15 words, I'd be too if I had that much of an emotional tie to him.)
"I hope Hince don't try nothing foolish like running away," say Aunt Tee.
I hope not either. I got to do something, but what?
What good is know-how if you can't use it when you need it. (13 words, true.) I got reading and writing, but it can't help Hince. (10 words, also true too.)
I feel like my head is in the big mouth of the lion, but I've got to be like Daniel. (20 words, yikes indeed.) Be not afraid. (3 words)

3 more parts left to be annotated here.