Holt and George

George bought Holt out of slavery, but didn't need his mother, who was sold. Holt and George were friends, but there was always the feeling that George owned Holt. George gets mad whenever anyone calls Holt his *beep* however, that is what Holt is and Holt and George know it, Holt is always considered as George's property, the rest of the bushwackers refer to Holt as "George's *beep* it's only when George is killed that Holt becomes independent and decides to find his mother.

I always got the impression that Jake was more of a real friend to Holt than George ever was. That's just me though.

____________________________
He Writes Like People Talk!!

As far as I can remember from the book (and I think it was briefly mentioned in the film) Holt saved George's live earlier in the war.

[deleted]

In the film it mentions that George and Holt grew up together, Holt's family was owned by a farmer that lived across the way so it's logical to assume they were childhood friends. However because of the way society was, Holt was always a second class citizen and George knew that, although his friendship with Holt was very real. George trusted Holt with his life perhaps because of the friendship bond and how Holt stuck with him to avenge his family who were killed by the union soldiers. However Holt still felt a debt to George because his freedom was bought by his friend, so even though it was a gift there was still that relationship and the atmosphere forced them to be seen as master and slave. Only after George had gotten killed did Holt finally feel free.