Morning Star by Judith Plaxton Page A

of us
leaving.”
    â€œI understand.”
    â€œI want to make my own way in this world. I know I
can.”
    Flower felt very proud of her father as she
listened to him speak, wanted to go and stand beside his chair, but Mrs.
Pemberton asked her to turn around so she could adjust the other side of the
skirt.
    â€œIs Samuel your brother?” asked Noah.
    â€œWe met at the river. We helped each other as
brothers would.”
    â€œThe river has made Samuel’s wound more
troublesome.”
    â€œHe’s ailing?”
    â€œThe doctor has been summoned.”
    Cleo appeared at the bottom of the stairs, the baby
in her arms. “Husband,” she said, interrupting their conversation.
    â€œWhat is it, woman? We’re meeting here.”
    â€œIt’s Gabriel. He’s not nursing, and his body is
very hot.”
    Eldon went immediately to the baby and felt his
forehead. Mrs. Pemberton stopped her work. The chair wobbled as she gripped it
for support. Once on her feet, she lifted Gabriel from his mother’s arms and set
him on the table, unwrapped his shawl, and frowned as she placed her ear against
his chest, which rose and fell with each rapid breath. “I will prepare a
poultice to lower his fever.”
    Flower sat by the fire and held her brother, while
her frightened mother tore a clean sheet into pieces. Mrs. Pemberton smeared a
paste on one of the rags and positioned it on the baby’s laboring chest. Cleo
then held him tight against her own.
    Flower could see her mother’s fear and absorbed it
into herself. She wondered if they were being punished for leaving the master’s
household. Should they have stayed where they were and done what they were told?
She wanted to ask these questions, but didn’t; she knew such talk would make her
mother even more anxious and her father angry.
    Mrs. Pemberton’s voice interrupted these thoughts.
“Come child, I will show you how to help your wee brother.” In her hand she held
a cup of water and a spoon. Flower was shown how to place droplets of water
gently on the baby’s lips and into his mouth.
    â€œThat’s right, just the smallest amount. We don’t
want him to choke.”
    Flower concentrated on her task, dripping liquid
past Gabriel’s dry, cracked lips. She could feel the heat pulsating from his
body.
    On the other side of the room, her father continued
his conversation with Mr. Pemberton. “We’ve always tried to be good people.”
    â€œOf that I have no doubt.” Noah folded his hands
and looked at Eldon. “I hate to say this, but you can’t remain here. We are too
close to the river. It is dangerous. Slave catchers are determined to recapture
runaways and will travel great distances.”
    â€œWhere should we go?”
    â€œThere are other places, other people. I cannot
give you a map or list, but I will tell you, and you must commit this
information to memory.”
    â€œHow much time do we have here?”
    â€œTwo days.”
    A horse neighed in the distance. Flower shared a
nervous glance with her father. Noah walked to the window, placed a comforting
hand on Eldon’s shoulder, and said, “Friends.”

CHAPTER 18
    Felicia
    IT WAS LUNCHTIME in the cafeteria, and the four girls were in a huddle. Felicia nibbled a carrot stick and peered over Sophie’s shoulder to glimpse the open pages of a gossip magazine.
    â€œDo you think they’ll stay married?”
    â€œShe’s so gorgeous.”
    â€œHe’s so gorgeous!”
    Josh interrupted. “Excuse me, ladies. Can we get this drama club meeting started?”
    â€œLadies?” Renate giggled.
    â€œWhatever. We’ve only got this lunch hour before we get together with Mr. Butler. It’s time to get serious.”
    â€œWhat about?”
    â€œI’ve written a play.”
    â€œYou have? What’s it called?”
    Josh shuffled some papers in his hands, looked