Micah Parker answered. “But you run too.” Jordan’s daddy tipped his head toward the barn back of the house. “I be waiting for you there.”
CHAPTER 7
The Missing Money
W ith a last careful look for anyone who might pass by on the street, Jordan stood up. Quietly he slipped out from between the bushes and across the lawn to the side door.
As he reached the steps, Jordan started humming again, so softly that at first Libby wondered if she was imagining it. But Jordan rapped quickly on the door, then moved close to an open window.
There his humming changed to singing. Low and clear the words came across the short distance.
“Every round goes higher, higher
,
Every round goes higher, higher—”
Suddenly the door opened. A tall young woman looked out. Even from where Libby hid, she could see that the woman was beautiful.
The woman’s long black hair was pulled up to fall into loose curls at the back of her head. Tucked at one side behind her ear were blue flowers that matched the deep blue of her eyes. “Come in,” she invited in a soft voice.
“There be five of us,” Jordan answered.
“I know,” she said. “I watched you from the upstairs window.”
As Libby and the others crossed the lawn, the young woman stepped back enough to be hidden behind the open door. The moment they all stepped inside, she closed the door.
“Welcome,” she said, her voice warm with friendliness. “I’m Annika Berg. Were you followed?”
“I don’t think so,” Caleb answered. “For the moment we seem out of danger.”
“Then I’ll get you some food. But if anyone comes to the door …” Annika led them up the stairs. In a bedroom she showed them a closet behind a closet where they should hide if needed. “We have a better place in the barn,” she said. “From there it will be easier for you to leave if necessary. After dark I’ll show you.”
Libby’s spirit leaped, responding to Annika’s loveliness. But even more, her smile was warm and welcoming.
Womanly
, Libby thought.
Everything I’m not right now
.
Just looking at Annika, Libby felt the dirt on her own clothes. Cinders from the train had blown in through the open windows. On that hot August day a fine dust had settled over all that she wore. Even worse, Libby disliked how she looked—her jagged cut-off hair, the wrinkled shirt and overalls. The look of a boy when she wanted to be what she was—a girl.
From where he stood beside her, Caleb touched the brim of her hat, and Libby remembered to take it off. For Libby it was also a reminder not to tell Annika more than necessary. As an agent—someone who ran an Underground Railroad station—she had put herself in a dangerous spot.
In spite of Annika’s womanly ways, Libby knew by instinct that she was strong. Only a courageous woman would protect runaways from a cruel return to their masters. In turn, Libby wanted to protect Annika.
When they returned to the kitchen, Annika added corncobs to make a quick fire in the cookstove. “Would you like to wash up?” she asked as though not concerned about making the hot kitchen even hotter.
Libby’s spirit leaped.
Yes, I’d like to wash up!
In an entryway next to the kitchen door stood a bench with a pail of water and a basin. Nearby, a towel hung on a roller. When Libby’s turn came, Caleb poured fresh water for her. Just seeing the water, Libby could only think about getting clean. Then as she splashed cool water on her cheeks, she remembered,
I better keep some dirt on my face
.
When she finished washing, a glance in the mirror showed Libby that a streak of dirt still darkened her cheek. But now she faced another problem.
It’s hard enough to look like a boy. How do I act like one?
Annika had pushed a kettle onto the hottest part of the stove. While the soup heated, she made sandwiches. Between two pieces of thickly sliced bread she put cheese and meat. As she invited them to sit down at the drop-leaf table, Libby watched the three
CHAPTER 7
The Missing Money
W ith a last careful look for anyone who might pass by on the street, Jordan stood up. Quietly he slipped out from between the bushes and across the lawn to the side door.
As he reached the steps, Jordan started humming again, so softly that at first Libby wondered if she was imagining it. But Jordan rapped quickly on the door, then moved close to an open window.
There his humming changed to singing. Low and clear the words came across the short distance.
“Every round goes higher, higher
,
Every round goes higher, higher—”
Suddenly the door opened. A tall young woman looked out. Even from where Libby hid, she could see that the woman was beautiful.
The woman’s long black hair was pulled up to fall into loose curls at the back of her head. Tucked at one side behind her ear were blue flowers that matched the deep blue of her eyes. “Come in,” she invited in a soft voice.
“There be five of us,” Jordan answered.
“I know,” she said. “I watched you from the upstairs window.”
As Libby and the others crossed the lawn, the young woman stepped back enough to be hidden behind the open door. The moment they all stepped inside, she closed the door.
“Welcome,” she said, her voice warm with friendliness. “I’m Annika Berg. Were you followed?”
“I don’t think so,” Caleb answered. “For the moment we seem out of danger.”
“Then I’ll get you some food. But if anyone comes to the door …” Annika led them up the stairs. In a bedroom she showed them a closet behind a closet where they should hide if needed. “We have a better place in the barn,” she said. “From there it will be easier for you to leave if necessary. After dark I’ll show you.”
Libby’s spirit leaped, responding to Annika’s loveliness. But even more, her smile was warm and welcoming.
Womanly
, Libby thought.
Everything I’m not right now
.
Just looking at Annika, Libby felt the dirt on her own clothes. Cinders from the train had blown in through the open windows. On that hot August day a fine dust had settled over all that she wore. Even worse, Libby disliked how she looked—her jagged cut-off hair, the wrinkled shirt and overalls. The look of a boy when she wanted to be what she was—a girl.
From where he stood beside her, Caleb touched the brim of her hat, and Libby remembered to take it off. For Libby it was also a reminder not to tell Annika more than necessary. As an agent—someone who ran an Underground Railroad station—she had put herself in a dangerous spot.
In spite of Annika’s womanly ways, Libby knew by instinct that she was strong. Only a courageous woman would protect runaways from a cruel return to their masters. In turn, Libby wanted to protect Annika.
When they returned to the kitchen, Annika added corncobs to make a quick fire in the cookstove. “Would you like to wash up?” she asked as though not concerned about making the hot kitchen even hotter.
Libby’s spirit leaped.
Yes, I’d like to wash up!
In an entryway next to the kitchen door stood a bench with a pail of water and a basin. Nearby, a towel hung on a roller. When Libby’s turn came, Caleb poured fresh water for her. Just seeing the water, Libby could only think about getting clean. Then as she splashed cool water on her cheeks, she remembered,
I better keep some dirt on my face
.
When she finished washing, a glance in the mirror showed Libby that a streak of dirt still darkened her cheek. But now she faced another problem.
It’s hard enough to look like a boy. How do I act like one?
Annika had pushed a kettle onto the hottest part of the stove. While the soup heated, she made sandwiches. Between two pieces of thickly sliced bread she put cheese and meat. As she invited them to sit down at the drop-leaf table, Libby watched the three
Similar Books
