Mysterious Signal (5 page)

Looking at the flowers, Libby breathed deep and tried to put away her anger at the conductor’s refusal to help. Only then did she remember Allan Pinkerton. Besides being an excellent detective hired by railroad companies to protect passengers from crime, Mr. Pinkerton played an active part in the Underground Railroad. Reaching into a pocket of her dress, Libby pulled out his letter. Quickly she read the short note, then showed it to Caleb and Peter:

Caleb’s pleased grin lit his blue eyes. “Barrels are just
exactly
what we need! I was wondering how to hide Jordan and his father. Mr. Pinkerton probably knew they needed to pass through the Junction. We’re even headed in the right direction!”

A moment later Caleb said, “We just have one more thing we need to figure out. We’ve got to do something to protect Peter. If Dexter sees him …” Pointing to Peter, Caleb gave Dexter’s sign name, then their secret sign for
Danger!

But Peter straightened, sitting tall as if not wanting anyone to fight his battles for him. “I’ll make sure Dexter doesn’t see me. I’ve done that before.”

Again Caleb gave the sign for Dexter, then pointed to himself. Using a combination of signs and writing, Caleb explained. “I can recognize Dexter, but he doesn’t know me.”

With Libby it was different. “Dexter knows you,” Caleb said. “He knows you stopped him from getting what he wanted.”

“Caleb’s right, Libby,” Peter said. “You stopped Dexter twice—once with Jordan, once with me. He knows you, and he’ll never forget your red hair.”

Uneasy now, Libby pulled a long strand forward. The light through the window brought out the auburn color. As always, the deep red and gold and the length of her hair filled Libby with pride.

“It’s your red hair that’s the problem,” Caleb said.

Libby’s stomach tightened. She didn’t like the way this conversation was going. More than once she’d heard Caleb make
plans to rescue someone. When Caleb planned something, he meant to see it through, and as far as Libby knew, he always did. Deep inside, Libby had a feeling that she didn’t want to know what Caleb was about to say.

Now he pointed at Peter. Then Caleb looked Libby straight in the eyes. When he was sure he had her attention, he began writing on the slate so that Peter would understand. “Something bothers me, Libby. Even if Peter manages to hide, you will give him away.”

CHAPTER 4

A
s she read Caleb’s words, Libby’s stomach turned over. She knew where this was heading, all right. Now Caleb signed
Dexter
, then wrote on the slate as he talked to Libby. “He’ll take one look at you and figure that wherever you are, Peter and Jordan will be close by. He still wants to find both of them.”

Swallowing hard, Libby tried to push down the panic she was starting to feel. More than once, what Caleb said had proved to be right. In southeastern Iowa and northeastern Missouri, where Caleb was known as an Underground Railroad conductor, slave catchers always took a second look at him. Then they started hunting for whatever slave he might be helping.

Libby also knew that people noticed her because of the color of her hair. While living in Chicago, Libby had liked that feeling. When she walked down the street, heads turned, giving her the attention she wanted.

My hair is part of who I am
, Libby thought.
People like my hair. Seeing it, they like me
.

But now Caleb pointed to Libby’s hair. Making the sign for Dexter, he drew his finger across his throat, then pointed to Peter.

As Peter’s eyes widened, Libby got the message. Caleb was sure she would put Peter in danger. As much as Libby wanted to believe Caleb was wrong, she knew he was right.

In a small voice she asked, “What should I do, Caleb?”

Caleb started writing. He showed the words to Peter, then said to Libby, “You’d better dress like a boy.”

Peter grinned, as though the idea struck him funny, but Libby made a face at Caleb. “I don’t want to look like a boy. I like being a girl.”

“But for Peter’s sake you’ll do it,” Caleb answered calmly.

Libby stared at him. “This isn’t a joke, Caleb.”

“I agree.”

“Then stop playing with my life. I’m
not
going to dress like a boy.”

“I’ve got an extra shirt you could wear.” Caleb bent down to pick up his knapsack. He pulled out a wrinkled-looking shirt.

Libby wouldn’t even think about it. “So now I’m supposed to look lumpy and messy and at least ten pounds heavier!” Instead of taking the shirt, Libby moved as far away from Caleb as the seat allowed.

But Peter was also digging in his knapsack. “I’ve got an extra pair of overalls you could use. You’re skinny enough to wear them.”

“Peter!” Libby exclaimed. Then she remembered to write on the slate. “You’re just as bad as Caleb. I don’t want to wear your old overalls. I don’t want to look like a boy!” For good measure she underlined
don’t
three times.

Paying no attention, Caleb reached into his knapsack again and pulled out a straw hat. Crushed and bent out of shape, it wasn’t even clean. Libby hated the look of it.

“You can cut your hair and wear this,” Caleb said.

“Cut my hair?” Libby couldn’t believe his words. Frantically she reached up with both hands. Grabbing the long strands on either side of her head, she hung on for dear life. “Caleb, you can’t be serious!”

When she looked into Caleb’s eyes, she knew he was. He only nodded, moving his head up and down three times to make sure neither Peter nor Libby missed what he was saying.

With every passing moment Libby felt more desperate. “What about Peter?” Libby pointed to him and used the sign for
Run away from someone!
Holding out her left hand, she swished her right hand against her left palm with a swift upward motion. “Peter is the one who needs to hide. How will he do it?”

Peter knew exactly what Libby was asking. “I’ll watch for Dexter every minute. I’ve done it before. I can do it again.”

Libby shuddered. Looking into Peter’s eyes, she guessed more deeply than ever before how difficult Peter’s life had been. No wonder he wanted to live with Pa on the
Christina
. No wonder Pa had told Libby, “Watch out for Peter.” But the last thing Peter wanted was to have someone treat him like a baby. He had already told Libby so.

Now, strangely, Libby felt proud of Peter—proud of all that he was in spite of Dexter trying to teach him to steal.

But my hair?
Libby asked herself, desperate again.
How can anyone, even Caleb, ask me to cut my hair?
Libby felt upset just imagining it.

Trying to think of any other solution but that, Libby looked around. Just then two men entered the railroad car. Peter had his back to the men, but it took only one glance for Libby to
recognize Dexter. Frantically she began to write, then realized there wasn’t time.

Reaching out, she grabbed the hair on Peter’s forehead and pulled down his head. In the next instant she turned to stare out the window. Hardly daring to breathe, she prayed that Dexter wouldn’t notice her.

It was Caleb who finally said, “Dexter is gone. You’re both safe.”

Libby’s heart was still pounding. As Peter lifted his head, she met his gaze. Libby could barely stand to look into his eyes.

Before now she had seen Peter upset. Yet even when he was scared, he had managed to stay calm and do what was needed. Now the look in his eyes reminded Libby of a rabbit she had once scared up in a garden. He had taken one panicked look at her, then darted every which way, trying to find cover again.

Her own words coming back to haunt her, Libby remembered what she told Pa when she came to live on the
Christina. “I want a never-give-up family
,” she had said.
“A family that believes in one another, that sticks together even when it’s hard.”
Now Peter was part of her larger family—the people who lived on the
Christina
, choosing to help one another.

“Okay,” Libby said aloud. In the short time Peter had lived on the
Christina
, she had started to feel that he was like the younger brother she had always wanted. Holding up her hands, Libby made the sign for brother.

Surprise flashed across Peter’s face. First, he pointed to Libby. Then he made two fists, crossed his arms, and drew them to himself as if he were hugging someone.

Libby bit her lip as she realized Peter had signed “love.” Speaking aloud, he added a word, “Sister.”

Libby’s gaze met his. Then she picked up her knapsack, the dreaded shirt, overalls, and hat. When she stepped out into the aisle, she headed for the women’s room without looking back.

With swift movements Libby changed her clothes. Caleb’s shirt was baggy for her and badly wrinkled besides. Peter’s overalls were too short, ending just above Libby’s high-top shoes. In the mirror she looked just as strange as she feared.

From her sewing bag, Libby took out her small scissors. As she opened and closed the blades, she felt as though they carried a death sentence. Filled with dread, she dropped the scissors on a small table.

Catching up her hair, Libby twisted it into a long rope, then a knot on top of her head. With one hand she held it in place as she tried to put on Caleb’s hat. But the hat could not begin to cover her thick mound of hair.

If I had hairpins …
but Libby had none along—no way of holding such a mass of hair. Even with pins, if she made one wrong move, her hair would tumble down. Whoever saw her would know she was a girl.

Libby ran her fingers through her hair.
It took forever to grow it this long. But if I look like a boy and enter a building, I have to take off my hat. If I’m a boy with manners, that is
.

Libby sighed. Reaching into her backpack, she found a cloth handkerchief and tore it into strips. Pulling back her hair, she bunched it together and tied it at the back of her neck. Then she began braiding below the tie.

When she finished the one long braid, she tied it at the bottom. For a moment Libby stroked the braid. The end was soft and curled around her fingers. Again she debated with herself.
Have I thought of everything? Is there any other way to hide who I am?

But no ideas popped into her head. Instead, Libby remembered Peter’s scared eyes. Though Libby had lived with her aunt, then her father, she had always been sheltered and cared for. She couldn’t imagine having the kind of fear that Peter knew.

Meeting the eyes of the girl in the mirror, Libby spoke aloud. “Okay, Peter, this is for you. If it keeps you safe, it’ll be worth it.”

With her braid pulled to one side, Libby cut above the top tie. When the long braid fell into her hands, she was unable to throw it away. Spreading out her jean cloth skirt, she rolled the braid inside. Then, swallowing the lump in her throat, Libby started snipping.