Mysterious Signal (9 page)

Then Micah looked up and grinned as though remembering he was free. “Us Parkers are worth something.”

“Caleb said there be a man on the train who knows us,” Jordan explained. In the time since reaching freedom, Jordan had learned to look at people when he talked. “We don’t think the man saw us come to your house. But he knew we was in Springfield. He sure enough must be wondering where we are.”

“And the rest of you?” Annika looked from Caleb to Libby to Peter. “Are you in danger?”

“Peter is,” Caleb answered for him.

Annika leaned forward. “Peter?” She waited for him to look up from his food. When he didn’t, she asked again. “Peter?”

Still Peter didn’t answer. Though her bread was good, even Annika seemed to realize it wasn’t that good. She looked at Caleb. “Is something wrong?”

“He can’t hear you,” Caleb said.

Annika nodded. “So that’s the reason for the slate.” Standing up, she walked around the table. When she reached Peter, she touched his arm lightly, then touched his slate where he had set it on the floor next to his chair. “May I?”

Though Peter couldn’t hear her, he understood and nodded. Annika slipped the slate out of the bag and sat down next to Peter. “Are you in danger?” she wrote.

When Peter looked up at her, surprise filled his eyes. He
glanced toward Caleb, as though wondering how much he should say.

Caleb motioned with his hand. “Go ahead.”

Quickly Peter told the story of Dexter, his arrest and escape, and also his cruelty.

“And he’s looking for you now?” Annika wrote at last.

“I think so,” Peter answered. “But he also wants Jordan. And if he knew Jordan’s daddy is here—” Peter didn’t have to finish.

“The reward money,” Annika wrote.

“Yes.”

“Not a very nice man, is he?” Annika wrote.

Peter met her gaze. “Are you afraid?” he asked.

When Annika smiled, her soft skin seemed to glow from within. “No,” she wrote. “I’m not afraid. Are you?”

As though a weight had fallen off his shoulders, Peter straightened. “Not anymore,” he said.

“Good!” wrote Annika.

“Do you like children?” Peter asked.

“Yes, I like children. I’m a schoolteacher.”

“Here?”

Annika nodded and wrote quickly. “When I lived in Philadelphia, I answered a newspaper ad for teachers in the West. I lived in Kentucky for a year, and I’ve taught here for two years.”

“This is your house?” Peter asked, as if wanting to know everything about her.

Annika shook her head. “I’m taking care of it for some people who are gone.”

And taking care of anyone who comes through on the Underground Railroad
, Libby thought.

Standing up, Annika walked over to a small table and began dishing up a large piece of oatmeal cake for each one of them. In her whole life Libby had never tasted anything better. And she remembered to eat it with her fingers, not her fork.

Then Libby realized Annika had forgotten to give them napkins. Reaching into her back pocket, Libby pulled out the red bandanna Peter had loaned her. Bringing it to her lips, she patted her mouth clean.

Looking up, Libby saw Annika watching her and again felt proud. But Caleb rolled his eyes.

Uh-oh
, Libby thought.
What did I do now
? Looking around, she saw that no one else seemed to miss having a napkin.

When they finished eating, Caleb asked Annika for a piece of paper and a pen. Going to a nearby desk, she opened it and offered him a place to sit down.

As Caleb dipped the quill into the ink, Libby watched over his shoulder. “What are you doing?” she whispered.

“I’m writing a letter to the editor.”

Libby was curious. “About what?”

“The men gambling on the train. And how they treated other passengers, blocking the aisle and all.”

“You think the editor will publish it?”

Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know. But if I want to be a writer, I’d better write.”

Ever since Libby had known Caleb, he had wanted to become a newspaper reporter and editor.

“But what if—” Libby glanced at Jordan and his father, then at Peter. “What if Dexter sees what you’ve written?”

Caleb seemed to read her face. “Dexter doesn’t know me, remember? It’ll be all right, I promise you.”

Caleb lowered his voice. “By the way, don’t be so dainty about the way you wipe your mouth.”

When he finished writing, Caleb asked for directions to the newspaper office and the town cooper. Libby felt sure Caleb was planning to check the barrels Allan Pinkerton had promised.

As soon as it was dark, Annika told Jordan and Micah how to find the secret room in her barn. Slipping away one at a time, they moved like shadows across the back lawn. But Annika said nothing to Libby.

Where will I sleep?
Libby thought with growing worry.
Can I tell Annika I’m a girl?
With all her heart Libby wanted to stay in the house, safe and close to the teacher.

Soon Peter followed Jordan and his father. By now Caleb had returned. When he started to leave for the barn, Annika stopped him. From the lean-to off the kitchen, she carried a large tub.

Just seeing the tub, Libby felt sick. Annika set it down at one side of the kitchen, close to the pantry door. “Help me with the water, will you?” she asked Caleb.

Between them they carried a huge pail of steaming water from the stove and emptied it in the tub. Then Annika added cold water from two smaller pails. Reaching down, she put her hand in the water to test it. “Just right for such a hot day,” she said.

All Libby could think about was how good it would feel to be wet all over. Again she wondered where she would sleep. Then Annika said, “I thought you’d like to sleep in the pantry tonight.”

Libby stared at her. “In the pantry?”

“You’ll be more comfortable there,” Annika answered.

At the side door, Caleb turned back. Libby saw his grin before he disappeared.

“Would you like a bath first?” Annika asked as she opened the door to the small room off the kitchen.

The outside wall of the pantry had a large window to let in light during the day. The other two walls had floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with dishes, large bowls, and containers of food. On a counter along one side were a bowl of eggs, a large coffeepot, and jars filled with root beer.

Annika set a candleholder on the counter, then drew heavy curtains across the windows. She and Libby pulled the tub into the small room.

“When you finish, slide the tub back into the kitchen. We’ll empty it in the morning.” Again Annika left the room, this time returning with blankets, sheets, and a pillow. “If you lay these on the floor, you’ll have a good bed.”

Filled with relief, Libby started to thank her. But Annika only said, “If you need me, I’ll be in the room right down the hall.”

Just taking off the overalls and shirt made Libby feel better. For a long time she lay in the tub, letting the lukewarm water soak into her skin until she finally felt cool. But Libby couldn’t help but wonder about Annika giving her a special room and a bath besides.
I don’t think I’m fooling her. But if Annika knows I’m a girl, why doesn’t she say something?

When Libby finally stepped out of the water, she couldn’t bear to put on the covered-with-cinders boys’ clothing. Instead, she rummaged in her knapsack for her own clothes.
By the time Annika sees me in the morning, I’ll look like a boy
again
, Libby promised herself.

Dressed in a nightgown and white robe, Libby opened the pantry door. Careful not to slosh the water, she dragged the tub into the kitchen, then spread out the blankets to make a bed. After blowing out the candle, she lay down on the pantry floor.

The blankets made a soft mattress, and Libby thought she’d fall asleep at once. Instead, she lay wide-awake, thinking about all that had happened that day: Dexter’s escape, riding on the train, running through the streets of Bloomington.

Then Libby’s thoughts tumbled further back. Getting the money from the Springfield policeman. Putting it in the picnic basket.

Libby gasped.
The money. Where did I leave Pa’s money?

In the kitchen?
No, Libby couldn’t remember carrying it inside.

On the train?
Libby couldn’t think of anything more awful than losing it on the train.
No, I was carrying it when Peter ran into Mr. Lincoln
.

Where then? When Peter and I hid behind that small building?

With each leap in her thoughts, Libby felt more frightened. Desperate now, she forced herself to think.
Where? Where? Where?

Now she felt angry with herself.
How could I possibly lose so much money? How could I
forget
about it?

Then she remembered why.
Because I was concerned about Jordan and his father. I was also thinking about Peter
.

While Libby knew it wasn’t an excuse for carelessness, she felt glad. Inside, something had changed that she cared more
about people than money. Libby’s panic disappeared.

As her thinking cleared, she remembered kneeling in the bushes outside the house.
I set the basket on the ground. That’s where I left it!

Libby jumped up. Without making a sound she opened the pantry door.
If I just creep out and get the basket, I’ll be right back in. No one, not even Caleb, will know I did such a stupid thing. But I have to creep out without Annika knowing
.

On tiptoes Libby crossed the kitchen. When Libby turned the large key in the lock, it grated with a loud squeak.

Libby paused, her fear returning.
How well can Annika hear?

Too well
, Libby decided.
Teachers and parents always hear better than anyone else
.

Holding her breath, Libby stood there. Listened. Waited. When Annika did not appear, Libby tugged at the kitchen door. When it quietly opened, Libby stepped out on the porch. Her bare feet moved soundlessly across the wood and down the steps. Racing across the lawn, she slipped between the bushes. The basket was there!

Picking it up, Libby lifted the napkin and checked under the remaining food. In spite of her carelessness, the money was still there.

Relief flowed through Libby.
All I have to do is get back to the pantry without Annika seeing me!

As Libby wiggled out from the bushes, she heard a noise down the street. With one swift movement Libby crept back into the bushes. She had barely reached cover when the noise became clearer.
Footsteps! Heavy footsteps on the boardwalk. The walk that passes within five feet of where I am!

Loud and hollow the footsteps sounded. And coming this way. Just listening, Libby knew it had to be men. Cringing, she drew back as far as she could into the bushes.

Then she glanced down. Her white robe caught and held whatever light the night offered. If the men glanced her way, they would spot the white cloth showing between the leaves.

In terror Libby looked around. Earlier that day she had stayed under the bushes. Now she crept close to the white picket fence next to them. Making herself as small as possible, she began to pray.
Keep me safe, Lord. Please—just keep me safe
.

Leaning into the fence, Libby did not move. Between the boards she peered into the next yard and saw two men come into view. One of them walked with a louder step than the other, as if his boots had higher heels.

The hollow sound on the boardwalk filled Libby with terror. Each step hammered away at her heart.
Clump. Clump. Clump
.

CHAPTER 8