CHAPTER NINE

Northern Maryland, near the Maryland/Delaware border
Wednesday, November 22, 1854
Midday

Ann held her breath and prayed the spider would turn around and go the other way. She still had one hand over Paul’s mouth. The other hand was buried under the potatoes. If she uncovered Paul’s mouth she could smash the spider, but if she did that, the pattyroller might see her move, and Paul might let out a scream.

The other wagon came to a stop behind theirs. A voice Ann hadn’t heard yet said, “Hey, Tom. What you got there?”

Tom said, “I’m about to find out.”

He lifted the cloth higher, and Ann heard a few potatoes tumble onto the ground. One of the horses spooked. Ann heard shuffling and pawing, and a horse whinnied. The cloth dropped back down as the men outside struggled to calm the frightened horse.

Ann watched in horror as the spider started moving toward her face again. Then Mama’s hand came down on the spider, squishing it just before it reached Ann’s face.

“Whoa!” yelled a voice. “Calm down, old boy!”

Tom’s deep voice said, “This horse is scared of everything.” Then he yelled toward Donovan, “You can go on.”

The wagon lurched forward, and they were on their way again. Ann, Mama, and Paul all let out big sighs. They’d been holding their breath. Baby Elizabeth had slept through the whole thing.

* * *
Northern Maryland, just south of the Mason-Dixon Line
Wednesday, November 22, 1854

Nightfall

The rest of the day was quiet, and they reached the next station at nightfall. Donovan lifted the cover and moved the potatoes off Ann and her family. They had parked at the back of a building with a pointed roof.

Mama sighed. “Good, a church.”

Ann and her family climbed down from the wagon and looked up at the dark shape of the church.

Donovan said, “I have to get back now.”

“Thank you for helping us,” said Mama. She paused for a moment. “Do you think you can find out what happened to my husband, John?”

“I will try,” said Donovan. The doors at the back of the church opened, and two men came out to greet them.

One was tall and pale, with a gray beard. The other was a much shorter dark-skinned man. The man with the beard said, “Come with us.”

As Donovan rode away on his wagon, they went inside and the smaller man closed the church doors behind them. The two men led them through a small chapel and up a narrow staircase into the bell tower.

“The space in the tower is small,” said the man with the beard, “but it is big enough to hide in.” The bell tower reminded Ann of a big wooden bird’s nest.

There were no introductions. Donovan had told them before they left his home not to give out their names. He said it made it easier for people to say, “I haven’t met anyone named Beth,” if they were questioned.

The man with the beard said, “You’ll eat and sleep here tonight.” Then he gestured toward the shorter man. “Tomorrow, Melvin will take you into Pennsylvania.”

Ann’s heart leapt. They were only a day away from freedom. Although she was full of excitement, she was also curious about how Melvin would be able to take them across the state line. Melvin had brown skin. Surely a Negro man would catch someone’s attention.

“How is he going to do that?” asked Ann.

Melvin grinned. “You’ll see.”

Ann was beginning to realize there were a lot of good people in the world outside the farm. She was learning there were people who could be trusted. She decided to let herself sleep and wait for tomorrow.

* * *
Northern Maryland, just south of the Mason-Dixon Line
Thursday, November 23, 1854

Sunrise

The next morning, a young woman came into the church. She brought ham, eggs, and bread for their breakfast. She also brought very fancy clothes. Ann had only seen clothes this fine once in her life, when two guests came to the farm to do business with Master Adam. There were lots of whispers in the field that day about the rich guests who came to visit.

“Put on these clothes,” said the young woman. “Melvin will be here shortly.”

Mama looked at the expensive clothes. “Oh, we can’t take those,” she said.

The woman smiled. “Yes, you can. We have lots of friends who help us with disguises and food and even money,” she said. Before she left she added, “Good luck.”

Ann slipped into a white dress, and Mama helped with the buttons in the back. Once Ann was dressed, she didn’t even feel like herself. The dress was heavy on her body, and the bonnet was uncomfortable.

Mama looked beautiful in her long, blue dress. Paul wore nice black pants, and Elizabeth had a little white gown. The young woman helped them lace up their fancy shoes.

Ann thought these clothes were just right for her family to wear as they crossed the line into freedom.

Melvin met them at the door. He was dressed up too. “We’ll pretend I’m your husband,” he said to Mama.

Mama looked horrified. “I have a hus—” she started to say. When she stopped, Ann wondered if it was because there was no way to know if Mama still had a husband or not.

Melvin didn’t wait for Mama to finish. He said, “It’s just for show. I’m free. You’ll be my pretend family, and people will think you’re free too. We’ll ride in a wagon like everyone else.”

Paul asked, “Out in the open?”

Melvin said, “Hiding in plain sight.”

Ann didn’t think the plan would work. Negroes didn’t dress like this. It would just make people suspicious. She thought Donovan’s way was better. They needed to hide or travel at night. Ann had not forgotten that she was the conductor for her family.

“Melvin, we don’t want to get caught,” said Ann. “I don’t like this idea.”

“Ann!” said Mama. “Don’t be rude.”

Melvin interrupted. “Do you know how many families have ridden in my wagon?”

Ann shook her head.

“Nine,” said Melvin.

Ann still thought it was a bad idea. She had learned already that things on the journey to freedom didn’t always go as planned. But if she wanted to get her family to freedom, she would have to take a chance.

They all climbed into the wagon. Ann and Mama adjusted their bonnets so most of their faces were covered. Mama held the newspaper Melvin gave her. She was supposed to read it if anyone gave them trouble.

Mama had said, “I can’t read.”

“Just pretend to read it,” Melvin had told her. “Seeing you browse the pages will make people think you’re free, since they won’t teach slaves to read. It’s all for show, remember?”

Ann and her family bounced along in the wagon. It was a nice change to travel during the day. Now Ann could see this new place where Negroes wore fancy clothes and sat in wagons. She was amazed by what she saw around her.

A Negro man passed them on the road in his own wagon and waved to Melvin. They arrived at a small town, and Melvin stopped the wagon.

“Why are you stopping?” asked Mama.

“You’ll see,” said Melvin. “Read the paper while I go inside.”

Mama held the paper up to her face. Melvin turned the newspaper around the right way for Mama and disappeared into a little building. Ann held her head down but peeked out from under her bonnet.

Several Negro people walked through the town. They walked in and out of the buildings. Ann thought they must be close to the North if people were being this bold. No one looked afraid.

Melvin came back and handed them each a molasses cookie. Paul took a big bite. “Mmmmm!” he said.

Ann nibbled on the cookie. It was the most delicious thing she’d ever tasted. As the wagon continued on its journey, Ann ate her cookie as slowly as possible. She wanted to make it last.

Eventually Paul fell asleep, and his head bounced against Ann’s arm. At sunset, Melvin stopped the wagon again.

“Congratulations,” said Melvin. “We just crossed the Mason-Dixon Line. You’re free.”

Mama began to weep. “We’re in the North?” she asked.

Melvin nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”

Ann smiled. I led my family to freedom, she thought to herself. Then she realized she had no idea what they were supposed to do next. Daddy hadn’t said anything about their future in the North. Now Daddy wasn’t here to tell them how to survive. They had no place to live. They had no money and no jobs. They didn’t even know any people.

Melvin interrupted her thoughts. “Now remember,” he said, “some people may still be looking to capture you and take you back, so you need to be careful.”

The molasses cookie tried to work its way up Ann’s throat. She hadn’t expected freedom to be scary.