FOR THE next week, Martha concentrated on getting back her strength and resuming her normal routine. But there was no “normal” without Jake. The house was too quiet without his contagious laugh and high-energy antics. Her papa worked in his shop long hours and seemed reluctant to sit at the table or in the parlor with her and her mama. To Martha it seemed as if he felt guilty for not being a responsible head of his family. Her mama drew further into her shell. She cooked and knitted and even conversed a bit, but mostly when Martha sought her out she found her sitting in her rocking chair staring out the window as if waiting for Jake. There was no cheer in the home, just a longing for news of their lost boy.
Martha stayed at home, doing more than her share of the chores. In her spare time, she read any and all abolitionist books and newspapers that came into the house. She no longer lingered over the notices of kidnappings, however. Instead, she read about slave rescues.
“Caleb,” she said one day after a month of interminable waiting, “have you ever heard of the rescues of Shadrach Minkins in Boston and Jerry in Syracuse?”
“Can’t say that I have.”
“They were taken under the Fugitive Slave Law, just like Jake. But then mobs of people rescued them and whisked them away to Canada.”
“That’s interesting, Martha. But what does that have to do with Jake? He’s probably already on Dawes’s plantation.”
“Well, I’ve been reading, and there are some brave people going down South to rescue loved ones who were sent there.”
“Truly?” Caleb cut a slice of cheese from their luncheon and offered it to her. As she held it in her hand, she continued. “Of course, slave rescuers can’t reveal any details. No names. No routes.”
He gave Martha a meaningful look. “You mean like the Underground Railroad.”
“Well, more than that. I’ve heard tell that Harriet Tubman has gone to the exact same area of Maryland that Jake might be in and helped bring her family members to freedom. It vexes the authorities that so many slaves are going missing.”
“Sounds dangerous to me.”
“Oh, it is. If they’re caught, they get arrested. The Africs get sold way down South and the whites go to jail for a very long time.”
Caleb cut some bread and offered it to Martha. She shook her head no.
“I wonder, Caleb, if Harriet . . .”
Martha stopped in the middle of her sentence as Adam Burke’s carryall sped up their road.
“I have news of Jake,” he shouted as he jumped down to the ground and ran to the house. Martha and Caleb ran after him.
“Please, tell us, Mr. Burke,” Martha urged. “Where’s Jake? It’s been a month since Robert Dawes took him.”
“I don’t know where he is at this very moment, Martha, but I do have some news.”
Martha’s face fell, but she listened intently as Adam Burke shared his information.
“First, I must tell thee that we have had abolitionists all over Connecticut asking questions about your boy. And then there is this.” He handed a copy of The Liberator to Martha’s papa. Her heart stopped as she peered over his shoulder at the title of the front-page article: “Slave Owner Kidnaps Connecticut Boy.” This was a nightmare come to fruition. Martha’s papa read the short piece aloud:
“On January fifteenth, Robert Dawes, a slave owner from LaGrange, Dorchester County, Maryland, kidnapped seven-and-a-half-year-old Jacob Bartlett after an unsuccessful attempt to claim him under the Fugitive Slave Law. Dawes said the boy was the son of his slave, Mariah, who ran away in the fall of 1846. However, there is no evidence that Mariah came through Connecticut or that she is the mother of young Jacob.
“The Vigilance Committees of Connecticut and the child’s parents are searching frantically for him. Please contact Adam Burke in Liberty Falls, Windham County, Connecticut, if you have any information concerning this tragic situation.”
Martha took the paper from her papa. “May I keep this, Mr. Burke?” she asked.
“Yes, of course, Martha.”
“Thank you. But, please, do you have any more positive news?”
“Yes, I do,” Adam Burke said. “We have two eyewitnesses who claim to have seen Dawes with Jake.”
Martha held her breath as Adam Burke continued.
“The first person to notice something unusual was a woman at an inn south of here in Norwich.”
“When was that?” asked her mama.
“The evening of the kidnapping.”
“Dawes was traveling fast,” her papa noted.
“Yes. The woman said that a phaeton with a tall gentleman and a child stopped by the inn. There were two ruffians with them. The gentleman asked the woman for some bread, meat, and ale, but said he wished to eat in his carriage. The woman noticed that he had a Southern accent.”
Martha sensed Adam Burke’s hesitation to go on. “What is it, Mr. Burke? What’s the matter?”
“Prepare thyselves.”
Everyone in the group took a deep breath as Adam Burke went on. “The woman told her son to go ask her husband to prepare the plate. Meanwhile, the gentleman, let’s say Dawes, descended from the carriage to stretch his legs. When he opened the door, the woman noticed that the little boy inside had a big welt on one side of his face. It was an angry red as if the boy had been struck mighty hard. She also saw a rope tied around his waist and attached to a metal loop on the floor. The child looked angry and sorrowful.”
Martha heard her mama sob and grabbed for her hand. “Oh, my poor child. No one has ever struck him before. He was raised in a gentle home, Adam. No violence.”
“I know, Sarah. I know,” he replied.
“Why didn’t she call for help, Mr. Burke?” asked Martha. “There was obviously something amiss.”
“She did, Martha. She immediately ran into the inn with the intention of sending her son for the local constable, but Dawes, sensing the woman’s alarm, forewent his victuals, hurried to the phaeton, and took off at top speed.”
Silence filled the room.
“Is there any more?” asked her papa.
“Yes. The next time anyone actually saw the party was in New London. One of our associates working on the docks saw the group, well, we assume it was the same group, arrive by the dock where a large sloop awaited. As soon as the crew saw the phaeton arrive, they started raising the sails. A man, a child on a tether, and two rough riders accompanying them quickly boarded the ship, leaving the horses and carriage abandoned on the dock.”
“And?”
“Immediately after, the ship set sail and headed east out of the Long Island Sound toward the ocean.”
“And?”
“And nothing else for now. We have a contact who knows how to reach Harriet Tubman, who’s just returned from a visit, shall we say, to Dorchester County, where Jake should be by now. Mrs. Tubman says there’s no sign of him.”
Martha pondered this information and then started thinking out loud. “Maybe it just takes a long time to sail to Maryland. Or he’s hiding somewhere with Jake until things quiet down. Or something happened to the ship on its way. Could it be that, Mr. Burke? Could something bad have happened?”
“Don’t think that way, Martha,” her papa urged. “Adam, what’s the plan now?”
“Well, folks, there’s nothing much we can do for now but sit and wait. There’s a contact in Dorchester, in fact, in LaGrange itself, who’s asking questions. She must be very discreet, thee understands, so it may take us a while to learn what’s happened. In the meantime, the abolitionists all through our state are collecting money to offer Dawes for our purchase of Jake.”
Martha was perplexed. “Purchase? How can you purchase a free boy?”
“Thee all must try to understand,” Adam Burke said. “We know that we’ll be offering a bribe, or a ransom, if thee prefers, for the boy. But, remember, Dawes is a slave master. He believes he owns the child. So we’ll simply call it a purchase price.”
Martha persisted. “But isn’t that lying, Mr. Burke? It seems wrong to me to pretend to purchase him. Isn’t that illegal here anyway? Buying a slave, I mean?”
“Martha, thee and thy parents of all people know that sometimes one has to lie or play a game in order to achieve freedom and justice. We shall play the slave owner’s game. Now I must go. I’ll be back as soon as I have more news.”
Two whole months of anguish and torture passed without any word. At times, Martha felt such guilt and frustration that she dreamed of running away to Maryland to find Jake herself. But she had no idea how to do that. She was smart enough to know that she really needed the help of the adults in the abolitionist community to save Jake. One young girl could not take on such a monumental task all by herself, but she was convinced that she could play a pivotal role in the rescue. At long last, April, with its early signs of spring, blossomed with news of Jake as well.
One evening, Adam Burke rushed to Martha’s front door and proclaimed, “Jake’s at Dawes’s LaGrange plantation.”
“Is this the truth? Has anyone actually seen him?” asked Martha, elated that her brother was alive.
“Yes, Martha,” he replied. “Our contact, a Mrs. Perry, met Dawes’s kitchen slave, Lucy, at the market in the town. She’s known Lucy, who was born on the plantation, all her life. She asked her about a new slave child.”
Martha held her breath. “She’s seen Jake?”
“Lucy told Mrs. Perry that Robert Dawes returned to the plantation after having been away for almost three months. She said he looked travel weary, a bit thin, even.”
“He was probably worn out by Jake,” Martha jested in nervous relief. Her mama and papa stared at her in shock.
Adam Burke continued, “She also said that he had a child with him. He looked to be around seven or eight years of age. Looked exactly like her daughter Mariah.”
Martha gasped.
“Dawes told Lucy the child’s name was Jake. Lucy apparently begged him to let her take charge of the boy, and he seemed relieved to comply. Said she should teach him kitchen chores and keep him in her quarters.”
Martha’s mama held a handkerchief to her tearful eyes and asked, “Did this Lucy ask Jake about his mother?”
“She said the child was very quiet.”
“Are you sure it’s Jake?” Martha put in again. She seemed unable to hold her tongue.
“He told her his name was Jake. That he was taken from Connecticut. That his mama was Sarah and his papa Micah. And he demanded that Lucy call a constable to take him home.”
“Ah,” Martha laughed in relief. “That’s Jake.”
Even her mama and papa gave a little smile at her comment.
Adam Burke continued, “He told this Lucy that he knew nothing about anyone named Mariah. Of course, Lucy told Mrs. Perry that she was very worried about her daughter, who had run away about eight years ago. She had hoped she was safe in Canada or at least somewhere in the North, but now she feared that something evil had befallen her. She wants to know about her daughter as much as thee wants to know about Jake.”
“This is so sad, Mr. Burke. Will you offer Mr. Dawes the ransom?” Martha asked.
“We’re trying to arrange this now. I’ve written a letter that will offer him eight hundred dollars for Jake, but I’m waiting for one of our anti-slavery agents to carry it to Philadelphia, where it’ll be carried on further south.”
“Eight hundred dollars,” Martha’s papa mused. “That’s a goodly sum. People have been so kind to us.”
“Yes,” Adam Burke agreed. “Let’s hope that Robert Dawes thinks so, too. He’s a wealthy man, you know. Eight hundred dollars may seem a pittance.”
“Mr. Burke,” Martha added, “can Harriet Tubman help us if Mr. Dawes rejects our offer?”
“Let’s try this approach first. If it doesn’t work, we’ll seek help elsewhere.”
With that, Adam Burke left. Martha was elated by the news. Jake was not only alive, but apparently well. Now it would be a simple task of bribing the greedy slave owner and bringing Jake home. After all, now that he had experienced being with Jake, why would he want to keep him? He could hardly take care of himself, much less do the work of a slave. Maybe her parents and Adam Burke would allow her to be one of the party to go and get him. She was so curious to see what the South and its “peculiar institution” looked like.
Yet another very long but oddly hopeful month passed with no more word. Instead of fretting, however, Martha began planning. She hinted to Caleb that she wanted to go south herself for Jake’s rescue, but he just looked at her as if she had lost her mind.
“Martha, be serious. You haven’t been any further south than Brooklyn. Do you have any idea how to get to Maryland? Do you even have any money? And what about the impropriety of a girl traveling on her own?”
“But, Caleb, I would just be one of the rescuers, not the only one. Jake would be happy to see me, and I could help manage him.”
“Well, aren’t you the same girl who just a few months ago was afraid of even leaving this farm to go to town or school?”
“That was a different time, and no, I’m not the same girl. I’m different. A lot’s happened in a few months, and I’ve read a lot and learned a lot and planned a lot. I know I have to help Jake. He’s my brother, after all. I neglected him, and I lost him. Guilt changes a person, you know. And besides,” she added, “I was hoping that you might come with me.”
“Are you jesting?” he asked. “Martha, first of all, I can’t leave my family and my job here with your father. They all depend on me for money and help. Second of all, I’m not all that brave. I’m more of a stay-on-the-farm man. And third, I care for you too much to venture off on such a harebrained scheme. Let’s leave Jake’s rescue to those who have some expertise in such matters, shall we?”
Martha was greatly upset by Caleb’s attitude. He sounded like an old man, not a young adventurous one. She had thought he would want to be part of the effort to save her brother from the worst evil of all—slavery. But after his initial anger at Jake’s abduction, he appeared to minimize the seriousness of her brother’s situation and just want to get on with life. She decided that for the present, the best approach was to agree with Caleb lest he mention something to her father.
“I see your point, Caleb. I’m too young and unknowledgeable to think about becoming a slave stealer.”
For the next endless month Martha scoured all the books and newspapers she could find to learn something about Maryland. Maybe with more information, she could change Caleb’s mind.
“Caleb,” she said one Saturday during their usual luncheon together, “did you know that Maryland is actually not that very far south?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it borders Pennsylvania, you know.”
“Really.”
“Yes, on the north, and Delaware on the east.”
“Delaware is slave, though, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” Martha said, “but it’s small. And right across the Delaware Bay is New Jersey. And that’s free.”
“Martha,” said Caleb.
“I’m just trying to learn about where Jake is,” she hedged, “so that when someone with experience goes to get him, I’ll know where they’re going.”
“Uh-huh.”
In early June, Adam Burke returned to the farm. Martha greeted him eagerly.
“I need to speak to thy parents, and, of course, with thee as well, Martha.” He looked so solemn that Martha immediately had misgivings.
“Please come inside. My mama’s taken to her bed. This situation with Jake has broken her. But I’ll ask her to come downstairs.”
Once again Adam Burke brought the family both bad and hopeful news at the same time. With each word, Martha noted her mother drawing into herself, becoming more remote, sometimes simply staring into space.
“I’ve had a response from Robert Dawes,” he told them. “He’s refused our offer. Says he doesn’t wish to sell the child to us. Says he’s too valuable.”
Martha drew in a deep breath. “What does that mean?”
“It means that he wishes to taunt us. Here, let me read part of the letter to thee. ‘I wish to keep the boy for at least two years while he acclimates to his station in life. Then I may consider selling him. His fair looks and training as a house slave will make him very valuable.’”
Martha could not believe her ears. “He would sell a boy he claims to be his own son?”
“I believe he’s saying this just to exert his authority over us. However, there are a number of slave owners who have sold their Afric children. And then there are some, I’m happy to say, who have actually freed them.”
“But what about a lawyer, Mr. Burke?” asked Martha. “Can’t we retrieve Jake by proving he was born here a free boy?”
“You know, Martha, that Jake’s birth documents were falsely made. There’s actually no proof he was born here. Dawes has shown his own solicitor documents proving ownership of Mariah. Apparently, Jake resembles his grandmother Lucy a great deal, and a Maryland judge will see this as proof of Dawes’s ownership. Also, Dawes does claim paternity, and Maryland accepts his word on that. Custom, you know.”
“So, what next?” asked Martha’s papa.
Adam Burke paused. He looked at Martha as if he was very, very carefully considering his next words.
“I’ve heard from our contacts in Philadelphia who see Moses on a regular basis.”
“Moses?” Martha asked.
“The slaves’ secret name for Harriet Tubman,” Adam Burke explained. “She said that she’s willing to rescue Jake. She just needs a bit of time to make the arrangements.”
“Perhaps,” said Martha, “the slave woman Lucy can help her.”
“At this point, we don’t know.”
Martha sat biting her lip. She knew what she wanted to say, needed to say, and she trembled at the thought of it.
“I want to go too,” she stammered, “and bring Jake back.”
Her mama immediately came out of her stupor. Martha was surprised that she had actually heard and comprehended the conversation. “That is impossible, Martha. Thee is too young and the trip is too arduous and too dangerous. I am sure that Mrs. Tubman would not agree to take thee with her.”
Martha held her ground. “I’m almost fourteen. I’ve been reading all the newspapers and all about Maryland, and I’m certain I could get there on my own. I could meet Moses there. Mama, we raised Jake not to go with strangers. And after being kidnapped, don’t you think he’d be even more frightened if someone else he didn’t know tried to take him? Maybe he’d even fight them off.” To seal her case, she added, “Also, you know he’ll most likely be loudmouthed and difficult and confused and scared. But you know that once he sees me, he’ll come willingly.”
“No, Martha,” her mama half sobbed. “Thee cannot go. I shall not risk losing thee as well as Jake.”
“You won’t, Mama. I’ll be most careful.”
Martha was persistent. She just had to show her parents the benefits of her plan.
“Look, Mama, I can go on a ship all the way from New London to Baltimore. Then I can hire a smaller boat to take me to LaGrange. See?” She took out a map she had in her pocket. “It’s not really that far. And Pennsylvania is right there, right across the border. And there’re many abolitionists there. I’m sure they’ll be waiting for us with open arms. It’s not like going to the far South, like to Mississippi or Alabama or something.”
Her mama just shook her head at her.
“But, listen, Mama. It’ll be easy. I can find Jake through this Mrs. Perry and Lucy, talk to him, and then simply walk away with him. Then Mrs. Tubman can lead us by the Underground Railroad to Pennsylvania.”
Her papa exploded. “Are you in your right mind? First, you are too young and inexperienced to go on your own. You’ve rarely been beyond Liberty Falls and never by yourself. Second, you’re a girl. People will expect you to have a chaperone. If you don’t, they’ll find you suspicious. Third, it’s far too precarious. So, no. I say no.”
“Papa. Perhaps the Vigilance Committee can find me a chaperone to Baltimore. Once I get there, I can pretend I’m just a local girl going to visit an aunt. Is Mrs. Perry white or black, Mr. Burke?”
“She’s black, Martha, but that’s beside the point. I don’t think thy idea is very realistic. Remember, Robert Dawes and both of his henchmen know what thee looks like. They’ll recognize thee immediately.”
“I could use some herb dyes to color my hair. Or I could wear a big bonnet that hides my face.”
“Mahthah,” her papa almost shouted. “Wake up. This is not like one of the stories you’ve read. This is real life.”
While he spoke, her mama became more agitated. Her cheeks were flushed bright pink and her eyes full of tears. Finally, words spilled out of her mouth.
“Martha, listen to us. It is too dangerous. Look at thy skin. It is tannish, and maybe someone will mistake thee for an Afric person.”
Martha examined her arm and then saw her father cough and swipe his big checkered hanky across his eyes. She was startled, never having known her father to cry. Or to give her mama a hard look as he was doing now. Her mama promptly burst into uncontrollable tears.
“What’s happening?” Martha cried out. “Why is my skin so important that you’re both having fits of emotion? You’ve always said Jake and I have the same skin color and that’s why people don’t question his race. What’s so different now?”
As she looked around wildly trying to figure out why they were so vexed, she felt her papa’s strong arms encircle her as he kneeled down next to the stool she was perched upon. Slowly, she calmed down.
“It’s time we told her, Sarah,” he said while her mama simply nodded her head. Martha saw Adam Burke get up as if to leave.
“Stay, Adam. You know most of this anyway,” her papa said. Adam Burke sat back down. Martha then learned another stunning secret that her parents had held for more than thirteen years.
“You see, Mahthah,” her papa began in a voice so soft she had to strain to hear him, “your mama and I, well, for some reason we were never able to have a child.”
“But you had me!!!” she responded.
“Shhhhh. Let me speak and then you can ask me whatever you want to know.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Like I said, we tried hard for ten years to create a child, but fate was not on our side. Then one day, your mama went out to get the basket from the outside shed to gather eggs and there you were, a tiny newborn infant fast asleep.”
“You’re lying,” she said. “This family always lies.”
“No, I’m not. We should have told you long ago. But with Jake here . . . well, it became most complicated.”
“So, who am I then?”
“You are Mahthah, our daughter.”
“No. I mean, who am I?”
Her papa bit his lip, gave her a squeeze, took her hand, and said, “We don’t know. When we found you, you were wrapped in a blanket that looked like it might have been made by one of the wandering Indians who sometimes come through the town poor and alone. We heard there was a young girl with child seen with a traveling peddler, one of those Southern European types or maybe a fugitive slave, but they were long gone. Your mama and I, we saw you as a gift from Heaven, and we claimed you as our own, just as we did Jake.”
Martha was stunned. This made no sense, and yet it made perfect sense. She and Jake, both orphans. She looked again at her skin and then at her black plaits, which hung down from both sides of her head, and then at her mama’s blonde hair and her papa’s blue eyes.
“Why didn’t anyone in town ever say anything? Everybody is always telling gossip.”
“Because within a short time, everyone just put it out of their thoughts. Like with Jake. Eventually, they just forgot about it. And your mama and I were going to tell you when we thought you were mature enough to know. I guess we just didn’t want that time to ever come. You see, for us, you are and always have been ours, connected by our hearts and souls.”
Martha’s mind was rushing. Thoughts flew in and out as she tried to comprehend the meaning of this huge revelation. “So, I’m just like Jake? Actually, worse? I’m a foundling?”
“Yes, a foundling. But not worse. Why would you think that?”
“Because you know who his parents are, but not mine. And my real mama might be an Indian and my papa colored of some kind?”
“Mahthah, understand this. We are your mama and papa, not anyone else. Although we’re not sure of where you came from, it’s no matter to us.”
“But it is to me, and to who I am now in this world. Tell me what you know.”
“We don’t know who your mother or father were, and we have no way of finding out.”
For several minutes, no one said anything. Martha’s papa kept hold of her hand. Her mama stopped crying, knelt next to her, and held her other hand. Martha, meanwhile, stared into space, trying to absorb what she had just heard.
After several moments, Adam Burke said in a low, quiet voice, “I know this is a huge discovery for thee to take in, Martha. But, if we can return to the question of Jake for just a moment, I’d like to say that I think Martha has just cause to want to help her brother. I can understand thy fears, but, on the other hand, I think we can come up with a good plan to ensure her safety. The way she looks might actually help in the rescue, as she can be taken for white or black. And it does seem true that Jake might resist going with people he doesn’t know. Martha has always been such a responsible girl. Sometimes I think she is much more mature than many girls her age.”
“I cannot accept this,” Martha’s mama said as she slowly rose from her knees and left the room. Her papa looked after her with great concern, but he remained where he was.
“I should be the one to go, not Mahthah,” he said.
“But, Papa,” she insisted, “you can’t leave Mama alone. She needs you. And this is the busiest time of the year for your woodshop. Caleb can’t handle that for you.”
“I’m very fearful of the outcome, Mahthah,” he replied. “I love you dearly, as does your mama. And we both love Jake equally. So this is an almost impossible decision for me. I couldn’t bear it if I lost you, too.”
“You won’t lose me, Papa. I’ll be very careful.”
“I need to think about it. Adam,” he added, “I’ll get back to you when I decide what to do.”
“Time is the one thing we don’t have, Micah,” Adam Burke said. “Mrs. Tubman is planning a rescue real soon, and after that, who knows when she’ll go to Maryland again.”
“Papa,” Martha pleaded, “please. I need to help Jake.”
Minutes that seemed like hours passed before Martha’s father spoke again.
“Well, if Adam here thinks you might be essential to the rescue, even though I may live to regret it, I’ll support your desire to go, especially since I can’t. But, Adam, I need to know my Mahthah will be safe. You must promise me she will always be with an adult.”
“I promise,” Adam Burke replied.
“And she’ll be kept away from Dawes and his men at all cost.”
“Of course.”
“And that Harriet Tubman herself will guide her and Jake home safely.”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“And, Mahthah, promise me, you’ll be mindful of everything Mr. Burke says and that you and Jake will both come home to us, your parents.”
“I promise, Papa.”
“Then I suppose I give my consent.”
He hugged Martha tightly. “But I will not rest easy until you are home again.”
Adam Burke rose from his chair. “I’ll take my leave then, but I’ll return soon. I’ll pray for thee, all of thee.”
After he left, Martha’s papa went in search of her mama. Martha herself was too self-conscious of her new identity to rush to reveal it to Caleb, so she said nothing. But a few days later when Becky came by to knit, she thought she would see what would happen if she shared her secret. After all, weren’t secrets by their very nature meant to be shared with a special few? Hadn’t she seen the results of keeping everything to oneself?
“Becky,” she said, “have you ever wondered what it’d be like to be someone else?”
Becky looked up in between stitches. “Like who?”
“I dunno. Like maybe an Italian or an Indian.”
“What an amusing thought, Martha! I’ve heard that Eye-talians are infidels. They’re Catholic, you know. Not Protestant, like us. And my mama and papa say that’s bad. And we all know that Indians are uncivilized, so I don’t think I’d want to be either of them.”
Martha gulped at Becky’s intolerance, but she continued anyway.
“How about being colored?”
Becky put her needles down. “Oh, no. I wouldn’t like that at all. No one here would want to marry me. I think I like being just like I am. White. And Unitarian.”
Martha squirmed in her seat and busied herself with the stitch she had dropped during her questioning. Maybe this was not the best time to tell Becky the truth about herself. She worried about what would happen to their friendship once the news of her parentage came out. And how Caleb would react, too.
Meanwhile, Adam Burke led the effort in hatching a plan that would protect Martha as best as anyone could but also rescue Jake. After several weeks, he arrived at the house to present the final details.
“This was not easy to arrange, Martha, so I pray it’s successful. Many people are reluctant to include thee in Jake’s rescue. Thee is so young and innocent of the world. But we have one chance to rescue Jake, and thee may very well be the key to our success.”
“It’ll work, Mr. Burke. I’m sure of it,” Martha responded.
“Okay. This is the plan,” he said. “Martha, thee’ll travel south with Charles Murdoch, a member of the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society, who is visiting family up in Worcester. He’ll stop here on his way home to pick thee up. Thee’ll travel in a variety of private conveyances to reach Philadelphia.”
“Like what?” asked Martha.
“Well,” Adam Burke responded, “a carriage to New London, then a sailing ship to New York and another to New Jersey, then another carriage to Philadelphia. From there, a Maryland abolitionist couple, Samuel and Caroline Smith, will accompany thee to Dorchester County via a small boat and yet another carriage. When thee arrives, thee’ll be lodged with Lorraine Perry. Mrs. Perry and Harriet Tubman will figure out a way for thee to meet Jake, but thee will do so in their company. Thee will then head home with Mrs. Tubman through the Underground Railroad. I hope this is not too arduous for thee.”
“Oh, no, Mr. Burke. It’s all just fine,” Martha responded.
In fact, she was feeling more excited by the minute. The adventure and danger were surprisingly appealing to her, she who had always been so shy. If the people of Liberty Falls admired her for having sheltered Jake for all these years, imagine how they would praise her when she brought him home!
Adam Burke interrupted her reverie and assured Martha’s mama and papa, “Moses already has made a scheme to bring a few of her family members to freedom, and Martha and Jake will become part of that group.” He added to Martha, “But this is truly dangerous business, Martha. Thee will be expected to obey all the people involved in this rescue, especially Mrs. Perry and Mrs. Tubman. Making thine own plans could result in tragedy for everyone. Does thee understand?”
“Of course, Mr. Burke. When do I leave? And how soon shall I return?”
“Thee will leave the day after tomorrow. The entire venture should take no more than two weeks.”
Martha saw the look of dismay on her mama’s face. “Don’t worry, Mama. That’s not such a long time. And think how happy you’ll be when I come home with Jake by my side.”
Adam Burke raised his thin body from the chair he was sitting in and got ready to leave. “There’s still much for us to do. Charles Murdoch and I will come for thee at sunrise, Martha, the day after tomorrow.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Martha walked Adam Burke out to his carryall and then ran to the woodshop to tell Caleb everything that had taken place. He was not happy with the plan, not with any of it, and he was both shocked and disturbed by the story of Martha’s birth, which she had finally decided to reveal to him.
“My parents shouldn’t have kept such important information about my past from me,” she said.
Caleb was uncharacteristically silent as he continued working on the chair he was making.
“Caleb? I know you’re upset about my going to the South, but I promise that I’ll be careful.”
“That’s one thing, Martha, but not the only thing,” he responded.
“What is it?” she asked.
“It’s about the circumstances of your birth,” he said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll adjust to it over time.”
“But will I?” he asked softly.
“Caleb? Look at me. What are you saying?”
“I don’t know, Martha. This is big news that you’ve just told me. Your not being white, or possibly not being white, or never being able to know if you’re white, is a shock. It changes everything.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think I can see us together in the future if you’re not white. I mean, I’d always be your friend, but . . .” His voice disappeared into silence.
“What are you saying?”
“Because if we had children, life would be very difficult for them. Isn’t that one reason your parents kept your past a secret? If you and all the town accepted you as white, then no one would treat you differently or be hateful toward you.”
Martha’s head was spinning. “But I always thought you believed people were equal. I never thought you suffered from colorphobia. Look how you’ve always loved and protected Jake even after you heard he was black.”
“You misunderstood, Martha. I’ve always believed that slavery is wrong. But I’ve never believed that blacks are equal to whites. It’s just not so.”
“But what makes today different from yesterday? How can I have been your equal then but not now?”
Caleb looked dismayed. “I dunno. I’m all confused. But that’s just how it is. I don’t believe the world is kind to marriage between the races and certainly not to any children of such a union.”
“So you all of a sudden don’t love me anymore? Just because none of us will ever be sure if I’m white or not?”
“Oh, I love you,” he said, “but I’m not sure that I should.”
Martha could not believe what Caleb was saying. When he turned his back to her, she ran out of the woodshop and into the house. Upstairs, she collapsed onto her bed, grabbing her rag doll to her heart.
“I’ll show you, Caleb Franklin. I’m the same Martha. Well, no, I’m a different Martha. For one thing, I’m not so shy and quiet since Jake’s gone missing. And for another, I may be white, or Indian, or black or maybe even all of them. And I’m gonna be a slave stealer and bring Jake home. And then see what you think of me!” And with those words, Martha sobbed herself to sleep.