Friday, April 19, late morning
“Joe! Nell! Come downstairs!”
Ma’s excited voice woke me from the heavy sleep I’d fallen into. I shook my head and pulled on my boots. I hadn’t even taken off my clothes from the night before; I’d been too tired.
I hoped Nell had been able to sleep, too. But as I clattered down the stairs I saw she’d reached the kitchen before I had. And the room was crowded.
Sheriff Chadbourne, a big man any way you might define that word, filled the space by himself. He was smiling.
“Wanted to check that you folks were all right, and safe here at home. Knew you’d be interested in what happened this morning after Dr. Cushman came to talk with me.”
He turned to Nell. “I went and had a little visit with your aunt and uncle, Miss Gramercy. I informed them that here in the State of Maine, we don’t hold with folks giving medicine to young girls when it’s not needed, and a doctor was willing to testify to such. I also informed them that the same doctor, and others in the community, were willing to testify that Miss Gramercy did not wish to continue traveling with them. I told them that if they tried to contact her again, they would be arrested.”
“What did they say to that?” I asked.
“They weren’t happy about it, you can be sure. But I told them that if they didn’t leave town today, I’d file official abuse and harassment charges and arrest the both of them. Said that in Wiscasset, we don’t countenance people taking advantage of children, and my next stop would be Judge Fales’s office.”
Nell smiled at him. “Thank you, sir.”
“Then I waited while your aunt packed up your clothes and such in your trunk,” he said, pointing at an elegant leather trunk in the corner of the kitchen. “I thought a young lady would need her personal things.”
“Yes, sir!” said Nell. This time her smile was almost as big as Ma’s.
“Deputy Hubbard is with your aunt and uncle now, and will be accompanying them this afternoon when they leave on the Boston stage. I’ve instructed him to remain with them as far as Portland, and then to see them off on the next part of their journey south. He’ll alert the driver that if they depart the stage at any town north of Boston, he’s to notify law enforcement.”
“Thank you so much, Sheriff Chadbourne,” Pa said. “Miss Gramercy—Nell—is safe with us. We appreciate all of your help.”
“Happy to help out,” said Chadbourne, tipping his hat to everyone. “And may I suggest that Miss Gramercy not show her face on Main Street until after the stage has left at one-thirty today.”
Sheriff Chadbourne had barely left when the kitchen door banged open and Charlie barged in. For a moment he just stood, looking in amazement at Nell, her trunk, and Ma and Pa and me.
“I heard this crazy story,” he said. “That Joe and Nell Gramercy had found Owen at Fort Edgecomb in the middle of the night.”
“You heard right,” said Pa. “Owen’s probably to home by now, healing his broken leg.”
“But you haven’t even heard the most exciting part,” I said. “Nell’s aunt and uncle are leaving town, and she’s staying here. With Ma and Pa and me.”
For a moment Charlie didn’t say anything. He looked dumbstruck.
“Godfrey mighty,” he managed to say. “That’s fierce!” He looked from one of us to the other. Then he got his voice back. “I have news, too. I’ve enlisted!”
“What?” Even Pa turned around for that. “Charlie, you’re not eighteen.”
“I’m tall for being close to sixteen. And I got my father to sign a paper saying I just turned eighteen. Edwin Smith accepted me. He needs everybody he can to muster one hundred men for Wiscasset. So I’m going!” Charlie pretended to hold a rifle and pointed it at each of us in the kitchen. “Pow, pow, pow! I’m going to get those Confederates! I’m going to be a hero! Just wait and see!”
I couldn’t believe Charlie, my friend, was really leaving Wiscasset and going to be a soldier in the army. Charlie, who had trouble keeping his mind on his work, would learn to shoot a gun and fight in battles.
“Captain Smith says we’re leaving next Tuesday, the twenty-third. I can help you with your printing until then, Joe. Are you going to work today?”
Tuesday. Pa and Charlie and all the enlisted men would be leaving for the war next Tuesday. Monday was the twenty-second, the day the money was due. Today was Friday.
I only had until Monday morning to get the rest of the money for Mr. Shuttersworth. Three days.
“I’m going now. I can use all the help I can get.”
“I’ll go with you. I don’t know anything about setting type, but maybe I can help with the press,” said Nell, smiling. “You’ve changed my life. Maybe I can help you with yours.”
“Go on, the three of you, then,” said Ma. “Go the back way, in case Nell’s uncle is still wandering about. I’ll bring you all some food later. With everything else that’s happening, now’s the time to focus on the Herald.”
Only the day before I’d thought it would be impossible.
“I don’t know if we can print the Act in time,” I said. “But if you’re both willing to help . . . let’s go!”