Race for Freedom

by Lois Walfrid Johnson

  Samson followed close behind. On the way to the captain’s cabin, Libby almost crashed into Jordan. “Take a look at this!” she exclaimed. “Riggs lost his mustache, and Samson found it!”

  Libby started to tremble. “It’s just like we thought. Riggs really is on board! Why hasn’t he grabbed you?”

  “He takin’ his time, Libby.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He knows how strong I is.” Jordan flexed his muscle and grinned. Then his eyes grew solemn. “When Riggs knows everything he wants to know, he’ll just git some catchers to help. Then he tuck this boy under his arm and carry him off.”

  Libby stared at Jordan. “C’mon. We’ve got to tell Pa.”

  When she reached her father’s cabin, Libby was glad to find he had returned from Reads Landing. She flung open the door. Caleb sat at the table, talking with Pa. Jordan and Samson followed Libby inside.

  “Riggs is here!” she announced.

  “On board?” her father asked. “How do you know?”

  “Look what Samson found!” Libby dropped the mustache onto the table.

  Her father looked puzzled. “You’d better explain what’s going on.”

  “Caleb and I wondered if Riggs came on board in St. Louis,” Libby said. “As I stood near the gangplank, I saw a man dressed like Riggs. He carried a cane with a gold handle.”

  “There’s more than one wealthy man who carries a gold-handled cane,” Pa answered, as though not wanting to believe Riggs was on board. “And sometimes a cane like that is given to honor someone.”

  “But it was more, Pa,” Libby said. “The man I saw was short and slender and even walked like Riggs. The one thing that was different was his big handlebar mustache. At first I thought, ‘That can’t be him. Riggs couldn’t grow a mustache in one day.’ Then I decided it might be his disguise.”

  “Do you know whether this man really did come on board?” Pa asked.

  “We weren’t sure at first,” Libby answered. “Then Jordan wondered if he saw Riggs, and I saw the man in the dining room. I was going to follow him and find out which stateroom was his. But I lost him.”

  “Where did Samson find the mustache?” Pa asked.

  “On the boiler deck. Where the first-class passengers walk around for exercise.”

  “And you, Caleb?” asked the captain. “Have you seen this man?”

  Caleb shook his head. “When Libby told me about him, I checked the passenger lists. If Riggs is on board, he didn’t use his own name. But Libby probably is right. She has a good memory for faces.”

  “What about you, Jordan?” the captain asked. “What do you think about all this?”

  “That man Riggs is like a cat ready to pounce. I is feeling more and more like a mouse. But I can’t let Riggs catch me because I gots to get my family free.”

  Captain Norstad stood up and strolled over to the window. Libby knew it was his thinking-things-through walk. More than once she had seen it when a decision needed to be made. Caleb seemed to recognize the same thing, for he, too, waited quietly, not speaking.

  At the window Captain Norstad looked down. Libby’s gaze followed his. Far below, the sparkling waters of the Mississippi flowed past the Christina. Libby wished that all their problems could fall behind the same way.

  Turning back to them, her father spoke. “We have cholera on board.” His voice was rough, as if trying to push aside his concern. “We have Riggs on board. We have Jordan on board.”

  “I’ll git off the boat,” Jordan said quickly. “If Riggs can’t find me, he can’t blame you for hiding me.”

  The captain straightened his shoulders. “Maybe we can take care of all three problems with one quick move.”

  Libby glanced over to where a chessboard sat on a small table near the wall. But this isn’t a game, she thought as she looked back to her father.

  “Caleb, tomorrow morning before first light, you and Jordan leave the Christina. Follow the Indian trails around Lake Pepin. It’s a long, cold walk, but there’s a doctor in Red Wing—a man named William Sweney. Four years ago, a steamboat came to Red Wing with seventeen cholera patients on board. Doctor Sweney put them in a building near the Old Spring Creek Mill. Every day he visited them.”

  Libby’s thoughts flew to Elsa. “What happened?” Libby asked.

  “Out of seventeen patients, ten lived,” her father told her.

  Suddenly Libby dared to hope. “If Elsa could be like the ten—”

  “We’ll hope, and we’ll pray,” Pa said.

  Libby glanced toward Caleb. He looked relieved, as though he, too, now hoped that Elsa might get well.

  “When people hear the word cholera, everyone panics,” Captain Norstad said. “But when Doctor Sweney took care of those patients, not one person in the town of Red Wing got sick.”

  The captain looked first at Caleb, then at Jordan. “Find Doctor Sweney. If he’ll come, bring him to us. If Lake Pepin doesn’t open soon, we could have an epidemic on our hands.”

  An epidemic? Libby knew that like wildfire, a disease could spread from one person to another.

  “We’ll do our best,” Caleb promised.

  “While you’re gone, I’ll tell the deck passengers to take their belongings onto land,” the captain answered. “We’ll scrub down the areas where they’ve been living and sleeping. Maybe that will keep them from getting sick.”

  The fear was gone now in Caleb’s eyes, replaced by respect. “I’ve never known a captain to do that.”

  “I have,” Libby’s father answered. “The captain who did it stopped an epidemic.”

  “What if the ice goes out while you’re cleaning up?” Caleb asked. “You’ll miss the race to St. Paul.”

  “It’s a risk we have to take.” Captain Norstad sounded as if he had already thought about that. “If we don’t, we can be sure that many of the deckers will lose their lives.”

  The captain turned to Jordan. “Get warm clothes from Caleb. Under the tall pines there will still be slush and ice where the sun doesn’t reach. If all goes well, you’ll reach Red Wing by four or five o’clock.”

  If all goes well, Libby thought as Caleb started for the door.

  “Just a minute,” Captain Norstad said.

  Caleb turned back. “Sir?”

  “Take Libby with you.”

  “Libby?” Caleb’s protest sounded like a groan. “I have to take her?”

  “That’s what I asked.”

  As Caleb glanced toward Libby, she stiffened. More than anything, she wanted to go, to bring back help for Elsa. Yet it was clear that Caleb didn’t want her along.

  “Libby, take a small bundle of extra clothes in case you get wet,” Pa said. “But don’t carry more than you need.”

  The warm feeling that Pa believed in her welled up inside of Libby. He knew she could do something hard and succeed. “I’ll do my best, Pa,” Libby promised.

  “I know you will.” His long look matched hers.

  “I need to move into your cabin.” As Libby explained about helping Elsa to her room, she caught Pa’s quick glance toward Caleb. Was Pa wondering if she had already caught cholera from Elsa?

  When Libby went out, she left the door open just a crack. Stepping to one side, she leaned against the wall and listened.

  “Sir.” Caleb’s voice was courteous.

  Always Libby felt surprised at the relationship between Caleb and her father. More than any other person, Caleb felt free to say what he liked to Pa. Often Captain Norstad talked with him about his decisions, as though to help Caleb understand his reasons. And once Pa had said, “I would trust Caleb even with my life.”

  “I want you to take Libby,” the captain said now, as though knowing what Caleb was going to say.

  “She’ll slow us down. She’ll be nothing but trouble.”

  Libby strained to hear, but her father did not answer.

  “There will be mud and bears and snakes.” Caleb paused as though thinking of more reasons why Libby sho
uldn’t go along.

  “And ice and sharp limestone and danger,” the captain answered.

  “Sir.” Caleb’s voice was quieter now, as though he were thinking it through. “You want her off the Christina, don’t you? You’re afraid that if Libby stays, she’ll get cholera. Do you know how much she’s already been around Elsa?”

  Again Libby strained to hear. When her father did not answer, Libby knew. It isn’t that he thinks I’m brave. If there’s an epidemic, he wants me far away.

  Suddenly the warm feelings inside Libby vanished. With it went her hope that her father believed in her.

  All that big talk about knowing I’ll do my best! Anger raced through Libby, leaving a bitter taste. We’re a never-give-up family, all right!

  When Pa did not answer Caleb, Libby knew the matter was decided in spite of Caleb’s protest.

  Then Libby heard Caleb’s steps coming toward her. In a flash she leaped away from the door. As Caleb left the cabin, she raced toward her room.

  I’ll show them! Libby promised herself. I’ll show both Pa and Caleb that I can do more than they think!

  CHAPTER 15

  Red Is for Courage

  You’re not the kind of girl to live in this wilderness!”

  As Libby decided what clothes she’d take, Caleb’s words spun around in her head.

  Soon after she met him, Caleb had let her know what he thought of her fancy dresses. According to him, women coming into this newly settled area should be proud to wear a jean dress or a checked apron.

  Well, I’ll surprise you, Caleb Whitney! In secret she had sewn a skirt made from jean cloth. Now it was ready to wear.

  Then Libby remembered her hair. Caleb hadn’t liked her long, tight red curls either. Her hair was combed out now with just a curl at the end, and the front of her hair pulled back. Yet Libby was certain that in no time her hair would be full of twigs.

  When ready for the next day, Libby spread the quilts she hadn’t given Elsa on the floor of Pa’s cabin. Still feeling upset with both Pa and Caleb, she fell asleep.

  Hours later Libby had a nightmare. In her dream she knew she had to rescue Pa. Over and over she called for help, but her voice wouldn’t come.

  As she tried to cry out, Pa shook her awake. “Libby! Wake up!”

  At first she didn’t understand what was happening. Then she began to sob.

  “What’s wrong, Libby?” Pa asked as she came awake. “Are you afraid of the walk to Red Wing?”

  Libby shook her head. “I dreamed that something was happening to you.”

  “Something bad?”

  Between sobs, she nodded.

  “Oh, Libby!” Pa exclaimed.

  She heard him moving about, then saw a soft glow as he lit the lamp next to his rocking chair. Pa led Libby over to the chair, sat down, and pulled her onto his lap.

  Not since she was a little girl had Pa rocked her, and Libby felt almost silly. She was really too big to fit on his lap, but Pa’s arms went around her.

  For a time he rocked her, saying little. Then he asked, “Libby, do you worry about what might happen to me?”

  Her face tucked against his chest, she nodded. Then she remembered Pa’s talk with Caleb. “Do you worry about what might happen to me?” she asked.

  “I try not to,” Pa answered. “But I want to be careful, to be wise about taking care of you.”

  “Is that why you’re sending me with Caleb?”

  “It’s a hard choice, Libby. It seems to be the lesser of two evils.”

  “So you don’t really think I’m strong and courageous.” Libby began crying again. “The worst of it is, I’m not!” she wailed. Her nightmare still seemed real. “I get so scared about you!”

  When her sobs quieted, Pa spoke gently. “Libby, I’m your Pa. It’s my job to take care of you, but it’s not your job to take care of me. No matter how hard you try, you won’t be able to do it.”

  “Then what do I do?”

  “Maybe you’d better let God take care of me.”

  God. There it is again, Libby thought. “Are you sure God can manage?” she asked.

  Pa smiled. “I’m sure,” he said. “Even if the very worst happened, God would be with me. He’s the one who takes care of both of us. Wherever we are, He is.”

  Reaching out, Pa pulled the lamp closer to them. “Do you see this, Libby?” he asked.

  She nodded. More than once she had noticed the lamp. Inside the glass base, a piece of red flannel floated in the oil.

  “This lamp always reminds me of your ma,” Pa said. “Christina was like a lot of pioneer women. She put the flannel in the lamp to remind herself that red is for courage.”

  “You’ve told me that before—that Ma had courage.” Yet it seemed as though everything Libby tried had worked out wrong. “How did Ma get courage?”

  Pa rested a hand on his big Bible. “Your mother found verses—promises that helped her trust the Lord. There’s one she liked especially much. ‘Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God.’”

  Startled, Libby sat up. The words I heard down in the hold! So that’s how I knew them! Libby’s voice joined Pa’s. “‘I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee.’”

  Strangely comforted, she looked Pa in the eyes. “Did Ma teach me that verse?”

  Pa smiled. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Whenever she needed courage, she repeated those words over and over again.”

  When it was time to leave, Pa looked Libby straight in the eye. “Don’t forget you’re a Norstad, Libby. And remember your mother’s verse.”

  Pa’s hug felt warm and strong, making Libby believe she really could walk all those miles to Red Wing. Maybe Elsa will get well, after all. If only we can find Doctor Sweney and bring him back in time.

  It was still dark when Caleb led Libby and Jordan down the gangplank. Without making a sound, they crept up the steep bank next to the river. The town was quiet now. Even the nearby steamboats lay silent.

  Then Libby heard footsteps from behind. She strained to listen. There it was again—the sound of boots on the gangplank.

  Libby tugged at Caleb’s arm. She barely heard his warning shush, but she knew. Caleb had also heard the footsteps.

  When he picked up his pace, Libby and Jordan stayed with him. As they passed one of the town’s seventeen hotels, a dog started barking. Caleb walked even faster. They were a short distance beyond the hotel when the dog fell silent.

  Moments later he barked again, and Caleb hurried on. As silence filled the darkness before dawn, Libby once more heard footsteps. Soon Caleb slipped into the shadows between large warehouses. Libby and Jordan joined him in the darkness.

  In a few minutes, three dark shapes hurried past them. As Libby caught her breath, Caleb’s warning fingers tightened on her arm.

  Along the streets of Reads Landing, no one else stirred. Before long, the footsteps of the three men died away. Caleb slipped out from between the buildings. For a short distance, he walked along the street next to the river. Nearby, the great steamboats rose from the water. In the darkness their tall stacks seemed to disappear.

  At a street leading upward, Caleb turned. On the hillside above the waterfront, he turned again, this time onto a dirt street that ran the same direction as the river. Near the north end of town, the street became a road. Muddy now from wagons bringing wheat and other goods to Reads Landing, the road looked well used.

  Caleb set a rapid pace, walking around the holes and puddles whenever possible. Then suddenly he left the road. When he came to a small shed, he crouched down behind it.

  Kneeling between Caleb and Jordan, Libby listened. It wasn’t long before she heard the sound of men walking toward Reads Landing. One of them was angry.

  “What happened?” he asked. “We were just behind them.”

  “We can’t let that slave boy get away!” growled another.

  As soon as the men were safely past, Caleb returned to the road. They had walked some distance bef
ore Libby dared speak.

  “Have you gone this way before?”

  “Nope,” Caleb answered.

  “How do you know where you’re going?”

  “Your pa told me. Other men described it to him. Soon we’ll follow an old Indian trail.”

  “One they’ve walked for years and years?”

  Caleb nodded. “And before them, the buffalo. Indians followed their trails because buffalo find the easiest way. That’s what we’ll try to do.”

  “How far is it to Red Wing?” Libby asked.

  “By river, twenty-eight miles. Your pa isn’t sure how far it is by land.”

  Twenty-eight miles? Libby gulped, then tried to hide her feelings from Caleb. Pa thinks I can walk twenty-eight miles? Maybe he believes in me more than I think.

  For the first time, Libby felt really shaky about the trip. She tried to remember if she’d ever done anything to prepare for this. In Chicago she had sometimes walked long distances, but never anything like twenty-eight miles.

  “When we get to Wacouta, we might find someone to take us the rest of the way,” Caleb said. “There are supposed to be hotels and a trading post there.”

  “And how far is Wacouta?” Libby asked.

  “Five or six miles from Red Wing,” Caleb answered, as if he walked such distances every day. And probably he did, more often than Libby liked to think.

  “What if we can’t reach Red Wing tonight?” she asked.

  Caleb shrugged. “Your pa said there might be a cave in the bluffs.”

  Across Libby’s back she carried a cloth bag holding extra clothes. A smaller bag tied around her waist held sandwiches and cookies packed by Granny. Like Libby, the boys had tied their bags on their back or waist to keep their hands free. Caleb had extra gear, including a bucket that hung from a rope around his waist.

  Walking behind him, Libby noticed the set of his shoulders. She could almost hear him say, “Your pa said I had to take you along, but I don’t like it.”

  Well, I don’t like the way you feel! Libby wanted to tell him. Elsa is my friend too. I want to help her!

  Close behind, Jordan walked without saying a word. More than once Libby turned to look back and saw Jordan glancing over his shoulder. It frightened her.