Midnight Rescue (19 page)

When Caleb called to him, Jordan started up the long driveway. With bowed head and hunched shoulders, Jordan shuffled as he walked.

“I say, hurry up!” Caleb called to him. “We haven’t got all day!”

The shuffle and bowed head made Jordan seem helpless and weak. For an instant he stumbled, then caught his balance. Picking up his pace, he kept on.

By the time Jordan reached the peddler’s wagon, Libby, Caleb, and Paul stood on the side away from the house. When Paul opened a drawer as though he was looking for a nut, Libby spoke quickly.

“Mr. Weaver has sold Zack,” she told Jordan. “His new owner is coming this morning.”

Jordan moaned. “He be comin’
this
morning?”

Libby nodded. “I heard Mrs. Weaver arguing with her husband.”

Jordan’s eyes blazed with anger. “Does Momma know?”

“I told her last night,” Libby said.

“Then we leaves right now,” Jordan answered.

“Right
now
?” Caleb asked. “It’s broad daylight. If Zack is sold, maybe we can go where he is and steal him away tonight.”

“Or maybe we can’t,” Jordan said. “Where’s Zack now?” he asked Libby.

“In the field behind the house. I think Rose is in a cabin.”

“My sister Serena?”

“We haven’t seen her yet this morning,” Libby said. “Probably in the house.”

“Then we leaves now,” Jordan said again.

“With a broken wagon?” Then Libby remembered. There was something that would make the rescue even more impossible. “I heard Mrs. Weaver tell your momma to take a basket of food to a neighbor.”

“She did?” Jordan grinned as though he wanted to laugh out loud. “Then we is sure enough ready to go!”

“Jordan, are you certain about this?” This time it was Paul who warned him. All of them knew that most fugitives hid during the day and traveled at night.

Jordan’s grin faded. His eyes were serious as he looked into the peddler’s face. “Deep down here—” He thumped his chest. “And right here—” He tapped his forehead. “I know what the Lord be saying. He tells me, ‘Go
now
!’”

“Then you tell us what you want us to do,” Paul answered.

Before Jordan could say another word, Libby heard people talking on the porch. When she looked around the wagon, Mr. Weaver and Melanie were there, as well as a slave setting chairs on the lawn. Snatching up her pencils and paper, Libby hurried over.

When Mrs. Weaver came out, she carried Randolph. Glancing toward the road, she noticed the wagon. “What’s wrong?” she asked her husband.

As Mr. Weaver explained, Caleb and Jordan came around the peddler’s wagon. When Caleb started toward the house, Jordan shuffled along several steps behind him.

Mrs. Weaver called back into the house. “Serena!”

A moment later Jordan’s sister appeared. With her head bowed and her gaze on the ground, Serena stepped out on the porch.

“Get these men some water from the well,” Mrs. Weaver told her.

As Serena turned, her gaze lifted. For one instant she glanced toward Jordan. In that moment glory filled her eyes. Then Serena’s face went blank.

“If you wants water for the horses, the well’s back here,” she said and started around the house.

“I’ll wait,” Caleb told the Weavers. “My boy will take care of everything.”

As Libby guided the family members into their places, Caleb leaned against one of the white pillars on the porch. For Mrs. Weaver, Libby chose a chair in the center. Standing behind his wife, Mr. Weaver. Young Randolph in Mrs. Weaver’s lap. Jonathan on the ground on the left. Melanie standing on the right.

At first Caleb’s presence made Libby even more nervous. It was bad enough trying to do something she knew she couldn’t do. But to pretend that nothing earthshaking was happening made it even worse.

Where do I begin?
Libby didn’t even know whether to work fast or slowly.
How much time does Jordan need?

With Caleb standing behind the family, Libby could see him every time she looked up.
Oh, Caleb, don’t watch me!
Libby felt uncomfortable enough as it was.

Then as she glanced toward Caleb, he lifted his hat and grinned. For all the world he looked like someone enjoying a pleasant morning. But to Libby his smile seemed to say something more—
You’re doing okay
.

Raising her head, Libby tossed her long red hair.
All right, Caleb Whitney. You and Jordan are putting on a good act. God will help me too.

As though she had drawn a family picture a hundred times before, Libby stood back, checking their positions. Yes, she had it right. Behind the family, the tall pillars on the front porch reached up to the second floor and the roof.

Because she had found it easy to draw Randolph, Libby started with him. She decided she would sketch only the face and shoulders of each person. If she put them close together, she could show the house in the background.

I can do this
, Libby told herself. She felt sure it was God’s power she was sensing.

But then she started to draw Jonathan. When Libby smiled at him, he scowled. He also had trouble sitting still.

I don’t blame you, Jonathan
, Libby wanted to say.
If it were
my best friend being sold, I’d be upset too. I’m upset not even knowing Zack
.

While looking up at the family, then down at the easel, Libby kept an eye on Melanie. More than once the girl glanced back at Caleb as if trying to catch his attention.

As Libby started to draw Mrs. Weaver, Jordan shuffled back to the wagon. Her pencil moving swiftly, Libby sketched the outline of the woman’s head, then filled in her face. Partway through, Libby felt glad she could hide the puffiness around Mrs. Weaver’s eyes. Instead, Libby drew the warm, gentle look Mrs. Weaver had when she came to the peddler’s wagon.

Soon, in the difficulty of what she was trying to do, Libby forgot even Caleb.
If I can just keep the family here long enough. If I can give Jordan the time he needs.

When Mr. Weaver looked beyond Libby, she turned, wondering what was going on. Jordan was placing a jack under the axle of the wagon.

Libby had drawn Melanie’s chin and eyebrows when she heard someone singing.

Singing?
Instantly Libby grew still. How could Jordan sing at a time like this? But there it was. Libby recognized his voice.

Once again she stole a glance toward the end of the driveway. Kneeling on the ground, Jordan had set the wheel in place. But Libby clearly heard his words.

Inwardly Libby gasped at Jordan’s daring.
Steal away? Sneak
away?

“Listen!” Mrs. Weaver held up her hand. “Caleb’s boy is singing while he works.”

Behind the family, gray clouds raced across the sky. Afraid to move, afraid that anything she might say would be wrong, Libby looked down at her easel and pretended to draw. “Listen for a signal,” Paul had told Serena.

From far off, somewhere in the distance, Libby heard the roll of thunder. Jordan’s voice grew stronger.

Then, as quietly as Jordan had begun, his voice faded away. When Libby dared look at Mrs. Weaver, tears stood in the woman’s eyes.

“Isn’t that beautiful?” she asked.

“Beautiful!” Her husband frowned. “Libby, let’s hurry this up.” Turning, Mr. Weaver shouted toward the house. “Serena!”

Moments later she appeared on the porch. “Yes, Massa.” Serena’s voice trembled, but her face gave no hint that she knew what was going on.

“Go and fetch your brother. Tell him to stop at the pump and wash up. Be sure he looks his best.”

“Yes, Massa.”

As Serena fled, Libby watched Mrs. Weaver. Her face white and still, she set her lips tightly, as though willing herself not to cry. But her arms tightened around young Randolph.

Libby started to shade in Melanie’s eyes. When she glanced toward Paul, he had hitched his horses to his peddler’s wagon.
So he’s ready to leave at a moment’s notice
.

Then from around the corner of the house came Jordan’s mother. With Rose in one arm and the handle of a basket of food over the other, Hattie started down the driveway.

“Where’s Hattie going?” Mr. Weaver asked.

“I told her to take food to the Lawrence family,” Mrs. Weaver answered. “Mrs. Lawrence is doing poorly.”

“Good thinking, Dorothy!” Mr. Weaver looked relieved. “I’m glad we’re not going to have a big scene.”

Again he turned to Libby. “I’ve got important business to tend to.”

As Libby nodded, she glanced down. In horror she saw her drawing of Melanie’s face.
I forgot to change her eyes. She looks the way she is!

CHAPTER 14

A
s Libby’s stomach tightened, her nervousness returned. She had no idea what to do to make Melanie look better. As though reflecting Libby’s mood, the air felt heavy with the gathering storm. Then Jordan started singing again.

The words calmed Libby enough to start drawing Mr. Weaver’s face. From where he stood leaning against the pillar, Caleb straightened.

“It looks as if my boy has our wagon ready,” he said. “I sincerely thank you for the help you’ve given us.” With a polite lifting of his hat, Caleb started down the driveway.

Forgetting herself, Libby stared after him. The wagon bed was level now, the wheel repaired. Jordan had turned the horses to face north, the direction from which they had come. Straw hat on his head, he sat on the high seat with the reins in
his hands. The moment Caleb climbed up, the horses moved out.

“Libby, hurry along now,” Mr. Weaver said. “I’ve got important business to deal with.” Again he turned to the house. “Serena! Where is that girl?”

Moments after Mr. Weaver turned back to Libby, she saw Serena. In the field behind and to one side of the house, Serena carried four wooden buckets.

Buckets?
Libby wondered. As she filled in Mr. Weaver’s eyes, her pencil broke. Libby snatched up another.

“Stop!” Mr. Weaver commanded. “This is nonsense, standing here like this. Libby, you don’t know what you’re doing!”

“How far are you, Libby?” Mrs. Weaver asked. “Please,” she said to her husband. “This is important. I want a family picture.”

As though she had not heard Mr. Weaver, Libby continued drawing. The next time she glanced up, she saw Zack carrying two of the buckets, Serena the other two. Side by side, they headed across the field toward the creek.

Curious now, Libby wondered what Serena had told the men in the field. Had she sent Zack on some unknown errand instead of back to the house? Beyond the open field, woods stretched off in the distance.

“Stop!” Mr. Weaver commanded again. “That’s enough!”

Impatience written in every line of his face, he crossed the lawn to where Libby stood. When he looked down at her drawing, he drew back in anger. “That’s supposed to be
me
? This is the most awful drawing I’ve ever seen!”