Mockingbird's Call by Diane T. Ashley Read Free Book Online Page B

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    Amelia said nothing. She and Tabitha had grown up together, even though Tabitha was a slave and she was the master’s daughter. She had shared her dolls with Tabitha, and then when she learned to read, she’d shared her lessons with the young slave. Papa would skin both of them alive if he knew. It was illegal to teach a slave to read and write, but neither of them had considered the law when theywere younger. As long as they never divulged the truth to anyone else, they would not get in trouble. Amelia’s conscience pricked her a little at the thought. Was it wrong to lie to others for a good cause?
    â€œIt’s. . .the c–cook’s son.” Tabitha’s words were slow, as if she was carefully considering each one.
    â€œThe cook’s son.” Amelia clapped her hands together. “Is he handsome? Smart? Does he make your heart beat faster?”
    â€œNo, no.” Tabitha turned to face her once again. “It’s nothing like that. Nothing romantic. He. . .he’s an escaped slave.”
    Amelia could feel a lump rise in her throat. She didn’t like the sound of this, but she couldn’t back out on her friend now. “Go on.”
    â€œHe. . .he’s a conductor.”
    The word fell between them like a boulder. A conductor. That meant he was part of the Underground Railroad. He was helping other slaves make their way to freedom. It was a noble cause, and one that Amelia would like to support, but she knew better. Hadn’t she already paid a high enough price for her dealings with slaves? She looked at Tabitha’s troubled face. “I see.”
    â€œHe’s got a group out in the barn. One of them’s been shot. A young boy.”
    The blood drained from Amelia’s face as she considered the pain and fear the child must be feeling. “What happened?”
    Tabitha knelt on the floor in front of her. Tears ran down her cheeks. “You know there’s safe places where runaways can hide out.”
    Amelia nodded. No one knew exactly how many slaves had found their way to freedom in the past decade. Or how many had died trying. People caught harboring runaway slaves were breaking the law. It was a scary choice to make, especially since Tennessee had seceded from the Union last spring.
    In the short time she’d been here, Amelia had discovered Knoxville was a town divided over the issue of abolition. Some believed each state should have the right to decide whether or not to outlaw slavery, while others were staunchly opposed to allowing slavery at all, and still others depended on slave labor to run profitable businesses. Even though she had found her aunt and uncle to be a little more liberal in their attitude toward slavery, she would never have dreamed of this possibility. “Are you saying my aunt and uncle are helping slaves get free?”
    â€œOh my, no.” Tabitha placed her hands over Amelia’s. “They’d have a fit for sure. But it’s the cook’s son. He’s in a bad fix. The station where he was supposed to hide was found out, and the escapees were almost captured. So he brought them here and asked his ma to help.”
    A knock on the door made both girls jump.
    â€œStand up,” Amelia whispered. Then more loudly she called out, “Who’s there?”
    â€œAmelia, honey, it’s about time for you to come downstairs.” Aunt Laura’s voice was bright and cheerful. She was obviously looking forward to the party, having no idea that disaster could strike the whole family at any moment.
    â€œI’ll be right down,” Amelia tried for a light tone to match her aunt’s. “Tabitha is putting the final touches on my coiffure.”
    â€œAll right, dear. Your uncle and I will be waiting for you.”
    Amelia held her breath until she heard her aunt’s receding footsteps. She turned to Tabitha. “I can finish my hair. You go and help the cook’s son.