Searching for Sanctuary

After a couple more hours of walking they found a small log cabin built in a clearing next to a rapid flowing creek. Harriet stopped her group amongst the trees before getting too close to the cabin.           
“Now you wait here,” said Harriet. “I know these folks, an’ I’ll see if they’ll have any provisions they can spare.”          
Harriet walked towards to the dark cabin. The loud, rushing creek was ringing in her ears. On her first trip north she had stopped at this cabin and had been looked after for two nights by an elderly Methodist couple who took pride in helping runaway slaves. She was hoping they would be able to spare some food or clothing for her group since they were growing hungrier and colder by the hour.            
Harriet reached the front door and gave four sharp knocks. The couple had told her that their home was open to fugitive slaves any time, day or night, so she should never feel hesitant to knock. They would normally leave a lantern burning in the window as a signal to runaways, but there was no lantern burning tonight. She waited for several seconds, and when she was about to knock again she did see a lantern being turned on inside the front room. A moment later a head poked out the front window.           
“Who is it?” said a younger man’s voice. “Who goes there?” He was a white man with black hair and a thick black beard.           
Harriet took a step back. “Excuse me, sir, but is Mister or Misses Leaverton here?” 
“Leaverton?” asked the man. He was still a bit groggy from being awoken at three in the morning. “No, they don’t live here no more.” 
“Oh. Well . . . do you happen to know where they moved to?” 
“No, I don’t. They were arrested an’ fined for helping runaway slaves. Who knows what happen’ to ‘em?” 
Harriet felt her heart sink. Arrested?           
“Who are you anyway?” asked the man. “What you doin’ out here so late by yourself?”            
Harriet was too scared to answer.           
“Hold on a minute. I’m comin’ out there.” The man’s head went back inside the window. A few seconds later the front door opened and he stepped out into the darkness barefoot wearing a wool shirt and a pair of pants, but Harriet was gone.
“Hey! Where’d you go?” 
He received no answer.   
Harriet had to push her group again to keep moving north.

-- Harriet searches for sanctuary

from Time Trip #2 (Kindle Locations 2570-2551)

 

"Underground Railroad" from Les Floyd 

Time Trip Adventure 1 
The Journey to Ancient Greece 
PDF available FREE here!  

TIME TRIP ADVENTURE 2

A RIDE ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

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