Free Midnight Rescue by Lois Walfrid Johnson

to tell Gran her dream, yet it spilled out. “I wanted to help Jordan’s family. I want to help many runaway slaves. But look what I did!”
    No longer did Libby believe she could do anything she set out to do. Instead, she knew how easily she could fail. Because of that, being part of the Underground Railroad seemed even more difficult—even impossible.
    Suddenly Libby wished she could take the first train to Chicago.
I want to go back to living with Auntie Vi. I want to be where life is easier, even if it isn’t as exciting.
    Gran covered the pans with towels, then sat down again. “You want to run, don’t you?” she asked as if she guessed Libby’s thoughts. “You want to give up and forget about the whole problem of slavery.”
    Libby stared at her. “How did you know?”
    “Because I’ve often thought the same thing. It would be much simpler not being involved. I wouldn’t have to watch every word I say. I wouldn’t be so afraid for Caleb.”
    “You’re afraid?” Libby asked.
    “Often I’m afraid,” Gran answered. “Caleb is my only grandson.”
    “Then why do you let him be part of the Underground Railroad?”
    When Gran spoke, Libby knew she had often thought about her answer. “For every one of us there comes a time when we make a choice about what we believe,” Gran said. “We don’t know how it’s going to affect our life or the people we love. When I made my choice, I said to myself, ‘Slaveryfor any human being is wrong. I’m going to do what I can to change it.’”
    “Was it hard for you—at first, I mean?”
    “It’s still hard.” Gran’s smile reached her eyes. “You see, I was involved in the Underground Railroad before Caleb. That’s why Caleb got involved. He was only nine years old, but he caught on to what I was doing.”
    “So your choice became his.”
    “He chose for himself,” Gran explained. “But I don’t know if he would have made that choice if I hadn’t.”
    “Strange,” Libby said. She thought back to the day when Caleb took her to the slave auction in St. Louis. “I wouldn’t have wanted to help if Caleb hadn’t opened my eyes.”
    Gran nodded. She understood that too. “Since I decided to help fugitives, my life has never been the same. I haven’t succeeded at everything I’ve tried. But I haven’t lost a passenger.”
    “That’s what I’m talking about.” Tears welled up in Libby’s eyes again. “I’ve already failed. I even put Jordan’s life in danger.”
    “Have you told God you’re sorry?” Gran asked.
    Libby shook her head. “He doesn’t like me.”
    “Oh, Libby!” Gran exclaimed. “Why do you think that?”
    Libby found it hard to explain, but when she tried, the words tumbled out. “I thought if I became a Christian that I’d say and do all the right things. Instead—” Libby stopped, unable to go on. As she began to weep, she turned away from Gran. But Gran’s arms surrounded her, holding Libby tight. When she finally stopped crying, Gran’s voice was soft.
    “There’s a secret you need to know, Libby. Just because you’re a Christian doesn’t mean your life will be easier, or thatyou’ll be perfect. But if you let Him, God will help you with whatever you face.”
    “Then everything will be okay?”
    “Not quite,” Gran said. “Sometimes we have to live with what happens because of what we did.”
    “You mean Jordan and his family might still suffer because of what I did.”
    Gran nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
    “And there’s nothing I can do to change that?”
    “Pray,” Gran said. “See if God brings something good out of this. All right?”
    Libby found it hard to believe that something good could possibly come from what she had done. But if Gran said so,
maybe
it was true.

    When Libby stood up to go, she was no longer afraid to look into Gran’s blue eyes. “Thanks,” Libby said softly. Her shoulders no longer slumped, and she held her head a bit higher.
Maybe I understand Jordan’s