do they call it that?â Thomas asked.
âBecause it was all very secret, and to avoid suspicion, the people who ran it used railroad terms as code names for different aspects of the organization.â
âWhite people complicate everything,â Thomas muttered.
âPerhaps. But many blacks helped on the railroad as well. Harriet Tubman, an ex-slave, was famous for it. Do you remember the stories you learned at school about Harriet?â she asked Lillie.
âThe one who change her name from Minty?â
âAraminta Ross. Yes, thatâs the one. Iâm proud you remembered.â In addition to her work with the Underground Railroad, Harriet had also aided the abolitionist John Brown before his disastrous raid at Harperâs Ferry. Even now, Mrs. Tubman continued to further the Negro cause, and though they had never met, Pru felt a strong connection to the courageous black woman.
âAnyway,â Pru went on, ââstationsâ or âdepotsâ were safe resting places along the secret routes, and âconductorsâ were people who helped move the runaways from place to place. Iâve heard that over a hundred thousand slaves escaped to freedom on the Underground Railroad, many through Indiana. But that was before the War of the Rebellion.â
Thomas watched
Ehoânehevehohtse
âs long, slim fingers work the braid and remembered those same fingers sliding through the gaps in his shirt the previous night. She liked to touch him. He liked it, as well. And it pleased him that beneath her shy smile was a ferocious passion awakened only by him.
âHold this, dear.â Prudence put Lillianâs fingers on the end of the braid so she could tie a ribbon around it.
Thomas noted the girlâs hair was not as smooth and shiny as
Ehoânehevehohtse
âs, and it took many small braids to tame it. Like
Katseâe
, it seemed to have a mind of its own.
âFor several years after the war ended,â Prudence went on as she started another braid, âthere wasnât much need for escape routes. But lately, with increasing unrest because of Reconstruction, many Negroes feel their only hope of a better life is to escape into Canada . . . although Iâve been hearing things can be difficult up there, too.â
âIf there is no more slavery, why do they not go there on their own?â Thomas asked. âWhy do they need the secret railroad?â
âBecause there are those who have gotten into trouble and need help.â
âLawbreakers.â
âSome. But not all laws are just. Or enforced equally.â
âYou do not need to tell a Cheyenne that.â Moving from the window, he sprawled in the worn chair beside the bed. âThe man today is a lawbreaker who needs your help?â Thomas would not have thought the frightened black man had the courage to break laws.
âChester Hogan? No. Heâs more of a âconductor.â There, Lillie. All finished. You look quite grand.â
Thomas thought she still looked like she had sprouted raven feathers.
Grinning, the girl climbed back onto the bed and began humming to herself as she wrapped her new scarf around her thin neck.
âChesterâs not in trouble,â Prudence explained. âBut heâs helping someone who is.â
âAnd he needs you to do this?â
âIâm just a step along the way.â
Thomas did not like this. Many of the white manâs laws might be foolish, but their lawmen were quick to punish thosewho broke them. When he was Declan Brodieâs deputy in Heartbreak Creek, he had locked several men away for breaking the rules. He had even been in jail himself. Once in Heartbreak Creek, and for a short time in a faraway place named Liverpool. âIs this why Marsh threatened you? He does not want you to do this?â
A look of disdain marred the beauty of her face. âHeâs afraid if weâre caught it