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going to ask Mr. Engle if he knows anyone who can help Lizzie get to Canada.”
    Sadie took a bite of egg. She frowned and chewed slowly. “Momma, are you sick with the fever?”
    â€œOh, no, Sadie Sunshine,” said Momma, patting Sadie’s curls. “But we do need our neighbors’ help.”
    Charlie and Ida Jane glanced at each other. Sadie was only five. Could she understand how important it was to keep quiet about Lizzie, if anyone came to the door?
    Charlie thought Momma must have been worried about the same thing, for Momma leaned over and put her hands on Sadie’s shoulders.
    â€œSadie, if anyone does come, you must be as still as a mouse, no matter what happens,” Momma said sternly. “This is very important. You must not tell anyone Lizzie is here, or that you have ever seen her. Lizzie’s life could depend on it. Do you understand?”
    Sadie nodded and looked at Lizzie. Her lip trembled and she whispered, “I promise, Momma.”
    Then Sadie buried her face in Momma’s dress and began to cry.
    Charlie was glad to have Ida Jane’s company on the walk, especially since Momma wanted to keep Lion at home.

    â€œLion will be our watchdog. He’ll warn us if anyone comes,” Momma had said.
    Charlie stood in front of his dog and spoke firmly. “Momma is depending on you, Lion.”
    Lion seemed to understand. He sat straight without moving, and watched Charlie and Ida Jane walk away. Charlie looked back at him proudly.
    â€œI hope I get to ride in a wagon at night and help Lizzie escape,” Ida Jane said as the cabin disappeared from view. “All the exciting things have been happening to you, Charlie. I want something to happen to me, too.”
    Charlie pointed. “Maybe it will. Look, someone’s riding toward us.”
    Ida Jane squinted in the sun. “It’s only Mr. Engle.”
    â€œIda Jane! Charlie! Where’s your father?” called Mr. Engle, pulling up his horse.
    â€œPapa’s away. He’s hiding so the border ruffians won’t arrest him,” Ida Jane told him.
    Mr. Engle spoke quickly. “Run back and warn your mother. I hear border ruffians may be headed this way. They’ve been roaming the countryside since dawn, stealing every chicken and cow they can get their hands on.”
    Mr. Engle turned his horse’s head. “Try to hide your stock. I’ve got to get home and do the same.”
    Ida Jane stretched out her hand. “Wait, Mr. Engle! We were coming to see you. We have … a friend at our house. A friend who wants to go to Canada.”
    â€œUntil this business settles down, the ‘railroad’ won’t be running,” Mr. Engle told them, spurring his horse. “Do the best you can for now. Later in the summer we can help.”
    Chickens and cows, chickens and cows!
    How can we get all the chickens and cows hidden?
Charlie wondered.
And what about Lizzie?
    â€œIda Jane,” he gasped as their feet pounded the dirt. “Sadie and Momma have more than twenty baby chicks. And there’s Annie and her calf. How can we hide them?”
    Ida Jane’s bonnet was tipped over one eye. Her long braids bounced on her shoulders as she ran. “Don’t talk to me, I’m thinking!”
    Charlie tried to come up with a plan, too. But all he could picture in his mind were the awful things he had seen in Lawrence: the smashed printing press and flames shooting from the Free State Hotel.

    The cabin was still and quiet.
We’re safe so far,
Charlie thought.
    â€œMomma, Momma!” Ida Jane shouted as they came closer. “Mr. Engle says the border ruffians are coming! They’re looking to steal chickens and cows. We need flour sacks.”
    Momma rushed out of the cabin with the baby in her arms. Her face was pale.
    â€œI have an idea,” Ida Jane gasped. “Sadie and I can scoop up some of the hens and chicks into flour sacks. We’ll