A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas

will be hanged or maybe torn apart by dogs. There are other slow means of death that are as bad. She would die by inches.”
    Eliza nodded understanding. “Our Union law should protect her here in Kansas, but as we have been told, there are men who would capture a slave and take her south.”
    â€œMen like Dad Stark,” Missouri Ann added.
    â€œMen like Dad Stark,” John repeated. “And his sons.” He thought that over and said, “I beg your pardon again, Mrs. Missouri Ann. I should not have spoken ill of your family.”
    â€œThey’re not my family no more. Besides, my husband wasn’t like the others,” Missouri Ann replied. “I know the Starks better than anybody. They’d sell their own for a Yankee dollar.”
    â€œWhy do you want to bring Sukey here?” Eliza asked. She was sure from the rumors that John Hamlin had helped slaves escape, that he was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Surely he had better places to hide a colored woman than on the Spooner farm. “It is said you have hidden many on your own land. Why bring her to us?”
    â€œFor that very reason, that it is known I’ve aided other contraband. My farm is the first place the Starks or any others would look for her. And there will be others. The offer of a reward will bring out the old slave catchers. As you know, there are many in the state who are sympathetic toward the South and do not oppose slavery,” John replied. “Print has offered to hide her in the smithy, but he, too, has hidden slaves in the past and would be under suspicion.”
    â€œ You done that, Mr. Ritter?” Missouri Ann said, a sense of awe in her voice. “I never heard of nothing so brave. Why, the Starks is at the smithy every week. You sure did fool them.”
    Print blushed.
    â€œWe believe the Starks watch us. This would be the worst place to hide an escaped slave,” Eliza said. “They would spot her right away.”
    John shook his head. “That makes your farm the best of hiding places, as long as you confine Sukey to the house. The Starks are in town now. Since they keep such close watch on you, they will have not the slightest suspicion Sukey was sneaked into your house during their absence. As they have been warned to stay away, they have no call to come into your house, or even your barnyard. They will never know she is here. Your farm will be the perfect hiding place.”
    â€œThey think I hate the coloreds as much as they do,” Missouri Ann said. “I was never brave enough to say my mind.”
    â€œThen indeed this is the perfect place. It will be for only a few days. Sukey is too exhausted and too sick yet from the whipping to travel farther. It is a wonder she made it all the way from Louisiana. Poor thing, she traveled by night and hid in trees and ditches, until by luck, she was found by one of our people—a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad. Then she was sent north hidden in wagons and carts. She has great courage, and I believe you will like her. What do you say, Mrs. Spooner?” John asked.
    Eliza turned away to think. Hiding the woman for a night or maybe two was one thing, but keeping her for days until she was well was dangerous. If the Starks or other men came onto the farm, how would she and Missouri Ann stand up to them? If they tried to stop the slave catchers from grabbing Sukey, Eliza and Missouri Ann might be hurt. And there were the children to think of. What if someone inquired about a colored woman? Would Davy and Luzena know enough to deny she was on the Spooner farm? They could be harmed, too. Eliza was conflicted. She’d agreed with Ettie that she wished there were something she could do for the Union, but did she have the right to risk the safety of others in the doing of it?
    Remembering Ettie, she asked, “What about Mrs. Espy? She has older boys on the farm. Would she not be better at hiding the