The Travels of Increase Joseph: A Historical Novel about a Pioneer Preacher

18. Slave Catchers

.. Chapter 18 Slave Catchers November 28, 1859 I ncrease Joseph's horses walked with their heads down, slowly moving along the wet rutted road toward Link Lake. Increase Joseph, dozing as the team plodded along, was bone tired but pleased that he had become a part of the Underground Railroad and its dangerous but important task. When the horses began speeding up, he knew they were getting close to home. Horses have an extra sense about their home barn, and no matter how tired they were, always hurried to get there. A stiff wind blew out of the north, sending slate gray clouds skittering across the sky, the remnants of the previous day's storm. The November sun hung low in the sky, trying to warm the countryside but without much success. As Increase Joseph neared Link Lake, he saw waves sending up small towers of spray as they pounded the many rocks that were scattered there. The wind sighed as it sifted through the naked branches of the aspens and maples scattered along the lake shore. In the distance, at the flour mill located where The Travels of Increase Joseph 135 the river tumbled out of the lake, he saw men at work, unloading wagons heaped high with sacks of wheat. As he guided his team down Main Street of the village, he noted a few buggies parked in front of the Mercantile store, and another team and wagon tied to the hitch rail in front of the lumberyard . A typical Monday in the village Increase Joseph thought as he continued on his way toward his farm and the Standalone Church that stood on the knoll just above his cabin. Then he spotted something unusual. Two saddle horses were tied to the hitching rail in front of the Link Lake Gazette, horses he didn't remember seeing in and around Link Lake before. Just as everyone in a small town knows everyone else's kids, dogs, and wagons, one also knows their horses. One of the horses was gray, the other black. Both stood with their heads down, a sign that they had been ridden hard for many hours. A rifle scabbard hung on the side of each saddle, something unusual in this area because no one carried rifles on their horses. A blanket roll was tied to the back of each saddle - clearly the riders of these horses were travelers. He rode on past the newspaper office, curious, but not too curious because Henry Bakken, by virtue of his position as newspaper editor, often had out-of-town visitors. Increase Joseph could see his cabin ahead, a trickle of wood smoke coming from the chimney. The clouds had all but blown away and the sky was the color of the lake, as was often the case in late fall. The finger of gray smoke from his cabin chimney contrasted with the blue. Increase Joseph breathed deeply and sat up straight. Even 136 Apps though he was tired, he felt good, knowing that he had done something important. As he passed a cluster of big white pine trees, he was startled when a youngster dashed out and ran to his wagon. It was Henry Bakken's daughter , Henrietta. "Stop, stop," Henrietta said excitedly. "Whoa," Increase Joseph said, pulling on the horses reins. "They're lookin' for you," Henrietta said. Her face was flushed. "Who's looking for me, someone in distress, someone who needs help?" "Slave catchers are lookin' for the town preacher. They're at Pa's newspaper right now, waitin' for you to come back. Pa sent me up here to warn you." "Why would I need warning? I am a man of the cloth." "They think you hauled a slave couple out of here last night." "They do, huh?" "Yeah, and they got guns. They're wearing guns strapped to their belts and they're mean lookin'. Pa thinks you should hide somewhere until they leave, maybe drive out to Andrew Blackwell's farm and hide in his barn until the slave catchers leave town." "I will not hide from these men. 1will confront them and share with them the word of God, and show them the error of their ways." "Pa thinks they'll shoot you dead, like a stray dog." "I will face these men without fear young lady. You go tell your pa what 1said." The Travels of Increase Joseph 137...