Martha heard three soft knocks on the back door. It was the signal. Her mother quickly opened the door, and two people slipped inside—a woman and a young boy about Martha's age.
"Welcome, friends," Martha's mother whispered. "You're safe here." It was 1855, and Martha's family home was a station on the Underground Railroad. This wasn't a real railroad with trains. It was a secret network of people who helped enslaved people escape to freedom in the North.
Martha's mother led the visitors to a hidden room behind the fireplace. Martha brought them cornbread and water. The boy's eyes were wide with fear and exhaustion. "What's your name?" Martha asked quietly.
"Daniel," he whispered. "We've been walking for five nights." Martha couldn't imagine walking all night long, hiding during the day, always afraid of being caught. Her own bed upstairs suddenly seemed very precious.
"You'll rest here today," Martha's mother said. "Tonight, my husband will take you to the next station. You're getting closer to Canada." Martha helped bring blankets and showed Daniel where the water bucket was.
Before she left, Daniel grabbed her hand. "Thank you," he said. "Someday, I'm going to go to school and learn to read. My mama says freedom means I can do that."
That night, Martha lay in bed thinking about Daniel and his mother. Her father guided them to the next safe house, following the North Star. Martha said a prayer that they would make it all the way to freedom. The next morning, the hidden room was empty. Daniel was one step closer to his dream.