Disclaimer: I will trade this horrible cold I've caught for the rights to Charmed. What, no takers? Darn.
Tales of December
a story by Ryeloza
Sam: December 9, 1851
"I didn't want you boys to know. We agreed that if someone were to find out what your father and I have been doing here that we would rather the consequences fall on our shoulders, not yours."
Sam ran a hand over the outside of the wall; the seam that revealed there was a door was nearly invisible to the naked eye. His twin brother, Matthew, was inspecting the gears that opened the door, seemingly as impressed as Sam was.
Their older brother, John, was too focused on their mother to share their revelry in the secret room attached to the study. "We live here too, Mother. Did you really think we would not notice this?"
"We've been doing this for seven months, John," said their mother rather sardonically. "And you didn't notice anything amiss, Sam did."
Sam grinned at Matthew. Truly, Sam wouldn't have gone snooping without Matthew's peaked interest. Neither of them had imagined that their parents' big secret was that they were helping runaway slaves.
"We aren't going to tell," said Matthew. Sam nodded in agreement and even John eventually acquiesced with a slight head bob.
"And you won't mention anything to Mabel or Sarah or Richard."
"Of course we won't," said John with a pompous hypocrisy. Never mind even considering if their younger siblings had a right to know what went on in their own house or that he was speaking on his brothers' behalves. Matthew smirked at Sam and Sam turned his head to hide his returning smile. They often found humor in John's pretentious manner.
Though certain their mother knew exactly what they were saying without words, she simply said, "Thank you for respecting our wishes,", effectively stealing the wind from their sails.
"All right," Matthew said.
"We won't tell."
Mother smiled; John scowled.