Riding Freedom

Charlotte reaches the town sign and piles rocks at the base, just as Vern requested. The stagecoach Charlotte is hoping to catch leaves at 6 a.m., and she thinks Mrs. Boyle won’t notice she is gone until about 7 a.m. Charlotte buys a one-way ticket to Manchester. When the stagecoach arrives, Charlotte is impressed by the driver, who “sat atop the stagecoach, holding the reins, in perfect control” (45). She has never seen a coach led by six to eight horses hitched together, and she’s mesmerized by the sight. Charlotte wonders what it would be like to have all those horses follow her call. With this first ride, Charlotte’s interest in stagecoach driving is born.

The driver welcomes her aboard and seats her between two women. One calls her “young man” (46) and doesn’t suspect anything amiss. Charlotte introduces herself as Charley. Charley “felt excited, as if something new and good was about to happen” (47). She eventually falls asleep leaning on one of the women. She wakes up in Worcester, Massachusetts, having slept through her intended stop. She steps out into a town bustling with people going from the pub to the hotel and shops.