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another.”
    Libby looked down.
Even when I want my own way?
She hadn’t known that something like this would be part of the package.
    “Okay,” she said finally. Once more, she met her father’s gaze. “I’ll go with Caleb.”
But I don’t have to like it
, she told herself.
    When Caleb started toward the gangplank, Captain Norstad called him. As Caleb hurried over, his face looked bright with expectation. Dressed in blue cotton pants and an open jacket, he no longer seemed like a cabin boy. Libby felt sure that he, too, felt excited about going ashore.
    But then Captain Norstad said, “Libby would like to do some shopping. I want you to take her.”
    Suddenly the light went out of Caleb’s face. “Does she need to leave right now?” Clearly Caleb did not like this assignment.
    “Right now,” Libby answered quickly before Captain Norstad could.
    Stalking past both Caleb and her father, she started down the gangplank.
How can my own father embarrass me so? Being taken care of by a boy I cannot stand!
    When Libby reached the cobblestone levee, she glanced back. Caleb was right behind her, and her father stood watching them.
    “Bye, Pa!” Libby called with a quick wave. But when she turned to Caleb, the smile died on her lips. As she tossed her head, her long curls bounced around her shoulders.
    Horse-drawn wagons were everywhere on the levee. Like busy ants, men scurried back and forth, loading or unloading the boats. Some of the men carried large wooden crates on their shoulders. Others rolled barrels toward a gangplank. Between all the freight walked the passengers, making their way to or from the waiting boats.
    “I want to go by myself!” Libby told Caleb.
    “Believe me,” he answered, “I don’t like this any more than you do. I thought I’d have one day without you tagging along!”
    Libby glanced back. They were out of her father’s hearing. “Why don’t you just show me where the stores are? I’ll find my own way back.”
    But Caleb shook his head. “I can’t let you do that!”
    “You can’t? Who do you think you are? You’re not my boss!”
    Caleb sighed. “I’m afraid I am. I wish I weren’t.”
    “You can leave me at the first store,” Libby said.
    “No, I really can’t,” Caleb answered.
    “Yes, you can.” Libby used her most bossy voice. “I’m telling you to.”
    “I’ll lose my job if I leave you,” Caleb told her.
    Libby stared at him. That put things in a different light. From what Granny said, she and Caleb needed work. Much as Libby despised the boy, she couldn’t be that unfair.
    Libby sighed. “I guess that means we’re stuck with each other.”
    “For better or for worse.” A lopsided smile crossed Caleb’s face.
    “Mostly worse!” Having Caleb make a joke of it upset Libby even more. “I wanted to walk from store to store, to take my time looking at everything.”
    “I’m not going to spend all day shopping for girl things,” Caleb warned her. “Wherever I take you, you better hurry!”
    He set off, walking so fast across the cobblestones that Libby could barely keep up. Only when she crashed into a man carrying a barrel did Caleb stop.
    “What do you plan to buy?” he asked when they went on again.
    Libby didn’t want to tell him. “Just take me to a good store,” she said. “I’ll find the rest.”
    Ahead of them lay rows of four- and five-story brick stores. Even Libby felt impressed by their appearance. But Caleb led her beyond them to a store that outfitted pioneers for traveling west. To Libby’s great relief, Caleb stayed outside while she went in.
    Near the front, large open barrels were filled with apples. Along the wall were bins of sugar and flour. Another section held rakes, shovels, and large picks. Nearby were boots and shoes for the entire family.
    In no time at all, Libby found the jean cloth she wanted, as well as thread, needles, and scissors. When she went back outside, her purchases were wrapped in brown paper so that