“I thought I saw you and your slave entering.” He squeezed her hand before releasing it. “How are things going on the boat? Has Captain Steenberg moved aboard? I trust he meets with your approval.”
“Yes, thank you for sending him.” She paused, choosing her words with care. Truth to tell she had not been overly impressed with the man. He was loud and did not practice the best hygiene. “He is quite a colorful character.”
“Yes, well, he is an excellent captain. You will come to no harm while he guides the boat. He can probably supply you with an engineer and several crewmen.”
“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” Lily could not imagine more of the same type of men on her boat. They would not impress the passengers she hoped to draw. “We’ve already hired a new crewman, and Mr. Moreau is going to act as our engineer for now.”
He shrugged. “Whatever you—”
“Lily! Lily!” Jasmine barreled into the mercantile like a cannonball. She ran past Jean Luc, grabbed Lily’s hand, and tugged her toward the door.
“Wait a minute, Jasmine. What’s wrong?”
“Come quick. They’re going to kill him.”
Thinking someone must have attacked Jensen, Lily tossed a glance at Jean Luc. “Pardon me.”
“Hurry, Lily! Please hurry.” Jasmine pulled harder. As soon as they were outside, her little sister picked up her skirts and dashed across the street, disappearing into an alley between two buildings.
Lily plunged into the alley, following her sister and praying for their safety as sounds of a scuffle reached her ears.
“Leave him alone!” Her sister’s voice carried to her from a shadowy corner.
Dazzled by the change from light to dark, Lily willed her vision to clear. Several boys stood in a semicircle looking down while one of them kicked whatever lay on the ground. It looked like a pile of rags, but from the solid impact made by each kick, someone was under the rags. “Stop what you’re doing.” Lily put all the authority she could muster into her voice.
The largest boy, who was doing the kicking, laughed. “We already took care of your friend. Do you want us to do the same to you?”
Lily’s first concern was for her sisters. She pointed toward the street without taking her eyes off the bullies. “Jasmine, you and Camellia go find Jensen.”
“But—”
“Go. Now.” She listened for the sound of their retreat before raising her parasol in a threatening manner. “If you leave now, I won’t have you arrested.”
One of the other boys grabbed the leader’s arm. “He’s learned his lesson. He won’t be filching our fish no more.”
The other accomplice added his voice. “Let’s get out of here.”
After one more vicious kick, the third boy looked at her, a snarl twisting his face. “I oughta teach you a lesson, too.”
Lily had never been so frightened, but she couldn’t let him see her fear. She raised her chin and narrowed her eyes. “It won’t take long for my sisters to find our coachman. He’d probably like to teach you a thing or two himself.”
They took to their heels, leaving her alone with their groaning victim. Lily was about to go to him when Jensen, followed by her sisters, dashed into the alley.
“What’s going on here?” His growl reassured her, slowing the rapid thump of her heart. He looked around for the miscreants. “I don’t see no one here.”
“They ran off.” Was that weak sound her voice?
“Are you all right, Miss Lily?”
“Yes, Jensen.”
Jasmine dashed past them and sat down in the alley, ignoring everything else as she lifted a young boy’s head into her lap. “We have to take him back to the Hattie Belle.”
Lily understood her sister’s impulse to help the stranger, but they already had enough challenges to face. “I don’t know if that’s a very good idea.”
Camellia pushed her out of the way and sat next to Jasmine, her hands gently prodding the boy’s arms and legs. “We can’t leave him here.”
Lily sighed and looked from her sisters to Jensen.
“Don’t you remember the story of the Good Samaritan?” Jasmine’s voice held a hint of desperation.
Closing her eyes, Lily remembered the prayer she’d whispered as they’d entered the alley. The Lord had kept them safe. How then could she refuse to do her Christian duty? “I think it would be better to find his parents. They must be worried about him.”
Camellia leaned back on her heels. “What if he’s a foundling?”
“Then we’ll leave him at the foundling home.” Lily realized this was a losing battle. She knelt next to Jasmine and Camellia, bending to get a closer look at their victim. He flinched as she reached a hand toward his bruised face, an awful mat of gashes and bruises. It was the boy who had stolen her reticule. Her heart melted, and she looked over her shoulder toward Jensen. “Go get the carriage.”
Chapter Eighteen
Jean Luc hung around the mercantile for another half hour, waiting for Lily Anderson. He pulled out his pocket watch and flipped it open.
“Are you sure I can’t help you, Mr. Champney?” The storekeeper had already asked him the question twice before.
He shook his head and walked to the plate-glass window, staring at tall white clouds that were starting to pile up in the southern sky. How much longer could she be?
“Are you waiting for someone?” The man was at his elbow, as annoying as a mosquito.
Jean Luc sighed. “If you must know, I’m waiting to speak to Miss Anderson.”
“She’s not coming back.” The man smiled as though conferring a gift. “Her man loaded her supplies in the carriage and left a quarter hour ago.”
Anger burned in the pit of his stomach. How dared she ignore him? First she rushed off to see about some child instead of talking to him, and then she didn’t bother to come back. His jaw tightened. Lily Anderson would rue the day she ignored him. He stormed out of the mercantile and headed toward his father’s office.
“Good day, Mr. Champney.”
Jean Luc almost bypassed the man. But then he realized he could begin to settle the score right away. He smiled at the man who owned one of the largest shipping companies in town. “Hello, Sweeney. I trust business is going well.”
Sweeney nodded. “I heard your father sold the Hattie Belle.”
“Yes.” Jean Luc tapped his cane against his chin. “I was as surprised as anyone. Especially when I learned who the new owners are.” He shook his head and put an arm around the other man. “Just between you and me, he must have gotten a really good price.”
“Is that so?”
“Why else would he sell to a woman?” Jean Luc shook his head. “I hate to say it, but he may be slipping. Selling the Hattie Belle to someone who will likely run it aground on her first run? What sense is there in that?”
The older man looked pensive. Then he chuckled. “Maybe your father is wilier than you think. He’s probably expecting this woman to come running back to him. Then he’ll offer to take the boat off her hands, and he’ll make a tidy profit in the deal.”
Jean Luc raised his eyebrows. “You may be right.” He stood as though considering the other man’s suggestion then shook his head slowly. “Still, I worry about any shipper who lets her take his cargo out. He’ll lose the whole load, and she certainly doesn’t have deep enough pockets to repay the cost.”
“But I thought she was Isaiah Blackstone’s granddaughter. Surely they wouldn’t hang her out to dry.”
“Do you really think they approve of her going into business? They’ve probably washed their hands of her.”
Sweeney looked thoughtful. “You may be right.”
“No, no. Don’t rely on what I’ve said.” Jean Luc shook his head. “It’s only speculation on my part.”
“Of course not, my boy. Of course not. But I couldn’t forgive myself if I didn’t spread the word to my colleagues.”
Jean Luc shrugged. “I can’t speak to that, Mr. Swe
eney. You must do as you think best.”
The older man was shaking his head as they parted.
A sudden wind pushed Jean Luc along the street. Thunder rumbled, and lightning split the sky, matching his mood perfectly.
If Miss Anderson wanted to be his enemy, she would find herself in deep water. His smile widened. In very deep water indeed.
It was far too quiet. Blake held a peg as he brought his hammer down. He was an idiot. He actually missed the chatter and giggles of the Anderson girls.
In the distance a cannon boomed, announcing the arrival of a steamboat. It was such a common occurrence these days he was surprised the city of Natchez didn’t run out of ammunition. Another reason Lily’s daft idea was doomed to failure. With so much river traffic, who would want to take a chance on a boat full of females to ship their goods?
He missed the peg, and pain exploded in his left thumb. Harsh curses rose to his lips, but a week of choking them back had become a habit. “Owww!”
Blake checked his thumb. No blood. He would live. With a shake of his head, he went back to work. Lily wanted benches, so she would have benches. He was almost finished attaching them on the starboard side of the main room—the room she had turned into a dining hall, even though he would rather see it a gambling parlor. But she wouldn’t budge.
He’d tried to wheedle her into allowing one corner of the room for friendly games of poker, but she would have none of it. It was a shame, really. All this work that he would have to tear apart when Lily quit. At least he could reuse this wood—it would make a good buffet table when he finally opened his casino.
Somehow his dream had gotten tarnished since the Anderson girls had moved aboard. They brought sunshine to every corner of the Hattie Belle, even the engine room.
Footsteps brought his head around. Were they back already?
The uneven rhythm of his heart settled when Captain Steenberg appeared, chewing on the stubby end of a cigar. Blake had never seen him light it, not that Lily would allow smoking on her boat. Steenberg removed the cigar, holding it between his thumb and finger. “It’s kinda quiet around here.”
“The ladies went to Natchez to do a little shopping.”
The captain nodded. He planted his feet wide apart and stared at Blake.
Blake drilled a hole for the next peg, blowing it free of sawdust when he withdrew the bit.
The captain remained.
“Did you need me for something?”
“I was thinking about going to town myself. I hear there’s a new saloon in town. I thought I’d try my luck.”
“I see.” Blake felt a tug to join the man. He’d been working hard. No one could say he didn’t deserve a night off. He looked at the unfinished bench. Maybe later. “Try not to lose money you haven’t earned yet.”
“I was wondering about that.” The captain studied his cigar. “I know we ain’t gone on a voyage yet, but my time is valuable.” He put emphasis on the last word. “I was thinking mebbe I could get a little advance for my first trip.”
“I doubt it.” Blake pounded a new peg into the hole he’d just created. “Money’s going to be tight until we make our first delivery.” He sank the peg and reached for the drill, falling back into a rhythm as he worked.
After a while he realized he was alone. Again. His heart clenched. He’d always been a loner. Well, not always. But for a very long time. And, he reminded himself, he liked it that way.
The sound of hoofbeats brought his head up. They were back. He was up and halfway down the stairs before he realized his intention. He halted; then with a shrug he decided he might as well see what Lily had managed to purchase. He stepped outside as Jensen jumped to the ground and tied off the horses.
Lily opened the door and waved at him. “We could use your help.”
He didn’t like the frown on her face. “What’s wrong? Is it your sisters?”
She shook her head and disappeared back inside the carriage.
He strode to the door and looked inside. Lily and Camellia occupied one seat while Jasmine cradled someone in her lap. “Who’s that?”
“He was attacked.” Jasmine looked up, tears giving her eyes the velvety look of dew-sprinkled violets. “We’re going to tend to his wounds.”
“Really?” His gaze met Lily’s. What was she thinking?
She lifted her shoulders. “We could hardly leave him bleeding on the street.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance. “Let’s get him inside.” Blake picked him up and carried him to the Hattie Belle. “I suppose you want him to bunk in my room.”
They decided to use the ladies’ parlor for the time being. It was on the floor above the staterooms, a pleasant room with the most comfortable furniture, including a fainting couch, which they turned into a makeshift bed.
Camellia took control, directing the others to boil water, make bandages, and bring fresh clothing to replace the boy’s filthy rags.
An afternoon thunderstorm rocked the boat. Rain made rivulets on the windows, chilling Blake despite the fact it was summer. Gloom seemed to have invaded the Hattie Belle. He had been assigned the task of watching over Miss Jasmine. After she told him about finding the patient, they stared at each other.
“I have an idea.” Blake went to his bedroom and retrieved his deck of cards and an old bowler hat. Jasmine was sitting on one of the new benches when he got back, her pert little nose glued to a window. “Let’s play a game.” He riffled the cards in one hand.
Jasmine’s eyes grew as wide as saucers. “I don’t think Lily wants me to gamble.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Blake set the hat upside down about ten feet away and moved to the bench where Jasmine sat. “How good is your aim?”
She regarded him with curiosity. “I once knocked the bloom off one of Grandmother’s roses with a rock.”
“Pretty impressive.” He held a card between the first two fingers of his hand and flipped it toward the hat, watching as it turned over and over before landing several inches short of the target. “Do you think you can get closer than that?”
She took a card and studied it. He showed her how to bend her wrist to get the most action from the card. Her first attempt didn’t make it to the table. “Can I try another?”
“Of course.” He gave her half the deck while he retained the other half. “One at a time, now.”
Soon the gloom had disappeared, and they were laughing as the cards flew all over the room like crazed butterflies.
“What’s going on in here?” The laughter stopped. Lily stood in the doorway, arms crossed. “Are you teaching my sister card games?”
“Of course not. We were just—”
“I think I can trust my eyes more than your words, Mr. Matthews. You don’t have to add lying to your list of sins.” She pointed a finger at Jasmine. “It’s time for you to eat some supper and get to bed.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jasmine handed him the rest of her cards and exited the room, her head down.
Blake was speechless. How dare she condemn him without giving him a chance to explain. It was ridiculous. All this time spent acceding to her every wish, and still Lily didn’t trust him to watch over her sisters. Then again, he hadn’t thought to prepare food for Jasmine.
A fist wrapped around his heart. Maybe Lily was right. Maybe he didn’t deserve her trust.
Chapter Nineteen
Have you lost your mind?” Blake paced the main room, stopping when he drew even with Lily. “Keeping that boy on the boat is sure to lead to trouble. We’re liable to wake up one morning to find him gone and all our valuables with him.”
“I don’t care what you say. My mind is made up.” Her voice was calm, but bolts of lightning flew from her brown eyes.
Blake took a deep breath. He should have learned by now that anger was not the right approach with this young woman. “You’re about as contrary as a mule.”
“Look, I don’t like the idea any better than you—”
“Then why are we h
aving this discussion? Send that cutpurse on his way.”
“And leave him to the tender mercies of the thugs who were beating him yesterday?” She crossed her arms and tapped one foot.
“Then Jensen and I will take him to the foundling home.”
Lily shook her head. “I sent Jensen to make inquiries earlier. The foundling home is overcrowded. They cannot take him in.”
“I understand you’re tenderhearted, but we cannot be picking up every waif we come across or we’ll find ourselves without room for paying passengers. I’ve yet to see a city that doesn’t support at least a dozen just like the one upstairs.”
The fire in her eyes faded. “I cannot abandon David Foster now.”
“David Foster!” He blew out an exasperated breath. “I doubt that’s his real name. He was probably born out of wedlock to a mother who tossed him on the street as soon as he could walk.”
“All the more reason to let him stay with us.”
“You’re not making any sense, Lily. He may be an object of pity, but it doesn’t follow that we should take him in.”
“It may not make sense to you, but I have very sound reasons for keeping him aboard.”
“Then explain them.”
She cocked her head. “If I throw him off the boat, my sisters will hate me.”
Surprise made him take a step back. She couldn’t believe such a silly thing. But she was a female, and females often got odd ideas—just one of the reasons they should content themselves with being mothers and wives. “That’s utterly ridiculous, girl.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I am not a girl?”
He ignored her interruption. “Your sisters adore you. They watch your every move. If you don’t care for mussels, they won’t touch them, either. They walk the same way you do, imitate your laugh and even the tilt of your chin when you feel challenged. That’s the way it is with younger siblings.”
Lily (Song of the River) Page 12