Diane T. Ashley (42 page)

When they reached the door to the outside, she felt like she was walking into a maelstrom. Voices shouted, and people were running back and forth from the
Ophelia
to the floating circus. A pair of elephants stood on the bank, their giant ears moving back and forth like great gray wings. Monkeys chattered and ran between the legs of the circus performers like rambunctious children. A large tiger, thankfully still confined, paced the length of its cage and growled at anyone who dared approach.

“There they are!” Jasmine heard Clem’s voice and saw her friend jumping up and down as though her feet were made of coils.

Rafe ran across the gangplank and took Tabitha from David. “Did the lion attack you?”

David shook his head. “Arnold Garth wasn’t so lucky.”

“I see.” Rafe settled the unconscious woman against his shoulder before heading back to the riverbank.

“I didn’t think you would come for me, David.” A shudder shook Jasmine’s aching shoulders as they followed a few steps behind Rafe. She let her skirts drop to keep from displaying her legs to the curious onlookers. “You said you were done pulling me out of scrapes.”

He looked straight ahead, his stride long. “Old habits die hard.”

“Thank you anyway.” Jasmine’s wet skirts made it impossible to keep up with him. When he realized she had fallen behind, David turned around, his green gaze seeing more than she wanted. With a roll of his eyes, he came back and lifted her into his arms. “Don’t you know yet that I’ll always come rescue you?”

She put an arm around his shoulders and let her head drop down to his chest. She might be wet and exhausted, but Jasmine had never felt quite so treasured in her whole life.

I
still find it hard to believe Tabitha Barlow is a bank robber.” Clem sat on the bright, dimity-covered window seat, her scissors and a large square of cloth in her hands.

“I know. “Jasmine wandered over and sat next to her, looking down at a carriage traveling along First Street. She was glad their boardinghouse faced the river. It afforded them an ever-changing view of the traffic and people. “I was so shocked when I heard her and Arnold discussing their plans.”

“You were very brave to go to her room for the evidence.”

“That’s not how David phrased it.”

Clem giggled. “He was upset because he doesn’t like the idea of you getting hurt. That man loves you.”

“Do you really think so?” Jasmine could feel the heat burning her cheeks. “He hasn’t been by but once since the accident.”

“He’s got a lot to do. Trust me, he’ll be here as soon as he can.”

“I still can’t believe the
Ophelia
is gone.”

Clem snipped at a corner of the cloth and sighed. “I know. All those lovely costumes.”

“Now you sound like Tabitha.”

“Heaven forbid. Did she really try to get all her clothes packed into trunks?”

“And her shoes and jewelry. “Jasmine could hardly believe it either. She still cringed to think of Tabitha’s compulsion to save her material belongings over her life. The poor woman really didn’t understand what was important.

Anyone looking at the dock today would never realize the drama that had played out there three days earlier. She sighed and turned away from the window. “I suppose it’s a blessing how few people actually died that afternoon.”

“Poor Arnold.” Clem pursed her lips as she studied the material. “Imagine running directly into the path of that dangerous beast.”

“The newspaper said the animals are being kept in several warehouses while new cages are made to replace those that couldn’t be salvaged from the wreck.” Jasmine wandered to the writing desk in one corner of their room, looking at the note she had written to her sisters. She had spent all morning on that task, trying to apologize for her actions. It was difficult to explain the choices she had made over the past months. Looking back, she barely understood the reasons herself. At least the letter would let them know she was unhurt and that she was coming home.

Clem picked up a doll and measured the length of cloth against it. “Do you think Rafe and Angelica will be happy?”

Jasmine watched her friend work on her project. “Is that who the doll is for?”

“Oh, no. It’s for Mrs. O’Hara’s daughter.”

“The lady who owns the boardinghouse?” Jasmine was surprised Clem would put so much effort into a dress for a stranger’s child. “I hope she appreciates getting an original design by a seamstress as talented as you.”

“Since Mr. and Mrs. Easley have decided not to buy another showboat, I need something to do.” Clem took out her needle and a spool of white thread.

“You could get a job on a different showboat. I’m sure the Easleys would give you a good reference.”

Clem stitched away with her usual speed. “I’m tired of living on the river.”

Jasmine was surprised by her friend’s statement. She thought Clem loved the theater, or at least the costume work she did. Did she share Jasmine’s disillusionment because of the immorality and greed rampant among the
Ophelia’
s actors? “What will you do?”

“Mrs. O’Hara’s sister owns a millinery shop. She thinks I can probably get a job there if I prove I have sufficient talent. “Clem grinned at her. “So now you see that my charitable work will benefit me as well as our landlady’s daughter.”

“I’m glad you’ve decided not to return to the theater.” Jasmine tapped the table with one finger. “It’s so different from what I expected. So debauched. I expected a world of excitement and adulation, not lechers and bank robbers.”

“So you’re not going to be an actress anymore?” Clem’s needle halted midstitch. “What will you do?”

“Go home, I guess.” Jasmine sighed. “I’m not really sure.”

Choked laughter answered her sigh. “Save your melodrama for somebody else. I know a certain handsome detective who’s not going to let you get very far away.”

“Perhaps.” Jasmine remembered the way David had carried her across the gangplank. “All I know is I need to pray about what God wants me to do for the future.”

“You really are serious about this God stuff, aren’t you?” Clem put down the doll dress, her gaze sober.

“I know I haven’t been a very good example to you and the others on the
Ophelia
.” Jasmine found the words difficult to say out loud. “Being a Christian is a very serious matter, something I forgot for a while. Christ lives in my heart. He’s the One I want to keep my eyes on, the One I want to follow, no matter what. In a way, Tabitha helped me see how silly I had been. When she started packing that trunk as the ship was sinking, it dawned on me that I was guilty of the same thing—putting emphasis on the things of this world, things that have no eternal value. Jesus said that our hearts would be in the same place as our treasures. I forgot that for a while.”

“I can’t tell you I’m ready to make a commitment today, but I have seen a difference in you. And I like it.” Clem resumed her handwork. “I hope you’ll pray for me.”

“I always do.” Jasmine found encouragement in Clem’s words. “But don’t delay too long. We never know when death may be lurking around a corner. Arnold’s death was terrible, the circumstances of course. But the worst thing of all is that he may not have been saved when he left this world. The idea of anyone having to be separated from God forever is too horrifying to consider.”

“I see what you mean.” Clem’s thoughtful gaze raked her face.

Deciding to leave the subject for now, Jasmine made a promise to herself to redouble her prayers for Clem’s salvation. She knew God loved Clem as much as she did. And His business was calling people to Him.

“What will happen to Vance?”

David winced at Jasmine’s question. Did she still care for the man, after all? He had hoped, dreamed even, that she returned his feelings. They had seemed to grow so close after leaving Cairo. Had it been nothing more than an act on her part? “The charges of murder and armed robbery were dropped, but he’s pled guilty to theft. He’ll have to serve time.”

Standing on the deck of the
Coriander
, he watched as they once again reached the intersection of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. How appropriate. His feelings were as turbulent as the merging currents below their boat.

He angled a look at Jasmine. Her beauty had deepened to a new level, a realization that made his heart ache.

“I still can’t believe he stole money from the Easleys. From all of us on the
Ophelia
.” A strand of her coal-black hair escaped from Jasmine’s coiffure and brushed her cheek.

David’s fingers itched to smooth it back, let his fingers caress her soft skin. He gripped the rail tighter instead. “He proved unworthy of the trust you placed in him.”

“Maybe he’ll change while he’s in prison.”

He should be warmed by her obvious faith in the man, but he was too human to completely avoid a wave of resentment. He cleared his throat and searched for a different subject. “Tabitha’s facing more serious charges. She was involved in two murders and more than a dozen robberies. I don’t see how she’ll avoid being hanged.”

Jasmine brushed the hair away from her face. “I can’t help but remember how she tried to warn me away from the theater when I first began to gain recognition aboard the
Ophelia
. I didn’t realize at the time that she had my best interests at heart.”

“I imagine her motives were more about self-protection than altruism.” He didn’t want to hurt Jasmine, but she needed to understand how evil Tabitha really was. He remembered the interview he’d conducted after she was placed under arrest. She had tried to place blame on everyone but herself, painting herself as victim rather than villain. First it was Arnold Garth who had led her astray, then Vance Hargrove. She had even accused Clem and Jasmine of trying to usurp her position on the
Ophelia
. “She was jealous of you.”

The errant strand of hair returned to Jasmine’s cheek, tempting his fingers once more. “She may never change, but at least we gave her time to consider eternity. I hope she’ll listen to God’s voice before it’s too late.”

David’s pain receded a little. Even if they were not meant to be together, at least he could rejoice in Jasmine’s resurgent faith. “You’re really serious about all this now, aren’t you?”

“I’m sorry for my rebellion.” She sighed and pushed her hair back once more. “I see now what you and my sisters were trying to tell me. I thought life in the theater was a magical existence, but now I understand that it’s nothing more than a dangerous illusion.”

“I don’t know if you should rush to the other extreme, Jasmine. Over the past weeks, I’ve seen you and the others work together to create something special. Who knows what lives you may have touched, what lessons your plays might teach about the hazards of making immoral choices?”

David hoped she understood his point. While he didn’t like the loose lifestyles of the actors on the
Ophelia
, he could see that a troupe of actors who were Christians might be able to use the stage to advance sound principles and even plant the seeds of salvation.

Her violet eyes widened in surprise. “I can’t believe you said that.”

“Why not? The theater is not evil in itself.”

“That may be true, but it’s still not the life for me.” Her chin jutted out.

David suppressed his smile. No matter what happened to Jasmine, she would always be headstrong. He loved that about her. “What do you plan to do once you return to Natchez?”

“Rest for a while, I guess. Maybe I’ll help Camellia teach the local children. I’m not really sure what God wants me to do at this point.”

“I have an idea.” David wanted to bite his tongue off. When would he learn to keep his mouth shut? He hadn’t planned to say anything to Jasmine about what she should do next. It wasn’t any of his business. If he’d ever thought they might have a future together, she had made her choice abundantly clear when she’d sighed over Vance’s fate.

Shivering, Jasmine pulled her shawl up over her shoulders. “Are you going to tell me what it is or leave me guessing?”

“Are you cold?”

Jasmine raised her eyebrows. “A little, but I’m not going in until you tell me your idea.”

“I was thinking about your work with the cast.” David decided he might as well take the plunge. The worst she could do was laugh at him. “You witnessed to Angelica, helped Rafe keep his job, and even talked me into joining the performance. You have a real talent for management. If you combine that with your love for all things theatrical, maybe you could have your own theatrical company.”

He held his breath and refused to look at Jasmine while she considered the idea.

“I don’t know… .”

He let out his breath, interrupting her attempt to let him down easy. “Forget it. It’s a stupid idea.”

“No, it’s not. It’s brilliant.” She put a hand on his arm. “You’re brilliant. I was going to say that I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself. It doesn’t have to be on a grand scale like the theater on the
Ophelia
. I could teach young men and women how to act while keeping their Christian values intact.”

David nodded, glad to see her so excited.