Diane T. Ashley (21 page)

Lily watched him walk toward the door, his step jaunty. Wondering how the father of the prodigal son had managed for all those years that his child was away from home, she shivered. She hoped she would never have to find out for herself.

Jasmine stood at the rail as the
Water Lily
pulled away from the dock. How could the day be so beautiful when her heart was being torn in two?

She hadn’t been at home with Sarah yesterday when Vance called on her, because Lily had shown up and insisted they go shopping together. It made no sense at all. Unless Lily had some ulterior motive. But she couldn’t have known when Vance would come. It was all too confusing.

When Lily first showed up unannounced at Sarah’s house, Jasmine had been afraid her deception had been uncovered. Certain that Lily had somehow found out about her evening with Vance, Jasmine had braced herself for a homily on deceit and ruination. What she’d gotten instead was an invitation to go shopping. Shopping? Something Lily abhorred. It made no sense.

“Are you looking forward to seeing Eli and Renée’s boys again?”

Caught off guard by Lily’s unexpected presence on the deck, Jasmine shrugged. Her sister was usually far too busy taking care of passengers during departure. She kept her gaze on the muddy surface of the river. Now was not the time to tell Lily she wasn’t going to Memphis. “Remington is nice enough when he’s not plotting some prank. As for Brandon and Cameron, they’ve never shown much interest in me.”

Lily smiled. “They have matured greatly since they last saw you. I predict that they’ll buzz around you like honeybees gathering nectar when they realize what a beautiful young lady you are.”

Flattery was not something Lily excelled at. She sounded too bright. The forced cheerfulness didn’t sound at all convincing. Jasmine suspected she was trying to make amends because of the way she’d embarrassed her at the Thorntons’ earlier in the week. Jasmine was ready to forgive her sister’s boorish behavior …
if
Lily vowed to be more circumspect.

The horn sounded above them as Papa guided the paddlewheeler around a sharp curve.

Jasmine cast about for a different topic—one that would not concern her or her plans. She didn’t want Lily to figure out what she planned to do.

“Did you give the children the toys we found yesterday?”

“Yes. They were excited. Benjamin loved the silver rattle you picked out.”

Besides the toys for all of the children, they had purchased a lovely straw hat for Camellia, a magnifying glass to help Uncle Phillip read his newspaper, and a lacy shawl in shades of brown and coral for Aunt Dahlia. Jonah was getting a fancy stereoscope and several stereographic images of boats and trains.

“I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet your friend Mr. Hargrove.” Lily seemed determined to bring up uncomfortable topics.

Jasmine didn’t know if she was sorry or not. If Lily had actually met him, she might have agreed that he was everything both she and Sarah had claimed. But then again, she might just as well have taken an instant dislike to him. This way Jasmine didn’t have to defend her interest in him. “Perhaps he’ll come to Natchez someday, and you can meet him then.”

Lily’s gaze swept her. “Did he tell you he was coming to visit?”

“No.” Jasmine could not meet her sister’s gaze. “You’re probably right. I’ll never see him again.”

Silence enveloped them. Jasmine wanted to look up, but she didn’t dare. Lily might not know everything, but she had an uncanny knack for discerning untruths. Not that Jasmine believed Vance would come to Les Fleurs without an invitation. He didn’t need to. She was going to go to him, get a job on the
Ophelia
, and reach for her dreams.

“I’m sorry.” Lily’s hand covered her own. “I’ve been thinking about that trip to Chicago. The one you and I discussed back at Les Fleurs.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Jasmine pulled her hand free. “I don’t know if I even want to go to Chicago anymore.”

“Really? I thought that was your heart’s desire. What’s happened to change your mind?”

Jasmine wished her sister would go away. “Nothing. I just realized that the big city is not as romantic as I’d once thought.”

“Is it that man?” Lily grabbed her shoulders and pulled Jasmine around to face her. Her brown eyes were full of fire. “Did he hurt you?”

“Of course not.” Exasperation lent sincerity to her words. At least she could be truthful about this. “Vance was a perfect gentleman.”

Lily continued to search her face. “Something happened. You’ve been pining for the chance to move to Chicago for more than a year. You couldn’t have changed so completely in less than a week.” An odd look entered her eyes, driving out the anger and replacing it with sympathy. “Is it David? I know that you care about him, Jasmine, in spite of what you tell me. It’s written all over your face.”

David? Lily thought she was heartbroken because David was not returning with them? She opened her mouth to correct her sister’s misunderstanding but snapped it closed again as she realized this might be the perfect way to avoid Lily’s interference. Drawing on her experience playing the misunderstood daughter of King Lear, she hung her head. “I—he is nothing to me at all.”

“Oh, dear.” Lily drew her close and rubbed her back. “I’m so sorry, Jasmine.”

As she stood within the circle of her sister’s arms, Jasmine ignored the prick of her conscience. It was Lily’s fault that she was driven to deception. If she told her sister the truth, Lily would drag her off to Memphis or some other bleak, depressing location and never let her out of her sight.

Her way would be better for both of them. For everyone in the family. She would disappear from their lives until one day when they would learn of her stunning success in the theatrical world. Then they would understand why she had left home in the first place.

T
he hired carriage rocked as it hit a rough spot on the dirt road leading out of Natchez. With practiced ease, Jasmine grabbed the hand loop above her head to keep from being jostled about.

Lily swayed with the movement, her arm around her drowsy youngest son. “I’m glad Papa took Aunt Tessie home.”

“Mommy, Noah’s touching me.” Magnolia pushed at her brother’s arm as she made the complaint.

Jasmine hid a grin as she listened to Lily dispensing justice to her nephew and niece. Had she ever been that young? She didn’t remember arguing with David in the same way. Of course, Lily wasn’t her mother … and he certainly wasn’t her brother.

She felt a greater kinship with Benjamin, wondering if he would chafe against being the youngest. Jasmine knew firsthand how it felt. She was ready to be treated like a grown woman, receiving respect from her family even if they couldn’t give her enthusiastic support. If everything proceeded according to plan, they would have to respect her. They wouldn’t have any other choice. She would be out in the world, making her own way and excelling in her chosen profession.

A thrill of anticipation swelled within her. Maybe she would marry the handsome Vance Hargrove … if no one better came along. After all, once she became a famous actress, dozens of men would want her by their sides … maybe hundreds. She could choose a husband from among them.

The carriage slowed and turned off the road.

Jasmine leaned forward for a glimpse of Les Fleurs, her breath catching at the unexpected sight. “Look, there’s been a fire!”

Her exclamation stopped the children’s squabbling, and they leaned forward to see the blackened field. She heard hoofbeats as Blake, who was escorting them on horseback, spurred his mount forward.

Lily held Benjamin’s head as she surveyed the damage. “I wonder what happened. Can you see the house?”

“Not yet.” Out of the corner of her eye, Jasmine saw Magnolia reach for her brother’s hand. The sight warmed her heart, reminding her once again of the close relationship she, Lily, and Camellia had once enjoyed. A part of her missed those days. They rarely—if ever—saw eye to eye anymore.

Blake returned, leaning down to report what he’d seen. “It looks like the only damage was to a couple of the cabins on the other side of the fields.”

Benjamin woke and pulled on his mother’s shoulder. Lily returned her attention to him.

Jasmine, along with Noah and Magnolia, continued peering out of the window. She hoped no one had been hurt.

Camellia and Aunt Dahlia stood on the front porch, waving their handkerchiefs. They must have heard the carriage coming.

Blake dismounted to open the door for them. Noah and Magnolia tumbled out first and went running up the steps to be welcomed by the two ladies as Blake took Benjamin. He set his youngest child on the ground and watched him run, as only a toddler can, toward the steps before helping Lily and Jasmine alight.

As she climbed the stairs ahead of Lily and Blake, Jasmine looked for any signs of strain in Camellia’s face, breathing a sigh of relief when she saw none. In spite of the damage they had seen on the drive to the plantation, everything must be under control.

“Why don’t you go inside and see if the cook has any treats left from our tea this morning?” Camellia held the door open and watched as Noah, Magnolia, and Benjamin ran to do her bidding.

“What happened?” Blake asked the question as soon as the children were out of sight.

“We were all nearly burned alive.” Aunt Dahlia dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief, even though Jasmine couldn’t see any evidence of tears. “I thank the good Lord we weren’t killed while we slept.”

“Aunt Dahlia, you know the fire started well after we were up and about.” Camellia hugged Jasmine first and then Lily. “Besides, the house was never in any danger.”

Aunt Dahlia heaved a loud sigh. “I blame Jonah for bringing this on us.”

Jasmine could not believe what her aunt was saying. Aunt Dahlia had never liked Jonah because he fought with the North during the war, but surely she could not believe he would purposely try to burn down their home.

“Aunt Dahlia,” Lily and Camellia admonished in unison.

“Well, I do.” Aunt Dahlia sniffed and turned to go inside. “You young people don’t know as much as you think. Whenever someone tries to change the natural order of things, we all have to suffer the consequences.”

Blake shook his head and turned to face Camellia. “Tell us what happened.”

“I know you remember Jasper Calhoun.” She waited for Blake’s nod. “He set fire to the woods out of spite when Jonah didn’t choose him as overseer.”

“Why don’t you sit down and tell us all about it? Don’t leave out any details.” Lily moved to one of three rockers to the right of the front door, arranging her skirts as she settled against the wooden seat.

Blake glanced toward the front door. “Where’s Jonah?”

Camellia waved her hand toward the burned woods. “He and a few of the others are finishing up the repairs to the schoolhouse. It received the most damage, but I hope to hold class there again tomorrow.”

Camellia and Jasmine sat in the empty rockers as Blake went in search of his brother-in-law. As succinctly as she could, Camellia described the fire and how narrowly she and the children had avoided the danger. “Besides minor scrapes and cuts, only one man was seriously injured. The doctor came to help treat him, and I’m thankful to say he is already back on his feet.”

“Praise God no one was killed.” Reverence filled Lily’s words.

Camellia nodded. “Yes, He was definitely watching out for our welfare.”

Jasmine was thankful to hear that the damage had been no worse, but she thought her sisters should also recognize the hard work of the men, women, and children who had risked their lives to fight the flames. Not that God had not been with them, but without the others, the plantation might have burned to the ground. But now was not the time to express her thoughts. She forced her lips into an agreeable smile.

“Let’s talk about something else.” Camellia looked at her. “Did you and David settle your differences, or are you still spatting?”

Lily cleared her throat and shook her head. “Blake and I were planning to make a trip up to Memphis right away, but I think we’d better stick around a few days to help you out.”

While she was thankful to Lily for intervening, irritation pressed Jasmine’s lips into a straight line. Why was everyone so interested in her relationship with David? He was her past. The theater was her future.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I won’t hear of such a thing. Jonah and I have everything in hand. Please don’t change your plans. As you pointed out, we have so much to be thankful for.”

Jasmine thought it would be good to add a little reinforcement. If Lily and Blake didn’t leave, it might wreck her plans. Besides that, Lily needed to get past the idea that her sisters were helpless. Jasmine had no doubt Jonah and Camellia would do fine without Lily directing the repairs. “Didn’t you say you need to talk to Eli Thornton about the railroad business?”

“That’s true. He and Renée will know all the pitfalls of changing over from river to rail transportation. Now that so many people are moving westward, it seems we’re going to have to consider the possibility of leaving the river.” Lily stopped and frowned. “But family is more important than business.”