Diane T. Ashley (27 page)

Her name jumped out at him. The part of the nurse was being played by none other than Jasmine Anderson. She hadn’t even had the sense to choose a pseudonym. Jane Baxter had said Jasmine was playing a minor part, but that must have changed. Was her rapid rise due to her talent? He hoped that was the reason. He ground his teeth at the idea that Vance Hargrove might use his influence on her behalf for his own dissolute purposes.

He ought to march himself to the crew quarters and confront Jasmine right now. But something held him back. What was it? He couldn’t be reluctant to end her foolishness—her attempt to earn fame and fortune. Jasmine should be back at Les Fleurs dancing with men from her social circle, not consorting with philanderers and loose women. She should be surrounded by the protection of her sisters and extended family. Jasmine might not—would not—agree, but only because the little minx was as blind to the dangers around her as a field mouse being stalked by an owl.

Fish Out of Water
, the first offering, was an uncomplicated farce about a series of misunderstandings between a couple that led to all sorts of trouble, including infidelity.

David found himself embarrassed by the sexual innuendos. This was exactly why working in the theater was not something an innocent girl should do. Jasmine probably didn’t even understand the worst of the bawdy jokes, but it wouldn’t be long before some helpful soul explained them to her.

He crossed his arms over his chest when the farce ended with much laughter and applause. David was growing increasingly anxious for the entertainment to end so he could get to Jasmine and get her out of here.

After the stage was reset, the curtain rose once more, and the two-woman chorus began telling the audience of the tragic events about to unfold in front of them. He recognized Jasmine the moment she stepped on the stage, even though she was playing the part of a much older woman. It was ludicrous. Tabitha Barlow might have been hired to play the part of Juliet, but she was much too mature. The drama would be more believable if she and Jasmine switched parts.

He had to admit, though, that Jasmine had talent. She played the part with understanding and energy. Shakespeare had written the role as comic relief, and Jasmine brought laughter to the audience with her facial expressions and gestures, even during heartrending scenes of the tragedy.

At the end of the play, David leaped to his feet, adding his applause to that of the rest of the crowd around him. A part of him wished it was possible for Jasmine to be an actress on the scale she dreamed of. God had obviously showered her with talent. But she needed a way to use her abilities in an uplifting, moral manner. If she remained a part of this world, she would lose the very spark that made her stand out from the other actors in the production.

He fought his way against the crowd and managed to reach the edge of the stage. Where would Jasmine be? Eating? Sleeping? Flirting with Hargrove? He thrust the curtains out of his way and found a door leading to a different part of the barge. As he reached for the handle, the door opened toward him, and two young women carrying mops stepped through. The first was a brunette, a girl he didn’t recognize.

David forgot all about her when the second female gasped and let her mop fall. Jasmine looked like a startled fawn. He reached out and caught her arm before she could bolt. “What a surprise to find you here.”

“Let go of my friend.” The other girl rapped his knuckles with the handle of her mop. “I’ll scream for help.”

He winced but kept his grip on Jasmine. She would not escape so easily.

“Camellia must have sent you to track me down.”

The other girl’s mouth snapped shut at Jasmine’s accusation.

David couldn’t let her reveal his true identity. “Who better than your brother?”

“Well, you can just go back home to Natchez and tell Camellia—and Lily, too—that I’m fine. In fact, I’m more than fine. I’ve found a job and several friends. People who understand me and share the same interests. None of you needs to worry about me anymore.”

“He’s your brother?” The other girl picked up Jasmine’s mop and handed it back to her.

His glare warned Jasmine to agree. She was the one who had first claimed he was a brother to her, after all. And it gave him the perfect cover story.

After a moment she nodded. “Would you give us a few minutes, Clem?”

“Ummm, o–kay.” Clem emphasized the last syllable, infusing it with a great deal of curiosity. She must be an actress, too.

David dropped his hold on Jasmine’s arm as soon as they were alone. “How soon can you be packed?”

“Packed?” She tossed her head like a restive horse. “Why should I pack? I’m not leaving. You are.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t stay here.”

“Yes, I can.”

David gave her another warning glare. “I don’t intend to argue with you. This boat is at best inappropriate for a lady with even the barest of morals; at worst it’s dangerous.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

He glanced around to make sure no one lurked in the large room. “I have reason to believe that this showboat is involved in the bank robberies I’m investigating.”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“No, it’s not. In fact, it makes a great deal of sense. Before he was murdered, one of the robbers I was working with managed to tell me one word—
Ophelia
.”

He saw the gooseflesh prickling her arms. Good. Jasmine needed to realize how much danger she was in.

“What makes you think he was referring to this
Ophelia
? There must be dozens of other reasons he would mention a woman’s name. Or you might have misunderstood him.” Her eyes widened. “Or maybe he lied to you. He was a thief, wasn’t he?”

“He wouldn’t have any reason to lie when he knew he was dying, and I’ve looked for any other connection. The
Ophelia
was in New Orleans during the robbery there, and in Vicksburg. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if a bank in Memphis was the next target.”

“So were dozens of other boats.”

He should have known Jasmine would argue. She had never seen him as someone deserving respect.

The stage door creaked open behind them. “Jasmine? Clem sent me to check on—” Vance Hargrove stopped short as he stepped onto the stage. “Mr. Anderson. What brings you to Memphis?”

“I’m retrieving my sister.”

Hargrove frowned at Jasmine. “I thought you said your family agreed for you to come.”

David would have laughed if he hadn’t been so exasperated at this further evidence of Jasmine’s duplicity. “She didn’t bother to ask permission.”

“I didn’t need to.” Jasmine moved toward the other man. “I’m an adult. In spite of my brother’s threats, I have every right to stay with you.”

David wanted to step between them. He wouldn’t be surprised if steam started pouring from his ears. Jasmine was not going to stay on the
Ophelia
, no matter what she thought. “You can’t prevent my putting you on the next boat heading to Natchez with instructions to deliver you to Les Fleurs.”

“Maybe not, but it won’t matter. I’ll run away again as soon as Camellia’s back is turned. I’ve tasted freedom now, and I refuse to accept a life of bondage any longer.”

He wanted to remove Vance’s smirk by fastening a set of handcuffs around his wrists. But he couldn’t let himself be distracted by pleasant fantasies. “Jasmine, I don’t care if you have to spend the rest of your days locked in your bedroom, you’re not staying here.”

“The thing I don’t understand is how your brother figured out you’re on the
Ophelia
if your family didn’t know.”

Feeling like he’d been doused with a bucket of cold water, David shut his mouth at the suspicious words.

“I think I know what must have happened.” Jasmine stepped into the uneasy silence. “Do you remember my hesitation the first time I took the stage?”

Hargrove turned his suspicious gaze toward her.

“Jane Baxter was in the audience. She lives in Vicksburg, but she’s my—our—sister Camellia’s best friend.”

“Yes, she’s the one who put me on your trail.” Perhaps Jasmine would make a better detective than he did. Her story was convincing and stayed close enough to the truth that neither of them would be tripped up by contradictory details. He allowed a tight smile to loosen his mouth. “I promised Camellia I’d stop you from ruining your life, and I’m going to keep my promise.”

“Wait, wait, wait.” Vance took a step away from Jasmine and snapped his fingers.

David raised an eyebrow, wondering what Vance was going to say next. Was the man going to accuse him of an ulterior motive?

“I have the perfect answer to satisfy both of you. Your brother is worried about your reputation, and you’re determined to stay on board because this is your dream, right?” Hargrove turned to him. “Do you have to return to Mississippi right away?”

David shook his head. He thought he might be getting an inkling of the other man’s train of thought. “The rest of the family will get along fine without me for a while.”

“Our tugboat captain is always losing his hands to more lucrative jobs, and you’re bound to have some experience since you come from a riverboat family. You can work there and keep an eye on your sister until you’re convinced she’s safe with us.” Hargrove beamed at both of them, expecting compliments on his brilliance.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Jasmine glared at David. “Having my
brother
close by is bound to inhibit my performances.”

“Perfect. I’ll do it.” David grinned at her stormy expression. He offered a hand to the actor. “You’ve solved everything.”

Jasmine stomped away from them, her outrage plain in every step. But David was pleased. He could nose around and gather more evidence before making arrests, starting with the self-satisfied Hargrove. And he could make sure Jasmine was safe … even if he had to threaten her with an arrest for conspiracy.

C
lem pushed Jasmine’s arm up until it was parallel to the floor. “Be still or I won’t be able to get your measurements right.”

Jasmine didn’t mean to drop her arm, but she was having a hard time with her concentration. David had sent a telegram to Camellia this morning and returned after breakfast with the information that they would be having dinner with Eli and Renée Thornton this evening. Had a man ever been more high-handed? If he hadn’t been a longtime family friend, she wouldn’t put up with his arrogance.

“I’m glad your brother got a job on the
Miss Polly
.” Clem shoved a pin through the navy-blue material of the dress.

“Why?” Jasmine couldn’t believe her friend was taking his side over hers. Did Clem want her to be bundled back to Mississippi?

“He’s … he’s single, isn’t he?”

Jasmine’s arm dropped, and a dozen pins pricked her side. “Ow.”

“I told you to stand still.”

“I know.” She raised her arm again. “Please don’t tell me you’re developing an interest in David.”

“He is handsome.” Clem’s face suffused with color. “And you can tell he’s honorable by the way he treats all the women on board, even Miss Barlow and Miss Fenwick.”

“He’s not honorable. He’s overbearing and egotistical. And a stick in the mud.”

“He is not. You don’t know how lucky you are to have a brother who loves you enough to come looking for you.” Clem’s sigh lingered in the quiet room. “It’s so romantic.”

David’s popularity on the
Ophelia
amazed her. What did these women see in him? He had been here only a little more than twelve hours, and he was already the darling of every woman from Miss Barlow to the cook. He was David—solid, practical, bossy David. “Believe me, Clem. He doesn’t have a romantic bone in his body.”

Clem snorted her disbelief. “You can get down now.”

Jasmine stepped off the stool.

“You only think he’s romantic because you don’t know my … brother.” She couldn’t help the waspish tone. Everything had gotten so mixed up. Convincing the others to ignore him was not getting her anywhere. Even the men seemed drawn to him. Mr. Easley had better watch out, or he might find himself replaced by her “brother.”

She could only think of one way to get rid of him—tell everyone that he was a Pinkerton detective. But she couldn’t betray him. She couldn’t expose his real reason for taking the position on their tugboat, even though she knew David was wrong about the
Ophelia’
s connection to the bank robberies. She was as certain of that as she was her own name. Absolutely, positively certain.

The actors on board the showboat had their weaknesses, but not a one of them was evil. Last night and again at breakfast this morning, she found herself looking for something sinister in the people around her. But it was ridiculous. From the gruff Mr. Easley to sweet Clem, each and every one of the people on this boat was focused on providing quality entertainment. Besides, the
Ophelia
was making good money. Why would someone want to risk a lucrative income on a hanging offense?

Clem helped her pull the dress over her head. “I know I’m being foolish. No one as kind and handsome as your brother would ever look at someone like me.”

Jasmine emerged from the dress with a gasp. “Don’t you ever say anything like that again. Don’t even think it. You’re talented and beautiful and very special. You’re worth a dozen Davids.”

“Me? I’m just a farm girl who didn’t want to spend her life plucking chickens and milking cows.” Clem smoothed her hand over the material of the dress. “I once got a switching because I cut up Ma’s curtains to make a dress for wearing to church on Easter Sunday.”

Jasmine had been in trouble plenty of times, but Lily had never spanked her. “She must have been very upset.”

“Especially when it turned out the dress I made ended about halfway between my knees and my ankles.”

The picture that formed in her mind made Jasmine giggle. “What did you wear to church?”

“The same old dress I’d been wearing all year long. Ma made me cut my curtain dress into squares for making a quilt. It was pretty, but not nearly as pretty as the dress I’d dreamed of wearing.” Clem’s giggle joined hers.