Lily (Song of the River) (17 page)

“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. Sweeney. 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.

H
ave 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 having 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.”

“I don’t know about all that, but I do know I cannot disappoint them on this matter. Besides, they have both promised to keep a close eye on him. For now David is recuperating, but once we are under way and he is better, I’ll make sure he stays too busy to get into any trouble.” She paused and looked over Blake’s right shoulder. “Did you need me for something, Jensen?”

Blake turned around, surprised to see the sheepish look on his friend’s scarred face. “Is something wrong?”

“No, sir.” Jensen twisted his hands. “I was just going to offer to help with the boy. He reminds me a bit of myself at that age. I know how different my life woulda been had someone taken me in and cared for me.”

“Am I the only one on this boat with a lick of sense?” Blake expelled a harsh breath. “All right then, I suppose I’ll have to bow to your insanity. You do have controlling interest. But don’t come running to me when your jewelry disappears.”

He strode out, brushing past Jensen. “Traitor.” Knowing Lily couldn’t see his face, he added a wink to soften the accusation. “You’re going to be the death of me yet.”

“Where are you going?” Lily’s question brought him up short.

Blake turned on his heel and smiled slowly. “I didn’t know you cared.”

Her cheeks darkened, and her gaze shifted away from him.

He shook his head. From conquering Amazon to shy maiden in the blink of an eye. It drove him crazy. “I have an appointment in town.”

Blake didn’t wait to hear her answer. He stopped by his room to grab his coat then left the boat. What was it about Lily Anderson?

She had begun their discussion this morning with an apology for jumping to the wrong conclusion last night, explaining her misunderstanding of the situation and thanking him prettily for keeping Jasmine occupied. Then she had told him about the boy, and they had gone right back to sparring mode.