Diane T. Ashley by Jasmine

Author:Jasmine [Jasmine]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Jasmine was ready to get off the Evangeline long before it docked at Vicksburg. She had purchased the cheapest ticket she could manage—an outside ride on the hurricane deck between the paddlewheel and the pilothouse. Several immigrant families huddled together and watched her with suspicion in their eyes. She tried smiling at some of the children, but their mothers gathered them closer and chided them in a guttural language she had never heard, apparently reminding them to steer clear of strangers.

Someone stepped into the pilothouse, and she caught her breath as a desire to see her father overwhelmed her. But that was silly. If Papa were here she wouldn’t be on her way to meet Vance.

Wishing she had brought more than a shawl as protection from the damp wind, Jasmine set her chin and focused on the future. They should reach Vicksburg within the hour. She hoped it wouldn’t be too hard to find Vance. Jasmine couldn’t wait to see him. Would he be as thrilled as she? What role did he have in mind for her? She knew she would excel even if she only got to appear in a minor part for now.

It wouldn’t take her long to rise to the rank of someone like Miss Barlow. She might not have much experience as a professional actress, but Jasmine had been performing for family and friends since she was old enough to memorize lines. Everyone raved about her acting abilities. And it was due to her efforts that the orphanage could hire workers to replace the roof.

In spite of his parents’ warnings, one of the immigrant children moved cautiously closer. Jasmine wished the little boy wasn’t afraid of her. She would love to talk to him, find out where his family was headed and maybe even offer some pointers to his parents about dangers on the river. It would be so nice to help them like she had the orphanage. One day perhaps she would have enough money to fund an organization to help those in need. The idea warmed Jasmine better than her thickest shawl would have done. She would do it … as soon as she was famous enough.

They docked with little trouble, and she disembarked with her bag held firmly in one hand. As soon as she reached the other end of the gangplank, she began looking for the Ophelia. Her heart pounded when she spotted the long, two-story barge floating in front of a shorter tugboat called the Miss Polly. This was it. The beginning of the rest of her life. Raising her chin and tightening her hold on her portmanteau, Jasmine marched across the gangplank and stepped onto the Ophelia’s deck.

“Sorry, ma’am.” A wiry man with a narrow face stopped her. “The next show won’t start until seven o’clock. You can come back around five to purchase a ticket, but the doors won’t open until a quarter to seven.”

“I’m not—” Unhappy with the shaky sound of her voice, Jasmine halted her words and took a deep breath.

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