Read Nan Ryan for Free Online

Beauregard,” Sam nodded and the huge black hand took hers and gently pulled her up the gangplank.
    “Honey, this is Sam Jones, the best riverboat pilot on the Mississippi.” Releasing Kathleen’s hand, Sam grinned and glanced down at his shoes.
    “Sam, I’m happy to meet you,” Kathleen said politely, but she sank further back against the security of Dawson’s large frame, looking up at the black giant of a man in front of her.
    “Is she fired up, Sam? I’d like to take Kathleen for a little ride.”
    Kathleen’s face brightened and she spun around and put her hands to Dawson’s chest, “Oh, could we, Dawson? It would be so wonderful to get out on the river.”
    He smiled down at her, “I can refuse you nothing, my pet. If a short ride on this old riverboat will make you happy, you shall have it.” He winked at Sam over her head.
    Sam turned immediately and started shouting orders to the crew. Black men scurried from their card games on the boiler deck. The firemen, roustabouts, and deck hands soon had fires glaring in the long row of furnaces. Sam went up the ladder to take his position in the pilothouse.
    Kathleen stood on the hurricane deck with Dawson, breathlessly watching and listening to all the excitement. Soon a man was shouting, “Let her go,” and the boat was leaving the wharf. The bell was clanging loudly and the engines started up, shooting plumes of steam high in the air. The paddle wheels churned up white foam about the stern as the vessel backed away to head for the river.
    The boat slid past the long rows of other vessels moored at the pier; timber rafts, broadhorns, tiny trading scows, coal barges, and other riverboats. Sam stood at the wheel coaxing her safely past, his big hands firmly on the wheel, his eyes staring alertly in the darkness, looking fore and aft, wheeling her a little to this side then a little to that, until they were on the river.
    Kathleen watched the blinking lights of Natchez Under the Hill and Natchez on the Bluffs, her bright blue eyes aglow with the excitement and giddy laughter escaping her happy lips. “Oh, Dawson, this is every bit as thrilling as I expected. Thank you for bringing me.”
    “Come, I’ll show you the pilothouse.” Dawson led her up the companionway to the pilothouse. Inside the glass enclosed room it was dark, no lights were burning, and the stove was cold with no fire built in it. Kathleen’s eyes moved around the room as Sam smiled to both of them before turning back to stare straight ahead at the river.
    “Dawson,” Kathleen whispered to him, “why has Sam got the lights turned off and why doesn’t he build a fire?”
    Dawson smiled and explained, “It’s very dark tonight, honey. Sam keeps it this way in the wheelhouse for safety. If he had the lights blazing and a fire burning brightly, he wouldn’t be able to see the river clearly and that could prove dangerous. Now, dear, would you like to take the wheel for a while?” Kathleen peered up at him not knowing whether he was teasing or not. Dawson’s black eyes were crinkling at the corners and he laughed and said, “I’m serious, darling. Would you like to try?”
    “Oh, Dawson, may I? Do you think Sam would mind?”
    Dawson put his arm around her waist, “Let’s ask him. Sam, Kathleen is just itching to take your job away from you.”
    Sam smiled broadly. “Yes, suh, Cap’n Dawson. She look lak she be a good sailor.” He relinquished the wheel.
    Not certain she was up to the challenge, Kathleen hung back. Dawson took her arm and pulled her to the wheel, laughing, “Come on, pilot, you said you wanted to steer. She’s all yours.”
    “Are you sure it’s safe, Dawson? I wouldn’t want to wreck us.”
    “Just do as I tell you and it will be fine.”
    “Okay,” she said, putting both hands to the wheel, “but you won’t be far away, will you?”
    “Miss, do you take me for a fool? I just got this boat repaired today. I’m not planning to let it get wrecked. Now,