DAWSON’S TRAVELS
Chapter Four
November 5, 1909
Paris, France
Jack sat on a stool just a short
distance away from the Eiffel tower, enough distance away to see the whole
tower itself. His eyes were narrowed in concentration as he concentrated on his
sketch of the tower. He didn’t even see the girl coming up behind him.
"Better be careful. Your
face can get stuck like that." The girl laughed, breaking Jack’s
concentration. Jack looked up, to come face-to-face with a brunette woman with
sad brown eyes. It was obvious from the look in her eyes and the certain weariness
of her face that she’d been through some hard times and might be going through
worse. "And such a handsome face, too. It’d be a shame."
Jack laughed. "I don’t think
there’s any danger of that happening."
"Gabrielle." The girl
held out her hand, a very beautiful hand, by Jack’s standards.
"Jack. Jack Dawson."
Jack smiled, accepting the hand.
"You’re an artist." The
girl smiled. "A very talented one, at that."
"Thank you." Jack
smiled. "It’s my one true love, you can say."
"I’ll have to change
that." The girl laughed, taking a seat next to Jack. He began drawing
again. Besides her hands, the girl didn’t hold much interest for him.
"So, Jack. You’re in Paris
alone?" Gabrielle asked, scooting closer to him, making him increasingly
uncomfortable. It was becoming obvious what this girl wanted from him, and he
wasn’t willing to give it. Not without getting to know her a lot better. He
just wasn’t that type of guy.
"For now." Jack
shrugged.
"Want some company?"
Jack decided to put a stop to
this charade now. "No. I’m dirt poor, plus I don’t do that type of
thing." Jack scooted away from her.
"Oh." Gabrielle’s face
fell. "Okay. Sorry to bother you." She was really wanting a night
with the handsome blond artist, but it was obvious that he wasn’t interested,
and he probably never would be. There went another night’s meal and here came
another beating from Jones. He had made it perfectly clear that either she’d
come back with a hundred dollars, or he’d take it out on her face.
Seeing the fallen expression on
her face, Jack felt sorry for her. He couldn’t just let her go off somewhere
and get killed, most likely. He had to do something for her.
"Hey, do you have anywhere
to stay? Or a way to get food?" Jack asked.
Gabrielle shook her head. "I
have nothing."
Jack sighed, hoping that what he
was about to do next wouldn’t be a mistake. "How about coming to the
artist hostel with me? All us artists stay there before moving on."
"But you have to be an
artist." Gabrielle looked up at him, for the first time hope seeping into
her voice.
"Here. Show them this to
prove you’re an artist." Jack tore a paper out of his portfolio and handed
it to her.
"…are you sure they won’t be
suspicious? I mean…they must know your drawings."
"The clerk at the hotel
hates art. He wouldn’t notice one artist’s style from another." Jack
laughed. "Come on. We’ll go now." He stood up, gathering up his
portfolio and supplies. "Check-in time will be over in a couple more
hours."
The girl shrugged and followed
Jack out of the square.