Wings Of The Morning Part 17

"Actually, we're just friends. But she mentioned you with fondness, and I thought it was funny that after she said something, you came by."

"It's unfortunate."

"What is?"

"I don't know exactly. I cared for Kathleen, but there were some things I couldn't get comfortable with."

"Sometimes things are not exactly as they appear," Dallas told him softly. Harvey stared at him. "I know she misses you."

"Are you saying she might welcome a visit from me?"

"She talked about going to see her aunt, but if she's home, I know she'd like to see you."

Again Harvey stared "And you're sure I'm not stepping t>etween the two of you?"

Dallas smiled "I'm sure. There's someone else, and Kathleen knows all about that."

A small smile lifted the corners of Harvey's mouth as his hand came out. The men shook. "Best of luck to you when you sail, Dallas, and with your someone else. Thanks for telling me about Kathleen."

Dallas nodded and s.h.i.+fted his eyes back over the water when Harvey moved away. He answered even though Harvey was already out of earshot many yards away.

'You're welcome, Harvey. I hope you and Kathleen work things out." He fell silent then as his thoughts turned to his own "someone else."

london "We're loaded, Captain," Robby reported to Smokey and waited for her orders.

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"Thanks, Rob. Tell Pete and Nate they're on watch and tell rsey I want to go to Clancy's Place."

'Will do," Robby replied and shut her door. She threw the ibolt and began to change. She was feeling rather tired, but it would be some time before she was back here, and even though they were running behind schedule, she wanted to see Bart and Meg.

An hour later the group left the s.h.i.+p. The men knew very well they were welcome to go elsewhere, but they loved Clancy's, so following Da.r.s.ey and Smokey was more than Just habit.

The usual exchange of conversation and coin took place inside, and before long, Smokey and her crew were seated around the back table with plates of food and mugs of tea or ale.

Halfway through the evening, Meg reappeared She dropped her considerable bulk down at the far end of the table and beckoned to Smokey with one finger.

"AVe told Bart he can 'andle things for a spell. I want to talk with me girl."

Smokey smiled at her friend, who wasn't really old enough to be a mother to her but had always treated her with maternal care.

"Where's that good-looking sailor ya had with ya last time?"

"Dallas," Smokey supplied "He was just with us for the one voyage."

"More's the pity. I thought there might be something a cookin' there."

"Oh, Meg," Smokey laughed "You're a hopeless romantic"

Tm romantic! 'ear her talk!" the older woman exclaimed "/ wasn't the one a gawkin* at ya with calf's eyes the whole evenin'."

"He was not," Smokey told her and laughed at Meg's round-eyed expression.

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'Ya spend too much time in the salty air, love. He could barely keeps 'is eyes from ya. In truth, he didn't even try."

"Do you mean that, Meg?" Smokey had grown as serious as her hostess.

"I've been working in this tavern for many a year, love, and I know a smitten man when I sees 'im. He was gone, I tells ya."

Meg reached and tugged the braid that fell down Smokey's back "And you've never worn your 'air down afore this bloke sailed with ya. I says ya feels the same for 'im."

Ahuge smile broke across Smokey's face, and Meg cackled with glee. They talked on, run talk, girl talk, until Bart shouted for Meg from the main room.

"'is lords.h.i.+p bellows," Meg said and rolled her eyes, but she rose without further ado and went to him. Smokey had j ust stood to move back to her place with the men when she realized her tea was visiting her and she would need to excuse herself for a moment.

"Are you ready to go?" Da.r.s.ey asked "No. I hope Meg will come back in, but right now I need to step out."

"Watch yourself," Da.r.s.ey called to her, but Smokey's head was in the clouds. The mate watched her go before turning back to listen to Scully. When five minutes pa.s.sed and she had not returned, he began to study his pocket watch. When two more minutes pa.s.sed and there was still no sign of her, Da.r.s.ey came to his feet in a flash. He checked Meg's private rooms and found them empty. He and the crew hit the main tavern at a full run, and on his shout the room quieted.

"Smokey!"

A murmur went around the room before a man cried out.

"That table in the corner is empty, and there were two men sitting there not five minutes back."

Da.r.s.ey didn't answer. He ran for the door and out onto the docks, many men behind him. Frustration rose within him over the moonless night, but still he ran, telling himself he'd find her if he had to tear those docks apart.

the sack that had been thrown over Smokey's head, as well as the sweet-smelling cloth that had been held over her mouth, were suffocating. Only moments pa.s.sed before she lost consciousness, making her unaware for the remainder of the night that she had been carried and deposited onto a strange bed in a strange cabin on a s.h.i.+p she'd never seen before When she did awaken, it was getting light--that much she knew without having to look. Her head was pounding, and she didn't want to open her eyes, but she told herself she must try.

Something wasn't right.

Trying to sort out what felt so wrong, she realized she must have dozed off before telling Da.r.s.ey that she wanted to go to Clancy's. Smokey's eyes flew open with a start. She'd already been to Clancy's and talked with Meg. On her way back from the "necessary," someone had grabbed her!

From her place on the bed, Smokey let her eyes roam. She was in a huge cabin; it was at least four of her own and garishly decorated in red and black. She'd never seen anything like it.

Her eyes widened in surprise when she caught sight of a nearly life-size statue in the corner. It was anaked woman, her arms raised seductively over her head Realizing the entire room was full of such "art," Smokey sat up slowly. On the wall opposite her was a painting of a man 140.

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and a woman in an intimate scene. Smokey's face flamed as] she looked at it, and her heart fought down the panic rising: within her.

She tossed off the quilt someone had lain over her and swung her feet off the side of the bed Aglance out the window told her they were docked, but before she could think to call for help, her head began to hurt so badly that she was forced to close her eyes again.

Questions as to where they might be, and who had taken her and why, swarmed her befuddled mind. Her head pounded on until she knew she would have to lie back down or be sick.

Even after her head hit the pillow, questions surfaced, but no answers followed Fight as she might, sleep was crowding in once again.

f _ .*.- ourrcu again many hours later. "I had begun to despair of ever seeing your eyes; they are as lovely as I imagined"

Smokey had come fully awake at the sound of that voice and moved herself backward on the bed until she was pressed stiffly against the headboard A huge man with sandy brown hair and a boyish smile sat in the chair nearest the statue. He seemed as composed and pleased as if he were entertaining a close friend and not a woman he had abducted "Who are you?" Smokey managed The big man's eyes twinkled, and he stood Bowing from the waist, he spoke.

"Haamich Wynn at your service, my dear. I'm sorry our first encounter had to be so rough, but I promise to make it up to you." This said, he again took a seat.

"Haamich Wynn?" Smokey asked "The pirate?"

Inordinately pleased that she had evidently heard of him, his grin widened "One and the same. Now, my dear, you have me at a image. I know your nickname is Smokey, but I wish to your real and full name."

"Why?"

"Well, my dear," he spoke as if it were obvious. "We're going to become intimately acquainted, and I want to know 'what I should call you."

Smokey was silent.

"Oh, my dear," the pirate spoke, his voice tender, almost hurt, "you're not going to talk with me? How can we ever be.. .friends--" he said the word with a malicious grin--"if you don't talk to me?"

"Friends?" Smokey questioned flatly, not at all impressed with his smooth tone.

"Oh, yes, my dear," the pirate chuckled, "we'll be very good friends."( It was all said with such smooth confidence that Smokey's fear escalated until she thought it would choke her. He was serious, dead serious.

"Now," he went on in that same easy tone. "Most women do not like surprises, so I'm going to tell you about the remainder of the evening. You're going to tell me what I want to know, and then I'm going to leave and give you some time to get used to the idea of our friends.h.i.+p"

"Speak plainly." Smokey's eyes smoldered with disgust.

"It is not for friends.h.i.+p that you keep me here."

An amused smile turned up the corners of the pirate's lips.

"As you can see," he nodded his head toward a tray of food, ignoring her words, "I've ordered some food for you, but I imagine you're too upset to eat. After I leave you, I'll want you to change. When I come back, we'll continue to talk, but at that time we won't be separated by the s.p.a.ce of this room; in fact there won't be anything separating us at all.

"And one last thing," Haamich's voice dropped, and his eyes lost their sparkle. "I want you to keep in mind that I can force you to do anything I wish... but I'd rather not."

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The pirate fell silent to allow his guest to digest this was satisfied with the fear he saw in Smokey's eyes.

"Now about those questions. Well, first I wish you to stand]

up. Come now," his voice grew persuasive. "I'll not touch you, yet. Just get off the bed and let me see you."

Smokey, still shaking so badly she thought she might be sick, came stiffly off the bed She watched his eyes move slowly over her and when she would have folded her arms over her chest, forced them back to her sides at the slow negative shaking of his head.

"Take the tie off your braid," he instructed her. Smokey looked down to see that the braid had fallen over her shoulder to lay across her breast. With trembling fingers, she complied "That's it," he encouraged "Now shake your head so your hair falls free. Oh, yes, I guessed that your hair would be one of your lovelier a.s.sets, although I'm sure you have many. Now, you may sit down again if you wish and tell me your name."

Smokey did sit, her hair now a riot about her shoulders and back, but she did not reveal her name.

"I don't suppose it would do any good to tell you I want to leave this s.h.i.+p."

"You're right, no good at all. Your name?"

"What if I were to offer you money?" Smokey tried Haamich Wynn laughed in true amus.e.m.e.nt. "I've found you, Smokey, and you're mine. Now for the last time, your name" His tone changed just slightly and the smile evaporated Smokey saw no hope for it.

"Victoria Simmons."

'Victoria. I like it, but I also like the name Smokey, so while you're changing I'll decide what I'm going to call you.

How old are you?"

"Twenty-five."

"Really," he seemed truly amazed "I'd have guessed younger.

And an innocent, no doubt?"

Smokey's breath caught in her chest, and she blushed to the roots of her hair. Her captor's smile became very tender as did his voice. "That more than answers my question."

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*Without giving her time to say the angry words that were Icaught in her throat, he stood. Smokey stiffened, but he did loot approach. Going to one of two wardrobes, he opened the -< p="">

"Now," he spoke as he laid the dress across the chair he had vacated "I'll leave you to change. When I return, I will collect the clothes you're wearing, so don't bother trying to hide them. I actually like you in trousers, but I prefer my women to look like women."

"How many of us are there?" Smokey finally spat in fury, which oddly enough seemed to please her companion.

"There have been many, I will admit to that. But after seeing you, my dear; well, I have quite frankly lost my heart."

"So I'm supposed to be flattered by this abduction?"

"Indeed," he told her sincerely. "Now, do change, my little love, because if you don't put the dress on, I'll put it on you myself, and I don't think you want that."

He gave her no further chance to reply, but exited. Smokey heard him lock the door from out in the pa.s.sageway. She stared at the door before her eyes fell on the dress. Bile rose in her throat.

"I don't know what else to do," Smokey began to sob, even as she unb.u.t.toned her tunic. "Please help me, Lord," she cried as she undressed and quickly slipped into the dress. She had left her trousers on, but the dress was so tight-fitting around the waist that she couldn't b.u.t.ton it without removing them.

She felt utterly bare in only the dress, her underdrawers, and boots, but she feared what he might do should he come back and find she had disobeyed. As she b.u.t.toned the last b.u.t.ton at the neckline, she stared in horror at her front, lugging and pulling, she searched for more fabric that might be hidden, but it was no use. It was the most revealing gown she had ever seen. A full-standing mirror stood in one corner and Smokey moved toward it with dread.

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"I look like a doxy," she whispered to her reflection. Her eyes slid shut to blot out the image, and she began to pray.

"I'm going to trust You, Lord. Please calm my fear so I can think clearly. Right now I don't see a way out of this, but You're a G.o.d of miracles, and I pray that You will show me what to do."

Smokey's prayers were cut short when she heard someone at the door. She continued to pray silently as the door opened and Haamich Wynn entered. He looked very pleased to see her in the dress, and Smokey felt an amazing calm come over her as she watched him move about the room lighting each lantern.

Until that moment she hadn't realized how dark it had become. When every lantern was aglow, Haamich turned to her and smiled His eyes moved carefully over her.

"I can see by your eyes that you have either resigned yourself to your fate or decided to fight me."