Wings Of The Morning Part 9

Buck's brow was knit with confusion, so Smokey continued softly.

"I met Greer Rittenhouse on my walk this morning. We talked, and she showed me her home. Your name came up, and she said you were just friends."

"It's the way she wants it," Buck admitted, pain now furrowing his brow.

"She talked to me about her house, said she was thinking of selling."

This was obviously new to Buck, so Smokey went on carefully.

"She gave me a tour of the interior, and I fell quite in love with the place and its view. I asked her to let me know should she ever decide to sell."

"You and Dallas," Buck's smile was wry. "He's loved that house for years."

Smokey, not knowing how to answer, followed Buck's example and continued to eat. Buck didn't say anything for some minutes, and Smokey's mind began to wander. In a perfect daydream, she saw the widow Rittenhouse happily married to Buck, both of them settled comfortably in his home. To make the dream complete, she and Dallas were settled as husband and wife in the Rittenhouse mansion, with its lovely view of the sea.

all dallas' doubts had been put to rest by the end of dinner at the Pembertons' that very evening. There was no conceivable way that this woman, who was so shy she could barely look at him, could be the renowned Smoke.

She hadn't spilled her water this time, but her knife clattered loudly against the edge of her plate whenever she set it down, and her hands shook slightly for most of the meal. Since she never once contributed to the conversation, Dallas was honestly beginning to wonder if there was something seriously wrong with her.

After they had retired to the parlor for tea, the horrible thought that she might have a drinking problem struck him so strongly that he retreated into a stunned silence for long moments.

Of course, he thought to himself. That might explain why Jenny is so interested in her, but is that safe? Does Tate realize this?

"Are you still with us, Dolly?" Buck wanted to know when Tate addressed a question to him and he didn't answer.

"I'm sorry," he said smoothly, pulling himself together mentally. "What were you saying, Tate?"

"I just asked how this voyage went. I think you mentioned seeing Lord Hawkesbury?"

74.

"Yes. I even spent some time with him and his wife. It was a good trip overall, especially since I had some time with Hawk.

Something funny happened when I was in London, however."

"Tell us about it," Jenny urged when Dallas paused To everyone's surprise he turned to Smokey.

"Do you have a brother, Smokey?"

"No." Smokey answered after a surprised moment, knowing she sounded as breathless as she felt.

Dallas chuckled and shook his head. "I thought you might because I saw a sailor on the dock in London who looked very much like you. I mean, he had a knit cap on his head and baggy clothes, but it was his face I really noticed He really looked enough like you to be your twin brother."

The room had grown so silent after this little story that Dallas' doubts returned in a flood. When he spoke again, there was no laughter in his voice. After sweeping the room, his eyes pinned Smokey to her chair.

"While Hawk and I were visiting, he mentioned the latest rumor to me. He said Smoke is a woman. Can you imagine?

You might find it amusing," Dallas went on, even though he obviously didn't think it funny at all, "but when I saw that sailor who looked like you, and remembered your name was Smokey, my mind ran in some pretty ridiculous directions.

I've actually been thinking ihatyou might be Smoke." The soft emphasis he put on the word "you" caused s.h.i.+vers to run up Smokey's spine, but she forced herself to reply.

"I wear baggy clothes when I'm working," she softly stuttered.

"And a knit cap over my hair.' Smokey barely got the words out, thinking she might be sick: "Dallas must have seen you just before you headed here with that s.h.i.+pment for me," Tate put in carefully, not at all pleased with the way his brother-in-law had handled this.

Tate's words caused Dallas to look slowly around the room. They all knew! Buck, Tate, and Jenny all knew she was Smoke. For some odd reason, he felt betrayed. He was also furious with himself for not taking the time to see Jenny that morning to gain some answers.

75.

Though Dallas was unaware of just how angry he appeared at the moment, Smokey caught it all and blamed herself. She stood awkwardly, once again stuttering when she spoke.

"I'm going to turn in now. I have a big day tomorrow.

Thank you for a lovely supper." Before anyone could gainsay her, she made her way from the room on legs that could barely support her. She was just out of earshot when Jenny let Dallas have the full blast of her fury.

"How dare you!" she spat at him in rage, coming to her feet in one magnificent move. "How dare you treat a guest that way in my home. You embarra.s.sed the life out of her! You could have come to me, but no, you waited until you had an audience and then humiliated the life out of my friend"

Jenny would have gone on, but she was turned suddenly with Tate's hands on her arms. His voice was strict, but his touch was tender. "Calm down, Jennifer. I'll talk with Dallas. I don't want you this upset right now."

"He had no right--"

"I know," he gently cut her off. "But if you don't calm down, 111 call the doctor." He pulled her into his arms then and held her until she relaxed against him. He gave her a loving hug and kiss, and then held her in front of him, his eyes locked with hers.

"Go upstairs and check on Smokey. I'll be up in a moment."

He released her when she gave a small nod and saw her to the door. Dallas spoke as soon as the door was shut.

"I'm sorry, Tate. I didn't mean to upset anyone."

"I realize that, but Jen is very protective of Smokey, and you did handle that poorly."

"Poorly?" Buck put in, censure filling his voice. "You were livid, and I can't understand why."

Dallas shook his head in disbelief. "I feel like such a fool.

Do you really mean to tell me she's Smoke?"

"One and the same," Tate told him. "I know it's hard to believe, but Smokey's not at her best in social settings. I a.s.sure you, she's quite different when dealing with business matters."

78.

"I'll apologize to her," Dallas said immediately. "Tonight, if you'd like." Dallas stood, willing to seek her out on the spot.

"No, I think tomorrow will be soon enough. Jen's with her now, and I suspect we all should sleep on it." late rose to leave, but Buck stopped him, "There's more, isn't there, Tate? You looked almost frightened when Jen was upset. Can you tell us why?"

Tate hesitated for only an instant, hating to tell their wonderful news on such a sober note. "She's expecting, and although I've no reason to think she'll have problems, I'm not going to court disaster."

"When?" was all Dallas could say.

"Next summer," Tate answered and this time he did leave the room.

Jenny knocked on Smokey's door, but there was no immediate answer.

"Smokey," she called softly after a second knock. "May I please come in?"

"I'm going to bed, Jen." Smokey's voice was barely audible, and Jenny knew she would never sleep unless she talked with her. She eased the door open carefully and closed it with a soft click.

Smokey, still fully dressed, was on the window seat, the light from the full moon illuminating the tracks of tears on her face. Jenny came and sat across from her, not touching her or talking, but waiting and praying.

"He made me feel ashamed," she finally said, her voice quivering with emotion. "I saw him on that dock in London, but I never do anything to bring attention to myself while in port. We'd met so briefly that I thought it was best to walk on by. I never dreamed that he had noticed me. Now I feel like a liar and a cheat. I'm also angry because he's made me feel ashamed of the way I make my living."

77.

Jenny's arms came around Smokey then, and the small woman, though older, sobbed in her friend's arms.

"Dolly is a Wonderful man, Smokey," Jenny began. "And he's probably sorry right now for the way he acted I was furious with him, but now that I've taken a few minutes to calm down, I can see that he reacted out of shock. That doesn't excuse him, but it might help you to see that it was nothing personal."

"I guess you're right."

"In fact, he probably greatly admires you. Buck was telling me before you came down for supper that your reputation is incredible."

Smokey shrugged and used her handkerchief on her face "Like my father used to say, there's no magic in it, just a lot of hard work"

"It also must help to have the fastest s.h.i.+p on the ocean."

Jenny's voice was very droll, and they both giggled.

Tate came for Jenny then, urging her to bed and sleep.

Jenny made sure Smokey was all right before she left. She also refused to budge until Smokey promised to stay one day longer than she had planned Smokey agreed, albeit reluctantly.

As Smokey fell asleep, she knew she would have to see Dallas again before leaving. It was not a comforting thought, but she told herself she would survive it. Of their own volition, tears started up again before she slept, this time because she wanted to talk with Da.r.s.ey.

79.

"you're an awfully hard lady to track down."

Dallas' deep voice so frightened Smokey that she started violently, and Dallas found himself apologizing over that before he could voice what he had come to say.

"I didn't mean to sneak up on you."

"It's all right."

They fell silent for a few minutes, each with his or her own thoughts, eyes out to sea.

Dallas had found Smokey in a craggy spot right above the beach. He had gone bright and early that morning to apologize, but Jenny had told him Smokey was on a walk. Dallas had other things he could do, many in fact, but until he had made things right between Smokey and him, he would not go to work.

"About last night, Smokey," Dallas finally began, and Smokey turned to look at him where he stood a short distance from her. "In my surprise I handled the situation very badly.

I'm sorry."

"Thank you," Smokey said simply, and let her eyes rest on him for a moment more. His presence made her so aware of her rather plain looks and dowdy clothes that she couldn't get comfortable around him. After just a few seconds, Smokey transferred her gaze out to sea. She was surprised when Dallas did not bid her goodbye and leave.

She was even more surprised when he sat down on the rock beside her. There was nothing improper in the gesture, in fact he was two feet away, but she felt his closeness like an embrace.

"When do you sail again?"

Smokey answered without looking at himj it was easier that way. "We're scheduled to leave tomorrow."

"Will you be gone long?"

"We'll be back a few days before Christmas."

"May I sail with you?"

Even though the question surprised her, she answered immediately. "I don't take pa.s.sengers."