Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) Page 3

  Some miles down the coast, in Casablanca, a load of sugar

  awaited him. From there, he was forced to admit, he had no

  other leads.

  "My immediate plans? Why would he ask such a thing?"

  Smokey frowned at Darsey where he stood framed in her

  cabin doorway.

  "I think he's unhappy that you won't deal with him directly,

  but I think what he really wants is to get a look at

  Smoke."

  "Well, I don't deal that way. Tell him we'll take our business

  elsewhere."

  Darsey, although tempted to argue, nodded and left, leaving

  the door open. Within minutes Smokey heard the voice of

  the merchant apologizing profusely. Smokey had not been

  making idle threats, she never did, but the man had obviously

  been bluffing over what he was willing to pay.

  It would be so much simpler to handle some of these

  exchanges myself, Smokey thought to herself. Darsey had told

  her on many occasions over the last year that she no longer

  needed to conceal her identity; maybe now was the time to

  listen to him.

  Smokey put her quill down, rose from the desk, and moved

  to the cabin door. Seconds later she walked calmly across the

  32

  deck to where Darsey stood dickering with the most successful

  merchant in Greece.

  Her men on deck stopped what they were doing at the

  sight of her. As was her custom, she was dressed in black knee-high

  boots, dark, baggy trousers and a long, full overshirt that

  completely hid her figure from neck to knee. Her hair, as

  usual, was completely concealed under a knit cap, pulled

  down to the bottom of her ears.

  Smokey came forward, knowing that she had stopped the

  merchant in his tracks. She also knew that even though she

  was dressed like a boy, her face and hands would give her

  away. The skin of her cheeks was as smooth as a baby's, and her

  hands, although work-roughened, were slim, with long fingers

  and fine-boned wrists. She looked like a cabin boy, but

  she moved and spoke like a woman in command

  "Is there some problem, Mr. Brennan?" Smokey addressed

  Darsey properly as she stopped beside the two men.

  "Yes, Captain. Nikos feels the price is a bit steep," Darsey

  told her and tried not to laugh at the stunned look on Nikos'

  face.

  "What did you have in mind, Nikos?" the young captain

  asked solicitously, although her voice held a hint of steel.

  "You are Smoke?" the man nearly stammered.

  "My friends call me Smokey," she told him, "but you may

  address me as Captain Simmons. Now please tell me, what

  price did you have in mind?"

  The man's eyes flicked down the front of Smokey, but he

  hers when Darsey made a sound in

  The man's eyes flicke

  quickly raised his face to

  the back of his throat.

  Smokey sighed and reached for her hat. With the movement

  of her hand, a fall of black hair came down over her

  shoulders and back. The merchant blinked, and Smokey disovered

  great relief in having her identity revealed

  ^, "Now that you know for certain," she spoke dryly, "let us

  E down to business. Do you pay my price, or do we sail?"

  IJBlpay," he said without hesitation, agleam of respect, as

  BBP'fcething else, entering his eyes.

  31

  Smokey allowed Darsey to handle the transaction from

  that point, and the unloading proceeded shortly. She watched

  from the deck as the Greek merchant left the ship and then

  gestured wildly to some sailors on the dock. Seeing the word

  spread was like watching ants running around a mound-- Smoke was a woman! Smokey could almost hear them.

  The Aramis finished her business in Greece and made

  four more stops in the next week. Each and every time,

  Smokey handled the negotiations and let herself be seen, and

  although she did not remove her hat again, the truth was being

  brought to light.

  She was amazed at how quickly the word passed The

  whole business began to wear on her, and she finally told her

  crew to head for home. Twenty days later they were back in

  port, and Darsey and Smokey headed to Willa's.

  Smokey was rescued from the usual letdown of leaving

  her ship by the arrival of a letter from Jenny Pemberton. She

  invited Smokey to come for a visit at her soonest possible

  convenience, and to stay for an indefinite period of time. Smokey sent an immediate note of acceptance, with plans to

  leave for Kennebunkport in three days' time.

  33

  "Do you think she'll be here this morning or this afternoon?"

  Jenny asked Tate for the second time that morning.

  Tate chuckled and kissed her cheek He had finished with

  breakfast and needed to be out the door.

  "I think she'll be here by noon."

  "Why do you think that?" Jenny's face was a mask of

  confusion.

  Tate shouted with laughter. "Honey, you asked me what I

  thought, so I just made a guess."

  "Oh, Tate," Jenny laughed. "Go to work so I can fret in

  peace."

  Tate kissed her again, this time on the mouth, and moved

  toward the door. Jenny watched him go and then did just as

  she'd predicted

  "Go on with you, Smokey!" Willa put in. She never failed to

  see to every need when Darsey and Smokey were in port, but

  she took care of them in a stern, yet loving way. "If you were

  going to be an inconvenience in any way, they wouldn't have

  asked you."

  Smokey hesitated and Darsey rose. "Come on, I'll take you

  over."

  "Why do you suppose she asked me, Darsey?"

  Darsey paused on his way to the door and turned to look at her. Became she sees what I see--a vulnerable, lonelyyoung

  woman who makes your heart ache just to look at her.

  "She asked you," Darsey finally spoke out loud, "because

  you've been praying for a friend, and God has decided to

  provide one."

  Darsey hoped she wouldn't press him further, because he

  knew he couldn't take it. She was so rarely insecure, but when

  she was, all Darsey wanted to do was sit down and weep. He

  was relieved to see Smokey nod so he could turn back to the

  door.

  The subject was not raised on the way to the Pembertons',

  but Darsey knew that Smokey was having second thoughts

  about the visit. He was determined to get her there, however,

  so conversation was brief.

  Once they had arrived, he sent Smokey to the front door

  with a kiss and a wish that she have a good time. He silently

  hoped she would stay for a month, partly because she needed

  the fellowship, and partly because he was getting too old to be

  roaming the sea.

  Ithought you were headed to the Pembertons' today,"

  XSSSft l K l ^ When the breakfas< dishes

  * "I aT^^f.6 had made no move< 'eave the table.

  *s^^^^^*^** *>

  mey re not expecting me for lunch."

  32

  When Smokey knocked, a servant answered the front door

  of the Pemberton home, a huge house that sat right on the

  Atla
ntic. She was greeted cordially, but felt her palms sweat

  as she stepped across the threshold and into the entryway.

  Smokey didn't know houses like this existed.

  34

  From her place by the door, Smokey looked as far as the

  open doors would allow. She could see what looked to be a

  library, a huge parlor, and possibly another smaller parlor.

  Windows directly opposite the foyer, on the east side of the

  house, gave her a splendid view of the sea.

  She was tempted to walk to them and look out, but kept

  her place and continued to gaze around her. She was still

  studying the smoothly painted walls and light oak flooring

  when Jenny called her name and approached

  'You're here," Jenny said with a grin after she'd given her

  a quick, impetuous hug. "I'm so glad you could come," she told

  Smokey sincerely, as she slipped her arm within Smokey's and

  led her toward the parlor. "YoucanastTar^if -*. ni*-u..**'--

  t ---,..- . ~ww .v in Hie KJiuien.

  The mention of the kitchen reminded Smokey that she

  had been uncertain as to when to come. "I wasn't sure if I

  should come before or after lunch... I mean, if you would be

  prepared to have me for lunch." Smokey stopped when Jenny

  chuckled

  "Our cook is a dream. She can have a banquet on the table

  with just a few hours' notice. I assure you, you would have

  been welcome whenever you arrived."

  Jenny wasted no time in making Smokey comfortable. She

  gave her an immediate tour of the entire house, and Smokey

  was more awestruck than before. The kitchen and dining

  rooms were immense and sparkling clean. The room off the

  foyer that Smokey had taken to be a second parlor was in fact a

  music room. Next to this was a sun room, with more windows

  looking out to the east.

  The stairs were wide and carpeted as they led Smokey and

  Jenny to the second floor, which had nine large bedrooms.

  The two young women ended their tour in what was to be

  Smokey's bedroom during her visit. After showing her around

  the vast room, Jenny left her to freshen up.

  A maid had put her few things away, and Smokey didn't

  know quite what to do with herself. Her men always took care

  35

  of her on ship, but that was their job. Somehow this felt

  decadent. At Willa's, or aboard the Aramis, she had more jobs

  waiting for her attention than the hours of the day allowed.

  Smokey circled the room slowly and stopped by the window.

  It was a huge piece of glass covered with sheer, lacy

  curtains. Captivated, Smokey touched them almost reverently.

  They were so unlike anything she had at home or on shipboard

  Suddenly Smokey realized the curtain was hiding a

  spectacular view.

  Moving gently, she pulled the curtain aside to display a

  sweeping panorama of the Atlantic. Smokey stared as though

  mesmerized Living inland from the port at Kennebunk didn't

  give her daily views of the sea when she was at home. Why, it

  was almost like being aboard ship!

  Suddenly Smokey found herself wondering whether she

  would ever sail again if she owned a house on the sea. Such a

  thought had never occurred to her, and she immediately felt

  upset at the idea. Before her thoughts could run rampant,

  however, she remembered she did not have a house like this

  and probably never would Her business was a tremendous

  success, so she could easily have afforded to buy a home of her

  own, but the idea of living alone did not appeal to her in the

  least.

  Her next thought, that of asking Willa to move, made her

  laugh out loud Dynamite couldn't shift Willa from the house

  where she had raised all five of her children. The idea was so

  outrageous that Smokey couldn't hold her chuckles. She was

  still giggling when a maid knocked at the door and entered

  She had hot water and clean towels for Smokey, who had just

  barely had time to school her features.

  Tate placed a soft kiss on the back of his wife's neck when

  she asked him to button the back of her dinner gown. She and

  36

  Tate were in the habit of dressing for dinner and sharing the

  day's events as they did so. All Jenny's talk on this evening was

  of Smokey. They had shared a lovely afternoon together, and

  Jenny told Tate that although Smokey was still a bit hesitant

  with her, they were making progress.

  "She seems so young and lost at times, and she looks at the

  house and furniture as though she's never seen anything like

  them before."

  "So you feel sorry for her," Tate murmured softly. To his

  surprise, Jenny chuckled

  "No, I don't. I feel sorry for me. Something tells me that I

  haven't even scratched the surface of the real Smokey. And

  that if she ever opens up, I might just find myself in over my

  head If only I can make her see..."

  "See what?" Tate questioned when Jenny hesitated.

  "That I really want to be her friend, a friend she can trust. I

  want her to like me so much that I hurt. I don't want to

  smother her, but I want her to see my friendship as genuine,

  and I--" Jenny stopped and shrugged helplessly. "Did that

  make any sense?"

  "Yes. In your brief time together, you've come to care

  deeply for her, and you want her to care in return."

  Jenny's sigh was one of relief over his understanding as

  they made their way to the door. They were in the dining room hen

  Smokey came to the door. She paused on the threshold,

  her face a mask of dismay.

  "What is it, Smokey?"

  "I should have changed my dress." Smokey's cheeks had

  turned red with humiliation upon spotting her hostess' lovely

  frock. Jenny, horrified that she had been so thoughtless, found

  herself helplessly tongue-tied. Smokey stood stiffly on the

  I threshold, wishing she could vanish, but Tate rescued them fctarh

  se don't mind us, Smokey," he said. "Jenny's family is

  K>re relaxed, but my family is used to dressing for

  jgd we've fallen into the habit. We're really not snobs."

  &

  i&s.

  37

  The cross-eyed look on Tate's face was so comical that

  Smokey immediately relaxed They took their seats, and dinner

  was served It was a sumptuous feast of beef, sage dressing,

  fresh turnip greens, and mince pie. Smokey ate her fill.

  Jenny and Tate had decided they would not press Smokey

  in any way to share about herself, but as they ate and the

  conversation flowed, they learned little things.

  "You don't have to leave right away, do you, Smokey? I

  mean, we were hoping you could stay for a few weeks," Jenny

  commented after the soup.

  "I don't really have anything pressing right now. I didn't

  tell Darsey when I would need to be picked up because I

  wasn't sure."

  Smokey realized that they weren't going to give her the

  third degree and she was thankful, but she could also see that

  she needed to explain about Darsey.

  "Darsey was my father's first mate, and he
still works for

  me. He's always been like a second father to me, and especially

  now that my father is gone. Willa, the woman I told you

  about, is his sister. We live with her when we're home." Not

  until after Smokey uttered the words did she realize that

  statement would need yet another explanation, but just then

  they were interrupted. Amaid arrived and told them Buck was

  there to see them.

  "Oh, thank you, Polly," Jenny told her before turning to

  Smokey. "Buck is my brother, and you're going to love him.

  Let's go into the parlor. I'll ask Polly to serve our coffee there."

  Before Smokey could draw another breath, Tate had

  gently taken her arm and was leading her out of the room. She

  took a moment to conjure up what a person named Buck

  would look like, but as soon as she followed Jenny into the

  room, she could see that she couldn't be more wrong.

  Engaging was the only word that would come to Smokey's

  mind, and that was before Buck had uttered a word. He was a

  small man, slightly taller than Smokey but shorter than his

  sister, and petite in build. His small frame and exact manner

  38

  caused several names to jump to mind, but Buck certainly

  wasn't one of them.

  "Hello, Buck/'Jenny greeted him warmly. After kissing his

  sister, Buck dropped somewhat dramatically onto the sofa.

  "I've decided to propose to her, Jen, but if she says no, then

  I'll wish that I had given her more time. On the other hand, if

  she says yes, I'll wish that I'd asked sooner."

  Smokey, who sat on the small settee Tate had led her

  toward, stared at Jenny's brother. He had thrown his head

  back and said all of this with his eyes on the ceiling. Smokey

  looked to Tate then, who winked audaciously before turning

  to speak to his brother-in-law.

  "Come now, Buck, I'm sure she'll have you. How could she

  resist?" Not realizing how serious Buck was, Tate wanted to

  tease him from his somber mood.

  "I don't know. She was very quiet tonight."

  "We have company, Buck," Jen said softly when it seemed

  he would lie there for some time. Jen could see that her

  brother was serious, and she wanted to listen, but she realized

  he must not have seen Smokey, for he would not want to share

  all of this in front of a stranger.

  "Miss Victoria Simmons from Kennebunk is staying with

  us." Tate said this, having finally seen that Buck was truly

  feeling low.

  His words did the trick. Without rising, Buck's head came