Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) Page 7

  would cherish it as I do."

  "Thank you. Jennifer Pemberton knows how to reach me,

  if ever you should try."

  Smokey thanked her hostess, and Greer showed her out.

  The wind had picked up, so Smokey tugged her hood into

  place and continued on her walk. She hadn't gone ten yards,

  head down against the wind, when she walked straight into

  Dallas.

  "I'm sorry," his deep voice sounded above her, and Smokey

  looked up for just an instant.

  "It's my fault," she spoke quickly, but in that instant Dallas

  realized who she was.

  "Smokey?" His voice sounded so pleased that Smokey

  looked up in confusion, knowing he had no idea what having

  his hands on her upper arms was doing to her heart.

  "Hello, Dallas," Smokey said inanely.

  "I was hoping I'd see you again."

  "You were?" Smokey knew she sounded like an idiot, but

  her heart had done a flip-flop on those words and she felt

  70

  mesmerized by the sight of his beautiful blue eyes smiling

  down at her.

  "Yes, are you free for lunch?"

  Smokey had little experience with men, but something in

  his eyes and voice made her come back to earth with a thud

  He was interested in her, but not romantically.

  "I'm not free for lunch." Smokey kept her voice as level as

  possible. "I'm meeting Buck at the hotel, and I really must be

  on my way."

  Dallas opened his mouth to say something, but changed

  his mind Knowing Buck was not interested in Smokey beyond

  being a friend, he'd been about to invite himself to lunch. But

  something in Smokey's huge gray eyes stopped him.

  "How long will you be in Kennebunkport?"

  "Not long," she said evasively.

  "Are you leaving today?" Dallas was not to be put off.

  "No."

  "Well, I hope I'll see you before you go."

  Smokey nodded and moved on without speaking. Dallas

  stood still and watched her go. He realized that he didn't just hope to see her before she left, he was banking on it. He hadn't

  had time to see Jenny that morning, but he would be at her

  house tonight for supper. If that didn't work, he'd camp on her

  doorstep in order to put his mind to rest about the true

  identity of Smoke.

  The dining room of the hotel was warm and comfortably

  furnished. It was run by one of Kennebunkport's oldest families,

  and they prided themselves on good food and service.

  Smokey was hungry and very pleased that she was eating just

  five^minutes after they had been shown to a table.

  "How is your meal?"

  "It's wonderful, Buck. Thank you."

  71

  "You seemed upset when you first came in, Smokey. Did

  something happen?"

  Smokey took another bite of food and didn't immediately

  answer. "I saw your brother on my way here," she finally

  admitted "I got the impression he wanted to talk with me,

  and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with what he might have in

  mind."

  "It'll be easier for you when the whole family knows what

  you do for a living, won't it?" Buck said the words gently, but

  Smokey was still shocked With a precise movement she laid

  her fork aside and stared across the table.

  "How did you know, Buck?" Smokey asked, not wanting to

  believe that Tate or Jenny would have told

  "I'm a very observant man," Buck replied, carefully picking

  up her hand "The look of your hands doesn't give you

  away, but the touch does. I noticed it the night we met. Your

  hands have worked hard for you for years. Your clothes are

  the next thing I observed. They're not frilly, but the cloth is of

  the finest quality.

  "Added to these deductions is my insatiable reading

  habit. I receive newspapers from all over the world I believe it

  was just a few months ago that rumors began to circulate

  through England and all of Europe that Smoke was a woman."

  When Buck fell silent, Smokey nodded ruefully.

  "I didn't know how to tell anyone. It was never my intent to

  be deceitful. I had business with Pemberton Shipping just two

  weeks ago, so Tate and Jenny just found out; they were wonderful

  about the whole thing. And now Dallas wants to talk

  with me, and I don't know what he might be thinking."

  "And you do care about his opinion, don't you?"

  "I would love to tell you that I don't, but I just can't lie

  about it. I don't even know him really, but he's--" Smokey

  couldn't find the words.

  "It's painful for you, and I shouldn't have pressed you."

  "It's all right." Smokey hesitated and then went on. "I

  understand you have some pain of your own."

  72

  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 mentio
ned

  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 shivers 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 shipment 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 embarrassed 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 assure

  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 ship 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 Darsey.

  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 passengers."

  "I meant as a crewman."

  Smokey chuckled; she couldn't help herself. "Captains do not make good crewmen."

  "I would" Dallas' deep, solemn tone forced Smokey to

  look at him. He was staring at her intently.