Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (23 page)

"When I came out of Meg's private rooms, I noticed a man

standing there. I was thinking about what Meg and I had been

discussing and never gave him any thought. He grabbed me

from behind I struggled, and because he was small, I nearly

got away. But then he pressed a sweet-smelling cloth over my

mouth. I woke up aboard a ship in a strange room."

"Who did this?"

"HaamichWynn."

"The pirate?"

"Yes." Smokey's voice was soft.

"I've heard he's a huge man."

"He is. I don't know who it was that grabbed me; obviously

someone who works for him."

At that point Smokey went on to give Darsey the entire

story, from the moment she woke up, fought with the pirate,

escaped, and saw Dallas to where she found the Aramis.

"You actually kicked Dallas?" Darsey asked her.

Smokey nodded regretfully. "I panicked when he wouldn't

let me go. All I could think about was Haamich Wynn finding

him with me and killing him. I don't know if he'll ever forgive

me."

"I'm sure you just need to explain."

"I hope you're right."

The two fell silent for a moment, and then Smokey went

on. "Darsey, how did the Aramis come to be docked in the

south quarter?"

Still trying to deal with all she had shared, Darsey took a

ragged breath and began to tell of his nightmare in the last 36

hours.

"I didn't give you much time to return to the back room.

When you hadn't shown in five minutes, I got nervous. When

two more went past, I hit the door running. There was no sign

of you.

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"Someone in the tavern said that the table in the corner

pad recently been occupied and was now empty. Hearing that,

I| ran for the docks. As you well know, there was no trace of

I you. I searched for a time--many of us did--but I didn't wait vvery long before going back into Clancy's and asking about the

men who were missing.

"No one seemed to know a thing about them, and for

Clancy's, that's not normal. Meg and Bart know everyone who

walks through the door, or they do soon afterward. Evidently

those two were not new, but neither were they regulars until

some weeks ago. Any and all attempts to gain information

from them were met with blank stares, and since they kept to

themselves and always paid their bill, Bart let them alone.

"When Clancy's came up dry, I did a little more inquiring

in the neighboring taverns. Bart went with me. Even though

others had seen the men we spoke of, no one knew their

names. I felt frantic at that point, and on the off chance that

you'd returned, decided to head back to the ship. Docked

some yards away from us was a huge frigate. I don't know why

it caught my interest, but it was so heavily guarded that I

couldn't get it out of my mind.

"When they pushed off, we followed them. I knew there

was a chance that I could be leaving you high and dry on the

docks, but I simply had to follow that ship. Strangely enough,

they did not head for high seas. They docked again, this time

in the--"

"South port area," Smokey finished for him, now understanding

exactly where she had been. All this said, both

Darsey and Smokey fell quiet. When Smokey spoke, she

sounded weary.

"I want to go home, Darsey. I want to go home to Willa's

cooking and scolding and loving."

"We've set a course for Kennebunk, lass," Darsey told her,

watching as her eyes briefly slid shut with relief. She hadn't

eaten anything yet, but for the moment there was no need.

Darsey watched as she scooted low beneath the covers and

closed her eyes, this time to sleep.

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Q/mifo~Q/m

159

Smokey back for weeks. An appearance now would bring a

myriad of questions.

Smokey had no idea how Jenny would respond to all she

had been through. With Jenny's present condition in mind,

and real concern for the baby, Smokey made herself stay away.

It was one of the hardest things she had ever asked herself to

do.

smokey lay in her bed at Willa's and stared at the white

ceiling above her. She had been home for over two weeks and

had done little but sleep, eat, and take long walks to the beach,

where she would sit for hours and pray.

Her encounter with Haamich Wynn made her feel as if

something precious had been wrenched away from her. She

had escaped physical harm, but the emotional effects went

deep. She knew such men existed, but she had never faced one

personally.

Smokey also spent hours every day thinking about Dallas

and wondering where he could be. She asked herself all the

questions she wanted to ask him. Did he understand that she

panicked on the docks that night? Was he angry over the way

she was dressed, or was it concern? And always, her last

question--why, if he was angry or upset with her, did he pull

her back for another kiss?

All these questions and many more swam through her

mind. She longed for answers, but when none came she

repeatedly forced her mind back to God's sovereign will,

asking for His peace in this troubling time.

She also prayed for Jenny. She hadn't been to see her since

she returned, but it wasn't for lack of want. In truth, she

wanted desperately to see her, but Jenny was not expecting

"Why, Dolly," Jenny exclaimed as her brother opened the

door to her bed-sitter after a soft knock.

"May I come in?"

"Of course," Jenny assured him and stayed on the settee

after he had waved her back down.

Dallas bent and kissed her cheek. "Motherhood agrees

with you; I've never seen you look lovelier."

"Thank you," Jenny told him sincerely. As her hand moved

to her distended stomach, she wished she could return the

compliment. Dallas was smiling and looked genuinely glad to

see her, but as she took a moment to study his face, Jenny saw

something that disturbed her.

"Did I misunderstand you, Dolly, or are you back before

you had originally planned?"

"I am early, yes, and I'm afraid I can't stay. I'm looking for

Smokey."

"Smokey?" Jenny frowned in confusion and studied her

brother's face once again. He was working hard to hide his

anxiety, but it was there.

"She isn't here. Did you really expect her to be?"

He shook his head regretfully. "I only hoped Has she been

in touch?"

"No. Dallas, what's going on?" Jenny's use of his real name

told him she was frightened.

He hesitated and then spoke with a measured tone. "I saw

Smokey when I was in London, but she was in a terrific hurry

(^ i

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and we didn't really get to talk. I was rather hoping she had

come home, since I had an early shipment for Tate." Dallas did

not tell Jenny that he altered his course in hopes of seeing

Smokey. "I just wanted to make sure everything was all right

with her."

Jenny looked instantly relieved "I'm sure she's fine, probably

running a little behind schedule. Knowing Smokey, she's

made up for it by now and is halfway to the Orient."

Dallas worked to put a smile on his face. "Just in case she

did come this way, I think I'll ride over and check with

Darsey's sister. Where did you say she lived?"

Dallas had finally managed to use his normal voice, and

Jenny gave him directions to Willa's without the slightest

reservation.

Willa poured coffee for Darsey and Smokey before refilling

her own cup and sitting down at the table again. They had

just eaten a wonderful meal of baked fish, and everyone was

full and content.

"That was wonderful, Willa," Smokey told her. The older

woman smiled Smokey had been off her food for the first

week she was home, and it was nice to see her face filled out

again.

"My mother's recipe," Willa said and smiled at Darsey. "Do

you remember those Saturday clambakes, Dars?"

Darsey chuckled and explained to Smokey. "Mother hated

clams, couldn't even stand the smell of them. So as a new

bride, when the rest of the family was eating clams, Mother

always baked fish for herself. Mother was so good at it that

Father wasn't long in joining her and abandoning the clams.

"Before their first anniversary the whole family was eating

fish on Saturday afternoons. They never stopped calling it a

clambake, but they all ate fish."

161

Smokey listened with rapt attention to their reminiscences.

She'd never had a family life like the type they had

known, and it was all very fascinating and wonderful to her.

She thought she could sit all evening and hear them go on, but

there was a knock at the door.

Willa rose to answer it, saying that their neighbor, Mrs.

Bright, had planned to bring some fabric over so Willa could

help make some clothes for her baby granddaughter. Neither

Darsey nor Smokey noticed when they did not hear the sound

of Mrs. Bright's voice, but when the deep tones of a masculine

voice floated from the front room, they both tensed

Smokey's back was to the kitchen door, but she kept her

eyes fixed on Darsey's face and knew the exact moment their

guest entered

"Hello, Dallas," Darsey spoke easily. To his credit, he did

not look at Smokey. "Would you like to sit down and have some

coffee?"

"Thank you, but I'll pass. I'd like to talk with Smokey if I

may."

Smokey's heart was doing funny things just hearing his

voice, but she forced herself to turn and, with a semblance of

calm, look at Dallas.

"May I talk with you, Smokey?" he asked when her eyes

locked with his.

"Certainly," Smokey said and rose slowly from the table

"We can go into the front room." Smokey mentally congratulated

herself on how normal she sounded and hoped that he

wouldn't notice how she was trembling as she led the way to

the parlor.

Once seated across the room from each other on the old,

comfortable furniture, an unwelcome silence fell. Smokey

spent a few moments looking at the hands in her lap and then

out the window, dark as it was. She glanced up to find Dallas'

eyes riveted on her.

"Am I out of line to ask why you were so set on leaving me

when we met in London?"

162

"No," Smokey began, "but it's a long story and I--"

"I have time," Dallas cut in.

Smokey nodded "First of all, I'm sorry I kicked you. That

was terrible, and I only hope you can forgive me."

"Were you afraid of me, Smokey? Did you think I was going

to force you to do something against your wishes?" Dallas*

face and voice were so pained that Smokey nearly cried.

"No, Dallas, no!" Smokey's hand went to her mouth in