Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (15 page)

In the last moments, Smokey had become completely

relaxed. All humiliation over Dallas' presence deserted her,

as with studied concentration she lifted the teapot and filled

glasses to the three-quarter mark, just as the book

jcted Her hand never wavered, and when she put the pot

i, she gave Dallas a huge smile. Dallas couldn't stop

self from laughing. Smokey joined him before asking him

read on.

u In the next hour Dallas read while Smokey set the table,

served from a standing position and drank her "tea" without

spilling a drop. Dallas thought she might go on forever, but his

stomach suddenly growled very loudly.

"I didn't take time for breakfast," he said with a sheepish

grin.

Smokey frowned "I didn't either, now that you mention it.

I guess we had better head back."

They were gathering the tea set to return it to the box

when Smokey realized she couldn't find her cap. She searched

around a bit, but stopped on Dallas1 words.

"Why do you need it?"

"Because I don't want to cut my hair."

"Why would you have to do either; I mean cut it or cover

it?"

"The wind, Dallas," Smokey explained patiently. "I can't

let it hang down while on the Aramis. It blinds me."

"Here," Dallas stepped toward her, "turn around a minute."

Smokey did as he directed without question, but she stiffened

when she felt his hands on her hair. When they were

both working on her ship, it was easy to remember their

positions; she was the captain and he was pan of her crew. But

in Maine or here on the island, she was a woman and he was a

man, and Smokey found herself unable to remember anything.

Dallas was feeling the same way at the moment and was

tremendously relieved that Smokey's back was to him, allowing

him to hide his expression. He efficiently braided the

length of her hair, amazed at how soft and thick it was, and

tied the end with a thin leather strip he wore about his wrist.

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"There" he said proudly when the work was done Smokey's]

hand went to her nape as she turned to face him.l

Until that moment, she had given no thought to his bare

chest or the dark stubble on his cheeks, but he suddenly became

more male than she had ever noticed The breadth of his

shoulders and the muscles in his arms, along with the way his

gold ring hung sparkling from his ear, were so distracting that

Smokey could only gaze hopelessly into his crystal-blue eyes.

"Your hair is beautiful." Smokey heard Dallas' voice,

although he sounded a long way off. "It seems a shame to

cover it." Smokey made no reply, but continued to look at

Dallas, her heart in her eyes.

"Smokey," Dallas' voice had turned hoarse. "If you don't

stop staring at me like that, I'm going to kiss you."

Smokey unconsciously raised her face, and Dallas lowered

his. Darsey had come upon them, but had discreetly

moved away this time in order to give them privacy. Dallas'

lips were just a breath away from Smokey's when a bird

suddenly flew from the trees and startled them both. The interruption broke the spell.

Smokey, her heart still madly pounding in her chest, spoke

to Dallas, but her eyes never left the ground

"It's time to get back to the ship. I'm sure Darsey is nearby.

He can help you take the table and chairs back to the boat. I'll

see you on board"

Dallas watched her walk away, knowing he had no choice

but to obey. Within moments she had gone from a very warm,

embraceable woman to the businesslike /vnt*t~ ***-- *'-

,v ,

vw, .1. uiun i uiange me way he felt inside--

like a man who had been offered a lovely gift, only to have it

snatched away a moment before he could grasp it.

Smokey had been right about Darsey; he appeared just

moments later. Dallas was thankful for his help as well as his

silence. He needed that time to pray. He was still praying when

the Aramis set sail less than an hour later.

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?

That evening when all was quiet on the ship, Darsey found

^ alone at the railing. The moon was a crescent in the

, but there was still enough light for the first mate to see his

jtaln's face.

"Are you all right?" Darsey asked without preamble,

lokey nodded, turning to look at her friend and confidant.

"I think so," she told him. "I was afraid for a few moments

the island."

"Of Dallas?" Darsey's voice held legitimate concern.

"No," Smokey reassured him. "I think my fear stems from

Rhe intensity of my feelings. By the time I gained my cabin, \ frustration had set in. There's nothing I can do about the way I

feel."

Darsey had no argument for that. They were both professionals

and rightfully believed this was not the time or place

to pursue a romance. Smokey reassured Darsey that she was

going to be fine and talked of other things before going down

to bed. Upon her departure, Darsey went on watch.

When the older man was finally alone, he let his mind drift

to the youngest crewman. As quiet as Dallas had been when

they had left the island earlier, Darsey was quite certain that

he understood the situation as well. Darsey found his respect

growing for Dallas every day.

107

with the ship headed toward London, the next days

passed in an uneventful fashion, and neither Dallas nor

Smokey could have said exactly why. Maybe it was because

they forced their minds away from the incident on the island,

or maybe it was the amount of praying they both did when

apart from the rest of the crew.

Only when Smokey was alone in her cabin and Dallas lay

in his bunk did they allow their minds to drift back to the near

kiss and the way they felt. On the heels of their thoughts, they

turned to God

Smokey begged God to help her forget Dallas, sure that he

could never be serious about her. Dallas, on the other hand,

prayed for patience where Smokey was concerned, knowing

she did not recognize his feelings for her as yet. He also

prayed for a gentle way of telling Kathleen that he was falling

for another woman.

Women like Smokey were a complete mystery to women

like Kathleen. Kathleen never read a newspaper or cared to

talk about anything beyond the latest dress pattern she had

seen or who was getting married next and how pretty the

bride's dress would be. It wasn't that Kathleen was slow, it was

|ust that her world was so small.

Dallas clearly remembered the first time he'd tried to talk

b'ber about the ships he dreamed of building. "Oh, Dallas,"

: had laughingly said. "I'm just a woman, and a woman can't

stand those kinds of things."

Dallas had had to bite his tongue to keep from telling

ithleen that Jenny knew all about ships, or to ask her what

a woman had to do with anything. Kathleen changed

: subject soon after that, however, and Dallas still regretted

Jthat he hadn't questioned her when he'd had the chance.

Worrying about his relationship with Kathleen when they

were miles from home was not going to change a thing. Dallas

determined to speak with her as soon as he returned He had

no guarantees that he and Smokey had a future, but he couldn't

go on seeing a woman whose company paled so dramatically

in the light of his captain's.

*

When they docked in London, Dallas listened while Darsey

put some men on watch. The older man then turned to Dallas

and invited him to clean up and go with them ashore.

They'd come in and delivered a load of coffee and taken

on half a holdful of wool. He hadn't seen much of Smokey

since they'd docked, but she now appeared, hair brushed

smooth and in a fresh braid that hung down her back, and

wearing a different, brighter-colored overtunic than she usually

wore.

Smokey and Darsey stood on the deck and talked while

the officers readied themselves, all turning up freshly shaved

and clothed just 15 minutes later. Darsey led the procession

off the ship, Smokey following behind him. Consumed with

great curiosity, Dallas brought up the rear. That this was

routine for each of them was more than clear, until he saw

where they were headed

Darsey walked calmly into one of the roughest parts of the

108

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docks, to a waterfront tavern that was so hidden, Dallas would

have missed it had he been alone.

Clancy's Place was painted on the door in faded, chipped

letters. Dallas watched as Darsey opened the door and held it

for Smokey to enter. If Dallas hadn't already been captivated

with this woman, he would have been stunned at the events of

the next moments. As it was, he was more than a little surprised

at the spaciousness of the tavern and his captain's

welcome once she stepped in.

As if someone had blown a whistle, the place grew very

still. Heads turned, and drinks and cards were placed on the

table with an almost reverent quiet. Smokey began to make

her way through the crowd As she passed each table, the

occupants stood. Dallas listened in fascination to the words

exchanged

"Hello, Timmy," Smokey spoke to a man who looked well

over 100.

"Hello, Cap'n. How's business?"

"Smooth. How's Betsy?"

"Fine, she asks about you."

"Give her my love."

And on it went. She had a word for nearly everyone in the

room. As they neared the bar, she spoke to one man who

hadn't stood

"Hello, Hector."

Hector only grunted.

"Well," she spoke wryly, "you grunt as well as you always

have, so I guess that means you're doing well."

That said, she used two fingers and flicked the cap from

his head Dallas listened as the room erupted with laugher,

and watched a grudging smile cross Hector's face even though

he never stood or even looked at her.

Finally they were at the bar. A man who was nearly as wide

as the wall behind him stood opposite them, his grin as

toothless as that of a baby's.

"Is the back room open tonight, Bart?" Smokey asked with

an innocent smile.

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"Well-l-I," the heavy man said with a twinkle in his eye.

tell you, Smoke, there was a great group of nuns just in

and wantin' my back room. I didn't know if you was

ling, you see," he shrugged at this point, and Smokey hid a

lile. "So I had to turn them away. I'm sure I lost a great deal

money."

Another nonchalant shrug accompanied these words, and

iddenly a coin left Darsey's fingers and spiraled through the

r. With speed and dexterity that belied his size, the big man

^snatched it out of the air, his face alight with triumph. With a

flourish of his hand, he spoke.

"It's all yours, Captain."