Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (22 page)

away. Her hands went to Dallas' chest, where she felt the

thunderous beating of his heart. She spoke with regret.

"Dallas, I've got to go."

"No." His voice was hoarse.

"Yes, Dallas, please listen--"

Smokey tried to explain, but Dallas' lips came back to

claim hers again. Feeling as swept away as he, Smokey let him

kiss her again, and then with a sob, broke free. With all of her

150

strength, she pushed him away. She never completely escaped

his hands, however, as he quickly caught her wrist.

This is the woman I love, his heart said to him. fll never let

her go. Unfortunately for Dallas, Smokey was desperate.

"Let me go," she tried one last time, knowing that the men

would eventually come back.

"No, Smokey." Dallas sounded like a man in a dream, and

Smokey lashed out, fearing for his safety. Her small-booted

foot swung hard and connected with Dallas' shin. His own

boot offered some protection, but the action served its purpose.

Dallas released her as he bent nearly double to grab an

aching leg.

Tears pouring down her face over what she'd been forced

to do, Smokey ran like she had never run before. This time

there was no stopping and hiding. She slowed to a walk at

times, but pushed on until she thought she would collapse, and

in fact, at one point did. Her side ached and she had a few close

calls with various sailors, one of whom tore her dress.

Cold and disoriented, Smokey finally stopped She stood

in the shadows of the dock and gasped for breath. Recovering

somewhat, she turned her head and looked out over the ships,

their masts silhouetted against the sky.

For a moment she thought her eyes were playing tricks on

her. Then she realized it was true--the Aramis was docked

not 50 yards away. Smokey's heart pounded in her chest at the

thought that she was so near to safety.

Don't give yourself away now, Smokey, not when you've

come this far, was her heart's prayer as she made herself walk

slowly toward the ship. At the foot of the gangplank stood

Scully. Smokey approached and spoke with what she believed

to be a normal tone.

"Scully," she began, not realizing that her voice was a high-pitched

squeak. "Is Darsey on board?"

"No, Captain," he told her, feeling as if he were looking at a

ghost, "He's out searching for you."

"Is it safe to come aboard?"

151

"Safe?" the old cook was nonplussed. "Aye, it's safe,"

Scully answered her finally and began to be afraid at the \ change in his captain.

'Very well. I'll be in my cabin. Please send Darsey to me

. when he arrives."

"I'm here," his voice sounded behind her. Smokey turned.

"Is the crew here? Is there any reason we can't set sail

immediately?"

"No, Captain," Darsey told her. "I'll inform the men."

Smokey moved up the gangplank then, still not understanding

that she had gone into a state of shock. Darsey

silently followed her, his heart pounding as roughly as Scully's

over Smokey's manner and appearance.

The trembling began when Smokey gained her cabin.

Darsey followed and lit her lanterns.

Darsey felt his stomach heave when he finally saw her in

better light. The hem of her dress was torn in many places, and

the neckline had sagged even lower over her breasts. Her face

and hands were filthy and tearstained, and he thought they

might have to cut her hair to remove the tangles. Grabbing a

blanket, he wrapped it around her shoulders as anger raged

within him at whoever had done this to his girl.

"Robby and Mic are casting off. Scully will prepare a bath

for you. Would you like that?"

Smokey didn't answer but continued to shake like a leaf in

a storm. Darsey saw that she was in no shape to know anything.

He left her for just a few moments to make sure all was

well on deck and then came back to find her just where he had

left her.

He had never invaded her privacy before, but when her

bath was ready and she was still standing in a trancelike state,

Darsey gave her a little shake.

"Smokey! Get cleaned up now."

She seemed to finally see him, and Darsey turned away as

she began to unbutton her dress. As he let himself out, he

prayed that she would be able to function. Questions swarmed

through his mind as he went topside to take over.

152

He wasn't the only one to have questions. Dallas had come

on the scene just after theAramis pushed off. He prayed that

Smokey was aboard and safe, but never had he been so hurt

and confused His hands balled into fists as he thought about

her dress and the way she'd kissed him. He had no idea when

he would see Smokey again, but when he did, he felt she owed

him a long explanation.

Q/umh/^C>m^

Two hours later, Smokey was finally bathed, in her nightgown,

and tucked under the covers of her bed. Darsey sat in a

chair nearby and watched her. She hadn't wanted the light out,

nor had she wanted to talk. It took some time, but after staring

at the shadows on the ceiling for a while, her eyes finally slid

shut. Darsey watched and listened as her breathing evened

out and sleep claimed her. A single tear slid down his weather-roughened

cheek as he prayed

"Help me, Father," he whispered. "Help me as I help her. I

don't know where she's been or what's been done to her, but I

know she needs me. Help me to be there and help her to get

over this awful night."

Darsey prayed until his own body grew limp with exhaustion.

It never once occurred to him to leave Smokey's side to

seek the comfort of his own bed Slouched in his chair, sleep

came to claim him also, leaving the night's pain and worries

for the morrow.

"How is jenny feeling?" Greer asked Buck as they lunched

at the hotel.

"Her only complaints are fatigue and feeling like she can't

get anything done."

Greer smiled "She needs to baby herself a little right now.

She'll be busy enough in a few months."

"That's true, but she pushes herself too hard Date has told

her she should rest, and in fact, when I saw him this morning,

he said she'd taken a nap yesterday."

Their conversation was interrupted when their food arrived

Buck began his meal with a better appetite than he had

enjoyed in weeks. Greer had made no promises, but this was

the third time she had agreed to see him since Smokey's

going-away party. They grew a little closer each time.

"You and Hank never had children, did you?"

"No, we didn't," Greer told him. She wasn't at all offended

by the question, but a look of sadness crossed her face.

"Maybe I shouldn't have asked you that."

"It's all right, Buck. You see, all five of my children are in

heaven. My body simply refused to cany a baby to full term."

"I'm sorry, Greer," Buck told her, his eyes filled with love

"I'm sure you would have made a wonderful mother."

"Thank you, Buck, but I'm not sorry anymore," Greer told

154

him. "I wouldn't have wanted to raise them on my own." Greer

smiled at a sudden thought, and Buck questioned her.

"I'm just laughing at myself really," she admitted. "I nearly

asked you if learning about my pregnancies will change the

way you feel about me, but I think I already know that answer."

"As a matter of fact," Buck told her seriously, "I was just

thinking that some of your reluctance to accept my proposal

might stem from the fact that you think I would press you to

have children." Buck stopped for a moment to hold the lovely

widow's eyes with his own.

"It's you I want, Greer, no one else. I had no desire to

marry until I met you, and it's you alone that I'm going to want

for the rest of my life."

"Oh, Buck." Greer's eyes flooded with tears. "I'm trying, I

really am."

"Shhh," Buck said softly. "I didn't tell you that to distress

you or scare you away. I just want you to know that nothing is

going to change my feelings."

Greer reached across the table and took Buck's hand She

gave it a light squeeze before releasing it. Both of them were

ready for a change in subjects, and the topic turned to Smokey.

"I so enjoyed the party. I was utterly amazed to learn that

Smokey is the captain of her own ship, however."

"She certainly didn't look the part that night, but Dallas

tells me she's magnificent. He said if his heart wasn't set on

building ships, he would gladly sail around the Atlantic for the

better part of every year with Smokey."

"Do you suppose they'll see one another?"

"I doubt it, Greer. Smokey's plans were to be halfway to

the Orient by now."

"So there's been a change in plans?" Robby asked Darsey

the morning after they had left London.

155

"I don't know. She was still sleeping when I woke in that

chair. Until she wakes up and gives orders or seems able to

function," Darsey shrugged, "I just don't know."

"Did she say anything?" Scully wanted to know.

"Not yet. There were no bruises that I could see once the

dirt was off of her, but I realize that doesn't mean a thing."

The men all exchanged looks. Faces darkened with anger.

It was all too easy to imagine what could have happened in the

hours she was gone. The fact that she found her way to the

ship, however, was nothing short of a miracle, and that gave

the men cause to hope she would really be all right.

"So what is our present course?" Mic pressed Darsey.

"Home," the older man told him simply. "I'm going to head

below and see if she's stirred, but for now, set a course for

Kennebunk."

Smokey had been awake for some time, but had not moved

from her bed Her entire body ached, especially her legs, but

in a very real way she welcomed the pain. It meant she had

fought hard and survived. Right now she was praying and

thanking God for the strength He had given her.

She praised Him for His love and care and for sparing her

from anything worse. She had been grabbed and frightened

and forced to fight, but as upsetting as all of those things had

been, Smokey was all too aware that the situation could have

been much worse.

Praying and surrendering her hurt pride, her fear, and

every known sin to her Lord, Smokey knew the peace that only

He could give. By the time Darsey appeared with a mug of tea,

she was ready to talk.

"How are you, lass?" he asked softly as he sat on the chair

on which he had spent the night.

"I'm going to be all right. I hope I never have to repeat a

night like the last, but I'm going to survive."

156

"Can you tell me about it?"

"Do you remember my going out?"

"Yes."