Wings of the Morning

  "No one's asking you, Darsey," Smokey cut him off, and it

  was Dallas' turn to muffle his laughter.

  He was truly desperate to get Smokey someplace safe and

  restful, but Dallas knew from the thundercloud on her face

  that he was going to have to change tactics. He stepped close

  and spoke low.

  "You asked me not to let him get you again. I can't do that if

  we're not together."

  178

  In the light of his tender gaze and caring voice, the indignation

  drained out of Smokey. Running her tongue over her

  suddenly dry lips, a shiver of fear resurfaced

  "So you think they might not hold him?"

  "I don't know. Something didn't feel right to me, but I can't

  put my finger on it."

  Smokey nodded, knowing just what he meant. She glanced

  out over the Thames in indecision and then at Dallas' shirtront.

  Dallas reached out two long fingers and placed them

  under Smokey's chin. With a gentle move, he tilted her face

  until her eyes met his.

  "Please come with me to Bracken so I can take care of you.

  Darsey will be there as well, and I know you'll love Brandon

  and Sunny."

  Smokey thougjit she could agree to anything when he

  spoke low and touched her so tenderly.

  "All right," Smokey said and felt suddenly cold when

  Dallas immediately removed his hand and stepped away. He

  turned to leave then, calling absentmindedly over his shoulder

  to say that they would be leaving for the country in an

  hour.

  Dallas completely missed the vulnerable look on Smokey's

  face. Darsey, on the other hand, saw it all. He walked down the

  gangplank with Dallas and stopped him with a few words

  when he would have walked away.

  "Don't play games with her." The older man's voice was a

  growl.

  "What are you talking about?"

  "I'm talking about touching her and saying sweet things

  just to manipulate her."

  Dallas stared at him in true surprise. "Does she feel that

  way?"

  "You saw the look on her face. You know she does."

  Dallas looked back to the deck, but Smokey was gone. He

  honestly hadn't noticed any distress on Smokey's part. In

  truth, he thought Darsey was being overly protective.

  179

  When Dallas looked at Smokey's first mate again, he was

  given one final, serious warning before Darsey boarded the Aramis.

  "Don't play with my girl, Mr. Knight, because I won't stand

  for it."

  Dallas stood for just a moment and recounted his scene

  with Smokey. She wasn't some child to be easily fooled, and

  Darsey knew that. Dallas was not a man who believed that the

  end justified the means. He didn't feel he'd been out of line.

  He hoped to have a chance very soon to tell Darsey that he was

  overreacting.

  It took Dallas just ten minutes into the carriage ride to

  Bracken, Lord and Lady Hawkesbury's home, to see that

  Darsey had read the signs correctly. He had hurt Smokey. Her

  set face and the way she held herself spoke volumes.

  Dallas had complimented Smokey on her dress, a lovely

  rose-colored day dress, as soon as he had seen her, but he

  realized now that her thanks had been rather stiff.

  His desire to ask Darsey to ride with the driver so he could

  be alone with Smokey was nearly overwhelming. But he knew

  that both Smokey and Darsey would take that request as an

  insult. It would only make things worse.

  If only they weren't so tired right now. Darsey looked ten

  years older, and Smokey's good eye sported a dusky circle, a

  sure sign of fatigue. DaHas' own eyes had a gritty feel when he

  blinked He was glad that evening was approaching, knowing

  they could all get some rest soon after they arrived at Bracken.

  He told himself he would make things right with Smokey

  in the morning. All that mattered right now was her rest and

  safety. Dallas found himself wishing he didn't have to sail to

  Denmark, but the shipment could not wait. At least he didn't

  have to leave until tomorrow afternoon and would only need

  to be gone three days.

  180

  He watched the small brunette nod off from his seat in the

  carriage across from Darsey and Smokey. Darsey himself

  looked like he would surrender to sleep at any moment, so

  Dallas let his own head fall back against the squabs where he

  dozed off and on for the next hour.

  G/uwfo~Qfy

  smokey bunked as she read the clock on the mantel in

  her room, certain that it must be wrong. It said 2:00, and the

  sun was streaming through her window. Could she have slept

  that long?

  They had arrived at Bracken, the most gorgeous home

  Smokey had ever seen, about 8:00 the evening before. She'd

  met the Duke and Duchess of Briscoe, a couple much younger

  than she had envisioned, and then been shown to a small

  dining room where she, Darsey, and Dallas had been given a

  light supper. She could not at the moment even remember

  what she ate.

  Directly after the meal she had been shown to a bedroom

  the size of Willa's entire house. Smokey didn't believe she

  would ever fall asleep in such a cavernous space, but sleep she

  did and for nearly 17 hours.

  Smokey was just thinking about rising when someone

  knocked. TUgging the covers up a bit higher, she called an

  entrance. Darsey walked in and softly shut the door.

  "Good afternoon," Smokey said after he'd taken a chair by

  her nightstand.

  His eyes twinkled when he spoke. "I'm glad to see you

  decided to join us. I've been checking on you all day, wondering

  if you were ever going to wake up."

  182

  183

  'I was rather surprised to read the clock a few minutes

  ago.

  "So -you Just woke up?"

  Smokey gave a sheepish nod and then grinned at him.

  "Have you ever seen a house like this in all your life?"

  "House?" Darsey questioned her. "I believe mansion or

  palace would be more fitting."

  "I think you're right. Willa would spend all her time cleaning,

  certain that no one could do a better job. It would put her

  in an early grave."

  Darsey agreed and then glanced around the room. He said

  his own bedroom was just as magnificent. "I was offered

  lunch," Darsey added, "but I wanted to wait for you."

  Smokey nodded. "I'd be a little intimidated to be here

  without Dallas," Smokey admitted. "I hope he's around when I

  get downstairs."

  "He won't be," Darsey said flatly, and Smokey wondered at

  his tone. "He had to leave for Denmark. He's got a shipment

  due in. Said he'd be back in three days, maybe four."

  Smokey was so surprised that she did not immediately

  speak. Darsey watched her face and knew that he would have

  thrashed Dallas if he could have laid hands on him.

  "I can't stay here without Dallas," Smokey finally said. "I

  mean, they're his friends and I just wouldn't feel right."

  "I must admit that I was
feeling the same way."

  "All right." Smokey made a swift decision. "Give me a

  few minutes. I'll get dressed and come downstairs and explain."

  Darsey left then, but with a heavy heart. If Dallas really

  cared for Smokey, why would he go off and leave her? It

  seemed to Darsey that he'd had plenty of opportunity to

  explain his plans. Smokey was just starting to look rested, and

  the last thing she needed was to travel all the way back to

  London today.

  Darsey went to his own room to pack up, completely

  unaware of the way Dallas had paced the floor of the library

  Ukeacaged animal that morning, waitingfor Smokey to come

  down.

  Less than an hour later, captain and mate appeared downstairs

  at Bracken Darsey was holding the handle of his own

  rl^ed cS ^well aTsmokey's satchel. T^ey stood in the

  ouiet entrvway gripped with indecision.

  ^ImoSTwas on the verge of knocking on one of the

  nume^ doors off the foyer, hoping to find someone to

  wC she could explain their sudden departure, when a

  voice spoke behind them.

  itarHpHe both Smokev and Darsey turned to find a tall,

  nea^cada Sual with a very proper air address08

  Sarks, head of housekeeping here at Brackea Lady

  Hawkesbury is expecting you in the salon. If you and Miss

  StaSeT a"nd S eSS a puzzled glance but folJd etheSmrsey

  still holding W j

  to one of the numerous doors and opened it. ****.***

  ^^^1^,^^=^ pleasure^ a picture or grace * % * from her place on the sofa. "I hopeyou both slept well. I know

  yTmustte hungry, so I've ordered tea tobe^servedand--^

  Sunny, a warm and sensitive hostess, suddenly noticed her

  ^Sthing wrong?" she asked Darsey kindly, making

  "We appreciate your kindness, but we need to get bacfc to

  London."

  184

  "Oh," Sunny's eyes swung to Smokey for an instant, and although

  her mind was racing, her look was calm.

  "Is there something we can do?" Sunny finally asked,

  automatically addressing herself to Darsey.

  "You've been more than kind," Smokey put in again, "and I

  thank you for the good night's sleep, but we really must be on

  our way."

  Panic began to spiral through Sunny. She knew that Dallas

  expected them to be here when he returned, and why in the

  world was Mr. Brennan so silent?

  "Well," Sunny smiled a smile she didn't feel and again

  spoke to Darsey. "Since you haven't eaten, will you at least stay

  for tea?"

  "Thank you, no," Smokey responded Sunny wanted to

  scream. She had heard that American women were bold, but

  this was ridiculous. She was on the verge of giving up and

  telling them goodbye when Brandon walked in. Sunny was so

  relieved she nearly sat down. She watched in amazement as

  her husband, immediately sizing up the situation, walked

  directly to Smokey and addressed only her.

  "Is there a problem?"

  "Not really," Smokey replied, growing weary of the conversation.

  "Darsey and I need to return to London. I hope you

  won't find us ungrateful, but we really must go."

  "I know that Dallas expects to find you here when he

  returns," Brandon told her honestly, and watched her chin

  rise into the air. It was a gesture so like his wife would affect

  that he had to hide a smile.

  "Dallas has obviously misled you. I do not answer to him

  concerning my whereabouts."

  "I understand that, and I'm sorry I intimated otherwise

  What I meant to say was that he told me he had wanted to talk

  to you this morning, but you did not come downstairs. He

  considered leaving you a note, but decided against it. I know

  he'll be bitterly disappointed to find you gone."

  Smokey stared at him in uncertainty. She wanted to

  185

  believe Dallas wanted to see her, but she could not take being

  tossed around for one moment longer.

  "When Dallas returns and you find you still want to leave

  for London, I'll take you there myself. For the time being,

  please stay, rest, and enjoy yourself."

  "Darsey and I do not want to be any trouble."

  "You'll be no trouble at all. Dallas and I have been friends

  for years. Any friend of his is a friend of mine." Brandon

  paused for just a moment. "Will you stay?"

  "All right," Smokey agreed softly and wondered what in

  the world had prompted her.

  "Wonderful," Brandon said "I'll call Parks to have your

  bags returned to your rooms."

  "We can take them up," Smokey told him, not completely

  comfortable with the way they were waited on here.

  "Fine," Brandon accommodated her. "You'll be back down

  to join us for tea?"

  "Yes."

  Husband and wife watched her leave.

  "Will you please tell me," Sunny spoke softly when the

  door was closed, "what that was all about?"

  Brandon moved forward and kissed her before he spoke.

  "I'm sorry I never explained She is the captain of iheAramis, and be is her first mate."

  Sunny's mouth dropped open, and Brandon laughed

  "I really think the two of you will like each other," he told

  her, "if you get a chance to talk. She's probably one of the few

  women in the world who could actually rival you for independence."

  "She is actually the captain of the ship?" Sunny asked in

  disbelief.

  "That's right."

  "Does she own it?"

  "Yes. It's said to be one of the fastest ships on the sea, and

  she, one of the finest captains."

  "But she's so petite and unassuming. I just..." Sunny

  186

  shrugged, and Brandon hugged her. Sunny was right, Sm

  did not look like she held the position she did" 1

  What Brandon didn't know was that there was far more to

  Smokey Simmons than even he could imagine, and that he

  and Sunny would both grow to think the world of her before

  Dallas returned.

  Q/wfaQreven/

  the rest of the DAV was a bit strained for Smokey and

  Darsey, but the next morning Sunny asked Smokey if she

  wanted to see her baby. It turned out to be the perfect icebreaker.

  Lord Sterling Hawkesbury, future Duke of Briscoe, was

  nearly eight months old and able to crawl all over the nursery.

  His face split with a huge grin on sighting his mother, and

  Smokey's heart melted the moment she laid eyes on him.

  Both women sat down, and Sterling's nurse put him on the

  floor. He made a beeline for his mother until he spotted

  Smokey. In midcrawl he paused and stared at her. Smokey

  could not wipe the smile from her face, and when he saw her

  friendly countenance he changed direction.

  She waited only until he was at arm's length before reaching

  for him. It had been years since she'd held a baby, and this

  one was a cuddler. He snuggled against her and popped a

  thumb into his mouth, the picture of contentment.

  "He's beautiful," Smokey told Sterling's mother over the

  top of his head.

  "We think so," Sunny responded with pleasure. "His

  grandmother tells me tha
t Brandon looked just like him at

  that age."

  "My friend Jenny, Dallas' sister," Smokey said to her hostess,

  188

  who nodded, "is going to have a baby this summer. I hoping to get home in time, but I'm not sure if I'll make it?

  "I'm sure you will. Brandon was telling me last night than

  they need you to testify, but he hopes they have enough other;

  evidence to convict the pirate." Sunny paused and went on.

  "Dallas told him you had a pretty rough time of it."

  Smokey nodded "I know it could have been much worse,

  but it's such a helpless feeling to be powerless against a

  captor."

  The conversation was broken momentarily as Sterling's

  nurse returned, saw the child was asleep in Smokey's arms,

  and came to retrieve him. Sunny dropped a kiss on her young

  son's head, and the women exited the room.

  'You're not afraid to testify, are you?" Sunny asked, fairly

  certain what the answer would be.

  "No," Smokey told her emphatically as they walked down

  the stairs. "I want to see him put away. He's never hit my ship

  before, but I grow furious when I think of the hard hours we put in and then men like him who come along and help

  themselves without even breaking a sweat."

  "Brandon's been boarded four times," Sunny told her

  guest.

  "I didn't know that. He must be anxious to see this over."

  "Yes, he is. I know he'd like to talk to you before the trial,

  just to get an idea of what you know."

  "I'd be glad to tell him anything that might help."

  "I was quite certain you would feel that way," Sunny told

  her with a smile. "By the way, I like to go riding about this time

  each day. Would you care to join me?"

  "Horseback riding?"

  "That's right."

  "I've never been," Smokey admitted

  "Never?" Sunny was astounded and then grinned "Well,

  I've never captained a ship, so I guess that makes us about

  even."

  Smokey laughed, and before she knew it, Sunny had

  189

  peered her in the direction of her bedroom to find a riding

  [habit that could be shortened quickly.

  "It's not at all as I imagined," Smokey told Sunny just two

  hours later as she sat on the back of a well-behaved gelding. "I

  mean, he really goes where he's told"

  "What did you expect?"

  "I don't know," Smokey confessed. "A ship can't operate

  on its own, but a horse has a will. I think there are verses in the

  Bible, the New Testament, about that."

  "I know the ones you mean; they're in James three, and