by Lori Wick
other leads.
"My immediate plans? Why would he ask such a thing?"
Smokey frowned at Darsey where he stood framed in her
cabin doorway.
"I think he's unhappy that you won't deal with him directly,
but I think what he really wants is to get a look at
Smoke."
"Well, I don't deal that way. Tell him we'll take our business
elsewhere."
Darsey, although tempted to argue, nodded and left, leaving
the door open. Within minutes Smokey heard the voice of
the merchant apologizing profusely. Smokey had not been
making idle threats, she never did, but the man had obviously
been bluffing over what he was willing to pay.
It would be so much simpler to handle some of these
exchanges myself, Smokey thought to herself. Darsey had told
her on many occasions over the last year that she no longer
needed to conceal her identity; maybe now was the time to
listen to him.
Smokey put her quill down, rose from the desk, and moved
to the cabin door. Seconds later she walked calmly across the
32
deck to where Darsey stood dickering with the most successful
merchant in Greece.
Her men on deck stopped what they were doing at the
sight of her. As was her custom, she was dressed in black knee-high
boots, dark, baggy trousers and a long, full overshirt that
completely hid her figure from neck to knee. Her hair, as
usual, was completely concealed under a knit cap, pulled
down to the bottom of her ears.
Smokey came forward, knowing that she had stopped the
merchant in his tracks. She also knew that even though she
was dressed like a boy, her face and hands would give her
away. The skin of her cheeks was as smooth as a baby's, and her
hands, although work-roughened, were slim, with long fingers
and fine-boned wrists. She looked like a cabin boy, but
she moved and spoke like a woman in command
"Is there some problem, Mr. Brennan?" Smokey addressed
Darsey properly as she stopped beside the two men.
"Yes, Captain. Nikos feels the price is a bit steep," Darsey
told her and tried not to laugh at the stunned look on Nikos'
face.
"What did you have in mind, Nikos?" the young captain
asked solicitously, although her voice held a hint of steel.
"You are Smoke?" the man nearly stammered.
"My friends call me Smokey," she told him, "but you may
address me as Captain Simmons. Now please tell me, what
price did you have in mind?"
The man's eyes flicked down the front of Smokey, but he
hers when Darsey made a sound in
The man's eyes flicke
quickly raised his face to
the back of his throat.
Smokey sighed and reached for her hat. With the movement
of her hand, a fall of black hair came down over her
shoulders and back. The merchant blinked, and Smokey disovered
great relief in having her identity revealed
^, "Now that you know for certain," she spoke dryly, "let us
E down to business. Do you pay my price, or do we sail?"
IJBlpay," he said without hesitation, agleam of respect, as
BBP'fcething else, entering his eyes.
31
Smokey allowed Darsey to handle the transaction from
that point, and the unloading proceeded shortly. She watched
from the deck as the Greek merchant left the ship and then
gestured wildly to some sailors on the dock. Seeing the word
spread was like watching ants running around a mound-- Smoke was a woman! Smokey could almost hear them.
The Aramis finished her business in Greece and made
four more stops in the next week. Each and every time,
Smokey handled the negotiations and let herself be seen, and
although she did not remove her hat again, the truth was being
brought to light.
She was amazed at how quickly the word passed The
whole business began to wear on her, and she finally told her
crew to head for home. Twenty days later they were back in
port, and Darsey and Smokey headed to Willa's.
Smokey was rescued from the usual letdown of leaving
her ship by the arrival of a letter from Jenny Pemberton. She
invited Smokey to come for a visit at her soonest possible
convenience, and to stay for an indefinite period of time. Smokey sent an immediate note of acceptance, with plans to
leave for Kennebunkport in three days' time.
33
"Do you think she'll be here this morning or this afternoon?"
Jenny asked Tate for the second time that morning.
Tate chuckled and kissed her cheek He had finished with
breakfast and needed to be out the door.
"I think she'll be here by noon."
"Why do you think that?" Jenny's face was a mask of
confusion.
Tate shouted with laughter. "Honey, you asked me what I
thought, so I just made a guess."
"Oh, Tate," Jenny laughed. "Go to work so I can fret in
peace."
Tate kissed her again, this time on the mouth, and moved
toward the door. Jenny watched him go and then did just as
she'd predicted
"Go on with you, Smokey!" Willa put in. She never failed to
see to every need when Darsey and Smokey were in port, but
she took care of them in a stern, yet loving way. "If you were
going to be an inconvenience in any way, they wouldn't have
asked you."
Smokey hesitated and Darsey rose. "Come on, I'll take you
over."
"Why do you suppose she asked me, Darsey?"
Darsey paused on his way to the door and turned to look at her. Became she sees what I see--a vulnerable, lonelyyoung
woman who makes your heart ache just to look at her.
"She asked you," Darsey finally spoke out loud, "because
you've been praying for a friend, and God has decided to
provide one."
Darsey hoped she wouldn't press him further, because he
knew he couldn't take it. She was so rarely insecure, but when
she was, all Darsey wanted to do was sit down and weep. He
was relieved to see Smokey nod so he could turn back to the
door.
The subject was not raised on the way to the Pembertons',
but Darsey knew that Smokey was having second thoughts
about the visit. He was determined to get her there, however,
so conversation was brief.
Once they had arrived, he sent Smokey to the front door
with a kiss and a wish that she have a good time. He silently
hoped she would stay for a month, partly because she needed
the fellowship, and partly because he was getting too old to be
roaming the sea.
Ithought you were headed to the Pembertons' today,"
XSSSft l K l ^ When the breakfas< dishes
* "I aT^^f.6 had made no move< 'eave the table.
*s^^^^^*^** *>
mey re not expecting me for lunch."
32
When Smokey knocked, a servant answered the front door
of the Pemberton home, a huge house that sat right on the
Atlantic. She was greeted cordially, but felt her palms sweat
as she stepped across the threshold and into the entryway.
Smokey didn't know houses like this existed.
34
From her place by the door, Smokey looked as far as the
open doors would allow. She could see what looked to be a
library, a huge parlor, and possibly another smaller parlor.
Windows directly opposite the foyer, on the east side of the
house, gave her a splendid view of the sea.
She was tempted to walk to them and look out, but kept
her place and continued to gaze around her. She was still
studying the smoothly painted walls and light oak flooring
when Jenny called her name and approached
'You're here," Jenny said with a grin after she'd given her
a quick, impetuous hug. "I'm so glad you could come," she told
Smokey sincerely, as she slipped her arm within Smokey's and
led her toward the parlor. "YoucanastTar^if -*. ni*-u..**'--
t ---,..- . ~ww .v in Hie KJiuien.
The mention of the kitchen reminded Smokey that she
had been uncertain as to when to come. "I wasn't sure if I
should come before or after lunch... I mean, if you would be
prepared to have me for lunch." Smokey stopped when Jenny
chuckled
"Our cook is a dream. She can have a banquet on the table
with just a few hours' notice. I assure you, you would have
been welcome whenever you arrived."
Jenny wasted no time in making Smokey comfortable. She
gave her an immediate tour of the entire house, and Smokey
was more awestruck than before. The kitchen and dining
rooms were immense and sparkling clean. The room off the
foyer that Smokey had taken to be a second parlor was in fact a
music room. Next to this was a sun room, with more windows
looking out to the east.
The stairs were wide and carpeted as they led Smokey and
Jenny to the second floor, which had nine large bedrooms.
The two young women ended their tour in what was to be
Smokey's bedroom during her visit. After showing her around
the vast room, Jenny left her to freshen up.
A maid had put her few things away, and Smokey didn't
know quite what to do with herself. Her men always took care
35
of her on ship, but that was their job. Somehow this felt
decadent. At Willa's, or aboard the Aramis, she had more jobs
waiting for her attention than the hours of the day allowed.
Smokey circled the room slowly and stopped by the window.
It was a huge piece of glass covered with sheer, lacy
curtains. Captivated, Smokey touched them almost reverently.
They were so unlike anything she had at home or on shipboard
Suddenly Smokey realized the curtain was hiding a
spectacular view.
Moving gently, she pulled the curtain aside to display a
sweeping panorama of the Atlantic. Smokey stared as though
mesmerized Living inland from the port at Kennebunk didn't
give her daily views of the sea when she was at home. Why, it
was almost like being aboard ship!
Suddenly Smokey found herself wondering whether she
would ever sail again if she owned a house on the sea. Such a
thought had never occurred to her, and she immediately felt
upset at the idea. Before her thoughts could run rampant,
however, she remembered she did not have a house like this
and probably never would Her business was a tremendous
success, so she could easily have afforded to buy a home of her
own, but the idea of living alone did not appeal to her in the
least.
Her next thought, that of asking Willa to move, made her
laugh out loud Dynamite couldn't shift Willa from the house
where she had raised all five of her children. The idea was so
outrageous that Smokey couldn't hold her chuckles. She was
still giggling when a maid knocked at the door and entered
She had hot water and clean towels for Smokey, who had just
barely had time to school her features.
Tate placed a soft kiss on the back of his wife's neck when
she asked him to button the back of her dinner gown. She and
36
Tate were in the habit of dressing for dinner and sharing the
day's events as they did so. All Jenny's talk on this evening was
of Smokey. They had shared a lovely afternoon together, and
Jenny told Tate that although Smokey was still a bit hesitant
with her, they were making progress.
"She seems so young and lost at times, and she looks at the
house and furniture as though she's never seen anything like
them before."
"So you feel sorry for her," Tate murmured softly. To his
surprise, Jenny chuckled
"No, I don't. I feel sorry for me. Something tells me that I
haven't even scratched the surface of the real Smokey. And
that if she ever opens up, I might just find myself in over my
head If only I can make her see..."
"See what?" Tate questioned when Jenny hesitated.
"That I really want to be her friend, a friend she can trust. I
want her to like me so much that I hurt. I don't want to
smother her, but I want her to see my friendship as genuine,
and I--" Jenny stopped and shrugged helplessly. "Did that
make any sense?"
"Yes. In your brief time together, you've come to care
deeply for her, and you want her to care in return."
Jenny's sigh was one of relief over his understanding as
they made their way to the door. They were in the dining room hen
Smokey came to the door. She paused on the threshold,
her face a mask of dismay.
"What is it, Smokey?"
"I should have changed my dress." Smokey's cheeks had
turned red with humiliation upon spotting her hostess' lovely
frock. Jenny, horrified that she had been so thoughtless, found
herself helplessly tongue-tied. Smokey stood stiffly on the
I threshold, wishing she could vanish, but Tate rescued them fctarh
se don't mind us, Smokey," he said. "Jenny's family is
K>re relaxed, but my family is used to dressing for
jgd we've fallen into the habit. We're really not snobs."
&
i&s.
37
The cross-eyed look on Tate's face was so comical that
Smokey immediately relaxed They took their seats, and dinner
was served It was a sumptuous feast of beef, sage dressing,
fresh turnip greens, and mince pie. Smokey ate her fill.
Jenny and Tate had decided they would not press Smokey
in any way to share about herself, but as they ate and the
conversation flowed, they learned little things.
"You don't have to leave right away, do you, Smokey? I
mean, we were hoping you could stay for a few weeks," Jenny
commented after the soup.
"I don't really have anything pressing right now. I didn't
tell Darsey when I would need to be picked up because I
wasn't sure."
Smokey realized that they weren't going to give her the
third degree and she was thankful, but she could also see that
she needed to explain about Darsey.
"Darsey was my father's first mate, and he still works for
me. He's always been like a second father to me, and especially
now that my father is gone. Willa, th
e woman I told you
about, is his sister. We live with her when we're home." Not
until after Smokey uttered the words did she realize that
statement would need yet another explanation, but just then
they were interrupted. Amaid arrived and told them Buck was
there to see them.
"Oh, thank you, Polly," Jenny told her before turning to
Smokey. "Buck is my brother, and you're going to love him.
Let's go into the parlor. I'll ask Polly to serve our coffee there."
Before Smokey could draw another breath, Tate had
gently taken her arm and was leading her out of the room. She
took a moment to conjure up what a person named Buck
would look like, but as soon as she followed Jenny into the
room, she could see that she couldn't be more wrong.
Engaging was the only word that would come to Smokey's
mind, and that was before Buck had uttered a word. He was a
small man, slightly taller than Smokey but shorter than his
sister, and petite in build. His small frame and exact manner
38
caused several names to jump to mind, but Buck certainly
wasn't one of them.
"Hello, Buck/'Jenny greeted him warmly. After kissing his
sister, Buck dropped somewhat dramatically onto the sofa.
"I've decided to propose to her, Jen, but if she says no, then
I'll wish that I had given her more time. On the other hand, if
she says yes, I'll wish that I'd asked sooner."
Smokey, who sat on the small settee Tate had led her
toward, stared at Jenny's brother. He had thrown his head
back and said all of this with his eyes on the ceiling. Smokey
looked to Tate then, who winked audaciously before turning
to speak to his brother-in-law.
"Come now, Buck, I'm sure she'll have you. How could she
resist?" Not realizing how serious Buck was, Tate wanted to
tease him from his somber mood.
"I don't know. She was very quiet tonight."
"We have company, Buck," Jen said softly when it seemed
he would lie there for some time. Jen could see that her
brother was serious, and she wanted to listen, but she realized
he must not have seen Smokey, for he would not want to share
all of this in front of a stranger.
"Miss Victoria Simmons from Kennebunk is staying with
us." Tate said this, having finally seen that Buck was truly
feeling low.
His words did the trick. Without rising, Buck's head came
up. His eyes narrowed and then widened upon spotting
Smokey. An instant later he came off the sofa as though on