by Lori Wick
thought it all out while Smokey had been away. Jenny would introduce the new Smokey Simmons at her going-away party.
"jenny was hoping you would come for lunch, Dallas,"
Tate told his brother-in-law as he led the way into the dining
room.
A place had been set for him, but Dallas immediately
noted that his was the only extra setting and that Smokey was
not in attendance. He had looked for her at church but seen
only Jenny and Tate All the way over he had hoped he'd only
missed her.
"I saw Kathleen this morning just as she was leaving,"
Jenny chatted as the entre"e was served "She's very excited
about the party, but said you had forgotten to tell her. She said
you had been awfully busy since you returned and it must
have slipped your mind" Jenny prattled on without immediately
looking at her brother's face.
At that moment, Dallas was calling himself every kind of
fool. He had put off talking with Kathleen because he'd been
so busy working on the Zephyr. He had barely taken time to
sleep, let alone see Kathleen.
"Dolly," Jenny finally took a moment to look across the
table at her silent sibling, "have I been out of line?"
"It's all right, Jen," Dallas quickly reassured her when he
saw a look of panic on her face. "It's my fault for not telling
you. I have been busy, but I should have made time to see
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Kathleen. My feelings have changed, and I have realized it's
not fair to her to let it go on."
"Oh, Dolly," Jenny murmured
"Will you tell her now or after the party?" Tate wanted to
know.
"I'd like us to be friends, so maybe I can talk to her and we
can still attend together." Dallas doubted the idea the moment
it was out of his mouth, but he stayed silent. His sister was just
as skeptical, but she felt as if she'd already opened her mouth
one time too many.
"I thought Smokey was here," Dallas tried to comment
casually a few minutes later, but couldn't quite hold the tone.
Jenny and Tate had to force themselves not to look at one
another.
So thafs the way the wind blows, "Kite thought. However,
he said only, "She decided to go home for a few days. She'll
come back Thursday or Friday."
"And the party is Saturday?" Dallas double-checked.
"Right."
The table fell silent then and remained so until dessert
was served They discussed ships over cake and coffee. Nothing
more was said about Smokey, Kathleen, or Dallas' relationship
to either woman.
"Now tell me again who you Invited?"
"Buck and Greer, Pastor and Mrs. Chase.. ."Jenny went on
to name a few more people and then watched her friend's face
carefully as she finished the list. "And Dolly will be coming
and bringing Kathleen."
Smokey nodded but said nothing. She watched Jenny
watching her and knew what she was thinking.
"Did you expect me to react?"
Jenny had the good grace to blush. "I'm sorry, Smokey. I
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really wasn't trying to set you up, but I guess I do wonder if you
and Dolly are any closer to each other now than before you
left. But then that's none of my business."
"It's all right," Smokey told her contrite friend "You could
have asked me; I wouldn't have minded. If the question bothered
me, I'd have just told you."
"You're so honest with me about your feelings, Smokey.
You can't believe how much I admire that. I'll remember not to
ever drop hints or attempt subtlety. Either I'll come right out
and ask you or keep my mouth shut."
"Thanks, Jen," Smokey told her sincerely and then went
on. "I thought a few times while we were gone that something
might be starting up between Dallas and me, and believe me,
it would have been welcome on my part. But to tell you the
truth, I'm going to be away for a long time, and it's probably
best to leave things alone."
"How does that make you feel?"
"A little sad, but then I'm trying to be somewhat pragmatic
about the whole thing. I don't believe anything would have
ever come of it.1'
"Why do you say that?"
"Because to have Dallas fall for me as I have for him would
be a dream come true, and I've never put much faith in fairy
tales."
"But we have a God who loves to give us the desires of our
heart."
Smokey had never thought of it that way. She said nothing
for a moment. Jenny watched her.
"I haven't been fully trusting the Lord where Dallas is
concerned, so your point is well taken, but what about the
desires of Kathleen's heart?"
This time it was Jenny's turn to be silent. She let out asmall
sigh and spoke quietly.
"I don't have an answer for that, Smokey, but even though I
have nothing against Kathleen, I'm not going to stop praying
that God blesses you with every dream of your heart." Jenny
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punctuated her words with a warm hug. The subject was
dropped then, and the women went on with their plans for the
party the following night.
"Well, now," Tate said softly and for his wife's ears alone, as
the new Smokey Simmons joined them in the parlor on Saturday
evening. He clearly remembered that first evening when
Smokey had dined with them and how she had been embarrassed
about not changing her dress. Tate had regretted her
discomfort then and smiled at the fact that she had no such
worries tonight. In fact, Jenny had told him that Smokey had five new dresses.
The one she had chosen for tonight was a pale gray silk
with a rounded neckline and long, tapered sleeves. The fitted
bodice revealed her small rounded bosom and trim waist. The
skirt flared into yards of folds and tucks that dropped in layer
after layer all the way to the floor.
In truth Smokey looked like a princess. Jenny had brushed
her hair straight down her back and then carefully swept the
sides back with matching dark gray combs, letting the back
hang free. She put her own hair atop her head, but she had
never seen Smokey's hair down before, and after she did, she
refused to put it back up.
"Well, Tate," Jenny turned to him and spoke so that Smokey
could hear. "What do you think of our guest of honor?"
Tate bowed low and spoke with a twinkle in his eye. "You
are enchanting, Miss Simmons."
Smokey didn't smile in return; she wrung her hands in
despair. "Do I really look all right?"
"Yes, Smokey," Jenny told her patiently, "You look lovely."
"What if I spill something down the front of me? This pale
fabric will show the smallest drop."
"You're not going to do that," Jenny told her, and Tate's
heart turned over a little. She was so unsure of herself. For a
moment he wondered if Smokey might think this was more
trouble than it was worth. He found himself wishing he had
gone himself and tried to convince Darsey and his sister to
/> come. Tate was certain that Smokey would be more at ease if
they were present.
"I'm acting silly," Tate heard her say at last. "I know all the
people who are coming--well, almost all--and I've no reason
to be nervous."
"Right!" Jenny agreed with a decisive nod. Then both
women went into gales of laugher because Smokey hadn't
convinced herself in the least. A moment later, however, they
quickly tried to school their faces as the first guests started to
arrive.
"Kathleen!" her mother barked as she came into her
daughter's bedroom and found her sitting in front of the
mirror at her dressing table, the hairbrush forgotten at her
side. "Put that book down and finish with your hair this
instant! He's going to be here any moment."
"But Mother, this book is all about the pyramids in Egypt.
There are even some drawings."
Mrs. Wagner snatched the book from her daughter's hand
and tossed it onto the bed. "How many times do I have to tell
you, you're never going to find a husband like that. Dallas is
the finest catch this town has to offer, and if you don't play
your cards right, you'll never land him!"
"He's not a fish, Mother," Kathleen said tiredly.
"You watch your mouth, young lady! Now I want your word
that you'll say nothing this evening of the latest mathematics
or history book you've read."
Kathleen continued to work on her hair without answering.
She knew that now was not the time to tell her mother
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._ _ ^ x* o, ulh mure 10 oo witfi herself and lingering
feelings over a man she hadn't seen for months. She stayed
quiet a little too long, and a glance in the mirror told her that
her mother was furious.
"All right," she agreed to avoid a scene.|
"Good" Mrs. Wagner's demeanor changed as if by magic. J
She was always easy to live with when she got her way, and
Kathleen hated confrontation. It was a relief when her father
called up the stairs to say that Dallas had arrived
"I'll go down and talk with him. You stay here awhile."
"But I'm ready to go," Kathleen told her as she adjusted the
last hairpin. "It's already a little late."
"Do as I tell you," Mrs. Wagner hissed at her. "A man hates
to be kept waiting, but it adds mystery to the romance." On
that note the older woman sailed out the door, and Kathleen
was left looking at herself in the mirror.
How awful to live your whole life as a lie, Kathleen thought,
not for the first time. It had started when Kathleen had been
ten and a neighborhood boy had called her a bookworm. Her
mother had overheard and given her a long talk that evening
on how she must never appear to be smarter than a man.
Kathleen remembered her words very well.
"I always got better marks than your father did, but I was
a poor girl from a poor family and I knew if I didn't play it
right, I would never better myself. A man wants his wife to be
slightly dull in a cute sort of way, and helplessly dependent on
him."
Kathleen could never get her mother to explain why a man
wanted this, but that had been the way she was raised Looking
in the mirror again, Kathleen wondered if it was time to go
down.
She knew she would never get the hang of this deceitfuless.
She also knew that her mother had never fooled her
father, not with herself or her daughter. Every time she left for
evening out, as she was now doing with Dallas, he would
lug her and whisper for her ears alone.
"Be yourself, honey; just be yourself."
The ride from Kathleen's home to the Pembertons' would
take nearly 30 minutes. The first part of that half hour was
spent in silence. Kathleen was dying to ask Dallas about his ship's repairs, but she knew her mother would be furious.
Of course, Kathleen told herself, you're just friends now.
Maybe it would be all right to be yourself. But old habits die
hard, and when Dallas asked her how she'd been, she once
again fell into the helpless female routine.
"Mother and I are doing some decorating on the house.
We're starting in the kitchen. I love to sew, and of course
Mother will hire someone to do the painting. Father is too
busy, and mother and I don't know how."
Dallas nodded, not sure what to say. He'd have been
surprised to know that Kathleen was biting her tongue to
keep from telling Dallas the truth--that she could paint an
entire houseful of rooms if she put her mind to it, and for that
matter, probably learn to make her own paint to boot. Kathleen
found herself wishing she had refused Dallas' invitation;
it was certain to be a long evening.
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kathleen was right. The evening did prove to be long, but
despite the fact that she was learning some hard lessons, she
had a good time. Since Dallas clearly had eyes for another
woman, she was thankful that she'd never fallen head-over-heels
in love with him.
Smokey Simmons, the guest of honor, was the object of
Dallas' attention, and Kathleen couldn't blame him. She was
the most fascinating woman she had ever encountered, and
clearly Dallas shared that belief. At first Smokey seemed a bit
nervous, but as the evening progressed she laughed and
shared in all of the conversations.
Some of the couples left early, so by 11:00, Smokey, the
Pembertons, Buck, Greer, Dallas, Kathleen, and the Chases
were all who remained It had just come out that Smokey was a
ship's captain, and Pastor Chase was truly intrigued.
"Where do you usually sail?"
"Wherever I need to in order to receive or deliver goods."
"England?" Mrs. Chase wanted to know.
"Yes, all over Europe actually."
"How about the east?" Kathleen put in.
"It's been some time since I've sailed in those waters, but
I'll be headed in that direction when we set sail next week."
"Do you ever see Dallas and the Zephyr?" Greer asked.
"Not often, but I have seen him."
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"I never see anything but the wake of her rudder as she
i back out of port with a holdful of treasures." Dallas' tone
so wounded that eveyone in the room laughed Smokey,
i was as relaxed as she'd ever been, teased him, her eyes
I wide with innocence.
"You could always remain a crewman, Dallas."
"Ohhhh," both Buck and Tate interjected when they saw
the mischievous light in Dallas' eyes.
"And run the risk of being stuck with another Captain
Bly?"
Now Smokey's eyes took on a glint, but Dallas, who was
warm to his subject, ignored the signs.
"Do you know that she's cruel to her cook?" he said to the
room at large, but never took his eyes from her face. "Her cook
brings perfectly good food to her cabin, and she refuses to eat
it. She forces him to put his own meal aside and make her
something else."
The occupants of the room were on the edge of their
chai
rs with fascination. Dallas and Smokey sparred back and
forth as though they were alone in the room.
"This is insubordination, sailor," Smokey told him, trying
to look stern.
"We're not on ship, Captain," Dallas reminded her smugly.
"Lucky for you."
This last comment caused everyone to roar. When the
laughter died down, Buck had a very serious question that
only led to more hilarity.
"Smokey, how do you handle disobedience?"
Smokey and Dallas chuckled
"I don't," she admitted, and Dallas went on to explain.
"Smokey has the most unusual crew I've ever met. No man
is under 40, and they all have appointed themselves guardians
of their captain. I was watched like a hawk."
"Why?" Buck asked
"They do tend to be rather protective," Smokey answered,
"because they've known me from the time I was a child On
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the other hand, they don't know Dallas, and trust for a new; man comes hard in a crew as close as my own."
"So you really never discipline anyone?"
"It wouldn't do a bit of good," Smokey said with a wry
shake of her head.
Dallas jumped in at that point and told the story about the
spinach. Jenny and Pastor Chase had tears rolling down their
faces as he recounted the tale. Smokey laughed at Dallas*
version of the event and added when he was done that it
happens nearly every voyage.
Pastor and Mrs. Chase said their goodbyes soon after that,
and everyone stood to stretch their legs. The room was very
warm to Smokey, so when Jenny and Tate saw them to the
door, she headed out the French doors of the parlor for a bit of
air. Dallas watched her exit and without a word to anyone,
followedV
Kathleen took all of this in without distress. Turning away
so Dallas would feel free to follow his heart, she began to visit
with Buck and Greer.
It was cold outside, but the cool air felt wonderful as
Smokey stood above the beach and listened to the pounding
of the waves against the shore. The nearly full moon sent a ray
of light across the surface of the Atlantic that was mesmerizing,
shimmering and winking at her like a thousand tiny
jewels.
She felt more than heard Dallas' presence behind her on
the grass and turned to find him approaching. He stopped
beside her and stared at her for a long moment.
"Did I tell you that you look lovely this evening?"
"Thank you, Dallas. I was thinking you look wonderful