Wings of the Morning

by Lori Wick

  the shadows, for there was no other way. She was halfway

  down when a shout rang out from the drunken watchman and

  the remaining crew began to gather. Smokey took off at a run,

  thankful that she'd kept her boots on. A slight sound of panic

  and pounding feet followed her, but Smokey knew that as long

  as no one else got in her way, she would get away.

  There was no other port in the world quite like London.

  Although she knew generally where she was, this section was

  somewhat unfamiliar to her. She knew she could never outrun

  the men, so she took to hiding. She shot down an alley and

  took a moment to catch her breath.

  She stood between two buildings, and even though she

  could hear people talking inside, she felt safe for the moment.

  The moon was bright and the sky was clear, so she knew she

  must keep to the shadows. Suddenly she heard men running.

  They were still a ways off and beyond the corner of the

  building, but she knew she would have to keep on.

  She turned and ran up the alley as fast as she could. As the

  narrow lane emptied out onto the other side, her mad dash for

  freedom was halted instantly when she ran full tilt into a big

  man's chest. He immediately lay hold of her, and Smokey,

  knowing she had been caught, began to fight with all her

  strength.

  "Easy, easy," a deep voice spoke above her as the man tried

  to calm the wild thing in his hands.

  Hearing that voice, Smokey stilled, but not before she

  threw her head back to see his face. Only one word escaped

  her lips.

  "Dallas!"

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  "smokey," dallas said with surprised pleasure, and the

  small black-haired woman felt tears burn her throat.

  "Oh, Dallas," she cried softly as he drew her into his arms

  and held her tenderly against his chest. Smokey didn't know

  when anything had felt so wonderful. To be at the mercy of an

  unprincipled pirate and now to stand in the secure arms of the

  man she loved was almost more than she could take.

  "Your hair isn't braided," Dallas whispered almost to himself,

  and Smokey was brought abruptly back to earth. Haamich

  Wynn was still looking for her.

  "Dallas," Smokey pushed away from him slightly, although

  Dallas did not relinquish his hold Images of the pirate in a

  fight with Dallas made Smokey shudder, and her voice was

  filled with fear as she spoke.

  "I can't explain right now, but I have to go. I--"

  Smokey's words were cut off when a door opened and

  flooded them with light. Smokey felt Dallas' frame tense and

  his eyes darken when he saw the way she was dressed His

  eyes dipped down to her neckline and then back to her eyes.

  There was no warmth in his voice when he questioned her.

  "What's going on, Smokey?"

  "I don't have time to explain," she began and tried to move

  out of his hold

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  "No," he told her abruptly. "You're not going anywhere ?'until I have some answers."

  Smokey's head whipped to the right at the sound of someone

  entering the opposite end of the alley. She began to

  struggle and whisper frantically.

  "Let me go. I can't explain it right now. You've got to let me

  go," Smokey begged him, but it was no use; he held her with

  ease.

  "What are you--" he began.

  "Please, Dallas." Smokey was becoming frantic, and Dallas

  was on the verge of releasing her when she acted out of

  desperation. Her hand shot out and captured the back of his

  head, and at the same time she threw her entire body toward

  the building with all her might.

  Before Dallas could form another thought, he found himself

  holding Smokey against the building and kissing her, or

  was she kissing him? For a moment he was too stunned to act.

  Then his senses swam, and taking action or even thinking was

  the farthest thing from his mind

  For long moments nothing else existed. He didn't hear the

  men that passed and took him for a man enjoying the pleasures

  of a dockside prostitute. He didn't realize that all around

  him men were looking for the very woman he held

  All he knew was that Smokey was kissing him in a way he

  hadn't thought possible. She was soft and warm, and her arms

  wrapped around him with a type of tender desperation. Her

  lips were sweet, and Dallas thought he would drown in her

  kiss.

  As much as it pained her to do so, Smokey began to scoot

  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

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  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?"

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  "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.

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  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

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  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.

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  "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."

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  "Can you tell me about it?"

  "Do you remember my going out?"

  "Yes."

  "When I came out of Meg's private rooms, I noticed a man

  standing there. I was thinking about what Meg and I had been

  discussing and never gave him any thought. He grabbed me

  from behind I struggled, and because he was small, I nearly

  got away. But then he pressed a sweet-smelling cloth over my

  mouth. I woke up aboard a ship in a strange room."

  "Who did this?"

  "HaamichWynn."

  "The pirate?"

  "Yes." Smokey's voice was soft.

  "I've heard he's a huge man."

  "He is. I don't know who it was that grabbed me; obviously

  someone who works for him."

  At that point Smokey went on to give Darsey the entire

  story, from the moment she woke up, fought with the pirate,

  escaped, and saw Dallas to where she found the Aramis.

  "You actually kicked Dallas?" Darsey asked her.

  Smokey nodded regretfully. "I panicked when he wouldn't

  let me go. All I could think about was Haamich Wynn finding

  him with me and killing him. I don't know if he'll ever forgive

  me."

  "I'm sure you just need to explain."

  "I hope you're right."

  The two fell silent for a moment, and then Smokey went