by Lori Wick
on. "Darsey, how did the Aramis come to be docked in the
south quarter?"
Still trying to deal with all she had shared, Darsey took a
ragged breath and began to tell of his nightmare in the last 36
hours.
"I didn't give you much time to return to the back room.
When you hadn't shown in five minutes, I got nervous. When
two more went past, I hit the door running. There was no sign
of you.
157
"Someone in the tavern said that the table in the corner
pad recently been occupied and was now empty. Hearing that,
I| ran for the docks. As you well know, there was no trace of
I you. I searched for a time--many of us did--but I didn't wait vvery long before going back into Clancy's and asking about the
men who were missing.
"No one seemed to know a thing about them, and for
Clancy's, that's not normal. Meg and Bart know everyone who
walks through the door, or they do soon afterward. Evidently
those two were not new, but neither were they regulars until
some weeks ago. Any and all attempts to gain information
from them were met with blank stares, and since they kept to
themselves and always paid their bill, Bart let them alone.
"When Clancy's came up dry, I did a little more inquiring
in the neighboring taverns. Bart went with me. Even though
others had seen the men we spoke of, no one knew their
names. I felt frantic at that point, and on the off chance that
you'd returned, decided to head back to the ship. Docked
some yards away from us was a huge frigate. I don't know why
it caught my interest, but it was so heavily guarded that I
couldn't get it out of my mind.
"When they pushed off, we followed them. I knew there
was a chance that I could be leaving you high and dry on the
docks, but I simply had to follow that ship. Strangely enough,
they did not head for high seas. They docked again, this time
in the--"
"South port area," Smokey finished for him, now understanding
exactly where she had been. All this said, both
Darsey and Smokey fell quiet. When Smokey spoke, she
sounded weary.
"I want to go home, Darsey. I want to go home to Willa's
cooking and scolding and loving."
"We've set a course for Kennebunk, lass," Darsey told her,
watching as her eyes briefly slid shut with relief. She hadn't
eaten anything yet, but for the moment there was no need.
Darsey watched as she scooted low beneath the covers and
closed her eyes, this time to sleep.
159
Q/mifo~Q/m
159
Smokey back for weeks. An appearance now would bring a
myriad of questions.
Smokey had no idea how Jenny would respond to all she
had been through. With Jenny's present condition in mind,
and real concern for the baby, Smokey made herself stay away.
It was one of the hardest things she had ever asked herself to
do.
smokey lay in her bed at Willa's and stared at the white
ceiling above her. She had been home for over two weeks and
had done little but sleep, eat, and take long walks to the beach,
where she would sit for hours and pray.
Her encounter with Haamich Wynn made her feel as if
something precious had been wrenched away from her. She
had escaped physical harm, but the emotional effects went
deep. She knew such men existed, but she had never faced one
personally.
Smokey also spent hours every day thinking about Dallas
and wondering where he could be. She asked herself all the
questions she wanted to ask him. Did he understand that she
panicked on the docks that night? Was he angry over the way
she was dressed, or was it concern? And always, her last
question--why, if he was angry or upset with her, did he pull
her back for another kiss?
All these questions and many more swam through her
mind. She longed for answers, but when none came she
repeatedly forced her mind back to God's sovereign will,
asking for His peace in this troubling time.
She also prayed for Jenny. She hadn't been to see her since
she returned, but it wasn't for lack of want. In truth, she
wanted desperately to see her, but Jenny was not expecting
"Why, Dolly," Jenny exclaimed as her brother opened the
door to her bed-sitter after a soft knock.
"May I come in?"
"Of course," Jenny assured him and stayed on the settee
after he had waved her back down.
Dallas bent and kissed her cheek. "Motherhood agrees
with you; I've never seen you look lovelier."
"Thank you," Jenny told him sincerely. As her hand moved
to her distended stomach, she wished she could return the
compliment. Dallas was smiling and looked genuinely glad to
see her, but as she took a moment to study his face, Jenny saw
something that disturbed her.
"Did I misunderstand you, Dolly, or are you back before
you had originally planned?"
"I am early, yes, and I'm afraid I can't stay. I'm looking for
Smokey."
"Smokey?" Jenny frowned in confusion and studied her
brother's face once again. He was working hard to hide his
anxiety, but it was there.
"She isn't here. Did you really expect her to be?"
He shook his head regretfully. "I only hoped Has she been
in touch?"
"No. Dallas, what's going on?" Jenny's use of his real name
told him she was frightened.
He hesitated and then spoke with a measured tone. "I saw
Smokey when I was in London, but she was in a terrific hurry
(^ i
160
and we didn't really get to talk. I was rather hoping she had
come home, since I had an early shipment for Tate." Dallas did
not tell Jenny that he altered his course in hopes of seeing
Smokey. "I just wanted to make sure everything was all right
with her."
Jenny looked instantly relieved "I'm sure she's fine, probably
running a little behind schedule. Knowing Smokey, she's
made up for it by now and is halfway to the Orient."
Dallas worked to put a smile on his face. "Just in case she
did come this way, I think I'll ride over and check with
Darsey's sister. Where did you say she lived?"
Dallas had finally managed to use his normal voice, and
Jenny gave him directions to Willa's without the slightest
reservation.
Willa poured coffee for Darsey and Smokey before refilling
her own cup and sitting down at the table again. They had
just eaten a wonderful meal of baked fish, and everyone was
full and content.
"That was wonderful, Willa," Smokey told her. The older
woman smiled Smokey had been off her food for the first
week she was home, and it was nice to see her face filled out
again.
"My mother's recipe," Willa said and smiled at Darsey. "Do
you remember those Saturday clambakes, Dars?"
Darsey chuckled and explained to Smokey. "Mother hated
clams, couldn't even stand the smell of them. So as a new
&n
bsp; bride, when the rest of the family was eating clams, Mother
always baked fish for herself. Mother was so good at it that
Father wasn't long in joining her and abandoning the clams.
"Before their first anniversary the whole family was eating
fish on Saturday afternoons. They never stopped calling it a
clambake, but they all ate fish."
161
Smokey listened with rapt attention to their reminiscences.
She'd never had a family life like the type they had
known, and it was all very fascinating and wonderful to her.
She thought she could sit all evening and hear them go on, but
there was a knock at the door.
Willa rose to answer it, saying that their neighbor, Mrs.
Bright, had planned to bring some fabric over so Willa could
help make some clothes for her baby granddaughter. Neither
Darsey nor Smokey noticed when they did not hear the sound
of Mrs. Bright's voice, but when the deep tones of a masculine
voice floated from the front room, they both tensed
Smokey's back was to the kitchen door, but she kept her
eyes fixed on Darsey's face and knew the exact moment their
guest entered
"Hello, Dallas," Darsey spoke easily. To his credit, he did
not look at Smokey. "Would you like to sit down and have some
coffee?"
"Thank you, but I'll pass. I'd like to talk with Smokey if I
may."
Smokey's heart was doing funny things just hearing his
voice, but she forced herself to turn and, with a semblance of
calm, look at Dallas.
"May I talk with you, Smokey?" he asked when her eyes
locked with his.
"Certainly," Smokey said and rose slowly from the table
"We can go into the front room." Smokey mentally congratulated
herself on how normal she sounded and hoped that he
wouldn't notice how she was trembling as she led the way to
the parlor.
Once seated across the room from each other on the old,
comfortable furniture, an unwelcome silence fell. Smokey
spent a few moments looking at the hands in her lap and then
out the window, dark as it was. She glanced up to find Dallas'
eyes riveted on her.
"Am I out of line to ask why you were so set on leaving me
when we met in London?"
162
"No," Smokey began, "but it's a long story and I--"
"I have time," Dallas cut in.
Smokey nodded "First of all, I'm sorry I kicked you. That
was terrible, and I only hope you can forgive me."
"Were you afraid of me, Smokey? Did you think I was going
to force you to do something against your wishes?" Dallas*
face and voice were so pained that Smokey nearly cried.
"No, Dallas, no!" Smokey's hand went to her mouth in
horror. "Itwasn't that at all. I just panicked out offearforyou. I
acted without thinking."
"Fear for me?" Dallas' face was now a mask of confusion.
Smokey took a deep, calming breath and began to share.
"We were running behind schedule as you might have already
guessed, or we would have been out of London before you
arrived. We really should have rushed on, but I knew we
wouldn't be back for some time and I wanted to see the folks at
Clancy's.
"I left the back room long enough to take care of a personal
need, and when I came out of Meg's private rooms, a
man grabbed me. I fought, but he held a drug-soaked cloth
over my mouth. Everything went black, and when I woke up I
was on a ship."
The hair stood up on the back of Dallas' neck, and fear
pounded in his chest. He shifted in his chair, his face intense
as he waited for her to continue,
"There was no one with me, and I was lying on the bed
The room was rife with lewd art and paintings, but I wasn't
given much time to look around When the door opened, a
man came in." Smokey wondered how detailed she should be.
She would be horribly embarrassed to repeat all the pirate
had said
"The man was Haamich Wynn."
"The pirate?" Dallas broke his silence.
"Yes. He told me that my capture was deliberate and that
he wanted to get to know me better. He insisted that I put on
that red dress."
163
A flicker of skepticism lit Dallas' eyes, but Smokey, thinking
she had imagined it, kept talking. She was babbling
slightly, and some of her facts were getting muddled
"I noticed some fencing swords on the wall, and I told him
I would fight him. He agreed to set me free if I won. I've never
done such a thing before but I cut his face. He actually fainted
at the sight of his own blood. I tied him up and ran away.
"I ran from the ship, but my escape was immediately
noticed, and his men came after me. That's when I ran into
you. I was afraid of your being found with me, so when you
wouldn't let me go, I panicked." Smokey ended with a small shrug and noticed that Dallas looked almost angry.
"I'd heard that Haamich Wynn was a huge man."
"He is. As big as Darsey, if not bigger."
"And you want me to believe that you had a duel with him
and won?" Dallas could no longer hide his doubt.
Smokey's whole body stiffened at his tone. She stood, her
entire being radiating anger.
"I apologized for kicking you, Dallas, but I did not owe you
an explanation."
Dallas stood also. "No, I guess you didn't, but there are
some things that bother me. I'd like to get the entire picture."
"No," she told him. She could see that she had surprised
him. "I've told you all I'm going to, and if that isn't good
enough, then that's too bad. As I said, I owe you nothing, and I
might add that I don't deserve your judgment."
"I'm not judging you." Dallas fought to keep his voice
even.
"So you believe me?"
Dallas hesitated, and it cost him.
"Get out, Dallas," Smokey told him, her voice low with
fury. "Get out and do not come back, not until you're ready to
apologize for believing me a liar."
"Smokey, if you would just tell me again how you came to
be in the dress, I--"
"Get out." Smokey's voice was whisper soft, and Dallas
knew he would have to give her some time.
164
It was on his tongue to apologize, but he felt so muddled at
the moment. With regret he moved toward the door. Knowing
that he'd handled the situation very badly, he looked back, but
Smokey was already leaving the room. He noticed that she did
not even turn as she strode back toward the kitchen.
Q/w/fQmie
a
twenty-four hours later the Aramis set sail with a full
crew. Darsey was at the helm when Smokey came topside to
check on the men.
"I want answers, Darsey," she told him as she stood next to
the older man. "I won't be home until I get some."
Darsey, having already read her motive for leaving Willa's,
only nodded.
"You might be asking for trouble," he told her, his face and
voice calm.
"Well, I've never been afraid of tro
uble," she said logically.
"And since I can't go on as I am, wondering and upset, I think
I'd best do what I can."
Darsey only nodded. The old sparkle was back in her eye.
He knew that she had prayed constantly while they had been
home, but he also recognized as Smokey just had, that she had
been hiding. Now she was facing her fears and acting with the
good sense she normally had
If she had wanted to head out and trade in southern waters
as she had originally planned, Darsey would have been all for
it. But now she needed to fit together the pieces of this puzzle,
and Darsey understood that just as well. He prayed for her and
her responsibility as captain of their vessel. He also prayed for
166
167
Dallas, who was certain to come looking for Smokey again
and find her gone.
"She's not here," Willa told Dallas the afternoon after
Smokey left.
"When do you expect her back?" Dallas asked, never
dreaming that she was on her ship.
Willa was as unflappable as ever when she answered. "It
could be weeks, but I'm thinking it probably will be months."
"You mean she's left on the Aramisr Dallas asked in
astonishment.
"With Darsey and the whole crew. I'm not sure how much
trading they'll do, but Smokey needed to find some answers."
Distracted, Dallas ran a hand through his hair and stood in
frustration. He turned to leave, barely remembering to bid
Willa goodbye.
Willa shut the door and then watched from the front room
window. "That Darsey's got me to answer to when he returns!
Why didn't he ever tell me that Dallas was in love with her?"
"He's good, Darsey; I'll give him that," Smokey told her
first mate some seven weeks after they had set sail.
Darsey could only shake his head. Their search to know
more about the pirate Haamich Wynn reminded him of the
night that Smokey was taken. One dead-end lead after another.
They had been to London, France, the Netherlands, and
even up into Norway and Sweden, and had still come up
empty. They weren't discouraged, but more curious than
ever.
Smokey was wondering if this wasn't God's way of telling
her to let the matter rest. She was quite certain of this and
praying about heading home or doing some trading when the
weather stepped in and answered for her.
A storm hit hard and fast, and the Aramis and her crew
found themselves stranded just off China Island making
repairs. They had plenty of stores to survive, as well as to fix