by Lori Wick
nailed him with a glance.
"Not a bit, lass, but if you ask me--"
"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 that 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
