"We"ve been working our way through the book of James for some time."
"Were you at church, Buck? I didn"t see you."
Buck grinned "You didn"t see me because the pipe organ nearly hides my frame."
"Oh, Buck," Smokey exclaimed in delight. "You were the one playing. It was just beautiful."
Buck inclined his head in true modesty. Jenny had joined them again, and she talked about Buck"s musical ability, which was considerable. He"d been playing for years and had mastered the piano, organ, and violin. Smokey was impressed, but not at all surprised. She had believed Buck to be a very special person from the moment she met him. They chatted on for some time until Tate walked in the door. He had not been home all afternoon.
"I"m sorry I"m so late," he spoke as he moved to kiss his wife, "but the situation was more complicated than I originally believed. And I think you"ll forgive me," he hesitated,
44.
and a sparkle lit his eyes, "since I found this character wandering around on the docks and decided to bring him home."
Smokey turned with the room and watched as a tall man, the best-looking she"d ever seen, stepped across the threshold "Dolly!" Jenny exclaimed and ran to kiss her brother.
Smokey"s mouth closed with a snap, just before she was introduced if smokey had thought herself clumsy before Dolly arrived, she didn"t know what to think now. She dropped her napkin, nearly upset the plate of sandwiches when it was pa.s.sed to her, and when she did get a bite of sandwich into her mouth, swallowed wrong and nearly choked Her cup would simply not sit quietly on the saucer, so she put it down and gave up altogether.
Jenny had introduced her brother, and he couldn"t have been kinder, but his tall, good-looking presence seemed to rattle the normal good sense right out of Smokey.
Dolly, she learned in a hurry, was a nickname for Dallas, Captain Dallas Knight, to be exact. It had been Jenny"s baby name for Dallas, and the name had remained in the family through the years. Smokey thought about how tender Jenny"s voice became whenever she spoke of Buck or Dallas. They were obviously a very close family.
Smokey put her cup down and simply tried to be a part of the conversation, but she found that didn"t work either. Time and again her eyes strayed to Dallas, and she found that she could have cheerfully done little else but stare at him for the remainder of the evening.
At the moment, his head was turned as he spoke with Jenny. Smokey"s eyes nearly caressed his dark, wavy brown hair and crystal-blue eyes. His lashes seemed impossibly long.
46.
A small gold hoop winked at her from one ear, and along with his snow-white shin and black pants and boots, Smokey could easily imagine him at the wheel of a ship.
She sat up a little straighter and pulled her eyes away from his captivating looks when she realized she had been picturing him at the helm of theAramis. Her thoughts so disturbed her that for a moment she lost track of the conversation. She came back with a jolt, but no one seemed to notice.
"Have you seen Greg Banning lately?" Tate inquired about another young sea captain.
"Indeed, I have. I asked him if he was trying to rival Clancy," Dallas said with a grin.
"Why was that?" Jenny asked "He told me he"d been racing in the coral reefs."
"Why, that"s a treacherous stretch of water!" Buck put in.
"I know, but he doesn"t seem to have a lick of sense."
The urge to come to Clancy"s defense was so strong for Smokey that she had to bite her tongue. She sat very still and reminded herself that on many occasions her father had told her that in his younger days he hadn"t had a lick of sense either.
"You"re rather quiet, Smokey," Buck commented when there was a lengthy pause in the conversation.
"Oh, don"t mind me," she spoke softly. "The name Clancy always brings a flood of memories."
"Indeed, itdoes."Tate"svoicewas reminiscent. "Myfather would gather us around his chair while he read to us about his exploits."
Smokey stiffened, waiting for Tate to make some outrageous claim concerning Clancy, one that she would instantly want to deny, but he only fell silent.
Smokey was just as quiet as she grappled with whether or not it was a lie to stay silent about her relationship to the 5j famous Clancy. She had still not decided when Dallas rose.
^ b ^T38 hoping you would staY for dinner," Jenny told him.
*LJrfoanks, Jen, but Kathleen is expecting me. I"ll be by " *" or the next day. It was nice meeting you, Smokey,"
47.
he spoke kindly before kissing Jenny"s cheek, shaking Tate"s hand, and putting his arm around Buck so he would walk him to the door.
The evening pa.s.sed in great fun for Smokey and everyone else, with a delicious dinner and then another card game, but something was missing for Smokey. It didn"t take long for her to realize that the void she felt started when Dallas walked out the door.
Smokey would have been very surprised and at the same time dismayed to learn that Buck had noticed Smokey"s reaction to meeting Dallas, as well as her reaction to his departure.
The thought saddened Buck. Not because he hoped that Smokey would fall for him, for he was in love with Greer Rittenhouse, but because Dallas was so sought after by the local females that he had his pick.
Buck knew well that Dallas did not take advantage of his looks, but he also realized that his brother probably wouldn"t give a girl like Smokey a second glance. It was unfortunate to Buck"s way of thinking, because he saw something very special in Smokey Simmons, something he was quite sure the rest of the family had overlooked.
"What time is Buck expecting us?" Smokey wanted to know.
"Anytime," Jenny told her. "He doesn"t work on Mondays, and he said we should plan to stay for lunch."
As soon as Jenny fell silent, Smokey"s mind wandered back to Dallas. She had been doing that since he left the night before, and she knew she was going to have to order her thoughts back into control. She had never felt this way before.
Her father had said that when he"d seen her mother, it had been love at first sight for both of them. But Smokey knew she couldn"t be feeling love. She was miserable, and wasn"t love
48.
supposed to make you sing and dance? At least she wouldn"t have to see him today, but then didn"t she want to see him?
Suddenly she was more confused than ever.
Stop it, Smokey, she thought sternly, trying to take herself in hand. Get your mind off of Dallas Knight.
"Jenny," she said out loud, her voice just a tad desperate.
"Where does Buck work?"
"He owns and operates a small publishing company-- Bridgeman Publishing. It was started by my maternal grandfather, Charles Bridgeman. Buck has worked there since he was a boy. My mother has no siblings, and my father already had a business of his own, so when Grandfather Bridgeman pa.s.sed away he left everything to Buck. The company specializes in poetry and music."
Smokey was surprised and fascinated with Buck"s occupation, and she also thought it rather fitting. She couldn"t stop her mind from straying to Dallas and wondering at the fact that he and Buck could be so different. Brothers, with seemingly nothing in common. Smokey pondered the matter until Buck"s house came into view.
Buck"s house was as much a surprise as the man himself.
He did not live on the ocean, but in a wooded area that would rival any ocean view for beauty. His house was a rustic one-story that at first glance did not seem to fit what Smokey knew of Buck.
Buck, who seemed to be watching for them, led them immediately into a large, pleasant room that was lined with J&Qokshelves. Ever the gentleman, Buck helped the ladies with " sweaters, but Smokey took little notice. Her eyes were ftin the room with near astonishment; it was so unlike *&te$ rough wood exterior.
49.
The room was lovely. There were bookshelves everywhere; they literally lined the walls in tasteful elegance. The furniture was very ornate and colorful, and although many pieces didn"t match, it was all artfully arranged. The effect was sophisticated, yet warm. The windows, nearly reaching the ceiling and gleaming with clean gla.s.s, were positioned in such a way that everyone had a beautiful view of the woods.
"Do you like books?" Buck broke into her inspection.
"I do, although I"ve never taken much time for reading."
"Well," Buck seemed delighted, "read anything you like.
Pick some out and take them home."
Smokey, not used to such generosity, hesitated, but Buck"s look of genuine warmth soon put her at ease.
"Thank you, Buck," Smokey finally said graciously as she moved toward the shelves. She immediately pulled a large volume on American history, then she spotted a slim blue-bound book that made her heart thunder. The t.i.tle was Kohls"
Book of Etiquette. Still holding the history book, she took it down and turned to the first chapter.
"What every young lady should know concerning afternoon tea."
"What was that, Smokey?" Jenny asked from across the room. Smokey realized she had spoken aloud "I was just looking at this book." She nearly stuttered at being discovered, but Buck rescued her.
"Take it with you. Here," he approached and without seeming to notice the t.i.tles, swept both books from her hands.
"I"ll put them here under your sweater where you won"t forget them. And here," Buck stopped and selected one more book. "This is a cla.s.sic, lots of adventure on the high seas. I know you"ll love it."
Something in Buck"s voice made Smokey"s eyes fly to his face, but she saw nothing to hint at his knowing about her sailing. The urge to tell Jenny and Buck all about herself pressed in strongly upon her at that point, but she didn"t know how to begin, and it wouldn"t have mattered anyway. Buck no
50.
51.
more set the books with her sweater than one of his servants announced that lunch was waiting^ Smokey asked herself how many times she was going to make a fool of herself in front of this family. The meal had been a disaster. Buck had bowed his head to thank G.o.d for their meal, but before he could pray, Dallas walked in. Suddenly Smokey"s mouth went completely dry as he sat opposite her and bowed his head for the prayer. Smokey didn"t hear a word of it. She stared at the top of Dallas" head like a woman who"d taken leave of her senses. And that was only the beginning.
She spilled her water twice, once into her lap and once across the table. She poked herself in the cheek with her fork when Dallas was talking because she was giving more attention to his wonderful smile than to what she was doing.
Questions were directed to her throughout the meal as the family attempted to include her, but beyond monosyllabic replies, accompanied by a rather bewildered expression, she was mute. The meal seemed to last forever.
Over dessert Smokey berated herself without mercy. Why in the world did it never occur to you that Dallas would be here today? He probably lives here when he"s in port. He also probably thinks you belong in an asylum.
"Well, I"ve got to be off," Dallas suddenly spoke into Smokey"s riotous thoughts. "Thanks for lunch, Buck I"ll see you tonight." Dallas bid everyone goodbye, but beyond a strange little smile, Smokey didn"t seem to notice.
Dallas made his way out of the house and shut the door, but paused on the front step and looked back at the closed portal.
^fcwiy"s new friend is certainly an odd little thing, he ~ ". in confusion. His mind moved backward over lunch, checking to see if he had said or done anything that might have explained her nervousness. He couldn"t think of a thing.
As he walked up the street, his mind lingered on Smokey for just an instant more. She wasn"t like any of Jenny"s other friends, but Dallas mistakenly thought he understood the attraction. Smokey Simmons was a rather pathetic woman, and his entire family had always had a soft spot for abandoned pets.
"Do you really have to leave?"
"It"s been wonderful, Jenny, but I need to get home. I can"t thank you enough for the lovely time I"ve had, and please thank Buck too."
It was the afternoon of the next day and Smokey knew she had been rather abrupt.
"You"ll come again, won"t you, Smokey?" Tate put in when he saw his wife"s crestfallen look. Smokey had announced at lunch that she would be leaving that day, and even though Tate was very busy, he knew that Jenny would need his support.