Wings Of The Morning Part 15

"You're one of the finest captains on the Atlantic, Smokey Simmons, but you have wretched taste in clothing."

Smokey laughed until her side hurt. In control once again, she confided, "I've been wanting to ask for your help with my hair and wardrobe, but I didn't know how you would feel about it."

They both laughed over the misunderstanding, and then the plans began. There wasn't much time, but Jenny had 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 rea.s.sured 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 120.

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 Sat.u.r.day?" Dallas double-checked.

"Right."

The table fell silent then and remained so until dessert was served They discussed s.h.i.+ps over cake and coffee. Nothing more was said about Smokey, Kathleen, or Dallas' relations.h.i.+p 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 121.

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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d blesses you with every dream of your heart." Jenny 122.

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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 Sat.u.r.day evening. He clearly remembered that first evening when Smokey had dined with them and how she had been embarra.s.sed 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 wis.h.i.+ng he had gone himself and tried to convince Da.r.s.ey 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 s.n.a.t.c.hed 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 126.

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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 s.h.i.+p'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 wis.h.i.+ng 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 s.h.i.+p'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 chairs 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 s.h.i.+p, Captain," Dallas reminded her smugly.