Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) by Lori Wick Page A

time, you know." Jenny was laughing so hard
    over Smokey's reaction that she could barely talk.
    "I know, but next summer! Why, that feels like years away!"
    Again Jenny went off into gales of laughter. It was contagious,
    and Smokey laughed too. They talked of babies for the next hour, and then Jenny asked Smokey about her plans for
    J&ristmas.
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    "I'll be with Darsey at Willa's. Her children live in the area,
    and they'll all come on Christmas Eve."
    "What about Christmas Day?"
    "It's pretty quiet. By the time the family goes home on
    Christmas Eve, Willa is pretty worn out."
    "Would they be terribly upset if you spent Christmas Eve
    and Christmas Day with us?"
    Smokey blinked "I don't know, Jen."
    "Now what does that hesitant look mean?" Jenny couldn't
    have asked that question several weeks ago, but having Tate
    and Jenny learn of Smokey's occupation seemed to bring
    down the wall that separated them.
    However, Smokey had not told anyone about the way she
    felt when she even thought about Dallas Knight. She didn't
    think she was ready to share, not even with Jenny.
    "I'll think about your offer, okay, Jen? Maybe I'll discuss it
    with Darsey."
    "Darsey means a lot to you, doesn't he?"
    "Oh, yes," Smokey told her with a smile. "He was my
    father's first mate before he was mine, and he's been beside
    me since I was a baby. Willa told me that Darsey sees me as the
    daughter he never had."
    "Do you miss your father?"
    "I do, but the anguish is gone. That first year, the pain was
    so intense I didn't think I'd make it." Smokey suddenly grew
    very quiet.
    "I'm sorry if the subject brings back all the pain."
    "It's not that," Smokey told her. "You and Tate have been
    wonderful, but there's something more about me that I want
    to explain."
    "All right," Jenny's voice was expectant, but something in
    Smokey's look made her heart thump with trepidation. Her
    mind ran with every crazy thing Smokey could possibly say,
    from being a pirate to having a husband and child of her own
    somewhere.
    "Not now," Smokey said, much to Jenny's disappointment.
    "I want to talk to you when Tate is here too."
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    After two beats of her heart, Jenny agreed, knowing she
    would have to put her curiosity on hold. It would be hard, but
    she knew Tate deserved to hear the news firsthand. This was
    obviously something very important to Smokey. Jenny wanted
    to do all she could so Smokey would feel free to tell them in
    her time, secure in the knowledge that Jenny's love was unfailing,
    no matter what she shared
    "I'm not ashamed of what I do for a living," Smokey told
    Jenny and Tate that evening. They were alone in the library,
    and dinner was over. "But I find that I'm something of a
    curiosity."
    "And you would rather we didn't tell everyone we know
    that you are the captain of theAramis?" Tate interjected with
    an understanding smile.
    "Well, that would help, but I need to explain why." Smokey
    stopped and took a breath. "You loved me and befriended me
    when we were strangers, and I was a bit hesitant with you
    because that's never happened before. I'm at sea so much, and
    when I am home and people learn what I do, they become
    quite curious. One question usually leads to another and I--"
    Smokey stopped again, took a deep breath and went on.
    "My father was the most wonderful father a girl could ever
    hope to have. He was warm and caring, and he loved me to
    distraction. My parents were not married until later in life,
    and I wasn't born until he was 50 years old.
    "I grew up at sea and loved it. I've never known any other
    life. My father loved God, and he instilled in me a deep faith in
    Jesus Christ. There was a lot he didn't know, and in turn, I have
    much to learn, but he tried very hard to teach me from his
    small store of knowledge." Smokey paused again, but Tate and
    Jenny, feeling a bit confused, were absolutely quiet. Smokey
    found she could no longer stay in her chair; she stood and
    paced as she continued
    "My father told me once that