Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (17 page)

"What do you mean?"

"You remember Greer Rittenhouse?" Jenny went on at

Smokey's nod "I saw her while you were gone. She was very

impressed with you, and extremely pleased with how well

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you liked her home. Buck is going to ask her to come with

him."

"Are they seeing each other again?" Smokey asked eagerly.

Jenny shook her head sadly. "I'm still praying. Buck is

trying to give her the time she wants, but he's truly a man in

love."

"Why, Buck," Greer spoke with genuine pleasure at the

sight of him.

"Hello, Greer. May I come in?"

"Of course." The lovely widow stepped back, and Buck

moved across the threshold. As always, her home was immaculate,

but Buck had eyes for Greer alone.

"How have you been?" he asked softly.

"Lonely and confused," she admitted, her voice just as

muted as Buck's. "And yourself?"

"Lonely, but not confused."

Greer knew exactly to what he referred. He was still as

much in love with her as ever. She looked into his eyes and

desperately wished she could return the words, but she just

wasn't sure.

When she had first met Hank Rittenhouse, many years

before, the situation had been reversed. She had fallen for

him immediately, and he'd been unsure of her. At one point,

he had confessed his love for her, only to come two days later

and say he'd spoken in haste. He had been in love with

another woman, and he confessed that he had begun seeing

Greer to put the other woman from his mind.

Greer's young heart had felt so used, she thought she

would die. The year that followed was a long, painful one, but

in the end Hank had in fact come to love her. Once married,

their time had been joyous Greer felt as if something had

been wrenched from her when he died

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And then Buck had come into her world. He was as different

from Hank as any man could be, but he made her laugh and

forget some of her loneliness. At first she'd been sure that he

was God's gift for her, but then thoughts of Hank would crowd

in upon her in the night. By morning, she would convince

herself that she was acting unfaithfully whenever she saw

Buck. The only time she had been more confused was when

she and Hank had been courting.

"Are you all right, Greer?" Buck interrupted her thoughts.

"I think so," she admitted. "As usual, my thoughts are

running wild and working to make me anxious."

They moved into one of the spacious sitting rooms where

huge windows opened out toward the sea. Each took a comfortable

chair by the fire.

"If you'd like to share, you know I'll listen, but I'm actually

here to ask you out to dinner." Buck ignored the way she

stiffened and continued in an easy tone.

"Jenny is giving a dinner party next Saturday night. It's for

Smokey Simmons, and she told me to feel free to invite you."

"I liked Smokey when I met her, Buck. She's very sweet. Is

it her birthday or some special occasion?"

"She's going away for a time, and the party is something of

a sendoff."

Greer hesitated and then spoke with a measured tone. "I

would like to go with you--"

"But you want to be certain that I understand it's just as

friends?" Buck finished for her. Greer's eyes filled with tears

over his understanding.

"It's all right, Greer." Buck's voice was soothing; he'd

prepared himself for just that. "We'll go as friends because

that's what we are--friends."

"Thank you, Buck," she whispered

He leaned close then and took her hand. Greer was so

thankful for his tender touch that she began to tremble. Buck

desperately wanted to hold this small woman who fit into his

arms so well, but he kept his seat and prayed that in time she

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would know that his love was a safe thing and nothing to be

feared

"Are we friends, Smokey?"

"Why, Jen," Smokey said with a laugh. "What are you

talking about?"

Jenny's frown was in reality a good-natured scowl. "Your

party is just a week away, and I've made some decisions."

"About?" Smokey prompted her and tried not to laugh at

the determined look on her friend's face.

Jenny hesitated, and Smokey was more confused than

ever. She was telling herself that being pregnant must change

a person. Jenny had been acting strangely for two days.

"I want to dress you and do your hair for the party," Jenny

suddenly blurted and then held her breath.

It was on Smokey's tongue to laugh and tell her friend that

she'd been dressing herself for years when she suddenly

understood her meaning. She stood and came to sit close to

Jenny on the settee.

"Do you mean that, Jen?" Smokey's eyes had turned eager.

Jenny smiled.

When the younger woman answered, her tone was dry.

"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 reassured 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

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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 Saturday?" Dallas double-checked.

"Right."

The table fell silent then and remained so until dessert

was served They discussed ships over cake and coffee. Nothing

more was said about Smokey, Kathleen, or Dallas' relationship

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

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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 God 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 God blesses you with every dream of your heart." Jenny

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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 Saturday

evening. He clearly remembered that first evening when

Smokey had dined with them and how she had been embarrassed

about not changing her dress. Tate had regretted her

discomfort then and smiled at the fact that she had no such