Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (25 page)

"My dear," the pirate spoke as though addressing a child "I

told you I want you, and I will have you."

"For a man who lost during our last encounter, you're

awfully quick to claim your victory now!" Smokey spat the

words, and Haamich Wynn laughed

"That's one of the things I love about you, my dear--your

honesty. But alas, I am honest too. I freely admit that I was

foiled last time. So now attend to my words, Smokey, because I

will not be thwarted again.

"Now," he said, becoming businesslike at once. "Line your

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men up and tell them that I am their new commander. I've

seen what this ship can do, and I want the Aramis as well as

you."

Smokey was so thoroughly shocked that she could only

stare at him. His back was to the wheelhouse and even though

Smokey's peripheral vision caught some movement there, she

was too stunned to move or speak.

"Tell them, Smokey." His voice was now deadly soft.

"Unless you do as you're told, Til give you to my men right on

the spot. They like a woman who fights, only this time you

won't have a blade."

Smokey began to tremble. She knew there would be no

escape this time. With a heavy heart she turned her back to the

pirate.

"Line up, men." She spoke softly, but all were able to hear.

Even Robby and Darsey, hands bound behind them, moved

into place.

Smokey's eyes roved over them and then paused and

blinked when she saw that Dallas was lined up with her men.

She forced her eyes away from his intense stare, a stare that

seemed to be trying to tell her to trust him, and spoke.

"There has been a change in command." Smokey's voice

remained soft. "Your new captain is Haamich Wynn."

'Very nicely done, my dear." The pirate's voice was delighted.

"Now you just head down to your cabin, and I'll join

you in a moment."

Smokey turned, her chin thrust forward, ready to fight.

She was trembling from head to foot, but the thought of going

to her cabin and submitting to this man made her furious.

"Ready to fight me, Smokey?" The pirate's voice had turned

mocking. He turned to a man at his side. "The biggest man-- Darsey, I believe it is... cut his throat."

"No!" Smokey shouted. No one moved They all watched as

she took a deep breath and moved toward the companionway.

The pirate's men went to work then, and the entire crew

was tied Darsey ended up next to Dallas and spoke in a low

tone.

"Please tell me you didn't come aboard alone."

"I didn't" was all Dallas said, and the older man nearly

slumped with relief.

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all the weapons had been removed from Smokey's cabin.

She had never thought to hide them before, so her foil, small

knife, and pistol were all gone. Seeing this, Smokey began to

know real fear. She tried to resign herself to the next few

hours or days, but her insides were in turmoil.

Even though Smokey heard footsteps in the companionay,

she jumped when her cabin door opened. Haamich Wynn

stood there, but he was still speaking to one of his men

outside. Smokey heard his man say the name "Lordlin" before

he left. She had no time to wonder on the matter, however,

since the pirate had finally come in and shut the door.

From where she stood by the desk, Smokey watched him

lean against the jam. His smile was tender as he stared at her,

and the young captain noted that very gently, almost affectionately,

he ran a finger repeatedly down the scar on his face.

"I've missed you, Smokey. I was quite frantic when you

left. I found myself terribly frustrated that I never found out

where you make your home."

He pushed away from the door then and moved toward

her; his presence seemed to fill the cabin. Smokey felt suffocated.

Her braid was again lying on her breast, and this time

Haamich picked it up and began to wrap it around his fist.

Smokey panicked and moved away. Haamich shook his head

"I promise you, Smokey, there is nothing to be afraid of.

I'm going to take very good care of you."

Smokey licked her lips in fear as he started toward her.

She didn't like standing close to the bunk and began to move

away. This time Haamich anticipated her move and reached

for her upper arms. With strong hands he drew her slowly but

inescapably closer. He was so big, frighteningly big.

Please God, Smokey prayed, show the men bow to help me.

"You're going to learn to love me, my dear." Haamich

spoke then, and Smokey saw his head bend toward her. "You're

going to learn that you can't live without me."

His words infuriated her, and she acted in desperation. As

his head neared, she spit, hitting him full in the face. The

pirate paused for the space of two heartbeats before balling

up his fist and punching Smokey across the upper cheek and

eye. She barely saw the blow coming, and then she saw

nothing at all.

Smokey had no idea how much time had passed before

she woke. Her head was spinning, and her wrists hurt. It took a

moment for her to understand that her wrists were tied and

secured to the bed frame on either side of her. She found

herself praising God that she was still completely dressed

Smokey heard her desk chair move and turned her aching

head to see Haamich Wynn pushing himself up. She watched

as he sat on the bunk beside her and leaned a hand over her to

rest it on the bed.

"I'm sorry, my dear. I never meant to hurt you. You are very

shook up over nothing."

"Nothing?" Smokey whispered, not believing her ears.

"You call this nothing?"

"I am really the best thing that has ever happened to you,"

he spoke with conviction. "As soon as you get to know me,

you'll see how right I am."

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His hand lifted toward her blackened eye, and Smokey's

chest rose and fell quickly in fear. The movement drew his

eyes downward, and Smokey wanted to sob.

"Please don't do this," she said in a breathless voice. The

pirate's eyes came back to hers.

"I must. I am consumed with you, and I won't stop until

you are mine."

His hands went to either side of her then, and he bent to

kiss her. Smokey closed her eyes to blot out the image of his

face.

Before he could touch her, however, there was a knock

Smokey opened her eyes and watched with fear as rage contorted

his features.

"I told you not to disturb me!"

"But Cap'n," the fearful voice of one of his men sounded

through the door. "We need you."

"Don't bother me!" he shouted

"But Cap'n," the voice began again, and Haamich Wynn

came off the bed with a snarl. He wrenched the door open,

and Smokey heard the sound of flesh meeting flesh. She

craned her neck to see Haamich Wynn's head snap back, but

he remained standing.

From her awkward position, Smokey caught a glimpse of

Dallas. Then Darsey's frame came through the door. Haamich

wynn's punches were wild and without effect as he attempted

to fight back. Darsey's blows, however, were perfectly aimed

Smokey's neck strained as she watched his fists pounding the

man.

The fight seemed to go on forever as the men fought over

nearly every inch of the cabin. When Smokey didn't think she

would be able to take any more, Haamich Wynn, with much

moaning and carrying on, fell hard to the floor.

Smokey suddenly found Dallas above her. A knife flashed,

and the blood rushed back to her hands as they were released.

Smokey wanted to sit up, but not until that moment, as she

stared at Dallas with one eye, did Smokey notice that her

other eye was nearly swollen shut. She didn't think she could

move at all.

Dallas placed a hand on either side of Smokey, much the

way the pirate had done, and leaned over her. This time

Smokey was not afraid. She watched Dallas lean close, his eyes

giving proof of the pain within.

"I'm sorry." The words were whispered

Smokey reached and placed a hand on his arm. "You won't

let him get me again, will you, Dallas?"

"No," his voice was whisper soft. "We're going to take him

back to England and turn him over to the authorities. He can't

hurt you again."

"Are my men all right?"

"Yes, they're fine; just worried about you."

Smokey nodded, and a shadow fell across her. Darsey had

come close to see her. On spotting him, a delayed reaction

swifdy rushed in. She began to shake all over. Try as she might to hold them back, tears flooded her eyes.

Dallas, without waiting for permission, gathered her in

his arms. She cried against him for a few minutes, tears of pain

and tears of relief.

"Is it finally over, Dallas?" Smokey asked as she calmed

"It's over," he assured her softly.

Tenderly cradling her with one arm, Dallas used a handkerchief

to wipe her tears. He didn't try to comfort her with

any more words or tell her to stop crying, but just held her

until she slept.

He saw that it would not be a restful sleep as soon as he

laid her back down on the pillow, but Darsey was near and

Dallas knew she would be in good hands.

As much as he hated to leave her, he had no choice. There

were arrangements to be made concerning the pirate, his

ship, and his men, and Dallas had volunteered to see to them.

He didn't see Smokey again before all three ships set sail

for England, but by the time they had arrived and turned

Haamich Wynn over to the authorities, he had established a

plan.

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smokey's face was still swollen when the London authorities

came to take Haamich Wynn away. She watched as they cut

him loose before putting him in the huge, black coach. Something

didn't seem right to Smokey. His look was almost smug

as he spoke to one of the constables. Smokey knew there was

little she could do about it, so she tried not to dwell on the

possibilities.

Dallas and Darsey handled everything in the next two

days, giving Smokey plenty of time to think. It occurred to her

that the pirate might have friends in high places who would

overlook his acts, or even listen when he claimed that it was

her word against his own. She hadn't had a chance to ask

Dallas about the pirate's ship, but Smokey knew that a holdful

of stolen goods would add weight to her story.

For the moment, she had an important decision to make-- did she head home, as she longed to do, or out to sea, as she

had originally planned? If she went home now, she could be

there when Jenny and Tate's baby was born, Smokey had

nearly convinced herself to return to Maine when Dallas

arrived and ruined all her plans.

"They'll need you to testify."