Part 4 (1/2)

”What is it, Smokey?”

”I should have changed my dress.” Smokey's cheeks had turned red with humiliation upon spotting her hostess' lovely frock. Jenny, horrified that she had been so thoughtless, found herself helplessly tongue-tied. Smokey stood stiffly on the I threshold, wis.h.i.+ng she could vanish, but Tate rescued them fctarh se don't mind us, Smokey,” he said. ”Jenny's family is K>re relaxed, but my family is used to dressing for jgd we've fallen into the habit. We're really not sn.o.bs.”

i&s.

37.

The cross-eyed look on Tate's face was so comical that Smokey immediately relaxed They took their seats, and dinner was served It was a sumptuous feast of beef, sage dressing, fresh turnip greens, and mince pie. Smokey ate her fill.

Jenny and Tate had decided they would not press Smokey in any way to share about herself, but as they ate and the conversation flowed, they learned little things.

”You don't have to leave right away, do you, Smokey? I mean, we were hoping you could stay for a few weeks,” Jenny commented after the soup.

”I don't really have anything pressing right now. I didn't tell Da.r.s.ey when I would need to be picked up because I wasn't sure.”

Smokey realized that they weren't going to give her the third degree and she was thankful, but she could also see that she needed to explain about Da.r.s.ey.

”Da.r.s.ey was my father's first mate, and he still works for me. He's always been like a second father to me, and especially now that my father is gone. Willa, the woman I told you about, is his sister. We live with her when we're home.” Not until after Smokey uttered the words did she realize that statement would need yet another explanation, but just then they were interrupted. Amaid arrived and told them Buck was there to see them.

”Oh, thank you, Polly,” Jenny told her before turning to Smokey. ”Buck is my brother, and you're going to love him.

Let's go into the parlor. I'll ask Polly to serve our coffee there.”

Before Smokey could draw another breath, Tate had gently taken her arm and was leading her out of the room. She took a moment to conjure up what a person named Buck would look like, but as soon as she followed Jenny into the room, she could see that she couldn't be more wrong.

Engaging was the only word that would come to Smokey's mind, and that was before Buck had uttered a word. He was a small man, slightly taller than Smokey but shorter than his sister, and pet.i.te in build. His small frame and exact manner

38.

caused several names to jump to mind, but Buck certainly wasn't one of them.

”h.e.l.lo, Buck/'Jenny greeted him warmly. After kissing his sister, Buck dropped somewhat dramatically onto the sofa.

”I've decided to propose to her, Jen, but if she says no, then I'll wish that I had given her more time. On the other hand, if she says yes, I'll wish that I'd asked sooner.”

Smokey, who sat on the small settee Tate had led her toward, stared at Jenny's brother. He had thrown his head back and said all of this with his eyes on the ceiling. Smokey looked to Tate then, who winked audaciously before turning to speak to his brother-in-law.

”Come now, Buck, I'm sure she'll have you. How could she resist?” Not realizing how serious Buck was, Tate wanted to tease him from his somber mood.

”I don't know. She was very quiet tonight.”

”We have company, Buck,” Jen said softly when it seemed he would lie there for some time. Jen could see that her brother was serious, and she wanted to listen, but she realized he must not have seen Smokey, for he would not want to share all of this in front of a stranger.

”Miss Victoria Simmons from Kennebunk is staying with us.” Tate said this, having finally seen that Buck was truly feeling low.

His words did the trick. Without rising, Buck's head came up. His eyes narrowed and then widened upon spotting Smokey. An instant later he came off the sofa as though on strings and bowed low to his sister's guest.

”Excuse my lack of manners, my dear.” The tone of Buck's voice was refined ”I am Rowland Knight, 'Buck' to friends and family alike.”

Smokey watched in fascination as he came forward with all the manners of a gentleman at court, took her hand, and carefully kissed the back of it. Knowing her skin and nails were rough, Smokey squirmed with embarra.s.sment, but the warm eyes Buck raised to hers made her relax in a moment.

39.

Smokey found herself smiling hugely as Buck took a seat beside her.

”You know,” he spoke to the room but never took his eyes off Smokey's perfect complexion and huge gray eyes. ”If I wasn't in love with the widow Rittenhouse, I might fall in love with Victoria.”

Smokey chuckled low in her throat, and because she sincerely liked him at first meeting, she teased him with a warm glimmer in her eye. ”If you could change your affections that swiftly, Mr. Knight, I'm not sure I would have you.”

Buck threw back his head and laughed in delight. Smokey glanced at her host and hostess and found them grinning also.

”I like you, Victoria,” Buck told her bluntly.

”My friends call me Smokey,” she told him.

”Smokey,” Buck tried the name out loud. ”It fits you.”

”Thank you. I rather like it myself.”

”Do you play cards?” he asked suddenly.

”Yes.”

Tate and Jenny, who had sat quietly through the exchange, went into action. Within minutes the four of them were seated around a table. Jen was the first to deal, and then the cards went to Tate. By the time the deal got around to Smokey, she found herself more relaxed than she had been all evening.

China cups and fine flatware were new to her, but cards, well, she'd been playing since she was a child. The lighthearted game, along with Buck's outrageous wit and easy smile, caused her to wish she lived much closer to Buck and the Pembertons.

Smokey missed the glances of her game partners as she allowed her gaze to roam the room. They noticed that she didn't even need to concentrate on the deck in her hands. She shuffled and dealt cards to them like a cardsharp. Everyone's eyes were dutifully back on their own cards by the lime Smokey glanced back at them, but they all knew that they'd been given a glimmer of yet one more aspect that made up the person of Victoria ”Smokey” Simmons.