Part 7 (2/2)

”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 G.o.d, 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 he never wanted to be a hero to me. He only wanted to be my father, teaching me G.o.d's way and making sure I knew he loved me.

”Nearly everything I know, I learned from him. My knowledge of G.o.d, sailing, and life in general was learned at his knee. He was my teacher, just as his father had been for him.

Many have heard of my father, but most know him only by his first name. No one, not even when my last name is spoken, thinks to tie him to me, unless they find out that I sail.

”And as proud as I am to call him my papa,” Smokey's voice dropped as she finished her speech and finally stood still before her host and hostess, ”most of the time it's easier if people don't know that the legendary Clancy was my father.”

The room was utterly still for the s.p.a.ce of many heartbeats, and then Jenny was coming toward her, her eyes wet with tears.

There were no speeches about how blessed Smokey was or how honored the Pembertons felt to have her in their home, just a long, loving hug between friends. The hug ended with a bit of relieved laughter when Jenny shared that she thought Smokey might share about being a runaway wife or pirate.

”I have admired your father since I was a little boy,” Tate told her when they were once again seated and Jenny had poured tea.

”So have I,” Smokey told him with a smile.

”You know,” Tate went on, ”I always thought Clancy had been born over a hundred years ago.”

”You're not alone in that belief.” Smokey's voice was dry.

”His father's name was Clancy also, so the name Clancy has been on the sea for many years. He told me once that to have done everything that's been credited to him, he would have to have been 200 years old”

”No wonder you're so good at what you do,” Jenny complimented Smokey.

”Isn't that the truth! If our son wants to go to sea,” Tate's face filled with excitement at the thought, ”he could sail with you and learn from the best.”

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”Oh, no,” Smokey said with a laugh. ”I'd be an old woman by then, and I really hope I won't be sailing that long.”

”Do you have to put some money aside before you can stop?” Jenny's voice was filled with tender compa.s.sion, but late and Smokey burst out laughing.

Smokey had just collected a small fortune from Pemberon s.h.i.+pping, which, even though some of it would pay for business expenses, held a large chunk of profit. Jenny was clearly naive as to the success of Smokey's business.

”It's not that, Jen,” Smokey took pity on the confused look on her friend's face. ”It's just that until I met you, I thought I would be at sea until the day of my death, just as my father had been.”

”What happened when you met Jen?”

”I wanted what she has. Not you personally, Tate,” Smokey told him with a cheeky grin. ”But a husband of my own, a home for us to share, and children, if G.o.d wills. There was a man who was in love with me a few years ago. He asked me to many him for over three years, and even though I cared for him, and still do, I could never say yes.”

”What happened to him?” Jenny wanted to know.

Smokey shrugged ”He gave up on me and eventually married someone else. I never see him anymore.”

”Do you have regrets?”

”No, but I think I know why I could never say yes. I mean, he was romantic, and I love romance. I also enjoyed listening when he painted a lovely picture of us sailing the world together. But just recently I realized that if ever I marry, I want to have a home--a real home. And I don't want my husband to be a sailor who's gone for months at a time!”

Smokey's last sentence was uttered with great pa.s.sion, and she was suddenly embarra.s.sed at her own actions. She forced herself to sit back in her chair, her face heating as she looked down at her folded hands in her lap.

”We'll be praying that if G.o.d has a special man for you, you'll know it.”

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”Thank you, Tate.” His words relieved some of her embarra.s.sment.

”That means alotto me. I've thought about what Jen suggested when I was here before, and IVe decided that I will make your church my own.”

”Oh, Smokey, that's wonderful!”

”I'll still be gone at times; I do have a business to run.”

”Of course,” Jenny agreed. ”But whenever you're home, we'll expect you.”

It was growing rather late, so all in the room were surprised when Polly knocked on the door a moment later with a note from Buck. It was brief, just wanting to inform them that Dallas was in port and planned to visit on the next day.

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