Part 12 (2/2)

Dallas suddenly found the entire table staring at him.

”Now wait a minute,” he protested but was cut off.

”Go on, lad,” Da.r.s.ey said with a huge grin. ”You're low man this voyage, so get moving.”

97.

Dallas rolled his eyes, scooped up the plate, and walked low. He thought the lot of them were overreacting./MS? like bunchofoldwomen.Sbe'sprobablyforgottenallabout.i.tby v. Nevertheless, he knocked very softly on her door.

”Come in.” Smokey's curt reply brought Dallas through ithe door.

He set the food down, and she examined the contents as though looking for clues to a crime. When she stayed silent, Dallas took that to mean she was satisfied; he couldn't have been more wrong. As soon as he started toward the door, he found himself getting the sharp side of her tongue.

”Dallas, this cabin may be your idea of clean, but it's not mine. See to it first thing in the morning.”

Dallas turned back and stared at her for the s.p.a.ce of several heartbeats. Her eyes were still flas.h.i.+ng with fire, turning them from gray to black. The top of her head didn't even reach his shoulder, and yet she rose to give him orders like a giant. He wanted to laugh so badly that it hurt to hold it in.

”Yes, Captain,” he finally said ”Will there be anything else?”

”No.” Her reply was short, and her eyes narrowed, daring him to make one move out of line. ”You're dismissed”

Dallas obeyed, letting himself slowly out of the room.

After shutting the door softly, he paused in the pa.s.sageway and grinned, his mind's eye still seeing the darkness in her eyes and the flush on her face. Dallas slowly shook his head, his grin still in place. He could honestly say he'd never met another woman quite like her.

99.

”On the island. Along with Mic and Pete.”

”I think I'll swim over.”

”All right,” Robby agreed easily enough, figuring that the id was large enough to guarantee the captain's privacy.

Since Dallas was dressed only in pants, there was no need go below for anything. He stepped to the railing, and >bby's brows rose with appreciation when a perfect dive was ited, one that caused little more than a ripple on the ” urface of the water. Impressed, Robby watched as Dallas Surfaced and struck out with long, clean stokes. In no time at all, he was walking ash.o.r.e. Robby only hoped that Smokey was in a secluded place.

abouta week after the spinach incident, Dallas woke one morning and realized something was amiss. It was early, and without taking time to pull on anything more than his pants, he went topside.

He found the Aramis docked near a small island. This voyage had been something of a pleasure trip for Dallas, and he'd had no need to keep track of their location. Now he wished he had paid a little more attention.

Robby was the only one about, and he was standing calmly on the deck watching Dallas approach. The s.h.i.+p felt so deserted it was eerie ”Where are we?”

”China bland,” Robby answered ”I've never heard of it.”

”Not many have. Smokey's pa used to bring her here; it's where she learned to swim.”

”Is she over there now?”

”Um hmm. Along with most of the crew.”

Dallas' gaze turned to the small island and lingered on the rowboats that were pulled up on the beach. He knew the s.h.i.+p boasted several rowboats, but it was an easy swim and the thought of walking on terra firma strongly appealed to him at the moment.

”Is Da.r.s.ey about?”

”What does it say next?” Smokey wanted to know as she watched her first mate from across the table.

Da.r.s.ey turned another page. ”A lady must keep her knees pressed together at all times; her legs should be gracefully crossed at the ankles. Ah, la.s.s, do we have to go on with this?”

Da.r.s.ey put the book down and frowned at her.

”Yes. Now keep reading.”

”Why didn't you do this at home with Willa?” Da.r.s.ey asked, ignoring her order.

Seeing that she was going to have to explain, Smokey sighed ”She would have asked what kind of people my new friends were, that they expected me to put on airs in their company. She just wouldn't have understood.”

”I'm not sure I do,” Da.r.s.ey admitted There was no censure in his tone, only tenderness, and Smokey tried to make herself understood ”I'm not ashamed of who I am or where I've been, Dars, but I don't fit into the world outside of a s.h.i.+p. I don't know how to hold my fork or cup, and I'm so nervous and uncomfortable that I end up dropping things and spilling water in my lap.”

100.

'You're exaggerating, Smokey; those things aren't going to happen.”

”They already have,” Smokey told him with tears in her eyes. Da.r.s.ey's heart melted. She didn't cry easily, and those tears made him see how much she hurt over this.

When she had explained why she wanted to stop at China Island, Da.r.s.ey had looked at her as though she'd taken leave of her senses. Even that morning as he had loaded a small table, two chairs, and a china tea set aboard the rowboat, he'd thought it was too fantastic to be real.

Then they had gone ash.o.r.e and found a secluded area, set things up according to Smokey's wishes, and she'd handed him a book on etiquette. That was two hours ago, and until he saw those tears pooling in her eyes, Da.r.s.ey had begun to think it was all rather silly.

Without so much as a sigh of resignation, Da.r.s.ey opened the book and began to read again. He would have loved to hand this job over to someone who was better qualified, but he was all Smokey had If they had to sit there for a week, he would see her through this.

Once on the island, Dallas found a shallow pool and took a quick dip to wash the salt from his pants and hair. The water was cool and refres.h.i.+ng, and he started on a tour of the island after he'd bathed.

There appeared to be more birds than other wildlife, but he did spot a few snakes and lizards amid the fronds and leaves of bushes and trees. He was making his way through a rather dense section of bushes when he came across Da.r.s.ey and Smokey.

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