Part 24 (2/2)

”Me.” Smokey told him simply, although her eyes were pained Brandon stared at her and nodded slowly. ”The magistrate may ask you all of this. It might be easier if you tell me now.”

After a moment's hesitation, Smokey did as he suggested She left out nothing this time, although a few times she spoke with her flushed face averted, so as not to look at the men.

Brandon's jaw was clenched in anger over some of what she revealed. It sounded as though Lynne planned to make her a permanent part of his life. Brandon told Smokey that the pirate had been married for years. If rumors could be 204.

believed, his wife was a bedridden shrew, but he was married nonetheless.

Suddenly Smokey was very tired. The day had been so full.

As much as she wanted to stay and be with Dallas, she knew she had to get to bed With a soft-spoken word, she excused herself, thinking that the men would want to talk. Dallas surprised her.

”I'll walk you to your room,” he offered, and Brandon rose as they left, taking note of the fact that Dallas rested his hand tenderly on Smokey's back.

He was about to follow when he spotted his wife's shoes on the floor. Sunny was forever taking them off and leaving them wherever she had been sitting. Brandon liked to tease her that h^rrwilHi-rwi^b-*”””**---- -*

”I didn't know you could ride,” Dallas said to Smokey the next morning as she and Sunny returned from an early morning jaunt.

”A woman likes to keep some things a mystery,” Smokey told him with a cheeky smile, and Dallas started toward her, his eyes watching her intently.

Without so much as a by-your-leave, he reached for her waist and swung her off the horse's back. As her feet touched ground, Smokey smiled up at him and Dallas dropped a kiss on her nose. He knew they weren't alone, but he couldn't help himself. Her hair was coming out of its chignon, her face was flushed, and her eyes were sparkling with love for him. Dallas glanced up to find Sunny grinning at him.

”Good morning, my lady,” he said with a slight inclination of the head, his eyes twinkling with humor.

”Good morning, Mr. Knight. I trust you slept well?”

”I did, indeed.”

Dallas said no more because Brandon was suddenly there, doing just as Dallas had, reaching for the woman he loved.

When Sunny was on the ground, the four of them made their way to the house. They were nearly to the door when Smokey spotted Da.r.s.ey in the yard. With just a brief word, she excused herself and walked to see him.

206.

The old friends said nothing for a moment, but studied one another in open honesty. They were both satisfied with what they saw. Smokey saw Da.r.s.ey's blessing, and Da.r.s.ey beheld a sweet serenity in Smokey's small face.

”Were you really worried about me last night?”

Da.r.s.ey grinned. ”Just a mite. If the look on Dallas' face during supper was any indication, I knew he was going to declare himself. I didn't have a problem with that, but you're not married yet, and I just didn't know if I should leave you alone.”

”Actually,” Smokey said, as they began to walk through the gardens, ”we haven't spoken of marriage.”

”But he loves you?” Da.r.s.ey pressed her carefully, not wis.h.i.+ng to intrude.

'Yes, and I love him. If he does ask me to marry him, I'll accept in a moment, but I don't know if his mind has moved that far. As he said last night, I've been elusive for so long that he never had time to say what was in his heart.”

Da.r.s.ey nodded, satisfied with her words. He was also terribly relieved He was feeling a need to return to the s.h.i.+p.

”Since you now know where you stand with Dallas, would you object to my returning to the Aramis?”

”Why, no, Da.r.s.ey, not if you want to. Is anything wrong?”

”No,” he a.s.sured her. ”It's just a restlessness that comes over me when I can't smell the ocean and see the waves. I'll be more comfortable on board knowing everything is all right.”

”Maybe I should come too,” Smokey began, but Da.r.s.ey cut her off with his hands on her shoulders.

”There's no reason for you to come, la.s.s. Stay here and enjoy yourself; you deserve a rest. After this it's the trial, and then everyone will be back to work. Take this time while you can.”

”If you're sure,” Smokey began.

”I'm sure. Now let's get into breakfast. I'm about starved”

Da.r.s.ey would have moved away then, but Smokey suddenly threw her arms around him. She hugged him with all her might, and he hugged her in return for long minutes.

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”I love you, Da.r.s.ey,” Smokey finally said ”And I love you, la.s.s,” he answered her, one huge hand tenderly cradling her face.

”It's all right with you about Dallas and me, isn't it?”

Smokey had to know.

”Of course. My only concern was not knowing his intentions,”

Nodding in contentment, they walked together to the door. After Smokey entered Bracken's huge front door, she ran upstairs to clean up. She was late to the table then, but to come in and find Dallas and Da.r.s.ey talking amiably and then to have both of them turn and smile at her in love was worth any apology she had to make.

Da.r.s.ey left for London right after breakfast. For the next few hours, everyone went in his own direction. Dallas didn't seek Smokey out until just before lunch. He found her on the lawn with Sterling. Sterling's nurse was not far away, but only Smokey and the baby occupied a huge quilt where they played and laughed Dallas smiled at the sound as he approached Sterling moved a little closer to Smokey when Dallas dropped down beside them.

”This is Dallas,” Smokey told the child Sterling stared with wide eyes at the tall, unfamiliar figure.

”Can you say Dallas?” Smokey prompted, and watched as he put a thumb in his mouth.

”He can't really talk, can he?” Dallas wanted to know.

”Not the way you and I do, but sometimes he'll try the sounds. You should hear his version of Smokey. Can you say Smokey, Sterling?”

He grinned around the thumb in his mouth but didn't 208.

speak. Smokey laughed at his look, and he laughed with her, all with the thumb firmly planted. The thumb was removed quickly, however, when Sterling glanced behind Smokey to see his father approaching.

The little boy dropped onto all fours and began to crawl toward the edge of the blanket as fast as he could move.

Smokey grabbed him before his knees. .h.i.t the gra.s.s, but he struggled until Brandon's hands were there to reach for him.

Both Dallas and Smokey watched as Brandon tossed his small son into the air and caught him in a burst of giggles.

Smokey watched them play like this for some time, until she chanced to glance at Dallas. He was looking at her with such an odd expression that the smile died from Smokey's face.

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