Wings of the Morning (Kensington Chronicles) (40 page)

had docked at Kennebunk, but not left the ship. Darsey had

gone for help. Just when Dallas didn't think he could go on

much longer, someone knocked on the door and entered He

breathed a great sigh of relief at the sight of Willa. The older

woman checked Smokey with swift, practiced movements

and pronounced her too far along to be moved

Dallas would have groaned at the news, but there was no

time. The next 40 minutes passed in a blur for the young

husband, as Willa coaxed and coached and then presented

Dallas and Smokey with a large baby boy. He was red and

screaming and the enamored father thought him beautiful.

Smokey, in a state of near exhaustion, commented that he

was rather wrinkly. Willa told her in a huff that he was the

most beautiful baby on the earth, but Smokey only chuckled

and closed her eyes.

Five hours later, after much careful maneuvering, Dallas

had his wife and son at home. Smokey was tucked up neatly in

their big bed, and the baby, who had just eaten, was sleeping

beside her. Dallas sat down gingerly on the bed and looked

into Smokey's eyes.

"Have I thanked you for my beautiful son?" Dallas asked

her.

"I think you just did," Smokey told him, a tender smile on

her lips. "Are you terribly disappointed that I got my boy?"

Dallas grinned "No. We'll have that girl next time."

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Smokey groaned, and Dallas leaned to kiss her.

"What are we going to name this little person?" Smokey

asked, even though she had already decided she wanted

another Dallas.

"Well, I think it's rather obvious," Dallas told her. Smokey

sighed with pleasure, knowing he was going to agree with her.

"This," Dallas spoke as he lifted his sleeping son from the

crook of Smokey's arm, "is Clancy Knight."

Smokey's eyes rounded, and her pretty mouth dropped

open. Dallas, who was kissing his son, grinned in delight over

the top of his silky head

"Clancy?" Smokey whispered

"Of course." Dallas' voice was low as well. "I didn't need to

know your father to believe that he would have been thrilled

with his grandson."

Smokey bit her lip, but tears still filled her eyes.

"And," Dallas continued, "it won't be long at all before our

little Clancy understands what a special man his grandfather

was, and he'll be proud to share his name."

"Oh, Dallas," Smokey sighed. "I think you're wonderful."

"Thank you, my love," he said simply, and he placed Clancy

back in Smokey's arms. "I think you're pretty special yourself."

Fatigue was swiftly crowding in on Smokey, and she could

only manage a contented smile before her eyes closed

Dallas quietly took a chair near the bed and watched his

family sleep. A letter had come from Sunny, telling Smokey

that Aggie, who had been working at Bracken for some months,

had come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dallas knew

that Smokey would be thrilled with the news.

Tate, Jenny, Victoria, and their new little Carol had all

come with a gift, but hadn't stayed when they'd learned that

Smokey had just been settled in.

Dallas had forgotten to tell Smokey any of this, and now

she was asleep. At the moment, however, none of it seemed to

matter. God had given them a son so perfect and wonderful

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that Dallas couldn't, as yet, find the words to thank Him. He

felt tears sting at the back of his throat every time he tried

As Dallas watched them sleep, he suddenly chuckled to

himself when he thought about how closely Clancy had come

to being born at sea, and how fitting it was that he had been

born aboard theAramis. The laughter quieted when his mind

unexpectedly turned back to the last weeks, months, and

years in which he had known Smokey. So much had happened,

and God's love and provision had been so faithful.

Smokey's favorite verses from Psalm 139 jumped to mind

at that moment. Dallas was feeling very tired himself, but

before he drifted off to sleep in the chair, these were the

verses in his heart:

Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? Or whither

shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into

heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell,

behold, thou art there. If/ take the wings of the

morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the

sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right

band shall bold me.