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Shirley; she's the
    youngest."
    Smokey's smile never wavered, but she didn't really hear
    the last statement. She was too busy trying to push down the
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    images that rose up at the name "Dolly." Buck was a small man
    with a soft air about him, so did that mean a man named Dolly
    would be large and muscular? Smokey thought it unlikely,
    though Jenny herself was quite tall.
    "Here, Smokey/' Jenny cut into her thoughts. "Have another
    piece of cake."
    Smokey accepted, and Jenny watched her. Smokey had no
    idea what to do with her cake plate as she already had a cup of
    tea in her hand. Jenny wanted very much to show her, but was
    acutely afraid of hurting her feelings. Jenny also realized that
    she was under Smokey's close scrutiny and was careful not to
    give notice.
    Smokey was just about to ask Jenny another question
    about her family when they were interrupted Polly announced
    that cook needed something in the kitchen. Smokey, already
    seeing that Jenny was very kind to her staff, watched as she
    rose immediately and went to lend assistance.
    After she had gone, Smokey put her cup and plate down
    with a sigh of relief. Jenny made it look so easy as she balanced
    her plate on her lap, leaving her hands free to handle her cup
    and saucer. But Smokey's plate always tipped, no matter how
    hard she worked to keep her legs even.
    And then there was the different way they held their cups.
    Smokey gripped her small china cup just as she held her large
    mug aboard the Aramis. Not so Jenny--why, her pinky finger
    even stuck out! Her pinky finger was always held at a most
    feminine angle as she drank. She made it all look as natural as
    breathing.
    With a nervous glance at the door, Smokey reached for her
    cup and saucer. She held it just as Jenny had, one hand on the
    saucer, and thumb and forefinger of the other hand on the
    handle. Pinky finger pointing straight out, she tried to drink.
    Before it even reached her mouth, the cup tipped and she
    burned her hand Her hand smarting from the burn, a frusM
    Smokey quickly placed her cup back in the saucer and
    o *1 it back on the table. She had drenched her hand "I tea down the front of her dress. It wouldn't have
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    mattered if she had been wearing the brown or navy blue
    dress, but this had to be the dark tan. It showed every spot.
    Her napkin took care of her hand, but there was no hiding
    the spots on her dress. As she scrubbed, Smokey felt more than saw that she wasn't alone. She glanced up quickly to see
    Buck standing nearby, smiling kindly at her. Seeing her wet
    dress and tea-filled saucer, he had grasped the situation
    instantly.
    "Hello, Smokey," he spoke gently as he sat and poured his
    own tea.
    "Hi, Buck," Smokey spoke in return, not quite meeting his
    eyes as she tried to use her napkin to hide her wet lap.
    "What have you and Jen been up to?"
    Buck had a way of making Smokey relax, and she calmed
    at just the sound of his voice.
    "We went to church this morning. This afternoon has
    been pretty quiet."
    "Did you enjoy the sermon?"
    "Oh, very much," she told him sincerely.
    "We've been working our way through the book of James
    for some time."
    "Were you at church, Buck? I didn't see you."
    Buck grinned "You didn't see me because the pipe organ
    nearly hides my frame."
    "Oh, Buck," Smokey exclaimed in delight. "You were the
    one playing. It was just beautiful."
    Buck inclined his head in true modesty. Jenny had joined
    them again, and she talked about Buck's musical ability, which
    was considerable. He'd been playing for years and had mastered
    the piano, organ, and violin. Smokey was impressed, but
    not at all surprised. She had believed Buck to be a very special
    person from the moment she met him. They chatted on for
    some time until Tate walked in the door. He had not been
    home all afternoon.
    "I'm sorry I'm so late," he spoke as he moved to kiss his
    wife, "but the situation was more complicated than I originally
    believed. And I think you'll forgive me," he