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“Thirty minutes ago.” His sharp eyes returned to her face. “Did you really think I would go back to the house and sleep? I thought you knew me better than that.”
Darcy took in the tired lines etched into his weathered face, an ashen cast to it. She noticed the slump to his shoulders and the slight trembling as he brought the cup to his lips. He was barely holding himself together, and she didn’t know how to make him stop and rest before he— She wouldn’t think about what could happen to him if he didn’t do what the doctor said. Their relationship might not be a strong one, but he was her father and she cared.
“Dad, there isn’t anything you can do now. I can take care of stabling the mares and seeing to the mess. That’s why I came home to help you.”
“When I agreed to you coming home to help, it wasn’t for something like this. I could have lost a third of my breeding stock last night.”
Her grip on the chair tightened until pain shot up her arms. “I’m capable of handling it.”
“This is my life.” He thumped his chest. “I need to see to it.”
Darcy pulled out the chair and sat before she collapsed. The long night was finally catching up with her, and she felt the lack of sleep in every fiber of her being.
“If you don’t take care of yourself and follow the doctor’s orders, there will be no life to see to.”
“You don’t mince words.”
“You’ve always taught me to tell it like it is. You’ve been home from the hospital only a few days. You aren’t supposed to deal with anything stressful, especially something like what happened last night.”
He leaned forward, clasping the edge of the table. “Don’t you understand, not knowing is more stressful than seeing to my job.”
“I came up here to check on you, then I intend to return to make sure everything is taken care of. I’ll report back to you as soon as I deal with stabling the mares. I’ll keep you informed as if you’re right there.” The tightness in her throat threatened to cut off her words. She swallowed several times and continued. “Please let me do this for you.” Please, for once in your life, need me.
For several moments he stared at her. Then suddenly he slumped back in the chair and dropped his head. “You win. This time. But I don’t intend to stay in my room for long. Just as soon as I feel a little better, I’ll be down at the barn.”
The weak thread to his words, the fact that he’d backed down, underscored how sick her father really was. He would never admit more than he had, but she knew he was definitely feeling the effects of being up most of the night.
“Then you’ll go rest and wait for me to come see you?”
He nodded.
Darcy poured herself some coffee, her hands trembling as much as her father’s had. She didn’t particularly like the bitter taste, but she needed a lot of caffeine to keep herself going. She decided to tell her father later about what Joshua Markham had said concerning the fire probably being the work of an arsonist. Until Joshua confirmed it, she didn’t want to upset her father any more than he already was. But if there was someone going around setting fire to barns, the next few months would be more difficult than she had anticipated. Somehow she had to protect her father, even though he would fight her every inch of the way. Maybe then she would live up to what he expected.
From the paddock Darcy saw Joshua with a big black dog exploring the pile of burned rubble that had once been the broodmare barn. This afternoon was so different from earlier, when smoke had lingered in the air and the sun had been obscured. Now the sun’s rays touched her face and warmed her skin. The sweet smell of freshly mowed grass peppered the air, almost wiping away the memory of the fire, the smell of charred wood—until she looked at the destruction the flames had caused.
With a sigh, she made her way toward Joshua, who ducked under the yellow tape that cordoned off the area. He strode toward his pickup with his dog on a leash and holding two metal cans.
“Did you find anything?” she asked, catching herself staring at the man, dressed in his navy-blue firefighter’s uniform, his badge glittering in the sunlight. She forced herself to look down at the dog at his side before he found her staring at him.
He stored the metal cans alongside some others in the back of his truck, then secured a tarpaulin over them. “Not sure until the lab report comes back, but Arnold was very interested in several spots. I took some samples.”
“He’s a beauty.” She rubbed the black Labrador retriever behind his ears. “How long have you had him?”
“Three years. He’s garnishing quite a reputation in the state.”
“Reputation?”
“He’s ninety-to ninety-five-percent accurate when pinpointing the accelerant in a fire. Much better than the machine we used to have.” Joshua opened the cab door and indicated to the dog to jump inside. “So when there’s a questionable fire, Arnold and I get called out.”
“Does that keep you busy?”
“Sometimes.”
Arnold poked his head out the open window and prodded Darcy with his nose. She laughed and scratched him behind his ears some more.
“He likes you.”
“I love animals.”
The blue gleam in his eyes dimmed. “I’m sorry about the horse you lost in the fire.”
“She was in foal. My son took it quite hard.”
“Son? Was that the young man down here when I came?”
“Probably. Red hair, freckles, eight?”
“Yep. He had a few questions to ask me.”
“Just a few?”
“Well, more like twenty.” Joshua leaned against the cab of the truck, folding his arms across his chest.
“You got off easy. His curiosity will get him into trouble one day. I’m surprised he isn’t still here.”
“Said something about helping with a foal.”
Darcy peered toward the second broodmare barn a paddock away. “Yes, we had one born last night. That’s where I was when the fire broke out.”
“It seems last night was an eventful night for you.”
“And one I don’t want to repeat anytime soon.”
“I need to talk with your father. When would be a good time?”
“He’s resting right now. I’d rather not disturb him. He didn’t get any sleep last night.”
“Did you?”
The probe of Joshua’s gaze caused her to blush. She must look a sight—with circles under her eyes and some soot from the fire probably still on her face. She hadn’t even taken the time to clean up properly. She raised her hand to wipe at her cheeks as if that would erase any evidence of the night before.
“No, not for thirty-six hours. I tried to take a nap a few hours ago, but when I closed my eyes, all I saw were flames.”
“That sounds like one of my dreams. One of the hazards of being a firefighter, I guess.” He pushed away from the truck. “I need to ask you some questions too. I’ve already interviewed the others who were here last night.”
A shiver shimmered down her length when she thought back to the night before. “I’m not sure I can be of much help. All I was thinking about was getting the horses to safety.” The memory of the one mare she hadn’t been able to save pierced through her armor. The horse’s cries would haunt her for a long time.
“I need to drop these samples off, then I’ll take Arnold home. After that, I’ll be back to talk to you and your father.” Joshua started past her, stopped and twisted back around. “I wish we had met under better circumstances.”
“So do I.”
“I know this can’t be easy coming home to all this.”
That was definitely an understatement, she thought. But she never shared her worries with others. She’d learned a long time ago to keep her concerns to herself. She was about to make a light comment when her son appeared in the yard, yelling to get their attention. He raced toward them, skidding to a halt next to her.
Sean smiled up at Joshua. “Oh, good. You haven’t left yet. Mom, did you meet Arnold? Isn’t he neat? He has the best nose in the state. When something smells wrong, he’ll sit.”
Darcy laughed. “This chatterbox is my son, Sean O’Brien, just in case he forgot to tell you his name before.”
“How’s the foal?” Joshua asked, coiling the dog leash in his hand.
“She’s a filly. She’s all legs.”
“Sorta like you, sweetie.” Darcy hugged Sean to her, rubbing his head. “He’s going through another one of his growth spurts.”
“Aw, Mom.” He squirmed from her embrace, a red tint to his cheeks that made his freckles stand out. “Do you wanna see the filly? You can pet her.”
“I wish I could, but I have to finish my job first. Can I take a rain check on that offer?” Joshua tossed the leash into the truck.
“Sure. Just let me know. I know Grandpa won’t mind.”
“Speaking of Grandpa, did you finish mucking out those stalls you promised him you would do each day?”
Sean dropped his head, his chin on his chest.
“Just as I suspected, young man. You know he’ll ask you about that when he gets up from his nap.”
“I’ve got one done.” Sean began to run toward the broodmare barn, came to a stop and glanced back at Joshua. “Don’t forget about the filly.”
“I won’t. I’ll be back out here later. Maybe you can show me then.”
Beaming, Sean shouted, “Yes,” and continued toward the far barn.
“Thank you.”
Joshua’s eyebrows rose. “For what?”
“For taking some time out of your busy schedule to see the filly.” For not rejecting my son’s interest, she added silently, thinking about all the times her husband had dismissed Sean’s enthusiasm, never having any time for him.
“I’m not that busy that I can’t take a little time to see an animal.”
The smile that accompanied his words melted defenses that she had erected over the years. “I must warn you, if you allow him Sean will whittle his way into your life.”
“I know several nice boys his age that go to my church. I would be glad to introduce him to them.”
“I’m sure he’d like that. He’s always in the thick of things back home.”
“I understand that your father used to go to my church. From what I hear he was quite active at one time. His attendance has been spotty these past few years.”
“Don’t you mean nonexistent?”
Joshua kneaded the back of his neck. “Well, now that you put it that way, yes. He hasn’t been in quite some time.”
“More than likely thirteen or fourteen years.”
“Maybe this Sunday you can get your father to attend again.”
“No one can get him to do anything he doesn’t want to.”
“I understand.” He grinned. “I need to go. I’ll be back later.” Joshua walked around the front of his truck and got in.
As the red pickup drove away, Darcy turned toward the burned barn. Yellow tape marked off the area, preserving the charred structure for Joshua’s investigation. Scanning the pile of rubble, she couldn’t imagine any evidence being left. The fire had consumed most of the barn with nothing untouched by its flames. They would have to raze the building and start over—much as she had after Clay’s death.
“That must be Joshua Markham.” Darcy rose from the couch when she heard the sound of an approaching vehicle.
Sean hopped up. “I’ll get it.”
Her father watched him race from the room. “Where does he get all that energy? I could use some.”
“He’s excited that Joshua’s visiting.”
“I expected he would have questions, especially since the Andersons’ and Bakers’ barns burned.”
“Why didn’t you tell me two other barns have burned down in the past month?”
“Didn’t think it pertained to us.” Beneath his usual tanned features, his skin had a sickly pallor. “Guess I was wrong. Don’t see why anyone would want to go around killing horses.”
Darcy heard her son’s chattering as he escorted Joshua toward the den. “Shh, Dad. I don’t want to frighten Sean any more than he already is. He took the mare’s death hard.”
“Then he shouldn’t be here for the interview,” her father murmured in a gruff voice, shifting in his chair as both Joshua and Sean entered the room.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Flanaghan. I hope you’re feeling better.”
“Shamus, please. Mr. Flanaghan makes me sound so old, and I refuse to acknowledge I’m a day over thirty.” Her father waved Joshua to the couch next to Darcy. “Sean, weren’t you going to help Ken with the tack?”
“Yes, but—”
“No buts, young man. Scoot.”
“I want to show Joshua the new filly.”
“I’ll bring Joshua down to the barn before he leaves so you can show him the foal,” Darcy said, aware of the man sitting only a few inches from her. The couch suddenly seemed small with Joshua’s large frame next to her.
Sean stuck out his lower lip and trudged toward the door, dragging his feet. “Okay, but don’t forget.”
“I won’t let her,” Joshua said as her son disappeared into the hallway. Joshua removed a small pad of paper from his pocket along with a pen. “I have a few questions—”
Shamus held up his hand, then placed his forefinger over his lips. “Wait a sec,” he whispered. After a few seconds they heard the sound of the front door closing, and he continued. “Little boys have big ears, and Darcy doesn’t want to discuss the fire in front of Sean. If you ask me, she’s overprotecting him, but I’ll respect her wishes.”
