Gold in the Fire and Light in the Storm

by Margaret Daley

  “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.”

  “Dad!” A blush singed her cheeks. “I just don’t think discussions about fires and horses dying is what he needs to hear.”

  “You have a smart boy there, Darcy. He knows exactly what happened last night.”

  She angled toward Joshua. “What do you want to know?” This was neither the time nor the place to get into an argument with her father concerning her methods of raising Sean. In the short time she’d been home, he’d made it plain he thought she was overprotective. There wasn’t much she could say to change her father’s mind.

  Joshua’s gaze riveted to hers, a serious expression in his eyes. “Where were you when the fire broke out?”

  Chapter Two

  Joshua’s question brought Darcy firmly back to the business at hand—the fire. “As I said earlier, I was in the other broodmare barn helping to deliver a foal.” She knew the query was necessary, but it still bothered her.

  Joshua wrote something on his pad, then asked her father, “And you, sir?”

  Shamus’s mouth twisted into a frown as he peered away. “I was working in the office on the books.”

  “Dad! You were supposed to be asleep.”

  “Well, I wasn’t. I was just checking to make sure all the orders were made.”

  “I did those yesterday morning, Dad—” Darcy snapped her mouth closed, suddenly remembering they had an audience.

  Silence hung in the air until her father cleared his throat and said, “I didn’t know anything was happening at the barn until the alarm sounded. By the time I arrived, it was engulfed in flames.”

  Joshua shifted toward Darcy. “What did the fire look like when you arrived?”

  “Not much better. Smoke was everywhere and flames were beginning to shoot out the east side.”

  “And you went into the barn to get the horses out?”

  “Yes. Jake was already bringing a few out. I managed to open the stall doors so the mares would at least have a chance to run to safety.” The sounds of the frightened horses filled her mind all over again. Memories of the smoke-laden barn, the scent of fire everywhere, made her hug her arms to warm her chilled body.

  “Did you see anything unusual or anyone who shouldn’t have been there?”

  Darcy shook her head, having gone over the scene many times in the past few hours, trying to come up with something that would explain the fire.

  “Are you having any financial problems?”

  Darcy was about to answer when her father cut in with a chuckle and said, “I wondered when you would ask me that. No, Shamrock Stables is doing fine. You may look at my books anytime. I don’t need insurance money to pay my bills.”

  Surprised by her father’s calm answer, Darcy pressed her lips together to keep from expressing her astonishment.

  “Can you think of anyone, sir, who might have a grudge against you and the farm?”

  “I try to do right by people, but I’ve made a few enemies in my lifetime.” Her father drummed his fingers on the arm of the leather-padded chair, a distant look in his gray eyes. “Have Ray Anderson or John Baker thought of anyone?”

  “A few disgruntled employees, but no one who has worked for both of them. Do any of your employees smoke?”

  “Not around my barns. I have strict rules about that. I had to fire a groom back about six months ago because he kept forgetting it. Caught him smoking while he was mucking out a stall. Sent him packing that very minute.”

  “Who was that, sir?”

  “Angus Feehan.”

  Joshua jotted down the name.

  “Was it started with a cigarette?” Darcy asked, thinking back to how fast the fire had developed and spread. It had only been seven, maybe eight minutes before she’d had to escape the barn or be trapped inside.

  “I found a butt near where I think the fire started, but I don’t think it was the sole cause.” Joshua rose, sliding the notepad into his pants pocket. “That’s all for the time being.”

  Shamus started to stand, seemed to decide against it and remained seated, a pinch to his mouth indicating exhaustion. “I’d like to be kept informed of your investigation. I want to know if there’s a connection to the other two fires.”

  “I’ll let you know when I get the reports back from the lab. But from what I’ve seen so far, it looks like there is a connection.”

  Darcy came to her feet. “Let me show you the foal.”

  “I can find my way to the barn if you’re busy.”

  “That’s okay. I need to check on the mares we stabled in that barn. Make sure they’re settled into their new home.”

  Out on the front veranda Darcy paused and took a deep breath. There was still a hint of burned wood in the air, but mostly the scent of grass, flowers and earth laced the breeze. She looked toward the horizon and noticed the sun beginning its descent. A few streaks of orange and pink threaded through the blue sky like pieces of ribbon carelessly tossed about.

  “It’s getting close to dinnertime, Mr. Markham. Would you like to stay and eat with us?”

  “Please, call me Joshua, and yes, I would like that. I don’t particularly care for my own cooking.”

  “Neither do I.” Chuckling, Darcy blushed. “I mean my cooking, not yours.”

  “You wouldn’t care for mine, either.”

  “I think we have established we’re both lousy cooks.” Darcy led the way toward the broodmare barn set off to the left and farthest from the house. “I promised myself when I came this summer to have Lizzy teach me some of her dishes. Of course, now I’m wondering when I’ll find the time, what with the fire and all.”

  “Maybe I should throw myself on Lizzy’s mercy, too.”

  “You know Lizzy?”

  “Oh, yes. She’s a mainstay at Sweetwater Community Church.”

  “That’s right. I’d forgotten that’s where my mother found her and asked her to be our housekeeper.”

  “How long has she been working for your family?” Joshua opened a gate and stepped to the side to allow Darcy to go first into a pasture that shortened the trip to the farthest barn.

  “Fourteen years. Mom died not too long after Lizzy came to work for us.” One of the mares in the paddock trotted over to Darcy and nudged her. She laughed and dug into the pocket of her black jeans for a few sugar cubes, holding her palm out flat. “Bluebell won’t let me leave without getting some sweets from me. She’s spoiled rotten.” She ran her hand over the horse’s dark brown flank. “She knows she’s my favorite and uses that to her advantage.”

  Joshua walked around the mare, making sure the horse knew where he was at all times. “She’s a beauty. When is she due?”

  “Not for another month. I can’t wait. She always has a beautiful foal.” Darcy patted Bluebell on the rump before continuing toward the far end of the field where the broodmare barn was located.

  “I wish I had more time to ride.”

  “You’re in horse country. How can y
ou not ride?”

  Again Joshua opened the gate and waited for Darcy to go first. “I know. Life gets in the way.”

  When Darcy entered the barn, the scents of hay and horses permeated the air. They made her feel as though she had come home. For the past ten years, since her marriage to Clay, she had spent all of her time other places—many other places—while her husband pursued his fighter-pilot career in the Navy. With his death the year before, everything had changed…and yet it hadn’t. She wasn’t sure what she should do with her life.

  “Mom! Joshua! Come have a look. She’s feeding.” At the other end of the barn Sean danced in front of a stall with the biggest grin on his face. As they neared, he darted inside.

  “I can see your son loves the farm,” Joshua said with a laugh.

  “Definitely.” Darcy went into the stall with Joshua following, pushing away the guilty feeling she suddenly experienced. But it still niggled. She hadn’t wanted to come home; she hadn’t brought her son to see his grandfather until now.

  “See. Isn’t she neat?” Sean pointed to the foal nursing. “She lets me touch her. She almost fell once but she didn’t.”

  Darcy inspected the foal who was all legs and still wobbly. The chestnut-colored coat reminded Darcy of the foal’s mother. She hoped she was as good a jumper as her mother. Despite the fire, seeing the filly caused Darcy’s hopes to rise. Life continued even amid problems.

  “Grandpa said I could name her.” Sean continued to stroke the foal.

  “Have you come up with one yet?” Darcy asked, remembering the first time her father had let her name a horse—a lifetime ago. So much had happened to her in the last twenty-four years, and yet her relationship with her father was the same—strained, at best.

  “I was thinking of Big Red, but that sounds like a boy. What do you think, Joshua?”

  Joshua cocked his head and thought for a moment. “You’re probably right. The correct name will come to you. After spending some time with her, I’m sure you’ll come up with something that fits. Naming something is important.”

  Sean straightened, his shoulders thrown back, his big grin spreading even more. “I think so. I can’t just give her any ol’ name. Something real special.” He peered around Joshua. “Where’s Arnold? I was hoping to see him again.”