Gold in the Fire. Margaret Daley

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