What am I doing? Darcy thought. I have no business thinking about Joshua Markham in any terms other than a firefighter and an acquaintance.

She started to switch on the engine and leave before anyone knew they were at the firehouse. Too late. Joshua waved from the door and strode toward her and her son.

“See, he’s expecting us,” Sean said.

Darcy wanted to hide. She felt the heat suffuse her cheeks as the man walked to the truck, a smile of greeting on his face. The first thing she thought about was the dusty jeans she wore and the old, worn shirt. Why hadn’t she changed before coming into town? And why did she care?

Joshua stopped on her side of the truck, his face framed in the window, only a few inches from her. She rolled down the window and forced a smile to her lips. “Is this a bad time to visit?”

Please let it be, she silently added, responding to his heart-melting grin. Her pulse accelerated.

THE LADIES OF SWEETWATER LAKE:

Like a wedding ring, this circle of friends is neverending.

GOLD IN THE FIRE (LI #273)

A MOTHER FOR CINDY (LI #283)

LIGHT IN THE STORM (LI #297)

MARGARET DALEY

feels she has been blessed. She has been married for thirty-three years to her husband, Mike, whom she met in college. He is a terrific support and her best friend. They have one son, Shaun, who married his high school sweetheart in June 2002.

Margaret has been writing for many years and loves to tell a story. When she was a little girl, she would play with her dolls and make up stories about their lives. Now she writes these stories down. She especially enjoys weaving stories about families and how faith in God can sustain a person when things get tough. When she isn’t writing, she is fortunate to be a teacher for students with special needs. Margaret has taught for over twenty years and loves working with her students. She has also been a Special Olympics coach and has participated in many sports with her students.

Gold in the Fire
Margaret Daley

These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

—1 Peter 1:7

To Laura Marie Altom, a friend who helped me find where I belonged as a writer.

Thank you.

To Paige Wheeler, my agent, who has been a great support.

Thank you.

To Ann Leslie Tuttle and Diane Dietz, my two editors at Love Inspired, who have believed in me.

Thank you.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Letter to Reader

Chapter One

Darcy O’Brien’s hands shook as she brushed her hair behind her ears. She stared down at her fingers, covered with soot, the black reminding her of the charred remains of the barn only yards away. The heat from the fire chased away the early-morning chill. Smoke curled upward from the darkened boards to disappear in the fog that had rolled in to encase her in a gray cocoon. But there was nothing protective and safe about her surroundings.

Eerie. Unearthly. Darcy shivered and hugged her arms to her.

“Ma’am?”

The sound of a deep, husky voice floated to her from the swirls of smoke and fog. Her eyes stung as she searched the yard. Emerging from the shroud of gray a man appeared, dressed in a black jacket with yellow strips and black pants. He removed his fire helmet and cradled it under his arm. Dark brown hair, damp from sweat, lay at odd angles. Black smudges highlighted the hard angles of his face and emphasized the blueness of his eyes. For just a moment Darcy thought of a warrior striding purposefully toward her.

“Yes, may I help you?” she asked, pushing away her fantasy.

“That man over there said you’re the one in charge.” The firefighter tossed his head in the direction of Jake, one of the grooms.

The idea that she was in charge weighed heavily on her shoulders, even though it was only for a few months. She straightened, ignoring the exhaustion that cleaved to every part of her. “Yes, I am.”

The firefighter stuck his hand out. “I’m Joshua Markham. I conduct the arson investigations for the department.”

“Arson?”

The strong feel of his handshake reassured her. For a few seconds she forgot the past couple of hours. Then she remembered pulling the frightened horses to safety, watching the barn go up in flames, the scent of burned wood heavy in the air. But mostly she remembered trying to persuade her father to return to the main house before he collapsed. That had been the hardest task of all.

“Yes, ma’am, it’s definitely a possibility. This is the third barn fire in the past few weeks.”

“Please call me Darcy. ‘Ma’am’ reminds me of my students.”

He moved away from the pile of blackened rubble. Darcy followed. When she looked back toward the barn, all she saw was the swirls of fog. The stench of smoke clung to the air.

“When it’s safe, I’ll bring in my dog. I’ll know more after I can take some samples and check the area out more thoroughly.”

“Dog?” Her mind refused to grasp the implication of what he was saying.

“He’ll be able to locate where the fire originated. We’ll pinpoint what the accelerant was. If it matches the other fires, we’ll know we have a serial arsonist on our hands.”

“Serial arsonist? But why here?”

Joshua shrugged. “There are countless reasons why someone sets a fire. Most are for some kind of personal gain, but occasionally we find a person who just likes to set fires and watch them burn.”

Darcy shuddered. Sweetwater was always such a quiet town, not like where she lived now. Even though there were nearly fifteen thousand people in Sweetwater, she still thought of it as a small, close-knit community.

“If it’s arson, there’ll be a thorough investigation.”

“Of course.”

“I’ll be looking into all the reasons why someone would set a fire. That includes personal gain.”

For a moment her mind went blank. Stunned, she couldn’t think of a reply.

“Just thought I’d let you know.”

“Why?”

“I know your father had a heart attack a few weeks ago. Shamus Flanaghan is a respected member of our community. I don’t think he had anything to do with this, but I still have to check out the possibility.”

“And you want me to cushion the blow?”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “Yes, ma—Darcy. I would appreciate it.”

“So in other words, you want me to help you with your investigation.”

Joshua plowed his hand through his damp hair. “Well, not exactly. I just don’t want to be responsible for causing your father further grief. But questions will have to be asked—and answered.”

“Then you can ask me. As of last week, I’m acting as the manager of this farm until my father gets back on his feet.” If she said it enough times, perhaps it would be true.

“I’ll be back later with my camera and Arnold. I’ll know more after I take a look around.” He put his helmet on. “Good day.”

Frustration churned in her stomach as she watched the firefighter walk away, the thick fog and smoke swallowing him until all she saw was a gray wall. Another shiver rippled down her spine. What in the world had she gotten herself into? A serial arsonist?

Normally this was her favorite time of day, when the sun was just peeking over the horizon, the sky lit with color, the birds chirping in the nearby trees. Even when it was foggy, there was a certain appeal to dawn, a mystery waiting to be uncovered. But now there was a real mystery. Who would want to set fires to barns filled with horses?

A pounding behind her eyes hammered at her temples. Her father raised jumpers and hunters. People from all over the country came to him. His reputation as a breeder had always been paramount to him—at times to the exclusion of even his family.

Darcy closed her eyes for a few seconds and tried to compose her shattered nerves. There was so much she had to do. She didn’t know where to begin. Finally she decided she had to check on her father first, to make sure he was following his doctor’s orders, before she could even take the time to assimilate this latest news.

She started up the road that led to the main house, white painted fences on either side of the asphalt. Somewhere out in those fields were some of their prize brood-mares. But the fog that adhered to the ground obscured her view. She would need to make sure all the horses were accounted for—after she saw her father and reassured herself that he was all right.

She entered the house through the back door. Lizzy Johnson, the petite housekeeper, stood at the stove, shaking her head while she prepared French toast. A strand of gray hair fell forward on her forehead. With a heavy sigh, she brushed it back in place.

“What’s wrong, Lizzy?”

“One thing. Shamus. He insists on eating a proper breakfast. He wanted eggs, bacon and toast. He’s getting French toast. I figure that’s better than a plate full of cholesterol-high eggs fried in bacon grease.”

The frustration in Lizzy’s voice matched her own feelings. Darcy knew how difficult her father could be. He didn’t like change, and the new diet his doctor wanted him on was definitely a change.

“I’ll have a word with Dad. Is he in his room resting?”

Lizzy arched a brow. “Resting? No, he’s dressed and ready to go back down to the barn.”

“But he promised me—” Darcy swallowed the rest of her sentence. It was hopeless. Her father didn’t know how to take it easy or to follow orders. Why had she thought she would be able to help her father recover when he had never slowed down for anything in the past, not even when her mother had died? He’d put in almost a full day of work the day of the funeral.

“Child, he’s in the dining room drinking his coffee. Praise the Lord, decaf. But it was a battle to get him to drink that instead of regular coffee. I’m surprised you didn’t hear it down at the barn.” Lizzy flipped over the pieces of bread, her gaze clouding. “How bad is it?”

“Bad. The barn is completely gone. Thankfully no one was hurt, but we lost one mare in foal. The rest of the horses we managed to save. Now I have to handle finding places to stable seventeen mares until we can rebuild the barn.” Darcy thought back to what Joshua Markham had said about a serial arsonist. What if the other barns were in danger?

“And a father who won’t listen to his doctor’s advice.”

“Yes, that, too.”

“Here, I suspect you could use some of this. Just keep it away from your father.” Lizzy passed her a glass pot full of a dark brown brew. “This has lots of caffeine.”

“Thanks. I can always count on you, Lizzy,” Darcy murmured as she made her way into the dining room.

Pausing halfway down the long, cherry-wood table that seated twelve, she put the pot on a thick place mat. Then, instead of sitting, she gripped the back of a brocade-covered chair, leaning into it for support.

Her father glanced up from reading the newspaper. “I thought you were Lizzy with the breakfast she insists I eat. What’s taking her so long? Never mind—I’m sure she’s not hurrying because she doesn’t think I should go down to the barn.”

“You shouldn’t, Dad. I can take care of everything. Did you rest at all?”

He frowned. “Rest when one of my barns is burning? What do you think?”

“When did you come back to the house?”

He looked away, busying himself with taking several sips of his coffee.

“Dad?”

“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.”

“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 you 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.”

“He’s at home. He worked hard today so I gave him a treat and he’s resting up. I’ll bring him back some other time.”

“I never met a fire dog before.”

“There aren’t a lot of them around.”

“How did you come up with the name Arnold?”

“My first fire captain was named Arnold. He showed me the ropes. I wanted to honor him so I named Arnold after him.”

Sean placed his forefinger on his chin. “Hmm. That’s a thought.”

“Well, young man, right now you need to get up to the house and wash up before dinner. You know how Lizzy is about clean hands.”

“But, Mom, you and Joshua just got here.”

“Joshua’s coming to dinner, so you can talk to him at the table. That is, if you pass Lizzy’s inspection.”

“I will.” He raced from the stall.

Joshua chuckled. “I don’t think I’ve ever been used as a bribe to get someone to wash up.”

“As a parent you learn to use any trick you can.”

“I’m flattered.”

“My son was quite taken with you and Arnold.”

His smile reached deep into his blue eyes. “Maybe I can bring Arnold out here one day.”

“You’ll make my son’s day.” Darcy left the stall, and after closing its door, led the way into the barn to check each of the newly arrived mares to make sure they were settled. Joshua’s quiet study of her heightened her awareness of him.

Outside, a line of oaks and maples hid the sun, dusk beginning to settle over the yard. “What made you become an arson investigator?” she asked, relishing the breeze caressing her face, cooling her cheeks.

“I decided it was the best of both worlds.”

“What worlds?”

“When I was growing up, I would fluctuate between wanting to be a firefighter and a police officer. I fight fires, but I also investigate any that are suspicious in nature.”

“Do you have many in Sweetwater?” Darcy thought of her hometown and the people she knew and couldn’t imagine too many arsonists in the bunch.

“No, not usually, but with Arnold I cover more than just this area of Kentucky.”

“But now there’s a chance you have a serial arsonist in Sweetwater?”

Joshua paused at the gate to the paddock. Rolling his shoulders, he rubbed the back of his neck, apparently trying to massage a stiffness. “It’s looking like that. If these fires continue, someone is going to die. I have to stop the person before that.”

“You think it’s one person?”

“Most likely. That’s how arsonists work usually.”

Darcy again stopped and greeted Bluebell before continuing across the pasture toward the main house. “Do you usually catch an arsonist?”

“Arson cases are difficult to prosecute.”

She quaked at the thought that the person responsible for setting three barn fires so far would go unpunished. A mare died last night, but that could have been a person trapped in the barn. She could have been trapped in the barn if Jake hadn’t insisted she get out before she had a chance to save the last mare. That she wasn’t able to help the horse plagued her, making it doubly important that they discover who set the fire. “Then your job is quite a challenge,” she murmured, hoping this case was an exception.

“Especially when we have random fires with no apparent reason. It’s one thing when someone burns down a building to collect the insurance money or for some other financial reason. Usually we can catch that person. But with no connection between the fires, it’s hard to know what’s motivating the arsonist.”

“Didn’t you say some people burn buildings just to watch them burn?”

“Yes, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here.”

Darcy mounted the steps to the veranda. “Why?”

Joshua frowned, looking back toward the place where the burned rumble of the barn lay in a large mound. “Call it a hunch. Just a feeling I can’t shake. Something’s driving this person—something to do with farms, barns, horses.”

“That doesn’t narrow down too many people in and around Sweetwater, with this being in the middle of the Bluegrass area of Kentucky.”

“I know. I have my work cut out for me.” Joshua held the front door open for Darcy. “But from what I understand, running a farm isn’t an easy task. I’d say you have your work cut out for you, too.”

“It has been a while since I worked with the horses. Until I got married, I was learning the ropes from my father while attending college.” And not doing quite the job he wanted, Darcy thought, remembering her father’s frowns and remarks when she didn’t do something his way.

“Sean told me his dad died last year.”

“What hasn’t my son told you?” Darcy stopped in the middle of the entry hall and faced Joshua, thinking of her son’s enthusiasm and lack of inhibition. As the saying goes, he’d never met a stranger—which thankfully had helped him make friends. They had moved a lot over the years.

“We talked this afternoon for twenty minutes nonstop.”

Darcy laughed. “Nonstop on whose part, yours or his?”

“Mostly his.”

“That’s what I thought. He doesn’t know how to keep a secret. Whenever he gets me a present, I have to open it right then and there, because he can’t wait. So this past Christmas I got his picture frame he made me on December fourth, the day he finished it.”

“He said something about his dad dying in a plane crash.”

“Clay was a fighter pilot for the Navy. During a routine exercise he had problems with his plane and crashed. Knowing the risks he had to take in his job, I thought I was prepared. I wasn’t—” A tightness in her throat prevented her from saying anything else. In fact, she wasn’t even sure why she had told Joshua that. But for some reason the man was easy to talk to, and for a year she had kept a lot bottled up inside her. For most of her life she’d held her emotions close to her heart.

“I’m sorry. Death of a loved one is always difficult. I’ve lost both my parents over the past eight years. They were the only family I had.”

A profound sadness and empathy edged each of his words and drew Darcy to him. “You didn’t grow up here, did you?” Darcy felt that she would have remembered someone like him, even though she suspected a few years separated them in age.

“No. Louisville. I moved here nine years ago. I didn’t want to live in a large town, but I still wanted to be close if my parents needed me.”

Darcy could tell from the tone in his voice that there was more to that story. Indeed there was more to Joshua Markham than merely being a firefighter. But she was only going to be here for a few months. With her heart still scarred from her marriage to Clay, there was no way she would open herself up to any more pain, to another man.

“Mom. Joshua.” Sean came running into the entry hall and slid to a stop a few feet from Darcy. “Dinner is ready. Lizzy made my favorite.”

“Pizza?” Darcy breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly the atmosphere between her and Joshua had shifted and become charged with possibilities that she wouldn’t pursue.

“Naw. Spaghetti. It’s my favorite now.”

Darcy clasped her son’s shoulder and ruffled his hair. “You have a new favorite every week. I can’t keep up with them anymore.”

Sean blushed and leaned closer to Joshua, cupping his mouth as though he were imparting a deep, dark secret. “Anything Lizzy makes is my favorite. She’s a great cook. Wait ’til you taste her spaghetti. Mom, you should get Lizzy to show you how.”

“I doubt I could match her in that department.”

“Sure, Mom. You can do anything. Jake told me about the yearlings you used to break.”

“A long time ago. At the ripe old age of thirty-one I’m wiser now.” She placed a hand on the small of her back. “Just thinking about those days I can feel the aches and pains. Every once in a while there was one who didn’t like the feel of a bit and rein or the touch of a saddle and loved to show me how much.”

Sean’s eyes grew round. “Did you ever break anything?”

“Only my pride from time to time.”

“Maybe I can learn how?”

“Not ’til you’re much older.” Then in a whisper to Joshua she added, “And gone from my home.”

“Mom, I heard that.”

“Come on. Let’s go in to eat.”

When Sean raced ahead, she reached out and touched Joshua’s arm to stop his forward movement. The instant her fingers grazed him she pulled her hand away.

“Will you do me a favor, Joshua?”

“What?”

“Let’s not talk about the fire at dinner tonight. Dad may bring it up, but I’d rather not get him too upset.”

“Sure. I don’t have anything else to share about the fire until I get the lab tests back.”

“Knowing my father, he’ll try to pump you for information about your investigation. The doctor said he needed to reduce his stress level, which I’m not sure is possible, especially now with the fire. But I’m going to do everything I can to make his life less stressful.” Will that satisfy her father…finally? she wondered.

“Good luck. I’ve found if the person doesn’t want change, it’s nearly impossible to force one on them.”

“I know, especially someone as stubborn as my father. But that’s why I’m here this summer.”

“So in August you’ll be returning home. Sean said you lived in Panama City, Florida.”

“Yes, I’m a high school librarian, so luckily I could take the summer off to help Dad. This trip will be good for Sean.” She wasn’t so sure about herself, especially after the rocky start she and her dad had had.

“You haven’t come home much?”

Darcy thought of the estranged relationship between her and her father. “No, since Clay was in the Navy we were always moving, getting settled in at a new place.” She started forward, not wanting to go into the past. Going backward wouldn’t change what had happened and she was tired of trying to justify why it had taken a crisis to bring her home.

After they washed their hands, Darcy stepped into the dining room as Lizzy finished putting the last serving bowl on the table. The older woman turned to leave. “Why don’t you stay and join us for dinner?” Darcy asked.

Lizzy looked startled. Shaking her head she began backing toward the door. “I’ve got too much to do in the kitchen.”

“Lizzy, you’re part of the family and you have to eat.” Darcy inhaled the aroma of meat sauce, seasoned with oregano, garlic and onion, flavoring the air. “It smells wonderful.” She sensed Joshua’s presence behind her, and a tingling awareness shivered down her spine.

Lizzy glanced toward Shamus, who was already dishing up his spaghetti. “I don’t—”

“Come on, Lizzy. Joshua’s joining us.” Sean took the bowl from his grandfather and spooned a big helping onto his plate.

The older woman sighed. “I guess, just this once.”

“I’ve been trying to get her to join me for dinner for years,” Shamus grumbled, a frown creasing his brow. “Always said she was too busy. We must have the cleanest kitchen in the state.”

“You’re welcome to eat in the kitchen anytime you want.” Bristling, Lizzy sat next to Sean, leaving the other side of the table for Darcy and Joshua.

Shamus motioned toward the two empty chairs. “Sit, you two. I’m hungry and this is getting cold.”

“I like cold spaghetti, Grandpa.”

“You like anything that doesn’t move.” Shamus picked up the bowl of salad but didn’t put any on his plate. He passed it to Sean with a smug look thrown toward Lizzy.

The older woman pinched her lips together and focused on filling her plate with the main course. She held her petite frame rigid in the chair, her movements jerky.

At the door Darcy twisted partway around to look at Joshua. “You can always reconsider eating with us. I forget how—” She couldn’t come up with an acceptable way to describe the stressful, tension-laden meals she had spent with her father over the years. He was so set in his ways that he wouldn’t even eat in the kitchen when it was just him. Darcy was sure that for the past thirty-five years her father had eaten in the dining room and that was the way it would remain.

“Your father reminds me of my own.”

“He does?”

“Gruff on the outside, but mush on the inside.”

“Mush?” What was Joshua seeing that she had missed? Darcy wondered.

“Look at him with your son. He’s listening to every word he’s saying.”

Darcy glanced over her shoulder at her father. His gaze was glued to Sean, who was regaling him with details of the new foal’s first day. Seeing the attention her son was getting pierced defenses she’d built up over the years when trying to deal with her father.

Darcy moved into the room, continuing to feel Joshua’s presence close behind her. Had her relationship with her husband colored hers with her father? Even when Clay had been home, he had rarely shown any interest in Sean. Her son was starved for male attention, and that had provoked over the years memories of her own childhood: trying to please her father and never quite succeeding.

After she slipped into the chair across from Lizzy, she filled her plate with the delicious-smelling spaghetti and meat sauce, then gave the bowls to Joshua, who took the last bit. Her father and Sean had already started eating. Lizzy cleared her throat.

Shamus looked up, confusion darkening his expression. “What?”

“I would like to say a blessing,” Lizzy said in a prim and proper voice.

Eyebrows slashing downward, Shamus released his fork to clang onto his plate. “Fine.”

Lizzy and Joshua bowed their heads. Watching Joshua, Sean immediately followed suit. Darcy clasped her hands together, realizing they were quivering, and stared down at her plate, feeling her father’s gaze drill into her.

“Dear Heavenly Father, bless this food we are about to partake of and watch out for each one at this table. Give us the strength to seek Your guidance and the power to know when we need Your help. Amen.”

Darcy lifted her head. Her father snatched up his fork, grumbling something under his breath. When her mother died, he’d stopped going to church, telling Darcy that he was just too busy. She had gone with Lizzy until she had left home, but she had always been aware of her father’s disapproval.

“Grandpa, Joshua’s bringing Arnold here for me to play with. I wish I had a dog.”

“We’ll just see what we can do about that.” Darcy was about to say something when her father continued. “Every boy should have a dog.”

“Dad didn’t like animals. And when we lived overseas, it was hard to have one,” Sean said.

“Arnold recently became a father. The puppies are five weeks old,” Joshua said as he poured ranch dressing onto his salad.

Sean’s eyes grew big. “They are? Can I have one?”

“A friend of mine owns them. I can check—” Joshua swung his gaze to Darcy “—if that’s okay with your mom.”

The full force of his attention was directed at Darcy, causing heat to steal into her cheeks. The urge to shift nervously in her chair inundated her. “I love dogs. That sounds great.” She crossed her legs, then uncrossed them. “But, Sean, you’ll have to learn to take care of your puppy. It’s a big responsibility.”

Her son puffed out his chest. “I’m eight, Mom. I’m big enough.”

“And we need to see about getting him a horse while he’s here this summer.” Shamus pinned Darcy with his eyes. “You had one at the age of five.”

Memories assailed Darcy. She balled the napkin in her lap, her nails digging into the soft cotton material.

“My very own horse?” Sean exclaimed.

“For as long as you’re here and whenever you come to visit again. It would be nice if you visited every summer.”

Again Darcy felt her father’s intimidating glare. She returned it with an unwavering look, though memories of never quite living up to what her father expected continued to flit through her mind, scene after disappointing scene.

“Can I, Mom?” Sean bounced up and down in his chair.

“We’ll see, hon.”

“Yes!” Her son pumped his fist into the air. “A dog and a horse.”

“Your mother’s right about taking care of your animals. Around my farm that is a must.” Shamus broke off a piece of French bread and started to reach for the butter.

“That isn’t on your diet,” Lizzy said, snatching away the butter dish before his fingers touched it.

“Nothing good is on my diet,” Shamus grumbled, his mouth puckered in a frown.

Before her father started in on what he couldn’t eat anymore, Darcy released the tight grip on her napkin and asked, “Joshua, what made you decide to work with a dog?”

“I’ve been known to take in strays. My captain knew I loved animals, especially dogs, so when this opportunity came up, he encouraged me to do it. Arnold and I went through some extensive training, but it’s been worth it.”

“Heard you helped solve the Wright case a few months back.” With narrowed eyes, Shamus stared at the butter dish sitting next to Lizzy’s plate and just out of his reach.

“Wright case? What happened?” Darcy watched the silent exchange between her father and Lizzy—a battle of gazes. In the end her father turned his attention to Joshua. Darcy’s mouth almost fell open.

“It was a warehouse fire in Lexington that spread to some other buildings. It was arson. We were lucky and apprehended the man responsible.”

“Who?”

“An employee who had been fired and was angry at the owner.”

“I came up with another name of someone you could check out,” Shamus said, lifting his water glass to take a big sip. “I’d forgotten I had to let Mike Reynolds go a couple of months ago.”

“He was your assistant farm manager, wasn’t he?” Joshua asked, peering at Darcy.

Did he notice the stiff set to her shoulders and the tight grip she had on her glass? she wondered.

“Yeah. I didn’t like his methods.”

“He’s working at the Colemans’ farm now.”

“That’s what I heard.”

“Dad, I think—”

Shamus swung his sharp gaze toward his daughter, a challenge in his eyes.

Darcy stiffened even more. “I don’t think we need to discuss this at the dining room table.” She glanced toward her son.

“Aw, Mom, I know about the fire.”

“You know, Lizzy, I have to agree with Darcy. You’re a terrific cook.” Joshua took another bite of his spaghetti. He wished he could ease the heavy tension in the room.

The vulnerability he glimpsed in Darcy’s eyes melted through his defenses. He found himself wanting to help her through the pain he knew she was experiencing. Her smile touched his heart, urging him to comfort. After Carol’s betrayal he hadn’t thought that possible, and was surprised by the feeling.

Lizzy blushed a nice shade of red, her eyes twinkling. “You always do know just the right thing to say, Joshua Markham.”

Shamus snorted but continued eating.

Sean added, “He’s right. I love your spaghetti.”

Darcy slid a glance toward Joshua. Her smile reached deep into her large brown eyes, fringed in long, black lashes. The beat of his heart accelerated. He gripped his fork tighter.

“I agree with my son, Lizzy. But if I remember correctly, you make a great lasagna, too.” Darcy’s shoulder-length blond hair fell forward and she pushed it behind her ears.

With the conversation turning to favorite foods, Joshua sat back, watching the exchange at the table. The lively gleam in Darcy’s eyes made her whole face light up. He tried to picture her breaking in a yearling, but couldn’t. She was petite, not more than five foot two.

When Lizzy served sliced peaches and ice cream for dessert, Sean snapped his fingers and said, “I’ve got the perfect name for the new filly. Peaches.”

“Not a bad name, son.” Shamus frowned at Lizzy, who had handed him a bowl of peaches without the vanilla ice cream.

When Joshua’s cell phone rang, everyone shifted their attention to him.

“Sorry.” He retrieved his phone from his pocket and checked the message. Tension whipped down his length as he surged to his feet. “I have to leave. There’s a fire at the Coleman farm.”

Darcy’s eyes widened and she came to her feet too, her napkin floating to the carpet. “A barn?”

A new tension descended in the room. “Yes,” Joshua said as he headed toward the door.

Chapter Three

“Mom, let’s stop. I want to see where Joshua works. Maybe Arnold’s there.” Sean bounced up and down in the front seat of the truck, pointing to the fire station at the end of the block.

“Hon, I still need to pick up some things at the store and there’s a lot to do back at the farm.”

“Pleease, Mom.”

Pausing at the stop sign, Darcy chanced a look at her son. The eagerness in his expression shoved away all her doubts. Just because she had thought about Joshua Markham several times in the past forty-eight hours—okay, more than several times—didn’t mean she couldn’t pay him a visit, then go her merry way. “All right. But we can’t stay long. And if he’s busy, we’ll need to leave.”

“Sure.” Sean stretched his neck to get a better look at the fire station as Darcy pulled into the driveway and parked behind the building.

“Hon, he might not be here.”

“He is.”

Suspicion began to form in her mind. “How do you know?”

Sean ducked his head to the side and studied the scenery out the side window as though fascinated with the brick wall several feet from the truck.

“Sean.”

“Uh—” He stared down at his hands fidgeting in his lap. “I called him this morning.” Her son’s voice was barely audible.

“Sean, you know better than to bother a busy man.”

He lifted his head, turning his appealing look on her. “But, Mom, he told me I could play with Arnold. I wanted to find out when.”

“That doesn’t mean you have an open invitation to visit him at work or to call him anytime you want.”

“Yes, I do.” His grin split his face. “He invited me this morning. Said I was welcome to come by anytime they were there.”

“Only after you called.” Darcy gripped the steering wheel and thought about backing out and escaping before anyone saw them. Her dream about the fire last night was filled with the image of the smoke and fog parting and Joshua walking toward her. Everything had dimmed except the man in the fire gear striding toward her with exhaustion evident in every line of his handsome face. Confidence had marked his stance as he’d come to a stop in front of her. His blue eyes had gleamed in the early morning light, drawing her toward him—dangerously close.

The flashback to the previous dream made beads of perspiration pop out on her upper lip. Darcy brushed them away. What am I doing? I have no business thinking about Joshua Markham in any terms other than as a firefighter and an acquaintance. She started to switch on the engine and leave before anyone knew they were there. She would find some excuse to give her son.

Too late. Joshua waved from the door and strode toward them.

“See. He’s expecting us.”

Darcy wanted to hide. She felt the heat suffuse her cheeks as the man walked to the truck, a smile of greeting on his face. The first thing she thought about was the dusty jeans and the old worn shirt she wore. Why hadn’t she changed before coming into town? Why did she care? Her record with men was no good. She just had to think about her husband and father to confirm that.

Joshua stopped on her side of the truck, his face framed in her window, only a few inches from her. She rolled down the window and forced a smile to her lips. “Is this a bad time to come?” Please let it be, she silently added, even as she responded to his heart-melting grin, her pulse accelerating.

“It’s been quiet around here.”

“That’s good” was all she could think to say with the man dominating her space, his musky scent surrounding her.

“Yeah, we feel the same way.”

“Where’s Arnold?” Sean asked, unbuckling his seat belt.

“He’s in the station. Come on in and meet the rest of the guys.”

Sean hopped from the truck before Darcy could say anything. Joshua opened her door, and she slid out, glad to see her legs would support her weight. Her son ran ahead while she and Joshua walked at a leisurely pace toward the building.

“I checked with my friend about a puppy for Sean. It’s fine with him. In fact, he can have the pick of the litter.”

“How much are the puppies?”

“Free. He just wants to give the puppies good homes.”

Darcy halted, causing Joshua to do the same. “What aren’t you telling me?”

He stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I told him I didn’t want the pick of the litter.”

“So Sean gets it instead. I can pay for a puppy. I know teachers don’t get rich teaching, but—”

“I wanted to do this for Sean.”

“Why?”

“I can remember my first dog when I was growing up. Lady was so special to me. I want Sean to experience that.”

“But—”

Joshua held up his hand to stop her protest. “If you saw my house and the animals I have, you wouldn’t say anything. I don’t need to take on another pet.”

“How many do you have?”

“Three dogs besides Arnold, two cats, a rabbit and an aquarium full of fish.”

“Don’t tell Sean. He’ll be begging to come over.”

“I’ve never bought one of those animals. Either people give them to me because they don’t want them anymore or they are left in my yard.”

He was a large, muscular man in a dangerous profession, but underneath everything he was a softie, taking in strays. There had been times when married to Clay that she’d felt like a stray, wandering from city to city looking for a permanent home. She was glad now that she and Sean had one in Panama City. This spring had been the beginning of their second year there.

Sean stood at the door to the fire station, waiting for them. He hopped from one foot to the other. “Come on, Mom,” he finally shouted when he couldn’t contain his impatience any longer.

“Do you want me to tell him about the puppy now?” Joshua said in a low voice.

“You might wait until later or he’ll want you to leave your job and show him the puppy.”

“I’m off on Sunday. How about after church? We can leave after the eleven o’clock service, pick up something to eat for lunch, then go to Ned’s. Sean can pick out the puppy he wants.”

Darcy didn’t say anything for a few seconds. She’d made plans to start going to church again with Lizzy. She’d gotten out of the habit when married to Clay. They had moved so often it had become difficult to find a place to worship where she was comfortable—at least, that was the excuse she’d given herself over the years.

“I’m sorry. I’m assuming you’ll be going to church while you’re home. I can meet you at Ned’s place if you want.”

“No. Lizzy mentioned something to me the other day.”

“You can come with Lizzy, and then I can bring you and Sean home later. I should have the results back from the lab by then and I promised your father a report on what I found.”

Sean danced around. “Mom! I’ve got to go.”

Joshua chuckled. “I guess we’d better get inside.”

“It was that pop he drank on the way into town.”

Joshua reached around Sean and pulled the door open. “The rest room is down the hall on the left.”

Her son shot down the corridor and disappeared into the bathroom. They waited by the entrance until he came out into the hall. He headed straight for them with determination on his face.

“Where’s Arnold?”

“Probably watching TV.”

“He watches TV?”

“Yep, I’m afraid so. Nasty habit he’s gotten into. The last time I saw him he was in the living area in front of the set.” Joshua gestured to the right.

Sean darted ahead of them into a large room with several couches and chair. A table that sat twelve was off to one side in a spacious kitchen of gleaming stainless steel. Arnold was where Joshua had left him, perched before the big-screen television set, his head resting on his front paws.

“He really does watch TV,” Darcy said in astonishment.

While Sean kneeled next to the black Lab, Joshua chuckled. “Like I said, a really nasty habit he developed. He likes the noise, and when a dog appears he begins to bark, which doesn’t always sit well with the other guys who are trying to watch the show.”

“What does he do when a cat appears?” Darcy watched her son rub the length of Arnold’s back, then bury his face in his fur.

The dog rolled over, his tail wagging.

“He loves cats. His best buddy is Ringo, a white male cat that found me about two years ago and adopted us. When we’re at home, they are usually inseparable.”

“Hasn’t Arnold heard a cat is a dog’s enemy?”

“Apparently not.”

An older man came into the room, Joshua introduced him to Darcy and Sean as his captain. When he left, another man, younger, entered and waved at Darcy.

“Joshua said something about you and your son coming to visit this morning.” Glen hugged her. “I haven’t seen you since right after high school graduation.”

“We went to school together since kindergarten,” Darcy said to Joshua, then turned back to Glen. “I heard you married your high school sweetheart.”

“Nancy and I will have been married ten years come this July. How’s your father doing? I’m sorry about the fire at the farm.”

“He’s the same. Thinks he can single-handedly do everything around the farm.”

“That sounds like Shamus. Well, it’s my turn to make lunch so I’d better get going before I have seven guys breathing down my neck.” Glen made his way into the kitchen area and opened the refrigerator.

“Sean, would you like to go on a tour of the station?” Joshua asked.

Her son glanced up. “Can Arnold come too?”

“Sure, if you can get him to move from the TV set.”

Sean leaped to his feet and patted his leg. “Come on, Arnold.”

The black Lab lumbered to his feet and nudged Sean’s hand so he would continue rubbing him behind the ear.

“I think your son has a gift with animals.”

Darcy thought of all the times Sean had wanted a pet and Clay had refused to let him. She thought of how her son had taken to the farm as though he’d grown up there, doing chores, helping take care of the horses and other animals. Her throat closed. She should have brought Sean to the farm sooner. For her son’s sake, she should have put her past with her father behind her. It had taken a crisis with her father to get her back home. But the minute she had stepped on Shamrock land, all her insecurities, doubts and guilt had flooded her, as though she’d never left ten years ago.

“Wait up, Darcy.”

Darcy turned to see her best friend from high school hurrying toward her from the back of the church. For a few seconds she lost Jesse Bradshaw in the crowd, which was not unusual since her friend was only five feet tall. Darcy stepped to the side to allow the other parishioners to pass while she waited.

“I should berate you, Darcy O’Brien, for not coming by to see me, but I know you’ve had your hands full with your father’s illness and the fire. I’m sorry.” Jesse Bradshaw hugged Darcy. “I’m missed you.” She pulled back to get a good look at Darcy. “You haven’t changed a bit.”

Darcy laughed. “I’ve missed you, Jesse, and you have changed.” Her friend had lost twenty or so pounds, and her long brown hair was now short and feathered about her pixie-like features. The only thing the same was her green eyes—clear and sparkling with humor. Darcy turned to the side. “This is my son, Sean.”

Shaking Sean’s hand, Jesse said, “My son, Nate, is around here somewhere. You two will have to get together. Darcy, I’ll call you this week. Let’s get together for lunch. I want to know everything that’s happened to you in the last ten years. E-mails just don’t tell me what’s really going on with you.” Jesse fell into line with them to speak with the reverend.

“There’s Joshua. He’s waiting for us by his truck. Come on, Mom.” Sean tugged on her arm.

“Joshua Markham?” Jesse asked, one brow quirked.

“Yes, he’s helping Sean get a puppy.” Darcy leaned toward her friend. “And that is all, so don’t get any ideas.”

Jesse held up her hand. “Who, me? Never.”

Moving forward in the line, Darcy smiled at Reverend Collins and shook his hand. “I enjoyed your sermon.” Out of the corner of her eye she could see her son dancing about.

“It’s good to see you back home, Darcy. Don’t be a stranger.”

Darcy pulled Sean to her side. “And this eager young man is my son, Sean.”

The reverend held out his hand. “I hope we’ll get to see more of you this summer.”

Sean contained his enthusiasm long enough to straighten and shake the man’s hand. “Joshua introduced me to a couple of the boys in his Sunday school class. One lives down the road from Grandpa.”

“That must be Brad Anderson.”

“Yep.” Sean glanced up at Darcy. “Can we go now? I don’t want to be late.”

After saying her goodbyes to Reverend Collins and Jesse, Darcy allowed her son to drag her toward Joshua. As they approached, Darcy’s heart increased its beat, aware that her friend was probably watching every move she made. She didn’t dare look back at Jesse and encourage her in any way.

Darcy turned her full focus on the man before her. The sight of Joshua in black slacks with a sky-blue short-sleeved shirt and a striped tie was just as compelling as the image of him in his fire gear or navy-blue firefighter’s uniform. The bright sun beamed down on her, but that wasn’t the reason she perspired more than usual. The warm greeting in Joshua’s eyes did strange things to her. Her stomach flip-flopped; her pulse quickened.

“Are you ready, Sean?” Joshua asked, swinging open the passenger door of his red truck.

“Yes.”

“I thought we would grab something to eat, then go to Ned’s.”

The wide grin on her son’s face fell.

“Or, we could go to Ned’s first, then eat,” Joshua amended when he saw Sean’s crestfallen expression.

“Yes!” Sean hopped up into the cab.

“I can’t believe he’s turning down a meal. That just goes to show you how important this puppy is to Sean.” Darcy followed her son into the truck, relieved she wasn’t pressed up against Joshua.

He shut the door and leaned forward, his head framed in the open window. “You understand, Sean, you won’t be able to take the puppy home for a few more weeks.”

“Can I visit my puppy?”

“I don’t think Ned will mind—if it’s okay with your mother.”

Sean sent her a beseeching look.

“We’ll work something out,” she said.

Her son breathed a deep sigh of relief while Joshua rounded the front of the truck and slid behind the steering wheel.

“Actually, Ned lives about halfway to your farm on Old State Road, not too far from Sweetwater Lake.”

“Maybe I could walk to his place.”

“No way, young man,” said Darcy. “When you get your chores done, I’ll drive you. No walking along that highway.”

“But, Mom—”

Joshua backed out of the parking space. “I’ve had a few near misses out on Old State Road. Some people think its straightaway is an invitation to race. Not a safe place to be.”

Again Sean sighed, but he remained quiet.

In a short time Darcy had begun to notice the influence Joshua had over her son. For a boy hungry for male attention, Joshua was a wonderful role model. But what was going to happen when they returned to Panama City in August? She hated disappointing her son. For years he had tried to get his father interested in what he was doing, but Clay had hardly ever been around. When they’d been in the same room, it had been as though they were strangers.

As they drove toward Ned’s, her son thankfully kept up a running commentary about the Sunday school class he’d joined that day, the one Joshua taught. Sean described each of the boys he’d met and gave a rundown on their likes and dislikes. She was glad he had been readily accepted by his peers, especially Brad Anderson and Nate Bradshaw, Jesse’s son. Darcy relaxed and listened to Sean and Joshua.

Fifteen minutes later Joshua drove through an opened gate and down a gravel road that ended in front of a one-story, white, wooden house with an old brown barn nearby. “He’s probably in the barn.”

“Does he raise horses like Grandpa?” Sean exited the truck on Joshua’s side.

That gave Darcy a chance to take her time and allow the two guys to go ahead of her. She heard Joshua say, “No, he takes in strays like I do. He’s a firefighter at the station where I work. He doesn’t have a lot of land, just a few acres. But I must say, he has more room than I do. I’m running out of places to put my animals.”

Dressed in a plaid short-sleeved shirt, a man who appeared to be in his forties came out of the barn. He brushed some dust from his jeans and adjusted his navy-blue ball cap. “Right on time. I just got through feeding the animals.”

Sean raced forward. “Where are the puppies?”

Ned placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder and led him into the barn. Joshua waited for her by the entrance.

“I think your son is excited.”

“A small understatement.”

“I’m glad he enjoyed this morning. How did you like the adult class?”

“Lizzy and Jesse took me under their wing. I didn’t realize there were so many new people since I last attended.”

“When was that?”

“Over ten years ago.”

“You never had time to come with Lizzy when you visited?”

Darcy stepped into the coolness of the barn, the familiar scents of leather, dirt and hay drifting to her. “This is the first time I’ve been home since I got married.”

When Joshua didn’t say anything for several heartbeats, Darcy felt compelled to add, “We were out of the country for half that time.”

“You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“I know, but I didn’t realize it was that long until I came home. Lizzy was quick to point that out to me.”

“Not your father?”

Sean’s laughter floated to her. She looked toward her son in the middle of a pen with six puppies crawling all over him. “No, my relationship with my father has been strained for years.” She wasn’t sure why she told Joshua that, but for some reason it felt right to confide in him, which surprised her, but he was easy to talk to and she suspected he didn’t judge a person.

“You returned home when he needed you the most.”

She paused a few yards from Sean so he wouldn’t hear her reply. “I’m not sure my father needs me right now. He is trying to continue doing everything himself even though he is supposed to be resting and learning to take life a little easier.”

“Like the fire?”

“I finally convinced him to let me take care of stabling the mares. But I don’t think he rested much. He had all the book work done when I returned to the office later. But I guess sitting at a desk is better than running around the farm.”

“Sometimes it’s hard for a person to accept help or to even ask for it.”

“That definitely describes my father.”

“My father could be stubborn at times, but…” His voice faded into silence as he glanced away.

“But what?”

“I’d trade anything to have those times back. I miss our…lively discussions.”

“It sounds like you had a good relationship with your father.”

His intense gaze swung back to her. “It wasn’t perfect, but yes, we had a good relationship.”

How could she tell Joshua that she would give anything to have a good relationship with her father? How could she tell him that her father had been disappointed she wasn’t a male and that she was an only child? She would never forget the time she’d overheard her parents arguing and her mother shouting at her father that she was glad they hadn’t had any more children. He didn’t deserve to have the son he’d always wanted, that he would have to settle for passing his farm on to a daughter. She’d run from the house and hidden in the loft of the barn, crying until there were no tears left inside. Her mother’s words had explained a lot to her—her father’s demands to be perfect, her father’s coldness and distance. But still, it hurt to this day.

Joshua’s expression softened. Darcy closed her eyes, afraid the anguish she experienced every time she remembered that day was evident in them. His finger brushed across her cheek.

“You’re crying.” He captured her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “Some say I’m a good listener.”

Through a sheen she viewed the tenderness in his expression and wanted to go into the comfort she knew she would find in his arms. With a supreme effort she held herself back, because that wasn’t her. She’d already told Joshua more than she shared with others. She attempted a smile that wavered about the corners of her mouth, then vanished.

“I think the trauma of the fire is finally catching up with me.”

His gaze ensnared hers as though he were delving into her mind to read her deepest thoughts, those she kept hidden from the world.

“I know we don’t know each other well,” he said, “but if I—”

“Mom! Joshua! Aren’t you coming?”

Darcy blinked, tugged her hand from Joshua’s and started for her son. Joshua’s gaze bore into her back and her steps quickened. She had been so close to telling him about her childhood—and that frightened her. She hadn’t even told her husband how hard it had been growing up with warring parents and a mother who— She wouldn’t think about the past. Hadn’t she learned that reliving it only brought her pain?

This time when she smiled, it stayed in place. She’d become good at putting up a front for her son’s sake. She entered the pen and kneeled next to Sean. “Have you decided on one yet?”

“I can’t decide between this one—” he held up a male black Lab “—or this one.” Scooping up the puppy into his lap, he showed her a smaller female with a lighter mark on its brow. “I think she’s the runt. Which one do you like the most?”

“Son, it’s your choice.”

“Yeah, but what if I choose wrong?”

That innocent question brought a lump to her throat. She’d made some wrong choices that she wished she could do over, but life wasn’t like that. She swallowed and replied, “Making mistakes is how we learn, but I don’t think you can go wrong picking between these two adorable puppies.”

The female nudged Sean’s hand while the male licked him, then began gnawing on his finger. “Joshua, what do you think?”

Joshua chuckled. “I agree with your mother. It’s your call.”

Her son then turned his attention to Ned, who shook his head and said, “No, partner, you’re on your own.”

Sean’s face brightened. “Mom, how about taking both? I have some money saved. I could buy the other one.”

“I think, Sweetie, for your first pet we should stick to having only one.” Darcy straightened, aware of Joshua standing right behind her. She always seemed to know where he was in relation to her. That shook her. “You don’t have to make up your mind right this minute.”

“No, why don’t you play with them for a while? I have some iced tea up at the house. We’ll be sitting on the porch when you’re ready.” Ned headed out of the barn.

Darcy backed away. She watched her son bury his face in the fur of first the female, then the male. She thought about the small yard they had in Panama City and knew one big dog was all they could handle.

“It’s tough making that kind of decision,” Joshua murmured as they walked from the barn.

“If the dogs were going to be smaller, we might be able to have two.” She peered back once more to see Sean lying on the ground with both puppies on his chest. He was talking to them.