Gold in the Fire. Margaret Daley

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СКАЧАТЬ 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?”

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