Gold in the Fire. Margaret Daley

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ 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 СКАЧАТЬ