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
