Margaret Daley - Gold in the Fire

“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.