Gold in the Fire and Light in the Storm

by Margaret Daley

  “I’m sure Dad won’t mind you coming out and going for a ride.”

  “It wouldn’t be the same without my teacher.”

  She smiled. “You’ve been a good student.”

  “My teachers in high school would be surprised to hear you say that.”

  “You mean you weren’t the model student?” She widened her eyes in mock shock.

  “I know it’s hard to believe, but I did visit the principal’s office a few times. You know the old saying, boys will be boys.”

  “Don’t let my son know that,” Darcy said with a laugh. “I didn’t get to ask you how the fishing trip went the other day. We didn’t have any fish to eat that evening so I’m thinking it didn’t go well.”

  Joshua’s mouth curved downward. “Not according to my plans.”

  “Which were?”

  “I had a big ol’ catfish in mind for dinner. It just didn’t oblige me.”

  “I don’t understand why not.” She shifted so she could face Joshua. “The important part was that Sean had a great time. He’s now trying to talk his grandfather into going fishing. Dad won’t have anything to do with it.”

  “I personally like to have a reason to do nothing. I’m always on the go, and to be able to sit back and wait for a fish to nibble is just fine by me.”

  “Why do you have to have a reason like going fishing to rest and take it easy? It’s okay to do that every so often.”

  “This from a woman who is working twelve-hour days.”

  “That’s so my father won’t put in that kind of time.”

  His laughter echoed through the glade. “Darcy O’Brien, let’s face it. You love working with the horses and running the farm.”

  No, I don’t, she wanted to retort, but she knew that was a lie. She did love working on the farm, especially now that she and her father were getting along. He was continuing to teach her about the business, but this time he was also complimenting her when he liked what she was doing.

  “In two weeks I’ll have to put this all behind me and go back to my regular job. School starts the third week in August and I have to get the library up and ready to go.”

  “Which do you prefer, books or horses?”

  His simple question stole the breath from her lungs. She averted her gaze, trying to figure out how to respond, surprised she didn’t have a ready answer. A month ago she would have said books without a moment’s hesitation. Now she couldn’t honestly say.

  “Why, I like to ride a horse and read at the same time.”

  “Nope. I’m not letting you off that easily.”

  “I’ve almost finished my part of the Sunday school lesson for this week. I love the story of Ruth.”

  Joshua laid his fingers over her mouth to stop her flow of words. “And don’t try to change the subject. You’re always prepared for the children on Sunday morning. It must be the teacher in you.”

  “Technically I’m not a teacher but a librarian.”

  “Do you deal with children every day?”

  She nodded.

  “Do you teach them about how to use the different resources of the library?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then I think you’re splitting hairs.”

  His fingers had fallen away but were now on her upper arm, massaging slow circles into her skin. She liked that he liked to touch her. Goose bumps pricked her from head to toe. She shivered.

  “Cold? It’s over ninety.”

  No way was she going to tell him that he could make her tremble with a mere touch. The smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth told her he knew exactly the effect he had on her. She was dangerously close to giving her whole heart to him. She had to keep focused on the fact she would be leaving in two weeks and wouldn’t return until Christmas.

  “You never told me which it would be—horses or books?”

  “Haven’t you ever had two options, each with its own special benefits, that you can’t choose between?”

  “I doubt when all aspects are examined that they would be equal. One would stand out over the other.”

  “Well, then my answer is that I haven’t examined all aspects and can’t give you an answer.”

  “You didn’t think you would like managing the farm, did you?”

  She shook her head. “Not when I showed up two months ago. I dreaded it. Now when I get up each morning, I look forward to the day.” Partly because you are so much a part of that day, she added silently, wishing she could deny it, because she didn’t see them having a future. She didn’t think she could risk her heart again. The scars from her last encounter were still healing.

  “I for one like seeing your father attending church again. It’s a small church and we rely on its members participating in it fully.”

  “And have you seen Lizzy smiling lately? I definitely think something is going on with my father and her.”

  “It’s about time.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Everyone in town except your father knows that Lizzy has been in love with him for years.”

  “When it comes to relationships with people my father can be a bit slow. He’s great with animals, though.”

  “Which I’m thankful for. I found a stray cat that he said he’ll take. He wants one for the new barn going up.”

  “Helps keep the mice population down.” Darcy tossed a pebble toward the stream and heard the splash as it hit the water. “Speaking of pets, Crystal is crazy about her therapy dog. I’m so glad you were able to help her get one so fast.”

  “I have a few connections. A therapy dog can help her to be as independent as possible.”

  “She’s so excited. Can’t wait to show the kids at church. She’s actually looking forward to school starting in the fall. She thinks Charlie will be the hit of the school.”

  “He probably will be. How many kids get to take a pet to school every day?”

  “I’m glad I don’t have to testify at Tom’s trial. Since he pleaded guilty, there won’t be one. I wouldn’t want to make things any worse for Crystal or Tanya.”

  “I think that’s what made Tom not fight the charges. He’d put his family through enough already.”

  “They’re still trying to pick up the pieces, but the church has been great to Tanya and Crystal. And Tanya even found a job yesterday.”

  Joshua’s brows rose in surprise. “She did? Where?”

  “At the bank as the receptionist. She’s excited. She hasn’t worked since before Crystal was born.”

  “When I’ve visited, she’s been on more of an even keel.”

  “Yes, she’s really trying to stay on her medication and promises me she will see the doctor regularly.”

  “She’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

  “I just wish I could—” Her throat caught around the words she wanted to say.

  “You could have helped your mother?”

  She nodded, afraid to speak. Using her shoe to toy with a pebble nearby, she stared at the ground, not really seeing it. “I wish someone could have helped her. I was so young and really didn’t even realize what was going on.”

  “But your father knew?”

  Again she nodded.

  “So for years you’ve blamed your father for what happened to your mother?”

  “Yes,” she said, her voice raspy. She clenched the pebble in the palm of her hand until its sharp edges cut into her skin.

  “Sometimes people aren’t ready to accept help, and no matter what a person does he can’t change it.”

  “I know that now. Dad and I have talked. I know he tried to help Mom, but she just didn’t or couldn’t accept it. At least I know it in here—” Darcy pointed to her head “—I’m still working on knowing it in here—” She placed her hand over her heart.

  “You weren’t the only one affected by your mother’s death. Your father was too.”

  “I’m discovering that. It helps to finally talk about it. For years my father wouldn’t say a word about my
mother, especially about how she died. There was a part of him that felt so betrayed. There was a part of me that did, too.” She swung her gaze to Joshua’s. “She’s been gone for thirteen years, and yet almost every day that goes by, I still think about her. I never really got to say goodbye.”

  The rough pads of his thumbs grazed the skin under her eyes as he looked deeply into them. “A lot of people never get to say goodbye. We don’t get to pick when we’re going to die. People often leave behind unfinished business. That’s why it’s important to live your life to the fullest. Make each day count.”

  “I’m working on that.” She laid her hands over his on her face.

  Joshua bent forward and touched his mouth to hers. Her senses reeled from the sensation of his lips on hers, of his hands on her face, of his scent invading her nostrils. She was floating on clouds, soaring through the sky. Dangerous feelings bubbled to the surface—emotions of caring beyond friendship. A part of her wanted to surrender to those feelings, but years of hiding her innermost thoughts and emotions kept her from giving in to them completely.

  She pulled back, his touch falling away. Something in his eyes told her that he was as surprised by the feelings generated between them as she was.

  He shoved himself to his feet and extended his hand to her. “I’m on duty tonight. We’d better start back.” A stiffness had entered his voice, his stance.

  Darcy fitted her hand within his, and he tugged her to her feet. Releasing his grip, he walked toward his mare, untied the reins from a small tree and mounted. Darcy followed suit, her legs shaking from the emotions sweeping through her.

  “Want to race back to the barn?” Joshua asked, guiding his horse from the grove of trees.

  A meadow, tossed with wildflowers, stretched before Darcy. Off in the distance she saw the new barn being erected. A little to the left were three mares with their foals, grazing in the paddock.

  “You do like to take risks. Are you sure?”

  “I like to push my limits. I haven’t ridden Patience at a full gallop yet.”

  “The last one to that gate over there—” Darcy gestured toward the one close to the new barn “—gets to cook a meal for the winner.”

  “What kind of bet is that? Neither one of us can cook.”

  “An interesting one.” Darcy spurred her horse into a gallop.

  Joshua shouted something behind her, and she glanced over her shoulder at him, laughing at his stunned expression. He prodded his horse into action. Wind whipped her hair behind her. Sunlight beat down upon her. She was one with her horse and happy, sharing something she loved with Joshua.

  Her destination loomed ahead. The pounding of Joshua’s horse sounded closer. Darcy was impressed. Joshua was a quick study. Slanting her head to the side, she caught sight of him out of the corner of her eye. Pushing her mare, she lengthened her lead, laughter rushing from the depths of her being at the pure joy of the contest.

  She didn’t slow until she made it to the gate. Reaching it first, she pulled up, twisted about in the saddle and saw Joshua only a few yards away. The expression on his face mirrored the elation she felt. Their gazes locked. Across the short expanse a connection formed and strengthened.

  “I won!” Darcy said when he stopped next to her.

  “You may change your mind after you eat the dinner I prepare for you.”

  The teasing glint in his eyes spurred her heart to beat as fast as her horse’s hooves had pounded across the meadow. “Can’t be any worse than what I would have fixed you.”

  “What a pair we make,” he said with laughter, then leaned down to open the gate and allow her to go through first.

  Yes, we do make quite a pair, she thought, directing her mare toward the far barn. Next she would be thinking they were a couple. A mistake, her common sense warned.

  When Darcy reached the barn, she swung down and began walking her mare to cool her off. Joshua fell into step next to her. A comfortable silence was only broken by the horses’ hooves striking the dirt. She sighed.

  “I’ve had a nice time, Darcy.”

  “So have I.” She headed into the barn to brush her mare.

  Inside, the cool shade offered a reprieve from the summer heat. Her father and Sean stood staring into a stall at the far end.

  “What’s up, you two?” Darcy asked them.

  “Moonstruck is restless. She should have her foal soon,” Sean said, turning toward her. “Grandpa said I can watch when the time comes.”

  Her father caught her eye. “Only if you give your okay, Darcy.”

  Pleased that her father had sought her opinion, she said, “It’s about time he learns about that part of a breeding farm. Of course, Sean, most foals seem to be born at night.”

  Sean squared his shoulders and drew himself up to his full height. “I’ll be okay. I can rest the next day.”

  Darcy secured the reins to a post, removed the saddle, then used a curry comb to brush the mare. With his back to her, Joshua did the same.

  As he watched Shamus and Sean leaving the barn, Joshua paused and said, “Have you ever noticed that Sean does everything your father does?”

  “Yes. This morning at breakfast he asked Lizzy for a cup so he could have coffee like his grandpa. Thankfully Dad persuaded him to wait a few more years before drinking coffee. I tell you, as a parent you always have to be one step ahead of your child.”

  Joshua peered over his shoulder at her. “Darcy, you are lucky to have a child.”

  Her teeth dug into her lower lip. She remembered Joshua once talking about how he had wanted children and had been devastated when Carol had left him at the altar, destroying that dream. At thirty-three he was cynical about marriage and leery of a deep emotional relationship. They definitely were a pair!

  Chapter Twelve

  “I don’t smell anything burning. That’s got to be a good sign,” Darcy said, entering Joshua’s house for the second time since she’d met him.

  Joshua splayed his hand across his chest. “I’m crushed.”

  Ringo sauntered over to Darcy and wound himself around her legs, purring loudly. “What are we having for dinner?”

  “A surprise.”

  “Do you even know yet?” She inhaled a deep breath. “Come to think of it, I don’t smell anything cooking.”

  “Okay, if you must know, Trenton’s Café is delivering—” he checked his watch “—in thirty minutes.”

  Darcy laughed. “I love Trenton’s food. A man after my own heart.”

  “Then you don’t mind?”

  Darcy couldn’t resist picking up Ringo and holding him close to her, rubbing her cheek into his soft fur. “If I had lost the bet, I would have pleaded for Lizzy to cook the dinner, and if she wouldn’t have agreed, I would have done the exact same thing. So how can I mind?”

  Joshua escorted her into the living room. “Good, because I have another confession to make. I tried to cook lasagna and failed miserably.”

  Darcy arched a brow. “Why didn’t you try something easier?”

  He sat on the couch, leaving her plenty of room to have a seat next to him. “Sean told me it was your favorite dish.”

  “You asked him? When? You’ve been gone these past few days.” A rush of pleasure zipped through her. He had taken time away from his arson investigation in the eastern part of Kentucky to check with her son about her favorite food. Clay would never have done something like that. Her husband never even would have attempted to prepare her something to eat.

  “I called him yesterday.”

  “That explains that silly smile he wore for half the day.”

  “I’m sorry about the lasagna, but thankfully Trenton’s has it on their menu.”

  Chewing her lower lip, she glanced away from his penetrating eyes, busying herself by sitting down on the couch.

  “Okay, what’s up?”

  Sighing, she smoothed her lime-green sundress. “Lasagna is my son’s favorite dish, at least this week.”

  “You don’t
like it!”

  “Oh, no. I like it. Really I do.”

  “What is your favorite food?”

  “Fried shrimp. And yours?”

  “A big, thick, juicy T-bone steak.”

  She relaxed back. “I’m glad we got that out of the way. I guess there’s a lot we don’t know about each other.”

  “We’ve only known each other two months.”

  “And I’m leaving at the end of next week.” The reminder brought to mind all the reasons Darcy needed to keep herself from falling in love with Joshua. They really hadn’t known each other long. She hadn’t even known his favorite food, and he hadn’t known hers.

  Silence thickened the air. Joshua shifted on the couch, cloaking his expression and turning his attention to Ringo, who lay between them.

  “In four months, I’m coming back for a week at Christmas.” As she said it, the amount of time seemed inadequate. A week would pass in a flash. She would have her family obligations and Joshua would have his work.

  “Sean said something about coming for the summer next year.”

  “I hope to. Even though Dad won’t admit it, I think he would like the help.” A nervous laugh escaped her. “I can’t believe I’m saying that.”

  “You two have made amends. Now you can spend time strengthening those bonds.”

  But their relationship was still fragile, and with hundreds of miles between them those bonds might break. Her breath caught. Who was she referring to—her father or Joshua?

  “You didn’t tell me how your trip was. Was the fire caused by an arsonist?” Darcy asked, needing to change the subject. This evening was supposed to be fun and light.

  “Yes. Arnold discovered where the fire started. I gathered what evidence I could. I suspect it was set for insurance purposes.”

  “You’ve got Sean debating whether to be a breeder of horses or a firefighter. He’s thinking he can do both.”

  “Sort of like you with your books and your horses? Have you ever decided which you prefer?”

  “The jury is still out on that.”

  The doorbell chimed. Joshua rose to answer it while Darcy stroked Ringo, curled against her side. Which did she prefer? It really didn’t make any difference. She was returning to Panama City in ten days. Her trip to Sweetwater, though, had shown her how much she missed riding horses. She would have to find someplace in Panama City where she could ride. Maybe one day she could even have her own horse again.