Page 49 of Hold a Candle

“The horse belonged to Crabtree’s wife, who died over a year ago,” Darro explained. “For some reason known only to him, Crabtree blamed the horse for his wife’s death. He admitted that he hadn’t been kind to it, but every time he saw it, it reminded him of Alice. Even so, when he saw the bleeding furrows from spurs on its side one day, he fired the stable boy on the spot, which left him to deal with the horse.”

“Which is how he ended up injured,” Angus finished.

“Crabtree also admitted the horse had been abused before he got it, but his wife had fallen in love with it immediately, and he had allowed her to have it because it showed no animosity towards her. No one else ever went near it, but when Alice died, someone had to take care of it,” Darro added.

“Poor Sunshine,” Pauley said sadly. “It appears the only real kindness he’s known has been from women. I wonder what the rest of his history is?”

“I’ve had Dal working with Sunshine, but so far, he’s nae had much luck. If we can’t get him to trust men...”

His voice trailed off and he glanced at Delilah who had tears in her eyes. “Don’t say it, Uncle Darro,” she cried fiercely, wiping her face with the back of her hand. “If ye would just let me help, I know I could convince Sunshine to like Dal.”

Darro’s brows furrowed. “We’ve been through this before, pumpkin. There’s no way I’m letting you near that horse, he’s too dangerous.”

Delilah wiggled herself out of Darro’s arms and ran towards the house, her little face stubborn, the tears streaming from her eyes. “I will never forgive ye if ye hurt Sunshine,” she yelled back at them.

Darro stared after her, shaking his head. “I don’t want to put Sunshine down, but what choice do I have? She just doesna understand,” he bleated in frustration, running his hand through his hair. “When a powerful animal like that is frightened, it’s a danger to everyone, even the person it would normally be gentle with. I can’t take the risk of her being hurt or killed.”

“Mayhap I could help?” Pauley offered. “He likes me, so if Dal and I approach him together, maybe he would warm up to Dal.”

Jamie frowned and squeezed her tighter around her waist. “It’s dangerous for ye too, Pauley.”

It was Pauley’s turn to stiffen and frown. “Unlike Delilah, I’m not a child. I know the risks, and I’ve been around horses most of my life. I can take care of myself,” she snapped.

Jamie’s lips tightened. She was right, but he didn’t have to like it. When Darro and Angus stared at him, he finally nodded his head in assent.

“Excuse me, but did I just see ye two silently ask Jamie for his permission for me to help ye?” she asked with exaggerated sarcasm. “If so, I’m going to pretend I didn’t for Delilah’s sake. The decision is mine, and mine alone. Do ye want my help or not?” She folded her arms and tapped her toe while glaring at Darro.

With an amused grin, Darro nodded. “Aye, I would be grateful if ye have the time to assist with this matter.” He didn’t even glance Jamie’s way, but his eyes turned steely. “Make no mistake though, lass, I’m also doing this for Delilah’s sake. If I had my way, ye wouldn’t be getting anywhere near that horse, with or without Jamie’s permission.”

Pauley’s chin lifted. “Fair enough. It’s yer horse after all.”

Jamie kept silent, respecting that it was her decision. When it came time to spank her little arse for scaring the devil out of him if she wasn’t careful enough, that would be his decision, whether she liked it or not.

Pauley suddenly stopped as Darro and Angus continued on up the sidewalk to the deck and the front door. “Ye haven’t said anything. Are ye fuming inside or mad at me?” she asked, studying him carefully.

Jamie noted her defensiveness and figured it had to do with her marriage. “Ye are right, it’s yer decision, lass. But just so ye know, if ye do something with that horse that gets yerself hurt, it will then bemydecision to spank yer little arse until ye can’t sit down for taking risks with yer health and welfare. What I feel for ye is important to me, and I want to protect ye. If yer decision overrides my feelings, then ye bring the consequences of yer decisions on yer own wee bottom.”

Pauley gawped at him, as if trying to figure out if he was double-talking her, or if he really had a point.

He went on. “All I’m asking lass, is that ye give me a little consideration, as I would ye, when ye make yer rightful decisions,” he added, then dropped a kiss on her lips before turning her around and landing a spank on her backside. “Dinner’s waiting and I’m hungry. Let’s eat.”

Darro and Angus were already inside the house, but Pauley looked furtively around to make sure no one had seen his hand smack her bottom. Jamie grinned when she realized that there was no one in sight and she sighed in relief.

***

ALL HALLOW’S EVE DAWNEDbright and sunny the next morning. Pauley turned over and groaned, the effects of her roll on the parking lot of Hope Barks making themselves known. After doing a few stretches to get some of the kinks out, she finally stood up and made her way to the bathroom.

As the soothing shower of hot rain sluiced over her body, her mind flickered to Jamie’s reactions the previous evening at Neamh. It was different than what she was used to. When she’d stood up for herself with Peter, he’d pouted for days sometimes, and peppered her with snide comments and generally made life miserable until he finally got past it. It was an exhausting way to live, especially as they seemed to grow further apart with each passing year as Pauley advanced in her career.

Peter had never liked her being a police constable, and never forgiven her for joining the force. They say hindsight is twenty-twenty, and in this case,theywould be right.

Like most young people, she and Peter had thought they were in love and had jumped in with both feet, never bothering to see if they were alike enough, or had the same end goals in mind, to navigate the rapids of life together. Peter’s mother had been a stay-at-home wife. Nothing wrong with that, except that Peter had expected Pauley to be like his mother.

That didn’t happen—end of story.

Jamie appeared to respect her decisions and that fascinated her. His only requirement being to take care of herself while she was doing what she was doing or she would answer to him in the end. Plus, he’d recognized when she was actually out of control and had stopped her from jeopardizing her career.

She shivered as she turned off the water and reached for the towel on the rack. No one was perfect. There would be times when they clashed if she pursued this relationship, but she found herself looking forward to those clashes. Maybe even instigating a few just to see what he would do. Even though she’d only known him for three days, she had a good feel for what he might do, and the thought both fascinated her and made the butterflies in her stomach flutter out of control with fearful excitement.

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