Hearts on Fire Read Free

from the pile, unfolded it and spread it across the top so the child could see it. “This one is perfect for your coloring.”
    “It’s so pretty.” The girl’s breathless admiration for one of her creations tugged at Shannon’s heart.
    “It’s yours, Meggie.” She held it out. “Take it to remember your day at the faire.”
    “Ms. Perry, I’m afraid—”
    “My gift, Mr. Rankin. A thank you for your quick response to the emergency as well as allowing me to get to know your daughter.”
    “These must be expensive.” His gaze darted to the back of her stall where the smallest of her looms added authenticity to her booth.
    “The value is in my time, and I’ve got lots of time.” Nothing but time. Endless time .
    He stared at Shannon until his daughter’s dancing drew his attention. Wrapped in the color-blocked swath of fabric, Megan Rankin looked like a sprite on Midsummer’s Eve, her face alight with laughter and the spirit only a child possesses. Shannon fought to remain detached even though she knew the fight had been lost the moment she saw fear in the little girl’s eyes from across the way.
    “Please, let her accept the gift.” Shannon turned away rather than let him see the tears in her eyes.
    “What do you say to Ms. Perry for the gift, Meggie?”
    “Thank you so much!”
    Shannon patted her face dry with a handkerchief she’d rescued from a flea market then turned. “You’re welcome, Meggie. I hope the scarf brings you years of joy.”
    The sprite danced away from the booth, her gaze coming back to her father every few seconds. Shannon thought her heart might split in two, watching the precocious child spin and jump as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
    “Thank you.” The deep voice broke into Shannon’s thoughts, bringing her crashing back to reality. She had the impression the two words were meant to say more, but nothing about the man’s expression backed up her thoughts.
    “You’re welcome.” Shannon wrapped her arms around her midsection and moved to the deep shadows in the back of the booth.
    The father and daughter duo disappeared from view a few moments later, taking the sunshine with them.
     
    ~~~
     
    “Be good for Grandma.” With one last hug, Steve lowered Meggie’s feet to his mother’s kitchen floor. “Maybe she’ll bring you by the station later.”
    “Can we, Grandma? Please?”
    Working thirty-six hour shifts was difficult, but having his daughter visit, even for a short time, helped get him through. Meggie loved the firehouse, or maybe she just loved his co-workers. Every time she came by, they spoiled her rotten, letting her do everything from helping wash and polish the fire engines to baking cookies. They extended the favor to all the firefighters’ children, but none seemed to appreciate the attention the way Meggie did.
    “You have to help me in the garden first. Then, if there aren’t any emergencies, we’ll stop by later.”
    He could always count on his mom to put balance in his daughter’s life.
    “Call before you come. I have a few things to follow up on today, so I’ll be out for a while.” He didn’t usually follow up on fires, but he couldn’t get a certain earthy woman out of his head. He’d been too harsh on Shannon Perry the day before. In retrospect, he decided she’d acted responsibly, sheltering his daughter from what could have turned out to be a dangerous situation. If the faire goers or, God forbid, the horses scattered around the area had panicked, Megan would have been in real danger. He owed the woman an apology.
     

CHAPTER THREE
     
    He located the fortune teller’s booth easily enough. Pending a determination of the cause of the fire, the charred remains were untouched. As he stood there assessing the damage, the older woman he recognized from the day before approached.
    “Such a tragedy.” Her thick accent sounded as fake as her fortune-telling skills. “I’ve lost everything.” She shook her head in dismay,