Precarious Summer

by Lyn Cote

  But then she drew a little nearer to him. He inhaled the fragrance of flowers from her. They were alone. She was so close and it was dark. He drifted closer to her. Could she possibly be feeling the same kind of pull toward him? Improbable. Unknowable.

  He let her lead him to Shirley’s roughed-in new back steps and shell of a porch. The smell of unfinished pinewood surrounded them. Turning to face him, she halted on the top step, which put them at the same height, face-to-face, nose-to-nose. “Carter,” she murmured.

  “Audra.”

  The fraction of an inch between them vibrated with awareness. Her lips parted slightly. He heard her inhale. He could barely breathe. As if having a mind of its own, his head dipped lower and then his lips were only a whisper away from hers.

  She sighed into his mouth, and the warm puff snipped the last thread of his control. His lips brushed hers. She didn’t move. Encouraged, he closed his eyes and let the kiss begin in earnest. Her lips were just as soft and honey-sweet as he’d imagined.

  A nearby door flapped open. “You mangy cat, get out and good riddance!” It was Florence next door, letting her infamous tomcat out for the night.

  Carter pulled back, steadying Audra with a hand at her elbow.

  “Evening, Sheriff! Audra!” Florence crowed for all the neighborhood to hear. “It’s a lovely full moon tonight, so romantic, isn’t it?”

  Chapter Six

  The next evening, Monday, her only night off, Audra sat with Evie beside her at Shirley’s long dining room table. She had expected to share the meal only with the other three who lived at Shirley’s house—Tom, Chad, and Evie. But their hostess had surprised her by inviting Carter to join them. Shirley sat at the head of the table, Tom at the foot and Chad next to Carter across from Audra.

  Beaming from the head of the table, Shirley asked Tom to offer grace. Everyone bowed their heads. Tom thanked God for bringing them all together for a meal. Audra tried to concentrate, but awareness of Carter churned through her. Whenever she thought about the kiss last night, her pulse tried to run away with her.

  Suddenly came the sound of the back screen door opening and slamming and then a voice called from the kitchen. “Shirley!”

  It was Florence.

  Audra stared down at her plate. After last night, Florence had moved to the top of the list of the two people Audra least wanted to face. The other person was Carter, Audra’s new temptation. And now they were both here.

  Another horrid thought blossomed in Audra’s mind. What if Florence made some comment in front of Evie about last night’s kiss? How would she handle that?

  “We’re in the dining room,” Shirley called out.

  In a white Proud Native American T-shirt and jeans, Florence sashayed through the doorway from the kitchen. “Oh, you’re eating,” she said in an unconvincing tone of surprise.

  “Why don’t you join us, Florence?” Shirley stood up and, from the carved sideboard, began setting another place beside Evie.

  Tom grinned at her. “Your timing is impeccable, as always, Florence.”

  Florence pointed her long index finger at Tom. “You should know better than to stand outside my window grilling chicken.”

  Shirley chuckled as she squeezed her neighbor’s shoulder. “You’re quite welcome, Florence. Always. You know that. Come on, now. Tom was just offering grace.”

  Florence sat down. They all bowed their heads again. Tom continued thanking God, naming each of them and asking for blessings for each of them. Audra tried to think of a way to communicate to Florence not to let Evie know about the kiss. But nothing came to mind.

  “Mama,” Evie said, nudging Audra’s shoulder, “Tom said, ‘Amen.’ Look up.”

  Audra looked up, right into Carter’s tanned face. As she recalled his lips brushing hers, she glanced away. Her face and neck flamed and there was nothing she could do about it. Shirley gave her a knowing glance. Florence chuckled and winked.

  Rattled, Audra dipped a large spoon into the vat of mashed potatoes, her daughter’s favorite food, and put a healthy mound on Evie’s plate.

  “Mama, don’t you want some, too?”

  Audra realized that she’d just passed the mashed potatoes to Tom without taking any. “I’m not very hungry,” she said lamely.

  “Yes, sometimes when we stand on the back porch in the moonlight, things happen that can take a person’s appetite away.” Brimming with obvious mischief, Florence helped herself to the mashed potatoes before passing them to Tom.

  Audra sizzled with embarrassment and remembrance. Florence’s words brought it all back, every sensation of Carter’s kiss. She couldn’t recall any kiss that had wound its way through her so completely, extinguishing any chance of denial.

  Audra accepted the tray of chicken and served some to Evie and to her own plate. Act normal, she chastised herself.

  But it was hard with a grinning Florence staring at Carter. Would Florence content herself with the amusement of teasing Audra about the kiss? What did Carter think of Florence’s not-so-subtle gibes?

  The serving bowls and platter finally made the rounds of the table and Audra managed to fill hers and Evie’s plates. Couldn’t this summer just calm down?

  “Mama,” Evie said, spooning up some mashed potatoes, “Grandma Lois is going to take me shopping tomorrow afternoon.”

  Audra realized she hadn’t yet taken a bite of anything. Intensely conscious of Carter’s every move and Florence’s vigilance, she picked up her fork. “Shopping?” Her mother wanted to take Evie shopping? What next?

  Evie nodded, her head bobbing. “We’re going to shop for some pretty yarn. I can pick out any kind I want and then Grandma Lois is going to teach me how to knit a scarf to keep me warm this winter.” Evie was nearly bouncing in her seat with delight.

  When had Grandmother Blair become Grandma Lois?

  “That sounds lovely, Evie,” Shirley said. “What color do you think you’ll like?”

  “I don’t know. Grandma Lois says I should wait and see. She’s taking me to a special yarn shop in Ashford.”

  “There’s a nice new bridal shop in Ashford, I hear,” Florence said, evidently needling Audra.

  Audra realized then she hadn’t yet replied to Evie. She caught herself just before she addressed her as “Baby.” “Honey, I think that’s wonderful. Grandma Lois taught me how to knit when I was about your age, too.” Her traitorous eyes then drifted over to Carter.

  CARTER CAUGHT HIMSELF looking at Audra again. He should have declined Shirley’s invitation.

  That’s right, his conscience taunted. Last night you certainly gave Florence and probably the rest of the neighborhood grist for the gossip mill for months.

  He pushed this aside and took another bite of the charcoal-grilled chicken. Last night, he’d been so caught up with being with Audra that he hadn’t pressed her about why she rushed him out of her kitchen just because her phone rang. Who was calling her? He needed to get her to confide in him. Angry phone calls could be a prelude to more damaging, more serious nastiness.

  With a loud bang, Shirley’s front door hit the wall of the foyer. Instantly Carter was up on his feet and met Chad’s dad, Doyle, in the doorway to the hall. “Where’s that Johnson woman?” Doyle shouted.

  Carter blocked Doyle from entering the dining room. “Get out of here, Keski. You can’t just barge into a private home—”

  “I gotta right to look after my kid—”

  Yeah, we all know how well you looked after him.

  “That Johnson woman has no right making my boy do yardwork for some rich summer——.” The epithet Keski used hit Carter the wrong way.

  With his shoulder, Carter forced Doyle back toward the door.

  Doyle’s tirade continued, undeterred. “That blowhard Ramsdel had the nerve to call me and tell me you questioned my kid about setting fire to his sister’s lousy shed!” Doyle let fly a string of insults against Hal and Lois.

  Carter grabbed Doyle by the shirtfront and rammed him bac
k toward the wide-open door. “You weren’t invited here. Leave now, or I’m running you in for disturbing the peace!”

  “I hope my kid did set that fire! It would show he has some guts!”

  Carter propelled Doyle out through the screen door.

  Doyle stumbled and nearly fell. He vaulted down Shirley’s front steps and out to his rattletrap truck where a blonde with a lot of hair waited.

  Sudden adrenaline slammed through Carter. His lungs heaved. He turned and marched back toward his chair. At the same time, he heard feet pounding, retreating up Shirley’s staircase. Back in the dining room, he noted that Chad had vacated his place.

  Having risen, Shirley slumped back into her chair, looking shaken. Tom hurried to her side. “That man...” Shirley said and propped her forehead in her hand. “That man. Why did he have to come back to town? He upsets Chad. I was making progress and then Doyle has to bring his sorry self back to Winfield.”

  Florence was standing beside Shirley, patting her back.

  “Mama, that man scared me.” Evie huddled close to her mother. Audra folded her daughter into her arms.

  Carter knelt down beside them. He rested his hand on Evie’s trembling back. “Evie, I won’t let him hurt you. Or anyone.”

  The little girl peered around her mother at him. “But what if you wasn’t here? That bad man might have hurt Nana Shirley. He hurt Chad.”

  Carter patted her back. “That won’t happen. And Tom is here even if I’m not.”

  “But you’re the sheriff!” Evie objected.

  “Evie,” Tom said, “don’t be scared. If that bad man shows his face here again, I’ll take care of him. I wouldn’t let him hurt Shirley or you. And neither would Chad.”

  “And if you yell loud enough, Evie, I’ll come over loaded for bear,” Florence added, her expression fierce.

  Evie nodded but with a doubtful look and then she touched Carter’s hand. “Thanks, Sheriff.”

  “Yes, thanks, Carter,” Shirley echoed.

  Audra smiled over at him, her lower lip trembling.

  Curse the man for upsetting everyone. Being so near Audra, Carter caught the same flowery fragrance as last night. With effort, he stopped himself from leaning over to kiss her again. He squeezed her shoulder instead. Then he eased away and returned to his chair.

  “Let’s not let Doyle ruin this good meal.” He stared down at his plate and made himself pick up his knife and fork. And very soon, Audra, you’re going to tell me who those phone calls are from. And then I’m going to take care of whoever it is.

  EARLY ON TUESDAY MORNING, just after four o’clock, Audra hugged her sweater around herself in the chilly morning dampness. As she hurried down the alley on her way to work, the sleepy sun glowed hazy pink beneath the horizon. She and Tom had set out together. His garage was only one block down from Shirley’s and her place was three blocks. Usually he hadn’t even risen when she left, but he had a rush job to get done today. Just as they’d left the backyard together, Shirley had called him back to ask him a question.

  So Audra hurried on alone. Soon, from behind her through the peaceful gloom, she heard Tom’s footsteps. Then they stopped and she heard the jingle of his keys and the creak of the gate of his back fence of his business yard. The clear morning air and quiet sleeping town caused sounds to be amplified. She neared the cross street. And then she heard it—the sudden explosive bang and swoosh.

  She swung back. And screamed. Through the mist, flames poured, roared out of Tom’s back door. “Tom!” she shrieked, “Tom!” Then she was running toward the blaze. She threw herself through the gate. Black smoke obscured her vision. She choked. Another loud pop and another. Glass shattering. More explosions? Were they inside or out here in the yard? “Tom!” Strangled by the smoke, she coughed.

  Bending low trying to get beneath the roiling smoke, she moved forward. Then she saw Tom face-up, flattened on the ground, his shirt on fire!

  She screamed and propelled herself forward onto her knees beside him. She beat the flames with her hands. Screaming. More popping sounds and then another boom!

  The force of the explosion slapped her to the ground. The sound of flames roared in her ears. In the distance, the siren summoning the firefighters wailed. She wavered back onto her knees and slapped out the last flames on his shirt. “Tom! Tom!” She shook him. He moaned but didn’t answer.

  God! God! Please help! “We have to get out, Tom!”

  Still no reply.

  Coughing, she staggered to her feet, grabbed Tom’s wrists, and began tugging his dead weight. Audra felt the scorching heat on her arms and face, smelled Tom’s burned flesh. A siren continued over the roar of the fire. Was help coming?

  “Tom! Tom!” It was Shirley somewhere in the smoke.

  “Help me!” Audra shouted but had to stop as paroxysms of gagging suffocated her.

  Then Shirley was beside her, helping her pull Tom to safety. The two women dragged Tom through the gate and into the alley. Audra stumbled to her knees. Florence was suddenly there helping her up, tugging her farther away from the inferno.

  “Is he all right?” Audra gasped through a raw throat. “Is Tom all right?”

  CARTER BLINKED HIS eyes, awaking abruptly. His cell phone on the bedside table was vibrating as it rang. The luminous bedside clock announced the time as 4:24 a.m. He picked up, rubbing his scratchy eyes. “Hello.”

  “Sheriff, I hate to have to tell you.” Carter recognized the voice of the night dispatcher, a young woman. He’d gone through school with her older sister. “But it’s your stepfather’s—”

  Icy fear zipped up his spine. “What?” He sat up and scrubbed his face with his hand. “What is it?”

  “Your stepdad’s shop is on fire. The firefighters are on their way. I got the 911 call.”

  Spikes of shock stabbed him. Another fire! And at Tom’s! “On my way.” He hung up. Hustling into his clothes, he raced out of the house to his Jeep. His stepdad wouldn’t be at the shop this early in the morning, so he wouldn’t be in danger. But his heart pounded anyway.

  How much damage would this fourth fire cause to Tom’s shop? It was only a block from Shirley’s. What if it spread to the homes across the alley? With his siren blaring, he sped down the two-lane highway into town, his sheriff thoughts vying with his private concern for his stepdad’s business.

  Long before he arrived, he saw the flames and billowing black smoke. Dear God, don’t let anyone get hurt. Protect our firefighters. When he reached Tom’s block, he parked his Jeep and ran toward the fire truck. Flames had fully engulfed the fifties vintage gas station where his stepdad fixed engines and machinery of all kinds. The volunteer fire company in their bright yellow-and-black gear was working hoses, trying to contain the fire and put it out.

  Black smoke rolled into the predawn gray. Carter stiffened in the cloying early-morning dampness and looked around for Tom. Surely he’d have come here as soon as he heard the sirens. “Tom! Tom!” He jogged along the alley toward a crowd of onlookers. People in robes stood back in nearby yards watching the firefighters’ progress. Carter shoved his chilled hands up under his arms, scanning the crowd for Tom. Why couldn’t he find Tom?

  “Over here, Carter!”

  Carter recognized Audra’s shaky voice. Up ahead, she leaned against Florence under a maple tree in the backyard of Wilma’s bed-and-breakfast. He sprinted to her and opened his arms. “Are you hurt? What happened?” He scanned her pale shocked face, smeared with tears and soot.

  She moved into Carter’s arms. “Oh, Carter, I heard it go off.” She began coughing.

  Like a needle puncturing a balloon, her words released his pent-up fear about more fires. “What? What went off?” He held her against him, resisting the urge to shake the words from her. Her trembling shook him and then she began sobbing into his shirt.

  “Are you hurt?” He loosened his hold and looked down at her. Carter caught the smell of Audra’s singed hair.

  “Her hands are burned,” Florence
informed him. “She swallowed smoke, too. I think that’s what makes her keep coughing. I left Chad taking care of Evie back at Shirley’s.”

  “Carter,” Shirley called, “Tom’s over here.”

  In the smoky haze, Carter pulled Audra along with him. “Is he hurt?”

  Shirley was kneeling beside Tom, who was lying face-up on the grass. “Yes,” she said. “But we got him out before the fire got way worse. And Wilma here had enough sense to spray him with the garden hose. He must have been very close when the fire ignited. I was in my kitchen when I heard the explosion.”

  “Why was he here so early? He doesn’t open till eight o’clock.” Carter released Audra to Florence’s care again and dropped down to the dewy grass at his stepfather’s side. Tom’s face showed reddened, blackened skin, blisters, and black soot. The remnants of his shirt, soaked with water, were charred in front and stuck to his chest. “Tom, it’s me, Carter.” He could barely force out the words. Who had done this to Tom? He checked Tom’s pulse and found it weak and thready. Fear rose higher.

  His stepfather twisted slightly, moaning, but said nothing.

  “I wish the ambulance would get here,” Shirley fretted.

  Carter jumped to his feet and called to the volunteers swarming around the billowing fire. “We need help here! Injured man needs help.”

  One of the volunteers hurried over. He took one look and said, “He’s going into shock.”

  “Yes, and this woman might be too,” Carter said to the volunteer, motioning toward Audra, “You better check her for burns and for shock. There was more than one explosion. She may have a concussion.”

  The volunteer nodded. “Sheriff, I’ll run to the truck and get a pack of those foil blankets.”

  Shirley moaned. “When I got here, she was already in the middle of it, trying to drag Tom out.” Shirley began weeping. “She was on her way to work.” She looked skyward and shouted, “Where is that ambulance?”