Precarious Summer

by Lyn Cote

  “Well, well,” Florence commented, smirking at them.

  “Hi, Mrs. LeVesque.” Evie greeted their unpredictable neighbor who wore one of her late husband’s threadbare shirts, trousers, and an old fishing hat with lures. “The sheriff brought us.”

  “I see,” Florence said, giving both him and Audra a very obvious once-over. “Are you three having a good time?”

  Evie did a little jig. “I’m going to ride the merry-go-round and it’s going to go real fast round and round. And the sheriff’s going to win me a prize, too.”

  “Evie, I said I’d try,” Carter cautioned.

  Florence’s smirky smile broadened. “Don’t listen to him, Evie. A girl can never tell what might happen to her when she’s out with a handsome man.” She winked at Audra and then strolled away.

  Carter glanced at Audra. She pursed her lips. Then she looked up, her smile bright and full. “Here we are, the line for the merry-go-round.”

  He had no idea what had caused her smile. But he smiled back at her and led them to the line of parents with their bouncing, chattering offspring.

  Though he made himself focus on Evie, Audra affected him. Snatches of old love songs played in his mind. Still, he noted that Audra’s chin rose a fraction every time someone glanced curiously in their direction.

  Finally, their turn came to hand in their bright turquoise-blue tickets. Carter lifted Evie up and swung her onto the merry-go-round. She’d already pointed out the horse she wanted, the one that had pink ribbons painted into its mane. Carter set her astride it.

  Evie clutched the pole and squealed greetings to her friend Cassie who had taken the horse right in front of her. “Cassie, look! The sheriff brought me and my mama!”

  Carter smiled ruefully at Audra.

  Grinning, Cassie and her parents waved back at them. Audra appeared to be putting on a good act of not noticing everyone noticing them together. The distinctive merry-go-round music began and the ride jerked to a start. Carter stood on the inside of the ride at Evie’s side and Audra stood on the other. To keep balance on the moving platform, both of them loosely held on to the rising and lowering pole with one hand and rested the other hand on the rump of the fancy wooden horse.

  Over Audra’s head, Carter watched the collage of faces twirl by and then he glanced down at his hand lying so close to Audra’s. Her hand still bore marks of her brave act of putting out the fire that had charred Tom’s shirt and blistered his chest. For one brief second, Carter felt the urge to lift her hand to his lips, to pay tribute to its reddened and roughened skin.

  No. Not here. Not now. That gesture would give everyone in town grist to gossip about for weeks, if not months. He tried to ignore the way her hand continued to beckon him. But slowly he moved his hand and then he couldn’t help himself, he covered hers with his. Would she pull away?

  Audra’s eyes flashed up to meet his. What did they tell him? He couldn’t decipher the message there. But she didn’t pull her hand away. Separated only by inches, he let himself study her, noting every tiny freckle on her clear gold-tinged complexion. His longing to be near her expanded within and he found it hard to swallow. I want to kiss you again, Audra.

  The ride ended, jolting him back to reality. Reluctantly his hand broke contact with Audra’s. He lifted Evie off the ride. He bent to put her down on the ground, but she clung to his neck.

  “Hold my hand,” she pleaded, her eyes drifting to Cassie.

  Carter followed her gaze and saw that Cassie’s dad was holding his little girl’s hand. “Sure.” Carter straightened up with Evie at his side. Audra strolled beside him. She gave him a mysterious smile and then rested her hand on his arm.

  Her touch hit him, blinding him with sudden light, a lift. It was as if he’d been in a dark room and someone swept open the curtains. Joy, bright joy, radiated inside him. Audra must feel the need to touch him, too. He couldn’t keep from grinning. The three of them being here together felt suddenly so right.

  Then, from the end of the block came shouting, people hurrying toward the sheriff. “Fight! Fight!” echoed over the crowd. His exultant mood shattered. Carter turned to Audra and shifted Evie to her. “Stay back!”

  He began shoving forward, going against the flow, elbowing his way through the surge of people fleeing toward safety. Then he saw the two combatants, Brent and Chad. He made a sound of disgust and pushed through the remaining crowd around the two. “Stop!” he shouted. “Stop that! No fighting in public!”

  The two teens ignored Carter. Chad threw a punch, but his own momentum took him off balance and he fell on top of Brent. The two began thrashing around on the ground, grunting and cursing each other. Carter reached down and grabbed the backs of both their collars and hauled them to their feet. Both tried to wrench themselves out of his grip. Neither succeeded but the effort caused Chad to sway alarmingly. Carter held on tightly.

  Chad turned toward him, yelling insults at him. The liquor on his breath blasted Carter’s nostrils. So that’s what’s started this. Whiskey courage. He shook Chad. “Where’d you get it?”

  “Get what?” Chad slurred.

  “The booze.” He shook Chad again. “Tell me!”

  “Take your hands off my son!” Hal Ramsdel’s voice boomed over the circle of onlookers.

  Great, just what he needed. Carter swung to face him.

  Ramsdel burst through the bystanders and grabbed at Carter’s shirt. “Let go of my son!”

  “Uncle Hal, please!” Audra pleaded, Evie under her arm. “Stay out of this.”

  Carter shook Ramsdel off. “These two were fighting in public! This has nothing to do with you!”

  “That’s right, old man!” Brent jeered in agreement. “I don’t need you protecting me!” Brent lunged toward Chad, his hands clawing for Chad’s throat.

  Breathing hard, Carter kept his arms extended like a clothesline pole, separating the two teens. Both struggled to free themselves and attack each other again.

  Ramsdel, red in the face, tried to yank Brent from Carter’s hold. It became a three-way tug-of-war with Carter, the linchpin, trying to stay on his feet. Sweat trickled down both sides of Carter’s face. How much longer could he keep this up?

  “Stop!” Carter roared at last, stunning the two teens into obedience. But Ramsdel snatched at his son one more time. Brent resisted and tossed a vulgar insult at his father. Hal raised his fist to his son.

  Then before Carter’s eyes, it all happened in slow motion. Evie bolted out of the crowd, launching herself at her great-uncle, Audra at her heels. “Stop!” her shrill little voice shrieked. “Don’t you hurt Brent! Don’t you hurt my cousin!”

  Her voice stunned them all. They froze, staring at her.

  Brent recovered himself first. “Evie, I’ll be all right.” He took her hand. “I can take care of myself.”

  “You got blood on your face.” She began to whimper. “Why do you got to fight with Chad?” Through her tears, she nailed Chad, too, with a pleading look. “Why do you got to hurt my cousin?”

  For a moment, Carter hoped Evie had defused the situation. Audra bent to draw Evie away.

  But Hal tried to charge Carter. He lost his balance, stumbled, and fell. When he hit the ground, he was looking up at Carter. A deluge of insults and vulgarity poured out of his mouth.

  Carter let Brent go. Brent dropped to his knees and folded Evie into his arms, his hand over her ears as if trying to shield her from the unstaunched flow of insults. Audra stared, openmouthed at her uncle.

  Red flickered in front of Carter’s vision. Over the roaring in his ears, he heard Brent’s voice, “Stop that! Shut up, you stupid old man! Shut—up!”

  Carter dragged in some fresh air. Chad had stopped struggling and stood swaying. Carter let go of him, leaned over, and stroked Evie’s fine soft hair. “It will be all right, little one. Hush.” Audra huddled with her arms around both Evie and Brent.

  Ramsdel struggled to his feet. “This is all your fault!” he shouted at Carter.r />
  Carter didn’t know what he meant and didn’t care. “Brent,” he said, fighting to sound calm, “get up. I need to talk to you and Chad about this incident. Come on.” He swiped his hand over his perspiring forehead.

  “My son doesn’t have to go anywhere with you!” Ramsdel shouted.

  Carter ignored him and motioned Brent over. “Everyone, move on!” Carter ordered the onlookers. “Show’s over! Move on!”

  Ramsdel shouted, “How anyone could have thought that a reprobate like you should be sheriff is beyond me!”

  Most people edged away from the unpleasant scene. Carter motioned for Brent and Chad to follow him. Leaning closer to Audra, he said, sounding rough to his own ears, “Go buy Evie some kettle corn and I’ll meet you by—”

  “And you!” Ramsdel turned to verbally attack Audra. “I thought you were smarter than this. How can you let this man, this murderer, touch you?”

  “Stop saying bad things,” Evie fired back. “You’re being mean!”

  Audra stepped between her uncle and daughter. “Uncle Hal, I think you should calm down.” Her voice was low but firm. “This can’t be good for you—”

  Ramsdel shouted an insult at her.

  Red exploded in front of Carter’s eyes. Ramsdel turned and was stalking away, still tossing back threats: “This isn’t the last of this! I’ll make you rue the day you were born!”

  Did he mean Audra or Carter? Rage shuddered through Carter in hot waves. He forced himself to breathe normally. Brent was still hugging Evie protectively. Chad had slipped away and vanished into the crowd.

  Brent straightened up. “Chad started it.”

  Carter nodded, the rage evaporating, leaving him suddenly hollow with guilt about his own display of fury. Lord, why do I still get so angry? I know it’s not what You wish. Why did Ramsdel have to come back to town? I was fine until he popped up again. But wasn’t he just attempting to shift responsibility for his anger onto Ramsdel? Guilt over making excuses chafed Carter’s conscience. He was ashamed to look into Audra’s eyes.

  Carter lifted his cell phone from his pocket and alerted dispatch to have all on-duty deputies look for Chad and bring him in for his own protection.

  Facing Brent, he detected no alcohol on him, so he might be telling the truth. “Don’t let me catch you fighting in a public place again, got it?” Carter spoke sharply. Angry at himself and Brent, he had trouble looking at Audra. He took refuge in confronting Brent. “Audra told me you were working with Megan this evening at Audra’s Place.”

  Brent bristled visibly. “We shut down at eight o’clock. The phone stopped ringing way before then so we closed up tight and left.”

  “You still got blood on your face,” Evie said, sounding concerned.

  “Let’s go to my place—” Audra began.

  “No, Audra,” Brent objected. “Don’t let this spoil Evie’s big Fourth of July date with the sheriff. I’ll go clean up at the public restroom.”

  Shirley appeared with Tom at her side.

  “Shirley,” Carter said, “I don’t want you to go looking for Chad. My deputies will be on the watch for him and bring him home.”

  Shirley frowned, but said, “Brent, come with us. It’s quiet at my place.” Her obvious concern for the teen showed plainly in her tone.

  “Thanks, but I don’t let him bother me.” Brent looked up at the sheriff resentfully.

  Carter wished he could say the same of Ramsdel. He recalled Audra’s suspicion that her uncle might be close to a breakdown, and it now seemed more plausible—and more worrisome. Ramsdel had sounded out of control, beyond reason.

  “Brent, come with us,” Tom said. “We’ll get you cleaned up and then you can go home or stay and watch the fireworks with us. Shirley and I are going to view the fireworks from her second-story landing. Come on.”

  “No, I’m going home,” Brent declared and turned away.

  Not meeting Audra’s eyes, Carter squatted down in front of Evie. “Are you two okay?”

  “I’m okay now,” Evie said, fiercely hugging Carter’s neck.

  “Let’s go to my place.” Audra touched his arm lightly. “I need some quiet.” Her voice quavered. “But are you...do you need to stay here, keep an eye on things?”

  Even as he looked around and saw his deputies in the crowd handling the crowd, her hesitant touch grieved him. Being with him had made her a target for her uncle. “I’m not on duty. Maybe we should just go to Shirley’s, too.”

  “No!” Evie objected. “No, you promised.”

  He looked to Audra for direction.

  “Evie, we’ll come right back.” Audra took his elbow and led them away to the front of her café. “Promise.”

  As he walked beside her, her touch soothed his frayed nerves like a warm cream.

  Audra unlocked the gate and led them into the Victorian house. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “Nothing is finished except for the kitchen and foyer. I’m planning on getting the upstairs done before Christmas. But for now, there are some lawn chairs in the parlor.” She grinned suddenly. “My decorator likes the outdoorsy-resort look.”

  Trying to go along with her attempt to lighten the mood, Carter nodded and followed her through pocket doors into the bare room whose high ceiling and walls needed painting and hardwood floor needed refinishing. Audra invited him with a wave of her hand to sit in one of the cloth lawn chairs. He breathed in the scents redolent in the café, the whisper of coffee and cinnamon. But he was more aware of Audra than anything else in the house. She brightened even this bare room.

  Evie slid her hand from his. “Mama, can I play on the porch?”

  “Yes, but don’t leave the porch.”

  “I won’t.” Evie ran out of the room. They were alone. Carter had to fold his hands to keep from reaching for Audra.

  “There’s a porch swing out there that she likes to lie in,” Audra explained.

  He nodded, still holding himself back. He found himself staring at her lips. The lower one was a bit fuller than the upper lip. Should he bring up what had just happened with her uncle? What was Audra thinking and feeling?

  AUDRA LOOKED INTO CARTER’S eyes. She didn’t want to let on how she still shook inside because of her uncle’s rude behavior. She remembered her mother’s recent caution, “Please be careful, Audra. The sheriff seems like a good man, but you have Evie to consider.” As if I didn’t know that. As if I haven’t put Evie first since I left college and came to Winfield.

  Had her mother forgotten that she was the one who’d wanted Audra to go away to a maternity home, have Evie, and give her up for adoption? Audra’s irritation mounted.

  Suddenly, the desire to throw herself into Carter’s protective arms rocked her. Instead she made herself sit down and rest her elbows on her knees, hiding her face in both hands. She tried to think of some topic to discuss, something that would conceal her reaction to Carter. She didn’t want to think or talk about her uncle or her mother or Brent or the fires. She glanced up at Carter and then away. She spoke the first sentence that came to mind. “Where do you think Chad got the liquor?”

  Carter shrugged. “I wouldn’t put it past his dad to give him a bottle. He’ll try anything to get Chad back in some way.”

  “Why?” she asked, remembering how firm Carter’s chest had been when he’d held her that evening at the wayside. She’d felt so protected. “Doyle obviously doesn’t love Chad.”

  Carter’s mouth flattened. “I think it’s more about Doyle’s pride. Chad’s his kid, you see.”

  She tried to focus on his words, but it was the sound of his voice that hushed over her like a soft lake breeze. The nape of her neck tingled. Here, alone with Carter, her defenses were melting. Trying to hold his effect on her at bay, she let slip out, “My uncle...I told you—he troubles me.”

  “He’s beginning to get to me.”

  “But he couldn’t be setting the fires.” She covered her eyes, concealing how near she was to reaching for Carter. “I mean, what woul
d he have against Tom?”

  “Tom’s my stepfather.”

  She inhaled sharply. “I know. But...” She rose abruptly. Restlessness wouldn’t let her sit here any longer. If they didn’t leave now, she’d embarrass both of them by throwing herself at Carter. “Let’s not ruin Evie’s special night. Let’s go back and take her through the different games and buy her some cotton candy.”

  Unable to stop herself, she held her hand out to him. Rising, he took it. His touch set her heartbeat on high speed. Her lips tingled, recalling his kiss. Would he kiss her tonight? I shouldn’t want to kiss him. But she’d never wanted another man’s kiss as much she wanted Carter’s.

  THE TIME FOR THE TOWN’S fireworks display, always held at the waterfront, neared. Audra and Carter stood with Evie, who was waiting for the moment that he’d take her up on his shoulders to see the fireworks. Evie greeted everyone she saw and pointed out that she was with the sheriff—drawing even more attention to the threesome they made.

  Audra recognized the speculation in the eyes of friends and neighbors. Well, let them wonder. Nothing would stop her from letting Carter make Evie happy. The stubborn summer sun, a bright bronze circle, finally slid below the horizon. Then over tranquil dark blue Lake Superior, the fireworks exploded to “Ahhhs” and then the next display brought “Ohhhhs.” But more than the fireworks, her daughter’s excitement fascinated Audra. Evie’s innocent enjoyment of being lifted on Carter’s shoulders to view the shimmering bursts of color and manmade thunder touched her mother-heart.

  Finally, the grand finale burst above them. Crimson, sapphire, molten gold, and emerald, shimmering, glittering, dazzling, sparkling, flashing, flickering—shooting upward, outward, expanding, disintegrating again and again. And over all the crescendo of noise.

  Suddenly there was silence followed by raucous applause, shouts of pleasure, and whistles from the audience. Audra grinned and turned to watch Carter lift Evie down. Holding her around the waist, he swung her up and down. “How was that, munchkin?” he asked.