Free Carol Cox by Trouble in Store Page A

downstairs for the smoke.”
    His face paled, and he ordered Levi back with a wave of his arm. “Let me see what’s going on. I’ll try to find a way to get to you.”
    Melanie gripped the windowsill with both hands and cast a fearful glance back over her shoulder as smoke continued to seep under her door. “Be careful!”
    Caleb nodded and leaped onto the back porch, where he was lost from view. Melanie could hear him fumble with the lock, then heard the door crash back on its hinges as he entered. She sent up a quick prayer for his safety while she strained her ears for any sound of impending rescue.
    Moments later, footsteps pounded up the stairs. Caleb burst through her door, then slammed it shut behind him. He leaned back against it, gasping for air.
    Melanie rushed to him and clutched his arm. “How are we to get down? Should I start knotting my sheets together?”
    A brief smile curved his lips before he answered. “No need for that. The fire is out.” He held up his other hand, and Melanie saw the teakettle dangling from his fingers.
    An icy hand clutched at her heart, and her hand flew to her throat. “You mean I started it? I know I was sleepy, but I’m sure I left the kettle on the sideboard.”
    Caleb’s smile returned. “You did . . . leave the kettle on the sideboard, I mean. The fire was in the office. I used the water in the kettle to put it out.”
    Relief turned Melanie’s knees to jelly. Then she frowned. “How could you put out a fire that created so much smoke with a kettleful of water?”
    Caleb’s smile dimmed, and his face took on a grim expression. “I’ll show you once we’ve thrown the doors and windows open to air the place out.”
    Ten minutes later, Caleb led her to the office and pointed to a sodden mass of rags in a metal bucket near the far wall. “It was more smoke than flame.”
    Melanie stared, then shook her head. “I don’t understand. How did this get here?”
    The floorboard creaked behind her, and she turned to see Levi gaping at the blackened remains. She whirled back around to face Caleb. “Or do I even need to ask?”
    Caleb’s brow furrowed, then his eyes widened when he caught her meaning.
    “I was here when you put out that fire in the alley, remember? And we both know who started that.”
    Levi’s head wagged from side to side. “It wasn’t me. I didn’t start the fire—not this one.”
    Melanie choked back a sob. How many times had she heard young Clarence proclaim his innocence just as convincingly? “How do you expect me to believe that? I locked the door behind you both when you left. No one could have gotten inside.” She felt Caleb’s hand on her arm and turned to meet his eyes.
    “I know it looks bad, but Levi couldn’t have done it. He and I were together when we went home and all through dinner at the café. This fire was started after we left.”
    Melanie lifted her chin and faced him squarely, but she saw only truth in his steady expression. She drew in a shudderingbreath. “But I locked the door. How could anyone have gotten inside?”
    “They didn’t have to.” Caleb nodded across the room at the half-raised window. “All it took was prying the window open enough to lower the bucket inside and toss a match on top of those oily rags.”
    Melanie’s lower lip trembled. “Why would anyone do that?”
    Caleb avoided her gaze as he bent to lift the bucket. “A prank, maybe. Who knows? Nothing makes sense right now.”
    Melanie watched him carry the bucket and its reeking contents outside, feeling the sting of his words. Though he hadn’t come right out and said so, she knew he’d been referring to her unexpected arrival. All the more reason to implement her ideas for bringing customers into the mercantile, thereby making herself indispensable. But not tonight—she’d had enough.
    As soon as she gave the store a good scrubbing and made sure all the windows were locked, she went upstairs again.

7

    C aleb pushed open the back