The Inn at Eagle Point by Sherryl Woods Page A

lead? To nothing
good, that's for sure. The only thing worse than having a disengaged father was
having one who meddled.
    5
    M ick
stood up from the kitchen table, his mind made up. He couldn't sit on the
sidelines and let Trace Riley manipulate things in a way that was bound to
cause problems between his daughters. He didn't care what Abby said about it.

"Where are you going?" his mother asked suspiciously.

"Thought I'd take a drive," he said evasively.

"Into town?"

"Possibly. Is that a crime?"

"It is if you're thinking of stopping at the bank. You heard Abby. She'll
work this out."

He regarded her with frustration. "Ma, how can I let Trace Riley get away
with this? You know how it's going to end. Jess will wind up resenting Abby the
same way she'd resent me for interfering. I'm used to it. I can live with
Jess's anger and with Abby's, for that matter, but I don't want anything to
come between those girls. Abby's always looked after Jess, and Jess has always
turned to her big sister. The bond those two share shouldn't be risked over a
couple of loans I could guarantee with the stroke of a pen."

"Leave it alone, Mick. They'll figure things out for themselves," his
mother said confidently. "You said it yourself, those two have always
stuck together. There's no point in making things worse between you and Jess,
which is exactly what would happen if you step in and try to fix things at the bank.
Abby probably wouldn't be happy about it, either."

"You're asking me to sit back and do nothing," he grumbled.
"That's not my nature."

She gave him a chiding look. "Did I ask you to do nothing? Seems to me
that a man who's feeling restless could use a walk," she said, her
expression sly. "The inn's only about a mile away. It wouldn't hurt to ask
your daughter to give you a tour, show you all the improvements she's
made."

Mick considered the idea. He had to admit he was curious about the work Jess
was doing. Finally, though, he shook his head. "She'll just think I'm over
there spying on her."

"Or maybe she'll think you're taking an interest in something that really
matters to her. Just keep your opinions to yourself unless she asks for
them." When he was about to reply, she held up a hand. "I know that
goes against your nature, too, but for once just listen to me and follow my
advice. I didn't spend twenty-five years married to the world's most stubborn
man and raise three impossible boys without learning a thing or two about
biding my time."

"Take a walk. Tour the inn. Keep my mouth shut," he mimicked.
"Do I have that right?"

She gave him a satisfied smile. "I think that sums it up. I'm going up to
take a nap. I hate to admit it, but taking care of those girls this morning
just about wore me out."

Mick regarded her with concern. "Are you okay? Should I call your
doctor?"

"Heavens, no. I'm just a little tired. Spend the afternoon with Jess.
That's where you're needed."

"Okay, then," he said, bending down to press a kiss to her brow.
"If you need anything, or the girls do, I'll have my cell phone with
me."

"We'll be fine. Just focus on mending fences with Jess."

There was a breeze blowing in off the bay as he set out on his walk. It kept
the air cool, despite the warmth of the sun. Since it was a weekday there were
only a handful of pleasure boats bobbing on the water. He spotted a couple of
watermen checking their crab pots for needed repairs, but most of them had
returned to dock by this time of the day, especially this early in the season.
In another few weeks, they'd be out before dawn, chugging along, trying to make
a living from the dwindling supply of crabs, croakers and rockfish in these
beautiful but increasingly polluted waters.

It made him sick the way people took the bay for granted. Thank God for people
like his brother Thomas. They might have mixed like oil and water when they'd
tried to work together, but Mick admired the way Tom fought for the
environment, trying to protect the bay's natural resources.