the hinges and planing it down would take care of that. Otherwise, the cabin that Summer Delaney would be staying in was structurally sound.
Rick hurried to check the bathroom plumbing and finish up the notes on the cabin Herschel asked him to make for future reference. Summer would be arriving in an hour, and he’d given his word not to let her in on the possibility of selling the camp and the cabins. Evidently, it was Summer who’d talked the Delaneys into buying in the first place, and Herschel didn’t want his Nubbin upset by the possibility of the camp property becoming a subdivision. Hell-pee-roo! Why didn’t they just level with her? Treat her like a grown woman rather than a spoiled child?
Rick blew his breath out in a huff. It was none of his business.
But the camp was his business, literally, for the next two months. He’d seen enough of Summer’s ways at the staff meeting to know he and Miss Fairy Princess weren’t going to see eye-to-eye. She kept insisting the kids needed more unstructured time—“time to have fun and just be kids.”
Kids without structure were kids who got into trouble, his dad always said, so Rick and his brothers had daily schedules of chores and lessons, which got checked at the end of each day. If anything was missed, a deduction came out of their weekly allowance. Rick hated it.
But it turned out his dad was right. Rick had learned that lesson the hard way in Afghanistan. Kids with no structure got in trouble...and got hurt. He paused for just a moment before forcing his mind into a U-turn, back to the task at hand.
He made a note the bathroom sink had a slow drip and the toilet stool continued to run when he flushed it. He shook the handle to make it stop. Both easy fixes.
“I thought this was my cabin.”
Rick spun around to find Summer watching him, a large duffel, a hanging bag and a satchel on the bed behind her.
Damn it! She’s early. “I, um...I was just doing a last-minute inspection.” His face warmed as he snapped shut the folder he’d been writing in and tucked it under his arm.
Her forehead wrinkled in suspicion as her eyes cut from the folder to his face. “Inspection?”
“Making sure everything’s in good working order.”
“That’s Charlie’s job.”
Day-to-day operations were Charlie’s job, but the old guy was getting up in years. Rick had offered to help get the place ready to sell—if and when it came to that. “Yes, well, Charlie could use a hand.”
Summer swung around and moved to the bed, removing a stack of papers from the satchel. She thrust them toward him. “Activity sheets.”
So she was still pissed about the forms he’d required her to fill out. Well, too bad. Owners’ daughter or not, he intended to keep her accountable for every waking minute these kids spent under his guard. “Thanks.” He slid them into the folder, keeping it tilted so she couldn’t see the contents, and let his eyes rove over the pieces of luggage on her bed. “You have a lot to unpack.” Sarcasm found its way into his tone. “I’ll let you get started.”
“Don’t forget your white gloves. I’m sure they’re lying around here somewhere.” She turned her back, dismissing him, and unzipped her duffel.
* * *
MARY MARGARET AVERY-HENSON’S mother handed Summer a list of emergency contacts. Summer scanned it quickly. Mother. Father. Stepfather. Stepmother. Maternal grandparents. Paternal grandparents. Step-maternal grandparents. Step-paternal grandparents.
Piano recitals must be a hoot for this kid.
Mary Margaret peeked out from behind her mom. Chin-length brown hair hung straight, in desperate need of a trim. Large, soulful brown eyes full of fear and apprehension. This child was a prime candidate for some extensive fairy princess training.
Summer held her hand out. “Hi, Mary. I’m Summer.”
“It’s Mary Margaret,” her mother corrected. “My ex-husband and I agreed from the beginning we would call our child by whatever full name we gave her.”
Summer tried again. “Well then, hello, Mary Margaret.”
“Say hello, Mary Margaret,” her mother prompted, and the child’s mouth moved in an inaudible “Hi.”
Mary Margaret didn’t offer to take her hand, so Summer gave her a quick pat on the shoulder.
“She’s very shy, which is one of the reasons we thought this would be a good idea. Her father and I agreed some time away might be good for her. Bring her out of some of her reticence, we hope.”
“And just have a lot of fun.” Summer nodded and winked at Mary