The Inn at Misty Lake: Book Two in the Misty Lake Series Read Free Page A

woman, did he? He likes to do that, likes to see what sort of a reaction I’ll get.”
    “Actually, he did tell me your name was Cindy. I guess I…” She didn’t know what to say, she felt like an idiot. Recovering somewhat, she finally said, “Well, thank you for coming so quickly. Riley only told me yesterday that you’d be able to start today.”
    Cindy looked around, taking in the old house and barn. “I guess it’s a good thing we’re getting started, it looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us. Care to show me around?” With that, she headed for the house leaving Susan to follow behind.
    It took only about five minutes for Susan to decide she liked Cindy. The woman was friendly, honest, open, and intelligent. Susan learned Cindy had become an electrician in order to work alongside her husband. “We built a business and a family and after thirty years still each think we’re the luckiest person on the planet. Guess you can’t ask for much more than that.”
    “No, I guess not,” Susan agreed.
    “Now, Riley showed me the plans and the inspector’s report so I have an idea of what I’m working with. Anything you’d like to add before I get started?”
    “You’re ready to get started? Just like that?” Somehow Susan thought the process would be longer, that there would be more talking, more looking around, but Cindy seemed eager to get going.
    “I don’t see any reason to waste time. You get back to that orange carpet and I’ll get my things moved in and set up.” In a flash, she was out the door and Susan was again left trying to catch up.
     
    “How’s it going, Red?” Riley asked when he arrived later that afternoon. She was hard at work again tearing out more old flooring. This time, it was a ragged, faded, multi-colored shag carpet. She stopped to look up at him.
    “Having a blast, McCabe, can’t you tell?”
    “Getting along okay with Cindy?” he smirked.
    Deciding not to rise to his bait, she answered calmly. “She’s wonderful. I can’t claim to understand all of what she’s doing, but it seems like she’s done a lot of it. She’s taken down fixtures, pulled out old wiring, basically just dug right in.”
    “Yes, I find she likes to dig right in.”
    She just glared at him then turned and went back to yanking on the edge of the carpet, taking care to stay on her knees in order to avoid taking a tumble in front of Riley.
    “I talked to her about the barn,” Riley said in a tone intended to pique Susan’s interest enough to get her to turn around. It did.
    “What did she say? I didn’t bring it up with her, thought it should come from you since you’re technically the one who hired her.”
    “She’s fine with it, said she can fit it in her schedule.”
    A smile spread across her face. “Perfect. I knew it would all work out.” But she hadn’t known, had been worrying about it for hours, and was relieved that, once again, Riley had found a way to make everything fall into place.
    He nodded, looked like he wanted to say something, but turned and walked out. Just as quickly, he was back. “You’re working in town tomorrow?” It was more a statement than a question since he knew her schedule as well as she did.
    “Yes, I have the nine to four shift. If Cindy can have some decent light rigged up, I plan on coming out here tomorrow night to start removing some of the doorknobs and hardware, stuff we talked about reusing. Sam and Jake said they’d help.”
    “You don’t have to get everything done at once and besides, I can do that when I start on Thursday. For God’s sake, Susan, you’re going to kill yourself. Why don’t you just quit that job if you’re going to be here every day?”
    She heard worry in his voice and, she thought, anger. She took her time answering. “I’m not trying to get everything done at once but there is a lot to do and I figure the more I help with things that I’m able to help with, the easier it will be for you. Besides,