“Well, well,” he drawled. “Another county heard from. Maybe you’d like to ...”
“Cut that kind of talk and get out of here!” Mike’s tone was curt and hard. He took a few steps up to the boy and looked at him squarely.
The boy dangled the paddle carelessly from one hand and came down a few steps toward Mike. “You wouldn’t be thinking about running out—now would you?”
“I don’t think I’d ask that question if I were you.” Mike’s tone was deceptively soft but there was no mistaking the fire in his eyes. He glanced over at the boy’s paddle. It was swinging in a wider arc, drawing closer to him with each step. “And I’d put that paddle down before somebody gets hurt.”
For a moment Mike thought the boy was going to charge him. He shifted his weight and got himself ready, but the attack never came. The paddle suddenly stopped as the boy spun around on his heel and moved back up the embankment, motioning for his friends to follow. Silently they trooped along.
Mike took a deep breath and relaxed. Then he turned and joined Sandy and Doug at the dock.
“Whew!” Doug whistled admiringly. “You really gave it to him!”
“It didn’t take much, Doug,” Mike replied, keeping his eyes on Sandy’s worried face. “Hey, Sandy,” he said softly. “You sure you want to go through with this?”
Sandy flashed him an amused look. “Want me to run away?”
“No, but ...”