From Here to Paternity

good book, but horribly depressing.“
    “Sounds like most of what we read in that book club. Depressives Anonymous, we used to call it before we finally had the sense to bail out.“
    Jane chuckled. “I think it was Ethan Frome that put us over the edge. This guy’s book was just called HawkHunter , wasn’t it?“
    “ I , HawkHunter ,“ Tenny corrected her.
    “Oh, yes, that’s right. Anyway, it was sort of an Indian version of Roots. A story of his family from about the fifteen-hundreds up through his own childhood on the reservation. It really was fascinating, but bigoted in its own way. HawkHunter himself claimed not to have a single drop of ‘evil’ white blood, but virtually all his ancestors had been hideously mistreated by the white man.“
    “I’m sure that would have stuck in my mind,“ Shelley said.
    “I don’t know how you missed reading it,“ Jane went on. “Actually, I’m making it sound awful, but it was very interesting. Lots of nifty stuff about the history of this country from the Indian viewpoint. It was a big best-seller for months and months.“
    “So what’s this HawkHunter person doing out there?“ Shelley asked Tenny.
    “Rabble-rousing,“ Tenny said grimly. “There’s a tiny reservation that abuts Uncle Bill’s land—only about ten acres where the village and a couple of houses sit—and HawkHunter’s convinced a few of the Indians that they’re entitled to our poor little squashed-down mountain. It’s a stupid, technical thing, but he’s a lawyer, you know. Used to finding niggles. The worst of it is, he’s trying to spoil the relationship we have with the tribe.“
    “How’s that?“ Jane asked.
    “Well, we hire lots of them here. They’re wonderful workers and we pay them well and it’s been a nice working arrangement ever since Uncle Bill started the resort. Back in the old days, when this was just some primitive hunters’ cabins, they worked as guides. Then, when he built it up like it is now, he employed about half the tribe in the construction. Our chef is one of them. So are our accountant and our conference planner, as well as most of the waiters and cleaning crew.“
    “So what do the placards mean? Especially the ‘No Lift’ one?“ Jane asked.
    “HawkHunter is claiming the top of our pathetic little mountain is an ancient tribal burial ground. I don’t think the tribe ever believed that until he turned up, and there’s no proof whatsoever that there’s anything buried up there but a few unfortunate chipmunks that got in the way of a rock slide. But HawkHunter has some of the tribe convinced that somebody—Uncle Bill or the investors—is planning to build a ski-lift mechanism at the top. Which is stupid. It’s just a silly hill, and nobody would build a ski lift for a bunny slope.“
    She took a long, appreciative sip of her coffee.
    Shelley had been listening politely, but now asked sharply, “What’s the legal niggle?“
    Tenny smiled. “Don’t worry. Your husband and the other investors know all about it. Uncle Bill hasn’t concealed anything from them. There is a sheaf of legal opinions and precedents in the financial packet he had prepared for them.“
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to imply—“
    “I know. But even HawkHunter isn’t sure enough of himself to file a suit. He just keeps threatening. And considering how easy it is to file a nuisance suit these days, I think that says a lot about how flimsy his reasoning is.“
    “So what is it he wants?“ Jane asked. “What are the threats about?“
    “Oh, not much,“ Tenny said sarcastically. “He just wants Uncle Bill to give the resort to the tribe.“

Chapter 4

    “I’m sorry,“ Tenny said to their questioning looks. “I’ve really got to get back to work. I left Aunt Joanna at the desk and she’s probably knocking things off people’s bills left and right. She can’t stand the slightest hint of discontent. I really just came in to let you know that there’s a big storeroom off the lobby that has all sorts of boots, mufflers, even snow-shoes and sun goggles. If you want to go adventuring but don’t have the equipment, feel free to help yourself. It started out as a lost-and-found, but now we just let guests help themselves.“
    “Thanks. I may take you up on that,“ Jane said. “Shelley’s going to sit in on some of the genealogy stuff this morning, and I’ll take a walk.“
    Tenny left just as Katie and Denise straggled into the dining room.