Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

On Thursday evening, Chloe stood outside the old steamboat museum, her breath forming small clouds in the chilly air. Oscar was staying at her neighbor’s house while she hunted with Liam and Pastor John for the sketches Eleanor had drawn.

Pulling her scarf around her neck, she glanced down the street just as Liam’s truck turned the corner. He parked nearby and stepped out, his face breaking into a smile when he saw her.

“Hey,” he greeted, a camera bag slung over his shoulder. “Ready for some treasure hunting?”

“I can’t wait,” she replied, returning his smile. “I hope you brought your sense of adventure.”

“Always,” he said, falling into step beside her as they approached the old steamboat museum’s wooden doors.

Pastor John joined them on the steps. “Sorry I’m late. I hope you haven’t been waiting for long.”

Chloe smiled. “We’ve only just arrived. Thanks for letting us look inside the storage rooms.”

“I’m glad there might be something inside that Liam can use in his book.” Pastor John handed Chloe a spiral-bound folder. “I brought the catalog with me. The sketches could be in room four, beside the other books and diaries we found.”

Pastor John unlocked the door and flipped on the lights. The bright fluorescent lights filled the foyer with light.

Chloe’s eyes widened. “This is a lot different from the last time I was here.” On one side of the room, models of steamboats and antique navigational tools lined old wooden shelves. Ahead of them, maritime posters filled the wall with a visual reminder of just how popular sailing across Flathead Lake used to be.

Pastor John led them across the room. “Percy wants to organize tours of the historic sites in Sapphire Bay. This building is an important part of our past, so we decided to give the foyer a facelift. We found what’s here in the same storage rooms we’re looking in tonight.”

Liam looked at the posters hanging from the walls. “I can’t believe everything’s in such great shape.”

“Percy was impressed, too. After the holidays, he’ll scan each poster and store them in the preservation society’s archives. Apart from what you see, the Christmas committee found some amazing family heirlooms. They aren’t valuable, but they’re extremely interesting.”

As they made their way toward the storage rooms, Pastor John handed them both a flashlight. When Liam raised his eyebrows, John smiled. “It pays to be prepared. The last time we were searching for something, half a dozen mattresses and an old-fashioned wardrobe nearly flattened my wife.”

Chloe smiled. All they needed was two more people and they’d be like the Famous Five, solving mysteries and finding hidden treasure.

Pastor John stopped in front of a dark brown door. “According to the catalog, the sketches should be in here. If they aren’t, they’ll probably be in the next room.”

Chloe turned on her flashlight. “The sketches were in an old trunk. I think it belonged to someone who worked on the steamboats, but it was so dirty it was hard to tell.” She wished she’d taken more notice of the trunk, but she’d been tired and didn’t think they’d need to find it again.

“Watch your step,” Pastor John cautioned as he opened the door. “The lighting isn’t the best in these rooms.”

Liam’s sharp, indrawn breath made Chloe move toward him. Filled with shelves and boxes stacked on every available surface, the room was a treasure trove of undiscovered secrets. As she moved the beam of her flashlight around the room, dust motes danced in the air.

“Wow,” Liam said, surveying the clutter. “This could take a while.”

Pastor John ran his finger down the catalog. “Not as long as you might think. Chloe added more instructions than the other volunteers on where she found things.”

Liam smiled. “That doesn’t surprise me.”

Pastor John moved to the right-hand side of the room. “The trunk should be over here somewhere.”

Chloe frowned as John walked around an old dresser. Even though she hadn’t been back to the storage room, it didn’t look the same as they’d left it. “Would anyone have moved the furniture?”

“It’s possible,” Pastor John murmured as his flashlight skimmed across overstuffed boxes and piles of old books. “A few families have been here since we created the catalog.”

While John and Liam were hunting on the right-hand side of the room, Chloe stepped into the first semi-formed walkway she found. Navigating through the maze of artifacts—old life vests, shipping logs, faded photographs, and crates marked with dates long past—was just as exciting as the first time she’d been here.

She wriggled farther into the room, being extra careful around the large dressers and ornate cupboards leaning against the walls. A pained grunt coming from the other side of the room made her spin around.

“Is someone hurt?” she asked.

“It was me,” Liam said quickly. “I banged my shin against the edge of a bookcase. I’m okay.”

She turned her flashlight toward him. “Do you need more light?”

“Thanks, but I’ve got enough. I just need to watch where I’m going. Do you remember how big the trunk was?”

Chloe thought hard. “It was about two feet wide and four feet long.”

Pastor John swung his flashlight across the back wall. “According to the catalog, it has a creamy-colored band painted around the middle.”

Liam bent down. “I think I might have found something.” John moved toward him and, carefully, they shifted some boxes onto the floor.

Chloe joined them and brushed layers of dust off the trunk. “This is it.” As she opened the latch and lifted the lid, the hinges creaking in protest. Inside were several items wrapped in cloth. Carefully, Chloe removed the antique navigational instruments, a captain’s hat, and a leather-bound journal.

“It looks like someone packed up their belongings,” Liam observed.

“Perhaps the captain of one of the old steamboats,” Chloe said as she reached deeper into the trunk. With a wide smile, she felt the familiar texture of the sketchbook’s cover. “Here it is,” she said excitedly, pulling it out and placing it on top of the trunk.

Liam turned off his flashlight as she untied the ribbon holding the book closed. The top sketch was a detailed drawing of the Sapphire Bay shoreline, with the mountains rising majestically in the background.

Chloe carefully turned the pages, each sketch more fascinating than the last. There were studies of people in the town square, children playing by the lake, and families enjoying everyday life.

“These are incredible,” Liam whispered as Chloe showed him and Pastor John a sketch of what the general store used to look like.

“Look at this one,” she said, pointing to a sketch of a Christmas scene—a bustling market with stalls decorated in garlands and lamps, families gathered around a towering tree, and snowflakes delicately falling from the sky.

“She captured the spirit of the holidays,” Liam remarked.

Chloe nodded. “And it’s so similar to how the Christmas markets look today. It’s as if time hasn’t changed anything.”

As they examined each sketch, Chloe lost track of the time. Some drawings contained handwritten notes in the margins—snippets of poetry, thoughts about the town, and observations about the people Eleanor had met.

Liam held his camera above the book and took a photo of a page. “If we want to know why Eleanor disappeared, these notes could be more valuable than the sketches.”

Chloe agreed. “We should scan or photograph each page. That way, we won’t damage the sketchbook by opening it all the time.”

Pastor John held his flashlight over the book. “You’re welcome to take it back to The Welcome Center, Liam, or home with you, Chloe. It’ll be a lot easier to photograph each page in a decent light.”

Liam picked up a page that fluttered to the floor. “It might be safer at Chloe’s house. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be in Sapphire Bay.”

Chloe’s gaze lifted to his. Just thinking about Liam leaving made her feel sad.

Pastor John frowned. “I thought you were staying for a few more months.”

“I’ve been offered another job, but I’m not sure I’ll take it.”

Chloe knew he’d be crazy not to sign the contract. Staying in Sapphire Bay because of her and Oscar would only lead to heartbreak—especially if Liam regretted giving up his dream job.

Pastor John frowned. “Whatever happens, copying the pages in the sketchbook could be helpful in more ways than one. What do you think about creating a special section in our Christmas exhibit dedicated to Eleanor? We could showcase her sketches alongside photos of the murals, telling her story through her art. Someone might come forward who knows what happened to her.”

Chloe dropped her gaze to the book. It was a lot easier than trying to work out whether Liam would stay or leave. “Even if we don’t find out what happened to Eleanor, it might inspire other people to talk about the families who’ve settled in Sapphire Bay.”

“Percy will be happy. The Heritage Protection Society could be inundated with information.” Pastor John checked his watch. “It’s getting late. How about you look at the sketchbook over the next few days? If you think we can create a display from what you find, let me know.”

Liam closed the book. “From what I already know about Eleanor, her story would make a great exhibition. Are you happy to take the book home, Chloe? It’ll be safer with you.”

She nodded and carefully held it. “I’ll buy some conservation materials tomorrow and talk to Percy about scanning the book. I’ll also contact my friends at the Smithsonian. They might have some ideas about how we can find more information about Eleanor’s life.”

Pastor John held open the door. “That sounds wonderful.”

With a heavy heart, Chloe followed Liam and Pastor John out of the storage room. She didn’t know what Liam would decide to do, but she could help Eleanor’s story be told. And if her mysterious disappearance was as riveting as the discovery of a letter written by Abraham Lincoln, Sapphire Bay would be the next tourist hotspot in Montana.

The crisp morning air filled Liam’s lungs as his feet pounded the snowy trail along Flathead Lake. Beside him, his friend Steve matched his pace, the crunch of their sneakers against the packed snow creating a steady rhythm. Trixie was following behind, happy to be outside.

“Man, I forgot how good a winter run can be,” Steve said, his cheeks flushed from the cold.

“Tell me about it,” Liam replied, adjusting his beanie. “Beats the treadmill any day.”

As they ran along the trail, the vast expanse of the lake stretching out beside them. The sun peeked over the mountains, casting a soft golden glow on the blanket of snow covering the landscape.

“So,” Steve began, breaking the quiet, “Tell me about the job offer. Have you decided what you’ll do?”

Liam glanced at his friend. “Not yet.”

“I thought you’d jump at the chance. You told me jobs like that don’t come along very often.”

“It’s more complicated than starting a new job. Since I came to Sapphire Bay, things have changed,” Liam admitted. “I’ve felt at home here.”

They slowed their pace as they approached a bend in the trail, the trees arching overhead like a snow-covered canopy.

“Is this about Chloe?” Steve asked.

Liam ducked under an overhanging branch. “Some of it has to do with her. She’s incredible, and Oscar’s a great kid. But it’s more than that. I’ve never felt so connected to a community before. Considering I haven’t been here for long, I feel like one of the locals.”

Steve nodded. “I get it. Before I moved here, I was a mess. There’s something special about this town and the people in it. What did Chloe say when you told her about the job?”

“She said I have to do what’s best for me.”

Steve sighed. “That wouldn’t have helped. When do you have to let the publishing house know if you want the job?”

“As soon as possible. They’ve got a tight schedule and there are plenty of people who’d do the job.”

“Sounds like you have some important thinking to do.”

“It’s all I’ve been doing.” Trixie bounded past Liam, her bright red doggie boots a blur against the snow.

Steve stopped on the trail and stretched his hamstrings. “Do you know what happened to the woman you told me about the other day?”

Liam shook his head. “There were a lot of rumors about hidden gold and an affair with a married man, but no one knew what was real and what was made up. Chloe’s driving to Polson tomorrow to get Eleanor’s sketchbook scanned. We’re hoping what’s inside gives us more clues about her life.”

Steve lifted his arms above his head. “It sounds like a big job.”

“Bigger than we imagined.” Liam sighed. “I feel like there’s something important that connects Eleanor’s life to the history of the town.”

Steve gave him a sidelong glance. “You know, maybe that’s why you’re here.”

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe you’re meant to tell her story,” Steve suggested. “To bring closure to something that’s been lingering in this town for generations.”

As they reached a clearing, Liam took a deep breath. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“Maybe it’s time you did,” Steve said, gesturing to the landscape. “It’ll be hard leaving all this behind.”

“Yeah,” Liam agreed quietly. They stood looking across the lake, the silence filled only by the distant call of a bird and the soft rustle of the trees.

“So, if you haven’t accepted the offer,” Steve said. “What’s stopping you from telling the publishing company you aren’t interested?”

Liam sighed, kicking at a patch of snow. “Fear, maybe. Fear of missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Fear of regretting not chasing my dreams.”

“I can understand that,” Steve said. “But sometimes dreams change. Or maybe they become something different from what we expected. My grandma once told me that sometimes the path you didn’t plan for is the one you’re meant to be on.”

Liam absorbed the words, the weight of the decision pressing on him. “I don’t want to make the wrong decision.”

“I can’t tell you what to do,” Steve said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “But listening to your heart usually points you in the right direction.”

Liam nodded slowly. “Chloe said something similar.”

“She’s a smart woman. You’re lucky she moved to Sapphire Bay.”

“Yeah, I am,” Liam agreed, a soft smile playing on his lips.

Steve nudged his arm. “We’d better keep moving before we freeze. On the way back, you can tell me about the Christmas events you’re helping to organize.”

Liam took a deep breath, the cold air filling his lungs. As they set off along the trail, he thought about Chloe and about his time in Montana. Whatever happened next could change his life.