Summer At Lakeside

by Leeanna Morgan

  “That will be difficult,” Penny told her sisters. “We don’t know whether he started on the east or west coast, or if he was living in Montana all along.”

  Diana took her cell phone out of her pocket. “I might have a way of narrowing down his movements. I took a photo of each of the postcards that were sent to our great-grandmother from Europe. We might see something the Smithsonian missed.”

  “I’ll get a pen and make some notes,” Barbara said as she hurried toward the kitchen.

  Diana flicked through the images on her phone. When she saw the third one, she frowned. Quickly, she opened the next image, then the next. “Am I reading this correctly?” she asked Katie and Penny.

  They leaned closer to the phone.

  “Look at this…”—she flicked to the next image, pointing at the postmark—“and this.”

  “I can’t believe it,” Penny said softly.

  “Go back to the first one,” Katie said excitedly. “Compare it to the others.”

  Barbara hurried across to the sofa. “What have you found?”

  “Something you’re not going to believe,” Katie said in awe. “I feel like Nancy Drew.”

  “Except this is even better. It’s a real mystery,” Penny added.

  Diana chose the first postcard she’d seen and enlarged the postmark. “We thought all the postcards were mailed from Europe because they had scenes of famous landmarks on them. But they weren’t.” She handed Barbara the phone.

  Her sister peered at the screen. “If they weren’t sent from Europe, where did they…Oh, my goodness.”

  “Exactly,” Diana said. “Some of the postcards were mailed from American cities.”

  Barbara picked up her pen. “Which means Patrick Kelly was either passing through them or living there. My hand is shaking I’m so excited.”

  Katie grinned. “As soon as we’ve created a list of where the postcards were mailed from, we’ll send it to the Smithsonian. Chloe’s not going to believe what we discovered.”

  Diana read out the details of the postcards while Barbara wrote down the information. Penny double-checked the dates, and Katie made everyone a cup of coffee.

  By the end of the day, they were another step closer to learning more about their great-grandfather. But not much closer to discovering how the letter came to be in the dresser.

  Ten days later, Chloe held up a piece of paper. The Zoom meeting was going well considering they were hundreds of miles and a couple of hours apart. “Gorman & Murphy were the largest gambling house in Chicago in the 1920s. This photocopy is from one of their accounting ledgers. We found it in the National Archives and Records in Chicago.”

  “What does it say?” Penny asked.

  Chloe pushed a button on her keyboard and her image was replaced by the scanned piece of paper.

  Katie leaned forward. “It’s a list of people’s names and how much they won.”

  “And lost,” Chloe added. “Even though Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, spent most of his later years in Vermont, he went to law school in Chicago and had many friends who lived there. According to the ledgers, he went to Gorman & Murphy a number of times. This page shows him losing a large sum of money on one of those visits. Look at the third to last entry.”

  Barbara ran her hands down the computer screen.

  Diana didn’t know which of her sisters was more shocked. Katie gasped, Penny’s eyes widened, and Barbara froze.

  “I can’t believe it,” Katie said. “Our great-grandfather was gambling in the same place, at the same time, as Robert Todd Lincoln.”

  “And winning a lot of money, by the looks of it,” Penny said.

  Chloe’s voice came from the speakers. “Have you finished looking at the document? I’ll send you a copy by email.”

  Diana looked at her sisters and they all nodded. “We have.”

  The document disappeared and Chloe’s face returned. “We combined the dates Diana sent through from the postcards with our own research. Using the new dates, we searched the ledgers for any visits your great-grandfather might have made to the gambling house. From what we could see, he only visited Gorman & Murphy on three other occasions—although he could have been there and not met the threshold for having his winnings or losses recorded. This was the only documented time when both your great-grandfather and Abraham Lincoln’s son were in the building together.”

  Barbara held her pen above her notebook. “I didn’t write down the date, Chloe. When were they both there?”

  “July 27, 1928. At that time, the most popular way of traveling around the country was by train—and he would have used the Great Northern Railroad Company to get to Montana. Unfortunately, no one kept the passenger lists. Otherwise, we might have been able to trace your great-grandfather’s travels between Chicago and Montana and other parts of the country.”

  “What do we do next?” Barbara asked.

  “As far as your great-grandfather is concerned, we can’t do very much. We’ll keep looking through our records, but it could take a lot longer to discover what happened to him. The preservation of the letter and journal is going well. We should have some news about that in the next couple of weeks. And we’re still getting the snuffbox, key, and dresser ready for the exhibition.”

  “Do you have any dates for that?” Diana asked. “We’d like to come for the opening.”

  Chloe smiled. “Not yet, but I’ll let you know as soon as we do. Is there anything else you’d like to ask me?”

  The sisters all shook their heads.

  Barbara put down her pen. “Thanks for everything you’re doing for us.”

  “I’m the one who should be thanking you,” Chloe said. “This is one of the most exciting discoveries I’ve seen since I started working here. It’s a privilege to be helping you.”

  “We’re glad you’re helping us,” Katie said. After everyone had said goodbye, she ended the Zoom meeting.

  “Well, that was interesting,” Barbara said. “I’m going to look up Gorman & Murphy on the Internet.”

  “I’ll print the sheet from the ledger,” Penny said. “And then I’ll tell Mom and Dad, and Wyatt what Chloe said.”

  Katie picked up her glass of water. “I need to write the next scene in my book. If I don’t get a move on, it won’t be ready for Christmas.”

  Diana looked at her sisters. “I have no idea what I’m doing. If anyone needs anything, let me know.”

  Two minutes later, she had a list of things her sisters wanted her to do. Which was fine. At least it kept her mind off the mistake she’d made when she thought Ethan was secretly spending time with Chloe.

  A week later, Ethan knocked on Theo’s front door. No one answered.

  It wasn’t like him to sleep in, but stranger things had happened. He tried again, this time banging hard against the wood. “Are you awake, Theo?”

  “You don’t have to yell,” Theo said as he hurried around the edge of the house. “I was getting something out of the garage.”

  Ethan looked at the telescope in his friend’s arms. “I didn’t know you enjoyed astronomy.”

  “I used to spend most weekends looking at the stars, but this isn’t for me. It’s for Pastor John. He wants to show the children at The Welcome Center a meteor shower that’s supposed to appear next week.”

  “You could interview John for the radio station.”

  “I’m one step ahead of you. I’m going to The Welcome Center on the night John talks to the kids. I’ll do a live broadcast from there. I thought we weren’t running until eight o’clock?”

  “We aren’t, but I thought if you were awake we could leave earlier. Zac’s closing the clinic at four o’clock and the sooner I get there, the more patients I can see.”

  “That’s not like Zac. He usually stays open long past his usual hours.”

  “We’re going to Polson to meet the medical director of outpatient services at the hospital.”

  Theo carried the telescope into his house. “Are
you still looking for funding for the PTSD clinic?”

  “You know about that?”

  “Most of Sapphire Bay knows we need more funding. Do you think you’ll get it?”

  Ethan followed Theo into the kitchen and helped himself to a glass of water. “Who knows? Budgets are tight everywhere, especially where mental health is concerned. If we don’t receive extra funding, we won’t be able to offer additional sessions.”

  “That would be a shame for everyone.”

  Ethan agreed. It was incredibly shortsighted to think a program only helped the people who were in it. Family, friends, and everyone in between benefited from having a healthy community. And Sapphire Bay was no exception.

  Theo came back from the mud room carrying his running shoes. “It’s just as well I’m organized. If I’d had even the slightest sleep-in, I wouldn’t have been awake.”

  Ethan laughed. “I’ve never known you to sleep past six o’clock. Most of the time you’re awake before I am.”

  “There’s a reason for that. How’s Diana?”

  “She’s busy. The inn is fully booked for the next few months.”

  “That’s good. The publicity from finding the letter must have helped?”

  “It probably did.”

  “And…?”

  “And nothing. I can’t tell you anything more than you already know.” Ethan held open the front door. “Now that you have your shoes on, we can go for a run.”

  “Stretches first. I can’t afford to pull a muscle and neither can you.” Theo extended his leg. “If you won’t talk about the letter, tell me how you feel about Diana. You’ve been seeing a lot of each other.”

  Ethan didn’t have to think about his answer. “I love her and I’ve never been happier.”

  Theo groaned. “Our single, boys only days are numbered. At least I’ll always have my running buddy.”

  “That’s because no one else will put up with your competitive streak.”

  “True.” As they jogged down the driveway, Theo looked toward the lake. “I saw Penny the other day. She told me about the search for her great-grandfather. I wonder how many other men and women disappeared from Montana only to reappear somewhere else.”

  “Probably more than anyone realizes. It wasn’t called the Wild West for nothing.” Ethan ran in comfortable silence beside his friend. “Does your family have any skeletons in their closet?”

  “There’s only me,” Theo said with a forced smile. “And I’m far enough away that they can pretend I don’t exist.”

  Ethan frowned. “Are they still blaming you for what happened?”

  “I ruined their social status. Having a son who accused a close acquaintance of running a drug trafficking ring can do that.”

  “You thought your informant was telling the truth. There’s no way you could have known you had the wrong person.”

  “Try telling that to my parents,” Theo muttered. “In the meantime, let’s run. Thinking about my family isn’t good for my blood pressure.”

  “If you want a distraction, talk to my parents. They want to visit Sapphire Bay to meet Diana.”

  “Do I hear wedding bells and baby rattles?”

  “My mom does.” Ethan sighed. And so did he.

  Chapter 24

  TWO MONTHS LATER…

  * * *

  Diana closed her eyes. Over the last eight weeks, Ethan had spent as much time as he could finishing the replica dresser. He’d brought it to the inn half an hour ago, but wanted it to be a surprise. Which was why she was standing in the kitchen with a bright red scarf over her eyes.

  “I know about the dresser. Why do I have to cover my eyes and my sisters don’t?”

  “You’ll sneak a look before Ethan’s ready to show us,” Katie said from beside her. “He can trust us to keep our eyes closed.”

  “He can trust me, too.”

  “That’s what you say now,” Barbara said.

  Penny sighed. “I’m supposed to be having dinner with Wyatt. If we don’t get a move on, I won’t arrive at his house until midnight.”

  “Fine, but I’ll remember this.” With her hands in front of her, Diana reached for Ethan. “I’m ready for your surprise.”

  “Follow me.”

  Ethan pulled her close to his body and led her into the living room. Katie held on to Diana’s shirt and their other sisters trailed behind.

  “Do you feel like the Pied Piper?” Diana asked.

  Ethan laughed. “More like a train conductor. Are you okay back there, Barbara?”

  “I’m okay. I think.”

  “There’s not long to go now. A few more steps should do it.”

  Diana was more excited than she thought she’d be. After all this time, the space where the dresser used to stand still looked bare without the lovely piece of furniture. When the Smithsonian took it away, it was as if they were giving away a part of their family.

  “Okay, everyone,” Ethan said softly. “We’re stopping now. If everyone except Diana moves to the right-hand side of the person standing in front of them, you’ll be able to see the dresser.”

  Katie’s hands moved around Diana’s waist.

  “Is everyone ready?” Ethan asked.

  Each sister said yes.

  “Open your eyes.”

  Before she took the blindfold off, Diana heard her sisters’ sighs and gasps.

  “It’s amazing,” Barbara said as Diana caught her first glimpse of the dresser.

  And it was truly amazing. The deep mahogany wood gleamed under the pendant lights. The drawers, complete with brass hinges and handles, looked so much like the old dresser that she had to remind herself that it wasn’t the same one.

  “This must have been what our great-grandparent’s dresser looked like when it was new.” Penny ran her hand along the top. “It feels like silk.”

  Ethan seemed relieved they liked it. “I thought about denting the wood and adding some scratches to match the dresser in Washington, D.C. But, once I put it together, I didn’t want to damage the wood.”

  “I’m pleased you didn’t,” Diana said. “It’s the same but different and more special because of it.”

  Katie knelt on the floor, opening the drawer where they’d found the secret compartment. “Did you…?” A smile broke across her face as she pushed against the wooden base. “You did!”

  Ethan’s eyes gleamed. “I couldn’t make the dresser without including the place where we found the letter. When I told Chloe what I was doing, she asked her team to make another copy of the letter. We’ve added it to the compartment—exactly how we found it.”

  “Our guests will love it.” Barbara’s smile was almost as wide as her sisters’.

  Diana touched the intricate scrollwork, the ornate covers on the locks, and the beveled edge of the drawers. “I can’t believe you made this from photographs of the old dresser.”

  “Anything’s possible if you have the right motivation.”

  Penny chuckled. “I’m assuming Diana was your motivation?”

  Ethan nodded. “All of you were. Just finding what the key unlocked was a miracle, but discovering the letter was incredible. As soon as Diana told me you were sending the dresser away, I knew I had to make you another one.”

  Diana kissed Ethan’s cheek. “I don’t know how we can ever repay what you’ve done for us, but thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. There is one thing you can do for me.”

  Barbara smiled. “Should we put our hands over our ears?”

  Ethan laughed. “No, but you’ll have to get your own dinner. I’d like to take Diana on another date.”

  Penny looked at Katie and Barbara. “You can come to Wyatt’s house with me. We’re having a barbecue.”

  “I’ll bring the salad,” Katie said. Before she left the living room, she ran her hand along the top of the dresser. “It really is the prettiest piece of furniture we own.”

  “I’m glad you like it,” Ethan said.

  Penny gave Ethan a hu
g. “Thank you. It means a great deal to see an even better version of the dresser again.”

  Barbara grinned. “I might as well give you a hug, too. In case Diana hasn’t told you, you’re amazing.”

  “She’s told me, but thank you.”

  After her sisters had gone, Diana smiled at Ethan. “You’re a man of many talents.”

  “My dad taught me most of the things I know. The other people in the woodworking club helped me figure out the rest.”

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He was, without a doubt, the most incredible man she’d ever met. “I’m looking forward to spending more time with you.”

  “Even though I made you wear a blindfold?”

  “It was worth it.”

  Ethan lifted the scarf from around her neck. “Good, because I’ve got another surprise for you.”

  Diana groaned. “And you want me to wear the blindfold again?”

  “How did you guess?”

  “It wasn’t hard.” Within a few minutes they were sitting in Ethan’s truck, heading to who knew where. Hopefully, wherever they were going didn’t have a dress code. Jeans and her favorite sweater were perfect for around the inn, but not so good if they were going somewhere special.

  Ethan’s heart pounded as he drove into Polson. He wasn’t sure what Diana would think of the journey, but she hadn’t complained as they’d driven around the bay.

  He was here earlier with Theo, getting everything ready for what he wanted to say. He just hoped it wasn’t too soon; too much of everything Diana didn’t want in her life.

  “We’re nearly there.”

  “Thank goodness. I thought you were taking me to Bigfork.”

  “Not quite.” He smiled as she tilted her chin upward. “You said you wouldn’t peek.”

  With a sigh, she sat back in her seat. “Are you sure you can’t give me a clue about where we are?”

  He stopped the truck in the parking lot overlooking the lake and undid their seatbelts. “It’s where everything began.”