A Treasure Worth Keeping
Kathryn Springer

To Linda—

A fellow traveler on the writer’s journey.

I’m glad we’re in this together, friend!

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Epilogue

Prologue

“Please think about it, Evie. You’re the only one of us who doesn’t have—”

At the sound of a meaningful cough, Caitlin’s words snapped off and Evie McBride smiled wryly.

Who doesn’t have a life.

That’s what Caitlin had been about to say before Meghan, “Miss Tactful,” had broken into the conversation. They were talking on a three-way call, the usual method her two older sisters used to gang up on her. Sometimes advanced technology made life easier, and sometimes it was simply a pain in the neck.

“What Caitlin was going to say,” Meghan continued in an annoyingly cheerful voice, “is that you’re the only one whose summer schedule is…flexible.”

Flexible. Nonexistent. Was there a difference? And if Evie had known how many times she’d be called upon to be flexible over the past few years since their father had retired, she wouldn’t have chosen teaching as a career. She would have tied up her life with a neat little job that kept her working year-round, like her sisters had.

It wasn’t that she minded helping out their dad. They were extremely close and she loved him to pieces. No, what drove her crazy was that Caitlin and Meghan always assumed she didn’t have any plans for her summer vacation. And that just wasn’t true. A neat stack of novels, the ones she hadn’t had a chance to read during the school year, sat on the floor beside her bed. There was a miniature greenhouse in her backyard full of tomato seedlings waiting to be nurtured. And a gallon of paint in the hall closet, ready to transform her front door from boring beige to Tuscan yellow because she’d read somewhere that a front door should sport a friendly, welcoming color. And really, was there anything more friendly than yellow? Evie didn’t think so.

“What if I have plans?” Evie asked. The sibling ambush had occurred at nine o’clock at night, interrupting her favorite educational program. There had to be some consequences for that. Unfortunately, stalling was all she could come up with.

“You do?” Meghan asked cautiously.

“What plans?” Caitlin demanded.

Now she was stuck. “Painting.”

“Painting.” Caitlin repeated the word like she’d never heard of the activity, and Evie could picture her rolling her baby blues at the ceiling.

“Is it something you can put off for a few weeks, Evie? Once I’m done with this photo shoot, I’ll try to take some time off to help you.” Meghan, bless her heart, let her keep her dignity.

Silence. Evie’s cue to cave in. After all, that was her role. She sighed into the phone, knowing her sisters would accept it as the cowardly white flag of surrender that it was.

“All right. Fine. I can run Beach Glass while Dad goes on his fishing trip.”

“Dad will be so happy.” Caitlin’s voice was as sweet as glucose syrup now that she’d gotten her way.

Evie resisted the urge to stick out her tongue at Caitlin’s smiling face in the family photo on the coffee table.

“Evie, we really appreciate this,” Meghan said. “And Dad will be thrilled. He didn’t want to have to close up the store for two weeks.”

“But he didn’t want to ask you for help because he didn’t want to take advantage of your free time,” Caitlin added.

“Well, it’s a good thing you don’t have a problem with that, then, isn’t it?” Evie said.

But not out loud.

What she said out loud was good night, allowing just a touch of weariness to creep into her voice. Hopefully enough to generate a smidgeon of guilt in her sisters’ consciences. Not that it would matter when another crisis barked at the trunk of the McBride family tree. Why these crises always surfaced during the months of June, July and August, Evie didn’t know.

Three years ago, Patrick McBride had officially retired from teaching and bought a small antique shop, whimsically christened Beach Glass by the previous owner. A quaint stone building, it sat comfortably on the edge of a lightly traveled road that wound along the Lake Superior shoreline. A very lightly traveled road. It wasn’t even paved. The first time Evie saw it, she had a strong hunch why the previous owners had practically given it away. They’d probably cashed the meager check in nearby Cooper’s Landing on their way out of town, anxious to rejoin civilization.

Evie had spent most of that summer making the year-round cottage that had been included in the deal suitable for her father to live in. The calluses still hadn’t completely disappeared.

The following summer she’d been the one drafted to spend “a few days” teaching their dad how to use a computer so he could manage all the financial records for the business. The brief computer lesson had turned into a month-long project that had ended with Patrick’s mastering of the power button and not a whole lot more.

The previous summer, Caitlin’s tail had gotten tied in a knot when Patrick happened to mention a woman’s name twice during their weekly phone conversation. A Sophie Graham. Evie had flatly refused to act as the family spy. Her dad was an adult and it wasn’t any of their business if he’d found a friend. Less than twenty-four hours after Evie had drawn a line in the sand over that situation, Caitlin had figured out a way to tug her over it. Beach Glass needed to be landscaped and since the only thing she and Meghan knew about plants was that the root part went into the ground, Evie was the obvious choice to spend six weeks mulching and planting flower beds.

Suspiciously, her sisters were always too busy to help out but never too busy to call and check up on her.

But Evie loved them. Even bossy, tell-it-like-it-is Caitlin. And she knew they loved her. And really, was it their fault all she could find to fill up three months of summer vacation was painting her front door, transplanting tomato plants and living vicariously through the lives of the characters in her favorite books?

Evie had missed most of her program during the kissing-up portion of the conversation so she turned off the television and closed her eyes.

I want my own story, God.

Even as the thought rushed through her mind, she treated it like the mutiny that it was.

Your own story! What are you talking about? You’re a junior high science teacher. Shaping impressionable minds. It’s a high calling.

Wasn’t she the first teacher who’d taken the Rock of Ages Christian School to first place in the science fair competition the past few years? While all the other schools had entered working volcanoes and posters labeling the parts of a rocket, her students had brought in inventions. Like Micah Swivel’s solar-powered toaster. And everyone knew the reason Angie Colson won the spelling bee with the word bioluminescence was because Evie had just finished a unit on insects. The day before, Angie had taken the chapter test and had chosen fireflies, a stellar example of bioluminescence, as the subject of her required essay. They’d shared the victory, celebrating with doughnuts and hot chocolate in the teachers’ lounge.

Evie basked in the knowledge she had been loved by every seventh and eighth grader in her charge since the school had hired her. And if their test grades didn’t prove their devotion, the number of cookies on her desk every morning did.

She had a story all right. It just happened to be woven into the lives of an age group most people ran, screaming, away from. She thrived between the months of August and May. The summer months made her feel restless. And lonely.

Maybe that’s why she didn’t fuss too much when her sisters rearranged her summer plans. It was nice to be needed. And she couldn’t deny that their father, whom they affectionately referred to as the absentminded professor, needed a watchful eye.

Evie reached for the phone and pressed Speed Dial.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Dad. I hear you’re going fishing.”

Chapter One

Sam Cutter had driven almost twelve hours when an old joke suddenly came back to him. Something about a town not being the end of the world but you could see it from there.

Now he knew that place had a name. Cooper’s Landing. And it was cold. No one had warned him that winter released its grip with excruciating slowness along Lake Superior’s shore. The second week of June and the buds on the trees had barely unfurled in shy, pale shades of green.

He drove slowly down the main street and pulled over next to the building that sagged tiredly on the corner. The color of the original paint on the clapboard siding was only a memory, and the shingles had loosened from the roof, curling up at the ends like the sole of a worn-out shoe. A red neon sign winked garishly in the window. Bait.

He glanced at the girl slumped against the window in the passenger seat. Her lips were moving silently, showing signs that yes, there was brain activity. Since she hadn’t talked to him for the past five hours, he’d been forced to watch for obvious signs of life. They’d been few and far between. Changing the song on her iPod. The occasional piece of candy being unwrapped. A twitch of her bare toes. Well, not completely bare. One of them had a toe ring.

He touched her elbow and she flinched. Sam tried not to flinch back. Once upon a time she’d been generous with her hugs.

“Faith? I’ll be right back.”

She frowned and yanked out a headphone. “What?”

“We’re here. I’ll be right back.”

She straightened, and her gaze moved from window to window. She had a front-row seat to view Cooper’s Landing, and Sam expected to see some expression on her face. Shock? Terror? Instead, she shrugged and pushed the headphone back in place.

He wished he could disengage from reality and disappear into another world so easily.

The warped door of the bait shop swung open when he pushed on it, releasing an avalanche of smells. The prominent ones were fish, sauerkraut and bratwurst. Sam’s eyes began to water.

“Let me guess. Cutter. You look just like your old man.”

Sam saw a movement in the corner of the room just after he heard the voice. Between the heavy canvas awning shading the street side of the building and the tiny row of windows, the sunlight couldn’t infiltrate the inside of the bait store. Shadows had taken over, settling into the maze of shelves. The lightbulbs flickering over his head held all the power of a votive candle.

“Sam Cutter.” Sam walked toward the voice.

He heard a faint scraping noise and a man shuffled toward him out of the gloom, wiping his hands on a faded handkerchief. By the time he reached Sam, he’d stuffed it in the pocket of his coveralls and stretched out his hand.

“Rudy Dawes.”

Sam shook his hand even as he silently acknowledged that a long, hot shower and half a bottle of the cologne he’d gotten for his birthday weren’t going to completely strip away the bait store’s unique blend of odors.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon. S’pose you’re anxious to get a look at her.” Rudy squinted up at him.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Rudy started to laugh but quickly broke into a dry, hacking cough. “Come on, she’s outside.”

Sam followed him to the back of the store, and his boot slipped on something, almost sending him into a skid that would have taken out a shelf full of fishing reels. He didn’t bother to look down, not wanting to know what was filling the tread of his hiking boot. In some cases, ignorance was bliss.

Rudy pushed the door open, and Sam found himself standing on a rickety platform that trembled above an outcropping of rocks. At the base of the rocks, a blackened, water-stained dock stretched over the water. With one boat tied to it. Sam stared at it in disbelief as it nodded in rhythm with the waves.

“There she is. The Natalie. She’s a beauty, ain’t she?” Rudy tucked his hands in his pockets and bowed his head in respect against the crisp breeze that swept in to greet them.

“That’s the boat?”

Faith had materialized behind them, and Sam twisted around to look at her. She’d pushed her chin into the opening of her black hooded sweatshirt but the tip of her nose was pink, kissed by the wind.

“It can’t be.” Sam blinked, just to be sure the faded gray boat wasn’t a hallucination due to the sleepless nights he’d been having. “When I talked to Dad, he said the boat was new.”

“He’s one of them positive thinkers.” Rudy grinned and spit over the side of the railing. “It was new to him when he bought it. I can tell your first mate here knows quality when she sees it.”

Faith’s shy smile reminded Sam of his manners.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Dawes, this is my niece, Faith Cutter. Faith, this is Mr. Dawes.”

“Aw, it’s just plain Rudy.” He smiled at Faith, revealing a gold-capped front tooth. “Jacob said you wouldn’t be here until mid-July. And he shoulda warned you we don’t pack away our winter coats until then.”

Sam glanced at Faith and noticed she was shivering. Instinctively, he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her into the warmth of his flannel-lined denim jacket. Instead of pulling away, as he half expected her to, she tunneled in farther. For a split second, she was six years old again, snuggled up against him with a copy of Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish book in one hand and a raggedy stuffed rabbit named Mr. Carrots in the other.

“Dad said the boat was available whenever I wanted to use it,” Sam said distractedly. “June…worked out better for us.”

“Doesn’t matter to me none. I just keep an eye on it for him. Go on now. Get acquainted with her.”

Faith skipped down the skeletal wooden staircase that spiraled to the water. Sam was tempted to yell at her to slow down and grab the railing, but one look at it made his back teeth snap together. It was probably safer not to use it.

By the time Sam hopped on board, Faith had already disappeared below deck. From his dad’s description of the boat, Sam thought he’d be in a luxury cabin cruiser for the next few weeks. Now he simply hoped it was watertight.

“Sam!” Faith’s muffled voice sounded more excited than it had in months. “You’ve got to see this!”

He ducked into the narrow stairwell and found her standing in the doorway of one of the cabins.

“Can I take this one?”

Sam peered in cautiously. A narrow bunk bed, a corner desk and a small table were the only furnishings in it, but even though they were old, everything was spotless. He exhaled slowly in relief.

“Sure. The desk will come in handy.”

Faith rolled her eyes in typical twelve-year-old fashion. “You had to remind me.”

“That was the deal. Your mom let you come with me if you kept up with your homework.”

“Mom would have let me come anyway.” Faith lifted her chin defiantly, but he could hear the tremor in her voice. “I heard her. She told you that I’ve been ‘too much’ for her lately.”

Sam closed his eyes. He had no idea that Faith had overheard his last conversation with Rachel. “Faith, it’s not you. Your mom…Things have been hard for her the past few months.”

“Well, here’s a news flash.” Faith’s eyes narrowed and suddenly she looked years older. “Things haven’t been easy for me, either….”

Her voice choked on the word and Sam pulled her against him. He wasn’t sure what he could say to comfort her. Not when he hadn’t discovered anything to fill in the fissures in his own heart.

“I miss him.” Faith clung to him.

The knot of sadness forming in Sam’s throat strained for release, but he kept a tight rein on it.

“I miss him, too.”

“I thought you were only staying two weeks, Evangeline.”

Evie saw the mischievous gleam in her dad’s eyes and handed him another duffel bag from the trunk of her car. Patrick was the only person who called her by her full name, a gift from her parents to her paternal grandmother, the first Evangeline McBride, when she was born. “A person can’t be too prepared.”

“But what is it you’re preparing for, sweetheart? A tidal wave? Or maybe an asteroid?” Patrick peered in the car window at the flats of tomato plants lined up across the backseat.

Evie was used to her dad’s teasing. “Don’t be silly.” She handed him a large sewing basket embroidered with strawberries. And a stadium umbrella. “We’d have plenty of time to get ready if one of those things was going to occur. This stuff is just for…every day.”

Her dad frowned as she handed him a bag of groceries. “There is a grocery store in Cooper’s Landing.”

“Do I need to mention that the expiration date on the can of corn I bought last summer coincided with the Reagan administration?”

Patrick winked at her. “You love it here.”

He was right, but Evie wasn’t about to admit that to Caitlin and Meghan.

A week after school had officially closed for summer vacation she’d packed up her car, locked up the house and driven away with her traveling companions—the box of books on the passenger seat beside her.

The closer she’d gotten to the adorable stone cottage her dad now called home, the more excited she’d been. When Patrick left on his fishing trip, Evie knew she’d be perfectly content just to stretch out on the wicker chaise lounge in the backyard and admire the lake from a distance. She loved watching Lake Superior change from steel-gray to vivid blue, depending on its mood. And Superior was a moody lake. The proof was in the hundreds of ships that slept below her ice-cold surface.

Evie leaned close and kissed her dad’s bristly cheek. “You forgot to shave again this morning.”

“I didn’t forget,” Patrick grumbled. “I’m retired. A man shouldn’t have to shave when he’s retired.”

Evie looped the strap of a canvas messenger bag over her shoulder and headed toward the house. “Did you and your friend finally decide when you’re leaving?”

“Day after tomorrow. Jacob’s picking me up at five in the morning. And—” Patrick put up his hand to prevent her from saying what he knew was going to come next “—you don’t have to get up and make oatmeal for me. The reason we’re leaving so early is because it’s a long drive to the lodge, and then we have to get to our campsite.”

“Why don’t you just stay at the lodge?” They’d had this conversation several times already, but Evie thought it worth repeating. Until she got her way. Patrick was only fifty-nine, but she didn’t understand why he’d turned down a soft bed in the main lodge for a tent on a secluded island several miles away.

“Jacob’s been camping for years,” Patrick said. “He’ll take care of me.”

Evie snorted. “From what you’ve told me about Jacob Cutter, he’s a daredevil. I don’t want him to talk you into anything stupid. Or dangerous.”

“You’ve been teaching the peer-pressure curriculum again, haven’t you?”

Evie gave a weak laugh. “I’m sorry, Dad, it’s just that I want you to be careful.”

“Careful is my middle name.”

“Stubborn is your middle name,” she muttered under her breath.

The sound of tires crunching over gravel drew their attention to the vehicle creeping up the long driveway.

“Looks like you’ve got some customers,” Evie said, watching a black pickup truck rattle into view.

“Maybe they’re lost.” Patrick grinned. “But I’ll still try to talk them into buying a pair of seagull salt-and-pepper shakers.”

Evie laughed. Beach Glass didn’t have a single kitschy item like the ones he’d just described. Her dad spent the winter months combing estate sales to find rare objects—the ones that escorted his customers down memory lane. Patrick had told her more than once that everyone needed a connecting point to their past. Sometimes it was a book they remembered reading as a child or the exact twin of the pitcher their grandmother had used to pour maple syrup on their pancakes when they were growing up. Beach Glass was off the beaten path, but people still managed to find it. And when they left, it was usually as the owner of some small treasure.

“Just put that stuff by the door, Dad, and I’ll take care of it in a few minutes.” Evie couldn’t help glancing over her shoulder at the truck idling in the tiny parking lot next to the antique shop. The tinted windows obscured the inside cab from view. She hesitated a moment but whoever was driving the pickup wasn’t in a hurry to get out.

She went inside and finished unpacking her clothes, glad she’d tossed in a few sweaters. A person could never be too prepared and the breeze off the lake still had a bite.

When she peeked outside half an hour later, the truck was gone. She poured two iced coffees and headed across the yard to the shop. More than half the furnishings in her own home were compliments of Beach Glass, and she was eager to see the latest bounty her father had added since her last visit.

“What do you mean he’s staying on the boat?”

Evie paused at the sound of Patrick’s agitated voice through the screen door.

“Well, that’s just one of our problems….” His voice lowered, ebbing away like the tide, and then strengthened again. “He stopped by a little while ago, insisting we bring him along. No, I don’t trust him any more than you do, Jacob…but Sophie—”

Evie realized she was holding her breath. She’d never heard her dad sound so stressed.

“I suppose we can delay the trip but I’m afraid if we don’t go as planned, Sophie is going to get…No, go ahead. Evie might be on her way over. I’ll talk to you later this evening.”

It suddenly occurred to Evie that she was eavesdropping. She backed away from the door, replaying the part of the conversation she’d overheard.

The elusive Sophie Graham again.

Evie had never seen the woman, even during the reconnaissance mission Caitlin had tried to set up the previous summer. In the interest of maintaining sibling harmony, Evie had dropped a few subtle hints to her dad that she’d like to meet Sophie sometime, but all she could get out of him was that the mysterious Sophie wasn’t in good health.

“Evie?”

She froze midstep.

Her dad may have been a bit forgetful but apparently there was nothing wrong with his hearing.

Evie winced and caught her lower lip between her teeth. All the times she’d preached to her students that honesty was the best policy came rushing back. She pressed the glasses against her cheeks to put out the fire in them. The downside of having red hair and fair skin. She couldn’t hide a blush to save her life.

“I brought you a reward for working so hard,” she called through the screen door.

Patrick appeared on the other side and Evie could see the furrows in his forehead, as deep as stress cracks in a wall.

“So, did you sell some of those salt shakers?” Evie asked, deliberately keeping her voice cheerful to cover up the guilt nipping at her conscience.

Patrick’s mouth tightened. “No. He wasn’t interested in buying anything.”

“Who—”

“Let’s take this out to the garden, shall we? You can enjoy the fruit of last summer’s labor while you take a break. Some of the plants are already coming up, and it’s going to be beautiful.”

Evie handed him one of the glasses and saw his fingers tremble as he reached for it. Worry scoured the lining of her stomach.

“Dad, is everything all right?” She tried to piece together the fragments of the conversation she’d overheard. It had sounded like someone else wanted to come along on the fishing trip. But why would that upset him? And what did Sophie Graham have to do with it?

“Right as rain.”

“There’s nothing right about rain unless you have an umbrella,” Evie said promptly. It was an old joke between them, and she relaxed when he smiled.

Maybe her concern over the fishing trip was making her read more into the conversation she’d overheard. It was possible her father was simply a little uptight because he was taking a vacation for the first time in—Evie did a quick calculation—twelve years. Not since the year her mother was killed.

Chapter Two

Evie had her alarm set for five-thirty. Not to make sure Patrick ate his oatmeal but to make sure he didn’t forget anything. Else.

She pulled on her robe and slipped into the kitchen, only to discover her sneaky father had already left. The coffee was on and he’d left a note taped to the refrigerator.

I’ll call you as soon as I can. Relax. Love, Dad.

Evie snatched the note off the fridge and frowned. The faint smell of bacon and eggs lingered in the air. No wonder he hadn’t wanted her to get up before he left. He’d wanted to eat his artery-clogging breakfast without a witness.

And what exactly did he mean by relax? Was she supposed to relax because she was on summer vacation? Or was she supposed to relax while knowing her dad, who thought one pair of socks per day was sufficient, was going on a two-week fishing trip with Jacob Cutter? A former Marine. The two men had known each other only six months, and already Jacob was pushing Patrick out of his familiar routine. Evie didn’t like Jacob Cutter. Her dad was a scholar, not an outdoorsman. A retired high school English teacher. What was Jacob thinking?

Her doubts about the trip had increased the evening before while Patrick packed his things. Evie had noticed an important piece of equipment missing from the gear piled by the door. When she’d called his attention to it, Patrick had laughed self-consciously and disappeared outside to rummage around in one of the outbuildings, finally returning with a fishing pole.

Shortly after watching her dad hook his thumb on one of the lures, Evie had had a burst of inspiration. She could go with them. As the cook. Keeper of the campfire. That sort of thing. When she’d brought it up to Patrick, he’d looked less than enthusiastic. In fact, he’d looked slightly offended and had reminded her that the reservations were for two people and they couldn’t add someone else this late in the game. Which meant the owner of the black pickup truck who’d tried to coerce Patrick and Jacob into taking him along wasn’t going, either.

No wonder Patrick had run out on her so early in the morning. Maybe he’d thought she’d stow away in the backseat.

Too bad she hadn’t thought of that sooner.

If only her dad would have mentioned the fishing trip to her before he’d brought it up to Caitlin and Meghan, who’d both thought it was a great idea. Of course. They always had their passports ready to go at a moment’s notice.

“Dad never does anything.” Meghan had listened to her concerns and gently brushed them aside. “He loves to go to auctions and estate sales and putter in the store, but maybe he’s decided he needs to expand his interests. You know, find a new hobby.”

Caitlin, as usual, had been more direct. “Don’t be such a worrywart, Evie. Dad wants to go fishing, not skydiving. If you see a parachute in the trunk of his car instead of a fishing pole, call me.”

It was easy for her sisters to live their own lives and let their dad live his. Both of them had already moved away from home when Laura McBride had died unexpectedly. Meghan had been a freshman in an out-of-state college, and Caitlin a graduate student in France for a semester abroad. Evie had just turned fourteen and she’d been the only one left to take care of Patrick.

Lord, you’ll take care of Dad, won’t you? Keep him safe and comfortable, just like I would if I were with him? Don’t let that reckless Jacob Cutter try to talk him into doing anything dangerous. And help him remember to change his socks if they get wet.

Patrick had always encouraged her to talk to God, her heavenly Father, as easily and naturally as she talked to him. Some people might think she was crazy to talk to God about wet socks, but Evie figured if God knew when a sparrow fell to the ground, He cared about the details of His children’s lives, too. No matter how small.

She opened her eyes, ready to start the day right. Beach Glass officially opened at ten o’clock, giving her time to weed the garden and go into town to pick up a gallon of milk and some eggs.

She’d just make sure to check the expiration date before she bought them.

Cooper’s Landing was five miles from the antique shop, yet Patrick thought nothing of hopping on a rickety old bicycle and riding it into town. Evie kicked the tire with her toe, and when it wobbled back and forth like a toddler taking those first precious steps, she decided to drive her car instead.

Johnson’s Market stuck to the basics—not bothering to cater to the tourists who used Cooper’s Landing as a brief resting point to fill up their vehicles and stretch their legs a bit.

The sandy stretch of beach, strewn with sculptures of satin-smooth driftwood, drew Evie’s attention when she stepped outside the store with her purchases. Ever since Patrick had moved to what Caitlin referred to as “the end of nowhere,” Evie had been fascinated by Lake Superior. She’d grown up in a suburb of Milwaukee, where the only connection she’d had with water was the local swimming pool. But here, right in front of her eyes, the lake stretched across the horizon in variegated shades of blue. And even though today the water was a comforting shade of indigo, it could change with a turn of the wind.

A glance at her watch told her there was time for a short walk down to the dock. She tucked her groceries into the backseat of her car and headed toward the water. Picking her way down the rocky bank, Evie vaulted over a small ledge of rock and practically fell on top of someone.

“Hey!” A girl rose up from a crouched position. “What do you think you’re…Oh, sorry.”

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” Evie apologized. “I was staring at the water and didn’t see you.”

“That’s okay.” The words came out grudgingly.

She looked to be in the same age range as Evie’s students, so Evie knew better than to take the edge in her tone personally. The girl hugged a sketchbook against her chest, and a metal case on the ground by her feet revealed a rainbow of oil pastels.

“You’re drawing the lake? Or the boat?”

“The lake. The boat’s kind of ugly.”

Evie couldn’t argue with that. The boat tied to the dock was as plain and drab as a cardboard box. And looked about as seaworthy.

“I admire anyone with artistic ability.” Evie held out her hand. “Evangeline McBride. Science geek.”

The girl’s eyes met hers shyly and then she smiled. “My name’s Faith. I’m a jock.”

“What sport?”

Faith shrugged. “You name it.”

“But Lake Superior inspired you, huh?”

“No, I’m being forced. It’s art class.” Faith peeked at the sketch pad and made a face. “It’s terrible.”

Evie knew better than to push. If Faith wanted her to take a look at her drawing, it had to be her idea.

“Okay. Tell me the truth.” Faith suddenly flipped it over for Evie to see.

“It’s…” Evie’s voice trailed off when she saw the gleam of humor in Faith’s eyes. She’d colored the entire page blue. “You captured it perfectly, I’d say. A closeup of the water.”

“Very close up!”

Faith giggled and Evie joined in.

“Faith!”

The voice behind them startled Evie. Her foot slipped on the rocks, sending an avalanche of stones skipping down the bank.

“Hi, Sam.” Faith’s giggle changed to a bored monotone.

Evie looked up and sucked in her breath. The man looming above them blotted out the sun. Evie could tell immediately that he and the girl were related. Both of them had silver-gray eyes and thick, shadow-dark hair. Faith’s eyes were still warm with laughter, but the other pair trained on Evie were as chilly as the water.

“I’m Evie McBride.” She scrambled to her feet to regain her dignity, but it didn’t matter. She barely reached the man’s broad shoulders. “Your daughter and I sort of…bumped…into each other.”

Sam looked from the slender redhead to his niece in disbelief. He’d been looking for Faith for the past hour—so he could ground her for the rest of her life. He was pretty sure he had the authority. Although Faith might not agree. The truth was, they hadn’t been agreeing about much the past few days, and Sam was at the end of his rope. Moodiness he could cope with, but Faith had started to disappear whenever the opportunity presented itself. Like an hour ago.

They’d been staying with Jacob, who’d left early that morning on a fishing trip, and Sam had brought Faith into town with him while he got the Natalie ready to launch. This would be the first time they’d had an opportunity to take the boat out. While he’d checked the engine, his wily niece had pulled another disappearing act.

He hadn’t expected to find her in the company of Patrick McBride’s daughter. The uptight schoolteacher his dad had warned him about. But somehow Jacob had forgotten to mention that Evie McBride was a beautiful uptight schoolteacher.

And he hadn’t expected to hear Faith giggling the way twelve-year-old girls were supposed to giggle. The sound had thrown him off balance. He realized he hadn’t seen Faith smile or heard her laugh for a long time. Too long. Dan’s accident had been like a scalpel—going in deep and removing the laughter from all of them.

“I’m Sam Cutter—”

“He’s my uncle, not my dad,” Faith interrupted.

Sam exhaled silently. No one knew better than he did that he couldn’t fill Dan’s shoes. His twin brother had been a great dad, and all Sam could be was what he’d always been—a doting uncle. But lately he found himself wondering if that was enough to keep Faith from drowning in grief. When Dan had been injured, she’d taken a leave of absence from school. Now she was so far behind, the principal had said the only way she could pass to the next grade level was by completing her homework over the summer. What bothered Sam the most was that Faith didn’t seem to care.

“Cutter? Are you related to Jacob Cutter?”

“I’m his son.” Sam noticed the instant change in Evie’s expression.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

Sure it was. Jacob hadn’t been kidding. Evie McBride didn’t approve of him. He wondered why. “Dad mentioned you’re minding the store while he and Patrick are fishing.”

“I don’t know a lot about antiques, but I do know how to dust them.” She glanced down at Faith and winked.

Faith grinned back.

Maybe Ms. McBride came across as a little stuffy, but she definitely had a way with kids.

“Faith, are you ready? We should be long gone by now.” Sam stared his niece down, not ready to let her off the hook for disappearing on him.

Faith shifted uncomfortably and he saw a flash of good old-fashioned guilt in her eyes. Good.

“Are you house-sitting for your dad?” Evie directed the question at him, her voice polite but strained.

Sam suppressed a smile. With that tone, she sounded just like a prim schoolteacher. All she needed was a pair of horn-rimmed glasses and a bun. They’d go really well with the heavy cardigan she had buttoned up to her chin and the ankle-length denim skirt.

“We’re staying on the Natalie.” Faith pointed to the boat nodding drowsily in the waves.

“You’re living on that?”

Sam bristled at what sounded like an accusation. It scraped against the doubts he was already having about bringing Faith along. So the Natalie wasn’t the best-looking boat in the harbor. And maybe she didn’t have all the latest bells and whistles. But he’d checked her over, and she was sturdy. The engine had purred like a kitten before settling into a reliable, even hum.

“A few days on the water and a few days at the cabin.” Sam lifted one eyebrow, daring her to comment.

Evie McBride’s chin lifted, accepting his challenge. “I don’t think—”

“You should come with us sometime,” Faith broke in, leaving both adults momentarily speechless.

“That’s sweet of you, Faith, but…” Evie turned and stared, almost mesmerized, at the water. “Beach Glass is going to keep me pretty busy over the next few weeks.”

She was afraid of the water, Sam realized in surprise. His gaze dropped to the hem of her skirt, where the toes of a sensible pair of shoes peeked out. Not exactly the type of footwear designed for splashing in the surf. He hid another smile.

“I should get going, too. The shop opens at ten.” Evie’s expression softened when she looked at Faith. “Be careful when you’re out on the lake.”

Sam expected Faith to give Evie her signature don’t-fuss-over-me-I’m-not-a-little-kid-anymore look, but his niece nodded solemnly.

“Sam knows what he’s doing.”

Sam’s mouth dropped open at the confidence he heard in her voice. Before he had a chance to bask in the glow, she skipped down the rocks toward the dock. “I can’t keep up with her.”

He realized he’d said the words out loud when he felt Evie touch his arm. The warmth of her fingers soaked into his skin. When he glanced down at her, he saw a knowing look in her eyes.

“Don’t try to keep up with her.” Evie smiled. A genuine smile that sparkled like sunlight dancing on the water and had a curious effect on his pulse. For the first time, he noticed a dusting of cinnamon freckles on her nose. “The secret is to stay one step ahead of her.”

On the way back to the cottage, Evie couldn’t stop thinking about Faith Cutter. And Sam. Although she didn’t want to think about him. Anyone who would take a child out in a boat on a lake as unpredictable as Superior for any length of time had to be a live-on-the-edge type of person. And in the end, that kind of person always hurt the ones closest to them, whether they meant to or not.

Just like her mother.

Growing up, Evie had loved hearing the story of her parents’ romantic courtship. Her father and mother had met in the principal’s office of the local high school. Patrick had been a first-year English teacher and Laura McIntyre—Officer Laura McIntyre—had been invited to talk to the students for career day. The principal had asked Patrick to give Laura a tour of the school before the assembly started.

They’d married six months later.

Growing up, Evie had been blissfully unaware of the dangers of her mother’s career. By the time Evie was in middle school, Laura had been promoted to sergeant and spent the bulk of her time at a desk, scheduling shifts and taking complaints.

And then one day, Laura hadn’t come home on time. Evie could still see the look on her father’s face when the squad car pulled into the driveway and the chief of police had walked up to the front door.

Laura had been struck and killed by a drunk driver while assisting a stranded motorist.

Patrick’s strong faith had never wavered, and he’d appealed to his daughters to lean on God, not blame Him for Laura’s death. But in the following months as her family handled their grief in different ways, Evie had struggled with a growing realization. It wasn’t God she was angry with. It was her mother, for choosing a career that had put her at risk.

Chapter Three

Evie’s first customers of the day turned out to be newlyweds who spent more time exchanging loving glances than they did browsing through the aisles.

She felt a stab of envy as she watched the young man press a lingering kiss to his bride’s cheek. The young woman, who didn’t look much older than Evie, blushed and halfheartedly pushed him away. Evie pretended she hadn’t seen the kiss. There were times she asked God why He was waiting so long to bring her future mate into her life. She liked to think God was working on a certain man’s heart, making sure he was just right for her so when they met, she’d recognize him at a glance….

Sam Cutter’s face flashed in her mind, and Evie fumbled the ironstone pitcher she’d been dusting. Fortunately, she caught it again before it hit the ground. Sam Cutter! Not likely. He wasn’t exactly Mr. Personable. In fact, she’d sensed he’d found her…amusing. She hadn’t missed his quick, appraising glance when she’d stood up. Or the half smile on his face when his silver gaze had lingered on her wool cardigan. It was chilly by the shore. Not everyone had an internal thermostat that made them comfortable wearing a T-shirt on a cool day.

Which brought to mind the tanned, muscular arms his T-shirt had revealed…

“Ah, Miss?”

The bride’s tentative question zapped her back to reality. Snap out of it, Evie.

“I’m sorry. Can I help you?”

“We’ll take this.” She pushed a small figurine toward Evie. A ceramic horse with one ear missing.

“Did you notice it’s chipped?” Evie wanted to make sure Patrick’s customers were satisfied with their purchases when they left.

The woman nodded. “I don’t care. It looks just like the horse I had when I was ten. And believe it or not, half her ear was missing, too.”

Her husband hovered nearby while Evie carefully wrapped the figurine in tissue paper.

“Enjoy your trip,” she called after them.

The store remained quiet for the rest of the afternoon, so Evie took advantage of the time by rearranging shelves and washing the leaded-glass windows in the store.

Solitude was wonderful during the day when she could see boats out on the water and the glint of the church steeple as it winked back at the sun. But as the sun melted into the horizon and shadows began to sift through the trees and creep toward the door, Evie realized it wasn’t so friendly at night. To counteract the silence, she turned on her dad’s ancient record player and curled up in a chair with one of the books she’d been waiting since Christmas to read.

It was just after eight when the motion lights in the front yard came on. Evie walked over to the window and peered outside. All she could see was the outline of a shadowy figure walking up the sidewalk toward the house.

Evie’s breath caught in her throat until she saw the person’s face briefly illuminated in the light.

Sam Cutter.

She hurried to open the door. His clothing looked rumpled from a day out on the water, and his hair was in disarray, combed by the wind. She didn’t understand why he’d come for a visit so late in the evening, unless…

“Is Dad okay? Did you hear something?”

“I imagine they’re fine. I haven’t heard otherwise.”

Relief poured through Evie. “Then why—”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you’d be tucked in for the night already.” The faint smile had returned.

Evie didn’t like his choice of words. He made it sound as if she were a chipmunk, hiding in a hole.

“Come in.” Evie stepped to the side and he stalked past her. Her traitorous nose twitched at the pleasing scent of sunshine, wind and sand that clung to his clothes. “Where’s Faith?”

“I didn’t leave her alone on the boat, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

That had been what she was thinking, and the warmth flooding into her cheeks gave her away. Evie ducked her head so he wouldn’t notice.

“My father mentioned that you’re a teacher, Miss McBride.”

“Evie,” she corrected, wondering where this was going. “That’s right. I teach seventh-and eighth-grade science classes at a Christian school—”

“Faith needs a tutor.”

The terse interruption reminded Evie of Caitlin. Her back stiffened like an irritated cat.

“A tutor.” Evie repeated the words, giving herself a few extra seconds to process the unexpected statement. Was Sam simply stating a fact or asking her to be Faith’s tutor?

“We’re planning to stay in Cooper’s Landing for…a while,” Sam said. “We’ll be out on the water most of the day, but in the evening we’ll be back at the cabin. Faith needs to finish some of her classes before school starts in the fall and someone has to check her progress. Are you interested?”

Sam didn’t bother to fill in the gaps. Originally, he’d planned to come to Cooper’s Landing alone, but when Rachel, his sister-in-law, had found out, she’d insisted a change of scenery would be good for Faith. Sam had agreed reluctantly, not because he didn’t love spending time with Faith but because he couldn’t find a way through his own mixed emotions. How could he help Faith deal with something he wasn’t dealing with very well himself? And then there was Faith herself. The happy-go-lucky little girl he’d spoiled since the day she was born had turned into a sullen stranger.

When Faith had laughed with Evie that morning, it had made Sam realize just how much his sweet-tempered niece had changed over the past few months. Maybe she needed someone outside the family to motivate her to get her schoolwork done. A tutor. And Evangeline McBride—with her funny wool cardigan and disapproving eyes—happened to be the perfect solution. She obviously liked kids or she wouldn’t be a teacher. And maybe a woman would be able to navigate Faith’s changing moods better than he could.

“I don’t know.” Evie perched on the edge of a leather chair and stared at him. “What exactly does Faith need help with? Did she fail a class?”

Sam walked to the window and stared outside at the darkness. “Not yet. She got…behind…a few months ago and didn’t have enough time to make up the work she missed. Rachel, Faith’s mother, talked to the principal and he said if she completed the work over the summer she could move on with the rest of her class.”

Evie sensed there was more to the story than what he was telling her. Questions tumbled over each other in her mind. Obviously, since Faith’s last name was Cutter, her mother, Rachel, must be Sam’s sister-in-law. But Sam hadn’t mentioned his brother—Faith’s father. Several things didn’t add up. If Faith needed to catch up on her schoolwork, why was she vacationing on a boat with her uncle instead of working on her classes at home with her parents? Maybe Rachel and Sam’s brother had divorced.

The possibility softened Evie’s initial reservations. Losing a parent under any circumstances was traumatic, especially for someone in an already vulnerable age group like Faith.

“I’ll only be here for two weeks,” Evie reminded him. “And I have the shop to take care of.”

Sam turned to face her again. “We’ll work around your schedule. What time do you close for the day?”

“Four o’clock.”

Patrick lived on his pension, so Beach Glass provided a supplemental income and gave him the luxury of flexible hours. He could open the antique shop late and close early, even take a day or two off if he felt like it. And her dad had encouraged Evie to do the same if necessary.

“I don’t expect you to do this out of the goodness of your heart,” Sam said. “I’m willing to pay you whatever you think is fair.”

Evie wasn’t sure why he put her on the defensive. She was usually a very easygoing person. “It isn’t about the money.”

“Then what is it about?” He crossed his arms.

If he could be blunt, so could she. “Why can’t you help her?”

Sam’s jaw worked, and for a moment Evie didn’t think he was going to answer. He thrust his hands into the front pockets of his faded blue jeans. “She…I don’t think she wants anything to do with me.” It was clear the admission stung.

Evie remembered the change in Faith’s tone when Sam had joined them on the beach. Faith was at the age when she was beginning to assert her independence—to try to figure out just who Faith Cutter was and how she fit into the world.

Evie knew from experience the “tweenage” years had a tendency to put unsuspecting parents into a tailspin. Especially parents who weren’t expecting the radical change in their homes when formerly cheerful, compliant kids entered the hormone zone. And if there’d been some kind of upheaval in Faith’s life, the fallout could be even worse.

“She’s been taking off a lot lately.” Sam must have read the expression on her face because he quickly amended the statement. “She’s not at risk as a runaway. Eventually she comes back. She either wants attention or time alone. I’m still trying to figure that out. But today—when she was with you—it was the first time I’ve heard her laugh in months.”

Evie’s heart, which had a soft spot for kids Faith’s age anyway, melted into a gooey puddle. She remembered the glimmer of humor in Faith’s eyes when she’d shown Evie her drawing of Lake Superior. Maybe she’d gone through a difficult time recently, but the faint spark of life—of laughter—hadn’t been extinguished. It just needed tending. Evie gave in. Not because Sam needed her but because Faith did.

Okay, Lord, I’m going to assume this opportunity is from you. But did you have to include Sam Cutter?

“How about two hours a day? After I close up the shop in the afternoon?”

“We’ll make it work.”

“I thought you were going to live on the boat for a few days at a time.”

“You’ll only be here two weeks, but we’ll probably be here longer. There’ll be plenty of chances to take the boat out.”

Even though Evie had agreed to tutor Faith, she needed to cover one more base. The one that would give her a clue whether or not the next two weeks were going to be a battleground. “How does Faith feel about this? Does she know you’re here?”

Silence.

Uh-oh. Evie’s eyebrow lifted.

“She knows I’m here,” Sam finally admitted. “She didn’t seem very happy about it but then she said, and I quote, ‘Whatever.’”

“That’s because it was your idea. The ‘Whatever’ meant she’s not totally against it. Which makes my job easier.” Evie hid a smile at the uncertain look on Sam’s face. Obviously, he had no insight into the workings of an adolescent girl’s mind.

As if his internal defense radar picked up on her smile, the uncertainty in Sam’s eyes faded and it was back to the business at hand. Evie wondered briefly what Sam did for a living. Even in worn blue jeans and a faded black T-shirt, he oozed confidence. She could easily imagine him in an expensive suit, making important decisions in a high-rise office building, miles above the cubicle crowd.

Sam glanced at his watch. “Can you start tomorrow? We can hammer out more of the details then. Faith is spending the evening with a friend, and I promised I wouldn’t be late picking her up. Sophie’s one of those peculiar people who go to bed early.”

Evie ignored the unspoken words just like you that hung in the air between them. “Sophie Graham?”

“That’s right. You know her?”

“I’ve never met her, but Dad has…mentioned…her once in a while.”

“Sophie’s place is just down the road from us. Her dog had a litter of puppies a few months ago, and that’s where I usually find Faith if she’s missing.”

Which gave Evie the opportunity she’d been hoping for. “If you give me directions, I’ll come over to your place tomorrow.”

“Are you sure? I don’t mind driving Faith over here.”

“I’m sure.” Evie didn’t hesitate. Maybe to break the ice between her and Faith, they’d take a walk down the road to see those puppies. And she’d finally get the opportunity to meet Sophie Graham.

Sam waited until he heard the lock on the front door click into place before he strode back to his car.

The antique shop really was off the beaten path.

He paused, scanning the trees that formed a thick wall between Evie McBride and civilization. Her closest neighbor was two miles away. As cautious as she seemed to be, he was surprised she didn’t have any trepidation about staying alone on a secluded piece of property. Not that Cooper’s Landing was a hotbed of criminal activity, but with the tourist season starting, the place drew a lot of people from outside the area.

None of your business what Evie McBride thinks or doesn’t think, Cutter.

All that mattered was that she’d agreed to be Faith’s tutor for the next two weeks.

Faith met him at the front door of Sophie’s home, a drowsy puppy cradled in her arms.

“Sophie is going to let me name this one,” she whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Sophie appeared in the doorway behind his niece. She was close to his father’s age but still a striking woman, her beauty enhanced by the kind of smile that lit her up from the inside out. “I hope you don’t mind, Sam. That puppy is Faith’s favorite, so I thought it was only right that she be the one to name him.”

“I don’t mind.” Sam was about to reach out and ruffle Faith’s hair but caught himself. The last time he’d done that, she’d shrieked and disappeared into the bathroom, emerging only after she’d washed, blow-dried and styled her hair all over again. Later that day, they’d climbed to the top of an observation deck at Miner’s Castle, where the wind had given her a new hairdo that made her look as if she’d been caught in a blender. She’d laughed. Go figure.

“I can’t think of a good name,” Faith fretted, rubbing the puppy’s silky ear.

“Give him one to live up to,” Sophie suggested, resting one hand on Faith’s shoulder. “How did it go with Patrick’s daughter? Did she agree to it?”

“Yes.” Sam didn’t bother to mention the split second when it had looked as though Evie would refuse to help Faith. The split second after he’d mentioned money. She’d looked offended he’d even brought up the subject, and he wasn’t sure why. He didn’t expect her to give up her time for free. “She’s coming over tomorrow afternoon.”

“Why don’t you come in for a few minutes. Faith and I made cookies and we’re just finishing up the last batch.”

Sophie looked so hopeful that Sam didn’t have the heart to say no. She ushered them into a small living room where the sparse furnishings looked old but well cared for. His gaze zeroed in on the man sitting at a desk in the corner, hunched over a computer keyboard.

Jacob had mentioned that Sophie had a son she didn’t talk about very often. And now Sam had a hunch as to why.

“Tyson, would you like something to eat?”

Tyson looked up and scowled. His thin face was streaked with acne scars. Strands of dishwater-blond hair had been pulled back into a ponytail that trailed between his shoulder blades. “I told you I’m not hungry, Mom.”

“You’re going to ruin your eyes staring at that screen all night,” Sophie scolded lightly. “At least turn around so I can introduce you to Sam Cutter, Jacob’s son.”

“Hey.” Tyson barely glanced at Sam.

Sam saw the hurt look on Sophie’s face before she murmured an excuse and disappeared into the kitchen. Faith followed her, still cuddling the puppy.

“That’s a pretty nice setup you’ve got,” Sam said, moving closer to see what Tyson was so focused on. He found himself staring at a blank screen. Tyson had shut down whatever program he’d been working on. A red flag rose in Sam’s mind, especially when he noticed Tyson’s shoulders set in a tense line.

“Thanks.” Tyson’s eyes glittered with resentment at the disruption. He yanked a pack of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket and shook one loose from the package.

“Outside with those, Ty.” Sophie returned with a plate of cookies in one hand and a pitcher of milk in the other. “You agreed not to smoke in the house.”

Tyson shoved the chair away from the desk and stalked out of the room.

“I’m sorry.” Pain shadowed Sophie’s eyes. “Tyson just lost his job last week, so he had to move back home while he looks for another one. He just got here this morning.”

Sam didn’t consider losing your job an excuse to be rude, but he didn’t want to say so. Sophie looked embarrassed enough. “Those cookies smell delicious. How many am I allowed to have?”

Sophie brightened. “As many as you want. I miss feeding hungry men now that Patrick and Jacob are gone. I hate to say this, but Tyson is a picky eater.”

Judging from Tyson’s bloodshot eyes and sunken cheeks, Sam had a strong hunch the guy preferred to drink his meals.

He took a cookie from the plate Sophie offered and hid a smile when Faith reluctantly put the puppy on the floor. With her skinned knees and her mussed-up hair, she looked twelve years old again instead of twenty. Spending the evening with Sophie had been good for her.

“Faith and Evie will get along well.” Sophie smiled at Faith as she handed her a glass of milk. “I feel like I know her already. Patrick brags about those girls of his constantly. Evie was voted Teacher of the Year last fall in their school district. According to Patrick, it was the first time a teacher at a Christian school won the award. From what Patrick says, out of the three girls he and Evie are the most alike.”

Sam remembered the cardigan. Poor guy.

“Maybe he was referring to their adventurous streak.”

Wait a second. He must have missed something. Evie McBride? Adventurous? Sam tried not to laugh. “I doubt it, Sophie.”

And as far as Sam was concerned, a guided fishing trip at a cushy lodge didn’t qualify as adventurous in his book.

“The whole trip was Patrick’s idea,” Sophie went on. “I only pray that Bruce Mullins can help them.”

Mullins. The name sounded familiar. “Is Mullins their fishing guide?”

“He is a guide there, but he’s not taking them fishing.”

She’d completely lost him. “But that’s why they went to the lodge. To go fishing.”

“Oh, dear.” Sophie bit her lip and set her glass down on the worn coffee table. “Is that what they told you?”

Every nerve ending in Sam’s body sprang to attention at the odd inflection in her voice. “Dad said they were going on a two-week fishing trip at a place called Robust Lodge, which caters to retired businessmen.”

“They’ll probably do some fishing,” she said weakly.

Sam took a deep breath. Judging from Sophie’s expression, she was trying to figure out a way to explain without incriminating the two men.

“Sophie, it’s all right. What’s going on?”

“The whole trip is for me,” she finally said. “Bruce is an old friend of your dad’s, and they need his help.”

“His help?”

“To find the treasure.”

Chapter Four

From the roof of the cabin, Sam watched Evie get out of her car. He pushed to his feet, anchoring the hammer into a loop in the toolbelt around his waist. He didn’t have time to retrieve the T-shirt he’d discarded earlier in the afternoon. It lay in a damp heap near the base of the chimney, just out of reach.

Evie lifted her hands to her hair, tucking in a few strands that had dared to escape from the sedate braid. Her slender frame stiffened as Jacob’s flock of guinea hens charged around the cabin to greet her. The birds were as tame as dogs but as noisy as a squadron of fighter planes.

Sam expected her to dash back to the safety of her car. To his astonishment, a smile tilted the corners of her lips as the guinea hens swarmed around her feet, looking for a treat. Jacob always kept a handful of corn kernels in his pockets, a ritual Sam hadn’t realized Faith had started to copy until he’d found a layer of soggy corn in the bottom of the washing machine.

Sam yanked the handkerchief out of his back pocket and swiped it across his forehead.

What was he supposed to tell her?

He wasn’t sure Evie would take the news very well that instead of fishing, their fathers had somehow gotten involved in a wild-goose chase to find a sunken treasure.

Evie took a few steps toward the cabin and spotted him on the roof. She stopped dead in her tracks, shading her eyes against the sun with her hand as she looked up at him.

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

Now he was positive she wouldn’t take the news well. Not if standing on the roof of a one-story building was her idea of dangerous.

Thanks for leaving me to clean up the mess, Dad.

After hearing stories about how overprotective Evie was when it came to her father, Sam could understand why Patrick hadn’t told her the truth behind the trip. According to Jacob, Evie had even driven up to Cooper’s Landing the previous summer, apparently suspicious of Patrick’s friendship with Sophie. No wonder the poor guy had moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to escape her coddling.

Keeping Evie in the dark made sense, but what Sam couldn’t figure out was why his father hadn’t confided in him. But he had a strong hunch it had something to do with Dan’s injury. As a carpenter, Jacob had spent the majority of his life after the Marines fixing things. Until he had come up against two things he couldn’t fix. His wife’s illness and…Dan. Now Jacob had been presented with an opportunity to help a friend and feel useful again.

Sam couldn’t blame his father. Jacob coped with his feelings of helplessness one way and he had chosen another.

The conversation with Sophie the night before had been quite enlightening. And frustrating. Sam had spent half the night battling his conscience. Evie had generously agreed to help him by tutoring Faith. Didn’t he owe her the truth? But if Patrick didn’t want Evie to know what he was up to, was it his place to fill her in? And it wasn’t as if there was any cause to worry. Jacob and Patrick were grown men, certainly capable of making their own decisions without getting flack from their adult children.

Sam had no doubt the men could handle themselves. It was adding Sophie to the mix that made the situation more difficult.

Her story wasn’t his to share. She hadn’t been able to provide many details because Tyson had slunk back into the living room, abruptly ending the conversation. It was obvious Sophie didn’t want her son to overhear them. From the brief conversation, however, Sam had managed to put together a few of the pieces.

Sophie had been working on her family’s genealogy when she was diagnosed with cancer. While searching through family archives, Sophie discovered diaries kept by her grandmother that exposed a skeleton in the Graham family closet. A scandal caused when a ship sank in Lake Superior and her great-grandfather, Matthew Graham, apparently saved himself and a young woman’s dowry. No one else had survived.

At that point, Tyson interrupted them and Sophie had quickly changed the subject.

Sam buried a sigh and dodged between the boxes of shingles scattered on the roof, pausing long enough to scoop up his shirt. By the time he reached the ladder, Evie stood below him, holding the bottom of it.

“They do make aluminum ladders nowadays, you know,” she called up to him. “They don’t rot. They’re splinter free. And they’re equipped with multiple safety features.”

Sam suppressed a smile. You’ve got to be kidding me. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Sam bypassed the last three rungs of the ladder and landed on his feet beside her, light as a cat.

Evie averted her gaze as he pulled the damp T-shirt over his head and rolled it down over his abdomen. As if he knew exactly why she’d looked away, his eyebrow lifted in a silent question.

Better?

He was laughing at her again. Heat coursed into Evie’s cheeks and she took a step away from him, knowing her freckles had lit up like laser dots against her skin. She took a deep breath and decided to focus on the reason she was there.

“Is Faith inside?”

“I think so. She was helping me but took a break about an hour ago.”

The glint in his eyes told Evie he was deliberately baiting her. She took the bait anyway.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea—”

The guinea hens drowned her out as they recognized Sam’s voice and charged. He sank his hand into the pocket of his tattered blue jeans and retrieved a fistful of corn, tossing it on the gravel.

“Numida meleagris,” Evie said without thinking.

Sam pushed his hand down his leg to wipe off the dust and looked at her. “What?”

“Numida meleagris. The Latin name for guinea fowl.”

“I’ll take your word for that, Miss McBride.” Sam scraped a hand through his hair and ended up tousling it even more. “I should probably warn you. Faith doesn’t really like science. Or math.”

“She enjoys English? History?”

Sam shook his head and a few strands of dark hair flopped across his forehead. Evie resisted the urge to smooth them back into place.

“Gym class.”

“She’s into sports.” Evie remembered that Faith had described herself as a jock the day they’d met on the beach. That didn’t bother her. In a school like the one she taught in, the smaller ratio of students to teachers allowed her to focus on each individual child. Over the years, she’d found creative ways to tap into her students’ natural abilities to make learning more fun.

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s a good student,” Sam told her. “But she’d rather study basketball plays than sit down with a textbook.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

A strange expression flickered across Sam’s face, but he shook his head. “I can’t think of anything.”

“Good, because I hate surprises.”

Sam glanced at the canvas bag looped over her shoulder. “Here. Let me carry your…suitcase? You didn’t have to bring your own books, you know. Faith’s mother sent up an entire library.”

“I’ve got it. And, just to set the record straight, it’s a purse, not a suitcase.”

“What do you have in that thing?”

“Oh, the usual stuff.”

He studied the bulging bag. “Sleeping bag? Jumper cables? The kitchen sink?”

Evie saw the look on his face. “Of course not. Just the essentials.” Her laptop computer. A miniature sewing kit. Tape measure. Collapsible umbrella.

“You must have been a Girl Scout.”

Her eyes narrowed. Was he mocking her? “It’s always good to be prepared.”

The cabin door flew open, and Faith stepped onto the narrow porch. Evie guessed the reason behind the mutinous look on the young girl’s face. Even though the two of them had connected over Faith’s sketch of Lake Superior, Evie’s role had changed. Instead of a kindred spirit, now she was the person responsible for making sure Faith kept her nose buried in the books.

Evie almost laughed. It wouldn’t take long to put those fears to rest. “Hi, Faith.”

“Hi.” Faith studied her toes, refusing to meet Evie’s eyes.

“Did you get your books out like I told you to?” Sam asked.

Faith shot him a look ripe with resentment. “Yes.”

“Faith? Remember what we talked about this morning.”

Judging from the edge in Sam’s voice and the anger simmering in Faith’s eyes, Evie doubted they’d talked at all. She guessed Sam had lectured and Faith had tuned him out.

“We don’t need any books today,” Evie said. “We’re going on a field trip.”

Sam and Faith both turned to stare at her.

“A field trip?” Sam sounded skeptical.

“For science class. We’re going to study Canis familiaris.”

“Good. Great.” Sam looked way too eager to escape. “I’m going back on the roof. I’ll see you later.”

“Sam?” Evie dug in her bag and pulled out a plastic bottle. “Here. Sunblock. The sun isn’t as strong this late in the day, but you should still wear it. Or, ah, your shirt. That would work, too.”

You aren’t only a geek, Evie, you are officially their queen.

Sam stared at the bottle as if it were a live grenade and then at her. Evie braced herself, expecting to see amusement lurking in his eyes. She was used to it. Over the years her sisters had developed entire stand-up comedy routines based on her cautious ways.

We’re not laughing at you, Evie. We’re laughing with you.

To her amazement, Sam didn’t laugh. But he did smile. A slightly lopsided smile that lightened his eyes to silver and warmed up her insides like a Bunsen burner.

“How can I turn down…SPF 50?” he murmured.

Maybe he was reckless but he knew his sunscreen.

Evie waited for Faith to join her, and they started down the driveway. Faith’s plodding steps conveyed her unhappiness with the situation, but Evie didn’t push for conversation or attention. When Faith wanted to talk, she would.

“What did you say we’re going to study?” Faith finally asked.

Evie hid a smile. “Canis familiaris.”

Faith kicked a rock and sent it skittering down the lane. “I’ve never heard of that.”

“It’s Latin for the domestic dog,” Evie said. “We’re going to visit Sophie’s puppies.”

Faith grinned. “I think I’m going to like having you as a teacher, Miss McBride.”

“This is summer school. Call me Evie.”

By the time Sophie’s modest, two-story house came into view several minutes later, Faith was still chattering about the puppies and how it was up to her to choose a name for her favorite.

“I’ve always wanted to have a dog, but Mom doesn’t like it when they shed,” Faith continued. “Sophie says she’ll keep the one I name and I can visit it whenever I want to. That’s kind of like having my own dog, isn’t it?”

Evie thought it an extremely generous gesture on Sophie’s part, which made her more anxious to meet the woman. And even though Faith’s comment about her mother made Evie curious, she knew it wasn’t the time to press Faith to talk about her family.

“There she is.” Faith broke away and sprinted toward a woman kneeling in a patch of freshly turned soil. “Hi, Sophie!”

No wonder Patrick talked about her. Sophie Graham was beautiful. Blessed with classic features and smooth, porcelain skin, Sophie resembled an aging film star. Her faded housedress and scuffed gardening clogs couldn’t disguise her natural grace as she rose to her feet and greeted Faith with a hug.

Faith pointed in her direction and Evie quickened her steps, hoping Sophie wouldn’t mind they’d shown up without a formal invitation.

Before she could apologize, Sophie’s warm smile put her at ease. “Evangeline. I’m so glad to finally meet you. Patrick talks about you and your sisters all the time.”

“Dad talks about you, too,” Evie said, surprised to see a hint of rose tint Sophie’s cheeks.

“Can I show Evie the puppies, Sophie?”

“If we’re not interrupting anything,” Evie added quickly.

“Not at all. You came at just the right time. I’m ready to take a rest.” Sophie swept her straw hat off and used it as a fan.

Evie’s breath caught in her throat as she saw the irregular patches of silver hair on Sophie’s head.

“I’m in remission, praise the Lord,” Sophie said simply, and then gave Evie a mischievous wink. “Now, let’s get acquainted over ice cream and puppies, shall we?”

Chapter Five

When an hour went by and Evie and Faith still hadn’t returned, it occurred to Sam that his niece may have tried to sweet-talk Evie into stopping at Sophie’s house.

Which meant Sophie might inadvertently reveal the real reason behind Patrick and Jacob’s fishing trip.

Sam winced as the hammer missed the nail and ground the tip of his thumb against the shingle.

None of your business, he reminded himself. If Evie had a problem with her dad, she should take it up with him. Sam had his own stuff to worry about. He was one hundred percent uninvolved in the situation.

Except that Evie was Faith’s tutor. And for the next few weeks, he was committed to making sure she stayed that way.

Sam sat back on his heels, trying to convince himself it wasn’t necessary to look for them. Evie would be a strict teacher—the kind who wouldn’t waste precious minutes of a two-hour tutoring session playing with a litter of puppies. Hopefully the reason they were late was because the search for Canis familiaris was taking longer than expected….

A dim memory from Biology 101 struggled to the surface. Canis. Canine. Dog.

Sam’s shout of laughter scattered the guinea hens in the yard below.

So maybe he’d misjudged her. But he knew one thing for sure. He had to get to Sophie before Evie did.

It didn’t take Evie long to understand why Faith frequently “ran away” to Sophie’s house. And it wasn’t just to visit the puppies or because Sophie’s home, filled with simple yet comfortable furnishings, created a peaceful retreat. Sophie was the reason Faith returned. The older woman radiated a warmth and inner peace that instantly made a person feel welcome. And accepted.

“I wish I could keep all four of them,” Sophie said as Faith wrestled on the braided rug with two of the more active puppies while their mother, Sadie, kept a watchful eye from her wicker basket in the corner. “A few days after my diagnosis, Sadie showed up in the yard. I knew right away she was a stray—her fur was matted, and, even pregnant, she looked like she hadn’t eaten for days. I called your dad and he came over and helped me bathe her. He even offered to take her home with him, but I’d already fallen in love with her. God must have known I’d need her.” Sophie smiled. “She’s a very good listener.”

Was Sadie the only one you fell in love with?

Evie didn’t voice the question that sprang into her mind. Whenever Sophie mentioned Patrick’s name, her eyes sparkled with affection. The two of them had obviously become close. But had the friendship developed into something more?

And how would she feel if it had?

The previous summer, Evie had scolded Caitlin for her strong reaction to Patrick and Sophie’s friendship. If Sophie Graham brought some happiness into their dad’s life, shouldn’t they be supportive?

She had to admit, though, that the possibility of making room for another person in her dad’s life was a little unsettling. Especially when Evie had been the one looking out for Patrick since Laura died.

“I don’t know what I’d do without Jacob and Patrick,” Sophie went on. “They fuss more than they ought to, but I wouldn’t be able to live out here if they didn’t help me keep the place up. The Lord sent those two wonderful men. I was in the hospital with complications from pneumonia, worried I’d have to sell my house, when Patrick showed up one Sunday with a group of men from his church to read to the patients. Your father got stuck with me.” Sophie chuckled at the memory.

“We had a nice chat afterward and found out that we both loved antiques. The next Sunday, he introduced me to Jacob. They brought Monopoly along and convinced me to play. I don’t think I ever laughed so much in my life. By the time I came home from the hospital, they’d spruced up the place and every day one of them would stop by or call to check up on me. I think they adopted me like I was a stray—just like Sadie.”

Evie hid a smile. Somehow, she doubted it was an accurate comparison!

“They were a reminder that no matter what the future holds, God’s already there, preparing the way. Oh, He doesn’t always smooth out the rough spots in the road ahead. Those are the places we have to exercise our spiritual muscles, you know. To build our faith, so to speak. But God always provides the strength I need to keep going.”

The sincerity in the words touched Evie and explained the source of the peace in Sophie’s eyes. Evie knew that the woman’s deep faith, the fruit of years of walking with the Lord, was another quality Patrick would have been drawn to.

A sudden movement on the stairs caught Evie’s attention. The man glowering at them over the railing looked to be only a few years older than she was, but the expression on his face made him look like a cranky toddler who’d just awakened from a nap.

“Evie, this is my son, Tyson.” Sophie ignored Tyson’s sullen look while she made the introductions. “Tyson, this is Evie McBride, Patrick’s daughter.”

“Hey.” His hooded stare fixed on Evie. It reminded her of a crocodile. Cold and flat.

This was Sophie’s son?

A shudder chased up Evie’s spine, but she forced a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Tyson.”

“Evie is taking care of Beach Glass while Patrick is away on his fishing trip,” Sophie told him.

“There’s not much to do around here.” Tyson’s gaze burrowed into her. “We should hang out sometime.”

A shiver coursed through her. “I’m afraid I don’t have much free time. I’ll either be minding the shop or tutoring Faith.”

Tyson shrugged and stomped down the rest of the stairs. “I’m going out for a while.”

“Ty, where—”

The door snapped Sophie’s question in half.

Evie’s heart went out to her. It was hard to believe someone as rude as Tyson was Sophie’s flesh and blood. With his unkempt appearance and surly attitude, Tyson didn’t seem to be someone Sophie could depend on. No wonder she was so grateful for Patrick and Jacob’s help.

Faith broke the awkward silence as she plopped next to Sophie on the couch, the puppy draped over her arm. It raised its head and tried to lick her cheek, igniting a fit of the giggles.

Sophie smiled but Evie didn’t miss the pensive look in her eyes. Compliments of Tyson. Impulsively, Evie patted Sophie’s hand before rising to her feet.

“We should go back, Faith. We still need to go over your homework for tomorrow.”

“I’ll have to do it on the boat. Sam promised we could spend the whole day on the water. And I get to make lunch.” Faith launched to her feet and put the puppy back on the rug with his littermates.

Evie kept her expression neutral. She didn’t want Faith to pick up on the fact she wasn’t happy with Sam for taking her out on the boat. The thought of them at the mercy of Superior’s changing moods made her uneasy.

It’s not your business, Evie, and Sam Cutter would be the first person to tell you so.

“Come back soon.” Sophie escorted them outside. “When I talked to Patrick this morning, he asked me if I had plans to stop by Beach Glass soon and introduce myself. I can’t wait to tell him that you beat me to it.”

“Dad called you? This morning? I thought they weren’t going to be able to contact us until they got to the lodge.”

Sophie looked away, flustered. “We talked only a few minutes. I think he called from a gas station and the connection wasn’t very good…. Look, there’s Sam.”

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