Penny sat with them and the conversation flowed easily. They discussed Eleanor’s advocacy for education, her efforts to establish a library in Bozeman, and how much she enjoyed spending time with her family.
“It’s inspiring to see how she used her experiences to help other people,” Chloe said.
Mary leaned toward her daughter. “Show Liam and Chloe the diary entry from 1975.”
Sacha looked inside the box beside her. “When Eleanor died, her sister brought back a lot of her personal items from Montana. We don’t have all her diaries, but there’s some amazing information in the ones we have.”
Sacha opened one of the leather-bound journals. “Mom and I were intrigued by how Eleanor described Samuel’s bootlegging. She never actually said he was smuggling alcohol until she was almost eighty years old.”
Chloe frowned. “Why did she say something then?”
Mary shrugged. “We’re not entirely sure what changed. Maybe she wanted to tell the entire story about what happened between her and Samuel before she died.”
Chloe and Liam read the diary entries. The more they read about Eleanor, the more questions they had. With the stories Mary had been told about Eleanor and Thomas from her parents and other relatives, they were slowly filling in all the pieces of her life.
“I’m glad our paths crossed,” Sacha said sincerely. “Mom and I have always wanted to do something with the letters and diaries, but we had no idea where to start. Just sharing what we know about Eleanor and Clara, and coming here, is such a blessing.”
“I’m glad it’s helped you,” Chloe told them. “I still can’t believe it was so difficult to find more information about Eleanor. She was such a talented artist.”
“Talking about her paintings,” Penny added. “I’d be happy to show Mary and Sacha Eleanor’s murals, if you haven’t already organized something.”
Chloe took a sheet of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Penny. “We thought about some of the sites Sacha and Mary might want to see. Liam leaves for San Francisco in the morning, but if you’d like to come with us, we could explore Sapphire Bay together.”
Chloe and Liam had spent a little while organizing the best places to take Sacha and Mary. First on the list was the old steamboat museum. Apart from the storage room where they’d found her sketches, there was the hidden room and tunnel to explore. Next would be the other murals Eleanor had painted and the buildings in her sketches.
“Are you going to Sweet Treats?” Oscar asked. “‘cos they have the best candy in the whole world.”
Liam smiled. “That’s definitely on the list. We thought Mary and Sascha might also like to go to the general store and other places Eleanor might have visited.”
Penny frowned. “What about the steam train? I’m almost certain it was being used in the 1920s. Who knows, Samuel could have been using the same train to transport moonshine and other banned liquor around Montana.”
“That’s a great idea,” Chloe said. “Pastor John and a group of volunteers are decorating it for The Santa Express event, but I don’t think they’d mind us looking inside.” She checked her watch. “It’s a little late to call them now, but I’ll do it first thing in the morning.”
Penny picked up their empty mugs. “I’d love to go with you. It sounds like an exciting day.”
Chloe grinned. Penny was always good company, and she knew more about the history of Sapphire Bay than Chloe did. “I’m picking Sacha and Mary up from here at nine o’clock. Does that suit you?”
“It’s perfect.” Penny looked at Liam. “You’ll be disappointed you’re missing the tour.”
“I am, but Chloe will take lots of videos and photos. While you’re looking around Sapphire Bay, I’ll be talking to a publishing house.”
“About Eleanor’s book?” Penny asked.
“Unfortunately not. They want me to be part of a travel series about Asia. If I accept the contract, I’ll be writing a travel guide on Türkiye.”
Sacha carefully picked up each photograph and placed them inside an album. “That sounds interesting. Have you been before?”
“I was there three years ago. It’s an amazing country.”
Mary packed the lace shawl and gloves that had belonged to Eleanor in their case. “I went to Istanbul ten years ago. Just thinking about the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and the Spice market makes me happy.”
Liam glanced at Chloe. “I don’t know if I’m writing the book yet.”
“But you’re seriously considering it,” Chloe said firmly.
“I’m seriously considering it,” Liam repeated, although Chloe wasn’t sure if he meant it.
There’d be plenty of time to discuss it once Liam came back to Montana. “We’d better leave you to the rest of your evening,” Chloe told Sacha and Mary. “Thank you for coming all this way and for what you’ve shared with us.”
