“I apologize for arriving so late,” she said. “My first flight was canceled and I had to wait for the next one.”

  “You aren’t too late,” Allie said. “I have your room ready for you.” Allie knew Michael’s shift was over so she offered to take the luggage upstairs.

  “I’ll carry the larger one but will appreciate your help with the two smaller ones. I don’t know why I always think I have to have so much stuff with me when I go away for two or three nights.”

  “We all do that.” Allie took the overnight case and smaller suitcase. The suitcase felt lighter than she expected. It was no surprise to her since many visitors carried empty or almost empty luggage to haul purchases home with them from Sweetfern Harbor.

  “My husband Jason will be in by lunchtime tomorrow or sooner. He was caught with last-minute business back in Ohio.” When they entered her room she expressed appreciation for the pristine room with the corner fireplace. “We’ll have to come back when winter comes around again so we can enjoy the fireplace.”

  They chatted for a few minutes longer and Allie went downstairs to gather her books. She locked the front door of the bed and breakfast and left for home, glad that all the guests were finally settled for the night.

  The next morning when Brenda came downstairs, she realized most of the guests had already eaten breakfast. Phyllis waited for her in the dining room with a cup of coffee. As was their habit they sat and enjoyed their coffee while discussing obligations to be met for the day.

  “The antiques and artifacts show opens at three this afternoon, but I think some of the guests will go down early to get a good look at auction items first.” Brenda sipped her coffee. “Do you know how many vendors will be there?” Phyllis had no idea.

  “William said he would be by later this morning, I can ask him about the vendors. Oh, and he says he is sure Randolph stored the wampum bead someplace up in the attic.”

  Brenda wondered about that choice since her uncle had been so careful with his valuables. She told Phyllis she wanted to start looking for it. They agreed to explore further after William visited. When Brenda passed the sitting room she heard Edward Grantham and Andrew Masterson talking about the Native American Market Show. Jason Pyles had arrived and joined them for coffee.

  “I studied in your field for a short time,” Andrew said to Edward, after introductions. “I have to admit I was a lazy student and really had no interest in college at the time.”

  “What are you into now?” Edward asked. “You seem to know a lot about artifacts.”

  “I inherited a chain of upscale grocery stores but I collect certain items of the past. I have a wampum collection and was very interested when Brenda mentioned one her uncle owned. I’d be interested in seeing it. I also like old documents signed between the early settlers and Native Americans.”

  Brenda went through the open door and greeted the men. She welcomed Jason Pyles and turned to Andrew. “I couldn’t help but overhear about your interest…I have learned Randolph stored it in the attic of this bed and breakfast. If I find it before you leave I’ll show it to you. All of you may be able to tell me more about it.”

  The three men expressed the desire to see it firsthand. After she left, Edward spoke in a low voice. “I find it hard to believe the man was so careless as to simply store it in an attic. I wonder why he didn’t secure it in a safer place.” Andrew shook his head in disbelief as well.

  Jason was asked his interest in the Algonquian Tribe. “I am especially curious about wampum and also an avid collector of arrowheads. I also like to use my metal detector out in fields around Cincinnati where I’m from. I often find items from the Chippewa and Ottawa Tribes.”

  Phyllis brought a new pot of coffee to the men and went to the kitchen to retrieve a tray of fresh cinnamon rolls just delivered from Sweet Treats. She set it all on the coffee table and they thanked her.

  William arrived as promised and joined Phyllis and Brenda in the apartment still retained by Phyllis in the back area of the bed and breakfast.

  “I saw that wampum many times. Randolph loved to bring it out and just look at it. He told me he met a descendent of Algonquian Tribal members while renovating this bed and breakfast. The man was one of the roofers and they often talked about their interest in the tribe’s history. One day the man told Randolph that he possessed several old wampum beads. Randolph offered to purchase one of them. They negotiated until the price was satisfactory to both of them. I don’t believe he paid a lot of money for it in the end.”

  “Where did Randolph keep it?” Brenda asked.

  “He probably sold it,” Phyllis said. “I know he had his ups and downs while trying to come up with enough money to finish this project.”

  William held up his hand. “He sold a lot of stuff, but never his rare wampum. It has to be right up there in the attic. I am sure of it. I saw it just a couple of weeks before he met his untimely death. It has to still be there.”

  When the women told him their search would begin right away he offered his apologies that he could not join them. William told them he had a meeting with the City Council in regard to upcoming events in town and instead gave them a detailed description of what to look for. After he left, the women eagerly climbed the stairs to the attic. They started with the antique trunks, even though they appeared to contain only costumes and Brenda and Phyllis had looked through them several times already. Two other trunks held old documents and historical items related to Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. Brenda looked through one of those trunks while Phyllis inspected the costume trunks again just in case. They rummaged through for another two hours until Brenda sighed and stated they had to return to guests. It was almost lunch time. They put everything back in order before they returned downstairs.

  “I’m sure we didn’t get to all the nooks and crannies of that attic, Phyllis. We’ll take another day to do that.” Phyllis agreed. She was eager to find it.

  As the day progressed, Brenda’s curiosity about the wampum faded. She hoped one day to find it but did not think it was imperative to find it right away. After all, the scholars among her guests had told her plenty about its fascinating history, so she was not sure what to do with it once it was found. However, she had not gone through all the documents and history of the bed and breakfast she had inherited yet. That was where her interest remained.

  Later at the end of the day, Brenda and Mac were both ready for bed.

  “I don’t know why,” Brenda said, “but the first hours with new guests always proves exhausting for me.”

  “You anticipate too much,” Mac said.

  “I do over-think things before new arrivals, but only because I enjoy the work so much. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of running this place, especially now that I have you by my side, Mac.”

  “I will always be here, Brenda.” Mac smiled at her.

  In the middle of the night, Brenda was awakened to footsteps walking down the passageway outside her apartment that led toward the service stairwell and the doorway to the attic. The clock read two in the morning and she wondered who would be wandering around in the middle of the night. She surmised a restless guest wished to take advantage of the snack bar downstairs. Guests were informed at check-in time that there were beverages and snacks available at any time, day or night, for anyone who wished to indulge. Brenda shifted closer to Mac and resumed her sleep.

  The morning sun promised a beautiful day in Sweetfern Harbor. In the distance ships could be heard. Some carried tourists enjoying the Eastern Seaboard and some contained cargo. Sailboats increasingly dotted the harbor, sails unfurled in the warming waters.

  Phyllis and Brenda met in their usual early morning spot in the dining room that morning and enjoyed coffee together.

  “Molly told me yesterday that Jon’s business is picking up. He built some new, larger floating docks anticipating an influx of tourists this season. Sweetfern Harbor is becoming well-known.”

  Jonathan Wright had arrived in Sweetfern Harbor six months previous. He and Phyllis’ daughter found they were meant for one another and had been dating almost from the day he arrived. Jon’s business had became popular once he began promoting his boat rental business on the local news. David Williams, Allie’s father, was the well-known anchor for the evening news and convinced his bosses to give Jon a break in advertising. It paid off.

  “I’m glad to hear he’s doing well,” Brenda said. “I think we can all thank William for his influence and hard work promoting the town, too. He sure knows a lot of people in high places throughout the region.”

  “I continue to be amazed. He is quite influential, even as far as New York. He’s been very good for this town.”

  They chatted a while longer until William himself came into the dining room.

  “I thought I’d find you two in here.” He bent and kissed Phyllis. “It must be a slow day.” His teasing eyes set the mood for their day.

  “We have plenty to do but if we don’t start with our coffee chat, our day gets off-kilter,” Phyllis said.

  William told them he wanted to help look upstairs for Randolph’s wampum bead. Phyllis’ eyes lit up and she said she wanted to find it, too.

  “I know for sure he never would have sold it, not for any reason,” William said. “I’ll recognize it as soon as it’s found.” He asked Brenda if she minded. She told him not at all and in fact, Phyllis could join him.

  “We have a full housekeeping staff here today so we can spare Phyllis, and I know she can’t wait to get back to searching up there.”

  The couple left the dining room as eagerly as two children on the hunt for Easter eggs on Easter morning. Brenda scooped up their cups and saucers and took them to the kitchen. She smiled when she saw her father Tim Sheffield sitting at the table and chatting with Chef Morgan.

  “Dad, I didn’t know you were here.” Brenda and her staff continued to wonder how long it would take for Tim and Morgan to start dating. Tim found every excuse he could think of to visit Sheffield Bed and Breakfast, specifically the kitchen area. Every time, Morgan seemed to have an extra blush on her cheeks and Tim could not stop grinning.

  “I just stopped by hoping for one of Morgan’s honey buns and I wasn’t disappointed.”

  Brenda handed her chef the list of expected lunch guests. “Most will be at the Antiques Market Show but a handful asked for lunch here.” She looked at her father. “Before you leave, Dad, I want to talk to you about something we’re trying to find that belonged to Randolph.”

  “As I recall most of my brother’s possessions were stored in the attic, but I’ll come find you and visit after I finish my bun.”

  Brenda smiled and kissed him on the cheek. She shook her head and grinned after she closed the door behind her, leaving the two to their conversation.

  An hour later, Tim stopped by the office to see his daughter. Brenda told him about the rare, dark purple wampum bead that eluded her and Phyllis. “William and Phyllis are up there now sifting through a few places we didn’t get to, but I thought you may know exactly where he put it.”

  Tim shook his head. “I have never heard of this artifact. I do know he found interesting things like that when he renovated this structure. Maybe he put it in a lock box at the bank if it was that valuable.”

  Brenda shook her head and related the details William had provided on the subject. Tim was at a loss.

  “By the way, Dad, how long will it take for you to run out of excuses to land in the kitchen?”

  Tim laughed. “I’m that obvious?” Brenda told him his interest in Morgan was not lost on anyone who saw them. “I had no idea I was of such interest.” He looked at his daughter. “I don’t want to upset you, Brenda. I know how close you were to your mother. I loved her deeply, too, but I find myself attracted to Morgan. We seem to have a lot in common.”

  “Then you should ask her out and start dating her. You deserve happiness again, Dad, and Mother wouldn’t have wanted you to live out a lonely life. We both know that.”

  Tim’s smile broadened. “Thank you, Brenda, that’s exactly what I was hoping to hear from you.” He gave her a warm hug.

  After he left, Brenda regretted not speaking sooner on the matter.

  * * *

  Up in the attic, Phyllis Pendleton sat back on her heels and looked at her husband. “This looks hopeless. Do you think we’ll ever find it? I feel like it’s becoming an obsession with me.”

  William laughed. “We may not find it today, but the day will come when it will simply appear. We’re just not looking in the right place.” He glanced at his watch. “I need to move along. I promised the City Council I would be at the Native American Market Show when it opens this afternoon.”

  “I shouldn’t leave all the work on the others downstairs,” Phyllis said. “Let’s get things back in order up here and come back another time.”

  Phyllis and William spent time tidying everything back into the boxes and trunks, making sure that nothing was left behind. Both were naturally tidy in their habits and disliked leaving a mess if they could help it. They returned downstairs only when everything looked completely undisturbed once more.

  Brenda checked with Chef Morgan again and they added another side dish for dinner later that evening. “I will get a ballpark headcount for you as soon as possible, Morgan. I heard several people say they would grab something to eat downtown near the convention center. I left a slip of paper under each door so they could check off whether they planned to eat here or not tonight.”

  Phyllis met her when she came from the kitchen and told Brenda they still had not found the elusive wampum bead. After reviewing some business matters together, Brenda stretched and suggested they take a break and walk downtown. Molly Lindsey, Phyllis’ daughter, owned Morning Sun Coffee, their favorite destination to relax and find out what was going on around town.

  The sun beamed as they set out for downtown and both women carried sweaters on their arms. On the main street of the town, tulips and pansies bloomed in pots while a light breeze stirred the leaves of the trees. At Morning Sun Coffee, Molly greeted them in between running from table to table to serve customers. Excitement filled the air and everyone buzzed about the antiques show. Brenda could not believe how many avid collectors swarmed into town.

  Realizing it was too busy to even bother ordering lattes, Brenda sighed. She looked at the clock on the wall near the counter and guessed the show must be in full swing for its first day. She told Phyllis they should go and see what drew so many collectors. They walked across town to the spacious events hall where there were tents lining the lawn in addition to all the vendors set up indoors. When they got there, a line moved slowly forward as early birds arrived for first pick of the valuable collectibles. Brenda and Phyllis greeted several of the guests of Sheffield Bed and Breakfast. Andrew bent over a glass display case that housed authenticated documents but his loyal assistant Jane was nowhere to be seen.

  “She hooked up with Lisa Grantham and they are spending all their money at the shops downtown,” Andrew commented when Brenda asked.

  Edward Grantham nodded his head to confirm it. “Lisa is addicted to shopping like I’m addicted to studying ancient histories.”

  The women walked down several aisles to visit and learn from the vendors. At the end of the large room, several tables pushed together in a long line held special auction items. Several guards stood interspersed at intervals in the line and observed interested bidders. The auction was scheduled for eight that evening, before the show closed for the night. It would open the next morning but the auction was the only chance to bid on these featured items.

  “Let’s go back to the coffee shop and see if it’s thinned out enough to enjoy a light sandwich,” Phyllis said. “It looks like everyone around town has arrived down here.”

  “I’m ready to get away from the crowds, too,” Brenda said. “A sandwich sounds good right now.”

  They were right. Only a handful of customers were in the shop now and Molly joined them with her own chicken salad sandwich and glass of iced tea. She commented on the busy day and noted her day was nearly over, and that her employees would run the late afternoon and evening shifts without her. Phyllis told her daughter she should go home for mid-day breaks.

  Jon Wright came in just as Phyllis advised her daughter. All signs of weariness evaporated from Molly’s face when she saw him.

  Jon walked over to their table and greeted his girlfriend with a quick peck on the cheek. He turned to the two older women and addressed Brenda. “I’ve been wondering about that wampum bead your uncle owned, Brenda. I happened to hear about it from William when we got to chatting early this morning. I’d be very interested in looking at it sometime.”

  “I haven’t found it yet, but I’m sure it’s in the attic. At least William is certain. He knew Randolph quite well and saw it there shortly before my uncle’s death. It’s just a matter of finding it.”

  The conversation moved on to other topics but Brenda found her mind drifting back to the missing wampum. If for no other reason than to satisfy the curiosity of everyone in town, she wanted to find it. Then she could store it in the safe deposit box downtown where it belonged.

  Phyllis found it hard to refrain from talking about more ideas about where to search for the wampum bead on their way home. They agreed they had time for one quick search before dinner.

  Phyllis went ahead of Brenda to open the attic door.

  “I’ll have to get that squeak taken care of soon,” Brenda said, coming up behind her on the stairs. She was startled to hear Phyllis shout in alarm.

  “No!” Phyllis exclaimed in dismay. “What’s happened up here?” Brenda pushed around her and both stood in shock at the disarray in front of them. “William and I left this room in perfect order. Someone has been up here…and up to no good, too.”

  Phyllis had not moved. Brenda walked around her housekeeper. She could not take her eyes off the opened trunks and tape ripped messily from several boxes. Speechless, Brenda’s finger shook when she pointed to a small wooden box that resembled a child’s treasure chest. It was open and its contents scattered amid the papers on the floor. It had been ransacked. Several arrowheads laid on the floor beside the miniature chest, right by two unused theater tickets. Brenda had never seen the chest before. She knelt down and looked at it carefully. A yellowed piece of tissue paper with torn tape lay crumpled in the bottom of the container.

 

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