The Light Keeper's Legacy (A Chloe Ellefson Mystery) (29 page)

Roelke rubbed his face with his palms. “Chloe, I came up here because I thought you were in trouble.”

“I
was
in trouble.”

“If I hadn’t shown up, you would have made it to that house and gotten help.”

She considered. “I’d like to think so.”

“We’ll never know,” Roelke said. “But I’m the one who discovered you were missing. I’m the one who wanted to search the Washington Island shore for you.”

“I know,” she said humbly. “Thank you. You’ll never know how good it felt to see you.”

“I’m not sorry I came,” he added, as if feeling the need for emphasis.

Tell him, Chloe ordered herself again. Either tell him you just want to be friends or tell him about everything that’s happened this week with Emily Betts and Ragna Anderson.

The words simply wouldn’t come.

Finally she reached for one of his hands and twined her fingers through his. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She leaned her head against his shoulder. He felt warm, solid.

“Roelke?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

He blew out a long, slow sigh. Chloe watched five white pelicans soar serenely over the water, their prehistoric profiles both ungainly and impossibly graceful.

Roelke pulled away, shifted to face her, and cradled her face gently in his palms. The words “Tell him!” flashed through her brain one last time but he kissed her before she could speak. The
sensation was delicious, somehow exciting and comforting at once.

When he finally released her she nestled her head back against his shoulder. “You know,” she said softly, “there’s a spare sleeping bag in the closet. We could spend the night here.”

“Yeah?”

Her cheeks flamed. “I didn’t mean—that is, I thought we might just— ”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’d like to stay over.”

Chloe picked up the crimson maple leaf and twirled its stem in her fingers. The day hung poised between summer and autumn, hinting of changes to come. For the moment, though, she chose to be content.

The End

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Betts family were real people and although I’ve imagined Emily’s relationship with the fictional Ragna Anderson, the basic details of their experiences at Pottawatomie Lighthouse are presented accurately.

The only other real people mentioned in the book are members of the Cornell family, who have and continue to operate the
Karfi,
and Anton Jacobson, one of the last people to live in the fishing village, and the Thordarsons.

I’ve tried to present a reasonable overview of the long and complicated history of commercial fishing in Lake Michigan. Conflicting opinions about how to best protect the lake ecology
have existed since the first Yankee and European fishermen
arrived, and the early 1980s were a particularly troubled time.
Although environmentalists, commercial fishermen, sport fishermen, game wardens, and biologists might approach conservation with different perspectives, everyone wants to see healthy lakes and fish populations.

Many wonderful published volumes can provide more information about the islands and their history. For details about commercial fishing, I’m particularly indebted to Trygvie Jensen’s
Wooden Boats and Iron Men: History of Commercial Fishing in Northern Lake Michigan & Door County, 1850–2005,
Paisa (Alt)
Publishing Co., De Pere, WI, 2007. The volume describing the beau
tiful carved furniture in the Viking Hall is
Valhalla in America: Norse Myths in Wood at Rock Island State Park
, by Dag Rossman, Sharon Rossman, and William Olson (photographer), Jackson Harbor Press, Washington Island, WI, 1999. Any errors in the book are, of course, my own.

I’m deeply grateful to:

The Friends of Rock Island, for preserving and protecting Pottawatomie Lighthouse in the first place, and for allowing Scott and me to serve as docents; and to “Ranger Randy” Holm, former park manager Kirby Foss, and naturalist Paul King for their warm welcome and assistance.

Jake Ellefson and Ken Koyen, for answering a novice’s questions about commercial fishing; and Jeff Cornell, for providing such lovely transportation.

Pamela Jean Young, of the Jackson Harbor Inn, and everyone at Findlay’s Holiday Inn, for providing such lovely accommoda
tions; and everyone at the Red Cup Coffee Shop, for your hosp
itality.

Janet Berggren and volunteers at the Washington Island Historical Archives, for their always-cheerful help.

The Village of Eagle Police Department, especially Officer Gwen Bruckner, for ongoing assistance.

Roger Buhr, for introducing me to the lovely art of
hedebosøm.

Laurie Rosengren, for being all-around wonderful; and to my agent, Andrea Cascardi, and the entire Midnight Ink team, for everything.

Scott, my partner in crime, for sharing adventures; and Meg, for keeping the home fires burning, and to my family, for ever-present enthusiasm.

And finally, to the readers, for so enriching this journey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Ernst is a novelist, social historian, and educator. She moved to Wisconsin in 1982 to take an interpreter job at Old World Wisconsin, and later served as a Curator of Interpretation and Collections at the historic site.

The Light Keeper’s Legacy
is Kathleen’s third Chloe Ellefson mystery. Her historical fiction for children and young adults includes eight historical mysteries. Honors for her fiction include Edgar and Agatha nominations.

Kathleen lives and writes in Middleton, Wisconsin, and still visits historic sites every chance she gets! She also blogs about the relationship between fiction and museums at www.sitesandstories
.wordpress.com. Learn more about Kathleen and her work at www.kathleenernst.com.

Photo by Geri Gerold.