A Treasure Worth Keeping by Kathryn Springer

the expert-level crossword puzzle book she bought him for his birthday every year!

     
    The car’s headlights barely made a dent in the darkness as Sam drove her home. Sophie had insisted he allow Faith to spend the night, and as Evie stared out the window at the thick stands of trees hemming the edge of the road, she wished she’d taken advantage of the offer now, too.
    “Do you think Dad is in trouble?” Evie finally voiced the question churning in her mind since they’d left Sophie’s.
    “They’re with an experienced guide,” Sam said. “I’m sure they’re fine.”
    Was it her imagination, or had he put the slightest emphasis on the word they’re?
    “I still can’t believe Dad is involved in this,” Evie murmured. “Helping Sophie is one thing but traipsing around, looking for a ship that may not even exist is totally out of character for him. And we have no idea who this Seth Lansky is. Or what he was trying to find.”
    “That’s why you should go home.”
    Evie’s mouth dropped open as the quiet force of the words vibrated in the silence. “Go home?”
    “There’s a real possibility you aren’t safe here. Someone else is interested in the Noble, and they knew exactly who to go to for information. Patrick said you might be in danger. He would expect you to leave. Close up Beach Glass until I can make contact with them again and sort out this mess.”
    It was so tempting to grab hold of the suggestion. To put miles between her and whatever threat lurked around the corner. Would her dad want her to turn tail and run away?
    You don’t have to be here to talk to Dad, a logical voice in her head reminded her. You can be at home just as easily.
    “The tourist season is just getting started,” Sam continued in that calm, reasonable tone. “Even if you closed up the antique shop for a week, you wouldn’t lose much business.”
    “I’m staying.”
    The announcement stunned Evie almost as much as Sam.
    “There’s no guarantee that you’re safe,” he said flatly.
    Funny how those simple words shook her to the core. All her life, Evie had chosen safe. She’d built her life around it. Hadn’t she learned that people who deliberately put themselves in dangerous situations eventually paid too high of a price? And so did the people they loved.
    But what if her dad returned unexpectedly? Shouldn’t she be waiting for him? And what about Faith? If God had brought them together, Evie had to trust she was under His protection and He’d give her the strength she needed.
    “God brought me here for a reason,” Evie said through dry lips. “I’m not leaving.”
    Sam didn’t try to change her mind, but Evie had the feeling he wasn’t happy she was staying. Or with the reason why.

     
    “Hi, Evie.”
    At the unexpected greeting, Evie almost dropped the Depression-glass sugar bowl cradled in her hands.
    “Faith.” Evie looked at her in surprise before glancing at the row of whimsical cuckoo clocks mounted on the wall. Three o’clock. “Did you and Sam come in early today?”
    Faith’s face closed, reminding her of Sam’s expression when he’d caught her and Sophie praying the night before. “Sam didn’t want to take the boat out. It’s supposed to storm later this afternoon.”
    The robin’s-egg-blue sky, decorated with brushstrokes of wispy clouds, didn’t look the least bit threatening at the moment, but Evie was glad Sam had chosen to believe the weather forecast over the clear sky.
    “Is Sam with you?”
    “Uh-uh.” Suddenly, Faith became fascinated with the canning jar next to the old-fashioned cash register on the counter.
    Warning bells went off in Evie’s head. “Faith, does he know you’re here?”
    “What’s this?” Faith avoided the question, studying the contents of the jar on the counter as if she’d never seen anything like it before.
    “It’s beach glass.” Evie gave the girl an exasperated smile. Science lesson or lecture? She decided there was time for both.