I found a place to stay for the night and was able to change my flight back to Boston for the next day, three days earlier than I had planned.
Back in Boston, I began my research where I did manage to get some leads on Moses Jenkins. There was a Moses Jenkins who had enlisted in the Union Army in 1863. I also made several trips to Portland and did confirm there was a seaman by that name who sailed on a vessel owned by Nash and Sons.
I carefully restored the diary but showed it to nobody, not even Laura. It was my secret project. I did tell her that I had acquired an interest in Civil War heroes and that I wanted to do some research on them. This would account for my trips to Portland. Laura was never one to question things I did. She never even asked why I cut my fishing trip short. I had told her the weather was lousy and that had been good enough for her.
Never did I mention to anyone the elves. Who would believe me? That’s why I never showed the diary to anyone. It had to be my secret, my secret alone. Besides, I knew I had an obligation to Pip. Without him, I might still be in the woods back in Canada.