The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  As the train chugged around the figure eight, the release mechanism worked and tiny silver glitters and feathers fell like Christmas confetti on the customers. It caused a sensation. Bart had set it up for her and knew what was about to happen. He captured it on video and sent it to her phone for her to keep.

  Rula put an arm around her best friend.

  “You really did create a magic café, Magda. It’s wonderful.”

  As the customers started to leave every single one of them came to say how good it had been and that she simply had to do it all over again. She offered each of them a free truffle from a tray and thanked them for being her treasured guests.

  She realized that Alison had donned an apron and she and Branna had turned into extra staff.

  For the next few days, they repeated the readings and added more glitter to the model railway. It was a marvelous success and sales of the railway pictures and wall hangings were brisk, along with the gingerbread engines and Christmas truffles.

  Jeff and Miles came and sat at the outside tables with little Truffle who had settled there quite happily.

  “I have checked all the pounds, vets, dog societies and the internet and nobody has reported him missing. I guess I’ve got myself another dog,” Jeff told them. Magda sneaked the dog some chicken and showed the two men how the glitter from the overhead train worked.

  “Christmas is almost here,” Miles said. “At least the robbery was solved.”

  “And Truffle was rescued,” Magda added.

  “Are you coming to Merle and Branston’s Christmas dance?” Rula asked them as they had never been to the dude ranch.

  “Must admit, my girlfriend would like it,” Jeff said.

  “We’ll get you tickets. It is always a great night out,” Magda said and called her cousin. “He says he will drop them off here later.”

  It was about an hour later when Branston arrived, complete with a huge Stetson.

  “Mags, this place has done everything you wanted it to do.”

  She punched him on the arm for calling her Mags and read a short poem so that she could operate the glitter again. They had refined the glitter and she could now just let a little go at a time.

  “That is fantastic,” Branston stated, and said he had a cowboy Christmas poem if she wanted to hear it. She smiled and gave him the headset. Branston was ever the showman and gave the poem a funny twist. He had everybody laughing and then applauding as the next flutter of sparkle came down around them.

  “Everything is just about ready for the dance,” he told her. “Branna and Jonno have been up a couple of times to take photos and jot down ideas for their own place. I think a luxury, Irish-themed camping park could be a winner.”

  “I am looking forward to the trip in March,” Magda said. “They are doing a good job looking after the cottage and already have bookings for the summer.” She laughed. “Declan and Sam will have to manage the upgrade as it is advertised as a modern loft conversion in a traditional cottage.”

  He drained his cup and stood up.

  “See you Saturday night,” he said and winked. Magda frowned.

  “You are up to something,” she said. He grinned and touched the edge of his Stetson.

  The week ended and although they were all exhausted, they forgot about that as the time for the dance had actually arrived.

  “Well?” Magda asked and did a twirl.

  “Wowee!” Sam said and twirled her around. The high, red boots clung to her legs but had heels that she could dance in. The short dress swirled around the top of the boots, but the bodice was a mass of glittering sequins and jewels. There was a short jacket to wear over the top that was also heavily decorated and topped off by a small red and white Stetson.

  Sam had found red jeans and put Santa boots over the bottom of them. He wore a decorated vest, and another decorated Stetson made them match but not look like twins.

  “Let’s go!”

  They checked the cats. Crystal was happily purring.

  Magda knew that Webster was taking Alison, Branna and Jonno while Gina was with Bart, and they were all apparently going at the same time.

  “I hope Zak and Jemima enjoy it. They must be so relieved to be rid of the noises and to be selling the house to Rula and Mikey.”

  “Her nephew was dreadful. He won’t be out of jail anytime soon,” Sam added.

  They drove onto the Panhandle Ranch. Its white gates were open and shimmering with Christmas lights. There were illuminated trees all the way to the main set of buildings. At the entrance was an enormous tree that made the one at the café look like a miniature. The double doors were opened wide and light flooded out along with the sounds of the band which had already started. They parked the car and walked to the entrance. Inside, the barn reserved for these events was covered in flickering candles, icicles and stars.

  “Oh, my goodness. They have outdone themselves this time!” Magda exclaimed. It was like walking into a Winter Wonderland. Rula waved wildly from the other side of the room and was holding on to several chairs so that they could all sit together. Sam laughed.

  “You two shopped together, didn’t you?” The girls both nodded and laughed. Rula was in the same outfit as Magda but in shades of blue. She had made Mikey wear a blue vest and decorated his Stetson, but he insisted that his normal jeans and boots would be better for dancing.

  In fact, as the others arrived and came to join them, they made a very festive group. Alison had gone for more modest clothing, but Magda had already seen the dark red velvet dress and knew it was beautiful. Branna had been to the mall and spent a considerable amount of money to go along with the spirit of the place and she looked Christmassy, glittery in her chosen color of green. The Irish was still there.

  “Oh, I’m sure one day, we will have a huge place like this and be able to lay on these dances. I love it!” she said.

  Gina was looking striking in black sequins. Katie had gone for a creamy winter white short skirt and high boots like Magda. Declan managed to look his normal, relaxed self but with a Christmas cowboy touch. He and Katie came in together and Magda gave Rula a smile.

  Jeff, Miles and two young women looked cautiously inside and Rula did her wild waving again. Seats were grabbed and introductions made.

  Branston took to the stage with a microphone and called out a joyful, warm welcome. He was resplendent in a silver shirt with a dark vest and tightly fitting dark trousers.

  “Food is there to be eaten, but drinks you have to pay for. Before that let’s get this Christmas party underway.” He handed the mic to the caller and jumped off the stage. The band started with a foot-tapping rhythm. Branston grabbed Merle and the two of them did a two-step around the floor to get everyone on their feet, and most of the couples followed their lead and took to the floor.

  The dance was ending but the caller was good at his job and kept them on the floor to start a big circle. Magda left Sam and danced with everyone else until they met again. He had Branna alongside and the Irish girl soon picked up the steps. She was laughing as she and Jonno went down the center under everyone’s hands and threw herself to race up the sides and meet her partner again.

  It was wild and exhausting but the caller let them finish and then started a slow dance to let the older folk take to the floor and the young ones get back their breath. They found drinks and sat back with the rest.

  “Wow!” Jeff said. “I haven’t done that since I was a teenager.”

  Branston was passing through the people on the floor giving out spot prizes as various items were called out and Alison came back with a Christmas decoration in a fancy box.

  “It’s called line dancing,” Magda said to Branna.

  “Really?” Branna answered. “I love that. I love everything about America.”

  Branston took to the floor and beckoned to everyone to make the lines. The caller added his voice and Branna pulled at Jonno.

  “Come on. You can do this as well.” Branston led the way and everyone
followed. Most of the folk there knew the steps but Branna took a few seconds to catch on. Then she really showed that line dancing was second nature to her and Branston pulled her beside him. She danced alongside with flicks and kicks and very mobile hips as she turned and turned. Branston whispered to her and she nodded.

  Then he held his arms out to show that Branna would do some different steps and she did an eye-catching routine for them to follow. The regular line dancers picked it up and copied and soon everyone on the floor was doing the new pattern. Branston followed it easily.

  When the band brought the dance to a close, Branston took her hand and twirled her around and the other dancers gave her a round of applause. The fiddler improvised an Irish jig tune as she went back to her seat.

  21

  Merle and Branston had produced these dances before. They had a host of helpers who glided in and out, collected empty glasses and slid things into place that would be needed next. Jonno was watching with serious intention.

  “I have taken a few photos and videos,” he told Magda. “Merle doesn’t mind, and we can really start to plan when we get back home.”

  “They have a surprising number of helpers to make sure everything is running smoothly,” Sam added. “That means that they can join in and make sure it all goes well.”

  “I think we are about to see the light display get a bit more adventurous,” Rula said as the band left the stage and Branston announced that he was giving the band a rest and to enjoy rock and roll. The spotlight hit a disc jockey who pushed a button and started a hypnotic beat. Screens lit up with pictures of scenes from the fifties.

  “Let’s see what you can do, folks,” he called, and couples made their way to the dance floor. The light show that had been flickering stars across the barn before suddenly erupted into bright patterns on the walls and the floor. It looked as if the dancers were dancing on water and then suddenly, they were flying in space. The patterns changed constantly. It turned the barn into a magical and surreal place. Magda had seen these effects before but this time it was even more over the top and like everyone else, she enjoyed letting herself be taken on a magical journey.

  The rock ’n’roll lasted about half an hour and under cover of the lights, the band had come back into place. The modern beat subsided, and the fiddler struck up Jingle Bells in the background. The caller made some jokes and asked them to clear the floor for the arrival of a very special person.

  The rest of the band joined the jingle bells music and added more shaking bells to accompany the bells which were arriving through the double doors. Merle was standing inside the doors to make sure it was safe as a beautiful grey gelding high-stepped into the barn with a trap behind him laden with gifts and decorated with colored lights. The horse had a nodding feather plume and lights on his harness. Sheer white satin draped elegantly down the sides of the carriage. The trap was painted to look as much like a sleigh as you could possibly manage and was filled with gifts.

  Branston was in the driving seat, complete with Stetson, and drove in with a flourish. The people at the party clapped and cheered and there was enough space for him to do a circuit of the floor before coming to a halt. The band kept playing Christmas tunes and helpers appeared.

  Containers of gifts had been pushed in and these were now pulled forward and the helpers started to give out the brightly decorated packages. There were pink glittery ones for the women and blue glittery ones for the men. People ripped off the wrapping paper and called out to each other. There was lots of laughter as the background Christmas music kept on playing.

  Magda went to stand beside Merle.

  “It is tremendous!” she told her. Rula came and joined them and then Branna. The four women watched the master at work as he threw specific gifts from the carriage into the hands of certain people.

  “He is so good at this,” Merle said. “He makes it magical.” Magda put her arm around her friend but had to let go as Branston shouted, “Magda” and threw her a box. It was heavy and inside was a Christmas model train. She laughed delightedly and waved at him. He turned the other way and threw to Sam and Alison and then came back and called to Branna who received a cowgirl Stetson: Rula – a ‘Bless this house’ sign and there were even gifts for Jeff, Miles and their two friends; Zak, Jemima, Bart, Gina and Webster. Nobody was left out.

  The carriage was pretty empty, and the helpers had made sure that nobody in the room was left out. People were going back to the bar and for more food.

  Branston stood on the carriage with one last gift in his hand. It was not large. It had a big silver bow on the top and he called to Merle. She looked at him in surprise to see what he wanted. Merle was still in watching mode to make sure everyone was happy.

  He threw the box at her gently and she caught it.

  “I wasn’t supposed to get a gift. I’m working.” She laughed but pulled at the bow. The box was red velvet inside.

  “Open it!” Magda said and remembered the wink her cousin had given her the day before.

  Merle opened the box and then gasped as inside was a notice in bold letters that couldn’t be missed.

  “Will you marry me?” it said and underneath the question was a ring with a large diamond.

  Merle was speechless and looked from the box in her hand to the man on the carriage and back again and then she looked at Magda. Magda put an arm around her.

  “What’s your answer?”

  Merle ran to the carriage and climbed on board beside the man that made everything possible for her. She flung her arms around him and told him the answer was yes. The two of them stood in the Christmas pony trap and kissed in front of the whole barn. The caller had been told what Branston had planned and took the mike.

  “I rather think,” he said, “that the answer to, will you marry me, was yes.” The band took off into ‘Here Comes the Bride’ and several other pieces that meant the same thing. The room erupted into claps and cheers. Magda and Rula ran to open the barn doors and the two people who had made the party special sat on the driving seat and took the horse and trap out of the barn together. The girls closed the doors and hugged each other. The caller made sure the floor was full of dancers. It really felt that Christmas had arrived.

  “Gather on the floor and wish each other all the best of everything in the world,” the caller yelled, and the band went into a slow number that everyone could manage. Sam came and swept Magda onto the floor, and she looked around and saw that all of her friends were doing the same thing.

  “Zak and Jemima are absolutely glowing,” she said. “What a wonderful end to the evening.” They stopped at the edge of the floor and watched the others enjoy themselves. Magda nudged him as Merle and Branston came back hand in hand and hurried to the dance floor. The light show was gentle and soothing now and gradually some of their friends came and joined them.

  Jeff and his girlfriend said that they had never been to anything like this before. Branna was already planning something similar next year in Ireland. She was enthused about it as Katie and Declan joined them.

  “Look,” Declan said and looked where Merle was dancing with Branston. The couple beside them was Bart and Gina but Declan was not looking at the dancers. The computer-generated lights were casting speckles on the floor but there were two other patches of mist that were not computer driven at all.

  Magda heard Jeff gasp.

  “I can see her, Declan,” he said and his girlfriend grabbed his arm.

  Gina was standing with the others while Merle was out on the floor dancing. Around the dancers the two patches of mist swept and then wrapped around Zak and Jemima before gliding over to where Jeff was standing spellbound.

  The two dogs both wove their way around Jeff and his girlfriend. They passed around Magda and the others before going back to Jeff one more time before melting away into space, and the only thing left to see was the flickering computer pictures.

  Jeff sat down and his girlfriend wrapped her arms around him. The dancers came fro
m the floor and asked if everyone had seen the extra lights on the floor.

  “What a wonderful end to a wonderful evening,” Magda said and hugged Merle.

  “There will never be another Christmas dance like this one,” Branna said. “I am so glad we were part of it.”

  “You are taking on my crazy cousin. What a brave woman you are, Merle,” Magda laughed but hugged her cousin anyway and said she was so happy for them.

  “You will never know how scared I was up there, that she might refuse,” Branston admitted.

  “Happily, ever after, Cousin. Happily, ever after,” Magda said. They all took a glass from two passing helpers and raised a toast to the future.

  THE END … until next year!

  Kindred Spirits

  A Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery - Book 6

  Copyright © 2020 by Olivia Swift

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  1

  Magda and Sam Barnes were eating breakfast while the four cats were elegantly draped in various poses on the spiral staircase. The stairs were a feature of the two-story house that led to a roof terrace, but the cats seemed to think it was there especially for them.

  Magda turned on the camera of her cell phone and instantly Crystal turned her back and stared pointedly at the wall.

  “How does she know that I turned on the camera?” Magda asked. “I never looked at her. Like when we are remotely monitoring our video surveillance cameras. She stares at it and knows when we’re checking on them,” Magda sighed. “That cat is just too clever.”