The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  The whole group made their way back to the ranch and rubbed down the horses. Sam made a call to Katie’s dad when he had led the horse into the corral. Then he came over and told Rula that the gang was coming to lay the concrete floor the next day.

  “Whoop, whoop, whoop,” she yelled and kissed Sam on the cheek.

  Magda laughed and told her to stay at home until she saw everything was underway.

  “We can open up without you for once.”

  “Fantastic,” Rula cried. “What great friends I have.” Mikey shook his head and told Branston that he would pay for the horses. The two went off to the main house and the others followed slowly.

  “Will there be another séance?” Chloe asked.

  “Take at least four days for the floor to be ready to walk on,” Sam told her.

  “After that, I bet we all want to see Cody again,” Magda told her. Branston reappeared and told Chloe he would be in touch about the program for the display. She did a little happy dance and climbed into the cab of the horse trailer. Shelby drove away. Magda collected her daughter from Merle.

  “I’ll talk to Ryder-James and see what he says,” Branston told Magda. “I’ll let you know.”

  “Did you enjoy riding?” Sam asked as they drove away.

  “Loved it.”

  “And are you jealous that Rula gets to have her horses at home?” He glanced across and knew he had spotted the little niggle. He knew his wife so well.

  “I can’t get anything past you, can I? But I love Jessie and Branston will look after her for me.”

  Wrapping up another fantastic Sunday evening, they fed the baby and ate something themselves. Just as they were finishing, the cell phone rang and Magda answered.

  “News, cousin mine,” Branston said. “Wait for this and put it on speakerphone.” She signaled to Sam to listen. “You ready?” Branston asked. She said that she was and he should get on with it.

  “Gladman Ryder-James is the great-grandson of Goodie Ryder. His mother was the descendent and wanted to keep the Ryder connection, so she became Ryder-James. Her father and grandfather were both named Ryder and Goodie Ryder was married to a native girl … and,” he paused for dramatic effect, “he bred and rode painted ponies and they still have some of the stock.”

  “Oh, my Lord,” Magda said. “Does he think it’s the man we were searching for?”

  “Yes. Their family always did know the story of Cody Jones and Goodie Ryder was the name that Cody Jones took when he and Maiya moved away.”

  “That’s unbelievable,” Sam joined in. “We have managed to find the two strains of the family that connect to Rula’s stable.”

  Gladman was really excited about the stable and what we have been doing. His son is keeping on the family riding skills and wants to breed horses again. He’s desperate to meet us all and see the stable.”

  “Concrete won’t be set until Thursday,” Sam added.

  “Have you told Rula?” Magda asked. He said that he would call her and pass the information on. They ended the call and Magda looked at Sam.

  “The whole story will come together because their family knows about it. How wonderful.”

  “I wonder how Cody will react. No doubt that we need another séance,” Sam said.

  15

  Magda sent messages to everyone and they all answered almost immediately and were hugely excited.

  “Can we meet them?” Chloe texted.

  “Branston thinks so,” Magda texted back. “Case of when we can get away. Next Sunday might be the only time we’re free to go. Maybe a séance on Friday after the floor has hardened.”

  Bart said that he had found the connection in the Jennington area records and was sending it to everyone. Rula called Magda and the two of them talked about the descendants of the families who had been best friends and horse breeders.

  “Shelby’s great-grandfather must have always known where they were. I wonder if the Ryder family knows about the bones that were found,” Rula said. “I can’t wait to see if Cody will appear and admit that we have found the family.”

  “Get the floor laid tomorrow and we can have a séance on Friday evening. Then Branston can see if we can meet up with the Ryder people somewhere. Jennington is about sixty miles away.”

  “I’ll come in as soon as the men know where they are working. Ooh, Beryl and Baron will soon have a new home.”

  “And Goodie Ryder to keep an eye on them,” Magda laughed.

  Magda and Sam sat and continued talking about what was transpiring as well as the various upcoming events.

  Monday was an early start. Magda knew that there would be cleaning up to do after the craft exhibition and if she did the clearing, Katie could start hanging pictures. She switched everything on and served the few early bird customers who came for their on-the-way-to-work coffee. Rita arrived and took over the serving. Magda went to relieve Katie. Mikey had stayed with Rula to see the start of the stable.

  “Let me do the clearing and cleaning and you can set up the exhibition,” she told Katie. “Bart is giving it a push today and hoping for visitors tomorrow.”

  “So exciting to hear about the name Cody Jones took,” Katie said. “Are we having a séance to see how he reacts?”

  “Friday evening,” Magda said as she opened a plastic bag to take the trash. She sprayed and wiped the surfaces and watched as Katie expertly set up a totally different experience from the busy one that the craft people had generated.

  “They’re just gorgeous,” she said as they stood back to look.

  “Shelby needs to do so little to say so much. I love it,” Katie added.

  Magda left her to it and went back to help Rita as the morning rush grew. Rula arrived and joined in as Bart came and slid onto his favorite stool.

  “Friday night séance and maybe Sunday to meet the Ryder-James people,” Magda said and handed him his usual coffee.

  “I’m longing to hear what stories have been handed down in their family. The family of Shelby kept everything quiet to protect their friend.”

  “I think Shelby will be over soon to see how the pictures look,” Magda said. “Have a look as you go out. They’re beautiful.”

  Rula and Mikey arrived together and were really excited.

  “Katie’s dad says the boards will take time, but the concrete is easy on one flat surface. He says it will be finished by lunchtime, but we mustn’t test it until Thursday,” Rula told them as she put on her white work coat. Mikey went to check to see if Katie needed any help before going to make sure the camping shop was fine. His staff was good at keeping the place going.

  Shelby arrived at the gallery and Katie stopped to ask him if he was happy with what she was doing.

  “It’s the artist’s choice about how work is displayed,” she told him.

  He only wanted his favorite painting in a more prominent position. They moved it and he told her that the overall design looked great. She had made a special display of the painted ponies. It was already catching the eye of all of them.

  Bart came to look at the display and showed Shelby what was going in the paper later in the day.

  “The story of your family being related to Cody Jones should bring people in.”

  “Fame at last,” Shelby grinned.

  “Can you spare some time each day to sign prints and things?” Katie asked.

  “Afternoons,” he told her. “Dad needs me in the mornings. I’ll come back about two o’clock.”

  Bart said that he would add that to the article to say the artist would be in residence to sign prints from two until four each day. Then he left for work. Shelby also left saying he would be back, and Katie asked Magda to stay for a few minutes so that she could pop over to the café to get a hot chocolate.

  Magda slowly walked around the display to take it all in. She stopped in front of the cowboy picture and smiled.

  “Mornin’, Cody Jones,” she murmured. “The ponies look wonderful.” As she spoke, one of them slipped slig
htly. She smiled and straightened it. “Enjoy it, Goodie Ryder,” she added as Katie came back.

  “You talking to yourself?”

  “Just telling Cody that the ponies look great.”

  The café was not quite as busy as it had been with the craft exhibition but that was a bit of a relief. Samantha was picked up from her playpen as Sam and Declan came in for their noon meal. Declan went to see Katie. He came back grinning and told them that Cody was standing in the corner watching the exhibition.

  “That man is determined to make sure his descendants and friends are bringing his ponies to the fore,” Magda smiled. “I spoke to him when I was on my own and one of the pictures moved.”

  There had been leaflets given out for a week before in the café and the hiking shop. The draw of a local hero who had started the Jonesville charity pulled in quite a few people and the horse folk were looking at the pictures as well. The group of them were satisfied that it was going well.

  Sam and Declan left. Branston and Merle arrived to see the display and Shelby came back to be there if he was needed.

  In fact, he was not actually mobbed but there were a good number of customers who were buying prints and happy to talk horses and history with him. Magda put a coffee on his table and left him to it. She could tell that he was truly amazed at the interest and one of the prints was already sold.

  Merle was playing with her little friend Samantha and Branston was grinning with news to impart.

  “The Ryder-James family has invited all of us over on Sunday to meet and compare notes. They have quite a big setup, I gather, and they have,” he paused, “painted ponies.”

  “Wow, that’s fabulous,” Magda said.

  “They said if we would like a light lunch, they would be glad to see us all about one o’clock.”

  “So, who is going?” Merle asked.

  “The eight of us plus Bart, Shelby, Chloe, and Diana. That means twelve of us descending on the poor souls,” Magda said.

  “I’ll check with him and make sure it’s okay but I’m sure it will be fine.”

  Branston went over to the gallery to see how Shelby was doing and was drawn into a chat that had developed about horses. He never came back, so Merle handed over Samantha and went to find him. They waved goodbye and the café and gallery came to the end of a busier day than Magda had expected. She went to see how Katie was doing. Katie waved a hand and talked into her cell phone.

  “She has called Jay to see if he can make twenty more frames. People want the same frames for the prints as the ones on the originals,” Shelby said. “I’m quite aghast at the prices I’ve been offered for those ones.”

  “They are quite breathtaking,” Magda told him. “Can you do some more that are almost the same to satisfy people who want an original?”

  “I never thought of that. I’ll give it a try.” A customer came and stood to one side to ask if he would sign the prints she had just purchased.”

  Chloe and Diana arrived breathless as they had to wait until school was out before they could make it.

  The customer thanked Shelby and said that her uncle would be delighted.

  “He has painted ponies,” she added.

  “Hold on,” Shelby said. “Is he close at hand?” The woman smiled and told him where her uncle lived.

  “He’s elderly now and just keeps his older stock to keep in touch with his lifelong hobby.”

  “Would he let me see them?” Shelby asked.

  “Give me your number,” she said. Katie rolled the pictures and put them in tubes for the customer to take away.

  Chloe and Diana were inspecting all of the pictures on the walls.

  “Uncle Shelby, you are a genius,” Chloe said.

  “It’s been a revelation,” Shelby told her. “The horse stories I have been told about this afternoon would fill a book.”

  It was a cheerful group that closed up the gallery. Chloe and Diana heard about the invitation for Sunday and said they would love to go along.

  “Hopefully, a séance on Friday evening, if you would like to be there as well,” Rula added. “The concrete floor should be set.”

  “Then you get to have a stable for today’s horses. Wonderful,” Chloe said. “I wish I was grown up.”

  “Come on, grown up,” her mother said. “Home for dinner.”

  Magda locked up and took Samantha home. She had some leftover food from the café and juggled carrying it and the baby inside only to find Crystal sitting on the floor with books all around her. Her tail was sweeping the floor and the Birman had a serious frown on her face.

  “Oh, Crystal. We have just been to work. Why are you angry?” She popped Samantha into her play area and started to look at the books. Sam came home and found her sitting on the floor and frowning. She held up a book.

  “Crystal had all of these books on the floor. They’re all crime novels. Like Ocean’s Eleven and other big robberies. There is no working out how her mind operates. She’s happy now that I’ve looked at them.” Magda found the cat treats and the four cats came to be fussed over. She opened the back door and shooed them out into their private covered terrace.

  Sam said that he would sort out the meal and Magda changed the baby and prepared Samantha’s food. Sam popped over to the next-door neighbor because he was lending him an electric drill.

  “His is broken,” he said. “Back in a minute.”

  Magda let the cats back inside and watched Crystal carefully, but the cat sat on a chair without a care in the world, curled her tail around herself and went to sleep.

  “Mmm,” Magda said. “You aren’t finished, lady. I know you well.” The cat kept her eyes closed but her tail twitched. “I know you can hear me.”

  Sam came back and took his daughter on his knee. She stood up on her sturdy little legs and he stood her on the floor.

  “She’s definitely trying to walk,” he said. Samantha sat down with a sudden plop onto the floor.

  Crystal jumped up beside the television and sat on the remote control. The volume went up to an ear-splitting decibel. Magda rushed to turn it down again. The man was explaining about a series of bank robberies in the area.

  16

  At the end of the week, they were all happy with the reaction to the latest art exhibition. Shelby had to make more drawings as quickly as he could, and Katie made prints and wrapped them in clear bags.

  “Still got Saturday to go but it’s been a good week,” Katie said. “Thank goodness for next week without any exhibitions. These new drawings from Shelby are lovely though and I’m asking him if we can keep them on display.”

  “Drawing from real life painted ponies sure was useful,” Magda said. “The customer and her uncle were really happy to have him draw them.”

  “Séance tonight,” Mikey said. “The concrete is dry.”

  They closed up and met up again at Rula’s. She was desperate for them all to see the transformation. They all trooped down to the stable and walked about on the smooth, clean new floor.

  “What a difference,” Sam said. “We can put the stalls and things in for you sometime next week.”

  “The electricity and water are in place,” Mikey said. He dropped some stacked chairs and went back for another few. When all of the chairs were set up, they sat in their circle. Samantha, in her stroller, was inside the circle and Declan gave a smile as he knew the man was waiting in the shadows.

  Merle went through her protection routine and Chloe grinned at Declan who nodded.

  “Are you there, Cody Jones?” Merle called out and Bart said that he could see an orb moving over the staircase.

  “Hello, Uncle Cody,” Chloe said. They all felt a slightly warm breeze touch the tops of their heads.

  “Can you see him?” Diana whispered to her daughter. Chloe pointed to where she could see the figure of the cowboy.

  “Is your wife with you?” Merle asked and received a slight bang on the wooden stairway.

  “Do you approve of the new floor of the
stable, Cody?” Rula asked. Another knock. “We have a grey gelding and beautiful mare coming to live here,” she added.

  “Maiya has just appeared beside him,” Declan said.

  “Hello, Maiya,” Merle said. “We wondered if you knew that we found your great-grandchild. They are still called Ryder and they still have painted ponies. Did you know that?” There was a loud bang.

  “Are you happy that we’re going to meet them?” Magda called out and there was an instant knock in reply. She smiled.

  Merle said that it would be lovely for the descendants of the Bentleys and the descendants of the Ryders to meet together after all of these years.

  “I think you must have helped us to find our way to do that.” There was a knock on the stairs.

  “Did the Bentleys always know that you had moved to Jennington and never said anything?” Sam asked and the knock came again.

  “Did you see the paintings?” Katie asked. The knock came almost before she finished speaking.

  “Did you like them?” Shelby spoke out. Another knock in reply.

  “Are the painted ponies at Jennington descended from your own?” Chloe asked and a beam of light swept across the room and moved around her before going back to the staircase. Then there was a bang on the wooden wall behind her. The sound of a horse nickering sounded behind her as well and both she and Branston whirled around to see if there was something there. Chloe held out a hand.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said to the horse that only she and Declan could see.

  “Tell us what you see,” Branston asked and she said it was a mare and a painted pony about the same size as Merlin.

  “I wish I knew your name, little one,” she said.

  “Dreamer,” Merle said. “That’s what just came into my head.”

  Chloe smiled. “Hello, Dreamer. We might see your great-great-great-grandchildren on Sunday.” There was a knock from the staircase.

  “Cody seems to think so,” Declan said. “He’s nodding and holding Maiya’s hand.”