The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7
Page 91
The police force closed in from all sides and the original robbers as well as the ones who attacked them were all taken prisoner. The one on the ground had been shot but they handcuffed him anyway. Clara and Gladman rushed off to make sure Gladdie was okay.
Sam and Magda joined them. They all made a cluster around Branston and the two young ones. Chloe had a graze from a gunshot on one arm and Bart raced off to find a paramedic. Diana and Shelby were mopping the stream of blood when the ambulance crew arrived. They cleaned the wound and bandaged it up.
“Now we know,” Merle said, “what Cody was worried about.”
“And why Crystal was giving me crime novels,” Magda added.
Chloe said that she did not want to go to the hospital and the police officer in charge came over and asked them to tell him what happened. They gave him a brief account and he said if they came in the next day, they could make a statement. He took names and addresses from Magda and the others as well because they were all witnesses.
“Let’s go to the Café. It’s close at hand and we can shut the doors and be private,” Magda said. Branston had already put his horse in the big van he used, and he took Merlin away to put him in the trailer. Gladman took his son’s horse and did the same.
“Good idea,” Merle added. “Let’s get out of here.”
It was a bit of a struggle to get the vehicles out of the fairground, but they all ended up parked in the main street. There were not many customers as most folk were at the rodeo. Magda gave the people who were there a gift voucher and said she was having to close up. The doors to the gallery were closed but the front of that building stayed open. They closed the wrought iron gates to the alleyway.
Rita, Alison, and Gina rushed around asking each one what they wanted and trying to glean the gist of what had happened at the same time. Diana sat with her arms around her daughter and Gladdie was decidedly shaken as well. Branston was not showing signs of reaction but Magda knew her cousin very well. She found the whiskey bottle and he downed the shot in one and then grinned at her.
“Yes, you were magnificent, cousin of mine,” she said, “but please don’t do it anymore.”
“I did capture it all on video,” Bart said. “I’ll send it to all of you.” He clicked the buttons and lots of cell phones and tablets tinkled as they received it. There was silence as people relived the action over again.
“The performance that the three of you gave was fantastic,” Magda said. “Just in case that is forgotten in all of this.”
Chloe gave her a smile and started to come back to life again.
“It was good to do,” Gladdie said.
“What a shame that those crooks spoiled the day for so many people,” Clara said and then pointed to the back of the kitchen. Magda laughed.
“You’re a cat person Clara and our resident ghost cat knows when cat lovers are around.” She said again that Crystal had been right again with the crime novels.
Then Bart looked up from the video and asked if anyone saw anything unusual.
“Was it a shaft of golden light, maybe sunshine, or maybe help from somewhere else?” Sam asked.
“I saw it at the time,” Merle answered, “but didn’t want to say anything.”
“He was there all of the time but never stepped forward until Merlin was in danger,” Declan said.
“Cody?” Chloe asked. “But I never saw him.”
“I think you were too shocked,” Merle told her.
“We saw the golden light draw Merlin to the fence and help him rise over it,” Magda said.
“Oh, Lord,” Clara breathed. “The man is still helping people even now.”
“He watched the whole display,” Declan added. He looked at Merle and nodded. She smiled and asked out loud if Goodie Ryder was still with them.
“I see the orb in the doorway,” Bart said, and Chloe’s face lit up as she saw what Declan could see.
“Thank you, Uncle Cody. Thank you for helping Gladdie save Merlin.”
“Did the display look good?” Branston asked and they felt a solid bang from under their feet.
“He’s fading now,” Declan said.
“Bye. Thank you,” Chloe called out.
“Thank you,” Gladdie echoed. The vision disappeared from view according to both Declan and Chloe. There was a moment of quiet as everyone there thought about what had happened that day.
“I think we’re recovered enough to drive home now,” Gladman said.
“The café is lovely,” Clara added. “We’ll have to come back.”
“It occurred to me,” Branston said, “that working in public is not the best place to do that sort of thing.” The rest looked at him. “If we put on displays at the ranch, they could be controlled, and they could be profitable.”
“I would like that,” Chloe said.
“And me,” Gladdie added. The families moved away and left the group of friends to chat.
“Please, we need a spell of dull and normal life,” Magda said. “Although we have a new stable to build.”
“No rest for the wicked,” Sam smiled at her and took his daughter to hear her say Dadadada over again. It made everyone smile.
Merle cleared her throat and said that she felt a bit shaky. Magda went and found a glass of water for her. She sipped it.
“Watching your husband ride into the line of fire was bound to be a shock to the system,” Rula told her.
“I’m glad he said that public displays are not really safe,” Merle said.
She seemed to want to say something else and Magda took her hand.
“Tell us what is on your mind, although I rather think that Crystal has worked it out before me.”
“Maybe I should tell him this in private,” she started and Branston looked concerned and sat beside her.
“Are you okay?” he asked. She nodded and smiled.
“It’s just that, just that, I think Samantha might not be the only baby anymore.”
Magda hugged her friend and laughed at Branston’s face.
“Keep up, my brave cousin. I think you might be joining Sam in the daddy stakes.”
“What?” Branston looked truly shell shocked and amazed. “You are? You are?”
“Yes. I think I might be pregnant.”
Sam slapped Branston on the back. Declan offered a handshake and there were calls of congratulations and best wishes.
Magda hugged her cousin.
“Congratulations. You’ll be a wonderful dad.” Then she turned to Merle.
“Crystal had dropped a baby book on the floor and I just thought it had come down with the crime novels.”
“Well, I guess I had better take the father home. He hasn’t taken this in yet.” She turned to the others. “No more riding to the rescue. No more public displays.”
“It’s wonderful news,” Magda said. “He has the new horse to train. That will keep him occupied.”
“And I need a horse of my own,” Sam added.
“Good Lord,” Branston suddenly shouted. “I’m going to be a dad. A dad. He picked up Merle and carried her around the room. “Can you walk? Do you need anything? No more horse riding.” Merle laughed and waved at the others as he carried her down the alleyway and out to the horse transporter.
“Now I really am broody,” Rula said.
“Enjoy Beryl for a while,” Magda said. “Let’s all go home. Sam has a stable to put together.”
Back at home, there were no books on the floor and Magda sank onto the sofa with Sammie in her arms.
“If you could make her dinner again, that would be just perfect,” Magda said, and Sam went to do it.
He sat and spooned it into Sammie’s mouth and looked across at Magda.
“The Magic Café did it again, didn’t it?”
“What do you mean?” Magda queried.
“Ever since you stopped fighting me and let me design the café, things have worked out for us, for Rula, for Katie and Declan and for Merle and Branston.”
“And the next generation is already on the way. I love you Sam Barnes.”
“Right back at you, Magda.” He reached across and kissed her over the baby’s head.
In between them a small lilac tortie Birman pushed her way in and settled beside Sammie.
“I love you too, Crystal, but can we have some peace and quiet for a while, please?” The cat stared at her with those amazing blue eyes and curled her tail around herself. Sam took the baby to give her a bottle and Magda sat with the cat on her knee. The other three were watching from the spiral staircase. Magda smiled and closed her eyes.
THE END … for now.
Afterword
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About the Author
Olivia Swift loves writing cozy mysteries! Her stories are inspired by her varied interests…gardening, spirits, crystals and so much more. Of course, there must be a romance or two in her books and a happily ever-after ending!
Growing up in a small English village, Olivia is only too familiar with the various characters that make up a community. There is always an event, drama, or mystery amongst the village folk.
Only a few years ago, Olivia and her husband chose to take an early retirement and moved to the Aquitaine region of France. There, in her sun-filled study, she is able to sit and write her books. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the window overlooks her lovely French country garden.
Contact Olivia Swift
info@liriospublishing.com
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