Painted Spirits: A Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery - Book 7

by Olivia Swift

  “Speaking of which, I’m going horse riding tomorrow for the first time since Samantha arrived,” Magda said.

  “And me. Merle has offered to babysit,” Sam added.

  “At the dude ranch?” Shelby asked and when they said that was the case, he wondered if they would mind if he came along. “I’ve been dying to have a look around there.” Then he said that maybe he wouldn’t. “My niece is nutty about riding and will be upset if I go without her.”

  “How old is she?” Magda asked.

  Shelby said his niece, Chloe, was twelve and an exceptional rider. Magda passed this on to Branston who said they were very welcome.

  “Tell him thanks and she’ll bring her own pony,” Shelby said. They arranged to meet at the ranch at two in the afternoon.

  “We fixed the prices,” Katie said.

  “Are you sure folks will pay that much?” Shelby asked anxiously.

  “Don’t price yourself down,” Rula said. “Just see what happens.” The paintings were locked away safely for the week of the exhibition. Katie said she would hang them the following Sunday when the place was empty.

  “See you tomorrow,” Magda said to Shelby as she locked up and they all exited down the alleyway.

  “Were the cats glad to see you back?” Magda asked Declan. He laughed.

  “Took a lot of pieces of chicken to make them happy again. Does Merle want another séance next week?”

  “I’ll ask her tomorrow,” Magda said as she tucked the baby into the car seat.

  Sam drove as Magda enjoyed the luxury of being driven. It didn’t seem to happen often these days.

  “I’m glad that Katie is back. She’s a wonder with the chocolate and the truffles.”

  “Mmm,” Sam agreed. “Those beams are heavy to handle by myself. Declan has been missed as well.”

  They spent a quiet night in front of the television and Crystal made no books fall to the ground or anything else. In fact, the cats were so quiet that Magda was almost suspicious. They had their own little courtyard that was all fenced in with wire netting. They could go into the fresh air without being in danger. The door was open and there were birds to watch but all of the cats stayed on the sofa with Magda. Samantha sat on a rug on the floor protected by a pretty playpen. She had some toys that she tried to chew and a moving ornament that kept her occupied.

  Crystal looked at the cell phone and Magda was about to save it from being swiped to the floor when it rang.

  “That cat did it again. She knew it would ring.” Magda took the call from Rula who said that she was in the stable and she could hear galloping hooves.

  “Did you see anything?” Sam asked. She said there was nothing to see.

  “Call Merle and see what she thinks. If you need us, we can come over,” Magda advised.

  “Very strange. I wonder what he’s trying to tell her.”

  Rula called back and said that Merle asked if they would like to go over tomorrow when you go out riding. She says Mikey can just relax and we can all talk about the galloping hooves.”

  “See you tomorrow then,” Magda said. “Did Merle think it was nothing to worry about?”

  “She said there must be something bothering him. Maybe we should have a séance sooner rather than later next week.”

  6

  “I do like a lazy Sunday morning,” Sam said. They had a coffee and then played with the baby who was gurgling between them. A bit later, they enjoyed a light lunch and then dressed for riding. With an extra bottle to warm if needed, a couple of jars of baby food and clean diapers, they set off for The Panhandle.

  The pristine white ranch gates were wide open to make people feel welcome. The diner that Merle and Branston had built at the entrance had a few cars moving through the drive-through. It seemed to do a steady trade from the traffic passing on the road. Magda knew that they were trying to encourage people to come in and make inquiries.

  The drive from the front gates to the ranch complex was pretty and opened out to display the main building with reception, small gift shop, and the house where Branston and Merle lived. From the entrance you could gaze out over the many cabins that were for rent. Cabins were perhaps not the right description because they had hot tubs on the decks and barbecue areas. Luxury was what Merle had aimed for and she had succeeded. There was another large barn where they could have events, hoedowns, weddings, and parties of all sorts. The couple were old hands at making things go with a swing.

  Branston had a way of making the guests feel that he was a real cowboy even though his clothes were over-the-top glamorous. His riding skills were undeniable, and he, along with a couple of other tour guides, took out riding parties. He also gave riding lessons and occasionally showed off his riding abilities as he practiced for events like the upcoming rodeo.

  There were corrals, stables, and barns, and looking across, it seemed that most of the cabins were occupied.

  “I love it here,” Magda said. She unloaded all of the things that a baby seemed to need. They took them inside and came back to find a horse trailer arriving at the door along with Shelby, his niece, and her mother who was driving the vehicle.

  Chloe’s mother, Diana was a pretty woman with long, dark hair tied in a ponytail. She wore casual clothes and told them that her role was always cab driver.

  “This is my daughter, Chloe and inside the trailer is the love of her life called Merlin.”

  Chloe politely shook hands but was obviously itching to ride. She was tall for a twelve-year-old and fairly confident.

  “Are you wanting to ride as well, Diana?” Branston asked. She shook her head and said she was happy waiting with a book to read.

  “Come inside and have a coffee with me,” Merle encouraged. Shelby drove the trailer over to where Branston said they would saddle up. Magda left instructions for the baby and ran after the others.

  Rula arrived and chased them as well while Mikey was offered beer or coffee in the house.

  Branston had already found what he thought would be suitable rides and they were saddled. He came to help Chloe unload her pony and then he stood back.

  “Wow, Chloe, that is some pony you have there. Is he lively?”

  Chloe smiled at him. “Yes, he’s an Arab and yes, he’s lively and yes, I can handle him. People always worry that he’s too hard to handle,” she answered but without any suggestion of nastiness. Branston waved his hands.

  “I don’t doubt you for a moment. He’s beautiful.” Chloe led out her pride and joy and the pony came to Branston’s outstretched hand.

  “He’s clever as anything and I have taught him all sorts of things.”

  “Like what?” Branston asked and the others clustered around to listen as well.

  “He ground ties. Never wanders, comes to the whistle, and will follow me without a rein.”

  “Let’s get you up there then,” Branston said and offered her his hands clutched together as a step. She said thanks but took a little run and threw herself into the saddle. The pony stood like a rock. Branston shook his head.

  “If you need a weekend job, just give me a call,” he laughed and handed Magda, Rula, and Sam horses of various heights. “For you, Shelby,” he said dramatically and went to the stable. He led out a gorgeous grey gelding. “I think that is what your ancestor used to ride.”

  Shelby mounted up like an experienced rider and Branston checked the group. Then he vaulted into his saddle because he couldn’t help but show off a little bit and led the way. Sam brought up the rear as he had done for years when they were all growing up.

  Once away from the complex, the path widened to let them move together. Branston waved a hand to show where they were heading.

  “If we’re different speeds, we can meet up behind those trees and then swing around down to the lake.” He looked at Magda. She grinned and kicked the sides of the mare that she was riding. He had given her something that could move, and she used it well. Rula laughed and followed as Sam watched her go.

 
“She was always a great rider.”

  “Come on Chloe. Race you to the trees,” Branston suggested. The girl was waiting for her chance and spoke to the pony as she kicked into action. The Arab was a sprinter and took off from a standing start. Branston stayed to watch her go as he made sure she really could handle the ride. There was no doubt there. The girl was part of the horse as if she had been born in the saddle.

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw him striding out after her and gave the pony an extra push. It took Branston all of his time to catch her before they reached the trees and slowed down together. His big black stallion was his favorite ride. Shelby and Sam arrived together enjoying a pleasant pace. The four of them walked around the copse of trees and found Magda and Rula enjoying the glorious view of the lake.

  “You were flying, Chloe,” Magda told her.

  “His dad was a racehorse,” Chloe grinned at her. “He loves to run.” The party trotted down the slope to the lakeside and let the horses take a drink.

  “We can take a walk around the lake. It’s very flat and if you want to gallop, feel free.” He turned to Chloe and asked her what she had taught the pony.

  “Just now I’m practicing for the rodeo and he’s good at knowing what I want to do.”

  “Such as?” Branston asked.

  “Once she starts, you’ll be hard pushed to end it,” Shelby warned but he grinned at his niece and she smiled back. She climbed back onto the pony and pointed him away from the group of people. She searched for a marker and Branston sensed what she was going to do.

  “That broken off tree,” he said and pointed. She shaded her eyes and nodded.

  Then she spoke to the horse, kicked him gently and he went from a standing start to full gallop without even appearing to make any effort. She stretched him to the tree, slowed, slewed around the stump, and came racing back to end in front of Branston.

  “Don’t suppose anyone has a stopwatch,” Branston said.

  “Timer on the cell phone,” Sam answered and pulled his phone out.

  “Me first to let Merlin get his breath back,” Branston said and climbed into the saddle. His horse was a big, strong animal that had a gleaming black coat and looked like something from a storybook. He was quite magnificent, but the man knew that the pony was very fast.

  “You set me off, Sam.”

  Sam counted down from three and clicked the timer. Branston was himself, almost part of the horse and they all watched him circle the tree almost on a standstill and start again. He came back and Sam clicked off.

  “Right, Chloe,” Sam said. “Three two one go.”

  “She’s so competitive,” Shelby said.

  “I can tell,” Branston answered. “She’s a young, female version of what I was at the same age.”

  Magda laughed and agreed.

  The girl raced back and halted in front of them. Sam clicked off and grinned.

  “You beat him by one second, Chloe.” The rest of them broke into applause and the girl smiled and raised her hand in the air. She took off away from them, dropped off one side of the saddle, kicked her foot off the ground, and righted herself before turning and coming back.

  “Wow,” Rula said. “Go on, Branston. You can’t let that challenge go.”

  He did what Chloe had done and then swung under the horse’s neck like a bareback Indian rider and came up the other side.

  “I’ll not try that,” Chloe grinned. “Are you entered in the rodeo?” He said that he was.

  They all set off around the lake. The others took turns at riding on ahead and the two horses that had been racing walked along sedately.

  “What is your stallion called?” Chloe asked.

  “Jet. Not very original I know.”

  “He’s wonderful,” the girl said seriously.

  The lake was beautiful, and the trees grew more plentiful further around as they spread away toward the lower slopes of the mountains in the distance. They stopped at the far end to let the horses have a drink again and look at the view.

  “I would like to paint some of this. Can I take a few photos?” Shelby asked and Branston waved a hand to say it was all available. The rest found some rocks to sit on and take it all in as he photographed. Branston talked rodeo and training with his rival for best rider. She stood up and said that Merlin could follow her like a dog would.

  She lifted the reins and hooked them on the saddle.

  “Walk,” she said to the pony. He put his nose on her shoulder and walked quietly at the same pace as his mistress. When she stopped, he stopped and when she turned, he turned. They came back and she dropped the reins on the ground. Merlin stood still in one place.

  “I’ve never tried that before,” Branston admitted and turned to Shelby. “Your great-grandfather must have been a great horseman as well?”

  “From what we can tell, he loved horses and was an excellent rider. I think she’s the next generation.”

  “We have one or two old photos,” Chloe said. “Mom could find them.”

  “Do they show any buildings?” Sam asked.

  Magda saw where he was going. “You think maybe Rula’s barn might be in them?”

  Rula said that would be fantastic and explained that she was restoring an old barn and it might well have been part of the ranch where her great-great-grandfather had bred horses.

  “Oh, we’ll find them as soon as we get home,” Chloe said. “One day, I will breed horses again like he did.”

  They started the return ride to the ranch.

  “I had forgotten how I loved the wide-open spaces,” Magda said. “If I bought a horse could I pay you to keep it here for me?” she asked her cousin.

  “No problem, my favorite cousin. The one you are on is available as it happens. She’s too lively for most of the visitors.”

  “I like her,” Magda said. She clicked to the horse and Jessie responded easily. The others watched her go. When she came back, Chloe asked if she could try out the mare and slipped down from Merlin.

  “You can try Merlin,” she offered to Magda. “He’s a good boy.” Magda looked at Branston who nodded slightly. Magda trusted her cousin completely with horses. She found a rock and climbed on board. She watched as Chloe, with expertise of someone much older, raced out Jessie, tried her in a series of turns and trotted back.

  “She’s a lovely ride. Try Merlin.”

  Magda felt the rise and fall of the Arab and sank into his movement. He was an easy horse to ride because he reacted to every move. She used her knees and made him go around in a figure of eight and then let him ride out away from the group and back again. The pony halted as asked and stood quietly.

  “You have one in a million there, Chloe. I’m jealous. Thank you.” They swapped horses back again and Chloe said that Jessie was lively but listened to the rider.

  “Grumpy ones don’t stay here,” Branston said. “We cannot risk the guests.”

  They rode back to the ranch saying how enjoyable it had been. Everyone helped rub down the horses and turn them out into the corral. Merlin went in his trailer like an angel and Chloe ran to find her mom to ask about the photographs.

  7

  Little Samantha was being cuddled by Chloe’s mom. Merle offered everyone drinks. Mikey asked if they had enjoyed themselves and Chloe started asking her mom about old photos. Mikey had already talked about the barn and Diana understood what her daughter was asking.

  “We’ll find them tonight, photograph them and send to your cell phones.”

  The group sat around and talked about owning horses. Branston told his wife that Magda wanted to buy Jessie and to keep her at the ranch to ride.

  “No problem,” Merle said. “I’ll leave the price to Branston. Horses are his side of the business.”

  “I’m guessing,” Sam said, “that if Magda wants to go riding, I’m going to be babysitter.”

  “If you want to ride, you can make me babysitter anytime and borrow a horse,” Merle offered. “I love having Samantha.”<
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  They talked about the rodeo and then agreed to meet at the stable on Monday evening. Shelby said it was fine with him and of course, Chloe wanted to know why they were going to the old barn. Shelby looked at his sister because he had already talked to her about seances. Diana sighed.

  “This daughter of mine is far too clever to try and fool. You might as well just explain it. It’s to do with horses, so she will persist in asking anyway.”

  They had Chloe’s complete attention by that time and Shelby took over explaining that he had met Magda and the others through the art gallery.

  “Uncle Shelby’s horse drawings are the best,” she said to Magda.

  “Haven’t seen those yet.”

  Rula told her that she thought for a split second that she saw a cowboy on the stairs and then Shelby had dreamed the same man and painted him.

  “Your great great-granddad bred horses in that area,” Diana told her. “Magda and Rula think that if Shelby goes with them, maybe the cowboy will come and join them.”

  Chloe’s eyes were round as saucers, and she looked around them all.

  “A ghost?” she queried, and Magda nodded.

  “Merle here can sense things like that.”

  “I don’t think the ghost was my great-grandfather,” Shelby told her, “because we have some photos of him.”

  “But it might be Cody Jones?” Chloe was quick to pick up the alternative. “The great horse rider that everyone admired.” She turned to the others. “He was a showman, you know. He put on fantastic displays and could do it all bareback.”

  “He must have been like a rock star of his time,” Magda said. “I wonder why they never kept on breeding.”

  Diana said that the family was never sure of that either.

  “They just thought that they spent too much money and it all had to be sold.” She stood up and said they should be off. “We’ll look for those photos tonight.”

  Chloe looked at Branston.

  “I don’t suppose I could come along with Uncle Shelby?”