The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7

by Olivia Swift

  They went on to planning the Irish trip and Rula said that she would manage all of the cats at both houses.

  “Mikey can help do one and me the other,” she said.

  A few days later, Sam received a call from the real estate office. He and Declan didn’t say a word but went to see what it was about. They were due to leave soon and Sam really hoped it was good news. They came back to the café at the end of the afternoon and sat on bar stools. The last of the customers were leaving and Magda looked at Sam.

  “What on earth is the matter?”

  “I think Rula better bring in Mikey to hear the news.”

  Rula ran off next door and Magda put her hand over her mouth. Katie had closed down what she was doing and went to sit on a stool beside Declan. He looked almost upset. Mikey and Rula came back and closed off the outside door.

  “Tried to reach Bart but he must be busy,” Sam said and looked at Declan who held up a hand to say that Sam should carry on.

  “Oh no. This is bad,” Magda said and saw her husband’s face almost give in to a smile. She leaned across the counter and grabbed a handful of his shirt. “Spill the beans, Buster.” He and Declan both gave in and grinned like looneys.

  “They accepted the lower offer. We got it.”

  “Whoo hoo!” Rula shouted and grabbed Mikey.

  “Ahhh,” Katie said and put her arms around Declan’s neck without thinking about it. “We are joint managers of an art gallery.” Declan closed his arms around her in return and Magda smiled at him over Katie’s head. She took out the cell phone and texted Bart.

  “Where are you? We got the building.”

  “Let me in. I am at the door!”

  She ran to let him inside as he brandished two bottles of bubbly and Rula found glasses.

  “To … whatever we are going to call the place,” Mikey lifted a toast. They clinked glasses and generally giggled like a bunch of kids. It felt like the real start of something new.

  “We can sign what needs to be signed and it will be legal before we leave for Ireland,” Sam said.

  Magda texted Merle and Branston and had a message back asking everyone over for a bite to eat to celebrate. “Bart’s girlfriend as well,” she added. The result was a happy group at the dude ranch with a buffet in the living room and cold drinks in the chiller. Merle let them help themselves.

  “Tomorrow we sign,” Magda said.

  “Do you realize,” Branston remarked, “that between all of you, you own the whole block of buildings. Mikey and Rula have the camping store, Magda has the café and all of you have the bank.”

  “We cannot keep calling it the bank,” Katie observed. They threw suggestions back and forth and ended with ‘The Color Gallery’.

  “Then when you go through to the cafe it really is colorful,” Sam added and Mikey wondered if they could point toward the climbing wall behind the café as well.

  “Well, the climbers who use it do stop for drinks,” Magda answered. “And some of the café customers watch the climbers on the wall.”

  “We can do offers for art gallery people who come to the hiking store and the café,” Mikey joined in and they suddenly realized that they were full of ideas and enthusiasm.

  “I think we were frightened to make plans in case it never happened,” Magda observed. “I love a new project.”

  “Don’t we know it?” Sam replied and grinned. “You haven’t asked if the wall would break through for the model railway.”

  “How did you know I wanted to do that?”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Because I know how your mind works, Mrs. Barnes.” He looked around. “Declan and I thought that the wall where the door used to be is thin and if we sent the engine down a slope, the cellar part could be an added attraction.”

  “With railway artwork,” Katie smiled. Magda threw her arms around Sam. “You are so clever.”

  “Just know which side of my bread is buttered,” he grinned.

  “Where will we have the séance?” Merle asked.

  “In the main room, I guess,” Bart said. “Plenty of room. And count Gina in this time.”

  “We can go away knowing it’s ready to start when we come back,” Sam concluded.

  “To the new place,” Branston toasted. Merle was quiet but toasted with the rest.

  7

  With last minute instructions and what looked like a mountain of baggage to pay for, the four travelers set off for Ireland. Dublin looked as inviting as ever and they took a cab to the Spookydown Holiday Homes complex. The driver said that he knew where it was and pulled up outside of the gates for the impact of the entrance to be felt by the visitors.

  Magda gasped and Katie said to hold on until she got a photo. The driver laughed and told them it was the normal reaction. The entrance gate was a classy artistic design in white and gold with pristine white gates like the dude ranch that they were taking inspiration from. The entrance was decorated in the shape of an enormous white, Casper-like ghost. The driver grinned again and started the engine. Motion sensors went into action and the ghost trapped them inside - very gently and quietly but eerily spooky.

  Katie clapped her hands. “I love it already.” The cab pulled up outside the main building, which was wooden, white and an almost copy of Merle and Branston’s ranch house and office. The four climbed out and the driver helped unload the bags as they gazed around the space.

  “I cannot believe this is the same site we saw last year. They have outdone themselves.”

  A small scream came from the door and Branna threw herself at Magda and Katie.

  “You saw my entrance. What did you think?”

  “I love it,” both girls said together.

  “You hit a theme alright. Merle will be proud of you.”

  Jonno came out and shook hands, helped carry in the bags and offered the guided tour.

  “Oh yes please,” Magda cried. “You have done wonders. We can tell from here.”

  The couple had taken the idea of a western ranch and added a ghost town to it. They had taken on board the tip about luxury and added hot tubs, a gym and a large building for events.

  “The barn has been used for a camping exhibition and a children’s birthday party. I really want to try a séance in there but was waiting for you to get here.”

  “This shouldn’t work but it does,” Sam said. “The work must have cost a fortune.”

  “Lots of debt but orders coming in all of the time. I think we will be fully booked for the year,” Jonno told him.

  “I need to meet up with Barbara again,” Magda said. “I need more crystals from her shop to sell in the café. They were really popular. I’m sure she would be ready to join in again. Have you seen Jenni Wren?”

  “Jenni is still being the lovely white witch that she is and has made a new line of hand creams and face lotions. They are really good.”

  “I can go to the crystal shop tomorrow. The men will want to go and see what they need to get working on the renovation,” Magda added and Katie said she was keen to meet Barbara.

  “This is your holiday home,” Branna said and flung open the door to a cottage that knocked the socks off any idea you might have of a holiday campsite. The very large living room and open plan kitchen had all mod cons and glass doors to a deck with an outdoor fire, barbecue kitchen, a hot tub, outdoor heater and lovely lounging chairs that looked across a beautiful view over the river and beyond. The bedrooms were themed with cowboy styles and pictures and top-quality bed linens, towels and robes that matched the décor. Televisions rose up from the foot of the bed at the touch of a button. Two of the bedrooms actually had gaming chairs. Declan pointed them out and told Katie that he would beat her the next time. She laughed and told him there was no chance.

  “She is unbelievably quick. It is very annoying,” Declan said.

  “This place is just genius,” Katie told them, while she took photos of everything.

  “We only have two like this just now, but the smaller ones
are good as well. We have space for people who come with their caravans being towed or driving motorhomes,” Branna explained.

  They walked the rest of the site and Jonno pointed out where the next things were still to be done.

  “Let’s go to the house and have something to eat. We have a small café and can do breakfast to some extent but the idea is to have a working restaurant in the end,” Branna told them.

  “In a short time, you have worked a miracle,” Magda said and settled in a comfy armchair. Branna served the food and they sat around the table and brought everyone up to date.

  “We can go and see the cottage after this and you can decide what machinery you need. The men who did this for us are happy to rent you any equipment that you will need,” Jonno told them. “They are a decent bunch of workers. Never blinked when we asked them to work out how to do that entrance. We have a van here that you can use.”

  The Irish couple was keen to hear about the new building venture and cell phones were passed back and forth with pictures from both sides of the Atlantic.

  “I have to send these to Merle and Branston,” Magda said and a few minutes later Branston was on video asking to be shown the gate in operation. Jonno answered that was no problem and led the way to the gate. He found the van on the way and while Magda videoed the operation, Jonno drove the van both ways through the entrance triggering the ghost to trap him either outside or inside.

  Merle and Branston were rolling about with laughter.

  “They took your advice and added to it,” Magda said. “This is a cowboy ranch in Spookydown, Ireland.”

  “We need those firepits and barbecues here,” Branston added.

  “We’re off to the cottage,” Sam said.

  “Enjoy yourselves in Spookydown,” Merle added.

  Bags were carried to the bungalow and they all piled into Jonno’s big off-roader to visit the cottage.

  The vehicle wove its way through the local small town where they had gone to eat at a bar called The Barrel on their previous trip. Magda noted that some of the stores had changed hands. Then she screamed and grabbed Sam’s arm and shouted to Jonno to stop the car. He screeched to a halt and looked around with alarm.

  “What is wrong, Magda?” he asked. She shook Sam by the arm and pointed at a small shop in amongst a row of shops. It was pretty and newly painted and the sign above the window said ‘Hoffstander Buttons’. Magda could not get out the words and Sam saw why she was stuttering.

  “I see it, Magda,” he said. “It says ‘Hoffstander Buttons’.” He put an arm around her, and she exhaled.

  “My Lord. Do we believe in that much coincidence?” Magda whispered.

  “What are you talking about?” Branna asked and Jonno moved the rugged Jeep to let the people pass that he was blocking.

  “The bank that we’re buying belonged to a family called Hoffstander. Mr. Hoffstander made his money by making buttons,” Sam explained as Magda still seemed to be in a state of shock.

  “He went away to Ireland and left his wife and daughter with no money,” Magda added.

  “The girl who has Hoffstander Buttons is someone I know,” Branna said. “She runs a small handmade button business. She makes buttons to order that are embroidered or gilded and she makes items of button art as well.”

  “Is it just too far-fetched to think that we would see the same name as the one back home?” Sam slowly asked.

  “Let’s go to the cottage,” Jonno said. “We can talk about that later.” He turned into the stream of traffic again and drew up at the end of the row of houses where Waterside Cottage stood as they had left it.

  “Oh, I do love this cottage,” Magda said and ran from room to room.

  “I put the furniture into storage so that the men could just work in an empty space,” Jonno explained. “It’s not for long and will come out of expenses from the money we made from letting it. The remainder will still come to you two.”

  Sam found the staircase that he had ordered. It was in two parts in the big bedroom and he ran his hand over the light-colored beech wood.

  “I love beech,” Declan said. “This will be the color of the floors upstairs as well.”

  “We need heavy duty saws, supplies of wood, screws, nails, etc. and two good strong electric drills. The space for the staircase to go into the loft will need to be cut out first and then we can slot the stairs into place,” Sam observed.

  “We did bring some tools with us,” Declan added. Jonno said there was a fully stocked hardware store nearby with the everyday things.

  “In the morning, I can take you to meet the Steven boys and girls - they do have a female carpenter and she is really good. They will hire out the cutting equipment and you could always hire them if you needed extra hands.”

  “Katie and I will go and meet Barbara.”

  “And explore the other stores and galleries,” Katie added.

  They went out into the garden and noted that the well Sam had discovered was safely covered over and there was no sign that it was underneath.

  “Safer covered over,” Branna said. “The insurance might be a bit dodgy if somebody fell down a well.”

  Katie looked at the garden and saw the features that Magda had photographed and given her as a guide to painting.

  “The whole place is crying out to be painted,” Katie turned to Branna, “and can I take shots of Spookydown to do some paintings?”

  “Feel free,” Branna said. “We will buy the prints to sell on site.”

  They drove back to Spookydown and left Branna and Jonno to see to their business as they settled into the holiday bungalow cottage. Katie and Declan decided to see what the gaming programs had to offer as Magda and Sam chilled out on the deck with bottles of beer.

  “I might as well relax tonight,” Sam said, “work starts in the morning.”

  Magda went back to wondering about the Hoffstander Buttons shop.

  Branna came over after she had dealt with customers and enquiries and asked about the Hoffstander story.

  “I can give Dana a call and say that we will pop into the shop in the morning.”

  “I would love to see if she knows when the Hoffstander family came to Ireland. It’s just such a ridiculous coincidence that we left the family building back home and saw the same family name here.”

  “Talking about families, this site belonged to part of an estate once upon a time and Barbara said that she and Jenni would be delighted to have a séance here to see if we can find anything out. The actual house was not here but it would be interesting to see if anything is still around.” Then she added that everything they had learned would be incorporated into the ranch.

  “What was the family called?” Sam asked.

  “Bennett. Not an Irish name as far as I know,” Branna answered. Declan and Katie came in and Katie took a beer from the fridge and handed it to Declan.

  “I can tell you were beaten again,” Sam grinned. Declan nodded and swigged his beer. “Gonna stop playing.”

  “We need your skills if we are to have a séance,” Magda told him. Sam threw a cushion at Declan’s head. He put up a hand and caught the cushion.

  “Admit it. Life is easier if you let the women think they are winning.”

  “Sam,” Branna, Magda and Katie all said together and raised a smile from Declan.

  “When is this séance?”

  “Either tomorrow evening or the one after, depending on Barbara and Jenni,” Branna said.

  “We will get started on tools and materials first thing. We can just go along with whatever works,” Sam told them. Katie said that she was dying to see the crystal shop.

  “I will call Dana and see if we can visit in the morning.” Branna pulled out her cell and spoke to someone at the other end. There was some general chitchat and then Branna told her that her American friends would like to visit in the morning.

  “They are buying a building that once belonged to a family called Hoffstander. They can’t believe that y
ou have the same name.” There was a moment’s silence and then even without speakerphone, they could hear her excitement. Branna laughed and said they would be there mid-morning. She hung up and looked at the others.

  “Her great grandfather came from the USA.”

  8

  Rising with the sun, Magda found that Branna had stocked the kitchen and made breakfast for the four of them.

  “I’ll do breakfast tomorrow,” Katie told her and munched into a warm croissant. The two men took the tools they had brought and went off to find Jonno and the van. The girls had a lazy coffee and by the time they had gotten dressed and done makeup, Branna arrived to take them out.

  “Jonno is back and looking after customers. Let’s go and meet Dana.”

  Arriving in town, she parked the car behind the button store and they walked around to look in the window.

  “These pieces are just lovely,” Katie said. “Who would have thought of all of those ideas with buttons. I love the clock.”

  Inside, Branna did introductions and Dana invited them to come and sit in the workshop.

  “I can work here and still see if there are customers,” she explained and asked if they would like coffee. “I’m a coffee addict,” she said and poured from the hot glass jug on the machine. “Coffee is always on.”

  Dana looked to be in her thirties with a glossy head of dark brown hair that cascaded down her back. She could not believe the fact that the name on the door had made Magda scream.

  They exchanged stories about the businesses on both sides of the ocean and Magda asked when her great grandfather had arrived in Ireland.

  “I know roughly when he came but not where he came from. You would think that with a name like Hoffstander, he would have had German ancestors and not Irish. He married an Irish girl though. They had a daughter and when she married, they lost the family name. My mum married and her name changed again and now I am just Dana Sinclair. My dad was a Scotsman.”

  “Families are amazing. It’s really fascinating to follow what happened to them,” Katie said. “Do you have any old family photos?”