Secret of the Lake: Book 1

By Vaunda Lynn Gage

Book 1 - Discover the secret to Diane's famous orchard in the Secret of the Lake. Visiting family at the lake during the summer is a wonderful tradition for Canadian cousins: Wyatt, Kadence, Nyomi, Jack, Sophie, Cash, and Cruz. Join the Canadian cousins as they share their vacation with you. Hike the trails and spend time in the amazing forests and cliffs as the seven cousins make friends and solve mysteries with mythical and magical neighbours.

Ride the waters and take in the sun. Make a new friend and solve unbelievable mysteries—whatever story they share around the evening’s campfire with hot chocolate and roasted marshmallows, it’s sure to be a memorable one! Be sure to check out all 7 adventures and meet a new friend in each book. Each book follows a new summer vacation adventure and focuses on one of the close cousins as they share their discoveries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dream Write Publishing
• Release date: Nov 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781988723136

Book preview

SECRET OF THE LAKE

Vaunda Lynn Gage

Dream Write Publishing Ltd.

P. O. Box 57083 RPO Eastgate

Sherwood Park AB T8A 5L7

Canada

www.dreamwritepublishing.ca

©Vaunda Lynn Gage 2017

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means: graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, scanning, or by any information retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author, with the exception of brief quotations in reviews or articles. Please contact publisher for use. The publisher and the author are dedicated to bringing quality literary products to readers everywhere. In House Rating: YA - General Audience

For speaking engagements and classroom presentations, please contact the author through the publisher. For multiple print book purchases, please inquire. Use of the Canada 150 logo on the print publication is under license from the Canadian government C17328 until December 31st, 2017.

Secret of the Lake

Book 1

Mysteries at the Lake

Canadian Cousins Okanagan Adventures Series

ISBN #978-1-988723-13-6

Editing, Book and Cover Design by Dream Write Publishing

Illustrations: Linda J. Pedley

Canada Archives Cataloging in Publication

Mysteries at the Lake

Gage, Vaunda Lynn (b. November 24, 1951-)

Look for this novel in POD

Print-on-Demand by CreateSpace

E-Book Series Available Books 1 through 7

Smashwords and Amazon

DEDICATED TO WYATT

Wyatt, you are my first-born grandchild and the love of my life.

Watching you grow into a young man has been a privilege.

You are a thoughtful young man who cares deeply about others.

An honour student, great basketball player, and friend to many.

I love how you challenge yourself to succeed.

You have been tested many times to do the right thing

and you have always made me proud with your choices.

You will grow into a handsome, talented, thoughtful young man

and I know you will make a difference in the world you live.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One – Leaving

Chapter Two – Vacation

Chapter Three – What’s the Big Secret

Chapter Four – The Best of Friends

Chapter Five – Legend of the Serpent

Chapter Six – An Enemy in the House

Chapter Seven – Something Fishy

Chapter Eight – Keeping the Secret

Other Books by this Author

Question and Answer

About the Author

SECRET OF THE LAKE

The secret of the lake

Lies beneath its surface

Like a snake of old

It travels ‘to and fro’

Its name is ancient

N’ha-A-Itk, or is it Ogopogo?

CHAPTER ONE

Leaving Home

Wyatt, hurry up! You’ll be late catching the train. We can’t wait around all day!

Wyatt’s mother was now counting to two, and soon she would take action. Three was the maximum she allowed. Wyatt didn’t want to wait for the third call, so he put a little more speed into making his bed and putting his stuff away. He took one last look around his room as he tried to block out the sound of his mother’s angry voice.

It was the same thing every summer. He and his sister, Nyomi, were going for their annual vacation to their Great Aunt Diane’s house in Peachland, British Columbia. The old home was right on Lake Okanogan and they could swim to their heart’s content at the beach a few blocks from their aunt’s orchard. The swimming area was surrounded by logs to keep the kids from going out too far. With a slip line, the kids could jump off the pier, grab the line, swing out and let go. They could then swim to a floating raft in the middle of the swimming area. The beach was across from Squally Point, a spot where many of the locals claimed to see Ogopogo, the serpent in the lake.

Summer was always Wyatt’s favourite time of year. At the age of thirteen, he still found that going to Diane’s for the summer was something he looked forward to all year. Maybe, this would be the year his great aunt shared her secret with him! She always said she would tell him when he was old enough. Anxiously, he headed to the front door, pulling his duffel bag behind him.

I’m coming, Wyatt answered, knowing his mother would not leave without him.

Great Aunt Diane lived alone in her big house with only a housekeeper for company. Her orchard was just west of Kelowna in Peachland. It was the most famous orchard in the country. Her fruit and vegetables were award-winning in size and flavour, and she shipped them all over Canada. She was hounded for years for the secret of her exceptional growing power, but no one could crack how she did it.

Wyatt’s a slow poke! Wyatt’s a slow poke! Nyomi teased.

Once seated in the van, the irritating voice of Nyomi assaulted his ears. Big green eyes sparkled with triumph once she was sure she got a rise out of him. Stating the obvious usually got a reaction, but today her parents were not in the mood for her pranks.

Nyomi. Be quiet. Stop teasing your brother. Natasha, their mother, snapped