The Mystery of Kissing Gate Woods

By Sandra Maggs

"There's magic in the air, perhaps it arrived with you."
Bess Hooper is reluctantly dragged away on a two week holiday with her family. While away she meets the annoying Maisy who learns that Bess has just solved a mystery from a century ago and asks for her help to look for a family heirloom that has been missing for decades.
In an effort to avoid her, Bess escapes to the nearby woods that Maisy and her brother are forbidden to explore. Realising that she is not alone, Bess discovers a cottage in amongst the trees and gets to know the occupants, Grace and Patrick. Instantly falling for Patrick, she spends more time with them hoping for her very first kiss. But there's something very odd about it all, which Bess discovers when she invites her brother Tom along and they find the cottage in a derelict state.
Determined to get to the bottom of it, with the help of a badly drawn picture and the ramblings of an old woman, Bess finally works out what's happening, and in the process, solves the mystery of Kissing Gate Woods.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandra Maggs
• Release date: Aug 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463294635

Sandra Maggs

I was born in a library and raised on literature. From a young age I wrote my own stories and read them to anyone who would listen. After years of hard work and determination, I'm finally dabbling in the world of Indie Publishing and I love it! My favourite genre is fantasy, but I'll give anything a shot.

Book preview

The Mystery of Kissing Gate Woods

Copywrite 2018 Sandra Maggs

Published by Sandra Maggs at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Chapter One

Bess Hooper imagined lazing by a pool tanning herself with Craig Watkins by her side. She pictured them both sipping fruit drinks from hollowed out pineapples as they enjoyed the warm rays of the sun. It was the perfect daydream, but, at the moment, impossible.

Reality reminded her of the events which had contributed to the predicament she was in now. After breaking her leg solving a crime from over a century ago, her parents had decided a holiday was the best medicine. So lying around baking in the sun with her almost boyfriend was out of the question. She pictured his sparkling blue eyes and imagined gazing into them for hours. He was faultless and the first boy she had ever been serious about. Not only had Bess never had a boyfriend, she was still waiting patiently to receive her first real kiss and not just a peck in passing. Now her parents had ruined her plans by taking her and her brother Tom on holiday for two weeks. Originally the trip away was going to be much longer, but her father’s work commitments couldn’t be avoided, which, according to Bess was a blessing in disguise. It really couldn’t have happened at a worse time though and she wished they weren’t going at all.

Taking a holiday in the countryside when you already live in the countryside was the most ridiculous thing Bess had ever heard, but after the past few months, she fully understood why. Although, she would never admit that to her mum and dad. They just wanted to get away for a while and spend some quiet time together as a family, without any mishaps, or unwanted attention from the local media. They were fortunate to find somewhere suitable for the four of them at such short notice. Apparently some places would rather you have a dog than a teenager.

The journey to the market town of Smackleton was just over three hours. Having a cast on her leg made the car ride uncomfortable and Bess couldn’t wait to get out of the hot confined space in the back seat so she could hobble around in the fresh air on her crutches. Her mother had offered to let her sit in the front, but when they moved the seat forward as far as it would go, there was just enough room for Bess to sit comfortably in the back.

A bungalow on the outskirts of the village near some woods would be their home for two weeks and offered peace and quiet, which, as far as their mother was concerned, would do them all a world of good. But all Bess could think about was Craig Watkins and his charming personality. What if he kissed another girl while she was away? She would never forgive her parents for ruining things for her. It would probably affect her mentally for a very long time. Bess pictured herself attending therapy sessions in her seventies because of an event which occurred during her teenage years.

Blazing in the sky, the sun blasted through the car window. Bess opened it a bit to let some air in and then closed it immediately. The noise was annoying. Using the book she was reading to fan herself, she wished they had stayed home so she could spend the rest of the summer holidays with her friends. She wasn’t expecting to meet anyone her age in the countryside and if she did, they would most likely be locals and not interested in having an outsider hanging around. It was just a waste of two weeks.

Looking across at her younger brother with his head resting against the car window and his eyes closed, she felt slightly jealous. Tom could fall asleep anywhere and she couldn’t. It certainly would have made the trip quicker and easier to bear. She wondered how he did it, perhaps he could give her some tips. Bess had tried to take a nap, but she couldn’t get comfortable, so staring out of the window at the passing trees and fields filled with livestock and vegetables growing, was the way she spent the time.

Taking a sip of water from a drink bottle, a quick glance at her mobile phone revealed no service. Great, just what she needed. Not only was Bess going to spend two whole weeks away from her best friend Eloise and a potential end of summer romance with Craig, there was nothing to do except read until she got to Smackleton. Just the name of the place put her off. Her parents had holidayed in the village when they were first married. On countless occasions she had heard the story of them pointing blindly to a place on a map and taking off on the weekends just for fun. Now she was reliving their years before children and Bess felt as though it was some sort of punishment. Having to listen to them reminisce on the way was bad enough. She hoped their past wasn’t going to be the topic of conversation for the next two weeks.

We’re almost there Bess, her mother said from the front seat. I hope you’re not too uncomfortable.

No Mum, everything’s fine, she lied. It was kind of her mother to ask, but there was no point moaning about it out loud, nothing could be done. It wasn’t like they could conjure up hinges in the plaster.

Bess breathed a sigh of relief when they finally pulled up at the holiday bungalow. Poking her brother in the arm, she opened the door of the car. We’re here, she said to Tom as she carefully climbed out of the vehicle. Taking a look at the house, she felt bored already. Glancing up and down the road they were on, Bess decided there was nothing special about Smackleton and couldn’t wait to leave. Perhaps she could sleep for two weeks and be nice and rested by the time she returned to her real life.

Yawning, Tom opened the door he was leaning against and put his feet on the ground. Standing, he stretched, yawned once more, and went to grab a suitcase from the car boot. He couldn’t expect his sister to help, she was an invalid and it would most likely take her several hours just to get one case into the house. It was best for him to do it.

Bess hobbled inside and looked around. It was ordinary, with ordinary furniture and ordinary décor. At least there were no stairs to scale and the place didn’t smell awful, just a bit musty like it had been closed up for a while. Since she had broken her leg, life had been difficult. Hobbling up and down the stairs with a plaster cast on her leg was something she wouldn’t miss. Here though, there was only the one level and although she wouldn’t be able to explore the area the way she knew her brother would at first, at least she had a little privacy and didn’t have to spend most of her time in the living room. In a few days, Bess would have the cast removed from her leg and she would be able to do everything she could before the accident.

Which bedroom do you want? Tom asked as he dragged his sister’s suitcase towards the single rooms.

Checking out each of the bedrooms, they were identical. Both were painted in boring magnolia and both had single beds, a chest of drawers and a full-length mirror. This one, she said, as she hopped through the doorway and sat on the bed. Sometimes it was easier not to use the crutches and they were starting to annoy her. A few times, Bess had limped around the house without them, only to get in trouble from her parents. Swinging her leg up, she shifted into a comfortable position and leaned back against the pillows. Closing her eyes, it was definitely time to take a nap and the bed was certainly very cosy. But for the injured girl who had spent the last three hours cooped up in the back seat of a car, sleep just wouldn’t come.

Sitting up, Bess took a sip of water from her drink bottle and looked around her properly. The room was small but comfortable and light from the window saved the slightly gloomy furniture. She decided if she ever had a rental property for the purpose of holidays it would probably be decorated in the same way. There was no point wasting the good stuff