The Heath Cousins and the Moonstone Cave: Book 1 in the Heath Cousins Series

By Eileen Hobbs and Mark Brayer

Addie B. and her cousins, Jack, Beanie, and Bodie are mourning the loss of their grandmother Winnie. While visiting their grandfather's beach house in Maine, Addie receives a mysterious treasure box once owned by her grandmother. In it is a moonstone ring and a mysterious poem. The poem leads Addie and her cousins to nearby Moonstone Cave where

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patsy Eileen Wilson
• Release date: Jul 11, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885901963

Eileen Hobbs

Eileen Hobbs grew up in Thailand where her parents were missionaries. She likes to write books that have diverse characters and that take her readers to places they might not otherwise get to explore in real life. The Heath Cousins stories are all based on the growing-up years of her own children and their cousins. Eileen lives in Oklahoma with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. She teaches English composition to international students at a nearby university. She enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and going to the beach.

Book preview

Chapter 1

ADDIE B.

Addie B., whose whole and proper name was Adelaide Bennington Winifred Heath after her grandparents on both sides of the family, sat next to her mother and father on the airplane with her arms folded tightly across her chest. She had a very serious frown on her otherwise pleasantly freckled face.

Addie B., her mother asked gently. Why do you have such a sour puss face?

I don’t want to spend the summer with those stupid boy cousins! Addie B. huffed. They’ll probably chase me, play with frogs and gross things, and be really loud. I can’t imagine having a bit of fun with them. How could you, Mum? How could you agree to spend three weeks with all of them?

Addie B.! her mother said again, a little more forcefully this time. Don’t you know how special it is to be a part of a larger family? I was an only child, and I was always so lonely. You’re an only child, too, at least for now. You should be glad to have some other kids to play with.

But they’re all boys, Mum! What will we find to do together? The only thing we have in common is our last name!

I’m sure if you give it a chance, Addie B., that you’ll find you have a lot in common. Before long, you’ll all be playing together happily, swimming in the ocean, and running around like best pals.

Addie B. didn’t answer but said, under her breath, something like Hmph, because she did not believe her mother at all. She had only met the terrible cousins one or two times. Once was when she was a baby, so she didn’t remember that. The second time was about three years ago, when she was nine years old. Thankfully, that was only for one week at Christmas, and there wasn’t too much time to have to be with them. All the other times she had visited her grandparents’ house, the cousins had not been there, and she had had the whole place to herself. But this time, she would be with three rowdy boys! Ugh. Jack, Beanie, and Bodie. What silly names, she thought.

Addie B. looked out her window and saw the clear blue ocean far beneath her. It really was beautiful from way up here. In a few hours, she would be landing on the East Coast of America, and then they’d be off to the summer beach house that the Heaths had been going to since her grandparents had been married. She thought of her grandmother longingly, her kindly dark-brown eyes, like Addie’s dad’s. Her skin had still been smooth and tan, due to her American Indian heritage. Her beautiful hair had turned white and had flowed down her back like a frothy wave. This time, for the first time, her wonderful grandma Winnie would not be there to greet her, walk with her on the beach, and talk about the books they loved to read. How was she going to be there without her? Addie wondered. It hurt so much just to think about it.

Addie leaned against the window of the plane and wiped away tears from her eyes. She must have been very tired, because after a few minutes, her eyes felt very heavy. With one last sweet thought of her grandmother, and several unkind thoughts about her cousins, Adelaide Bennington Winifred Heath fell fast asleep.

Chapter 2

THE HEATH BOYS

At the time that Addie B. was dreaming peacefully high above them, the Heath boys were riding along in their bright-red Jeep Cherokee, singing at the top of their lungs, a song about blue cows and purple pigs. No one really knew what the song meant because Bodie, who was six years old, had just made it up, and no one ever quite knew what Bodie’s songs were about. Nevertheless, his two older brothers, Beanie, who was nine, and Jack, who was thirteen, had been instructed by their parents to play along so there would be peace in the car until they reached Winston Cove. Bodie, however, was the first to give up.

Dad! Bodie hollered from the back seat. When will we be there?

About an hour, Bodie, Spencer Heath called back.

You said an hour last time, Bodie whined.

That’s because you just asked me five minutes ago, Bodie! his dad reminded him. But look! Mr. Heath pointed out the left side of the car window. I can see the ocean!

All three boys turned abruptly to look out the window, and sure enough, peeping through the rows of trees along the road, they caught flashes of silver.

I can’t wait to get there, Beanie piped up. "Just think, three whole