The Quest for The Cat's Eye Ruby: A Four Cousins Mystery

By Margaret Krivchenia

The breathtaking Chimney Rock State Park and Lake Lure in North Carolina is where the four cousins, Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker, are traveling with their parents for a two-week family vacation. Rock climbing, swimming, hiking, exploring, horseback riding, and a treetop adventure are all part of the fun they're anticipating. Their parents have rented a house on the shores of Lake Lure, right across the serene waters from a rather creepy-looking, eerie house on the opposite shore. Emma senses that something is amiss immediately. From the moment that she passes Chimney Rock Mountain, she hears the word hidden in her mind. She quietly tells Harrison, and the adventure soon begins as the mystery unfolds.

The four cousins meet new friends at the Gemstone Mine in Chimney Rock Village. Hannah, Brie, Henry, and Travis have moved there with their dad from Painted Canyon, Wyoming. Their dad has a dangerous secret to keep, and he has fled to this small town to hide from relentless pursuers.

Unfortunately, he and his family, unbeknownst to him, have been hunted and found by this evil individual and his captive crew. There is a family heirloom that this man covets, and he is determined to have it.

Soon, the four cousins become embroiled in this new adventure and mystery as they try to help them. Once again, they are faced with harrowing adventures as they are chased through Chimney Rock Mountain with all its caves, narrow rock-strewn trails, and frightening drop-offs.

Hold your breath as you enjoy the heart-stopping moments as Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker attempt to save their friends and bring peace and hope to a needy family as well as save Peter and his father, the unwilling participants in Jackson's diabolical scheme. It will take all their combined ingenuity to navigate the traps set by the man consumed by his desire to have the Cat's Eye Ruby for himself.

This is a tale of the four cousins' belief in one another; their love for Hannah, Brie, Henry, Travis, and their dad; and most of all, their trust in God to save them all.

Curl up in a chair and settle down for a thrilling ride through the pages of The Quest for the Cat's Eye Ruby.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 18, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889433255

Book preview

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The Quest for The Cat's Eye Ruby

A Four Cousins Mystery

Margaret Krivchenia

ISBN 979-8-88943-324-8 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88943-589-1 (hardcover)

ISBN 979-8-88943-325-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Margaret Krivchenia

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To children everywhere who love adventure, fun, and mystery!

Especially my wonderful grandchildren Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker!

Prologue

Chapter 1

Awesome Sights!

Chapter 2

Faces in the Window

Chapter 3

The Lake House

Chapter 4

Forbidding Emptiness

Chapter 5

Under the Stairs

Chapter 6

The Journey of the Cat's Eye

Chapter 7

Unexpected Friends

Chapter 8

The Light in the Window

Chapter 9

Sinister Intentions

Chapter 10

Unsuspecting Tourists

Chapter 11

Fateful Encounter

Chapter 12

Caught in the Web

Chapter 13

Two Burglars!

Chapter 14

The Break-In

Chapter 15

An Eventful Evening

Chapter 16

The Foreboding

Chapter 17

A Shocking Discovery

Chapter 18

A Desperate Plea

Chapter 19

Into the Trees

Chapter 20

A Revelation

Chapter 21

The Scheme to Catch the Thief

Chapter 22

Disguised Danger

Chapter 23

Perilous Paths

Chapter 24

The Quest for the Cat's Eye Ruby

Epilogue

Eight Months Later

About the Author

To children everywhere who love adventure, fun, and mystery!

Especially my wonderful grandchildren Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker!

Prologue

The four cousins, Kate, Emma, Harrison, and Parker, spent last Christmas in Asheville, North Carolina, solving the mystery hidden deep in the Mysterious Mansion. Now, it is the following summer in July, and our sleuths are vacationing near the sparkling waters of Lake Lure, North Carolina, nestled in the environs of Hickory Nut Gorge with Chimney Rock Mountain with its twisting trails, caves, and strange rock formations looming above. Lake Lure was the setting for some of the past's most memorable films such as Dirty Dancing while Chimney Rock Mountain provided the hair-raising pursuits in the movie based on the classic novel The Last of the Mohicans. Also, there is the legend that one of the rooms at the historic Inn of Lake Lure is haunted. So the four cousins are ready to immerse themselves in all that this area has to offer. Their parents have rented a house on the lake surrounded by nature and wildlife. Soon, they will be exploring the area and climbing the famed Chimney Rock as well as visiting the charming village of Chimney Rock itself. They have a full vacation of activities planned, including horseback riding, hiking, a high-top tree excursion as well as swimming, boating, and toasting marshmallows around a cozy fire.

What could possibly go wrong in such an idyllic, peaceful location? Is there a new mystery waiting to be solved, filled with harrowing adventures and narrow escapes? As the four cousins excitedly anticipate the days ahead, they cannot imagine the frightening past that they will be called upon to confront as they seek to save an innocent family from the designs of an evil pursuer.

Chapter 1

Awesome Sights!

Wow! Look up there! Is that the American flag flying on top of the mountain? I think that I see people standing around it, Harrison exclaimed to his cousin Emma as they opened the car window to get a better look.

After lunch on the way to Lake Lure, Parker and Harrison had decided to ride with Kate and Emma in their aunt and uncle's RV on the final leg of the journey to their destination. They were amazed as the two-lane road twisted and turned, climbing higher and higher through thick, dark evergreens. A rocky, fast-moving stream followed the highway with fish visible swimming in its clear waters. The boulders strewn along the side of the water invited climbing and picture taking. There were even a few thrill seekers navigating the rapids on rafts.

What fun! Harrison thought. He hoped that rafting would be one of their activities in the coming days.

Parker, look up! Kate said as she pulled her youngest cousin to her side as she gazed at the famed Chimney Rock.

Kate, at fifteen years of age, was the oldest of the four cousins. She had the map of Chimney Rock spread out on her lap as she circled the time-carved formations with names such as The Opera Box and Devil's Head. She had traced the trails and natural staircases and waterfalls and found it all fascinating. She couldn't wait to explore the area that rose three hundred and fifty feet above her where the flag waved in all its glory.

Are we going to climb that mountain? Parker asked in wonder.

Well, we certainly are going to go there. However, there is an elevator to take us part of the way. You'll see! We'll be spending a whole day there soon, his uncle reassured him.

Emma was also gazing upward at the cliffs above her. She felt the all-too-familiar premonition of something coming. The words that came uninvited into her consciousness were secret and hidden. She tried determinedly to dispel this thought, but secret, the strongest of the words, kept reverberating in her mind. What could it mean? Emma pondered this message that seemed to tumble from the rocks above into her imagination. She sat so still that Harrison looked at her, puzzled by her quietness, for Emma was vibrant and talkative with interesting ideas spilling out of her much like the springs of water that cascaded down the bubbling stream on its way to Lake Lure. There was a cloud that seemed to cover her like an early morning fog. Harrison intuitively knew that something was troubling her, and he had seen that look before. He remembered when they had been in Montana on their way to see their friend Jimmy and had become embroiled in the adventure of the Broken Arrow Mine. Emma had looked at the forest surrounding that region with the same intensity.

What's the matter, Emma? You look like you've seen a ghost. Did you hear something? Harrison inquired with concern in his voice.

His question seemed to break Emma's concentration, and she turned quickly to silence her cousin as she didn't want to draw anyone else's attention to her.

No, I'm fine. I was just thinking and lost in thought. I can't wait to see the house and begin exploring. That's all! I'm just a little tired from the driving and being cooped up in the car.

Harrison regarded her, and he thought that there was something that she was not sharing, but maybe he was just imagining it. He hoped so as he and Emma were close friends as well as cousins. They were the same age, both eleven, with birthdays only two months apart. They had so much in common, especially their love of adventure.

Dad, are we almost to our house? I can't wait to get out of this car and see where we're staying, Emma spoke excitedly, trying to exude an emotion of carefree fun that she was not feeling as the words secret and hidden had unnerved her. She would tell Harrison about it later.

As they rounded the next bend, they were greeted by a sign welcoming them to Chimney Rock Village. On either side of the street were quaint shops, beckoning to visitors.

The four cousins and their parents decided to stop for lunch, and as they were exiting the car, Parker spied something that immediately captivated him.

Dad! Look! Parker was pointing to a sign that announced that gems of all kinds and colors could be found in the Gemstone Mine, located just two blocks down the street.

Can we go there now? Parker said as he radiated enthusiasm as he began to run in the direction of the mine.

Wait! Parker! Maybe tomorrow. We need to have lunch and go find our house and unpack. We have a lot to do this afternoon. I promise that searching for gems will be the first thing we do in the morning after breakfast! Okay?

Parker stopped and looked back, clearly disappointed. However, he realized that his stomach was growling, and he had noticed an ice cream shop nearby. So he reasoned that their stop in the village would not be a total loss as he loved to snack. Parker was not a big eater, but he had his favorites such as grilled cheese sandwiches and raspberry sherbet. His mind turned in anticipation of filling his cravings with these selections.

The restaurant that they had chosen for lunch was one where you placed your order at the counter, and there was a long line of people reading the posted extensive menu. So after telling their parents what they would like to eat, the four cousins went outside to find a table in the back area that sloped down to the river. Soon they were enjoying climbing over the boulders and exploring the wooden bridge that spanned the rushing waters. The formidable Chimney Rock Mountain loomed above them.

Emma felt a strong pull to look up expectantly at the imposing rock formation, and a shiver went down her spine.

There is something up there that shouldn't be there. I feel it, and I can almost see it! Emma had not realized that she had spoken her thoughts out loud.

What are you saying? Are your senses working overtime again? Harrison exclaimed.

Her words had caused Harrison to stop on his way to the water's edge with one foot still planted on a decaying, fallen log as he turned back to her in concern. He had learned in their past adventures to pay close attention to her premonitions.

Oh! It's nothing! I guess I was just thinking out loud. Just a strange thought came into my mind! You know me! Emma laughed as she tried to dispel the chill that went through her. She so hoped that this would be a peaceful vacation with no frantic or panic-driven escapes. She was not ready for another mystery even though she loved investigating and solving puzzles. She just wanted to swim, ride horses, explore, and read her favorite adventure novel in a cozy and quiet place in their house on the shores of Lake Lure.

Yes, I do know you, Emma, and you don't have random thoughts rolling around in your brain. Tell me! What is it? I can keep a secret! Harrison assured her.

That's just it. You used the word that keeps coming to me when I stand in the shadow of Chimney Rock. ‘Secret!' There is something hidden on that mountain. I feel its presence and not in a bad way. I can't describe it. I just know, and it's going to involve all of us! I think that we're going to have to find it, Emma tried to explain what she was feeling and thinking to Harrison.

"Well, if something is hidden, then someone doesn't want it to be found. It sounds like there is danger. Someone is afraid. I know you don't want to hear this, but I think we have another mystery on our hands. We'll just keep it between us.