Chapter 1

"Okay boys, here we are," said Laura Hardy as she pulled up in front of a quaint log cabin. Colossal oak trees stretched around the house as far as the eye could see, and a glimmer of water was discernable through the trees from the lake in the distance.

"All right!" six-year-old Joe exclaimed, and was out of the car before Laura had even turned off the engine.

"Mom, do you need a hand with the bags?" another voice piped up from the back seat.

Laura turned around and smiled at the serious face. "It's okay, Frank. Why don't you go and play with Joe while I bring everything in and unpack?"

"Are you sure?" Frank asked.

"Positive, honey. Thanks for asking, but I want you to go have fun." Laura tousled his dark hair and Frank smiled at her as he opened the door and slid out of the car.

"Frank! C'mere! You gotta come see this!" Laura could hear a small voice calling gleefully from behind a large tree.

"Joe Hardy! You'd better not be looking for another bee's nest!" his mother called out sternly. "I don't want a repeat of what happened at the park!"

Laura frowned as her blond haired son emerged from behind a tree and looked at her guiltily.

They had gone on a family picnic to the park two months ago, and Joe had found a bee's nest in a nearby tree which he had very kindly knocked to the ground in order to share his discovery with his family.

Unfortunately, the bees hadn't taken too kindly to being disturbed, and the whole family had had to run to the nearby pond in order to escape the swarm. Joe's father had grounded him for a week.

"I'm not, I promise, Mom!" Joe answered truthfully. He really wasn't interested in finding another bee's nest. He'd gotten into enough trouble the last time. Besides, they were in the woods now and there were far more interesting things to look for.

Like skunks for instance…

Joe wanted to find one and see if they really smelled as bad as everyone said they did.

Laura smiled at the earnest little face. "Okay, Joe. Just be good, alright? I'm going to unpack and make us some lunch. What would you boys like?"

"Pizza!" answered the boys in unison and grinned at one another.

"Pizza it is," their mother agreed. "Don't wander away anywhere! I'll call when lunch is ready."

Laura Hardy smiled at her sons as they began to chatter excitedly and climb the trees surrounding the cabin. There were just two weeks of summer vacation left before the boys returned to school, and the Hardy family had rented this little cabin in the woods near Lake Adams in order to spend some quality time together. However, not every member of the Hardy family had come on the trip.

Laura scowled to herself as she began carrying the bags from the car to the cabin. Her husband should have been here to help and, more importantly, to spend time with his wife and sons.

Fenton Hardy had moved to Bayport just three years ago after leaving the New York Police Department and had started his own business as a Private Investigator. The past year had been extremely busy for Fenton, as word of his success as an investigator spread. He even had to hire an assistant, Sam Radley.

However, his success meant that he often had to cancel family holidays such as this one. Laura was proud of her husband, but it was at times like this that she wished he had remained a police officer.

As she began to unpack the bags, she wondered if her husband would be able to join them for a few days at least; he had promised he would try.

Laura fervently hoped he would. The boys had been crushed when they had learned that their father had to cancel yet another holiday, and Laura had decided to continue with the trip without her husband. She had consoled the boys with the promise that their father would try and join them for a few days, and was praying that they wouldn't be disappointed again.

As she began to prepare lunch, Laura frowned. Her husband's success meant that the Hardys were now living a very comfortable life, but the cost was that Fenton was missing out on watching his sons grow up.

Laura shook her head and reached out to turn on the tap in the kitchen sink, then froze in shock as a blond head sailed through the air just outside the kitchen window.

"Joe!" she cried rushing to the back door of the kitchen that led outside, afraid that her son had fallen from a tree. Pushing the door open, Laura sighed with relief.

Joe was fine. He was laughing hysterically, swinging back and forth on a sturdy rope that someone had tied to a large oak tree. Frank stood a little further away watching Joe with some trepidation.

"Be careful on that rope, Joe!" Laura warned, stepping onto the wooden porch. "Don't fall, and make sure that Frank has a turn."

"I don't want a go," Frank informed her, as he continued to eye the rope with distrust. "It doesn't look safe."

"Frank, honey, look how sturdy that rope is," said Laura. "And look how strong the tree is. Give it a go, it looks like fun."

"Yeah, Frank! This is great! Wheeeee!" Joe whooped as he swung crazily on the rope.

"Okay, but don't you dare push me, Joe!" Frank warned. "I can push myself."

As Joe slid from the rope and Frank prepared to take his turn, Laura hid a smile and returned to the kitchen.

Fenton really didn't know what he was missing with his sons she reflected, a little sadly, as she continued with lunch. Laura enjoyed watching her sons grow up and play together. Frank and Joe's closeness afforded her a great sense of satisfaction and contentment.

It also entertained her beyond measure to see how different her sons were.

Frank, at seven and a half, was tall and thin with dark hair and eyes; and Laura could already see that he was going to be a very handsome man like his father. Frank was a quiet, serious child, and very intelligent. Laura had never seen any child conduct themselves with the poise and maturity that Frank did, although sometimes she wished he would let himself go a little. Children were only children for a short time but they were adults forever.

The exact opposite was true of Joe, and Laura often wished he had some of his older brother's caution.

Joe was six, and took after his mother with blond hair and blue eyes. An adorable child, he was very small for his age; but what he lacked in size, he made up for in personality. Joe was a ball of energy; constantly moving, exploring, fidgeting, talking…anything other than sitting still. He was also an impulsive child, which tended to worry Laura a little. She hoped he would outgrow it.

Laughter floated into the kitchen from outside and Laura stopped to listen. She might wish that certain elements of her sons rubbed off on each other, but if the opportunity arose to grant that wish, would she take it? After all, their differences were what made them special, both to her and one another. When Joe was around, Frank tended to laugh more and behave more like a child. Joe on the other hand, hero-worshipped his older brother and sometimes tried to emulate Frank's mature ways.

Laura smiled to herself as she set the table. She was definitely wrong in wanting to change her sons, even if it was just a little, because they were perfect the way they were.

"Boys, lunch is ready," she called out.

Two grimy little figures raced headlong through the kitchen door, laughing and wrestling as they came.

"Boys, not in the kitchen," their mother admonished gently. "And wash your hands before you eat, please."

"Sorry, Mom," they chorused and headed for the bathroom.

Minutes later, they re-entered the kitchen and slipped quickly into their seats at the table.

"Did you have fun this afternoon?" Laura asked them as they ate hungrily.

"Ifwazgreafun," Joe immediately replied through a mouthful of pizza.

"Joe," his mother grimaced. "Don't eat and speak at the same time."

"Sorry," Joe mumbled through another mouthful of pizza.

Frank grinned at his brother and then turned to his mother. "We had fun," he informed her. "This place is great, there's so much to explore. Can we go for a walk after lunch? Please, Mom? I promise we won't go far."

"Yeah, Mom, please?" Joe chimed in.

Laura looked at the two eager little faces and laughed. "I'll tell you what, after lunch why don't you boys help me pack a small picnic and we'll all go for a walk. Maybe even go swimming at the lake?"

The boys cheered enthusiastically at this suggestion and Laura's smile widened. She was looking forward to spending the afternoon with her sons.