Penned In - Lynn Cahoon Page 0,28

against the stink had already faded. She should have dealt with the issue and not just taken the easy way out. Grans was right, she really needed to work harder on her craft.

That did it. She closed her eyes, prepared her spell to find the rotten produce, and then exhaled with the words. “Inveniet foetidus.”

A glow came from the back of the room and she could see the offending box. And, as an added benefit, her spell had covered up the gagging odor in the room. She cleared a way to the leaking box, shoved it in a trash bag without even opening it, running the bag outside to the dumpster in the alley.

Ten minutes later, she’d sprayed and cleaned the area, putting the used paper towels in another bag, and when she’d taken that out, the odor was gone. Not just hidden, but gone.

“Thank the Goddess.” Mia went back to her charts and lists and broke open another box that this time, held canned green beans.

A noise came from the front door and she looked up to see Pricilla Powers enter the warehouse. Pricilla was one of Grans’s friends from the local coven, and had tried to recruit Mia after finding out Mia wasn’t practicing in Boise. A fake smile curved the newcomer’s lips. “Mia! So nice to see you again. I didn’t know you were up from town.”

Boise wasn’t that far away from Magic Springs, but everyone here seemed to think it wasn’t drivable in a few hours. They also thought Boise was filled with traffic and crime and all sorts of big city vices. Really, the opposite was true. Boise was the biggest little town there was. “Good afternoon, Pricilla. I’d get up but I’m a mess. I’ve been cleaning for the last few hours. A hot bath is on my list as soon as I’m back at Grans. She’s in the office.”

“Oh, I came to help.” Pricilla stepped closer in her three-inch-high heels and what Mia would call a Sunday dress. The ruffles on the bodice bounced as she walked. Not quite a work outfit.

“It’s crazy dusty back here. I hate to see you get that lovely dress dirty.” Or break a nail. Mia pointed to the office. “I’m sure Grans and Tasha could use some help with the flyers they’re developing. I believe they’re having trouble with the software.”

“I guess I’m being called to help the technologically challenged.” The smile she put on her face reminded Mia of a snake slithering around the woman’s face. She sniffed the air. “Besides, since you’re using magic to get the warehouse in shape, I’m sure it won’t take much longer.”

Mia opened her mouth to respond, but then clamped it shut. She watched as Pricilla clacked her way to the office and disappeared inside. She’d been called out.

Mia tried not to use magic to solve everyday issues, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

“What a witch.” Mia mumbled, as she returned to moving the box of green beans.

As she moved through the boxes, she thought of the dishes that could be made with the food. She didn’t often use canned food at the restaurant, but at home, she took a few shortcuts. Not like Isaac was home much anymore to notice. She thought of their last conversation when she told him she was taking a week off to help Grans with the food drive. He’d seemed relieved, happy for her to be out of town. Maybe he was feeling the stress of the relationship too. When she got back, she’d cook a nice dinner, and they’d talk this out. They were so busy, they never saw each other anymore. Something else nagged at her, but she pushed the thought away. She could fix this.

Lost in her plans to repair her broken relationship, she didn’t notice her grandmother’s presence until she touched her hand. Then Mia almost dropped a box of spaghetti on her own foot.

“Sorry dear, I thought you’d heard me walk up.” Grans took the box that was slipping off the top of the pile Mia held in her arms. “Let’s sit this down and go home. I’ve ordered food from the Lodge and James will send someone to deliver it while we put our feet up.”

Mia nodded to the shelf nearest them. “Just sit these over there. I’m going to have to figure out everything we have before I can assign shelves. And we need to set up a rotation system so the oldest food gets given