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put on a pot of coffee. You can come and get me when it’s over.”

Chapter Four
    â€œI t just about killed Moishe not to go for that mouse, but he sat there like a miniature statue of the Sphinx and let it run circles around him,” Hannah reported to Lisa as they had an early morning cup of coffee at their favorite table in the back of The Cookie Jar. “I know he wanted it. He was making that excited little ack-ack sound in his throat, the one he always makes right before he pounces on a bug.”
    â€œThat’s really strange, especially because he’s such a good mouser. Do you think the strange surroundings threw him off?”
    â€œI guess that could have been a factor, but I don’t think so. I’m almost positive he knew he’d be catching that mouse as a favor to Delores.”
    â€œAnd he didn’t want to do a favor for someone he didn’t like?”
    â€œRight. Do you think I’m crazy for attributing such a complicated motive to a cat?”
    Lisa shook her head. “Moishe’s not just any cat. He’s the smartest cat I’ve ever met and it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if you were right. Was your mother upset when he didn’t get rid of her mouse?”
    â€œShe doesn’t know. I told her she didn’t have to worry about the mouse anymore, and I made sure the guest room door was open when we left. I’m hoping it’ll go out the same way it got in.”
    â€œHow about if she sees it again?”
    â€œShe’ll think it’s a different mouse. It’s not like they wear name tags, you know. And that might be enough to convince her to let me come over and set traps.”
    The phone shrilled sharply and Hannah exchanged glances with Lisa. It could be someone with a catering order, but there hadn’t been any catering orders for at least a week.
    â€œYour mother?” Lisa asked.
    â€œMother,” Hannah said at the very same time.
    The two friends and business partners laughed. Then Hannah got up to answer the phone, hoping that the call had nothing to do with reappearing mice. “Hello, Mother.”
    â€œHow did you know it was me?” Delores asked. “It could have been someone with a catering order.”
    â€œI don’t think there’s much chance of that.”
    â€œYou’re right, and that’s why I called. I was in the Magnolia Blossom Bakery yesterday and it was wall-to-wall people. They’re cutting into your business, aren’t they?”
    â€œYou could say that.”
    â€œThat’s what I was afraid of. We tasted their cobbler and it wasn’t anything special. I think that you should make a peach cobbler and give those two a run for their money.”
    Hannah was silent for a moment. The idea of fighting fire with fire appealed to her. The population of Lake Eden in the winter wasn’t large enough to support two bakeries and that meant the Magnolia Blossom had to go.
    â€œWhat do you think? Will you do it? The Lake Eden Quilting Society meets tomorrow afternoon and I’m in charge of refreshments. I thought I’d order a pan of peach cobbler from Shawna Lee and Vanessa, and a pan of peach cobbler from you. We can serve them side by side and the girls can compare.”
    â€œI’ll do it,” Hannah said. She was spoiling for a showdown, just like John Wayne in The Shootist. “This town’s not big enough for the both of us.”
    â€œThe meeting’s at one, so I’ll pick up the cobbler right before I leave Granny’s Attic.”
    â€œYou don’t have to do that. I can deliver it.”
    â€œBut isn’t that your busy time?”
    â€œNot anymore.”
    â€œOh. Well, maybe we can change that. One other thing, dear…I picked up another package of shrimp for Moishe. He enjoyed it, didn’t he?”
    â€œThere’s nothing left but the empty package.” Hannah told the absolute truth, but not all of