Mother Earth's Kitchen Series Books 1-7: Mother Earth's Kitchen Cozy Mystery Series

MOTHER EARTHS KITCHEN SERIES

MOTHER EARTHS KITCHEN

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

BOOKS 1-7

PBODI

99 Cent Press

© Copyright 2018 by PBodi All rights reserved

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

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MOTHER EARTH’S KITCHEN SERIES BOOKS 1-7

First Printing March 2018

Published by:

99 Cent Press

http://www.99CentPress.com

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

Also by PBodi

Perfect Cup of Tea

Murder On The Mountain

New Years Resolution

The Heart of the Murder

The Luck Of The Irish

A Corpse In the Kitchen

Midsummer Murder

About the Author

Also by PBodi

Also by PBodi

For a list of all Pbodi’s books please visit her website at:

http://www.pbodi.com/p/book-list.html

PET PALACE

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Fowl Play

No Bones About It

Fishy Business

A Hairy Situation

Dangerous Creatures

A Vacation to Die For

Pet Palace Box Set Books 1-3

Pet Palace Box Set Books 4-6

Pet Palace Box Set Books 1-6

MOTHER EARTH’S KITCHEN

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

A Perfect Cup Of Tea

Murder On the Mountain

New Year's Resolution

The Heart Of The Murder

The Luck Of The Irish

A Corpse In The Kitchen

Midsummer Murder

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 1-4

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 5-7

Mother Earth's Kitchen Box Set Books 1-7

HAPPY BEAR CAFE

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Elected For Murder

Death And Decorations

Resolution for Revenge

To Kill A Rat

Sleeping Dogs Lie

A Bird In The Hand

Picture Perfect

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 1-4

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 5-7

Happy Bear Cafe Box Set Books 1-7

ANGELA CRAWFORD

COZY MYSTERY SERIES

Forest For The Trees

Put Your Affairs in Order

A Snake In The Grass

He Loves Me He Loves Me Not

Proof Is In the Printing

Deck The Walls

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 1-3

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 4-6

Angela Crawford Box Set Books 1-6

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Perfect Cup of Tea

Chapter One

The bell over the door seemed to ring incessantly. Violet Harris didn’t have the time to call out a friendly Welcome to Mother Earth’s Kitchen! like she usually did. Rex was steadily whittling down the line at the cash register, and Violet was busily giving advice in the wellness aisle.

The store had been remarkably busy, but Violet was still determined to give the kind of customer service that she would want if she were to shop somewhere like this. Mother Earth’s Kitchen, with its low, timber frame ceiling and the fresh sent of organic produce wafting through the air, was not an average grocery store. People from all over Elkridge, Colorado and the surrounding area chose to stop here instead of the big box stores when they wanted organic vegetables that truly were organic, loose leaf tea, essential oils, and natural supplements. Violet also carried a wide array of locally sourced, antibiotic-free meats such as venison and bison, and an all-natural bakery. On any given day, the customers at Mother Earth’s Kitchen ranged from modern hippies to health-conscious business people to young families looking for a better start for their children.

When Violet had opened the store ten years ago, her family and friends had been skeptical of its reception. After all, why would anyone want to pay twice the price for apples or yogurt-covered raisins simply because they were chemical-free? But the trends of the times were in her favor, with more and more people becoming concerned about the chemicals they were putting in their bodies and the environmental concerns surrounding commercial farms. This plus the fact that hers was the only store of this caliber in the area meant that Violet usually didn’t have to worry about a lack of foot traffic.

Today, there seemed to be far too much. Violet folded her arms across her chest and concentrated on the man in front of her, trying to ignore the child whose mother didn’t seem to notice that he was sampling the cherries and the young woman who was wandering around, obviously looking for something that she couldn’t find.

I’ve been having these stomach pains for weeks now, he explained, gesturing to the afflicted area. He wore a suit that was well made but wrinkled. I think I’ve tried every pink liquid, chalky chewable, and little pill that the pharmacy has to offer.

Violet’s eyebrows knitted together. Have you been to your doctor at all? That is quite a long time for a stomach ache.

The man waved off her concern. All he did was give me some heartburn medication, but I’m telling you that isn’t the problem. He ran a hand through his light brown hair in frustration as his voice rose in pitch. I just don’t know what else to do.

Calm down, Ron, his wife, who stood just behind him, admonished angrily. You’re fine.

"I’m not fine, Samantha, the man countered. Otherwise I wouldn’t be here, would I?"

Samantha muttered something under her breath but didn’t say anything else out loud. Violet had noticed that the woman had been shifting her weight from foot to foot and checking her watch every few seconds ever since they had arrived.

I really do think you should seek a second opinion, Violet said. She was no doctor, but she had been studying the uses of oils, herbs, and other natural products for healing for a couple of decades. Local folks were always coming in and seeking out her opinion on remedies that didn’t involve a long wait at the doctor’s office or a steep bill at the pharmacy. Though she was a big fan of natural healing, she did feel that physicians had their place in the world. Sometimes it takes a while for a doctor to understand what’s really going on. You may have to ask for extra tests. In the meantime, try this. She pulled a bottle of peppermint oil capsules from a nearby shelf. I have a customer with IBS that buys these on a regular basis, and she says that it works wonders for her.

The man snatched at the bottle eagerly, but his wife looked at it with a frown. How do you know it will work? We don’t know that he has IBS. She rolled her eyes, putting the icing on the irritating-customer cake.

Violet took a deep breath in through her nose. I don’t know. That’s why I suggested he talk to his doctor again. But it probably won’t hurt to try, and I know it has worked for other folks. It was astounding how much she had to repeat herself on a day to day basis. She turned her gaze back to Ron, who seemed far more receptive. If it doesn’t make a difference, let me know. We can move on to something else.

He nodded and the couple headed up to the front for Rex to ring up their purchases. Violet was sure she heard the man’s wife mutter something about witchy voodoo on the way out, but she ignored it.

Chapter Two

Violet straightened the produce shelf—which she was sure was a few cherries short at this point—and directed a few other customers to the right aisle of the store. Her feet were beginning to ache, and she was looking forward to an Epsom salt and eucalyptus oil footbath in her apartment upstairs once they closed.

Rex had managed to catch up on the checkout line, so Violet came to the front of the store and leaned against the counter next to him. What a day! I’m glad we’ve been busy, but this is insane. I think I might have to do inventory ahead of schedule just to make sure we don’t run out of our customer favorites.

The young man nodded. I guess that ad you put in the paper is really working. With his long dark hair pulled back in a low ponytail and wide green eyes, he was the perfect employee for an organic grocery store. He worked diligently in the store during the week, stocking shelves, ringing up customers, and keeping the store clean. On the weekends, he could usually be found outdoors somewhere. Or rather, he usually couldn’t be found at all, unless someone knew his favorite climbing spot or he had accidentally left his cell phone on.

I never should have let that salesman convince me to do it, Violet replied with a shake of her long, curly hair. A few streaks of gray were beginning to shoot through it these days, but she left them natural. We were busy enough as it was. I didn’t realize so many people actually read the paper.

Speaking of the paper, Rex said, producing a copy from underneath the counter, did you see this? He held it out for Violet to see.

The front page was completely taken up by the news that the town of Elkridge was considering allowing a new landfill to be created right on its borders. Most of the town administrators were eager to allow it because of the financial gain, but numerous residents were violently against it. There were several full-color pictures of townspeople picketing city hall with big, homemade signs.

Violet shook her head. They’ve been talking about doing this for years. I never thought it would go through. Elkridge had always seemed to her to be a nature-centered town, interested in protecting the beautiful Rocky Mountains that surrounded it. Perhaps she had been wrong, at least when it came down to the city administrators.

Rex pointed to the bottom half of the page. There’s another rally in a couple of weeks. Are you going?

I don’t think so, Violet answered. I spent plenty of time in my twenties going to things like that, but I’m getting too old to be involved.

"You aren’t old, Violet, Rex retorted with a roll of his eyes. You aren’t that much older than me."

I have at least ten years on you and you know it! said Violet with a laugh. But you go ahead and go and represent the Kitchen. I’ll spend my time writing letters of protest or something.

Don’t you care about this landfill thing? Rex challenged. You know what it could do to our water supply, not to mention the habitat that it will take away from all of the wild animals. He was getting agitated, just like he did anytime the subject of conservation came up.

Violet lay a placating hand on his arm. Of course I care. You know I do. But I’ve also seen how most of these rallies go these days. It’s not just a peaceful protestation. Someone starts an argument or a fist fight, and the next thing you know it’s complete chaos and half the people are in jail. I’m not up for that.

Rex couldn’t argue with her, and he knew better than to try anyway. I get it. But if you change your mind, just let me know. I’d be happy to give you a ride.

Thanks. Now let’s get this place closed down before we get another rush and we don’t get to leave until midnight.

Between the two of them, they made sure that the cash register was counted down, the deposit prepared, the doors locked, and the lights out. Rex always took the deposit to the night drop at the bank since it was on his way back to his apartment. Violet had only to go to the stock room and open the heavy wooden door that led up to her place.

Chapter Three

Violet had often thought that the apartment over Mother Earth’s Kitchen had been built just for her. Large windows to the east and west overlooked the mountainous countryside, ensuring a gorgeous view of every sunset and sunrise. The timber frame construction, with its large exposed beams that showed every mark of some ancient lumberjack’s adze, and gleaming hardwood floors made her feel as though she was living in a remote cabin instead of an apartment on the edge of town. Violet had decorated the place with comfortable, overstuffed chairs, throw pillows, and framed prints of pencil drawings depicting plants and wildlife. With its vaulted ceiling and open floor plan—plus the fact that its footprint covered the entire store downstairs—made it feel much larger than it was.

With a sigh, Violet kicked off her ropers at the door and yanked her socks off, relishing in the feel of the thick area rug under her bare feet as she walked across the living room toward the kitchen. She opened the refrigerator and perused the leftovers she had left for herself. Violet had long ago begun cooking in large quantities and then freezing the food in individual containers for later. This meant that she could have delicious meals every night without having to cook every time she came home.

She selected a container of deer chili and popped it in the microwave. As it warmed up, her mind kept wandering to the man with the upset stomach that had come into the store today. She knew she shouldn’t worry about him; there was nothing she could do to make sure he went to the doctor again. But she took her work and the advice she gave out seriously, and she hoped that he would soon be finding some comfort in the peppermint oil capsules.

Topping her chili off with all natural cheese and settling down in her favorite chair, Violet watched the crimson sun sink behind the white snowcaps of the mountains.

Chapter Four

Two weeks later, business at Mother Earth’s Kitchen had slowed down to a steady pace, allowing both Violet and Rex to catch their breath a little. The ad in the paper was no longer running, and Violet couldn’t have been more grateful.

You need to schedule in some vacation time, Violet reminded her employee as she straightened a shelf of freshly baked bagels.

I don’t want to leave you in the lurch, Rex protested. He was refilling the receipt paper at the cash register. Besides, I already have two days a week off. We keep pretty good hours for a grocery store.

It was true. Violet had worked long retail hours when she was younger, and had always vowed to herself that if she were ever lucky enough to have her own store, she would never do that to her employees. She had kept her word, closing the Kitchen every Sunday and locking the doors every evening by seven. She would have liked to send Rex home even earlier than that, but she also understood from a business standpoint that she didn’t want to miss out on the business of people that were just getting off from their nine-to-five jobs. Even so, her young employee was always ready to stay as late as she needed him to.

Yes, but you have time off coming to you. You should take it. Use it for a camping trip or something. Violet finished with the bagels and moved on to check their stock of gourmet cheeses. Later she would need to balance the books and do the payroll, but she always preferred working in the front of the store instead of the back.

The bell over the door rang before they could discuss matters further. A man walked in with dark, slicked back hair and friendly eyes. He was dressed in a pair of ironed khakis, and his polo had Town of Elkridge embroidered on the chest.

Welcome to Mother Earth’s Kitchen, Violet said, straightening up from the cheese display and turning to face him. Can I help you find anything?

Hi, I’m Tom O’Connor, Mayor of Elkridge, he said as he held out his hand. I’ve heard a lot about this place and thought I should stop in.

Though she wouldn’t have thought herself excited to see a politician, Violet was so flattered that she blushed as she shook the man’s hand. Well, I’m glad you did. I’m the owner, Violet Harris. We’ve got a great selection here, and I can always order something if you don’t see it on the shelves. Oh, and the apples are on sale this week.

Actually, I’m more interested in your natural remedies. My son has a cold, and my secretary said you really helped her get over hers a few weeks ago. We have a family physician that’s wonderful and everything, but I like the idea of keeping all those nasty antibiotics out of his system. He gave Violet a friendly smile.

Wonderful! Violet replied, returning the smile. Let’s just head right over here and I can help you.

Don’t listen to her! screamed a voice from the doorway as the bell chimed. Both Violet and the mayor whipped around to look for the source of it.

Ron, the man with the terrible stomach trouble who had been in a couple of weeks ago with his wife, was standing just inside the entrance to the store. He was pale and sweating, and he held himself up by leaning a hand heavily on the counter by the cash register, knocking over a display of fruit leather in the process. His suit having been swapped out for athletic pants and a dirty t-shirt, Violet almost didn’t recognize him. It was his blatant stomach pain that jogged her memory.

Don’t listen to a thing she says! he screamed as his other hand clutched at his stomach. I tried those stupid capsules you gave me, and they did nothing. Nothing! He scrunched his eyes together in pain as he bent double.

Do you need some help? Rex asked from the other side of the cash register. Can I call you an ambulance?

No! Ron shouted at Rex. There isn’t anything that will make me better now. You, he said accusingly as he pointed a shaking finger at Violet. You promised me that those peppermint things would make me feel better.

I said they might help, and I told you to go back to your doctor, Violet replied, moving closer to the man with cautious steps. There’s obviously a lot going on here. This isn’t just indigestion, and maybe not even IBS. We need to get you to a hospital. She spoke gently, hoping to calm him down. There were only a few other customers in the store, but an incident like this would spread like wildfire through the small town of Elkridge.

I’ve been to the doctor. Ron waved Violet off, but the effort looked as though it would knock him over. I’ve been to every doctor in the county. But none of them can do a thing for me. They did all sorts of tests and took more vials of my blood than I want to count, but they don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Listen, Violet came a few steps closer. I’m really truly sorry that you’re in pain. I am. But if the doctors couldn’t figure out what’s wrong with you, then I don’t see how I could, either. I help people out as much as I can, but nothing is a guaranteed fix.

I want you to make it right, Ron moaned. His hand clutched at his shirt over his stomach. I want something else that will make me feel better.

Violet could see that the man was not one to give up easily. Alright. She turned to the display of loose leaf teas behind her. The wooden shelves held numerous jars of various teas, each labeled with their ingredients and the price per ounce. Normally, customers could scoop up however much they wanted into little plastic bags and it would be weighed at the register. Violet popped open a jar and filled a small bag with the tiny, leafy bits. Take this with you. On the house.

Ron snatched the bag out of her hand and stumbled out the door. They watched as he climbed into the passenger side door of a sedan, which then sped off down the road.

I am so sorry about that, Violet said, swiveling to look at the mayor. Of all the times the man could have picked to come in and make a scene, he had to choose the day the mayor was in the store.

It’s alright, Tom said, still looking out the window. There’s always an odd one somewhere in the bunch. Believe me, I meet plenty of them in my line of work.

Violet nodded. I suppose you would.

"But