This is a scene from my Libby Foster Cozy Mystery Series, somewhere around the end of the third book. I had written it before finishing the second book, but I could never make it fit the way I wanted it to, so I took it out. But, when I think of Baxter, now that I am writing the 5th book, this has already happened. So, I thought I would share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy it!

Mel tugged at Baxter’s leash, letting him know it was time to move on. It didn’t work. She let out an exasperated breath. He was such a cute puppy and she loved helping out her best friend, Libby, by watching him, but Mel was looking forward to the day when he was trained.
Baxter stopped sniffing an interesting plot of grass and smiled up at her. I like this friend, he thought. She smells good. Then, he went back to sniffing the many scents of those who lived here – dogs and humans.
She tugged a little more, first stepping aside to let her neighbor access their mailbox. “Come on, Bax. We need to check out this package I got.”
She took a few steps, but he didn’t budge. “Baxter! It’s time to go.” She laughed at the quizzical face he made, but he still didn’t move.
Mel thought of herself as a pacifist. She didn’t want to yank on his leash until Baxter obeyed, like she had seen some dog owners do. But she didn’t want to stand around here all night either. So, she tried mimicking them leaving. She waved her arms in the direction she wanted him to go, and she tried to coax him with her voice. None of her antics worked. He would look up, wag his tail as if she was there to entertain him, and go back to sniffing.
She blew her bangs out of her face. “Sometimes I wish you could understand what I’m saying. Maybe someday I can spell myself to talk doggie language.”
Finally, Mel began walking away to see if he would start following along. Surprisingly, this time, he did. Little did Mel know it was because he finished committing all of those scents to memory, not because he was worried she would leave him.
Mel and Baxter went from her apartment’s mailboxes and up the steps to her place. After closing the door behind them, Mel ripped open the package she had received. “Yes!” She fist-pumped the air.
Turning to the pup, she explained, “I have been waiting forever for this Juniper Berry Essential Oil. We are going to have so much fun tonight!”
She put the bottle of oil on the table and thought about the things she needed to do before focusing on the spell. Looking out of the window, she realized it was still light outside. She would need to wait until the moon had risen before starting. So, they would have dinner first, as it would only be a short while before dark.
Mel opened up her kitchen cabinet, pulled out the dog food bag, and put a scoop in Baxter’s bowl. She had stocked up on doggie supplies when she started watching Baxter for Libby. Now, because of Libby’s new responsibilities, she knew she was needed and was happy to do it. He’s such a good puppy, and she loved sharing him with her best friend.
But she also needed to find time today to practice her spells too, especially if the local witch coven was going to continue to give her the cold shoulder. “No problem,” she said aloud to Baxter, waving away the worry with her hands. “They aren’t as important as they think. We’ll do my witchy homework here together – just you and me.”
Mel looked over at her desk where a stack of metaphysical books sat, their pages were worn as the books were well used. Now if I could get myself a decent teacher – any teacher, coven or not – these proposed assignments might work, she thought. Despite the fact it may never happen, she would not worry about it now.
She popped a takeout container from the Shady Pines Bar into the microwave. Neal had brought over some food last night after his shift. It had been late, and Mel had been sleeping. He woke her with a kiss on the cheek.
“Hey, Sparkle. You’ve got dinner for the next couple of nights in the frig,” he said. Her eyes fluttered open. She gave him a faint smile, then closed them again.
Neal had given Mel that nickname when he was in sixth grade and he caught her making sparks with her fingertips. She told him it had been glitter – and she has never really explained further. He knew better but didn’t bother to ask anymore. You can’t be in love with a woman like Mel and not feel the power she possessed. He gave her a quick kiss and got off the bed to leave.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him back down. “Aren’t you staying?”
He chuckled. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Mel smiled at the memory as she picked at the food in front of her. With everything that is going on with Libby, the Cove Post, and the recent murders, she shouldn’t be cuddling up with Neal instead of getting as much rest as she can. But she knew when given the choice, she’d pick being in his arms every single time.
She came back to the present when Baxter barked once and wagged his tail. He was finished with his kibble and was patiently waiting for Mel to drop a bite of her food on the floor. She obliged him with a piece of the meat from her chicken wing.
He gulped that down in one quick bite and brought her his blue ball. She picked it up and threw it into the bedroom. He ran to get it but came back with a red chew toy.
She laughed. “I thought you had lost that one.” He sat and began gnawing on it happily.
She finished her dinner, cleaned up after herself, and began preparing for the spell. Baxter followed her around the room as she closed the blinds and placed candles in their holders, lighting them while murmuring something he didn’t quite catch. Wagging his tail, he continued to follow her around the room until something else caught his eye.
Something on the table was glowing, the light of it starting small but getting bigger. He looked from it to his friend to see if she noticed it too, then barked once to get her attention. When she rubbed his head, he pointed his nose at the growing light, but she still didn’t see it. He ran towards the table.
As Mel was placing the mirror in the center of her pentagram of candlelight, Baxter jumped up on the chair she had recently vacated. As she couldn’t see the light Baxter saw, she didn’t see what he was up to until it was too late.
She heard one of her books fall off the table and turned to see Baxter’s face covered in her new essential oil and the jar laying on its side. “Oh, no!”
Mel jumped up, walked over to the table, and picked up the bottle, noting there were a few drops left inside. She sighed and began wiping Baxter’s face with a towel. “At least we have enough to still be able to do this spell. I’m not sure how I am going to explain your juniper berry scent to Libby, though.”
Baxter panted. He wasn’t sure he liked the smell. But the light was smaller in the bottle, so he was happy he helped.
Mel sat in the middle of the circle of candles and placed the mirror in front of her. She put Baxter on the other side of the mirror, so he sat facing her. She looked at his oily nose and shook her head. “Be a good boy and sit still.”
He obliged, not taking his eyes off of her and wondering if he could coax her into giving him a treat.
Mel took one last look around to ensure the room was dimly lit and the atmosphere was serene. She closed her eyes and took deep breaths, letting each out slowly to calm her excitement and place herself in the moment.
She took a large, clear quartz crystal in her hand, held it to her heart, then placed it on her third eye before centering it on the mirror. She anointed the crystal with the essential oil.
“By the light of these enchanted flames, I call upon Clarity by name. With quartz and juniper’s embrace, clear my mind in this sacred space.”
Baxter saw the flames of the candles reach higher, but he didn’t fuss. He felt calm and captivated by Mel’s voice as she began chanting.
Mel picked up a piece of paper and pen and wrote quickly while continuing to chant. She placed it all down to the side of her, then looked down in the mirror. Baxter followed her gaze. What he saw frightened him.
The light was back and bigger than ever – and it was on both of their faces! He started to whine, and Mel took a peek at him. She knew she had to close the spell before consoling the pup or there could be consequences.
“To the north, the south, the east, and west. As above, so below, Clarity within shall grow. With gratitude, I release this spell. So mote it be.”
With a calming breath, she reached out and pet Baxter, who kept looking down in the mirror and back at her, still whining. “It’s okay, Bax,” she said.
He stopped whining immediately. Cocked his head to one side, never taking his eyes off of her. He heard her. She spoke to him. She said, ‘It’s okay’. He understood her. Wagging his tail, he smiled.

Mel got up and blew out all the candles. Turning on the lights in the room, she started talking to herself. “I’ll take Baxter out for a walk, then I suppose I can try again. There should be enough oil for one more spell. Maybe I’ll wait until he is asleep.” She felt Baxter nuzzle her hand. When she looked, he had his leash in his mouth and was trying to give it to her.
Mel laughed. “You heard me, huh?”
He started jumping around excitedly. She knows I understand her, he thought.
“Wait,” she said.
Baxter stopped, almost in midair. What are we waiting for?
The look on her face went from total confusion to understanding. Oh no, oh no, oh no, she thought as she wrung her hands. That couldn’t have happened. She looked down at Baxter then over at the mirror that was still on the floor. The clarity spell was meant for me.
She needed a better test, just to be sure. “Baxter, go get me the blue ball,” she commanded.
He dropped his leash and went into the bedroom, coming out a minute later with the blue ball. Wagging his tail, he placed it in front of her feet.
Kneeling down, she took his head in her hands. Staring intently into his eyes, she said, “We can’t tell Libby. This is our little secret.”

Author’s Note: I wonder when Libby will figure it out? I have no idea! I’ll let you know when I do.