Agata drove along the flat scrub of the west valley. Clouds a marvel of grey, gold, and pink. She pulled her third ham sandwich of the day out of the cooler. The late afternoon light made the frost-killed saltbush shine golden against the orange-tan soil. At night, the mice in the walls kept her awake. The house was a rental. Temporary. She didn’t care about the mice but she wished they would let her sleep. She set the live trap...

Agata and the Mice by Peyton Ellas
2024 Best in Rural Writing Shortlisted Story
