Books by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

WISH YOU WERE HERE

REST IN PIECES

MURDER AT MONTICELLO

PAY DIRT

MURDER, SHE MEOWED

MURDER ON THE PROWL

CAT ON THE SCENT

SNEAKY PIES COOKBOOK FOR MYSTERY LOVERS

PAWING THROUGH THE PAST

CLAWS AND EFFECT

CATCH AS CAT CAN

THE TAIL OF THE TIP-OFF

WHISKER OF EVIL

CATS EYEWITNESS

SOUR PUSS

PUSS N CAHOOTS

THE PURRFECT MURDER

SANTA CLAWED

Books by Rita Mae Brown

THE HAND THAT CRADLES THE ROCK

SONGS TO A HANDSOME WOMAN

THE PLAIN BROWN RAPPER

RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE

IN HER DAY

SIX OF ONE

SOUTHERN DISCOMFORT

SUDDEN DEATH

HIGH HEARTS

STARTING FROM SCRATCH: A DIFFERENT KIND OF WRITERS MANUAL

BINGO

VENUS ENVY

DOLLEY: A NOVEL OF DOLLEY MADISON IN LOVE AND IN WAR

RIDING SHOTGUN

RITA WILL: A MEMOIR OF A LITERARY RABBLE-ROUSER

LOOSE LIPS

ALMA MATER

HOTSPUR

FULL CRY

OUTFOXED

THE HUNT BALL

THE HOUNDS AND THE FURY

THE TELL-TALE HORSE

THE SAND CASTLE

HOUNDED TO DEATH

ANIMAL MAGNETISM: MY LIFE WITH CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

With gratitude and fond memory

to

Irwyn Applebaum and Barb Burg

Authors Note

I would like to thank Dr. Jahnae Barnett, Kenda Shindler, Gayle Lampe, D. Scott Miniea, and Brenda Foster, all of William Woods University, for being such good sports and allowing Sneaky Pie and me to set this mystery at the university. I especially thank Dr. Barnett, Mrs. Shindler, and Miss Lampe for letting me use their names in this novel. Obviously, this is a work of fiction so while I use their names, the events are made up. As with any such work, the events, characters, and incidents depicted are products of the feline imagination as well as my own. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. There are XVIII Wheelers Truck Washes and they are owned by Eddie Barnett. Go on, pull in one.

Cast of Characters

Mary Minor Haristeen

Harry is hardworking, watchful, and usually good-natured. Having just tipped over into her early forties, shes lived long enough to know life rarely turns out as one expects it will turn out. However, thats not necessarily a bad thing.

Pharamond Haristeen, D.V.M.

Fair is a tall, powerfully built man. Hes more sensitive than his wife, often better able to read peoples emotions.

Aunt Tally Urquhart

She is about to turn one hundred and shes ready for her next hundred. The old girl knows the emperor wears no clothes. In fact, she takes delight in this wisdom.

Inez Carpenter, D.V.M.

Inez met Tally at William Woods University. She is now ninety-eight. She has shepherded Fairs career, taking pride in his success in equine veterninary medicine. She, herself, is one of the most respected vets in the country, a pioneer for womens progress in this field.

Marilyn Sanburne, Sr.

Big Mim is Tallys niece. Born to privilege, she can sometimes be a snob but is basically a good person. Now in her seventies she tries hard to see other peoples points of view.

Marilyn Sanburne, Jr.

Little Mim knows she will never be the force in the community her powerful mother is. Her response to this was to get elected vice mayor of Crozet. Shell be powerful in a different way as the years roll on.

Mariah DAngelo

She graduated from William Woods University in 1974. A successful businesswoman, she owns a high-end jewelry store in Kansas City where she is the head of their WWU Alumnae Association. She loathes Flo Langston.

Flo Langston

Flo returns the favor. She couldnt stand Mariah when they were freshmen together and she cant stand her now. Flo has made pots of money as a stockbroker and she is the head of St. Louiss WWU Alumnae Association. St. Louis and Kansas City are as different as chalk and cheese; perhaps the animosity of Flo and Mariah reflects that.

Liz Filmore

She is in her late thirties, and heads the WWU Alumnae Association chapter in Richmond, Virginia. She considers herself Flos protegee. Flo remains silent on that subject but the two are in constant contact. Liz manages Inez Carpenters portfolio.

Terri Kincaid

She is a few years younger than Liz and a close friend who is also a WWU graduate. She chairs the small alumnae chapter in Charlottesville, Virginia, while owning and running a store on the north side of Barracks Road Shopping Center. Terri specializes in expensive French and Italian ceramics, dishware, etc. Shes a bit of a nervous Nellie.

Garvey Watson

Garvey owns Thompson and Watson, an exclusive mens clothing store located next to Terri Kincaids store. In his early seventies, hes a kind man, a community favorite. Hes also African American. Garveys many white friends dont really see him as a black man, which can be both good and bad. Hes just Garvey Watson but he sees all the shades of gray in most issues whereas his white friends often do not.

Dr. Jahnae Barnett

President of the university, she spills over with energy, ideas, and a passion for education. Shes one of those people who can pull the best out of others.

Miss Gayle Lampe

weighted down with titles, awards, and ribbons from the show ring, is oblivious to all that. Her focus is always on those beautiful Saddlebred horses and the young humans who ride them at William Woods. Like the above mentioned president of this unique institution, an institution focusing on developing the total individual, she is warm and approachable.

Kenda Shindler

Dr. Barnetts assistant has the perfect personality for the job. Shes positive, good with detail, and not one to walk away from a problem.

Trudy Sweetwater

A fictional Fulton girl who graduated from William Woods in 1996, she heads the alumnae association in the town that is home to the university. She possesses common sense, which when you think of it, isnt common at all.

The Really Important Characters

Mrs. Murphy

Shes a tiger cat of high intelligence. Shes sleek, loves her humans as well as the dog with whom she shares this life. The other cat she also loves, but finds it more difficult than loving the dog.

Pewter

The other cat is rotund, gray, and appallingly self-centered. As my Southern mother would say about Pewter, Shes as fat as a tick and wrapped up in self-regard, bless her heart. Still, Pewter comes through in a pinch.

Tee Tucker

She is a Pembroke corgi, full of enthusiasm and bright spirit. She is devoted to Harry and Fair and adores Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, too, although there can be pronounced differences of opinion. Wonderful as she and all corgis are, its best not to invite her to your cocktail party. Shell try to herd the guests.

Simon

He is an oppossum who lives in the loft of the Haristeens barn. Hes a sweet fellow if a trifle simple.

Doodles

This young Gordon setter belongs to Aunt Tally. He knows his human is old, tough though she is, and he is vigilant.

Erno

He is a gorgeous vizsla owned by Inez Carpenter. Hes also young, versatile in his abilities, and learning about life from the others. He loves Inez.

A

lone figure walked along a shoveled-off bricklaid path. The dormant gardens glimmered with frost. The skies seemed low enough to touch.

Aunt Tally, two weeks away from her one-hundredth birthday, called her Gordon setter, Doodles.

As the young dog joyfully returned to his master, Aunt Tally leaned on her silver-headed cane, the head being in the graceful shape of a hound. Apart from having to use that canethanks to the usual involuntary dismounts all horsewomen takeshe betrayed few signs of her advanced years. Had you seen her peering at the ground as she walked along, you would have pegged her at eighty, perhaps.

More snow coming. She squinted at the sky this March 11, Wednesday.

Doodles, who had sharper senses, replied,

Before sundown.

Aunt Tally stroked the dogs head upon hearing the little yodel.

Tightening her cashmere scarf, she continued on.

A deep rumble alerted Doodles, who recognized the motors signature sound as well as the sound of the tires. Identifying a vehicle by its tire sound and motor is easy for dogs. Humans cant do it.

Doodles wagged her tail as she bounded up to the front of the house, where Marilyn Big Mim Sanburne, Tallys niece, had parked her brand-new Dodge half-ton.

The two walked to the back of the house to join Tally.

Big Mim, teasingly called The Queen of Crozet, was a formidable woman. However, even Big Mim could be backed off by the small, lean Tally.

What are you doing out here? Its 24degF.

Checking for my crocus. A shoot here and a shoot there and I get to thinking about the redbuds.

Big Mim put one gloved hand on her hip. Redbuds arent going to be in full flower until about April fifteenth. You know that.

Of course I do. That doesnt mean I cant check them. She tapped her cane on the old brick. Im longing for spring. By this time of the year Ive had enough.

You really will have enough if you dont come in out of the cold. Youll catch your death.

Its not a baseball, the old woman replied.

You know what I mean, Big Mim said, sounding tolerant. Are you ready to go, or do you need anything from the house?

Just need to put up the dog. Aunt Tally walked to the back door, opened it, and Doodles scooted in, happy for the warmth.

Purse? Big Mim raised an eyebrow.

My wallets in my coat pocket. Purses are a pain. Even if I find one that slings just right over my shoulder, sooner or later it drops down. Hard to carry a purse with a cane.

Guess it is. Big Mim walked to the passenger side of her blue truck and opened the door for Tally, who climbed in unassisted.

Once out on the road, the two chattered as only two people who have known each other all their lives can. Aunt Tally had been pushing thirty when Big Mim was born. It was a day of celebration. Aunt Tally, thanks to a disastrous love affair when young, shied away from marriage but not affairs. She treated Big Mim as her own daughter, which had occasioned some arguments with Tallys late, loved sister. A brother to Big Mim followed later, but he died on the hideous Bataan Death March. Apart from rage and grief, the result was that no Urquhart of any succeeding generation would buy a Japanese car or any product if they could help it. As with all old Virginia families, regardless of generations of marriages on both the male and female

sides, they generally referred to themselves by the surname of the first European to settle on Virginia soil. In this case, the Urquharts.

Speech?

Aunt Tally, staring straight ahead, raised her voice a bit. Oh, Mimsy, I make notes. I read them. I throw them out. I cant bear the thought of standing up there spouting bromides and sentimental mush. I havent found what I want to say.

Thats a first.

Aunt Tally ignored this, instead concentrating on an upcoming T-cross. Her farm, Rose Hill, reposed about four miles west of Harry Haristeens farm. Theyd passed Harrys place on the way to Crozet, reaching the intersection of a dirt road and the two-lane paved highway on which they traveled.

Can never drive over this without thinking about Ralston Peavey. Aunt Tally repositioned her cane to her left side. Never found his murderer.

Someone really wanted him out of this world. Big Mim remembered it, as well. Fall, wasnt it?

Aunt Tally nodded in affirmation. A light frost, patchy fog.

1964. The year sticks in my head because that was the first year Jim was elected mayor.

Jim Sanburne, her husband, remained mayor, and their daughter, Little Mim, was now vice mayor. The joke was, father and daughter came from two different political parties. Being a small town, Crozet never bothered with term limits. Jim, a good mayor, would most likely retain his office until such day as he died.

Jim picked up the call from Dinny Myers; wish we had him back. There was a sheriff with sense, Aunt Tally mumbled.

Oh, the one we have now has sense. You just think everything was better when you were younger.

Twas. Aunt Tally raised her voice. This country is going to hell in a handbasket. Well, Im not going off on that; itll ruin my day. But even you have to admit that Ralston Peavey was the best blacksmith you ever saw.

He was. He was.

Pleased with her little victory, Aunt Tally recalled the details as they

rolled over the spot. Found Ralston right here, spread-eagled in the middle of the road, facedown. Run over one way and then backed over. To make sure he was dead, I reckon.

Jim saw him before Dinny removed the corpse. Said the tire tracks were clear. They hoped to find the killer from the tire treads. Never happened, of course.

Dinny and the department really did check every set of tires in the area. He couldnt do all of Albemarle County, but he did check Crozet. Nothing. Not one thing. Some folks thought whoever did it was not from these parts. Not me. I think it was one of us.

Big Mim slowed for a curve. Well, Ralston could drink. He was pretty loaded.

He didnt lie down in the middle of the road because he was drunk.

His truck was by the side of the road. Big Mim, who enjoyed driving her new truck, picked up speed. I still think hed been fooling around, and the husband found out and killed him.

Maybe, but we all knew who was weak that way. Hed never done it before. Two kidswhat, eight and tenand he seemed to get along with them. I wonder if it wasnt something else. Couldnt be drugs. That hadnt taken off yet.

Cant imagine Ralston a dealer. Although, being a blacksmith, he had the perfect job for distributing.

No. Aunt Tally shook her head. Something else.

Big Mim paused. Lets just say not a stone was left unturned.

One was, or wed have the killer. Tally frowned.

After all this time, maybe hes dead himself.

Mimsy, Ive seen a lot. One of these days, might be 2050, the truth will wriggle out. Always does.

Talk to Inez? Big Mim mentioned Aunt Tallys best friend, who had graduated from William Woods Universitythen known as William Woods Collegetwo years behind Aunt Tally. The lovely school, located in Fulton, Missouri, had provided Aunt Tally with her first taste of life outside Virginia.

Shes flying in two days before, because of the alumnae board meeting.

Good. Harrys driving.

Mary Minor Harry Haristeen was not a William Woods graduate. She had graduated from Smith College. Age forty, best described as an attractive tomboy, she now put all her attentions to farming, her true love, as shed quit her job at the post office two years earlier. Harry would be going to the celebration at Aunt Tallys alma mater because she loved the old lady and knew the event was not to be missed, especially since the salty woman would give a speech. Be good for Harry to get away, Aunt Tally said.

At that moment, Harry had her hands full with a William Woods alumna, no less.

T

hat pot was made in Italy. Of course youll replace it. Terri Kincaid, barricaded behind the counter, leveled a harsh gaze at Harry.

Only three years apart in age, Terri being thirty-seven, the women had known each other for a long time. Harry, a country girl with natural good looks, couldnt be bothered with the accoutrements of femininity. Terri lived for them. These two were oil and water.

Observing Harrys predicament was Liz Filmore from Richmond, a friend of Terris and another William Woods alumna.

Also present, his arms crossed over his chest with lips pursed, was Garvey Watson. A tall, elegant African American, he owned the successful mens clothing store next door. Garvey had a gift for retail.

Harry thought his pursed lips might be because he was upset the pot was broken.

Tucker, Harrys corgi, sat mournfully at her feet. The dog, jostled by a customer leaving, had knocked over the pot, which was sitting on a low wrought-iron table. It wasnt Tuckers fault, but what could Harry say?

The shards of pottery, picked up by Harry, rested on the counter, the deep layers of green and yellow glaze quite pretty.

How much? Harry, tight with the buck, winced.

Two hundred forty-nine dollars, plus five percent sales tax, Terri announced.

Harry fetched her checkbook and a pen from the inside of her Carhartt Detroit jacket.

As Harry wrote the check, Terri nattered on, Im so excited. Weve already raised twenty thousand dollars from local alumnae, and I havent even started yet. Liz is going to video the entire speech to use for future fund-raisers. Liz and Terri were thick as thieves. I really wish I could be there, but well throw another birthday party as a fund-raiser back here. I cant afford to leave the store, especially if good weather comes in. People spend more if they have spring fever.

Lets hope so, Garvey said. Bad economy. People are pulling back.

Liz spoke up. Garvey, people always need clothes. Terris business might be down, but shell weather the storm. So will you, unless men want to go nakeda scary thought. Eljos is your only competition.

She cited a lovely mens clothing store on Elliewood Avenue by the University of Virginia.

I certainly hope youre right, Garvey murmured, not sounding at all convinced.

Terri smiled broadly as she took Harrys check. I wont ask for ID, she joked.

Good. Harry put a good face on it, but she always thought Terri was a pain in the neck, her screech over the broken pot further confirming that opinion.

Do you know that all the alumnae over eighty will attend? There are forty of them. Isnt that wonderful? Our alumnae fund is paying for those who cant afford the airfare, and the motels in and around Fulton are giving us a special rate.

Wonderful, Harry replied tensely.

Forking over two hundred fifty dollars plus tax was eating at her.

Terri, not one to keep her woes to herself, would fan the flames of any discontent if Harry had balked at payment. Harry loathed that in a man or woman. But she hadnt just fallen off the turnip truck. Shed learned to keep her opinion to herself unless speaking with her husband or best friends. Keep it level, keep it smooth. She tried.

Terri, young for such a task, headed Charlottesvilles William Woods Alumnae Association. Once men were admitted to William Woods in

1996, an argument arose over the word alumnae. Should they change it to alumni? The Old Girls fought that one. For most of their lives they had lived under male honorifics or terms. Let the men grapple with alumnae. Surely their parts wouldnt shrivel.

So alumnae it was, at least in the eyes of the female graduates.

Such battles never interested Harry, but she did understand one great fundamental of life: Men had to prove they were men. Women did not have to prove they were women. This anxiety could make weak men either silly or downright dangerous. Strong men sailed right through.

Harry focused on the basics: animal behavior, food, clothing, shelter. She zeroed right to the core of an issue, which made people who couldnt accept brute reality nervous. Harry knew the human animal had set the natural order on its head, that among humans the weak devoured the strong. As her mother used to put it, The squeakiest wheel gets the oil.

No reason to burden Terri with reality, for Terri was one of those benighted souls who believed laws were the answer. You have a problem? Pass another law.

Liz lightened the moment. Harry, your corgi has good taste. That was a beautiful vase.

Harry smiled. Tucker has better taste than I do.

Thank you,

the dog replied.

Garvey joked, Bring her in my store. If she tears up an item or chews shoes, Ill know to order more.

Garvey, you crack me up. Harry laughed at him.

Terri, a clotheshorse, asked Harry, Do you know what youre going to wear?

Uh, well, it will probably be cold. That long wraparound wool skirt, the one I wear with the big gold pin on the front. I thought that.

But what about the dinner, and, of course, there will be the choral groups. Aunt Tally will be serenaded. You need some variety in your wardrobe.

I dont know. Ill think of something.

No jeans and cowboy boots, Terri smugly decreed.

Tell her to shut up,

Tucker grumbled.

Well go in a minute. Harry smiled down at her constant companion. Terri, hope business is good. With that, she vacated the shop, Garvey on her heels.

Sorry your little dog broke the pot. He shivered, for the wind was cold; he wore only a sweater. This sweater would look great on Fair. He poked his own chest.

Would. Harry nodded. Hes a bit of a peacock.

Id go out of business without peacocks. See you soon, I hope.

He ducked into his store.

Jeez. She looked down at Tucker. Its picked up. Winds got teeth in it.

Within a minute they reached the truck. Harry unlocked the door. It was a 1978 Ford F-150. Ran like a top. She lifted the corgi up, then slid in herself, quickly closing the door.

So?

Pewter, the fat gray cat, looked at the dog.

Mrs. Murphy, the slender tabby, said nothing but was grateful when Harry started the engine. As the truck hadnt been parked long, the heat came on.

All four creatures sat for a moment, just enjoying the warmth.

Harry always left an old blanket on the seat for the animals to snuggle in and keep warm.

As Harry turned out of Barracks Road Shopping Center onto Barracks Road, Tucker filled in the two cats on the broken pot.

Harry rarely traveled without her friends. With few exceptions, their friendship meant the most to her in the world. For one thing, they never lied to her. For another thing, they didnt care if she wore jeans and cowboy boots, earrings and mascaratwo nods to girly things. Fussing over her face and attire was just too much work for Harry. She had more important things to do.

The old truck lacked cup holders, but Harry had installed one. She plopped her cell phone into it. The phone rang. She wouldnt use her phone when driving, because she didnt trust herself not to lose concentration.

Already shed put in a full day. At 5:30 A.M. shed fed her husband, Fair, and herself. Hed then left for his practiceequine veterinary medicine. She fed the horses, mucked their stalls, turned them out

with their blankets on. Shed called Southern States, a regional agricultural supply chain, and put in her seed and fertilizer order. This way she reaped a small discount for ordering early. Boy, it cost, too.

Thanks to some traffic, she turned down the mile-long dirt driveway to her farm thirty-five minutes after leaving the shopping center. She parked the truck by the barn, making use of the overhang. It felt like snow. If the weather turned nasty, the overhang would keep some of the snow off the windshield.

She flipped open the cell phone to see the missed call. Big Mim.

She hurried into the old farmhouse to use the landline.

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Big Mim ordered without formalities, Harry, you need to call Inez Carpenter in Richmond.

Of course.

Harry did as she was told.

Although Tallys best friend was ninety-eight, her voice was strong.

They chatted for a few moments, then Inez got to the point. Harry, as you know, Im head of the William Woods Alumnae Association chapter here in Richmondwell, Im emeritus. The board wants to present Tally with something from ourselves. I know better than to ask Mim. Shell wave me off. Any ideas?

Shed like a purple-martin house.

Harry mentioned a beautiful insect-eating bird with specific housing tastes. Purple martins returned to Virginia in the spring and liked to live in colonies. Multiple gourds hanging on cross rails or large birdhouses with many apartments appealed to them. One had to carefully clean out their quarters when they left for the fall and winter. A scout, flying ahead of the flock, would arrive in February to inspect the furnishings. If dirty, the purple martin wouldnt return to nest there.

Oh. Inezs voice raised a notch. What a good suggestion. A pause followed. You have a mind for puzzles. If we have a little time when were in Fulton, I have one for you. Lets keep it between us.

Sounds interesting.

A very long pause followed this, and the nonagenarian lowered her voice. Perhaps too interesting.

W

onder what its about. Harry had just finished telling Fair about her conversation with Inez.

Inez isnt given to overstatement. He speared the last piece of rib eye on his plate, having carefully pared off the fat.

Tucker, Mrs. Murphy, and Pewter, alert, sat at his feet. Theyd already worked over Harry.

Guess Ill find out. She didnt want to tell me over the phone.

Then it involves someones reputation or something dicey. Fair felt the glow that attends a full stomach.

Youre probably right. Inez wouldnt want to besmirch someone. She may have doubts, but shell hold her fire until she has everything locked up tight. Ive learned a lot from her.

Me, too. He smiled.

Inez had wanted to be a librarian while at William Woods but, upon graduation, decided she really wanted to be an equine vet. She went back to the college, took organic chemistry and other science courses, then applied to Cornell. She was accepted as the only woman in her class, and when she moved back to Virginia, she was the only woman equine vet in the state. The gods gave her a great gift. She could see what other vets who lacked a feeling for horses couldnt. There were those who thought Inez could read a horses mind. Within ten years,

she was envied by some while others felt only pure jealousy. Many, however, admired her. She was considered one of the best equine vets in Virginia. By the time she was fifty, she was thought to be one of the best in the nation.

When Fair did his residency, he was accepted by Inez. Her practice included the counties just west of Richmond. She specialized in equine reproduction. Fair was her understudy. She always bragged about him, saying he wasnt only her handsomest understudy but her best. He, too, had a feeling for horses, learning to trust his instincts as much as if not more than technology.

When his term of residency ended, Fair established a clinic in Crozet, Virginia, his hometown, thereby diving into vats of debt. Inez threw him as much business as she could from Louisa County, her westernmost territory. She began dragging him along to conferences. Her luster rubbed off on him. He was damned good, too.

Surely you have a scrap of fat on that plate?

Pewter stood on her hind legs to pat Fairs thigh with her front paw.

Fair cast his blue eyes down at the rotund kitty. Id be ashamed to be that fat.

Nonetheless, he tossed her a fat scrap, along with one each to Mrs. Murphy and Tucker.

Pewter let the insult pass. The tidbit was too good.

Im glad you could make it home for supper.

Feels like its been weeks. He sighed, leaning back in his chair.

It has.

Foaling season started in January, especially for the Thoroughbreds, but it continued for other breeds into April. Occasionally, a late foal would even be born in June. Like humans, foals arrived on their own timetable, which always seemed to be in the middle of the night. Fair had learned to snatch sleep when he could. He could even sleep standing up.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, the baby entered this world healthy. Occasionally, there would be birth defects. Some could be corrected with surgery, but others were hopeless and the animal had to be humanely destroyed. Sometimes the problem was with the mother.

Fortunately, this foaling season had been very good, with few miseries, and tonight Fair had made it home early. With luck, he might even sleep for seven hours.

Thought Id take the dually to Fulton. Sucks gas, but I think that long a trip might be asking too much of the 78.

How long is it? He smiled as Pewter, happy, flopped at Harrys side.

Sixteen hours. I can do it in less if Im vigilant. But I think Ill take two days and stop in Kentucky to see Joan and Larry. She mentioned two dear friends. Joan Hamilton owned Kalarama Farm, where she bred Saddlebreds; Larry Hodge, her husband, trained them and other peoples horses for showing. He owned a separate place, Simmstown, which he rented out. He was also an auctioneer, having a real flair for it. They were one of those great teams like Abbott and Costello or Fred and Ginger.

Bring pictures of Shortro.

Harry nodded. Shortro had been given to her by a client of Joans. He was a gray Saddlebred and was just turning four. He was smart, kind, and eager to learn, and Harry had fallen in love with the fellow.

Fair reached for his beer, glancing out the kitchen window. Winter wont give up.

Dont I know it. But the snowdrops are showing their little heads. Soon my crocus shoots will pop up. Sooner or later, winter will release his grip.

I love a good snow, but by March Im ready for the change, as is everyone. He paused. The dually. No, honey, dont take it. Its a great truck, mind you, but you dont want to drive sixteen hours with those double wheels. I mean, the turning radius alone will get you when you snake through St. Louis. What a goddamned bottleneck that is.

Tis. I adore St. Louis. Just wish theyd build more bridges over the Mississippi and a new bypass.

Given that our bridges are falling down, they might have to. The Mississippi is treacherous. That reminds me to reread

Life on the Mississippi.

Well, what can I drive? Im not flying. For one thing, I wouldnt be able to take the kids. For another, its crowded, planes are late or canceled, you dont even get a sandwich, you pay for your bag to be

checked, and an airplane pollutes eight times as much as a train. As far as Im concerned, air travel needs to be a thing of the past if were really going green.

Dont count on it. Those special-interest lobbies couldnt give a damn about whats good for the environment, much less the country. He drained his glass. And the public deluded itself into thinking that long-life electric bulbs and electric cars will solve the problem. Until we phase out polluting industries like air travel, were sunk. He paused. Its complicated. I know that. If we end those industries without creating new ones and retraining people to work in the new ones, were creating tremendous hardship for sectors of our population. Theres no easy answer, but there

are

answers. Fair cared passionately about environmental issues.

Youre right. The public doesnt care about the greed, corruption, or rape of the environment as long as they get what they need. At least thats what I think.

Not need but want, Fair remarked shrewdly, while patting Pewters head.

She stood on her hind legs again. Fair had cleaned his plate, but he did drop a little piece of piecrust.

Pig.

Mrs. Murphy swept her whiskers forward. She wasnt one for sweets or piecrusts.

Pewter liked dough, any kind of bread.

Youre no cripple. If you want more, ask for it.

Dont.

The tiger turned, sauntering out of the kitchen.

Youre right. Back to my problem.

Let me think on it. I could rent a car. We dont have one, and for a trip like this, you really need a car.

I dont need one here. The old 78 does the job.

Its not long on comfort.

I sit on a cushion. She smiled, then looked out the window. She rose, walking over for a better look. Flurries.

Damn.

Good thing I kept the fire going.

What about the bedroom? Their bedroom was cold.

Stoked that, too. But I can keep you warm.

He laughed. Im a lucky man. Then he said with feeling, I am. Im married to the woman I love. I love my work. I have wonderful friendshuman and animal. And I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. If I ever forget to be grateful, smack me.

Will do. Harry finished her hot tea. I hope this do for Aunt Tally doesnt do her in.

Tally? Christ, shell probably outlive us all.

Probably, but I have a funny feeling about this.

Fair had learned not to discount Harrys feelings, just as hed learned through experience not to discount when Inez said a horse was unhappy, even with no apparent physical cause. You mean shell get sick or something?

No. Harry placed the cup on the saucer. I cant put my finger on it. This is going to be a huge fund-raiser. Times are tough, so its especially important. Then that smarmy little social climber Terri Kincaidwho plucks my last nerve, by the waywants to have another fund-raiser here. Theyre working Tally too hard, I think. I know Inez put her foot down with the Richmond chapter about having a special fund-raiser tied to Tally turning one hundred.

They can wait until Inez turns a hundred. Two more years. You know she was in her early eighties when I did my residency? Apart from a bad backand what vet or horseman doesnt have oneshe looked about fifty.

Some people just have it. Others die of lung cancer at thirty without ever smoking. Harry had accepted in her teens that there was no rhyme or reason to these things.

But being a fearful species, humans want reasons, so they invent them. Thats what the cats had decided. Theyd also concluded other things about the human animal, few of their conclusions complimentary. But Mrs. Murphy staunchly defended Harry and Fair by saying they possessed catlike qualities.

Tucker loved her humans. She didnt care if they were turned around backward.

Back to your premonition.

Did I say premonition? Fair shook his head no, so Harry continued. Well, I guess it is. Maybe its because of the financial pressure.

Im making too much of it. But, she searched for the right words, I feel this may backfire.

I hope not.

I hope not, too, because the collegewell, its a university nowis doing everything right about the big blowout. According to Inez and Tally, its one of the best-run higher-education institutions in the country.

You know Inez and I can still argue about our alma maters. She thinks Cornell is the best, and I think its Auburn. He rose and cleared the table. Lets hope all goes well. If it doesnt, youre far away from me. I dont much like that.

Its not about me. Its a feeling.

Harry, if anything does run amiss, youll soon be in the middle of it. You cant help yourself.

True,

Tucker piped up.

Thats enough, Tucker, Harry reprimanded the corgi.

She understood,

Tucker announced.

No, she didnt. She wanted you to stop barking,

Mrs. Murphy replied.

I only barked once.

The cat brushed against the mighty little dog, for she did love her. Pewter, who had moved to her cozy fleece bed, opened one eye. She closed her eye again.

Harry did not say anything about her husbands assessment of her landing in the middle of a mess, because it was true.

Fair filled the sink. They didnt use a microwave or dishwasher. They turned on the electric lights only in the room where they were eating, reading, or watching TV. Fair was setting aside money to build a good old farmers windmill. That would help with energy costs. Honey, give me a couple of days on the car thing. I really dont want you driving all that way in anything but a safe vehicle.

Renting will be really expensive. ...