“Hey, what about me!” Pewter, sprawled on another outdoor chair, piped up.
“Magic powers,” Tucker, under the chair, teased her.
“It’s been a wild ride.” Harry held Fair’s hand as he perched on the wide arm of the wooden chair. “And, you know, the biggest shock was Annalise. I still can’t believe she did what she did.”
“Me neither, but since B.C. people have justified killing in the millions by saying it’s for the greater common good. The millions doing the killing believe it, but the dead always remain dead. I swear the spirits return for vengeance. It may take centuries, but more misery is created.”
“Justice,” Harry simply replied.
“Revenge.”
She looked up at her husband. “Revenge. Justice. It’s the same to me, anyway.”
He smiled. “Many would argue differently, but I’m with you. The same. What we call justice is dressed-up revenge, and it’s necessary. You can’t have a society where wrongdoing isn’t punished.” He took a deep breath, beheld the mountains, then leaned over to kiss her again. “I thank God you’re alive.”
“We saved her.” Pewter puffed up.
“Shortro and Tomahawk had a lot to do with it.” Tucker watched the two buddies out in their paddock.
“They sure did,” Mrs. Murphy, in another chair, agreed.
“I think it’s fine that Fair thanks the Almighty”—Pewter paused, then a beatific expression passed over her gray face—“but he should remember that in ancient Egypt, cats were worshipped. Really, I think the practice should be reintroduced, along with daily heapings of catnip.”
Quick on the draw, Mrs. Murphy said, “Means you have to have your ears pierced and wear earrings.”
“No way!” Pewter’s ears swept back.
“She’s right, Pewts. All the statues and mummies wear gold earrings. My, you’d look so-o-o fetching.” Tucker laughed.
Rising, Pewter peered over the seat of the chair. “Name one place where dogs were worshipped.”
“None. We won’t wear earrings.”
Pewter’s pupils enlarged as she puffed up even more.
Mrs. Murphy counseled, “Pewter, will you calm down.”
“Well, we were worshipped. Who will worship this worthless, fat dog?”
“And how shall I address you? Your Eminence? Mother Pewter? I know, the Great Puss Bottom,” Tucker sassed.
Off the chair, Pewter hit the dog with her considerable weight. The two rolled over each other. Wrenching free of Pewter’s claws, Tucker took off like a shot, Pewter in hot pursuit. The corgi dodged, feinted, keeping Pewter running.
Mrs. Murphy joined in. Pewter made a big show of her anger, but by now it was all pure fun.
Shortro and Tomahawk watched the two cats and dog. So they chased each other.
Fair and Harry laughed, then Fair said, “I’ll give you a head start. Bet I can catch you.”
“Ha.” Harry bolted out of the chair.
Everybody was chasing everybody else.
Life is good.
Afterword
Like you, reader, I have lost friends to cancer. We all have, and in the last year it seems, in my life, these numbers are increasing, particularly among young people.
Cancer is also cropping up in horses and hounds, and I have lost some animals to this horrible disease, in all its guises.
Is there more of it, or are we better at identifying it, or both? You can be the judge.
Given that medical terminology is cumbersome, I kept things as clear as possible while being as accurate as possible. The various forms of cancer treatment change rapidly. The treatment Harry undergoes in this book is different from that endured by one of my friends, who suffered breast cancer six years ago.
By the time you read this mystery, some of the information may be outdated or superseded.
As this mystery involves cancer, more than usual we feel the presence of the Angel of Death. There is a one hundred percent chance that I will perish, and so will you. Let me pass on the wisdom of my late mother, Julia Ellen Buckingham Brown:
“You’re going to be dead a long time. Do it now.”
She never identified what “it” is, leaving that up to me, as I leave it up to you.
2 August 2010
Author’s Note
David and Ellen King hosted the Pink Ribbon Polo Classic on their polo field at the vineyards. Both teams were well matched in the 2010 contest; both played well and played clean. Mr. King, aggressive and smart, enlivened the game. I mention this because so often patrons, the sponsors of a team, aren’t too good on the field. Rob Rinehart and Gary Leonard—the umpires, rarely celebrated—did a wonderful job.
Joan Hamilton endured endless questions about liquid nitrogen and shipping equine semen after which we would veer off, as usual, into a conversation about bloodlines. I couldn’t live without Joan. For one thing, she’s so much smarter than I am she can steer me back on course if needs be.
A. P. Indy, a stallion at Lane’s End Farm, in 2011 has a stud fee of $150,000. Before the depression his fee was $300,000, maybe a bit more. The human variety of this magical substance is far less expensive, proving, perhaps, that horses are more valuable than humans.
Setting the Record Straight
All these years, my human and that Goody Two-shoes, Sneaky Pie, have been using me as the butt of their jokes. Finally, I’ve been able to sneak in the truth at the very last minute with the corrected galley proofs. They’ll never know.
I am not fat. I am not old but am sort of middle-aged. I have lustrous green eyes and gray fur. I am supremely intelligent. There wouldn’t be plots worth squat without me in them.
As to my real life, I will kill that blue jay. I am tired of my prior attempts at murder being put in the books as though I haven’t a prayer.
I do have a prayer. “God helps those who help themselves.” I will help myself to that cussed blue jay.
There. The truth at last.
Pewter
Dedicated with admiration
to
Lima
the Texas cat who saved her human from a pit bull attack
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 PIE’S COOKBOOK FOR MYSTERY LOVERS
PAWING THROUGH THE PAST•CLAWS AND EFFECT
CATCH AS CAT CAN•THE TAIL OF THE TIP-OFF
WHISKER OF EVIL•CAT’S EYEWITNESS•SOUR PUSS
PUSS ’N CAHOOTS•THE PURRFECT MURDER•SANTA CLAWED
CAT OF THE CENTURY•HISS OF DEATH
Books by Rita Mae Brown with “Sister” Jane Arnold in the Outfoxed Series
OUTFOXED•HOTSPUR•FULL CRY•THE HUNT BALL
THE HOUNDS AND THE FURY•THE TELL-TALE HORSE
HOUNDED TO DEATH
Books by Rita Mae Brown
A NOSE FOR JUSTICE•ANIMAL MAGNETISM: