Stuffing her face, Harry nodded, swallowed, then asked, “Did you see the news this morning?”
“No, why?”
“Oh, a brief interview with Eddie. He was attacking the current governor for not doing more to aid economic recovery.”
“It is slow, but Ned says jobs are creeping back. He also says it will never be like it was before the crash. So many small businesses were put down, so to speak, and the coal industry, others, destroyed by a Congress offering no alternatives.”
“Eddie mentioned that.” Harry reached for another sandwich. “These are really good.” She then returned to the subject at hand. “Eddie fired off facts and figures. He said that in 2007 there were sixty-four jobs for every one hundred Virginians over sixteen. But now it’s fifty-nine jobs for every one hundred Virginians over sixteen. Gotta give it to him, he can argue effectively. When he was sent to Taft, he got such a good education. From Taft to Yale and then UVA School of Law. He did his homework. I just wish he weren’t so right-wing about some issues like race, immigration, that stuff.”
“Taft changed him,” said Susan. “Be like you or I going to Madeira or Westover. It’s so different from high school, public high school. Speaking of jobs, if I were young today, I’d try to work my way up in these research institutes. I’m willing to bet you that the figures Eddie Cunningham used came from the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. Everybody uses them, and the real brains there belong to Laura Goren.”
“Never thought of that, of research. I admit that I do take notice if a senior officer or analyst or someone running for public office is a woman.”
“Me, too. Doesn’t mean I agree with them.”
“Susan, you don’t even agree with yourself.”
The two laughed uproariously.
Then Harry asked, “Where’s Owen?”
Owen was Susan’s corgi, brother to Tucker.
“With Ned. He took Owen to town with him today. Said he misses the dog. Didn’t say he missed me.”
“Men.” Harry smiled.
“What did our mothers say?” Susan reached over to poke Harry.
In unison the two chanted, “Men, you can’t live with them, you can’t live without them.”
Saturday, September 18, 1784
The first hint of fall filled the crisp late afternoon air.
Catherine and Rachel investigated the gardens around the house, thinking to make cuttings for their father and husbands. Ewing especially enjoyed cut flowers, as his late wife had filled the house with them.
“Do you ever wonder how Mother organized her gardens?” Catherine asked. “By color, by size, by season. I don’t know how she did it nor where she procured the seeds.”
“I don’t know, either. She did teach us how to weed, when to turn the soil, she had a gift. I like that she put the tall flowers in the back, the lower ones in front.”
“You have more of her gift than I do,” Catherine truthfully stated.
Pleased by her sister’s praise, Rachel’s open face glowed. “I want to create an English garden at our house. Charles promises to help, but he says he doesn’t really know that much about it. Oh, he knows about the geometry, the pathways and such, but he said he doesn’t know what will grow here, as opposed to what grows in England.”
“Boxwoods.” Catherine laughed.
Spotted in the distance, a well-dressed rider captivated their attention.
Rachel, shielding her eyes, identified him. “Yancy Gates.”
“Come with me.” Catherine started for the main stables.
Both women reached the sparkling-clean stable shortly before Yancy arrived.
Putting up one of the saddle horses, Jeddie smiled as Catherine and Rachel walked in.
“Jeddie, Yancy Gates will be here any minute. Is everyone groomed?”
“Everyone but King David.” He mentioned one of the driving horses. “I put him in light work this morning.”
“Call Tulli over to wash him. I’ll tend to Yancy. I suspect he wants to talk about Serenissima. Rachel and I will entertain him. If I need you, I’ll send Tulli to fetch you.”
“Miss Catherine, why don’t I work in the broodmare barn? Close, especially if he wants someone pulled out.”
“Of course.” She placed her hand on his shoulder, then dropped it just as Yancy Grant reached the stable. A slender lad of fifteen, Ralston rushed up to hold his horse.
“Should I untack him, sir, and rub him down?”
“No, I won’t be long. A drink of water, perhaps.” Yancy treated the youngster kindly.
Many people ordered their servants and slaves about, but Yancy appreciated anyone who worked with horses and he knew anyone in Catherine’s stables was good, even if very young.
Catherine and Rachel strode out to greet him. “Mr. Grant, how good to see you. Can we offer you a libation?” Catherine, the eldest, took over.
“Or biscuits. Bettina made a batch this morning,” Rachel added.
Looking at these two sisters, so beautiful, he smiled. “Thank you. I happened to be over at Pestalozzi’s Mill and thought to come by, as it is near. May I look at Reynaldo?”
“Of course.” Catherine then called out, “Jeddie.”
He appeared as if by magic the minute her voice lifted. “Miss Catherine.”
“Mr. Grant would like to look at Reynaldo and”—she lifted her chin ever so slightly—“allow me to show you his younger half brother.”
“I’d be delighted.”
Jeddie motioned to Binks, a short twelve-year-old, to follow him. Within minutes, the two brought out Reynaldo and Crown Prince.
“Jeddie, trot Reynaldo for Mr. Grant. Straight up to us, then away, and then in two circles, opposite directions.”
If Reynaldo favored one leg over the other, this imbalance would show in the circles, especially on an inside leg. Yancy Grant knew how to study a horse.
After Jeddie trotted the sleek animal, Catherine instructed, “Now pass him in front of us.”
“Majestic creature,” Yancy admiringly muttered.
“Binks, do the same with Crown Prince.”
Completely at ease with the stallion, the younger boy did as he was told.
“All right, you can put them back in their pastures.” She turned to Yancy. “Unless you’d like to see more?”
“Serenissima, after these two are turned out,” he prudently requested.
Rachel briskly walked up to Jeddie and Binks, informing them as to Yancy’s request. The three of them waited at the fence. When Catherine and Yancy reached them, Rachel opened the gate and Reynaldo walked in first, followed by Crown Prince. Then each horse was turned to face the people, their halters slipped off. Both stood for a moment, then joyfully ran into the pastures.
Yancy’s eyes never left them.
“You can see that Crown Prince is lighter than his half brother. Built for speed, whereas Reynaldo is built to carry me up hills, down hills, through streams.”
“Same dam?”
Rachel interjected, “Catherine’s favorite mare, Queen Esther. She’s in the next pasture.”
The three horses, with the two young fellows behind them, walked to an adjoining pasture separated by about twelve feet, so no hanging of heads over fencelines.
“I remember Queen Esther.” Yancy smiled upon seeing the mare. “Of course.”
Not only did he remember Queen Esther, he knew her bloodlines and most of her get. Why he was being coy only he knew, because both sisters knew Yancy was a fervent student of bloodlines.
Catherine called the mare over for a nuzzle. “She’s dear to me.”
“Serenissima?” Yancy underlined his own, pretending not to remember Queen Esther by identifying Serenissima.
“Here to be bred, before Mr. Selisse’s unfortunate end. I’m keeping her until I’m quite sure. You’re the second person to check on her.”