Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Cast of Characters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Letter to the Reader
Books by Rita Mae Brown
Copyright Page
Dedicated to
Judy Lynn Pastore.
Thank you for taking
in all those homeless
animals, including this stray.
Acknowledgments
Not being a medical person, I relied heavily on my far more intelligent friends who are trained in the medical arts.
Martin Shulman, V.M.D., Christopher Middleton, D.V.M., and Lauren Keating, D.V.M., provided guidance and information about rabies in the animal kingdom.
Dr. Anne Bonda, along with keeping my horses healthy and happy, also provided rabies materials. “Dr. Anne” is both a gold mine of information and a godsend to humans and horses.
Dr. Mary T. O’Brien supplied facts, figures, and gruesome examples, bringing me up to speed concerning rabies in humans. It is, indeed, a dreadful disease and I am indebted to the good doctor for taking so much of her time to work with me.
Mrs. Jeanne Pitsenberger, a nurse with her own research firm, Foxdale Enterprises, piled folder upon folder on my desk. I have never worked with a researcher as organized, careful, or cheerful as Jeanne. No matter how absurd the question was I lobbed at her, shortly the answer was lobbed back.
Any mistakes in this book are due to my shortcomings and none of the above.
And concerning all of the above individuals, it is my privilege to know them. Apart from being good to me, these people cement together the communities in which we live. Our nation is filled with wonderful, giving people but it’s the bums that get the headlines.
Cast of Characters
Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen The postmistress of Crozet, Virginia, is curious, sometimes bull-headed, and often in the midst of trouble. Her life is changing and she’s struggling to change with it.
Mrs. Murphy Harry’s tiger cat accepts change better than her human does. She’s tough, smart, and ready for action and she’ll always take a little catnip, too.
Tee Tucker Harry’s corgi bubbles with happiness and bravery in equal measure. She loves Harry as only a dog can love.
Pewter Harry’s gray cat affects aloofness but underneath it all, she does care. What irritates her are comments about her plumpness and her hunting abilities.
Mrs. Miranda Hogendobber Miranda observes a great deal but keeps most of it to herself. A widow, she’s a surrogate mother to Harry and the relationship means a great deal to both women.
Susan Tucker Harry’s best friend has been putting up with her friend’s curiosity and attraction to danger since they were children. They have their ups and downs like most friends but they stick together.
Fair Haristeen, D.V.M. Once Harry’s childhood sweetheart and then her husband, he hopes to be her husband again. He has a good mind, a stout heart, and the patience to put up with her.
Olivia Craycroft “BoomBoom” Once Harry’s nemesis, the two have settled into a slightly strained rapprochement. BoomBoom is quite beautiful, a fact never lost on men.
Alicia Palmer A former resident of Crozet, she keeps an estate there. She conquered Hollywood as an actress and now in her late fifties, she’s coming home. She’s retained all of her glamour while losing most of her illusions.
Rev. Herbert C. Jones Beloved, humorous, fond of fishing, all of Crozet knows that when the chips are down, “The Rev” will come through.
Marilyn Sanburne “Big Mim” The Queen of Crozet exerts her social power with whatever force is needed to accomplish her task. She can be a snob but she’s fair in her own fashion and believes strongly in justice.
Jim Sanburne As the mayor of Crozet, he presides over the town, which is easier to do sometimes than to be Big Mim’s husband.
Marilyn Sanburne, Jr. “Little Mim” She is emerging from her mother’s influence. She’s a contemporary of Harry, Susan, and BoomBoom but she’s always been set apart by her family’s wealth. She is the vice-mayor of Crozet and a Republican, which is quite interesting since her father is a Democrat.
Deputy Cynthia Cooper A young, bright officer in the Sheriff’s Department, she likes law enforcement but wonders if it keeps romance at bay. She’s become a buddy of Harry’s and the cats and dog like her, too.
Sheriff Rick Shaw There are days now when Rick is tired of criminals, tired of their lies, tired of pressing the county commissioners for more funds. But when a murder occurs, he focuses his sharp mind to bring the pieces of the puzzle together—if only that damned Harry and her pets would get out of the way.
Tavener Heyward, D.V.M. A greatly respected equine veterinarian contemplating retirement. He’s generous, hardworking, and often a mentor to young people in the horse industry.
Mary Patricia Reines Missing since 1974, she casts a lonely shadow over Crozet. She was wealthy, fun-loving, and strong-minded. She ran St. James Farm, breeding thoroughbreds for the track, and she was successful at it.
Tazio Chappars A young architect of mixed race, she gets men’s hearts racing. She’s a rather serious sort of woman but kind and considerate.
Paul de Silva Big Mim’s new stable manager is handsome, efficient, and a little bit shy. He’s crazy about Tazio.
Barry Monteith and Sugar Thierry Two young men, partners in the thoroughbred breeding and lay-up operation, have made some good bloodline choices but some shaky choices in women.
Carmen Gamble The young owner of Shear Heaven, a beauty parlor, exercises a sharp pair of scissors and a sharp tongue. She has energy to burn; if only she had money to burn.
1
Barry Monteith was still breathing when Harry found him. His throat had been ripped out.
Tee Tucker, a corgi, racing ahead of Mary Minor Haristeen as well as the two cats, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, found him first.