Рита Браун - Tall Tail

Moses Durkinworks in the stable with his father. His love for Ailee is all-consuming. He wants to protect her, but how?

Shebais Maureen Selisse’s lady-in-waiting. Really, she’s Maureen’s right hand and she enjoys the power. She’ll destroy anyone who stands in her way.

DoRe Durkin,Moses’s father, limps from an old fall from a horse. He’s worried about Moses, who he fears will do something very foolish.

The Slaves: Cloverfields

Bettinais a cook of fabulous abilities. She’s the head woman of the slaves, thanks to her fame, her wisdom, and her wondrous warmth. She also has a beautiful voice. Bettina’s view: “I could be a queen in Africa, but I’m not in Africa. I’m here.” She made a vow to Isabelle, Ewing’s wife, as she died. Bettina vowed to take care of Catherine and Rachel. She has kept her pledge.

Serenais young, learning from Bettina both in the kitchen and out. She has uncommon good sense and will, in the future, wield power among her people.

Jeddie Riceis eighteen, a natural with horses. He loves them. He’s been riding, working, and studying bloodlines with Catherine since they were children. Like Serena, Jeddie has all the qualities of someone who will rise, difficult though the world they live in is.

Tulli—A little fellow at the stables who tries hard to learn.

Ralston—Fifteen and thin, he, too, is at the stables. He works hard.

Father Gabeis old, calm, watchful. He accepts Christianity but practices the old religion. Many believe he can conjure spirits. No matter if he can or can’t, he is a healer.

Rogeris Ewing’s house butler, the most powerful position a male slave can have. He has a sure touch with people, black or white.

Weymouth,Roger’s son, is in his middle twenties. The hope is he will inherit his father’s position someday, but for now he’s fine with being second banana. He’s a good barber and in truth not very ambitious.

Barker O.,powerful, quiet, he drives the majestic coach-in-four. He’s known throughout Virginia for his ability.

Bumbeefights with her husband. Finally she moves into the weaving cabin to get away from him and to comfort a lost soul.

Ruthhas a two-year-old and a new baby. How she loves any baby, kitten, puppy, and she gets to show this love to save a little life.

The Animals

Mrs. Murphy,Harry’s tiger cat, knows she has more brains than her human. She used to try to keep Harry out of trouble. She gave up, knowing all she can do is extricate her human once she’s in another mess.

Pewter,a fat gray cat, believes the world began when she entered it. What a diva. But the Queen of All She Surveys does come through in a pinch, although you’ll never hear the end of it.

Tee Tuckerwas bred by Susan Tucker. A tough, resourceful corgi, she knows she has to protect Harry, work with the levelheaded Mrs. Murphy, and endure Pewter.

Owenis Tucker’s brother. They adore being with each other. For Tucker it’s a relief to sometimes be away from the cats.

Shortrois a young Saddlebred ridden as a hunter.

Tomahawkis Harry’s old Thoroughbred hunter who hotly resents being thought old.

The Eighteenth-Century Animals

Pigletis a brave, smart corgi who went through the war and imprisonment with Captain Charles West. He loves living in Virginia with the other animals and people.

Serenissimais Francisco Selisse’s fabulous blooded mare whom he sends to Catherine to be bred to her stallion, Reynaldo.

Reynaldois up-and-coming, with terrific conformation, but hot. Catherine and Jeddie can handle him.

Crown Princeis a younger half brother to Reynaldo. Both are out of Queen Esther, and fortunately, Crown Prince has her temperament.

King Davidis one of the driving horses. He’s heavier built than Reynaldo, and Crown Prince. Solomon is King David’s brother. They are a flashy matched pair.

Castor and Polluxare two Percherons who do heavy-duty work. They are such good boys.

Sweet Potatois a saucy pony teaching Tulli to ride.

Martinwas Maureen Selisse’s mare but winds up in York, Pennsylvania, where Mary Graves spoils him with goodies. He takes care of her.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Flaming sword in hand, the Avenging Angel, bestride a monumental tomb, looked over the rolling land toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. His mouth set hard, his eyes piercing, he was not the promise of peace, repose, and eternal joy with the Almighty.

Lying underneath this imposing marble tomb rested the bones of Francisco Selisse, born January 12, 1731. Died September 10, 1784. Historians still puzzle over exactly how he was murdered. Three other people stood in the room when it happened. The stories varied, but no one denied that Francisco had been stabbed to death.

Big Rawly, the plantation on which this sordid event occurred, looked much as it did in 1784. Brick or clapboard, most early Virginia homes resembled one another. In general, the wealthy wanted Georgian homes, but Big Rawly, modeled after a French château, down to the stables and outbuildings, never failed to impress.

Harry had played there as a child with children from the neighboring estate Beau Pre, Big Rawly itself, plus those children whose mothers drove them to the estate. The estate’s owners, the Holloways, had children, loved children, and were welcoming to any and all. Susan Tucker, Harry’s best friend, was their granddaughter.

Francisco and Maureen Selisse had been childless, and this gaggle of children might have pleased them. Hard to say, for their reputation for ruthlessness endures to this day.

The cemetery in which this imposing tomb commanded center stage was said to be haunted. As a child, Harry had steered clear of the graveyard, and even as an adult that hard-eye stone angel gave her a shiver. Over the centuries, many declared they had seen ghosts here, but with a consideration praiseworthy in the disembodied, the departed never disturbed children.

Now, as an adult, as Harry passed the place, rumbling on the narrow road leading out of Garth Road, she wondered if this consideration would always hold true.

Turning left, heading for Crozet, she noted dark clouds backing up behind the Blue Ridge. Never a good sign. Accompanying her in her old 1978 F-150 sat Mrs. Murphy, the tiger cat, and Pewter, the gray cat. Tucker, a corgi, was also present and always ready to help. The same could not be said of the cats.

They reached another left turn, which wound a few miles down to old Three-Chopt Road, Route 250. Given the threat of a storm, Harry chose this faster route instead of the pleasant drive to Whitehall, where she would also turn left to head home.

Coming at her in the opposite direction, a red Camry flew around a curve up ahead. On such a twisty road, Harry thought it best to be alert. She had stopped, put her left flasher on, when a tremendous clap of thunder startled her and her passengers.