Рита Браун: Tall Tail

Tall Tail is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2016 by American Artists, Inc.

Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Michael Gellatly

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Bantam Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

BANTAM BOOKS and the HOUSE colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Brown, Rita Mae, author. | Brown, Sneaky Pie, author. |

Gellatly, Michael, illustrator.

Title: Tall tail : a Mrs. Murphy mystery / Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown ; illustrated by Michael Gellatly.

Description: First edition. | New York : Bantam Books, [2016]

Identifiers: LCCN 2015045502 (print) | LCCN 2015047670 (ebook) | ISBN 9780553392463 (alk. paper) | ISBN 9780553392470 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Haristeen, Harry (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Murphy, Mrs. (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Women detectives—Virginia—Fiction. | Women cat owners—Fiction. | Cats—Fiction. | BISAC: FICTION / Mystery & Detective / Women Sleuths. | FICTION / Humorous. | FICTION / Suspense. | GSAFD: Mystery fiction.

Classification: LCC PS3552.R698 T36 2016 (print) | LCC PS3552.R698 (ebook) |

DDC 813/.54—dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/​2015045502

ebook ISBN 9780553392470

Cover design: Beverly Leung

Cover illustration: Beverly Leung; © Shutterstock/eva_mask (cat outline and sky), Sarawut Chamsaeng (tree)

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Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

The 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

Afterword

Dedication

Books by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

About the Authors

The Cast of Characters

The Present

Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry”—A Smith graduate in art history, she wound up back in Crozet, Virginia, where she runs the family farm. Her two cats and dog are her constant companions.

Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, “Fair”—Harry’s husband is an equine vet specializing in reproduction. He has long ago given up keeping up with his wife. She sometimes mystifies him, but he loves her.

Susan Tucker—Harry’s friend from cradle days. They tease, bicker, and prod each other along. They are good at handling each other.

Ned Tucker—Susan’s husband, a lawyer, is now a representative in the House of Delegates.

Governor Samuel Holloway—a World War II naval hero, the former governor, Susan’s maternal grandfather, at ninety-six is dying of leukemia. His mind is razor sharp.

Penny Holloway—the governor’s wife, Susan’s grandmother, struggles to keep everything and everyone on an even keel. She is mostly successful. Like her granddaughter, she is a good golfer.

Millicent Grimstead—Susan’s mother, who spends much of her time now at her parents’ estate, Big Rawly, to help with her father.

Edward Holloway Cunningham—Susan’s cousin is a state senator with a big following. He is now running for a Senate seat in Washington, feeling Richmond is too small for him. He rides on his grandfather’s coattails.

Mignon Skipwith—A young writer and researcher, she works with the governor as he writes his autobiography. She is discreet and reliable.

Barbara Leader—A home nurse, Barbara tends to the governor, jollies him along, and gives him his meds as well as restorative bourbon. She was a class behind Harry and Susan at Crozet High. They weren’t close, but they all like one another.

The Eighteenth Century

Catherine Schuyler—at twenty, intelligent, levelheaded, and impossibly beautiful, she is learning from her brilliant father about business. She already has a reputation as a leading horsewoman.

John Schuyler—A former major in the Revolutionary War, only a few years older than his smashing wife, he is powerfully built and works hard. As he is from Massachusetts he can miss some of the undercurrents of Virginia society.

Rachel West—Two years younger than her sister, Catherine, she, too, is beautiful but her beauty is softer, sweeter. She’s easy to please, ready to help, and possessed of deep moral conviction.

Charles West—Captured by John Schuyler at the Battle of Saratoga, the then nineteen-year-old marched all the way to The Barracks prisoner-of-war camp outside Charlottesville. The second son of a baron in England, he had the good sense to stay in America. Like John, he is dazzled by his wife and knows how lucky he is.

Karl Ix—A Hessian also captured. He and Charles become friends in the camp and continue working together after the war.

Francisco Selisse—A man of middle years, he made a pot of money, first through marriage and then from his own efforts. Aesthetically attuned, ruthless in business, and hard on his slaves, he is not well liked.

Maureen Selisse—The daughter of a Caribbean banker, she was a great catch for Francisco. Keenly aware of her social position, she is also accustomed to getting her way. While the love has faded for Francisco, she hates that he carries on with a beautiful slave, making little attempt to hide it.

Hiram Meisner—The county constable responsible for catching criminals and runaway slaves. He’s not a bad fellow, and does his job without much enthusiasm.

Dennis McComb—As Hiram’s assistant, he evidences more enthusiasm. Not bright, he sees the world in black and white.

Ewing Garth,the father of Catherine and Rachel, is a loving man, brilliant in business. He is a creature of his time, but one who can learn. He helped finance the war and hopes the new nation can hold together. A widower, he misses his wife, a true partner.

Bartholomew Graves,an Irishman, was an artillery officer for the British in the war. He, too, was at The Barracks. He escaped to build a new life.

Mary Graves,younger than her husband, is sensible, well-built, adoring, and keeps a happy home for the veteran. They are well suited to each other.

The Slaves: Big Rawly

Aileen (Ailee)has cat’s eyes, a voluptuous body, and a joy for life. She loves Moses. Francisco lusts after her, forces himself on her, and beats her if necessary. She avoids him as best she can and refuses to let him dampen her joys.