Рита Браун: Hounded To Death

HOUNDED

TO DEATH

CONTENTS

Title Page

Dedication

Cast of Characters

Some Useful Terms

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

About the Author

Books by Rita Mae Brown

Copyright

Dedicated to

Mr. Tommy Lee Jones, Huntsman

Casanova Hunt, Casanova, Virginia

Mr. Chris Ryan, MFH, Huntsman

Scarteen Hounds

Limerick, Ireland

Gentlemen, you asked for it

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE HUMANS

Jane Arnold,Sister, is master of foxhounds of the Jefferson Hunt Club in central Virginia. She loves her hounds, her horses, and her house pets. Occasionally, she finds humans lovable, too. Strong, healthy, vibrant at seventy-three, she’s proof of the benefits of the outdoor life.

Shaker Crownis the huntsman. He’s acquired the discipline of holding his tongue and his temper—most times. He’s wonderful with hounds. In his early forties, he’s finding his way back to love with Lorraine Rasmussen.

Gray Lorillard,a now-retired high-powered accountant is in his late sixties, and is in love with Sister Jane.

Crawford Howard,a self-made man, moved to Virginia from Indiana. He’s egotistical, ambitious, and thinks he knows more than he does about foxhunting. But he’s also generous, intelligent, and fond of young people. His great disappointment is not being a father but he never speaks of this, especially to his wife, Marty.

Charlotte Nortonis the young headmistress of Custis Hall, a prestigious prep school for young ladies.

Anne Harris,Tootie, is one of the brightest students Charlotte Norton has ever known. Taciturn, observant, yet capable of delivering a stinging barb, this senior shines with promise. She’s beautiful, petite, African-American, and a strong rider. The fall will be her first year at Princeton. She’d rather stay at the kennels and work with hounds.

Valentina Smithis the class president. Blonde, tall, lean, and drop-dead gorgeous, the kid is a natural politician. She and Tootie clash at times, but they are friends. She loves foxhunting. Unlike Tootie, she can’t wait to get to Princeton. Her ambitions need a wider scope.

Felicity Porterseems overshadowed by Tootie and Val but she is highly intelligent and has a sturdy self-regard. She’s the kind of person who is quietly competent. She, too, is a good rider. She’s in the last trimester of her pregnancy, will marry Howie Lindquist soon, and almost wishes she were going to Princeton also. Once the baby is born, she’ll go to night school. Every bit as brilliant as Tootie and Val, her life is taking a dramatically different course.

Pamela Reneseems burdened by being African-American whereas for Tootie it’s a given. Pamela can’t stand Val and feels tremendously competitive with Tootie, whom she accuses of being an Oreo cookie. Her family substituted money for love, which makes Pamela poor. Underneath it all, she’s basically a good person, but that can be hard to appreciate.

Betty Franklinis the long-serving honorary whipper-in at JHC. Her judgment, way with hounds, knowledge of territory, and ability to ride make her a standout. Many is the huntsman who would kill to have Betty Franklin whip in to him or her. She’s in her mid-forties, a mother, happily married to Bobby, and a dear, dear friend to Sister.

Walter Lungrun, M.D.,joint master of foxhounds, has held this position for over a year. He’s learning all he can. He adores Sister, and the feeling is mutual. Their only complaint is there’s so much work to do they rarely have time for a good talk. Walter is in his late thirties. He is the result of an affair that Raymond Arnold, Sr., Jane’s husband, had with Walter’s mother. Mr. Lun-grunnever knew—or pretended he didn’t—and Sister didn’t know until a year ago.

Hope Rogersis a highly respected equine veterinarian who takes care of Sister’s horses.

Edward Bancroft,in his seventies, head of the Bancroft family, used to run a large corporation founded by his family in the mid-nineteenth century. His wife, Tedi,is one of Sister’s oldest friends. Tedi rides splendid Thoroughbreds and is always impeccably turned out, as is her surviving daughter, Sybil Fawkes,who is in her second year as an honorary whipper-in. The Bancrofts are true givers in terms of money, time, and genuine caring.

Ben Sidellhas been sheriff of the county for three years. Since he was hired from Ohio, he sometimes needs help in the labyrinthine ways of the South. He relies on Sister’s knowledge and discretion.

Kasmir Barbhaiyais in his mid-forties, widowed, and a college classmate of High Vajay. He falls in love with Virginia while visiting High and Mandy. Eventually he will fall in love again guided by his deceased wife’s spirit, but not in this book. He has made over a billion dollars in pharmaceuticals but would give it all up if he could bring his wife back. He keeps this to himself and is fantastically generous.

Judge Barry Bakeris retired from the Virginia Supreme Court. He keeps his house in Richmond but rents a dependency at Skidby, a big estate. This delights Sister, as Barry and his late wife were friends of her and her late husband, Ray. He’s charming and highly principled in his fashion.

Mo Schneiderrubs everyone the wrong way. A string of ex-wives loathe him. Although a master, other foxhunters recoil from him. He’s loaded and buys whatever he wants, but he can’t buy a good reputation.

Francis Albert( Fonz) Rileybears his nickname with aplomb. Like the TV character, he was once rebellious, far more rebellious. Drink nearly killed him. Thanks to Barry Baker, he pulled himself together. He works for Mo and endures the man.

Grant Fullerexpanded the family feed store into a large regional pet food business. He’s warm, observant, and gregarious. Unlike Mo, most everyone likes Grant.

Jane Winegardner,MFH of Woodford Hunt in Lexington, Kentucky, is a real person. There doesn’t seem to be anything she can’t do unless it’s to be ugly to horse, hound, or human. She’s tight in the tack, too. Because Sister’s name is Jane, I had to invent a nickname for this other Jane, so O.J. it is. If people start calling her that I hope she doesn’t shoot me. Like Sister, Jane is a credit to our sport.

Dr. and Mrs. Mitchell Fisherbought Skidby, a huge estate in Sister’s western territory. Mitch and Lutrell are popular members of the club, although he can veer toward arrogance.

THE AMERICAN FOXHOUNDS

Sister and Shaker have carefully bred a balanced pack. The American foxhound blends English, French, and Irish blood, the first identifiable pack being brought here in 1650 by Robert de la Brooke of Maryland. Individual hounds had been shipped over earlier, but Brooke brought an entire pack. In 1785, General Lafayette sent his mentor and hero, George Washington, a pack of French hounds whose voices were said to sound like the bells of Moscow.