Рита Браун - Outfoxed

“Guess he’s full,” she replied, not revealing that she’d put out enough corn to feed a regiment of foxes. “But to be sure I’ll put out corn.” She left Doug to care for the horses. She opened the door to the chicken coop, warily eyeing Comet. “Here. Go when you’re ready.” She admired him, for he was a handsome gray. “You know, fellow, anyone who says grays aren’t fun to chase doesn’t know foxes.”

“Thank you.”

“Get that fox outta here,” the chickens complained bitterly from under the chicken coop.

“Actually, why don’t I hold open the door.” She did and Comet scooted right out.

“You’re a good dog,” he called to Raleigh in passing.

Golly backed down the tree and Rooster howled from the tack room, deep distressed howls.

Taking a deep breath, Sister returned to the stable, where Doug was putting sweat sheets on the horses. “I’ll go pick up the trailer later. Did Cody say when she would bring back Keepsake?”

“Tomorrow. I told her to take him home for tonight. Easier.”

“Good.” He whistled.

“Doug. Cody killed Fontaine.” He stopped whistling as she continued. “She admitted it and she will turn herself in to Sheriff Sidell this evening. She’s telling her parents and Jennifer now.”

He rested his head on his hand, which was on Lafayette’s neck; then he looked up. “I did it.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“I did. I hated that she slept with him.”

“Nice try.”

“She confessed because she knew a black man wouldn’t stand a chance. As a woman she can throw herself on the mercy of the court.” He breathed hard.

She put her arms around him. “Honey, I’m sorry.”

“I did it!”

“You’re too smart to kill like that, Doug. I’m sorry she did it. I’m sorry for you, too. I don’t know what will happen. With a good lawyer—” She released him. “Go to her. I’ll finish the horses.”

“Thanks,” he whispered.

As he left, Sister checked the sweat sheets. She finally let Rooster out of the tack room.

Shaker came in from the kennel to discuss the hunt. She told him. “She could have lied and made it worse. But she didn’t.”

He shook his head. “Crazy. People do crazy things.” He sat on a tack trunk. “Maybe it’s better not to feel much.”

“I don’t know, Shaker. I just don’t know. I liked Fontaine. I’m horrified he sold drugs and used drugs to seduce these girls. My God, it’s sordid.”

“Had a leak in his soul.” He crossed his leg over his knee. “How’d you know?”

“Process of elimination. Had to be one of my whips or you, and I could see you all the time. But you are the only people who ride well enough to have pulled it off. That narrowed it down to Betty, Cody, and Doug. When Dean Offendahl started talking, then I figured it was probably Cody.”

“Her mother?”

“Too stable.”

“Jennifer.”

“I don’t think Jennifer could have executed the plan. She’s a beautiful girl but she’s a thirty-watt bulb in a hundred-watt socket.”

“There is that. Doug?”

“Well, he had reason but in the end, character tells. He might have gotten into a fight with Fontaine once he knew the story but I don’t think he knew the whole story until Dean spilled his guts. What a smarmy kid. He’ll grow up to be just like his father. But Doug, he wouldn’t kill a man for that even if he wanted to do it.”

“Bobby?”

“Can’t ride well enough to lay the drag, then fire through that ravine. Although Bobby could kill.”

“I expect any of us could if we had to.” Shaker sighed. “It’s been quite a day.”

“Yes. Thank you for a good hunt. Hounds did well.”

“Not so well. Dragon took a few with him.”

“My fault. I’ve been putting out corn for days. I needed to get Cody back into the ravine. I didn’t know if it would work. Anyway, there were so many foxes out today it’s a wonder the pack didn’t split before then. I even saw a black fox up in a tree when I was in the ravine.”

“I see her now and again. You could have told me about the corn.”

“No. I had to do this alone. I’m sorry for her even if she did kill Fontaine. It will take me longer to forgive her for killing the fox—I know that sounds awful but it’s truly how I feel. It’s a Greek tragedy without the gods.” She paused. “But then I suppose they are always with us.”

“Oh, don’t go into these weighty matters, Sister. Zeus. God. Allah. All the same to me.”

“You’re right. Well, how about fresh coffee? Come on up to the house.”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

The two old friends walked across the leaves, crunching underfoot. Raleigh, Rooster, and Golly raced around them. The chickens settled down again in their house.

As she made coffee she glanced at the photograph of Raymond, Ray Junior, and herself, in full regalia at the start of a hunt, years ago. It was the last year of Ray Junior’s life. She thought to herself that she didn’t know if the gods were always with us or not. She hoped they were or that something kind was out there but she felt, often, that the people she had loved in this life, her mother and father, her husband and son, and now Peter Wheeler, were with her. Love never dies, she told herself and a pain, deep and sharp, caught her breath. If only she could pass on what she had learned to young people. If only she could have stepped in and turned Cody away from the drugs, the downward slide. What love had been given her she wished to give to others. Most times they didn’t much want it but hounds, horses, cats, and dogs did and they were a gift from the gods, too.

Back in Target’s den, Target, Charlene, Patsy, Aunt Netty, and Uncle Yancy felt a satisfaction that Reynard’s killer would pay the price.

After full discussion, including the help of the grays, especially Inky, the foxes dispersed to their separate dens.

When they were alone Charlene said, “Sister thought like a fox.”

“I suppose.” He sighed. “But you know, I’m about as amused by humans as I care to be.”

SOME USEFUL TERMS

AWAY—A fox has “gone away” when he has left the covert. Hounds are “away” when they have left the covert on the line of the fox.

BRUSH—The fox’s tail.

BURNING SCENT—Scent so strong or hot that hounds pursue the line without hesitation.

BYE DAY—A day not regularly on the fixture card.

CAP—The fee nonmembers pay to a hunt for that day’s sport.

CARRY A GOOD HEAD—When hounds run well together to a good scent, a scent spread wide enough for the whole pack to feel it.

CARRY A LINE—When hounds follow the scent. This is also called “working a line.”

CAST—Hounds spread out in search of scent. They may cast themselves or be cast by the huntsman.

CHARLIE—A term for a fox. A fox may also be called Reynard.

CHECK—When hounds lose the scent and stop. The field must wait quietly while the hounds search for scent.

COLORS—A distinguishing color—usually worn on the collar but sometimes on the facings of a coat—that identifies a hunt. Colors can be awarded only by the master and can be won only in the field.

CUB HUNTING—The informal hunting of young foxes in the late summer and early fall, before formal hunting. The main purpose is to enter young hounds into the pack. Until recently only the most knowledgeable members were invited to cub hunt since they would not interfere with young hounds.

COVERT—A patch of woods or bushes where a fox might hide. Pronounced cover .

CRY—How one hound tells another what is happening. The sound will differ according to the various stages of the chase. It’s also called “giving tongue” and should occur when a hound is working a line.