Rita Brown - Cat of the Century

Inez handed Harry the phone. Yes, honey? Harry said to Fair.

Thanks.

Fair, Ive learned to love her as much as you do.

This made Inez cry harder. Erno tried to lick her face.

Harry clicked off the phone. I have a boon to ask, Inez.

Wiping away her tears, she said, Anything.

Ride with him when you can, and, Inez, please, please convince him he needs to take on a partner, or partners. Hes going to have a heart attack before hes forty-five. Just like his father.

I will. I most definitely will, and I dont know why he didnt do it long ago.

He gets frustrated dealing with people. Hes not a manager. If he takes on a partner, there will be some management in the beginning.

Dont you worry about a thing. I can take care of management. And, Harry, I love you, too.

Harry leaned down and Inez kissed her on the cheek.

Tuesday at eleven, Harry and Fair drove Aunt Tally back to Rose Hill. Along with Inez, they walked her and Doodles into the house, just in case.

When Aunt Tally saw the new rug in her living room, she clapped her hands. Beautiful. I know Mimsy did this.

As they left her, she was happily dialing her niece.

They stopped midway down the long drive because Garvey was driving in, the XFR gleaming.

How are you? Fair rolled down the window.

Good. Hows Tally?

Shes a tough old bird. Fair smiled. Sos this one. Bullet passes through her leg and she wouldnt stay in the hospital for observation.

You girls. Garvey smiled, then rolled on.

He had called ahead from his car, since he figured Aunt Tally might be wary of anyone knocking at her door.

She met him before he even put his hand on the large pineapple brass knocker, because Doodles told her someone was at the door.

Come on in, Garvey. Its so good of you to call. I can offer tea. Its just about noona little sherry?

Sherry.

She poured him a fine old sherry, contenting herself with a stiff martini. They settled on the back patio, wearing light sweaters, for the temperature was only fifty-two degrees. The colors of the sunshine provided a beautiful background, as did the barn swallows, who had finally arrived. The birds darted everywhere, calling out as they did.

Excellent sherry. He placed his glass on the end table by his chair, where Aunt Tally had thoughtfully provided the decanter.

Her martini glass, jumbo-size, would hold her.

After some chitchat, Garvey turned to her. Tally, Ive come to grant your wish. Terris death just reached down into my core.

Aunt Tally stared at him, uncomprehending. What wish?

You always wanted to know who killed Ralston Peavey.

You. You! Garvey, that cant be. You wouldnt hurt anyone.

Let me explain. He drained his glass, raised the decanter. She waved a go-ahead, and he refilled it. I was driving home. You might remember it was a foggy night, thick. I didnt see him until it was too late. He was standing in the middle of the road, taking a leak. He must have been loaded. I heard the sickening thump and then I didnt see him. I braked, backed up what I thought was a little bit so I could get

out, but I ran over him again. I killed him. The only thing I could think to do was put my gloves on and zip him up. At least hed be spared that indignity.

Why didnt you go to the sheriff?

Ah, Tally, think. It was 1964. I was a young black man. There were already rumblings in the Deep South. I was scared. I thought Id get railroaded.

Dear God. She took a long draft herself. I didnt think of that. White people dont, I guess. What did you do?

Daddy repaired all our tractors, so I woke him up and we worked all night, banging the big dent out of the fender. Put on touch-up paint and it looked pretty good. Then we pulled the tires off and Daddy buried them halfway up around Mamas garden. We painted the top of the tires white. He always had a pile of old tires; everybody did. He put them on my car.

I see. Did anyone from the sheriffs department check your car?

They came by. Looked at Daddys, looked at mine, those thin treads. That was that. Tally, I have carried this sin all my life. I liked Ralston. He could get loaded on the weekends, but it was a different time. Everybody drank. I guess he thought the middle of the road was as good as the side of the road, if he even knew the difference.

Im sorry for both of you. She took another sip. What now? I wont tell, if thats what you wish.

Ill turn myself in tomorrow to the sheriff.

Would you like me to be there?

Oh, Tally, thank you. Thank you, but, no, I have to do this myself. Ive had since 1964 to think of this. Im an old man. All passion spent, if you know what I mean, but I still carry guilt. Its time to be rid of it, confess, take my punishment.

I see. Ill call Ralstons granddaughter after youve seen the sheriff. I admire you, Garvey. I truly do.

He nodded in thanks, finished his sherry, helped her carry the decanter and glasses back into the house.

As she opened the door for him to leave, she asked, Does Lila know?

Ill tell her tonight.

Garvey did go to Sheriff Shaw. The sheriff allowed him to leave on his own recognizance. The papers that week blared with a headline as big as the one days earlier about Liz Filmores attack on Aunt Tally and Inez.

The real miracle was that the case was hustled before the court, and Garvey hired an excellent lawyer from McGuire Woods. The Peavey family, all now in the Midwest, did not press charges.

The judge allowed that as so much time had passed, it was an accident, and Garvey had been an upstanding citizen all these decades, no jail time would be forthcoming. He did assign Garvey community service, which was right up his alley: Garvey was to mentor kids in the high school junior business program.

After it was all settled, Harry and Inez chatted in the barn, both thinking the judges ruling was the only correct one.

In the loft, Mrs. Murphy and Pewter filled Simon in on all of it.

No animal was run over with Ralston, was it?

No, Simon, just Ralston.

Oh, Im so glad. Im still upset over Pharaohs horses. I wish youd never told me that story.

Ill be sure not to tell any more Bible stories.

Mrs. Murphy rubbed against the possum.

Murphy, I dont know why you trouble him with that, anyway. You know the Great Spirit is a cat. A gray cat,

Pewter announced with authority.

Pewter,

was all Mrs. Murphy could manage.

How I Came To Love William Woods University

Saddlebred shows, most of them taking place in the summer, bring together crowds of friendly people. I bring this up because it is not true of some of the other horse disciplines. Mercifully, I shall not name them and can only hope they repent their snottiness.

Mother knew her Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and some Saddlebreds (we saw the great Wing Commander together, when I was five, at his second show). Ive sustained her interest in my life, which is how I met Gayle Lampe in 1984. I cant remember if it was at the Mercer County Fair or Shelbyville, two wonderful Kentucky shows. I remember it was hot and thunderstorms came up at night. They always do.

Gayle was and remains unforgettable. She mentioned William Woods University. I asked Larry Hodge and Joan Hamilton about the school. Larry and Joan own Kalarama Farm, which I explain to people is like old Calumet Farm was to Thoroughbreds, when Mrs. Gene Markey was at the helm. Kalaramas great rival, Callaway Hills Stable, was in the very county that is home to this university. I knew the late Mrs. Weldon in passing, for she lived in Charlottesville briefly. She, too, confirmed what Joan and Larry said, which is that WWUs graduates fill the Saddlebred world. They couldnt comment on dressage, hunt seat, or Western seat, which are also taught at WWU, as those are not their disciplines.