Rita Brown - Cat of the Century

The next year I was at Shelbyville, a show I try to attend on the odd years; the even years I head to Saratoga, if I can. Sometimes the money is tight or theres too much to do on the farm. If youve never been to either Shelbyville or Saratoga, go.

Anyway, Joan and I were sitting in the bleachers at the warm-up

ring, the night lights blazing, moths flying in squadrons, when from the west, heading toward us from the Ohio River, we heard thunder. Joan pointed out all those in the ring, the trainers, the assistant trainers, and many of the riders who had graduated from William Woods. Not only was the number impressive, but so was the skill.

Gayle and I would run into each other and exchange letters, and Joan and Larry would report on Gayles progress and vice versa. You might say I was on the outermost ring of William Woodss Saturn.

Then out of the blue in the mid-nineties I received a letter inviting me to be the commencement speaker. I really adore giving commencement speeches, but this one was to stay with me forever, not because of anything I said but because of the magic of this community. First off, no one fussed over me in a sickening sweet way. Those whom I met were just who they are. How delightful.

The campus is pretty and I liked all the ducks who appear to have quite a high opinion of themselves whether walking down the middle of the road or swimming about.

Staying at Fairchild Alumni House felt like visiting your aunt. Gayle, knowing of my addiction, stocked the fridge with Classic Coke in cans, high test.

The faculty that I met were down-to-earth, yet very accomplished. The conversations, if only I could have chatted forever, were truly stimulating. My God, people who thought for themselves! Well, I was in the middle of Missouri; I should have expected that. Its not called the Show Me state for nothing.

Having dinner at the presidents house, I felt as if I had known these people before Id met them. EddieJahnaes husbandplayed football for Ole Miss, and its easy to see why they are together. The other guestsincluding a sophisticated couple from Indiamade this an evening I so often remember, realizing how lucky I was to be there. Then there was the standard poodle, who completed the gathering.

Before dinner the horses had welcomed me, too. I met the Saddlebreds, some Thoroughbreds, quarter horses, and I think some TB/QH crosses. So many of these horses were beautiful that I couldnt believe they had been donated. All of the horses coats gleamed, all were

happy. You can tell when a horse is not if you know horses. The barns were clean and smelled clean, too. And this was late spring.

Gayle indulged me while I checked feedIm always curious about thatand picked up a hoof here and there. A few William Woods horses evidenced a convivial streak so we got to know one another.

The graduation ceremony itself was dignified without being stiff. A moment I carry, a moment that seemed to me to distill this unusual institution, was when Melissa Smith and her Seeing Eye dog, Brinkley, came forward to receive her diploma. President Barnett gave Brinkley one, too, for he had attended all Miss Smiths classes. He carried his diploma off the stage.

And so I came to love this place far more than my own alma mater, Washington Square College at New York University. Its a great school and I studied under the incomparable Bluma Trell, who tried to teach me Greek. When she died on June 10, 1997, at age ninety-four,

The Economist

ran a full-page obituary on June 28, 1997.

But great as NYU is, its no William Woods University. Apart from Professor Trell, I could have sunk like a stone. No one would have noticed or cared. Here in central Missouri exists an institution that puts the student first. Im not saying they coddle the students nor do not demand intellectual rigor, but they actually care and the faculty knows those students. The president knows the students.

Lacking funds, most of my money goes toward abandoned animals, and my wardrobe proves it. I find the only gift I can give William Woods University is to introduce this institution to you. Perhaps you or one of your children will someday attend.

And there you have it, maybe more than you ever wanted to know. The cat will take credit for all of it but really setting this mystery in Fulton, Missouri, was my idea.

The one thing I can say though is I look older yet Dr. Barnett looks just like she did when I first met her. This is desperately unfair.

The Truth

She didnt think Id read that. Thought shed slide it right under my nose. It was my idea to set this mystery at William Woods University. All the horses, ducks, some dogs, and barn cats made me want to highlight a place where the animals mean as much to the community as the people.

Dont listen to her. Shes an old windbag.

Sneaky Pie

About the Authors

RITA MAE BROWN is the bestselling author of several books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and poet, she lives in Afton, Virginia. Her website is [http://www.ritamaebrown.com] www.ritamaebrown.com. She does not own a computer. God willing, she never will. Sometimes the website manager sends your queries. The safest way to reach her is in care of Bantam Books.

SNEAKY PIE BROWN, a tiger cat born somewhere in Albemarle County, Virginia, was discovered by Rita Mae Brown at her local SPCA. They have collaborated on eighteen Mrs. Murphy mysteries:

Wish You Were Here; Rest in Pieces; Murder at Monticello; Pay Dirt; Murder, She Meowed; Murder on the Prowl; Cat on the Scent; Pawing Through the Past; Claws and Effect; Catch as Cat Can; The Tail of the Tip-Off; Whisker of Evil; Cats Eyewitness; Sour Puss; Puss n Cahoots; The Purrfect Murder; Santa Clawed;

and

Cat of the Century,

in addition to

Sneaky Pies Cookbook for Mystery Lovers.

Mary Minor Harry Haristeen, along with sleuthing

cats Mrs. Murphy and Pewter, corgi Tucker, and the other

residents of Crozet, Virginia, return in a new

Mrs. Murphy mystery on sale in Spring 2011.

Until then, dont miss

A NOSE FOR JUSTICE

by Rita Mae Brown

The first in a new series!

When Mags is fired from her banking job in New York City, she flees to the Nevada ranch that belongs to her great-aunt Jeep, bringing along her wire-haired dachsund, Baxter. Mags is still getting used to the rhythms of rural life when she is recruited to help Jeep and her neighbors with a burgeoning problem: A local corporation is attempting to divert their water supply to Reno, and is willing to go to any lengths to do so. When the conflict escalates to murder and Jeep may be a target, its up to Mags, Baxter, and Jeeps German shepherd mix, King, to sniff out the real killer before its too late.

Full of grit, wit, and four-legged derring-do, A Nose for Justice is a rare breed of mysteryguaranteed to make readers roll over and beg for more of Rita Mae Browns magnificent storytelling!

On sale in October 2010

Cat of the Century is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright S 2010 by American Artists, Inc.

Illustrations copyright S 2010 by Michael Gellatly

All rights reserved.