The Tell-tale Horse Read online

  The Tell-tale Horse is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2007 by American Artist, Inc.

  Illustrations copyright © 2007 by Lee Gildea, Jr.

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ballantine Books, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

  BALLANTINE and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Brown, Rita Mae.

  The tell-tale horse: a novel / Rita Mae Brown.

  p. cm.

  1. Arnold, Jane (Fictitious character)—Fiction. 2. Women hunters—Fiction. 3. Foxhunting—Fiction. 4. Virginia—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3552.R698T46 2008 813'.54—dc22 2007021619

  www.ballantinebooks.com

  eISBN: 978-0-345-50217-9

  v3.0_r2

  CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright

  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

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Rita Mae Brown

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

  Crawford Howard, a self-made man, moved to Virginia from Indiana. He’s egotistical and 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 Howard loves her husband. They’ve had their ups and downs but they understand each other. She is accustomed to sweeping up after him, but she does this less than in the past. He’s got to learn sometime. She’s a better rider than her husband, which spurs him on.

  Charlotte Norton is the young headmistress of Custis Hall, a prestigious prep school for young ladies. Dedicated to education, she’s cool in a crisis.

  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.

  Valentina Smith is 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 good friends. Val loves foxhunting.

  Felicity Porter seems 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.

  Pamela Rene seems 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 Franklin is 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 midforties, a mother, happily married to Bobby Franklin, and a dear, dear friend to Sister.

  Walter Lungrun, M.D., joint master of foxhounds, has held this position for 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, Ray, had with Walter’s mother. Mr. Lungrun never knew—or pretended he didn’t—and Sister didn’t know until a year ago.

  Edward Bancroft, in his seventies, head of the Bancroft family, formerly ran 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 Sidell has 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.

  Ilona Aldridge Merriman, in her fifties, rides well, lives well, but isn’t truly happy. Sometimes she can get fussy and act like the fashion police. She has a secret from her college days that is not revealed in this book.

  Ramsey Merriman, Ilona’s husband, coasts along. He’s pleasant, with enough money to be spoiled. He’s also a skirt chaser, which he tries to hide from his wife.

  Venita Cabel Harper, or Cabel, together with her husband, Clayton, developed and built in the early eighties an aftermarket electronic business installing cell phones and high-end radio systems in cars. Today they can install GPS systems and even tracking devices. As Ilona’s best friend, she knows her secret.

  Clayton Harper, brilliant in business, has turned out to be a dud at the rest of life. He drinks like a fish, sleeps with any woman he can lay his hands on, and basically just tries to keep peace with Cabel.

  Lakshmi Vajay, called High, dynamic and handsome, originally hails from a province in India at the base of the Himalayas. He made his fortune in Mumbai and then left for Virginia. He enjoys the occasional discreet affair.

  Madhur Vajay, Mandy, is gorgeous in her middle years, a devoted mother at the stage where she is beginning to feel an inner power separate from her remarkable beauty. Unlike Ilona and Cabel, she’s unaware of High’s occasional forays.

  Kasmir Barbhaiya is in his midforties, widowed, and a college classmate of High’s. He falls in love with Virginia while visiting the Vajays. 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.

  Gray Lorillard is retired from a prestigious Washington, D.C., accounting firm. He is Sam’s older brother, and he currently dates Sister Jane.

  Marion Maggiolo owns Horse Country. She’s a vital member of the horse and foxhunting community. She’s known for her good works, her vision, and her marvelous sly humor.<
br />
  Garvey Stokes owns Aluminum Manufacturing. He’s a decent rider and hunts when he can.

  Lorraine Rasmussen dates Shaker Crown. She’s in her late thirties, quite attractive, and learning to ride.

  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 having been brought here in 1650 by Robert de la Brooke of Maryland. Individual hounds were shipped over before that date, 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.

  Whatever the strain, the American foxhound is highly intelligent and beautifully built, with strong sloping shoulders, powerful hips and thighs, and a nice tight foot. The whole aspect of the hound in motion is one of grace and power in the effortless covering of ground. The American hound is racier than the English hound and stands perhaps two feet at the shoulder, although size is not nearly as important as nose, drive, cry, and biddability. The American hound is sensitive and extremely loving and has eyes that range from softest brown to gold to sky-blue. While one doesn’t often see the sky-blue, there is a line that contains it. The hound lives to please its master and to chase foxes.

  Cora is the strike hound, which means she often finds the scent first. She’s the dominant female in the pack and is in her sixth season.

  Diana is the anchor hound, and she’s in her fourth season. All the other hounds trust her, and if they need direction she’ll give it.

  Dragon is her littermate. He possesses tremendous drive and a fabulous nose, but he’s arrogant. He wants to be strike hound. Cora hates him.

  Dasher is also Diana and Dragon’s litter mate. He lacks his brother’s brilliance, but he’s steady and smart.

  Asa is in his seventh season and is invaluable in teaching the younger hounds, which are the second A litter and the P litter. A hound’s name usually begins with the first letter of his mother’s name, so the D hounds are out of Delia.

  THE HORSES

  Sister’s horses are Keepsake, a Thoroughbred/quarter-horse cross (written TB/QH by horsemen). He’s an intelligent gelding of eight years.

  Lafayette, a gray TB, is eleven now, fabulously athletic, talented, and eager to go.

  Rickyroo is a seven-year-old TB gelding who shows great promise.

  Aztec is a six-year-old gelding TB who is learning the ropes. He’s also very athletic, with great stamina. He has a good mind.

  Shaker’s horses come from the steeplechase circuit, so they are TBs. Showboat, Hojo, and Gunpowder can all jump the moon, as you might expect.

  Betty’s two horses are Outlaw, a tough QH who has seen everything and can do it all, and Magellan, a TB given to her by club social director Sorrel Buruss. Magellan is a bigger and rangier horse than Betty was accustomed to riding, but she’s now used to him.

  Matador, a gray TB, six years old, sixteen hands, is a former steeplechaser. Sister buys him.

  Sybil Bancroft Fawkes owns two TBs, Postman and Bombardier, a fellow with great good sense.

  THE FOXES

  The reds can reach a height of sixteen inches and a length of forty-one inches, and they can weigh up to fifteen pounds. Obviously, since these are wild animals who do not willingly come forth to be measured, there’s more variation than the standard just cited. Target; his spouse, Charlene; his Aunt Netty and his Uncle Yancy are the reds. They can be haughty. A red fox has a white tip on its luxurious brush, except for Aunt Netty, who has only a wisp of white tip; her brush is tatty.

  The grays may reach fifteen inches in height and forty-four inches in length and may weigh up to fourteen pounds. The common wisdom is that grays are smaller than reds, but there are some big ones out there. Sometimes people call them slab-sided grays, because they can be reddish. They do not have a white tip on their tail, but they may have a black one, as well as a black-tipped mane. Some grays are so dark as to be black.

  The grays are Comet, Inky, and Georgia. Their dens are a bit more modest than those of the red foxes, who like to announce their abodes with a prominent pile of dirt and bones outside. Perhaps not all grays are modest or all reds full of themselves, but as a rule of thumb it’s so.

  THE BIRDS

  Athena is a great horned owl. This type of owl can stand two and a half feet in height with a wingspread of four feet and can weigh up to five pounds.

  Bitsy is a screech owl. She is eight and a half inches high with a twenty-inch wingspread. She weighs a whopping six ounces and she’s reddish brown. Her considerable lungs make up for her stature.

  St. Just, a crow, is a foot and a half in height, his wingspread is a surprising three feet, and he weighs one pound.

  THE HOUSE PETS

  Raleigh is a Doberman who likes to be with Sister.

  Rooster is a harrier and was willed to Sister by her old lover, Peter Wheeler.

  Golliwog, or Golly, is a large calico cat and would hate being included with the dogs as a pet. She is the Queen of All She Surveys.

  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.

  Capper. Nonmember who pays a fee—a cap—to hunt for that day’s sport.

  Carry a good head. When horses 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 the 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 worn only in the field, or with scarlet tails by men at a hunt ball, again on collar or facings.

  Coop. A jump resembling a chicken coop.

  Couple straps. Two-strap hound collars connected by a swivel link. Some members of staff will carry these on the right rear of the saddle. Hounds are always spoken of and counted in couples, and since the days of the pharaohs in ancient Egypt, hounds have been brought to meets coupled. Today, hounds walk or are driven to the meets. Rarely, if ever, are they coupled, but a whipper-in still carries couple straps should a hound need assistance.

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

  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.

  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.

  Dog fox. The male fox.

  Dog hound. The male hound.

  Double. A series of short sharp notes blown on the horn to alert all that a fox is afoot. The gone away series of notes is a form of doubling the horn.

  Draft. To acquire hounds from another hunt is to accept a draft.

  Draw. The plan by which a fox is hunted or searched for in a certain area, such as a covert.

  Drive. The desire to push the fox, to get up with the line. It’s a very desirable trait in hounds, as long as they remain obedient.

  Dwell. To hunt without getting forward. A hound who dwells is a bit of a putterer.

  Enter. Hounds are entered into
the pack when they first hunt, usually during cubbing season.

  Field. The group of people riding to hounds, exclusive of the master and hunt staff.

  Field master. The person appointed by the master to control the field. Often it is the master him-or herself.

  First flight. The riders following the hunt who jump and therefore go first.

  Fixture. A card sent to all dues-paying members, stating when and where the hounds will meet. A fixture card properly received is an invitation to hunt. This means the card is mailed or handed to a member by the master.

  Flea-bitten. Said of a horse whose coat is white or gray and flecked with darker spots.

  Gone away. The call on the horn when the fox leaves the covert.

  Gone to ground. A fox who has ducked into his den or some other refuge has gone to ground.

  Good night. The traditional farewell to the master after the hunt, regardless of the time of day.

  Gyp. A female hound.

  Hilltopper. A rider who follows the hunt but does not jump. Hilltoppers are also called the second field.

  Hoick. The huntsman’s cheer to the hounds. It is derived from the Latin hic haec hoc, which means here.

  Hold hard. To stop immediately.

  Huntsman. The person in charge of the hounds, in the field and in the kennel.

  Kennelman. A hunt staff member who feeds the hounds and cleans the kennels. In wealthy hunts there may be a number of kennelmen. In hunts with a modest budget, the huntsman or even the master will clean kennels and feed hounds.

  Lark. To jump fences unnecessarily when hounds aren’t running. Masters frown on this, since it is often an invitation to an accident.

  Lieu in. Norman term for “go in.” English hunting terms derive from Norman French after 1066. Most of those terms go back to Latin. The hunting vocabulary is literally thousands of years old. For Western people it starts with Greek.

  Lift. To take the hounds from a lost scent in the hopes of finding a better scent farther on.

  Line. The scent trail of the fox.

  Livery. The uniform worn by the professional members of the hunt staff. Usually it is scarlet, but blue, yellow, brown, and gray are also used. The recent dominance of scarlet has to do with people buying coats off the rack as opposed to having tailors cut them. (When anything is mass-produced, the choices usually dwindle, and such is the case with livery.)