Furmidable Foes Read online

  Furmidable Foes 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 © 2020 by American Artists, Inc.

  Illustrations copyright © 2020 by Michael Gellatly

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Bantam Books, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  BANTAM BOOKS and the HOUSE colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

  Names: Brown, Rita Mae, author. | Brown, Sneaky Pie, 1982- author. | Gellatly, Michael, illustrator.

  Title: Furmidable foes / Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown; illustrated by Michael Gellatly.

  Description: First edition. | New York: Bantam Books, [2020] | Series: A Mrs. Murphy mystery; 29

  Identifiers: LCCN 2020000581 (print) | LCCN 2020000582 (ebook) | ISBN 9780593130032 (hardcover: acid-free paper) | ISBN 9780593130049 (ebook)

  Subjects: LCSH: Haristeen, Harry (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Murphy, Mrs. (Fictitious character)—Fiction. | Women detectives—Virginia—Fiction. | Women cat owners—Fiction. | Cats—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PS3552.R698 F87 2020 (print) | LCC PS3552.R698 (ebook) | DDC 813/.54—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/​2020000581

  LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/​2020000582

  Ebook ISBN 9780593130049

  randomhousebooks.com

  Book design by Diane Hobbing, adapted for ebook

  Cover design: Victoria Allen

  Cover illustrations and hand lettering: Sara Mulvanny

  ep_prh_5.5.0_c0_r0

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright

  The Cast of Characters

  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

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Authors' Notes

  Books by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

  About the Authors

  THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

  THE PRESENT

  Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry”—She is in charge of Buildings and Grounds at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, which was finished in 1787. She loves working outdoors whether at the church or her own farm, where she nurtures crops, horses, and the house pets. She’s pretty good to her husband, too.

  Pharamond Haristeen, Dvm, “Fair”—A veterinarian who specialized in equine reproduction. He is a year older than his wife and they married out of college; for her that was Smith, for him, Auburn. People think Harry got her nickname through marriage but her first name is Harriet, which she dropped in high school because she liked the sound of Mary Minor. She has her ways, to which Fair is accustomed.

  Susan Tucker—She grew up with Harry, Fair, and her own husband, Ned. She and Harry are cruising toward forty-four so it’s safe to say they truly know each other. This does not mean they agree on everything, but they do love each other.

  Ned Tucker—He is serving his first term in the House of Delegates in Richmond, about one hundred miles east. He never interferes in what messes his wife and Harry have created or fallen into. Dealing with the blowhards in Richmond is easier than dealing with these two best friends.

  The Very Reverend Herbert Jones—The beloved pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. As a combat captain in Vietnam, he realized he could lead. After the war he entered the seminary, as he chose to lead through the church. Solid, warm, watched over by three Lutheran cats, he is a man doing what he was born to do.

  Janice Childs—One of two partners in Bottoms Up, a successful brewery, with Mags Nielsen. Tall, blonde, a good athlete, what you see is what you get. Like Harry and Susan, she is a member of the Dorcas Guild at St. Luke’s, the women’s group. If she says she’s going to do something, she does it.

  Mags Nielsen—Thrilled with the growth of the brewery. She is task oriented and can interfere in odds and ends with the Dorcas Guild, but she is generous with her time and money.

  Pamela Bartlett—She is now in her mid-eighties. She is president of the Dorcas Guild and remains active in other organizations in central Virginia, plus she is physically active. Age is what you make it and she has made a lot of it by keeping going.

  Sheriff Rick Shaw—He keeps order on an inadequate budget. Harry’s nosiness drives him bats but she can be helpful and he can’t help but like her.

  Carlton Sweeny—An assistant horticulturist at Montpelier Estate, the house of James and Dolley Madison. It was home to Carlton’s people, also owned by the Madisons. He likes walking where his ancestors walked and loves his work. If you can plant it in the ground, he’s interested.

  THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

  Big Rawly

  Maureen Selisse Holloway—Rich beyond imagination, she owns Big Rawly, still in the Holloway family today. Susan Tucker’s maiden name is Holloway. Maureen’s younger second husband, Jeffrey Holloway, not well born, works with his hands and is divinely handsome, which overcomes the above. She has a sharp business sense, is farsighted, and can be brutal and ruthless when she needs to be.

  Jeffrey Holloway—A cabinetmaker not of Maureen’s class. He likes working with his hands and Maureen finally gave in to it by building him a large shop and a forge where he can build four-in-hand carriages. The vehicles are beautiful and reliable, and his success makes him happy, so she’s happy.

  CLOVERFIELDS

  Catherine Schuyler—Highly intelligent; assists her father in his business. Her passion is breeding and training horses. Impossibly beautiful, she is married to Major John Schuyler, a hero of the Revolutionary War. It is a good marriage.

  Rachel West—A warmer personality than her sister, older than her by two years, the twenty-two-year-old Rachel is married to a former P.O.W., Charles West, a British Captain captured by Catherine’s husband at the Battle of Saratoga. Both were involved in building St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, which Charles designed, thereby finding his passion apart from his wonderful wife.

  Ewing Garth—The owner of Cloverfields, the father of the above s
isters, he is a sound businessman. He pays attention to our economy, nascent, as well as Europe’s. He is a warm, kind man who greatly misses his deceased wife.

  FREE MEN

  Martin—In his early forties. He and his partner catch runaways. He is keeping his eye out for more lucrative work as the New World, like the Old, favors education as well as money. He is not well born and not educated, but he can read and write.

  Shank—Younger than Martin, he likes their work well enough because sometimes there are good paydays for catching slaves. However, like Martin, he wouldn’t mind a change of career if it means more money. The travel alone is exhausting.

  ROYAL OAK, MARYLAND

  Ard Elgin—Manages this estate for Mr. Finney. As they both came here from Ireland, they understand each other. He is a good manager and his boss, Mr. Finney, is a hard man but a fair man.

  Miss Frances—The cook at Royal Oak, and she, too, is Irish. She takes no guff from anyone. She is the workers’ cook, not the house cook, who does not mix with the workers, called “hands.” Miss Frances has no time at all for the house cook snob, never even sees her, nor does anyone else, but they sure see Miss Frances.

  Ralston—Now nineteen, he works in the stables at this Maryland estate. He escaped Cloverfields. He didn’t much like his parents, really loathed Jeddie Rice, and felt if he could be free, he’d become a famous horseman and rich. All young people have dreams.

  William—Escaped from Big Rawly but went back to steal jewelry, money, whatever he could, and he also went back for Sulli, a pretty girl of sixteen. He filled her head with stories. Maybe he even believed them.

  Sulli—Easily convinced by William, she quickly came to regret that, but at least she was free and she works hard at Royal Oak, taking orders from Miss Frances.

  THE SLAVES: CLOVERFIELDS

  Bettina—A cook of magical abilities, she is also head slave woman on the estate. When Ewing’s wife, Isabelle, was dying, Bettina nursed her, stayed with her. When Isabelle died, Bettina promised her mistress she would take care of Catherine and Rachel. She kept her promise.

  Jeddie Rice—With good hands and a light seat, he has a sure touch with horses and soaks up everything Catherine teaches him. At nineteen he’s a man, but he evidences no interest in anything but the horses. He is ambitious without being obnoxious, for a horseman can rise in the world, slave or free.

  Tulli—He might be eleven but he looks about nine. Such a sweet little fellow, he works at the stables and tries very hard.

  Barker O—Runs the stables, drives the horses, is splendid on the seat of the carriages. He enjoys a big reputation among horsemen, much deserved.

  Roger—Being the butler, his is a powerful position. He must know most of the people who call on Ewing as well as how to treat them according to their station. He’s a good, reticent man.

  Weymouth—Roger’s son, early twenties. He does a good job but he lacks his father’s drive.

  Bumbee—She’s in charge of the weaving, buying yarns and fabrics. She’s an artist, truly, and the ladies who work with her do as they are told.

  THE SLAVES: BIG RAWLY

  DoRe—Runs the stables; is Barker O’s counterpart. As Jeffrey Holloway now builds sumptuous carriages, DoRe shows them off to buyers. He has been courting Bettina.

  Elizabetta—As Maureen’s replacement lady’s maid since Sheba vanished with a fortune in pearls set amidst diamonds, hers is a nonstop position. She’s lazy when Maureen is away. She’s a decent sort.

  THE CAST OF CHARACTERS PRESENT: THE ANIMALS

  Mrs. Murphy—Harry’s tiger cat, who often evidences more brains than her human.

  Pewter—A fat gray cat with an inflated opinion of herself. She believes the world began when she entered it.

  Tee Tucker—An intrepid corgi bred years ago by Susan Tucker, the sensible dog watches out for Harry and endures Pewter.

  Pirate—Almost fully grown, an Irish wolfhound who came to Harry and Fair when his owner died. He is very sweet and learning the ropes from Tucker. Rule One: Never believe anything Pewter says.

  THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY: THE ANIMALS

  Piglet—The corgi that started the corgi line still at Big Rawly. He endured the war and captivity with Charles West.

  Reynaldo—A blooded horse, he has terrific conformation and is fast. He’s young, full of fire.

  Crown Prince—The above’s half brother, calmer.

  Black Knight—Stolen by William, he has come to Cloverfields, where he has been restored to health and happiness.

  Chief—A bombproof horse who takes care of Ewing Garth.

  Sweet Potato—A saucy pony for the children.

  Penny—A half-bred newly purchased mare. She is kind.

  1

  May 22, 2019

  Wednesday

  A fully opened peony, hot magenta, swayed slightly in the gentle breeze. Deep in its florid heart a few black ants moved about. St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, completed in 1787, after a few years of construction, attracted photographers thanks to the harmonious balance of the church and its attached buildings. The church, a gleaming cross on top of a bright white steeple, sat in the middle of a perfect quadrangle of lush green grass. Two arcades, slightly set back from the church’s front door, arched stone like miniature aqueducts, flared out from the east and west sides of the main church building to a two-story stone houselike building. These structures contained the pastor’s office and a general meeting room. The women’s groups met in the western building, the men’s, the eastern. The style was simple Georgian, a style that had become grander as America recovered from the Revolutionary War, paid our war debts, and finally began to generate profits. A portion of those profits, or “thankful increase” as the pastor may have called them, had been poured into the landscaping, the solemn yet uplifting graveyard surrounded by a stone fence, and the pastor’s house, which sat fifty yards beyond that on the east side with a stable, also made of gray fieldstone.

  The landscaping begun by the architect, former Captain of His Majesty’s regulars, Charles West, reflected his deep learning simply from being raised in England. Captured at Saratoga, marched to The Barracks as a prisoner of war, he quickly divined that these rebellious people were on to something.

  Captain West created three large quads, terraced behind the church. Each quad was one hundred yards in length and roughly seventy-five in width, although the width changed over the centuries due to the practice of shoring up the terraces when hard weather began to wear them down. On the edge of the last quad Captain West placed the graveyard, whose first residents died before the church was completed. A married couple, the Taylors, had been laid to rest in October 1786, victims of tuberculosis while relatively young.

  Lush grass covered the ground. Captain West preserved gum trees, walnut trees, red oaks, pin oaks, and sycamores by a piddling busy creek to the west. Hickories stood firm as well as tulip poplars. Captain West liked the different bark surfaces as well as the various leaves. To these he added a double row of sugar maples along the drive to the pastor’s house and in front of the stables. The occasional blue spruce dotted the north face. A gigantic Magnolia grandiflora commanded the soft rolling hill in front of the church. Captain West’s wife, Rachel née Garth West, added annuals and some perennials, as she had been taught by her mother, a marvelous gardener.

  Over the decades other shrubs and trees had been planted. The annuals, of course, created some work as they needed to be replanted. And some generations of congregants evidenced more enthusiasm for weeding than others.

  Now, May 2019, enthusiasm was high. Of course there weren’t many weeds just yet.

  The grounds also attracted photographers, not necessarily Lutheran photographers, but no matter. St. Luke’s happily shared its beauty with all. The effect of the grounds—especially now as central Virginia approached high spring—was exquisite
and peaceful. The light shining through the two-story stained glass windows added to the feeling of sanctuary. Even the brass doorknobs on the high double doors to the church itself caught one’s eye.

  Kneeling down to inspect the magenta peony was Mary Minor Haristeen, in charge of Buildings and Grounds. “Harry,” as she was known, was the first woman to hold this prestigious position. In the past the consensus was that women couldn’t operate the equipment needed for such a position, nor could they fix same. Harry could and did do it all. She loosened the soil around a grouping of the explosive bush, all magenta, pink, and white. She’d put them in herself last fall.

  Next to her, also turning soil, knelt her childhood friend, Susan Tucker. Susan had graduated from William and Mary, which she had loved and still did, while Harry had graduated from Smith College. Now in their early forties, they still tussled over who attended the better institution.

  “So, why don’t we go down to Williamsburg to check those gardens?” Susan suggested, then peered into a pink bloom. “Have you ever noticed that peonies host black ants?”

  “The pink peony is hosting the best party.” Harry stood up and stretched her back. “Actually, I think the ants help with pollination, but don’t hold me to it.”