“Crawford would rile everyone but Jesus, X.” Ronnie called Xavier “X,” as did other old friends. “The pressure financially would be off. Of course, it would be off if Edward or Sybil logged on.”
“Edward is in his midseventies, and he’s glad to pitch in, but he doesn’t want the full-time responsibility. Same for his daughter. Sybil would be good, I think, but her boys are in grade school, and, truth be told, I don’t think she’s recovered from that whole gruesome mess with herex-husband.”
“She still loves him.” Ronnie, for all his paying attention to money, did have a romantic streak.
“Jesus Christ, I hope not. What a rotter.”
“Yep. That leaves Bobby Franklin.”
They neared the front door, festooned with a sumptuous wreath, bright red berries dotting the dark evergreens.
Xavier whispered since people were close,“Bobby’s got some money. Their business has been really good this year. He knows hunting. Wife and daughter know hunting. Great family, except for the daughter in prison, but hey, she’s not the first person in America to go haywire on drugs.”
“True.” Ronnie felt quite sorry for the Franklins. Cody, their oldest girl, once showed such promise.
“He and Betty work like dogs down at the press. That’s why they’re successful, but I don’t see how he’d have the time to be a master.”
The Franklins had weathered the challenge from home printing off computers only because their work was of such high quality. They had invested in a Webb printing press back in the early nineties, which expanded their capabilities, bringing in business throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
“So we’re back to Crawford?” Ronnie thought Crawford would tone down, and he thought Shaker would come around.
“Sister will pull a rabbit out of the hat. You just wait,” Xavier predicted.
“Time’s a flyin’.”
“You just wait.” Xavier smiled, then focused on Sam Lorillard, holding a glass, whom he could see as the front door swung open. “That sorry sack of shit.”
Ronnie’s gaze fell on Sam. “He was in the hunt field behind us. Riding groom.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t have to like that either, but you know the rules: you hunt with whoever is out there. Doesn’t mean I have to drink with the son of a bitch.”
“He’s dry now.”
“Oh, bullshit. He’ll be back on the sauce before Valentine’s,” Xavier predicted.
“Well, I hope not.”
“I don’t give a rat’s ass. That piece of excrement cost me thousands of dollars; you know that.”
“I know that, Xavier, I do. What he did was terrible, but the past is past. Maybe he can be useful and productive. And maybe he can make amends. He didn’t do right by me either when he worked in my stable. Not that I had it as bad as you did. He cheated you, and he betrayed you.”
“If he dies, that will make amends.” Xavier pressed his full lips together.
Ronnie stood up on his toes to whisper into Xavier’s ear as they walked past the cloakroom. “Why didn’t you say something when Crawford hired him?”
“Because I don’t give a good goddamn what happens to Crawford. In fact, I figured I’d sit back, watch the show, and eat popcorn.”
Inside the Brancrofts’ house, the two men brushed through the crowd as they moved toward the bar.
Dee, who kept her shape even as her husband lost his, spied him. She pushed through the throng.“Honey, I was starting to worry that perhaps you’d bought some real estate.” She used the phrase for hitting the ground.
“Dee, he rides Picasso very, very well,” Ronnie defended his friend. “Now I wish you’d come out. We need a little pulchritude.”
“Liar!” She poked Ronnie in the ribs. Since he was gay, she figured he was teasing about pretty women.
“I love looking at beautiful women. I just don’t want to marry one.” He kissed her on the cheek.
“Hey, you’re my best friend,” Xavier said, shaking his head good-naturedly, “but I tell you, that’s the one thing about you I don’t understand.”
Ronnie flattered him.“When I look at Dee and the life you’ve made together, I don’t know that I understand it, either.”
“Oh, Ronnie, you are sweet.” Dee threw her arms around him, giving him a big hug.
“I saw that!” Betty Franklin yelled from the crowd. “Another Jefferson Hunt affair.”
“Ronnie, take a number and get in line,” said Walter, walking up behind the three, and towering over them.
“Walter, you don’t need a ticket. I’ll take you right now,” Ronnie fired right back at him.
“Three points.” Walter laughed. “Dee, can I freshen your drink?”
“No, I’m going to drag my husband to the bar. I want to hear every detail of the hunt, and hopefully a few misdeeds as well.”
“Crackerjack day.” Walter smiled.
As husband and wife left, Ronnie said,“There’s something about hunting in the snow.”
“Indescribably beautiful,” Walter agreed. “Say, Ron, how about a drink for you? Hi, Sorrel.” Sorrel, in her middle forties and a recent widow, walked over.
“Gentlemen, they’ve gone through two cases of champagne, a case of scotch, two and a half of vodka, and we’re running low on the roasted boar. You’d better hurry to the table.”
“The muffin hounds have struck again.” Ronnie called nonriders muffin hounds, as did everyone else who rode.
“Let’s go.” Walter led the way. The men chatted, touching hands or shoulders of others they met along the way.
Lorraine Rasmussen, slight and shy, stood with her daughter, Sari. The two closely resembled each other.
“Mom, everyone is friendly. Come on.”
“Oh, honey, I don’t ride. I feel—”
“Lorraine!” Sister emerged from the kitchen. It was the only place she could grab a bite. Once people saw her, she never got the food to her mouth.
“Sister, this is so grand.” Lorraine smiled. Her light brown hair, well cut, fell to her shoulders.
“Tedi and Edward never do anything halfway. And, of course, Sorrel is the best social director we’ve ever had. Now come meet people, Lorraine. Most of the people here didn’t hunt today. You can tell. Their shoes are clean, and there’s no blood on their faces.”
“And they’re fat.” Sari giggled.
Sister saw Shaker squeeze through the crowd. Shaker had to attend to the hounds, but today was a High Holy Day. Staff were allowed a spot of socializing before driving hounds and horses back to the kennels and stables.
Today, while not particularly long, had been hard, thanks to heavy footing. Shaker didn’t like hounds or horses standing around too long after a hard hunt.
“Shaker, let’s all get a drink, shall we?” Sister suggested, intercepting Shaker’s escape from socializing.
“Why don’t I get a plate for you, sir?” Sari, polite, knew how hard Shaker worked.
“Thanks, Sari.” He liked the young girl and could see some of her mother in her. Though he knew little of Lorraine, he thought her a polite woman. Looking at her now, he realized she was pretty, too.
“Sari said today was just one of the best,” commented Lorraine. “She said when the hounds ran into the stone ruins, she got goose bumps.”
He smiled at Lorraine.“We got lucky.”
“Nonsense,” said Sister. “You’re a fantastic huntsman.” She kissed him on the cheek. “Excuse me.”
“Sister,” Marty Howard called to her.
As Sister reached Marty, she brushed against Gray Lorillard. A flicker of electricity shot through her.
“The weather fouled our lunch date,” Gray said. “How does January third at the club sound to you?”
“Do I have to wear lipstick?” She laughed.
“Sister, you don’t have to wear anything at all.” Gray smiled. “Twelve.”
“Twelve.”
“Sister,” Marty breathlessly grabbed the master’s hand, “Sam has found me the most exquisite horse. I am so excited. A gelding. I like geldings, and he’s right out of a Stubbs painting.”