Cat of the Century by Rita Mae Brown Read Free Book Online

this would be the time.
    Big Mim and Little Mim were meeting with tomorrow’s event organizers. Inez and Tally chattered gaily in the living room, having emptied their pot of tea. Tally was also emptying her flask of gin. Happiness followed.
    Harry wrapped a cashmere scarf around her neck; lined gloves and a non-bulky down jacket provided warmth. Cold though it was, the wind was what cut to the bone. She stepped outside, her three companions with her.
    Pewter stopped, then wailed,
“It’s too cold.”
    Harry looked down at the rotund kitty, fluffed up, hunched down. “Pewter.”
    “Wimp.”
Mrs. Murphy delivered her judgment.
    “I don’t care what you think.”
Pewter narrowed her eyes.
    “All right.” Harry scooped up Pewter, opened the front door, andplaced her inside. “Aunt Tally,” she called out, “I’ve got Mrs. Murphy and Tucker with me. Pewter’s in the house.”
    “Okay.” Aunt Tally called back as Pewter hastened toward the sound of her voice.
    Pewter remembered that Harry had put crackers on the tea tray. Perhaps she could snag a few.
    Closing the door once more, Harry headed off to her left toward the Rowland Applied Riding Arena, which was behind Tucker Dining Hall and other buildings. A pleasant walk on a pleasant day, it wasn’t a bad walk on an unpleasant day.
    The first stable at the Bancroft Equestrian Center came into view after seven minutes of leisurely walking. Once inside, both Harry and her friends were happy to be out of the wind. A few students performed chores in the clean, tidy building. The large UPHA arena was under the roof behind the main entrance area. Harry walked back to it, leaning over the side of arena boards. Three students worked Saddlebreds.
    “Hello.” A bright voice caused her to turn from the horses.
    A petite, lean woman with an enormous smile held out her hand. “Gayle Lampe.”
    That smile was infectious. Harry smiled back. “Mrs. Fair Haristeen. Everyone calls me Harry.”
    “And?” Gayle indicated the four-footed contingent.
    “Tucker.”
    At the sound of her name Tucker sat and raised her paw, which Gayle solemnly shook.
    “Mrs. Murphy.”
    The tiger cat looked up as Gayle petted their heads.
    “Used to horses, I can see.”
    “I have Thoroughbreds and one Saddlebred, Shortro, given to me by Renata DeCarlo.”
    At the mention of the movie star’s name, Gayle replied, “Joan Hamilton of Kalarama. You must know her, because Renata is a client.”
    “I do.”
    “Kalarama, Callaway—both help us with horses. We don’t buy any horses, and you know we teach all four disciplines. Horses are donated,some of them very good. We’re indebted to people for their help. We’ve never sold a horse for meat price, and we don’t put them down if they have injuries that render them nonserviceable. We find them homes and, more to the point, we check up on them when we can.”
    “That’s an enviable record.”
    “That’s William Woods.” Gayle couldn’t refrain from boasting, but as the university was her life and she’d won many awards for both teaching and competing, she had good cause.
    “What a glorious legacy.”
    Gayle noticed one of the students losing energy. “Keep your leg on, Tori. She’s going to break gait.”
    “Yes, Professor Lampe.” Tori pressed more firmly. Sure enough, the chestnut stepped up her pace.
    “You must be here for Tally Urquhart.”
    “Yes, Miss Lampe,” Harry answered with a slow smile.
    “Call me Gayle. You may call me worse when you know me. Come on into my office.”
    Her office, a rectangular space with a window so she could look into the arena, was a perfect location for the premier Saddle Seat instructor in America.
    “I read your book,” Harry spilled.
    “You did?” Gayle seemed astonished as she offered Harry a chair.
    Mrs. Murphy jumped into Harry’s lap. “Joan Hamilton suggested it. I learned a lot. Saddlebreds are all in front of you. You need really good hands. Thank you for your work.”
    “Are