Read Online Hotspur by Rita Mae Brown - Free Book Online

color that of coffee with cream, was experimenting with long, thick sideburns.
    â€œAlice, good to see you,” Walter lied convincingly.
    â€œHmmph.” Alice’s reply sounded like a balloon deflating.
    â€œYou know, Alice, we’re building coops here. We could build one for you.” Sister’s eyes brightened.
    â€œHa! Don’t you dare set one foot on my land.”
    â€œHow about a hoof?” Sister felt mischievous.
    â€œNever.”
    â€œWell, Alice, I know you’ve lost more chickens and I know Peter’s harrier hasn’t been off my farm. Now just what or who do you think is dispatching your chickens?”
    Alice generally ignored what she didn’t wish to hear, and she did so now. Unbeknownst to her, Aunt Netty was sauntering through the hayfield at that very moment. When she heard Alice’s strident voice she stopped to listen.
    Aunt Netty thought Alice a pluperfect fool because she shut her chicken yard gate but she never poured concrete along the edges of the pen. Digging under was a cinch. Netty considered the Ramy residence one big supermarket.
    Strolling down the fence line from the opposite direction was Comet, a gray fox, Inky’s brother. He, too, stopped when he caught a whiff of the nearby humans.
    â€œYou’ll say anything to hunt!” Alice curled her lip, heavily impacted with hot pink lipstick.
    â€œOf course, Alice, I’m a master.” Sister laughed, but good-naturedly.
    She’d known Alice most of her life and while she had never really liked the woman, she’d grown accustomed to her.
    Alice put her hands on her rounded hips. “I know what you all are thinking. I know what everyone is thinking. You think Guy killed Nola. He didn’t.”
    â€œI don’t think that for a minute, Alice. Sit down here on the grass with us and have a Co-Cola.” Sister reached into the cooler and handed an ice-cold can to Alice, who accepted the Coke but not the seat.
    Aunt Netty’s ears swept forward when she heard the pop of the can’s pull tab. She liked sweets, considering Coke a sweet. She wondered if she could open the cooler when the humans returned to their coops. Might even be doughnuts or brownies in that cooler. Wouldn’t hurt to look.
    â€œWell, a lot of people did.” Alice’s voice softened. “But you didn’t. I remember, you didn’t.”
    A slight breeze rolled down over the mountainside, causing the leaves to sway. The old chestnut tree was so huge, Alice was sheltered in its shade even standing yards away from the workers.
    Walter spoke in his most soothing baritone, which could be hypnotic. “Mrs. Ramy, finding Nola has shocked everyone. With the advancements of forensic science, we might learn more now.”
    â€œWhat good does it do?” Alice betrayed more anguish than she wanted.
    â€œI don’t know.” Sister stood up and put her arm around Alice’s shoulder, patting her. “Maybe it will bring peace to Tedi and Edward.”
    â€œWell, it won’t bring peace to me. No one will believe me unless Guy is found. People think he’s in”—she shook her head—“Berlin or Quito or”—her tone darkened— “in this county I hear everything. And I know plenty of people think Paul covered up for Guy. If Guy had killed her, Paul would have brought him in. His own son.” Alice finally decided to sit down.
    â€œI believe he would,” Sister replied.
    â€œHas Ben Sidell visited you?” Walter asked.
    â€œYes. Impertinent. Ohio.” She uttered “Ohio” as if it were a communicable disease.
    â€œGood farms there.” Sister wished she could think of something to say to make Alice feel better and to go away.
    â€œIf they’re so damned good, then let those people go back to them. He accused me of covering for my son. Oh, not in so many words, but that’s what he meant. I should have knocked