Catch as Cat Can by Rita Mae Brown Page A

for Congress and won, then Tally and others like her could push him toward the Senate someday and Little Mim could inherit his seat. It would be less of a fight and that way they'd have two politicians in their pockets. A lot of ifs but most endeavors started that way and Tally paid little mind to ifs.
    â€œMay I have this dance?” Reverend Jones held out his hand to Aunt Tally.
    â€œI thought you'd never get me away from her.” Tally laughed as they stepped onto the floor. “She hovers around me. What does she think? I'm going to keel over in her presence because I'm older than dirt?”
    â€œShe hovers over you because she loves you.”
    â€œOh, that,” Tally answered the Reverend.
    Diego held Harry. She felt a chill run down her spine. Fair, dancing with Lottie, glared.
    Thomas Steinmetz made the rounds of the ladies, always returning to BoomBoom, as was proper.
    â€œYou're making a lot of women happy.” BoomBoom smiled at him.
    â€œSo long as I make you happy.” He smiled at her as one who is accustomed to getting his way with women.
    Roger wandered over, a bit more sober. “Are you really an ambassador?”
    â€œThomas Steinmetz, Roger O'Bannon, proprietor with his brother of O'Bannon Salvage,” BoomBoom said.
    â€œPleased to meet you.” Thomas held out his hand.
    Roger blinked, then shook it. “Likewise. You guys have tin mines in Uruguay?”
    â€œBolivia has more of those than we do.” He noticed Aunt Tally being led back to a table. “If you will excuse me, it's my turn to dance with Aunt Tally.”
    â€œLucky dog,” Roger replied noncommittally.
    Lottie passed by BoomBoom and hissed. “You're a real shit to fix up Harry with Diego. You want Fair back.”
    BoomBoom turned on her heel. “Lottie, you are so small and so off course. I ought to smack you right in the mouth.”
    â€œYou've got a violent streak. You had it in high school. Go ahead. Just go ahead,” Lottie baited her.
    Roger grabbed Lottie by the elbow. “Come on, Lots. Let's talk.”
    â€œNo.” She shook him off.
    Roger stood there for a moment, indecisive, then walked away, a slight sway to his gait.
    â€œLottie, don't be an ass. I put Harry and Diego together because I knew he loved farming. How was I to know they'd hit it off? Because you're unhappy you don't want anyone else to be happy.”
    â€œBitch.” Lottie's voice rose a bit.
    â€œYes,” Susan answered as a joke for she could overhear part of the exchange. “I can go from zero to bitch in three point six seconds. Ask my husband.”
    Lottie fixed her gaze on Susan standing with Cooper, then decided to allow Roger to lead her away. The two women joined BoomBoom.
    â€œYou certainly have an effect on women.” Cooper laughed at BoomBoom.
    â€œUsually negative.” She smiled, though, as Thomas was returning to her.
    â€œShe'll wear us all out.” He indicated Aunt Tally.
    â€œFirst woman to fly a plane in Albemarle County as well as other things,” Susan remarked.
    Under the long table inside the house Pewter had fallen fast asleep. Stuffed with turkey, ham, smoked salmon, and other delicacies, she needed a snooze to aid her digestion. Tucker lay beside her, a little bubble escaping her lips.
    Murphy sampled everything but she wasn't a big eater. She'd walked back into the kitchen.
    The caterer's assistant fussed over the large silver samovar, filling it with coffee. He sniped at one of the kids. “Keep the coffee coming—for obvious reasons.”
    â€œCrab.”
Murphy curled her tail around her as she watched.
    â€œBe sure and put out the raw sugar. I noticed most of it was gone.”
    â€œYes, sir,” Brooks Tucker, Susan and Ned's daughter, said. She walked through the pantry filled with china and silver to go back to the kitchen. She carried the near-empty silver sugar bowl, which she filled with raw sugar, hurrying back