Furmidable Foes

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 sisters, 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.