Probable Claws

THE CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE PRESENT

Mary Minor Haristeen, “Harry” —Hardworking, task-oriented, she runs the old family farm in Crozet, Virginia. A loyal friend to both human and animal, a quality not lost on those who care for her. If she has a weakness—perhaps best explained as a personality trait—it is that psychology has no interest for her. Harry doesn’t care why you do anything. She simply deals with the result.

Pharamond Haristeen, DVM, “Fair” —Tall, powerfully built, at forty-three he is one year older than his wife, Harry. His equine patients trust him as do most humans. He is more sensitive, more introspective than his wife.

Susan Tucker —Harry’s friend since cradle days, she loves Harry as only an old friend can. The two can disagree but will always come to each other’s aid. Susan’s deceased grandfather was a former governor of Virginia. Her husband, Ned, is a representative to the House of Delegates.

BoomBoom Craycroft —Another childhood friend who can find herself swept up into one of Harry’s messes. BoomBoom often asks the obvious question. Obvious to her.

Deputy Cynthia Cooper —She rents the old Jones homeplace, a farm next to Harry’s. As she was not raised in the country, Harry and Fair are a great help to her. She does her best to deflect Harry’s curiosity. If Susan and Fair can’t contain Harry, it’s a sure bet Coop can’t, despite her shiny law enforcement badge.

Reverend Herbert Jones —He’s known Harry all her life. She is a faithful congregant of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. He learned to lead men as a young combat captain in Vietnam. On his return after the seminary, he did his best to lead women, too—to faith, charity, and peace. He is a good pastor to his flock.

Lisa Roudabush —Heads Nature First’s Charlottesville, Virginia, office. Nature First is a statewide environmental group growing in power. She’s in her mid-thirties, married to her work.

Raynell Archer —Assists Lisa. She worked her way to Nature First through other nonprofits.

Felipe Zaldivar —The second-in-command at Nature First. He’s intelligent, steady, devoted to Lisa and the cause.

Gary Gardner —A local architect with good sense, who is able to keep costs down and loves to work.

Marvella Rice Lawson —In her sixties, she will never be described as easygoing. She’s one of the powers-that-be at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. She and her late brother Pierre, each an art collector of vastly different tastes, amassed art worth a small fortune. When the highly intelligent Marvella walks into a room, she parts people like the Red Sea.

NOTE: Harry was an Art History major at Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts. Her father couldn’t believe she’d major in something so useless. Her retort was that this was her only chance in life to do so, as once she was out of college she would need to work. Both parents were killed when she was in college, before her father had the chance to appreciate the woman she became. Now, at forty-two, some lights are being turned on upstairs.

THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

Catherine Schuyler —At twenty-two, intelligent, level-headed, and impossibly beautiful, she is learning from her brilliant father about business. She already has a reputation as a leading horsewoman.

John Schuyler —A former major in the Revolutionary War, only a few years older than his smashing wife, he is powerfully built and works hard. As he is from Massachusetts he can miss some of the undercurrents of Virginia society.

Rachel West —Two years younger than her sister Catherine, she, too, is beautiful, but her beauty is softer, sweeter. She’s easy to please, ready to help, and possessed of deep moral conviction.

Charles West —Captured by John Schuyler at the Battle of Saratoga, the then nineteen-year-old marched all the way to The Barracks prisoner-of-war camp outside Charlottesville. The second son of a baron in England, he had the good sense to stay in America. Like John, he is dazzled by his wife and knows how lucky he is.

Karl Ix —A Hessian also captured. He and Charles became friends in the camp and continued working together after the war.

Maureen Selisse —The daughter of a Caribbean banker, she was a great catch for her ruthless late husband, Francisco. Keenly aware of her social position, she is also accustomed to getting her way. She hated that he carried on with a beautiful slave, making little attempt to hide it.

Ewing Garth —The father of Catherine and Rachel, a loving man, brilliant in business. He is a creature of his time, but one who can learn. He helped finance the war and hopes the new nation can hold together. A widower, he misses his wife, a true partner. The economic chaos of the Articles of Confederation affect his business as well as everyone else’s. He sees doom ahead for the new nation and no way out.

Jeffrey Holloway —Young, not well born but divinely handsome, he married the widowed Maureen Selisse to everyone’s shock.

Yancy Grant —Infuriated more than anyone by the above hasty marriage, he hates Jeffrey. Being challenged to a duel by Jeffrey wounded both men, yet a respect resulted from this.

THE SLAVES: BIG RAWLY

Sheba —Maureen Selisse’s lady-in-waiting. Really, she’s Maureen’s right hand and she enjoys the power. She’ll destroy anyone who stands in her way. She is believed to have run away after stealing jewelry. No one knows where she is.

DoRe Durkin —He works in the stable and limps from an old fall from a horse. He mourns his son Moses, after Moses’s flight up North in the wake of the death of Francisco Selisse, who brutalized Moses’s love, the beautiful Ailee.

William —Works with DoRe. Has riding talent but not as much as he thinks he has.

THE SLAVES: CLOVERFIELDS

Bettina —A cook of fabulous abilities. She’s the head woman of the slaves, thanks to her fame, her wisdom, and her wondrous warmth. She also has a beautiful voice. Bettina’s view: “I could be a queen in Africa, but I’m not in Africa. I’m here.” She made a vow to Isabelle, Ewing’s wife, as she died. Bettina vowed to take care of Catherine and Rachel. She has kept her pledge.

Serena —A young woman, learning from Bettina both in the kitchen and out. She has uncommon good sense and will, in the future, wield power among her people.

Jeddie Rice —At nineteen, he is a natural with horses. He loves them. He’s been riding, working, and studying bloodlines with Catherine since they were children. Like Serena, Jeddie has all the qualities of someone who will rise, difficult though the world they live in is.

Tulli —A little fellow at the stables who tries hard to learn.

Ralston —Nearly sixteen and thin, he, too, is at the stables. He works hard.

Father Gabe —Old, calm, and watchful, he accepts Christianity but practices the old religion. Many believe he can conjure spirits. No matter if he can or can’t, he is a healer.

Roger —Ewing’s house butler, the most powerful position a male slave can have. He has a sure touch with people, black or white.

Weymouth —Roger’s son, in his middle twenties. The hope is he will inherit his father’s position someday, but for now he’s fine with being second banana. He’s a good barber and in truth not very ambitious.

Barker O. —Powerful, quiet, he drives the majestic coach-in-four. He’s known throughout Virginia for his ability.

Bumbee —Fights with her husband. Finally she moves into the weaving cabin to get away from him and to comfort a lost soul.

Ruth —Mother to a two-year-old and a new baby. How she loves any baby, kitten, puppy, as well as the master’s grandchildren.

RICHMOND

Georgina —Early middle-age, quite attractive but putting on weight, she runs a tavern that also serves ladies. She knows everything about everybody, almost. No one uses last names in this world except for the male customers, men of means, in the small city.

Sam Udall —As a dedicated customer of Georgina’s, he appreciates her shrewdness. He realizes the financial world has changed since the colonists have won the war. He also understands that the old Tidewater grandees are slipping. A new man is emerging with new money if the financial chaos can be corrected.

Mignon —A runaway slave from Big Rawly, she serves in the kitchen. A tiny woman with big eyes, she eluded discovery.

Eudes —As the outstanding chef at Georgina’s, he brings the customers in for the food. He is quite an independent thinker; he’s a free black man who, like Georgina, doesn’t blab everything he knows.

Deborah —The most expensive of the delicious offerings at Georgina’s thanks to her beauty and her self-possession. She can drive a man crazy. She’s a runaway slave, as are many of the girls. The white girls also ran away. Spared slavery, they were not spared brutality, unwanted sexual congress, or poverty. All of which binds the girls to Georgina, who treats them decently—plus they make good money.

THE ANIMALS

Mrs. Murphy —Harry’s tiger cat who knows she has more brains than her human. She used to try to keep Harry out of trouble. She gave up, knowing all she can do is extricate her human once she’s in another mess.

Pewter —A fat gray cat who believes the world began when she entered it. What a diva. But the Queen of All She Surveys does come through in a pinch, although you’ll never hear the end of it.

Tee Tucker —Bred by Susan Tucker, this is one tough, resourceful corgi: She knows she has to protect Harry, work with the levelheaded Mrs. Murphy, and endure Pewter.

Owen —Tucker’s brother. They adore being with each other. For Tucker it’s a relief to sometimes be away from the cats.

Shortro —A young Saddlebred ridden as a hunter.

Tomahawk —Harry’s old Thoroughbred hunter who hotly resents being thought old.

Pirate —An Irish wolfhound puppy who loves everyone but is confused by Pewter, who does not.

THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY ANIMALS

Piglet —A brave, smart corgi who went through the war and imprisonment with Captain Charles West. He loves living in Virginia with the other animals and people.

Serenissima —Francisco Selisse’s fabulous blooded mare whom he sent to Catherine to be bred to her stallion, Reynaldo.

Reynaldo —An up-and-comer with terrific conformation, but hot. Catherine and Jeddie can handle him.

Crown Prince —A younger half brother to Reynaldo. Both are out of Queen Esther, and fortunately, Crown Prince has her temperament.

King David —One of the driving horses. He’s heavier built than Reynaldo and Crown Prince. Solomon is King David’s brother. They are a flashy matched pair.

Castor and Pollux —Two Percherons who do heavy-duty work. They are such good boys.

Sweet Potato —A saucy pony teaching Tulli to ride.

Black Knight —Yancy Grant’s fast Thoroughbred.