Santa Clawed

Cast of Characters
    Mary Minor “Harry” Haristeen
—Formerly the postmistress of Crozet, she now is trying to make a go of it with farming. She turned forty in August and doesn’t seem to mind.
             
    Pharamond “Fair” Haristeen, D.V.M
.—Harry’s husband is an equine vet, and he tries to keep his wife out of trouble, with limited success.
             
    Susan Tucker
—Harry’s best friend since cradle days, who often marvels at how Harry’s mind works, when it works. The two of them know each other so well that, if they wished, one could finish the other’s sentences.
             
    Mrs. Miranda Hogendobber
—Miranda observes a great deal but keeps most of it to herself. She’s in her early seventies, devoutly Christian, and mothers Harry, who lost her own mother when she was in her twenties.
             
    Marilyn “Big Mim” Sanburne
—The Queen of Crozet sees all and knows all, or would like to, at any rate. She despotically improves everyone’s lot but is good-hearted underneath it all.
             
    Aunt Tally Urquhart
—This wild woman, in her nineties, must be a devotee of the god Pan, for she’s in her glory when pandemonium reigns. She’s Big Mim’s aunt and delights in shocking her prim niece.
             
    Deputy Cynthia Cooper
—Harry’s neighbor, she, like Fair, tries to keep Harry out of trouble when she can. She’s smart and likes law enforcement.
             
    Sheriff Rick Shaw
—He’s the dedicated public servant, insightful but by the book. He wearies of the politics of his position, but he never wearies of bringing criminals to justice. He likes Harry, but she gets in the way.
             
    Olivia “BoomBoom” Craycroft
—She was widowed in her early thirties and, being quite beautiful, always trailed troops of men behind her. One of them was Fair Haristeen, who had an affair with her when he was separated from Harry. He and Harry have since divorced and remarried. BoomBoom can be forceful when necessary.
             
    Alicia Palmer
—A great movie star, now in her fifties, she’s thrilled to be back on the farm in Crozet. She’s also thrilled that she’s found BoomBoom, for they truly connect.

The Really Important Characters
    Mrs. Murphy
—She’s a pretty tiger cat with brains, speed, and a reasonably tolerant temperament. She knows she can’t really keep Harry, her human, out of trouble, but she can sometimes get her out once she’s in a mess.
             
    Tee Tucker
—This corgi, also devoted to Harry, has great courage and manages to live with two cats. That says a lot.
             
    Pewter
—The gray cannonball, as she does not like to be known, affects disdain for humans. However, she loves Harry and Fair. If it’s possible to avoid a long way or trouble, she’s the first to choose that path.
             
    Simon
—Living in the barn with all the horses pleases this possum. He also likes Harry, as much as he can like humans. She gives him treats.
             
    Flatface
—Sharing the loft with Simon, this great horned owl looks down on earthbound creatures, figuratively and literally. However, in a pinch, Flatface can be counted on.
             
    Matilda
—She’s a big blacksnake and the third roommate in the barn loft. Her sense of humor borders on the black, too.
             
    Owen
—Tee Tucker’s brother belongs to Susan Tucker, who bred the litter. He doesn’t know how his sister can tolerate the cats. When in feline company, he behaves, but he thinks the cats are snobs.
             
    Since Mrs. Murphy, Tucker, and Pewter live on a farm, various creatures cross their path, from bears to foxes to one nasty blue jay. They love all the horses, which can’t be said for some of the other creatures, but then, the horses are domesticated. Pewter declares she is not domesticated but merely resting in a house with regular meals.

S t. Luke’s, a beautiful stone church on the outskirts of Crozet, Virginia, appeared even more stunning than usual given the fresh snow on the rooftops, the windowsills of the parish office, and the pastor’s living quarters across the now-white quad. Plumes of smoke rose from the great hall, which formed one side of the quad, and smoke spiraled from the parish office. The church was built in 1803, and it was clear that those early Lutherans needed many fireplaces. Over the centuries the buildings had