Santa Clawed

Tally is a handful.”
    Resisting her niece, whose hand gripped her elbow, Aunt Tally burst into a smile as Bill Keelo walked toward her. “Bill, to my rescue.”
    “Beg pardon.” He pushed his black-rimmed spectacles back up the bridge of his nose.
    Under her breath, Aunt Tally hissed, “Unhand me, Mimsy, or I’ll crack you over the head with my cane, and I mean it.”
    “You’ve had enough,” Big Mim whispered back.
    “I’ll be the judge of that.” As Bill offered her his arm, Aunt Tally purred, “Wasn’t that the most beautiful singing?”
    Big Mim conceded defeat—rare for her—turned on her heel, and bumped into Brother Speed. “I’m sorry.”
    The wiry fellow replied, “I’ve had worse bumps than that.”
    “Haven’t we all,” Big Mim agreed. “Do you ride anymore?”
    “Funny you should mention that, because I was thinking about getting a job riding young horses. As long as I give back fifty percent to the brotherhood, I can work outside. It’s all I know, and I’m not much good at the jobs Brother George finds for me.”
    “Come by the barn. Paul could use a part-time rider.”
    “Thank you.” Brother Speed felt elated. “That is a Christmas present.”
    Quite a few horse people would be at the Corbett Realty Christmas party at Keswick Club. Brother Speed planned to go there after this party to see if he could find more part-time work. In fact, quite a few people would be braving the roads to go to the eastern side of the county. The Corbett party could get quite frolicsome.
    Bill waited patiently at the bar while Aunt Tally stood to the side. Brother Ed jostled him, not intentionally.
    “Back off, Ed.”
    “Sorry. I was shoved from behind,” Brother Ed mildly replied.
    “Right.” Bill’s voice dripped with sarcasm, which Brother Ed ignored.
    As Bill left to hand Aunt Tally her drink, Fair, also waiting, said to Brother Ed, “Bill’s been touchy lately.”
    “Prima donna.” Brother Ed shrugged. “He’s always accusing Bryson of being a prima donna, but I say it takes one to know one.”
    “Guess so,” Fair genially replied. “The prima donnas in my life are the cats.”
    “Not Harry?” Brother Ed’s eyebrows raised.
    “No.”
    Brother Morris, surrounded by fans, was attempting to make his way to the bar.
    With a straight face, Brother Ed said, “Here he comes with his disciples. Next performance he’ll walk on water.”
    Fair laughed. “We’d pay to see that.”
    “I’ll tell Brother Morris. He’s very eager to fill the coffers.” Brother Ed smiled.
    Fair returned to Harry and Susan, handing both ladies their drinks.
    “Where’s yours, honey?” Harry inquired.
    “I’m good.” He’d had one hefty scotch on the rocks, and that was enough. “I checked. The tonic water is Schweppes.”
    “Aren’t you the best?” Harry squeezed his hand, then stared at Susan’s drink. “When did you start drinking daiquiris?”
    “Tonight. Ned’s politicking, and I thought I’d live large.” She laughed.
    Her husband, Ned, was a first-term state representative, which was an exciting position, even if sometimes frustrating.
    “Bill Keelo surprised me up at the bar,” said Fair. “He was curt, borderline rude, with Brother Ed. I’ve never seen Bill like that.”
    “That’s because Brother Ed used to be gay.” Harry shrugged. “Bill works on my mood with this. I don’t know what’s happened to him, but I don’t remember him being this homophobic.” She turned to Susan. “What do you think?”
    She dismissed it. “Oh, he’s going through male menopause. The old midlife crisis. He’s been irritable to everyone.”
    Fair waved at a client across the room. “Maybe something’s come up in the family.”
    “Who knows?” Harry’s attention was on Brother Speed, who was talking to Paul de Silva.
    Then Brother Speed joined them, excitedly telling them about his hopes to work part-time at Big Mim’s.
    “Ever met a horse you couldn’t ride?” Harry wondered.
    “One or two,” Brother Speed admitted.
    On the way home after the party, Harry mentioned that if Brother Speed could help her with the yearlings for a month or two, it would be good. “I didn’t want to open my mouth without asking you.”
    “Great idea. We ought to be able to afford him.” Fair smiled, since he knew Brother Speed wouldn’t charge much.
    “Great. I’ll call him tomorrow.”
    Tomorrow would be too late.

D ecember 22 dawned overcast and cold, with gusty winds. Harry