Outfoxed Read Free Page A

Virginia.”
    â€œYou have a”—he considered his words—“dynamic wife. You can’t extrapolate from your experience. Generalization.”
    â€œOkay. Let’s say I’m wrong. Women are at the back of the bus. By publicly proclaiming Marty wasn’t going to get a penny more than you thought she deserved you made plenty of enemies. Trotting around that twenty-year-old model after you dumped Marty hardly helped matters and how long did that last . . . ten minutes? You could have seen her in New York. You didn’t have to bring her here. But worst of all, you opened the door for Fontaine to look like a hero.”
    â€œOh that.” Crawford’s voice sounded deflated.
    â€œThat.”
    When Marty was in distress and couldn’t pay the rent on her small apartment because Crawford had thrown her out of the house and she unwisely and meekly left, Fontaine had hired her to be his assistant in his landscape business. Fontaine was a landscape architect and a very good one when he chose to work.
    â€œThat.” Bobby’s tone dropped.
    â€œI should have kept my mouth shut.”
    â€œWe all have that feeling at one time or another.”
    â€œI accused him of sleeping with her.” Crawford flared up. “He finds his way up more skirts!”
    â€œBut not Marty’s. He was too smart for that, even though she is a fine-looking woman. Fine-looking.”
    Crawford’s eyes narrowed; then he dropped his gaze into his shot of Springbank. “Live and learn.”
    â€œIt’s not too late.”
    â€œI made restitution. I bought Marty a house.”
    â€œSmall but pretty. However, you need to mend fences, build bridges, and above all, listen to Sister Jane. She knows more about people and hunting than all of us put together.”
    The amber color of the scotch caught the light, golden shafts sinking through the Springbank.
    â€œOne other little thing.” Bobby held his coffee cup up for a refill. “You need to apologize first to Sister Jane for heading Fontaine into that coop. You need to offer to rebuild it.”
    â€œThat’s Fontaine’s job.”
    â€œYes, it is, but do you want this goddamned mastership or not?”
    â€œAll right. All right.” He quieted while the waitress refilled Bobby’s cup. “What else?” He watched her hips swing as she walked back to the kitchen.
    â€œYou need to apologize to Fontaine. A public apology would be best.”
    â€œI will not.”
    â€œThen I suggest you watch your back because Fontaine will get even.”
    Â 

CHAPTER 3
    At five-thirty in the morning the phone rang in Sister Jane’s kitchen.
    She picked up the phone, hearing a groan of suffering on the other end.
    â€œArrgh. Umm. Aah.” The speaker repeated herself, the pain more intense.
    â€œBetty Franklin,” Sister simply said.
    â€œOh, my dear, did you hear me groan? I feel just terrible.”
    â€œAnd it’s fifty-three degrees with a soft rain.” Sister described the weather that October 14.
    â€œAah.” Betty groaned again for effect.
    â€œAre you whipping in today or are you auditioning for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts?”
    â€œYou are a heartless bitch.”
    â€œSuffering’s good for you, Betty. Tests the spirit. Enlarges the heart. Sharpens the mind.”
    â€œI’m about as wonderful as I can stand. Even my husband says I’m wonderful.”
    â€œYour husband has imagination.” Sister laughed. “But just so I know what to say at your eulogy, tell me, exactly what are you dying from today?”
    â€œArthritis in my lower spine, in my toes, in my fingers, and my stomach lining is irritated, although not my bowel, thank heaven. Cody’s up to no good but I don’t know with whom, and Jennifer got a D in math. A D! Naturally my mind hurts, too.” This was said with uncommon good humor.
    â€œThis drizzle will stop