Outfoxed by Rita Mae Brown

Jennifer. We’re going into a treatment program.”
    â€œNo.” Jennifer’s face turned crimson.
    â€œAnd if you know what’s good for you, Cody, you’ll cough up the money and go in, too.”
    Cody pinched her lips together.
    â€œYou can’t do this to me!” Jennifer jumped up, towering over her medium-sized mother.
    Betty rose but Jennifer pushed her back onto the chair.
    Cody shot from the sofa, grabbing Jennifer. “Don’t touch Mom, Jen.”
    â€œShe’s a fucking saint?” Jennifer snarled.
    â€œShe’s our mother and she’s a lot closer to it than we’ll ever be. Don’t touch her.”
    â€œFine.” Jennifer hauled off and socked Cody instead.
    Cody, bigger, stronger, and smarter, ducked the next punch, stepped inside a roundhouse swing, and with the back edge of her hand chopped Jennifer hard in the throat. Both of Jennifer’s hands went for her throat. She choked and Cody grabbed the back of her collar, dragging her to the sofa.
    Looming over the coughing girl, Cody said, “You’re going to treatment.”
    Betty never imagined her younger daughter would attack her. The corroding effect of drugs even when one wasn’t on them shocked her. She would have died herself before lifting a hand against her own mother.
    Jennifer started bawling. She choked a few times, then snarled at Cody. “You hurt me.”
    â€œYou hurt yourself,” Cody fired back. “Mom, how much is the treatment program?”
    â€œI don’t know. Central Virginia Hospital has an outpatient program. I hear it’s good. Cody, we can’t afford to send you. You’ve been out on your own and you need to do this for yourself.”
    Jennifer bellowed, “What am I going to say to my friends? I’m in drug rehab. Mom, this will ruin me. I won’t have any friends.”
    â€œThen they aren’t really your friends.” Betty raised her voice. “And I’m not worried about your friends. I’m worried about you.”
    â€œYou can’t tell me what to do.” A flash of defiance illuminated Jennifer’s eyes.
    â€œAs long as you’re under my roof, you’ll do as I say. We’re going to Central Virginia.”
    â€œNow?” Jennifer’s voice dropped, betraying fear.
    â€œNow. Cody?”
    â€œI’m coming.”

CHAPTER 17
    At five-thirty in the morning the frost covered the ground like a silver net. The few leaves underfoot would soon give way to blankets of maple, oak, hickory, gum, sycamore, and poplar. Fall, a bit late this year, was about a week away from peak color. Flaming red edging the green of the maples stood out against the dawn light, as did the yellow oak leaves.
    Shaker divided hounds in the kennel. Those who would be hunting that day were placed in a draw run. Excited to be chosen, they tormented those left behind with boasts of how good the day’s hunt would be.
    Hounds remaining in the kennel were deemed unfit or unready for many reasons. A bitch going into season would be put in the hot bitch pen until her estrus passed. A hound footsore from Tuesday’s hunt would be left in the kennel. A hound having difficulty mastering his or her job would be held back lest he or she distract the other hounds from their task. Hounds under two years or a year and a half, depending on development, would be left in the puppy runs. Dragon languished in sick bay. Although he was recovering rapidly, his left eye was swollen shut.
    Shaker patiently explained to his charges the reasons for their missing the party. He double-checked everyone, making certain plenty of fresh water was available and that they had eaten their breakfast.
    The hounds to hunt wouldn’t get breakfast until their return. Full hounds run slow or sit down and throw up. No one minded delaying breakfast if it meant they’d hunt. They pricked their ears, waved their tails, hopped around in