Whisker of Evil by Rita Mae Brown

ashtray.
    â€œWell, what about religious killing? A Muslim fanatic kills Christians. He believes he’ll go to Allah and also be rewarded with sixty or seventy virgins. I forget the number.” Herb waved his cigar.
    â€œOne would be enough.” Tavener laughed, as did the other men.
    â€œAll that responsibility!” Fair tapped ash into one of the large crystal ashtrays.
    â€œWomen are a responsibility whether virgin or slightly used.” Tavener noticed the last rays of the sun washing the stable and outbuildings. “A woman can send you to heaven or consign you to hell.”
    â€œI wouldn’t trade one minute of my life with my wife.” Herb said this with feeling. His wife had succumbed to cancer a few years ago.
    â€œI agree. I could kill Mim sometimes, but she made a man out of me,” Jim said.
    â€œMaybe you’ll find someone again, Herb,” Fair simply stated.
    â€œMaybe,” Herb said noncommittally. “But I think Blair’s—well, Blair, you tell us.”
    The men focused on the handsome model.
    He stammered a moment, then surprised even himself with his firm reply. “Any man who could spend a lifetime with Little Mim would be a lucky man.” He call Marilyn by her nickname, as did everyone.
    â€œIndeed.” Fair seconded this, as did the other men.
    â€œShe’s spoiled.” Her father smiled. “My fault.”
    â€œIt’s hard not to spoil a daughter.” Bill Langston shrugged. “Just an observation. Hope I have a daughter someday.”
    â€œI’ll do my best to spoil Marilyn even more.” Blair smiled, a genuine one.
    As Blair had not yet asked for Marilyn’s hand in marriage, this declaration surely meant the time would be forthcoming.
    Fair stepped in to save Blair an embarrassing question in case one of the gentlemen forgot himself. “You know I feel the same way about Harry. I sinned. I repented. I need you all to help me win her back, all the way back.”
    â€œAh.” Herb again closed his eyes from the pleasure of his cigar, then opened them wide. “The way to win back your ex-wife is to work with her on the farm. Other women are wooed by words and flowers, but Harry is wooed by work and, well, I suppose a few flowers wouldn’t hurt.”
    â€œDo you really think so?” asked Bill Langston, new to the community as Hayden McIntire’s new partner in family practice.
    â€œKnown her since she was born.” Herb nodded.
    â€œAs have I,” Jim said.
    â€œAnd I.” Tavener nodded, as well.
    â€œHerb’s right. Work is the way to Harry’s heart.”
    â€œI think I knew that.” Fair, too, noticed the incredibly beautiful gold and scarlet light. “But I’m working morning, noon, and night.”
    â€œIt’s time for you to take a business partner. I mean that.” Jim held up his hand to silence Fair, who had started to speak. “The money. I know. And for the first year you will make less money, perhaps. But, Fair, you’re killing yourself. If you took on one or two partners you could expand your practice beyond equine reproduction. All these new people that we’ve been talking about at dinner come here and, what’s the first thing they want, a horse. There are only so many vets to go around, and you and Tavener are so specialized and at the top of your professions that you’re going to miss the wave. What do you think, Tav?”
    â€œYou’re one hundred percent right. I’m close to retirement or I’d follow your advice.”
    â€œI’ve heard the retirement speech before.” Fair smiled.
    â€œWell, I mean it.” Tavener reached for his glass of port.
    â€œFair, come talk to me,” Jim advised.
    â€œI will.”
    Jim stood up as the ladies were walking toward them. “Ladies, we need some uplift here.”
    Tally sassed, “Buy a bra.”
    Big Mim rolled her eyes as everyone