“Sister” Jane Arnold returns in a colorful mystery featuring four-legged sleuths—and the breathtaking thrill of the chase—from the New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Like a Fox . As winter deepens over the Blue Ridge Mountains, even the threat of snowstorms cannot derail this year’s Christmas run, not as long as “Sister” Jane Arnold has a say in it. With spirits high and traditions strong, a glorious parade of hunters in full holiday regalia gathers on the grounds of Tattenhall Station. But a blinding blizzard brings an early end to the sport. More disturbing: A horse soon returns without its rider. Gregory Luckham, a controversial presence as the president of a powerful energy company pushing for a pipeline through central Virginia, is the missing hunter. A search is organized for what is presumed will be a dead, frozen body. What is discovered, however, chills everyone to the bone—and points toward murder. Sister Jane will have to untangle a mystery packed as hard as snow—full of history, secrets, old wounds, and avarice. Praise for Homeward Hound “Cunning foxes, sensible hounds and sweet-tempered horses are among the sparkling conversationalists in this charming series.” —The New York Times Book Review “Readers will be charmed by Brown’s endearing characters, animal and human, all of whom are given to philosophizing on the state of the world.” —Publishers Weekly “With deep and broad knowledge of the sport, the area and the people and animals who inhabit it, [Brown] infuses Homeward Hound —and the entire series—with unmatched authenticity, Southern charm, beloved characters and engaging storylines.” — The Free Lance–Star Praise for Rita Mae Brown Crazy Like a Fox “Brown’s animal characters, including horses, hounds, and foxes, have as much to say as the people. . . . [For] fans of Brown’s Sneaky Pie novels.” — Publishers Weekly Let Sleeping Dogs Lie “Cunning foxes, sensible hounds and sweet-tempered horses are among the sparkling conversationalists in this charming series.” —The New York Times Book Review Fox Tracks “[Brown] enlivens a timely tale with . . . amusing accounts of her four-legged creations and delightful descriptions of the central Virginia countryside.” — Richmond Times-Dispatch Hounded to Death “Fast-paced and filled with scenes from the world of fox hunting . . . Brown delivers the brush.” —The Baltimore Sun The Tell-Tale Horse “Grabs readers from the opening scene and gallops through to the very surprising end.” —Horse Illustrated Rita Mae Brown is the bestselling author of the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries; the Sister Jane series; the Runnymede novels, including Six of One and Cakewalk; A Nose for Justice and Murder Unleashed; Rubyfruit Jungle; and In Her Day; as well as many other books. An Emmy-nominated screenwriter and a poet, Brown lives in Afton, Virginia, and is a Master of Foxhounds and the huntsman. CHAPTER 1 “Ouch, dammit.” Sister Jane stepped down from the small stool. “Sorry.” She patted Aztec’s neck, her chestnut gelding. “I thought you were apologizing to us.” Betty Franklin, also braiding her horse, Outlaw, leaned over his neck to look at her friend and master. Sister Jane Arnold was master of The Jefferson Hunt, had been for over forty years. She loved being a master, making decisions, solving problems. She did not love braiding, however. “I can do that for you.” Tootie Harris, early twenties, a whipper-in, offered. “I know you can, Angel, but I think I should braid my own horse.” “Arthritis.” Her huntsman, Shaker Crown, braiding his horse, teased her. “I’m starting to get it. Anyway, I thought this is what children are for, braiding.” “You know, he has a point.” Betty was standing on her low stool to reach the mane, a small bit of thick mane between her fingers, the clipped yarn in her mouth, which she took out to speak. “Think it will be a lot of people tomorrow?” Weevil, the new, gorgeous, male whipper-in, hailing from Canada, asked. “Weevil, usually is.” Sister climbed back up on the stool. “Matador is standing nicely for you.” “He’s a good boy with a silky mane. Makes it easy,” the handsome blond replied. “Just think, everyone who will hunt tomorrow is doing as we’re doing. I like to think of that, all of us trying to make our horses beautiful for Christmas Hunt,” Betty said. The large end stable doors opened, Sam Lorillard with Rory Boone came in, shutting the doors behind them. Sam pulled off his lumberjack cap. “Cold out there. Got off work early.” “Cold enough in here.” Shaker tugged at Showboat’s mane with a short metal comb. “We’re here to polish the tack. If you all are determined to braid your horses, we might as well get working on the tack.” “The only reason you two are doing the tack, and there’s a mess of it, is it’s warmer in the tack room,” Betty good-naturedly said. Sam, the brother of Sister’s gentleman friend, grinned. “That’s why we’re doing it.” The two men, f