Live and Let Growl Read Online Free Page B

of Ellie’s Poodles—a dog that appeared many, many generations back in her pedigree.
    â€œBecause she must be very old,” I said.
    â€œShe’s younger than I am,” Aunt Peg snapped.
    Oh.
    I didn’t even have to turn around and look. I knew that Faith was shaking her head.
    â€œWhere does Ellie Wanamaker live?” I asked in a small voice.
    â€œThat’s Miss Ellie,” Aunt Peg corrected. “I’ve never heard anyone refer to her any other way. I gather it’s a Southern thing.”
    â€œMiss Ellie,” I repeated, feeling thoroughly chastised. “Where will we find her and why does she know about horses?”
    â€œShe grew up on a farm in Midway not far from Six Oaks. Her family has been in the Thoroughbred business for generations. We have an appointment tomorrow afternoon to have a look at Lucky Luna, and I have no intention of showing up unprepared. We’ll be meeting with Miss Ellie tomorrow morning.”
    â€œGood work,” I said.
    â€œIndeed.” Aunt Peg sounded rather pleased with herself. “Hopefully by the time we arrive at Six Oaks, we will be well armed with information about what to expect. Miss Ellie is sharp as a tack. I’m quite certain she’ll be able to tell us everything we need to know.”

Chapter 3
    T here were plenty of signs for the Kentucky Expo Center and we found our hotel easily. Bertie and I were sharing a room, but for the time being Faith and I had the accommodations to ourselves. Since the shows didn’t start until Thursday, Bertie wouldn’t be arriving until the following afternoon. Her grooming space was already reserved and she was planning to call me when she got to the Expo Center so I could help her unload and get set up.
    Meanwhile, Aunt Peg had our itinerary for Wednesday’s excursion to the Lexington area planned down to the minute. In the space of a single day, she intended for us to explore central Kentucky, visit with Miss Ellie, meet Lucky Luna, check out the broodmare’s farm, and ascertain the extent of her new responsibilities. It all sounded like a tall order to me, but I learned a long time ago never to underestimate Aunt Peg.
    Besides, I was on vacation. Hadn’t people kept telling me that? As far as I was concerned, Faith and I were just long for the ride.
    The three of us set out early the next morning, heading east on 64 toward Lexington. To my surprise, the first thing Aunt Peg did was turn off her GPS.
    â€œMiss Ellie gave me directions,” she said. “She was very specific. We’re to be sure to take the scenic route. She wanted us to see and enjoy what she called the very best part of her home state.”
    We turned off the highway just below Frankfort and drove the last ten miles of our journey on local roads. Miss Ellie’s directions were perfect. They took us straight into horse country. My gaze swung back and forth avidly as I tried not to miss a thing. Here, finally, was the Kentucky I’d been expecting: a wide blue sky, lush, green fields, and Thoroughbred farms whose size could be measured in miles rather than acreage.
    And the horses! I saw gorgeous Thoroughbreds everywhere I looked. Plump mares grazed contentedly. Foals leapt and cavorted around them. Herds of yearlings flashed by, racing across wide pastures bordered by four-board double fences. Centuries-old stone walls marked the property lines between farms.
    â€œPin Oak,” I said, reading the signs as they flashed by. “Ashford Stud. Lane’s End. I’ve heard these names before.”
    â€œI should hope so,” Aunt Peg replied. “They’re some of the most important names in the business. I’m guessing that one of the reasons Miss Ellie wanted us to come this way was so that we would see that there are other possibilities in case we’re dissatisfied with what we find at Six Oaks.”
    â€œYou seem to have had a high opinion of Anthony