"LARABEE'S LADY: FOR BETTER OR WORSE" – CHAPTER ONE

Title: "Larabee's Lady: For Better or Worse"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: Part III of "Larabee's Lady" focuses on Catherine and Chris settling into married life and a new romance developing between Mary and Vin. Oh, and hopefully, a surprise or two!

Date Written: September 28, 2010

Disclaimer: Chris Larabee, Vin Tanner, J.D. Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Josiah Sanchez, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Casey Wells, Mary Travis, Nettie Wells, Inez, Ella Gaines, Jack Averell, and The Magnificent Seven are the property of TM CBS, The Mirisch Group, MGM and Triology Entertainment. Other characters, i.e., Catherine Stewart, Jonathan Stewart, Eloise Stewart, Henrietta Wilkes, Miles Kettering, etc. are the sole property of the author. The author makes no profit from this work of fan fiction and no copyright infringement is intended.

(Lightning streaks through a dark, gray sky, thunder crashes loudly, and rain falls in sheets onto the roof of a large, new cabin sitting far back in the woods miles from anywhere, but the two people inside the cabin don't even realize it's storming outside. Firelight reflects off naked skin as Catherine Larabee practically rips the shirt from her husband's hard-muscled body. One hand begins working on the closure to his pants as the other flings the offending shirt to the floor. Chris is working the buttons loose on Catherine's shirt as he steadily backs her toward the huge bed; his mouth never leaving hers. Frustrated because he can't get the buttons unfastened quickly enough to suit him, Chris grabs both sides of Catherine's shirt and yanks. Buttons fly everywhere and a tearing sound fills the air as her shirt is literally torn from her body. And as the shirt was the only thing she was wearing when this started, she is now completely nude. In too much of a hurry to wait for her to the job, Chris rips his mouth from hers and takes a step back to rid himself of his pants. When he glances up from his task, he is struck dumb. Catherine Larabee in all her naked glory, long, silky, honey-blonde hair cascading down her back and around her shoulders, her full, red lips swollen from his kiss, and her emerald green eyes ablaze with desire is something to see. Kicking his pants away, Chris snatches her back into his arms and begins a fresh assault on her sensuous mouth. Feeling the silky steel of his erection pressing against her stomach fuels Catherine's desire even more, and she rakes her nails against the solid muscles of his back. Tearing his mouth from hers, he trails hot, wet kisses down the slender column of her neck as he pushes her down on the bed and follows her body with his. Her back arches when his mouth latches onto a nipple and his teeth nip her tender, aroused flesh. Reaching down between their sweat-slickened bodies, Catherine wraps her cool fingers around his rock-hard, hot manhood, and takes great delight his sudden, sharp intake of breath when she touches him. Bending one knee, Catherine tries to urge Chris to give her what she wants, but he is having none of it. Before she realizes what he's doing, he has grasped both her wrists, and is holding her hands down beside her head. He trails his mouth down her torso to her stomach and then begins nipping at her thighs. She is the one who gasps sharply when he reaches her essence and proceeds to worship her with his mouth. Her breath is coming is short, gasps and she arches her body up in a silent pleading for him to stop his sweet torture. When he realizes that she is very close to going over the edge, he swiftly moves back up her body and fuses his mouth with hers as he plunges inside her with one stroke. His blood is on fire as he feels her muscles closing around him eagerly, and he begins to move within her. Quickly catching his rhythm, Catherine meets his every thrust and they soon shatter together. Holding her close as their heat beats slow to a more normal pace, Chris closes his eyes and thanks God for Catherine; his woman, his wife. Easing himself off of her, he pulls her into the curve of his arm and gently strokes her hair when she has turned into his body and rested her head on his shoulder.)

Catherine: "I don't want to go home tomorrow, Chris."

Chris: (smiling) "I know. But we have to, Catherine. The good news is that we'll be going home to the same house, the same bedroom, the same bed."

Catherine: "That's the only reason I'm going to even consider going back. . . . This was the most wonderful honeymoon I could have ever imagined. I still can't believe that you built this cabin and I didn't know anything about it."

Chris: "I didn't build it, the same contractor that built the house did. I just told him what I wanted."

Catherine: "Well, regardless, it was your idea and it was the best wedding present you could have given to me. I just hope you like yours"

Chris: "I'm holding my wedding present."

Catherine: (slipping out of the bed and pulling some documents from her luggage) "Well, humor me, anyway."

(She hands him the documents in her hand, slips on a sheer, white lacy robe, and sits on the end of the bed as he sits up and unfolds the papers. When he's through reading them, he looks up at her in stunned amazement.)

Chris: "You made me a joint owner of the ranch?"

Catherine: "I did. I want our children to grow up knowing that loving someone so much that you would die for them means sharing everything with that person whether it's good, bad, or anything in between. It's our ranch now, Chris."

Chris: "Catherine . . . I don't know what to say."

Catherine: "Say you love me."

Chris: "I love you, and . . . thank you."

Catherine: "You're welcome. Wanna show me how much you love me?"

(And tossing the documents on the bedside table, he proceeds to do just that. Chris is just starting to drift off to sleep later when he suddenly bolts upright in the bed startling Catherine.)

Chris: "Catherine! You said 'our children'. Are you . . .?"

Catherine: (laughing in spite of herself) "No. At least, not yet. But I do want to have your children, Chris. Wanna work on that again?"

Chris: "You are killing me, woman!"

(Mary looks up from the counter where she is laying out the next edition of the Clarion when Vin walks into the office. It's been a little over a week since Mary caught Catherine's bouquet at the wedding, and she and Vin shared the look. Feeling a little unsure of herself, Mary straightens up and smiles at Vin.)

Mary: "Good morning, Vin."

Vin: "Mary. I, uh, came by to see if you needed any help with the 'Welcome Home' party for Catherine and Chris."

Mary: "That's . . .That's very sweet of you, Vin, and yes, I would appreciate your help."

Vin: "Just tell me what you need me to do."

(And for the next few minutes, Mary does just that. By the time they have finished talking, Mary has invited Vin to dinner that evening. With a promise to come by at six, Vin tips his hat to Mary and gives her a smile that warms her heart as he leaves. For the first time in a long, long while, Mary feels really happy. . .)