The Alibi

by blackinkredhair

Set in the OW with the same OCs as On Trial. This story sees Mr and Mrs Monterrey settle in Four Corners. Gemma tries to reconnect with Chris, Montgomery shares a dangerous secret to escape jail. A wagon train, a night of drinking and cherry pies all make the cut. Some light slash near the end. Let me know if you like the story :)

1. Introduction

As soon as Montgomery Monterrey stepped off a stage coach in Four Corners, he was charmed with its simplicity and lust for life. The citizens of the small hamlet would have been content with their cosy nook even if Mr Monterrey had never set foot in their town, but life without him quickly became unimaginable. It was easy for someone like Montgomery to establish himself as the driving force in a tired town like Four Corners where people worked long and hard to make ends meet. Montgomery had the enthusiasm of the most curious child, the charm of the snake of Eden – without the venom – and most of all; he had money. An heir to a San Francisco magnate worked hard on showing and spreading his vast fortune and people appreciated the unexpected income. After he'd bought a main street hotel threatened by imminent foreclosure and kept the former owner on as manager, he was elevated to the status of a local hero and it seemed like he could do no wrong. The townsfolk were even lenient towards his choice of wife, although not one kind word was spoken about her in front of Montgomery Monterrey and certainly not behind his back.

Gemma Connelly had been a divisive figure first time round and her glorious return as Mrs Monterrey elicited undivided jealousy and scorn. Her husband's impromptu decision to buy a hotel in a town she'd been avoiding was hard to swallow at first, but in the end it didn't make much of a difference. The idea of running a hotel made Montgomery more excited than she'd ever seen him, but the reason she agreed to stay was personal. Her only family in the world – in blood and other unbreakable bonds – was settled in that rickety town. Running away didn't help with the heartache they often gave her, so she didn't see a difference between leaving and staying. And it was her nature to be hopeful that things would be different next time round.

The sharp tongues hadn't expected the bond to be so strong between the Monterrey couple. It was almost impossible to appreciate one and exclude the other as they spent most of their time together. The energy that bounced between them made anyone who spent time in their presence feel ecstatic. They acted less like newlyweds, more like an unusually close set of twins. It was a matter of time, but within a month, Gemma Connelly was almost forgotten and Gemma Monterrey was an accepted part of society – as long as her husband accompanied her. And since the young couple thrived on their companionship, such a concession was as good as gold.