"LARABEE'S LADY: THE ELLA FACTOR" – CHAPTER ONE

Title: "Larabee's Lady: The Ella Factor"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: An old flame causes trouble for Chris and Catherine.

Date Written: September 21, 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.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story follows my first story, "Larabee's Lady" in which Chris Larabee met and fell in love with Catherine Stewart, Mary Travis' best friend. I didn't like the whole Ella Gaines story line, so I wrote "Larabee's Lady" without bringing Ella into it, but I've decided that maybe she can provide some interesting dynamics.

(Walking from the Livery to the Sheriff's Office, Chris Larabee spies his fiancée', Catherine Stewart, as she leaves the Telegraph Office and walks toward him. Just looking at her sets Chris' pulse to racing, and he has to exert some serious self-control to keep from grabbing her and kissing her senseless right there in the middle of the street. Catherine knows exactly what she does to him, and shoots him a sideways smirk as they meet on the porch in front of the Sheriff's Office.)

Catherine: "Got a telegram from Washington. My parents will be here in three weeks, so I guess I'd better get to work on planning our wedding."

Chris: "Three weeks?"

(At the desperation in his voice, Catherine laughs out loud and, sliding her arms around his neck, lifts her head to give him a quick kiss on the cheek. The moment she touches him, Chris feels a tightening start low in his body and quickly places his hands around her waist to keep her from getting any closer. While the whole town knows they're getting married, it would not be a good idea to make love to her right there on the sidewalk. Vin walks out of the Sheriff's Office and sits down in one of the chairs on the porch.)

Vin: "Better not let Mrs. Wilkes catch you doing that. She'll want to lock Catherine up until the weddin'."

Catherine: "She already does. (casting a sly glance in Chris' direction) She knows we spent the night at your cabin the night of the storm."

Chris: (a somewhat startled look on his face) "Now, how the Hell does she know that?"

Catherine: "Umm . . .Might be because I told her."

Chris: "You did what?"

Catherine: "C'mon, Chris, do you honestly think anything goes on in this town that Henrietta Wilkes doesn't know about? Besides, someone else had already told her"

Chris: "Catherine, the only people who know we spent the night together at my cabin is me, you, and Vin."

Vin: "And Ezra, Buck, J.D., Nathan, and Josiah."

(Looking at Vin like he's grown two heads, Chris figures out who the loud-mouth was and utters an audible groan.)

Chris: "Buck."

Vin: "That'd be my guess."

Chris: "I'll kill him."

Catherine: (laughing again) " No, you won't. I refuse to get married in a jail cell."

Chris: Three weeks.

(His forlorn tone causes both Catherine and Vin to burst out laughing.)

Catherine: "Three weeks isn't such an awful long time."

Chris: "Yeah, it is."

Catherine: "Vin, should the occasion arise that anyone might be looking for me or Chris and no one seems to be able to find us. . ."

Vin: "I'll make sure no one gets anywhere near the cabin."

Catherine: "Thank you."

Chris: "Did you just tell Vin that we're going to be . . .?

Catherine: "Yes!

(And she and Vin burst into laughter again while Chris just shakes his head. Catherine excuses herself saying she has to meet Mary at Mrs. Wilkes, mounts Rebel in a graceful movement and rides out toward the Wilkes' place. Chris takes a seat in the chair next to Vin and props his booted feet on the railing.)

Vin: "Glad things worked out for you two. You both deserve a little happiness."

Chris: "Catherine told me what you did. That you helped her figure out how she felt about me."

Vin: Aw, Hell, Chris, she knew she was in love with you the whole time. Just needed a little proddin'."

Chris: "Well, thank you, anyway."

Vin: "Welcome. "

(An open carriage comes down the street heading toward the Sheriff's Office and captures their attention as well as that of Ezra and Buck because a beautiful, dark-haired woman dressed in the finest of riding habits is sitting in the back. As the carriage gets closer, Chris recognizes the woman and stands up to meet her. When the carriage stops, she graces them with a wide smile and takes the hand Chris has offered to step down out of the carriage.)

Chris: "Ella Gaines. How long's it been?"

Ella: "Too long. How are you Chris?" (and she proceeds to draw him into a tight hug.)

(Chris pulls quickly away and steps back; obviously uncomfortable with being hugged by the woman. Ezra and Buck have joined the group and Chris uses their presence as an excuse to put some distance between him and Ella.)

Chris: "Ella Gaines, this is Vin Tanner, Buck Wilmington, and Ezra Standish."

Buck: "Knew Chris way back when, did you?"

Ella: "Oh, yes. Chris and I sort of . . grew up together. We go back a long, long way. . . Last I heard, you were married and had settled down on a farm, Chris. I always thought that was like hitching a stallion to a plow. But it seems you've quit."

Chris: "My family was murdered; three years ago.

Ella: "Oh my God, Chris. I'm so sorry. It must be very difficult for you,"

Chris: "It was. I'll always miss them, but I'm moving on with my life. I'm getting' married again, Ella."

(For a split second, the expression on Ella Gaines' face falters, but she recovers quickly.)

Ella: "Why, that's wonderful, Chris. Who's the lucky woman?"

Chris: "Catherine Stewart. She owns a horse ranch west of town. "

Ella: "Well, I can't wait to meet Miss Stewart. She must be quite a woman to have wheedled a marriage proposal out of you."

Chris: "Oh, she is quite the woman, but she didn't have to wheedle anything. I feel in love with her the moment I saw her."

Ella: "Goodness, I definitely can't wait to meet her now."

Ezra: "May I inquire as to what a lovely woman such as you might be doing in our fair town?"

Ella: "Actually, Mr. Standish, I need your help. There's a man by the name of Jack Averell who's trying to steal my land for the Culpepper Mining Company. He's been making threats, tearing down fences, even offered to marry me, as if I'd ever have anything to do with the likes of him. I need your help to . . discourage him."

Buck: "Well, now, shouldn't take too long to get rid of one man. Two or three days at the most."

Ella: "I'm afraid you don't understand, Mr. Wilmington. Jack Averell has at least ten men working for him."

Buck: "Still shouldn't be a problem; not if all of us go."

Ella: "I'd really appreciate your help, and I'll pay you all a month's wages."

Buck: "That's mighty generous of you, Ma'am. What do you say, Chris? We gonna help the lady out?"

(Chris sincerely hopes the anger he's feeling toward Buck for maneuvering him into a situation he'd hoped to avoid is clear in the angry glare he sends Buck's way.)

Chris: "Why don't the six of you go? That way, I'll be able to keep an eye on the town while you're gone."

Buck: "Well, now, that makes the odds a little rougher; six against eleven. Don't know, Pard, we sure could use you."

(Buck can't figure out why Vin and Ezra are also now glaring at him, but ignores them as he offers his arm to Ella.)

Buck: "Allow me to escort you over to the hotel, Ma'am. No sense in you standing out here in the middle of the street, and we can't do anything til morning anyway."

Ella: "Thank you, Mr. Wilmington. I appreciate your kindness."

(As Ella and Buck enter the hotel, Chris looks like he wants to hit someone.)

Chris: "I'll kill him."

Vin: "No you won't. Catherine don't want to get married in a jail cell."

Chris: "What the Hell am I supposed to do about this?"

(Neither Chris, Vin, nor Ezra has seen Catherine walk up behind them.)

Catherine: "Do about what? And who was that very attractive lady with Buck?"

(A look that says, "Uh oh", crosses Chris' face as he turns to face Catherine.)

Chris: "Thought you were meeting Mary at Mrs. Wilkes'."

Catherine: "I did, and we got a lot accomplished on planning our wedding. Now, what is it you don't know what to do about, and who was the woman with Buck?"

Ezra: "I believe I'll go over to the Saloon and see if anyone is interested in a game of Poker. Would you care to join me, Mr. Tanner?"

Vin: "Believe I will, Ezra. Catherine, Chris."

(Catherine is beginning to feel a nagging suspicion about the woman she saw with Buck and her connection to Chris. Placing his hand at the small of her back, Chris directs Catherine inside the Sheriff's Office so they can have a more private conversation. Once inside, Chris tosses his hat on the desk and agitatedly runs a hand through his hair.)

Chris: "Her name is Ella Gaines and we knew each other a long time ago. She came here because someone's trying to run her off her land, and she wants our help in stopping them."

Catherine: "You don't want to help her. (a statement; not a question) Why not?"

Chris: "Catherine . . . Ella and I . . . We . . . "

Catherine: "You slept with her."

(There is no condemnation or accusation in her voice, and Chris falls that much more in love with her.)

Catherine: "Chris, you said yourself it was a long time ago. The woman obviously needs help and she probably felt comfortable asking you because you're . . . old friends. . What you do, or don't do, is completely up to you. (She slides her arms around his neck and gazes up into his eyes.) I love you and I trust you."

Chris: "You are one Hell of a woman, Catherine Stewart, and I am one very lucky man."

Catherine: "Yes you are. Now, why don't we go over to the hotel so you can introduce me to you friend?"