"LARABEE'S LADY: THE ELLA FACTOR" – CHAPTER SEVEN
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 25, 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.
(Ella is standing on her porch looking toward the corral when Chris and Vin approach her.)
Chris: "Where can we find this Jack Averell?"
Ella: "He keeps company at a Saloon over in Red Fork."
Chris: "All right. Buck, J.D., and I are gonna' take a ride over there and have a little talk with him. Vin and the others will make sure everything's all right here while we're gone."
Ella: "How long will you be gone?"
Chris: "No longer than we have to be."
Vin: "Don't worry, Ma'am, you'll be all right."
(Catherine is awakened by Mrs. Tyson shortly after midnight and told that the mare she was worried about is in fact foaling and having a lot of trouble. Dressing hurriedly, Catherine quickly makes her way to the barn and works for several hours to help the mare deliver he baby. Just as the sun begins to come up, the foal is born and quickly takes to his legs. His mother, however, has lost a lot of blood and is dying. With a heavy heart, Catherine retrieves her rifle and quickly puts the poor horse out of her misery. She and the three remaining ranch hands clean the barn and load the mare's body on a low wagon. Not wanting the mare's burial site too close to the house or the other horses, Catherine instructs the hands to take the mare's carcass to a part of the ranch that is little used for burial. She is in the kitchen giving Mrs. Tyson instructions on how to prepare a special formula for the foal when there's a commotion in the front of the house. Picking up her rifle as she goes, she spies a group of strange-looking men in the front yard. Telling Mrs. Tyson to get another rifle and go upstairs, Catherine steps out on the front porch warily, and counts eight men)
Catherine: "Can I help you?"
Dunstan: "Well, now, first thing you need to do is put that rifle down, real slow like., and if you don't, (he nods to someone on the side of the house and another armed man steps into view with his arm around Mrs. Tyson's neck and a gun pointed at her head.), I'm gonna let Keeler to kill the old lady."
Catherine: "What do you want?"
Dunstan: "You. Now you come along all nice and quiet like and I might let the old woman go after a few miles."
(Knowing that she and Mrs. Tyson are the only two people anywhere near the house at the moment and that she is no match for nine armed men, Catherine slowly places her rifle on the porch floor.)
Catherine: "I'll go with you. There's no reason to drag Mrs. Tyson into this."
Dunstan: "She's coming, too. That way, I know you'll behave."
(Another of the men brings two of Catherine's horses, already saddled, up to the front porch. The man holding Mrs. Tyson puts her on one of the horses and ties her hands to the saddle horn. Dunstan makes sure Catherine's hands are securely tied after she mounts the horse.)
Catherine: "Why are you doing this? What do you want?"
Dunstan: "Now, you don't need to worry your pretty head about that. Just keep your mouth shut and you and the old lady will be just fine."
(And so saying, grabs the reins of the horse Catherine is sitting on and starts away from the ranch at a gallop. . .
Chris, Buck, and J.D. find Jack Averell and several of his men in the Saloon in Red Fork; waiting for them.)
Averell: "I trust you received my invitation."
J.D.: "You shot Luis just to get us here?"
Averell: "And here you are.. Just so you'll know, I've already offered Ella Gaines more than a fair price for her land, and she's refused."
Chris: "Well, there's the hitch. She don't want to sell it."
Averell: "That's why you're here, Mr. Larabee. Whatever she's payin' you, I'll double it. You and your men just ride on back to wherever it is you came from."
(Chris holds up his hand in a manner to suggest he wants a moment to talk over Averell's offer with Buck, but then turns and slams his fist into Averell's face; knocking him backwards and off his feet. Averell's men draw their guns as do Buck and J.D., but Averell holds up his hand.)
Averell: "Put 'em away, Gentlemen. Mr. Larabee was just expressing his loyalty to Ella Gaines. (he walks up to Chris) Next time, I'll put a bullet in your heart."
The sun has just come up when Chris, Buck, and J.D. get back to Ella's. She is out by the corral looking over some horses when Chris rides up.)
Ella: "Chris, how'd it go with Averell?"
Chris: "Well, if he's lookin' for a fight now he knows where he can get one."
Ella: "I'm sure he'll come to his senses rather than mess with the seven of you."
Chris: "That'd be mighty helpful, Ella. We'll stay one more day to make sure he doesn't bother you anymore. If he doesn't show up by morning, we'll be on our way back to Four Corners."
(This news causes Ella to know a moment of panic, but she manages to hide it from him. The thought that Chris will be leaving before she can implement her plan is unacceptable.)
Ella: "I'm sure you must be missing Catherine terribly." (He doesn't miss the sarcasm in her voice.)
Chris: "As a matter of fact, I am. You know, Ella, I wouldn't even be here if Catherine hadn't of asked me to help you, so you might want to think about that next time your jealousy gets to eatin' at you."
(Before she can say another word, Chris turns his back on her and walks away. Furious, Ella spins around toward the house and spies someone who puts a smile on her face. Feeling a little better, she wastes no time in making her way to the house.)
