"LARABEE'S LADY: FOR BETTER OR WORSE" – CHAPTER TWENTY-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: October 14, 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.

(The Seven have spent the night in the cold, dark cellar in which they have been imprisoned with no food or water. By the time the sun rises the next morning, they are all thoroughly furious. The cellar doors are snatched open and several heavily armed men move down the steps to the area where the Seven are sitting. Because they've been in virtual darkness for quite some time, they squint painfully against the bright glare of sunlight. They are ordered to stand up and move out of the cellar into the yard. It takes a few moments for their eyes to adjust to the bright light, but once they can see clearly, they see Miles Kettering sitting in a fan-back chair on the front porch looking for all the world like a king on his throne.)

Miles: "Good morning, gentlemen. I trust you all slept well."

Vin: "Told you it was that son-of-a bitch. What do you think you're doin', Kettering?"

Miles: "I don't 'think' anything, Mr. Tanner. What I am doing is taking from Catherine and Mary what they took from me for so many years. I want them to suffer the way I did, and you and Mr. Larabee are the weapons I will use against them."

Chris: "What the Hell are you talking about?"

Miles: "All in good time, Mr. Larabee. We don't want to leave the ladies out, now do we?"

Chris: "Where is my wife?"

Miles: "They'll be joining us shortly; your wife and Mr. Tanner's wife as well as the lovely Inez and Casey Wells."

(Ezra's and J.D.'s heads snap up at the mention of Inez and Casey, and Kettering just laughs.)

Ezra: "If you have harmed Inez in any way . . ."

Miles: "Careful, Mr. Standish. You're in no position to be making threats."

(A group of riders approaches the yard and the Seven can clearly see Catherine, Mary, Inez, and Casey riding in the middle. Although they appear to be unharmed, their hands are tightly bound and they all look pale. When the group arrives, the men guarding the women pull them off their horses and move them to stand on the opposite side of the yard from the Seven.)

Miles: "Hello, Ladies. I'm so glad you could join us for this little . .party. We'll get under way as soon as my partner, Allen Aegis, arrives."

Chris: "Just who is this Allen Aegis?"

(Miles' partner exits the house and steps out onto the porch in full view of everyone in the yard.)

Aegis: "That would be me."

(The looks of stunned disbelief on the faces of the Seven and their ladies are accompanied by shocked gasps. Standing before them is none other than Ella Gaines.)