"LARABEE'S LADY: FOR BETTER OR WORSE" – CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

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 18, 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.

(Catherine stirs and shifts as she awakens and opens her eyes to find her husband lying beside her, propped up on one arm and looking down at her.)

Catherine: "How long have I been asleep?"

Chris: "A while. Feelin' better?"

Catherine: "I feel a little stronger, but I think I'll always have this ache in my heart, Chris."

Chris: "I know, Baby. I wish there was something I could do to take that hurt away from you."

Catherine: "You lost a child, too, Chris. Another child. I can't imagine the pain you must be going through. I'm so sorry. I knew I was pregnant. I realized it a few days ago but I wanted to be absolutely sure before I told you. I should have done something to protect our baby."

Chris: "What, Catherine? What could you have done any differently? Sweetheart, please don't do this to yourself. Sometimes . . Sometimes things just happen and we don't always understand why. This baby wasn't meant to be."

Catherine: "I wanted this baby so much, Chris. I wanted to give you another child."

Chris: "I know you did, Baby, and we'll have children, Catherine. The important thing is that you're all right. God, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

Catherine: "I love you. . . . Chris?"

Chris: "Hmmm?"

Catherine: "I think I smell Mrs. Tyson's pot roast. Think we could go downstairs and get some?"

Chris: "Mrs. Wilkes and Mrs. Tyson would kill me if you walked two feet let alone all the way to the dining room."

Catherine: "I don't think they'd get too upset if you carried me."

Chris: "Well, then, Mrs. Larabee, your wish is my command."

(Vin is just setting his foot on the bottom stair to go up and try to convince Chris to come down and eat when he glances up and sees Chris, Catherine in his arms, starting down the top of the stairs. Grinning, Vin calls out to Mary who is in the dining room.)

Vin: "Better tell Mrs. Tyson to set two more places, Mary."

Mary: (walking out to the bottom of the stairs) "Why would I want to do that? Oh, Mrs. Wilkes is going to have a fit."

Mrs. Wilkes: (joining them) "What am I going to have a fit about, Mary? Catherine Larabee! What are you doing out of bed?"

Catherine: "I'm starving, Mrs. Wilkes, and . . I wanted to be with my friends for a while/. I promise Chris has carried me the whole way."

Mrs. Wilkes: "Yes, well, I suppose it'll be all right. Eloise always "bounced back" quickly when we were younger. I suppose you've inherited that from her. You just make sure you don't drop her, young man!"

Chris: (trying his best to smother a grin) "Yes, Ma'am."