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

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 22, 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.

(After Catherine and Chris leave the hotel, Buck notices that Ella's mood seems to be much lighter. Something that he can't quite put his finger on, a seed of something disquieting, settles in the pit of his stomach but he brushes it off.)

Ella: "Chris' fiancée' is quite beautiful. No wonder he's going to marry her."

Buck: "Catherine is beautiful, but there's a whole lot more to her than just that. She's smart, spirited, got a real carin' heart, and I don't think I've ever seen a body have a way with horses the way she does."

Ella: "My, my, she sounds almost too good to be true. Of course, one does have to wonder about her attire. . . ."

(At Buck's questioning look, Ella quickly tries to cover her catty remark.)

Ella: "Now, Mr. Wilmington, you know how we ladies are. Always comparing other women's wardrobes to our own. . . It was an inexcusable thing for me to have said. After all, Catherine is your friend and I hardly know the woman."

Buck: "Kinda hard to work with horses wearin' a dress."

Ella: "Yes, it is. . . Well, do you think you'll be able to help me get rid of Jack Averell?"

Buck: "Well, now, I reckon that depends."

Ella: "On what?

Buck: "Catherine."

(After inviting her guests to dinner and stopping by the house to alert Mrs. Tyson, Catherine wastes no time in riding out to Chris' cabin. She grins as she sees Pony in the corral and realizes Chris is already there. Putting Rebel in with Chris' horse, she slips into the cabin. Chris is already in the bed wearing nothing but a grin.)

Catherine: "Eager, are you?"

Chris: "For you? Always, Darlin', always. What took you so long?"

Catherine: "Mrs. Wilkes wanted to talk."

Chris: "Well, you're here now."

(But Catherine is in a mood to play, and she leans back against the door and slowly takes off her riding gloves and says nothing; just takes her time raking her gaze over Chris' muscular body.)

Chris: "What are you doing, Catherine?"

Catherine: "Just looking."

Chris: "Like what you see?"

(Chris has no idea just how hard it is for Catherine to just stand there and not jump all over him, but after meeting Ella Gaines, she has a few questions for him."

Catherine: "Tell me more about Ella."

Chris: (a look of utter disbelief on his face) "You've got to be kidding me!"

Catherine: "No, I really want to know more about her."

Chris: "Catherine, I haven't seen the woman in years. How the Hell should I know what she's been up to! Come here."

(The near pleading in his voice only encourages Catherine. She tosses her riding gloves on the table and strolls over to sit in one of the chairs. Ever so slowly, she pulls first one and then the other off her feet and drops them both to the floor.)

Catherine: "Wonder how she knew where to find you?"

Chris: "I have absolutely no idea and I really don't care."

(Standing, Catherine takes her time in unbuckling her gun belt and lays it carefully on the table next to her riding gloves. She smirks at the look of near desperation on Chris' face, and walks over to the window.)

Catherine: "You don't? But you just said you hadn't seen her in years. Aren't you curious about how she knew where you were?"

Chris: "No! Now come here!"

(Turning towards him she grasps the waistband of her pants and every so slowly pushes them down over her hips allowing them to fall to the floor. Gracefully stepping out of her pants, she reaches up to play with the top button of her shirt. Chris is about to jump out of his skin, and Catherine loves the way the feeling of power over this man flows through her.)

Catherine: "You really think someone's trying to steal her land or is that just an excuse to see you again?"

Chris: "I did NOT come out here to discuss Ella Gaines!"

Catherine: "Oh? What did you come out here for?"

(Smiling seductively, Catherine begins to slip the buttons of her shirt free one by one. As she reaches the last one, Chris has had enough and flies out of the bed.)

Chris: "Damn it, woman!"

(He grasps her wrist in one hand and jerks her up against his hard, muscled body. Not giving her a chance to say another word, he fuses his mouth to hers as, with his other hand, he presses her into his body so that she has absolutely no doubt as to what he came for. The moment she feels the proof of his desire for her she is lost. Sliding her fingers into his hair, she kisses him back with everything she's got. He moves them toward the bed, but Catherine manages to turn them around so that she can push him back on the bed and then straddles his prone form. Ripping her mouth from his, she reaches down and guides him into her core. Pushing herself upright, she slides down until he is fully inside of her. The sight of Catherine with her head thrown back, golden hair cascading down her back, around her shoulders and over her breasts, eyes closed in ecstasy, lips slightly parted as her breath comes in short gasps is almost his undoing. Every time they make love Chris learns just what an exciting, sensual woman he's fortunate enough to have in his life. . . .

Alone in her hotel room, Ella Gaines angrily paces in her room. Catherine Stewart is a complication she did NOT plan on having to deal with when she devised her plan. Talking a calming breath, she walks downstairs to the hotel's foyer and locates her driver, Louis. After speaking with him for a few minutes, Ella walks sedately back up the stairs with a smug smile on her face. . . .

Nathan and Josiah are walking towards the Saloon from the church when they see Louis riding out of town as if the hounds of Hell we after him.)

Nathan: "Ain't that Miss Ella's driver?"

Josiah: "Looks like it. Wonder where he's going in such a hurry?"

Nathan: "Don't know, but if we don't get the others out of the Saloon, we're gonna' miss dinner."