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

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.

(Early the next morning, Vin, Ezra, Buck, J.D., Josiah, and Nathan are getting their horses ready to go and Ella's driver, Luis, is waiting in the carriage outside the hotel. Luis looks like he hasn't had much sleep and keeps glancing around nervously. Mary Travis is delivering the morning paper and walks over to the six.)

Mary: "How long do you think you'll be gone?"

Vin: "Not more than a day or two."

Buck: "Less than that if I have anything to say about it. Can't for the life of me understand why Catherine agreed to this."

Mary: "Because she recognizes Ella Gaines for what she is."

Ezra: "And what, may I ask, would that be?"

Mary: "A conniving, sneaky, manipulative, pitiful excuse for a human being."

Buck: "Well, don't hold back, Mary. Tell us what you really think."

Mary: "You didn't see what that woman was trying to do last night? You didn't hear the sarcasm in her voice every time she said anything to Catherine? . . . (they stare blankly at her) . . . Are you all blind? That woman came here for one reason and one reason only: she came here for Chris."

Nathan: "Then why did Catherine tell her all of us, including Chris, would help her?"

Mary: (muttering the first few words under her breath) "Save me from senseless men . . . Catherine knows the only way to get rid of the woman, permanently, is to let this play out. To let Ella Gaines see that Chris is in love with Catherine and not her."

J.D.: "Mrs. Travis, . . . I, . . .How'd you get all that out of the way Miss Ella was talking to Catherine last night?"

(Mary rolls her eyes and shakes her head.)

Mary: "Never mind, J.D., just . . . never mind."

Josiah: "Where is Chris, anyway?"

J.D.: "He and Catherine are over at the Sheriff's Office."

Mary: "Catherine's in town?"

J.D.: "Yes, Ma'am. She rode in 'bout half an hour ago. They've been over at the Sheriff's Office ever since."

Buck: "Maybe she's havin' second thoughts about Chris goin' with us."

Vin: "More likely she wants Ella Gaines to see her with Chris one more time 'fore we leave."

(Their speculative conversation comes to an end when Ella Gaines, dressed in yet another fashionable riding habit, comes out of the hotel looking like the cat that ate the canary.)

Ella: "Good morning."

(They all acknowledge her greeting; all except Mary who's hidden behind J.D. and Josiah and remains quiet; watching.)

Ella: "Where's Chris?"

Buck: "Oh, I imagine he'll be along any minute now."

Ella: "I hope so. I wanted to get an early start."

(Mary has stood all she can stand and steps around Josiah so that Ella can see her.)

Mary: "Yes, I'm sure you'll rest much easier once your problem with this Mr. Averell is cleared up."

Ella: "Yes. I'm sure I will once we're on our way."

(The smug expression on Ella's face slips as she gazes across the street. Catherine and Chris are standing in front of the Sheriff's Office, in each other's arms, and he is kissing her goodbye. The loving smile she bestows on him when he lifts his head makes Ella clench her fists in anger and the smile that was on her face turns into something resembling a snarl. Buck and Ezra both catch her expression and both get a bad feeling. Catherine and Chris walk across the street and Ella steps down to her carriage.)

Chris: "We about ready to go?"

Vin: "Ready as we'll ever be."

Chris: "All right, then."

(He turns to Catherine, leans down, and kisses her again. Ella is barely able to contain her rage, and steps jerkily up into the carriage ignoring Josiah's hand. Making a big show of settling her skirts, Ella no longer pretends to be amiable, and anger seeps into her voice.)

Ella: "The sooner we leave, the sooner you boys can take care of Averell, and the sooner you can get back to Catherine, Chris."

Catherine: "Goodbye, Ella."

Ella: "Catherine."

(As Ella's carriage and the Seven leave town, Mary walks over to where Catherine is standing and places her hand on Catherine's shoulder.)

Mary: "I know this is hard, but you had to do it, Catherine."

Catherine: "I know, Mary. It's just. . .I love him so much. I don't think I could stand it if I lost him."

Mary: "Well, you're certainly NOT going to lose him to Ella Gaines!"

(A couple of hours down the road, the group headed to Ella's stops to take a break. Chris has been riding his horse since they left Four Corners, and Ella is silently fuming. She takes advantage of the rest stop to talk to Chris. Putting a smile on her face, Ella saunters over to where Chris and Vin are talking."

Ella: "We have a lot of catching up to do, Chris. Why don't you ride the rest of the way in the carriage with me?"

(Chris' immediate reaction is to tell Ella no, but, after thinking about it for a couple of minutes, he decides to take her up on her offer.)

Chris: ""Think I'll do that, Ella. We need to talk."

Ella: "Sounds serious."

Chris: "Oh, it is. Real serious."