"LARABEE'S LADY: THE ELLA FACTOR" – CHAPTER ELEVEN
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 27, 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.
(As Catherine and Chris are getting ready to leave the cabin the next morning and head into town, she notices that he has gotten very quiet and walks around Rebel to touch his arm. When he turns toward her, she gently touches the side of his face and looks up at him.)
Catherine: "I love you."
Chris: (taking her hand and kissing her palm) "I know you do."
Catherine: "The next couple of days are going to be hard, Chris, for both of us. I just. . . I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere; ever."
Chris: "God, I love you so much, Catherine."
(The street in front of the Grain Exchange, where Ella's trial is being held, is crowded and noisy, but, when Catherine and Chris appear, the sea of people parts and the noise dies down to a hushed murmur. Nathan and Josiah make sure they have a clear path into the building and Vin motions for them to take two chairs on the front row between him and Ezra. Once they are seated, Judge Travis begins the trial.)
Judge Travis: "Bring in the prisoner."
(Buck escorts Ella Gaines, her left arm in a sling, into the hushed courtroom. A defiant look on her face, Ella glares daggers at Catherine as she sits alone at the Defense table. Buck takes a seat in a chair directly behind and to her left.)
Judge Travis: "Ella Gaines, you are charged with the murders of Sarah Larabee and Adam Larabee, and the attempted murder of Catherine Stewart. Do you have an attorney to represent you?"
Ella: "I will act as my own attorney, Judge Travis."
Judge Travis: "It is my duty to advise you that you should seek the services of an attorney, Mrs. Gaines."
Ella: (a bitter edge to her voice) "None of the fine citizens of this town will represent me. I don't need them anyway."
Judge Travis: "Very well. I have appointed Mr. Josiah Sanchez to serve as Prosecutor for this trial. Mr. Sanchez, you may make your opening statement."
Josiah: "Thank you, Judge. Gentlemen of the jury, three years ago the defendant, Ella Gaines, paid a man by the name of Fowler to murder Sarah and Adam Larabee. Mr. Fowler and two other men did so by barricading the doors and windows of the Larabee house and then setting fire to the building, effectively trapping Sarah and Adam Larabee inside the burning building. Unable to escape, they both died in the ensuing fire."
(Catherine has glanced at Chris' face during Josiah's words and her heart aches at the torment she sees there. Not giving a damn what anyone thinks, she takes his cold hand in the warmth of hers and is rewarded when he squeezes hers gently. His eyes, however, never leave Ella and the hatred Catherine sees there sends a chill down her back.)
Josiah: "These facts are indisputable as Ella Gaines told Chris Larabee, Catherine Stewart, and Marie Tyson she paid Mr. Fowler to kill Mr. Larabee's wife and son. Mr. Larabee, Miss Stewart, and Mrs. Tyson are present in the courtroom and will be called to the stand to testify to this. Three days ago, Ella Gaines had Catherine Stewart and Marie Tyson forcibly taken from Miss Stewart's ranch and taken to a location near her property where they were held prisoner. Yesterday, Ella Gaines rode to that location, told Catherine Stewart she was going to kill her, and proceeded to attack Miss Stewart with a knife. Fred Keeler, another of the defendants, is prepared to testify to this, as well.
Ella Gaines is a spiteful, vindictive woman who wanted a relationship with Chris Larabee and killed two people and tried to kill a third to obtain that goal. Overwhelming testimony will prove Ella Gaines is a cold-blooded murderess."
Judge Travis: "Mrs. Gaines, do you wish to make an opening statement?"
Ella: "Yes, Your Honor. Chris Larabee and I have had a relationship for years. We grew up together and would have married had it not been for the manipulations of a selfish woman who tricked him into marrying her. I lost track of Chris for several years, but finally learned that Sarah had turned him into a farm hand and saddled him with a child. I know Chris, he wasn't happy living that kind of life. It was too boring for him. It's very unfortunate that Sarah and her son died, but I was no where near their land when the fire occurred. Mr. Fowler was in my employ, but I had hired him to look over some land I was thinking of buying that happened to be close to the Larabee property. If Mr. Fowler set the fire, he did so on his own. And as to Catherine Stewart, she is another conniving woman who is trying to manipulate Chris into marrying her. Yes, I fought with her, but it was in self-defense. She goaded me into it."
(The trial continues for the next couple of hours with Josiah calling witness after witness to crucify Ella Gaines. No matter how hard she tries, Ella cannot twist anyone's testimony in her favor. Finally, after there are no more witnesses, Judge Travis declares a lunch recess with closing arguments to follow in the afternoon. Throughout the entire morning, Chris has sat stoically in either his seat or the witness chair and stared malevolently at Ella. When the recess is declared he says not a word but gets up and walks out the door. Seeing the devastated look on Catherine's face, Ezra leans over to speak with her.)
Ezra: "Are you all right, Catherine?"
Catherine: "This is killing him, Ezra. He's having to re-live Sarah's and Adam's deaths. I should have killed Ella Gaines when I had the chance."
(Vin's voice floats down to her as he takes the seat next to her Chris vacated.)
Vin: "Then you'd have her blood on your hands. You did the right thing, Catherine. Better to let Judge Travis decide her fate."
Catherine: "And I need to speak with the Judge about that. Excuse me."
(Catherine finds the Judge having lunch at Mary's and asks him if she can speak with him before the trial resumes. He agrees and Mary makes a discreet exit.)
Judge Travis: "What's on your mind, young lady?"
Catherine: "Have you ever sentenced a woman to hang, Judge?"
(The surprise at both the question and Catherine's bluntness is evident on Travis' face.)
Judge Travis: "No, Catherine, I have not."
Catherine: "If Ella is found guilty, and I believe she will be, will you sentence her to hang?"
Judge Travis: "The crimes she's accused of are heinous, and if she were a man, yes, Catherine, I would sentence her to hang. But she is a woman and there are other options.'
Catherine: "Such as?"
Judge Travis: "Sentencing her to life in prison at hard labor. For a woman like Ella Gaines, that would be tantamount to death."
(Catherine sits back in her chair and studies the Judge as she ponders his words. Finally, she nods just once and stands.)
Catherine: "Then, Judge, I'd like to ask that, if you cannot bring yourself to sentence her to hang, you send her far away from here to serve out her sentence. Chris has been through too much. He doesn't need that vile woman anywhere near him ever again after this trial is over."
(Judge Travis has done some sizing up of his own and looks Catherine squarely in the eye.)
Judge Travis: "I hope that young man realizes just what he has in you, Catherine. You're a unique woman."
(The trial resumes after lunch and Chris, who returns only moments before the proceedings resume, once again sits next to Catherine look very dark and fierce. Josiah gives an eloquent and convincing closing argument. Ella, too haughty for her own good, blames Sarah, Adam, Catherine, and anyone else she can think of for the things that have happened. The jury retires to deliberate and comes back within an hour. The courtroom is so quiet you can hear a pin drop when the verdict is pronounced.)
Judge Travis: "Gentlemen of the Jury, have you reached a verdict?"
Foreman: "We have, Your Honor. We find the defendant, Ella Gaines, guilty."
(Disorder breaks out in the courtroom and Judge Travis repeatedly bangs his gavel for order. Catherine releases the breath she didn't realize she was holding, and Chris's grip on her hand tightens.)
Judge Travis: "Order! Order! The defendant will rise."
(A pale, trembling Ella Gaines slowly stands up, total fear on her face.)
Judge Travis: "Ella Gaines, you have been found guilty of the murders of Sarah and Adam Larabee and the attempted murder of Catherine Stewart. I hereby sentence you life in prison at hard labor. You will be transported to the Nevada State Prison for Women where you will spend the rest of your natural life. Court is dismissed."
(It takes Buck, Ezra, and Nathan to get a screaming and snarling Ella out of the courtroom and back to the jail, and she fights them every step of the way. Chris has not moved a muscle since the verdict was announced, nor has he released Catherine's hand. As the Judge instructs Vin to send a wire for a prison transport immediately, and people begin to leave the courtroom, Chris looks over at Catherine and smiles, really smiles for the first time in days. He stands and pulls her up and into his arms where he holds her very tightly for a few moments. He pulls back and gently brushes the hair back from her eyes.)
Chris: "I love you so much, Catherine. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Judge Travis: "Well, Son, I hope you never have to find out. You've got quite the woman there, Chris. Take care of her."
Chris: "I plan to, Judge, I plan to."