CHAPTER FOUR
Title: "Larabee's Lady"
Author: Michelle Heath
Rating: MA for adult language and situations
Summary: Mary's best friend causes Chris to re-think his future.
Date Written: September 13, 2010
Disclaimer: Chris Larabee, Vin Tanner, J.D. Dunne, Buck Wilmington, Josiah Sanchez, Ezra Standish, Nathan Jackson, Casey Wells, Mary Travis, Nettie Wells, Inez, 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, 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 has changed from the stylish riding habit into a pair of buckskin pants, well-worn boots, a pale green button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows, and a hat more suitable to wrangling horses sits on the golden mane of hair which cascades down her back. The sight of her in pants, boots and shirt is, in itself, startling, but the realization that she is also wearing a gun belt slung low on her slender, shapely hips has struck Chris, Vin, Buck, and Ezra totally speechless. After looking over the horses, Catherine accepts the reins for one of them from her father, gracefully mounts the horse, and turns the mare toward the Western end of town. A smile gracing her lips, she tips her hat to the group in front of the Sheriff's Office as she and her father ride past. Not recalling when she has enjoyed herself more, Mary sends a parting shot over her shoulder as she walks toward the newspaper office.)
Mary: "Told you she wasn't a typical Southern Belle."
Ezra: "Gentlemen, I do believe things in this poor excuse for a town have just brightened up considerably.
Buck: "Amen, brother, amen!"
(As Ezra and Buck walk toward the Saloon, Vin notices the expression on Chris' face. Chris appears to be struggling between a full-fledged grin and a full-blown scowl. The more Vin learns about Catherine Stewart the more he's convinced that she is exactly what Chris needs. True, he's only known the woman for about three hours, but Vin has a gut feeling about Catherine, and Vin's gut feelings are usually dead on the money.)
Vin: "Don't know what's going on in that mind of yours, but the wheels surely are turning."
Chris: "Just tryin' too figure out the real reason Catherine Stewart's movin' to town."
Vin: "Does it matter?"
Chris: "Might." (He notices the look on Vin's face.) "What?"
Vin: "Never been much for religion, but I do think things happen for a reason. I'm thinkin' Catherine's coming here has a purpose."
Chris: "What purpose?"
Vin: "Let you know when I figure it out."