"LARABEE'S LADY" – CHAPTER TEN
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 16, 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.
(Several months pass in which the stables, barns, and bunkhouse at Catherine's ranch are completed and the stock she and Farley bought at the auction are delivered to her. Work is underway on the main house, but Catherine is still staying with Mary in town. Catherine and Chris are no longer deliberately avoiding one another, but neither are they spending more time around one another than necessary. Casey Wells, who's been in complete awe of Catherine since the day she arrived, has become a regular fixture out at Catherine's ranch, and she's learning a great deal about breeding and training horses. She and Catherine are in town doing some shopping one morning, and they stop in at the General Store. As always, Loretta Purdy sniffs haughtily when she spies Catherine. Although Henrietta Wilkins has given Catherine her approval, Mrs. Purdy still looks down on the younger woman. Fixing a disapproving expression on her face, Mrs. Purdy walks over to the counter to write up their purchases.)
Catherine: "Good morning, Mrs. Purdy. Beautiful day, isn't it?"
Mrs. Purdy: "What can I do for you?"
Catherine: "I have a list of supplies we need out at the ranch. I'd like to leave it with you and have one of my hands pick it up later today if that's all right."
Mrs. Purdy: "Fine. Anything else?"
Catherine: "Actually, there is something else. I'd like to know why you dislike me, Mrs. Purdy. I never met you before I came here, and I'm quite certain that I've never done anything to harm you or cause you any trouble. "
Mrs. Purdy: "Proper young women don't walk around in public wearing britches and a gun belt. Proper young women don't run a horse ranch. I suppose you'll be living out there by yourself on that ranch with all those men once your house if finished. Proper young women don't do that, either! You're not fit company for genteel young ladies like Casey, and I intend to tell Nettie Wells as much!
Catherine: "I see. Thank you for answering my question, Mrs. Purdy. I appreciate your honesty. Fortunately, the majority of the people in this town don't share your narrow-minded opinion of me. Someone from the ranch will be by around three o'clock to pick up the supplies. Good day."
(And so saying, Catherine walks out of the store with her back straight and her head held up high. Casey isn't far behind her. Buck and J.D. happen to be passing by as the two young women leave the store, and both of them take one look at the ladies' faces and realize something isn't quite right. Catherine appears to be lost in thought, and Casey is just plain furious.)
Buck: "Mornin', Ladies. Everything all right?"
Casey: "No, everything's not all right! That Mrs. Purdy is a mean, spiteful old biddy!"
Catherine: "Casey! There's no need for you to speak badly of her."
Casey: (somewhat incredulously) "After what she just said about you?"
Catherine: "Yes. Think about it, Casey; don't lower yourself to her level. Besides, it's a free country."
J.D.: "Just what did Mrs. Purdy say?"
Casey: "She said Catherine wasn't fit company for genteel young ladies like me and that she was going to tell Nettie so! Why, she. . she practically accused Catherine of being a, . a . . "
Catherine: "It doesn't matter what she said, Casey. Loretta Purdy's opinion of me is just that – her opinion. I'm fairly certain the rest of the people in this town don't think badly of me, so it just doesn't matter."
Buck: "Mrs. Purdy's never been one to act overly neighborly. Wouldn't worry about it."
Casey: "Well, I still say she's a mean, horrible, old . . "
Catherine: "Casey! Enough! Loretta Purdy's only one woman. What can she possibly do to hurt me?"