"LARABEE'S LADY" – CHAPTER ELEVEN
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.
(A few weeks later, Catherine's house has been completed and she has finally moved in.
The Seven have gone to another town to take care of some business for Judge Travis and will be gone for two or three days. The morning after they leave, Catherine walks into the General Store and approaches Mrs. Purdy with a smile on her face.)
Catherine: "Good morning, Mrs. Purdy. I'd like to look at your stationary samples, please."
Mrs. Purdy: "Whatever for?"
Catherine: (doing her best to stay calm) "Since I've finally moved into the house, I thought it would be nice to have a party. Sort of a housewarming. I'd like to look over your selection of invitations."
Mrs. Purdy: "Invitations indeed."
(Mrs. Purdy none too gently places the heavy sample book on the counter in front of Catherine and stalks off. . . .
Looking out the window of the newspaper office, Mary sees a group of truly rough men ride into town. Knowing that the Seven are away, Mary instantly experiences a sense of foreboding. Her uneasy gaze follows the mens progress as they pass. Henrietta Wilkins and Casey Wells are just walking into the General Store as the group of ruffians stop in front of the Saloon and dismount. . .
Mrs. Wilkins spies Catherine as soon as she walks into the store and walks directly over to her with Casey not far behind. None of them see the three men who walk in behind them and proceed to look over the selection of guns in a case along one wall.)
Mrs. Wilkins: "Good morning, Catherine. What are you up to this fine morning?"
Catherine: "Morning, Mrs. Wilkes, Casey. I'm thinking about throwing a party to celebrate the completion of my house, and I thought I'd look over Mrs. Purdy's invitation samples."
Mrs. Wilkes: "A party sounds like a fine idea! When were you thinking of having it? What kind of party are you thinking about having? I can't think of anything important happening in the next few weeks, so you can pick any date you like."
Catherine: (slightly amused at how quickly Mrs. Wilkes has gotten into the spirit of things.) "I was thinking of throwing a good, old-fashioned bar-b-cue in two or three weeks. That should give me time to put everything together. I was hoping that I might count on your help to plan the party.
Mrs. Wilkes: "Absolutely, Dear! I think you should invite Nettie Wells to help, as well. Between the three of us, I'm sure we can come up with some wonderful ideas!"
Catherine: (laughing) "I'm sure we can, Mrs. Wilkes, I'm sure we can."
(From behind them they hear Casey's voice; soft and shaky.)
Casey: "Ca. . .Catherine?"
(When Catherine and Mrs. Wilkes turn toward the sound of Casey's voice, they are both shocked to themselves facing three very big, malicious-looking men holding very big guns on them. One of the men is holding Casey in a tight grasp with his gun pointed to her head. Casey is white as a sheet and her eyes are filled with fear.)
Mrs. Wilkes: "What is the meaning of this? Who are you?"
(A fourth man, who was waiting just outside the door, walks into the store and grins wickedly at the women. This man is bigger and more evil looking than the other three combined. His clothes are filthy, a horrible stench rolls off of him in waves, and what teeth he has left are nearly black with decay. If possible, Casey pales even more and Mrs. Wilkes visibly recoils. Catherine has the vague feeling that she has seen this man before but can't quite put her finger on where.)
Poague: "They work for me. Name's Wilbur Poague. Now you ladies shut up and do what you're told and we'll get along just fine."
(The man's name triggers Catherine's memory and she realizes where she's seen the man before; on a WANTED posted in the Sheriff's Office. Wilbur Poague and his gang are wanted for the brutal murders of a woman and her three children, one of them just a baby, in the next county. Recalling the information listed on the WANTED poster regarding the details of the murders, Catherine's blood runs cold as she watches Wilbur Poague move closer to the man holding Casey.)
Mrs. Wilkes: "What is it you want?"
Poague: "Well, now, me and my boys here been on the road for a while. Decided we'd take advantage of your town's . . . hospitality."
(As he utters the last word, Poague reaches up and runs a finger down Casey's cheek. The fear in the girl's eyes flares and she flinches. Poague's intent is painfully obvious. Mrs. Wilkes gasps in horror and starts to take a step toward Casey, but Catherine places a restraining hand on her arm and steps in front of her.)
Catherine: "You've been 'on the road for a while' because you and your men savagely murdered four innocent people, including a six month old baby in Sierra County while you were robbing them!"
Poague: "They got in my way. People who get in my way end up dead, Missy, and you'd do well to remember that! (He turns back toward Casey and touches her yet again.) Yes siree, looks like we're gonna have ourselves a real good time in this here town.
(A noise from the backroom draws his attention and he sends on of his men to see who's back there. Moments later, the man comes back into the room dragging Loretta Purdy with him.)
Poague: "Well, well, just who do we have here?"
Mrs. Purdy: "I'm Loretta Purdy. I own this store."
Poague: "That so? Well, now, we'll be takin' some supplies from your store when we leave. . . . Take all of 'em over to the Saloon, boys. I'll be with you shortly."