"LARABEE'S LADY" – CHAPTER FIFTEEN

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 18, 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.

(Mary and the Seven leave the General Store, but none of them has been lulled into thinking their confrontation with Mrs. Purdy is the end of things.)

Vin: "Mary, what was in that wire Mrs. Purdy wanted to send to Sen. Stewart?"

Mary: "She wants Catherine to leave town or she's threatening to go to all the Washington newspapers."

Chris: "And tell them what?"

Mary: "Everything she's been saying for the past week about Catherine.

Buck: "None of that's true!"

Vin: "Don't matter. The papers in Washington get a hold of it . . ."

Ezra: "And Sen. Stewart's political career is over."

Buck: "She can't do that!"

Vin: "She can and she will if we don't stop her."

Mary: "I'm afraid Vin's right. My refusing to send the wire has only slowed her down. She can send it from any of the nearby towns."

Ezra: "There must be a reason Mrs. Purdy is so adamant that Catherine leave town other than the apparent affront to her sensibilities. How long has Mrs. Purdy lived in Four Corners, Mary?"

Mary: "I'm not really sure, Ezra. She's been running the General Store as long as I've been here."

Chris: "What are you getting' at, Ezra?"

Ezra: I'll let you know when I make that determination, Mr. Larabee. Excuse me."

(He leaves a puzzled group of people behind him as he walks toward the Saloon.)

Chris: "Buck, J.D., keep an eye on Mrs. Purdy. I want to know where she goes for the next few days."

Josiah: I believe I'll see if I can help Ezra look for whatever it is he's looking for."

Mary: "That's a good idea, Josiah. I'm going to go through all the back issues of the Clarion I can find. There may be something about Mrs. Purdy in them that would be useful."

Nathan: "That's a good idea. I'll help you, Mary."

(They leave to go about their tasks leaving Chris and Vin alone. Both young men are deeply troubled.)

Chris: "Catherine had enough trouble without this."

Vin: "Catherine don't know about this, Chris. Recon we don't have to tell her."

Chris: "Yes we do, Vin. She'll find out about it soon enough. Better it be from one of us. . . Think Mrs. Wilkes can talk some since into Mrs. Purdy?"

Vin: "Recon it's worth a try."

Chris: "Let's go talk to the lady."