"LARABEE'S LADY" – CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

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.

(Once in town, Catherine and the group following her ride directly to Loretta Purdy's house. Buck, J.D., Josiah, and Nathan are standing on the porch and are pleasantly startled to see Catherine leading the group. Swinging out of the saddle, Catherine strides onto the porch, through the door, and into the main room where Mrs. Wilkes, Nettie Wells, and Mary are talking to Mrs. Purdy. The Seven and Casey crowd in as Catherine angrily confronts the woman.)

Catherine: "You vicious, vile, pathetic excuse for a human being!"

Mrs. Purdy: "How dare you!"

Catherine: "I know everything! Casey was never in any real danger, was she? You knew I'd never allow anyone to harm her."

Mrs. Purdy: "You know nothing! Get out of my house!"

Catherine: "Your grandfather sold the land I now own to my grandfather because your miserable mother ran off with a man who didn't meet with her family's approval. You and your husband tried to buy that land back from my father, but he wouldn't sell, so you decided to take if from me! You had Wilbur Poague come her to . . What? Kill me? Oh, wait! Killing me wouldn't work because the property would revert to my father upon my death! You had to come up with a way to get me or my father to sell you the land! You had Wilbur Poague come here and attack me so you could blackmail my family by threatening to go to the Washington papers with a pack of filthy lie!"

(Catherine has been slowly but steadily backing Loretta Purdy toward the back wall. The barely leashed fury on Catherine's face and in her voice, in addition to the realization that her scheme has been discovered, have all combined to make Loretta Purdy very fearful. Her face pale, she looks helplessly toward the others in the room. Mary, Mrs. Wilkes, and Nettie Wells all stare coldly at her as they comprehend what Catherine is saying. The Seven stand or lean around the room insolently. Realizing that help is coming from no quarter, Loretta Purdy tries one last trick.)

Mrs. Purdy: "Your grandfather stole that land!"

Catherine: ""My grandfather never stole anything in his life! Neither did my father; neither have I, bur what you stole from me can never be replaced! . You're going to jail for a very long time, but you will never suffer as much as I already have!"

(And with those words uttered with quiet dignity, Catherine turns and walks out the door. One by one, the people left in the room turn their backs on Loretta Purdy and walk out. By the time Josiah and Nathan escort her to jail, the others have cleared the street. Catherine has mounted her horse, and accompanied by Chris, rides toward her ranch.)

Casey: "Should we make sure Catherine's okay?""

Vin: "Catherine's going to be fine now, Casey."

Casey: "But. . ."

Nettie: "Vin's right, Casey."

Casey: "But, someone's been there every night since she was hurt. We can't just leave her alone."

Mrs. Wilkes: "And we aren't leaving her alone, Dear."

(And while everyone else calmly goes their own way, Casey struggles to understand what they meant. . . . The ride back to Catherine's is a quiet, but much more relaxed one for both Catherine and Chris. Whey they reach the ranch, the sun is just beginning to set. Chris casts a sideways glance at Catherine as they dismount and is stunned anew by her beauty. When she looks up at him, her emerald eyes are calm)

Catherine: "Thank you."

Chris: "I didn't do anything."

Catherine: (She reaches up and touches his face gently) "Yeah, you did. You were there for me when I didn't even know I needed you."

(Reaching up and catching Catherine's hand in his, Chris searches her eyes. Cursing his traitorous body for reacting to Catherine's nearness, but unable to stop himself, Chris lowers his head and gently kisses Catherine's fingers. If she is shocked or frightened, she doesn't show it. In fact, she steps closer to him.)

Catherine: "Why?"

Chris: "Why what?"

Catherine: "Why has it taken you this long to realize you felt something for me?"

(Stepping away from her, Chris looks out toward the corrals.)

Chris: It's complicated, Catherine . . . Three years ago, . . .

Catherine: "Three years ago, your wife and son died a horrible death. You loved them very much."

Chris: "Yes. Sarah and Adam were the reasons I lived.

Catherine: "I can't go back and change what happened, Chris. No one can. What's done is done . . . But you're still alive, and you can't go on mourning forever."

Chris: (somewhat angrily) "If I had been there . . . "

Catherine: If you had been there, you might have died, too . . And then I'd never have met you or come to care for you."

(His head snaps around and his eyes lock with Catherine's. In her eyes he sees the truth of her words. He cannot deny the longing he feels as she steps closer to him. Raising up on her toes, she lightly brushes her lips across his,)

Catherine: "We've both been through truly bad experiences, Chris, but I refuse to let what happened to me ruin the rest of my life. If you decide you want to try to be happy again, you know where to find me."

(And she walks into the house. The desire to follow Catherine is strong, but Chris gets back on his horse and rides back into town. From her bedroom window, Catherine watches him ride away and is filled with sorrow . . . By the time he reaches town, Chris is in an extremely foul mood. The other six watch as he downs two shots of whisky without blinking. Since he has propped on the far end of the bar, it's obvious that he doesn't want company. . . .

For the next couple of months, things are back to normal, or as normal as they can be after the attack on Catherine. Chris has reverted to avoiding Catherine at every turn, and, although she seems to have mostly recovered from her ordeal, there is a sadness in her eyes. That Chris is the source of that sadness is no surprise to anyone. . . .

Sitting in front of the Sheriff's Office on morning, Chris, Vin, and Buck watch folks going about their business; including Catherine. Chris' eyes follow every move she makes, and Vin has had enough.)

Vin: "Seems to me a man would be a fool to throw away a woman like Catherine.,"

Buck: "I've known Chris a long time, but I've never known him to be a fool . . . until now."

Chris: "Ain't your business."

Vin: "I'm making it my business. Plain as the nose on your face the two of you got feelings for each other, but you're too hell-bent on punishin' yourself for somethin' that weren't your fault to do anything about it.

Chris: (warning in his voice) "Vin . . ."

Vin: "You're punishin' Catherine, too!" (He angrily stalks off.)

Buck: "He's right, you know. Sarah and Adam are gone, Chris. Can't do nothing for them, but you can do somethin' for yourself and for Catherine." (he, too walks off.)

(Buck's admonition that he's hurting Catherine takes its toll on Chris. Pushing himself up from his chair, Chris finds J.D., tells him he's going to his cabin for a while, and leaves town. .. .