Julia

By The Scribe

Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" TV series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.

Epilogue

Passages

Mary Travis was a woman with a mission.

It had been two days since the death of Lambert Henderson, and life in the town of Four Corners had returned to normal, as close to normal as it could ever get that is. The repercussions of the past week had yet to fade with an uneasy line of tension running through her circle of friends. She knew that Inez had barely spoken a civil word to Ezra since his quarrel with Alex Styles. Inez was so furious that Ezra could have cheated on the doctor that they were not on speaking terms any more. Nathan's disapproval was also apparent because he believed Ezra was making a mistake on whom he chose to bestow his affections.

Mary made no such judgement on Ezra Standish because the gambler was really feeling badly about how he had treated Alex, and the affection he held for Julia Pemberton was sincere, even if their relationship seemed more like open warfare at times. Vin seemed strangely reserved about the whole thing, if what Chris believed he felt about Alex was remotely true. The tracker had disappeared on one of his trips into the wilderness and it was anyone's guess when he would return. In the year since the seven had put down roots in Four Corners, Mary was aware that Vin sometimes felt the need to be by himself for awhile and often took off on his own.

It was anyone's guess how Alex was faring because no one had seen her in two days.

Despite Inez' attempts to see her immediately after her explosive confrontation with Ezra, Alex had not answered the door when the bartender had come calling. Mary tried later on and at one stage, even Nathan had made the attempt. However, their efforts to draw the doctor out were met with silence although they were certain that she was still in the house, for no one had seen her leave town. Her prolonged silence only made Ezra feel worse although no one said anything to soothe his regret since it was partially deserved.

Mary knew this situation had to be resolved soon because while the seven still functioned as a group and remained as close knit as ever, Mary hated for there to be any kind of conflict in the group she now considered family. First of all however, Mary had a few things to impart upon Julia Pemberton if she was going to be a part of Ezra's life. Julia was not going away, not if the way Ezra looked at her was any indication of how he felt about the woman. However, she was an unknown element who seemed to have very few scruples as her behavior towards Alex had proved.

Mary had invited Julia to the house for lunch as she wanted to make the discussion private. They had engaged in idle conversation for most of the dining experience, talking about the merits of setting up a business in Four Corners, the local gossip and the difficulties of women in business. The topics remained trivial because Mary did not want Julia to have any idea what turn the conversation would soon take.

Both women were taking tea in the parlor when Mary set down her saucer and cup on the table and looked at the younger woman. She had to admit that Julia was a lovely young woman whose power to attract was completely overwhelming if one were not accustomed to it. Yet behind those green eyes, Mary could see the ruthless calculation hidden under a veil of charm.

"I do have an ulterior motive for inviting you this afternoon, Julia" Mary finally announced. "I mean aside from wanting to see how you were after that terrible incident with Lambert Henderson."

"Yes," Julia shuddered, thinking about the man involuntarily. How had the nice Hendersons produced such a vile creature as a child? Julia wondered silently to herself. "It was quite alarming" Julia admitted. "But what is this ulterior motive Mary? You have me singularly intrigued."

Mary gave away nothing in her eyes as she responded. "Nothing quite so dramatic as it sounds," Mary replied. "I just wanted to let you know that I am aware that your real name is Julia Avery."

Julia's eyes flew open and immediately fixated onto Mary's face. For a brief instant, Mary saw a gamut of emotions surface in the redhead's eyes. Shock was the most apparent, followed by fear and then by the more predatory calculation. "I don't know what you are talking about." She said coolly, setting down her cup.

"Yes, you do" Mary kept her gaze fixed on her, showing Julia for the first time that she was not fooled by the act the newcomer put on for everyone. There was no need for the facade in the presence of Mary Travis. "Your name is Julia Avery" She replied. "Pemberton is the name you picked up on your hasty departure from Philadelphia."

Tracking her down had really been quite a simple matter. Julia Pemberton's bank records began less than two weeks ago. She had not existed prior to that, and the location of the enormous deposit had been made far north, towards Philadelphia. Mary had newspaper contacts around the country, thanks to Steven's reputation before they had decided to move out West. She was able to trace Julia all the way back to Baltimore. Miss Pemberton's behavior caused her to suspect that the change of name could have a far deeper reason than merely a new life. Meanwhile, the most salacious news in Philadelphia was still the embarrassment of mogul Roderick Packard, whose bride, Julia Avery, had left him at the altar. The coincidence was too much for Mary to dismiss.

"Assuming that you are right," Julia shrugged, wondering how the woman had discovered that information and then realized that a journalist of Mary Travis' caliber had resources across the country from which she could gather data. "There's nothing wrong with changing my name."

"I didn't say there was" Mary said silkily, pouring herself another cup of tea. "I merely wished to let you know the way things function in Four Corners."

"Really?" Julia glared at her sarcastically, knowing that something was coming at her and it was not going to be pleasant. "And how do things function in Four Corners, Mary?"

"We're a caring community" she stated. "Since the arrival of the seven, it has been as close to ideal as it has ever been and I don't want that to change. Do you understand me?"

"What could I do to alter that?" Julia feigned ignorance.

"I don't know," the newspaperwoman said honestly. "However, I think you need to understand the ground rules.""

"The ground rules?" Julia shifted uncomfortably in her chair, her mind reeling at discovery but she wanted to hear what Mary's demands were before she spat them back in the blond woman's face.

"Yes," Mary nodded and leaned forward. "What you did to Ezra and Alex was inexcusable. Before you came along, they were happy and now that's all changed. I can't do anything about Ezra because he does love you, God only knows why. He's thrown away the love of one of the best people I know for you, and I don't want him hurt. You will do your level best to make him happy because he's saved my life more than a dozen times and despite his rotten taste in women, Ezra is a good man and he deserves the happiness."

"I do love Ezra" Julia said through gritted teeth, trying to remain calm in the face of Mary's verbal attack.

"I'm sure you do" Mary dismissed the statement as little more than obligatory because Julia had shown nothing that would indicate that she loved anything but herself. "And you will make his happiness your mission in life, do I make myself clear?" she said slowly.

"Or what?" Julia retaliated, calling Mary's bluff. How exactly did this woman think she was going to make Julia do anything that Julia did not want to do?

"Or I might let your fiancée know where you are." Mary retorted and felt a measure of satisfaction seeing the color drain from Julia's face as the realization of what that could mean sank in. "You do remember Roderick Packard don't you?"

Julia was too stunned too speak.

"Of course you do," Mary stirred the sugar in her cup. "You left him at the altar remember, humiliated him publicly. He gives me the impression of being a man who doesn't take too kindly to being made a laughing stock. I don't believe he would be kind if he were to find you, Julia."

"You wouldn't" Julia stammered. "You don't have it in you."

Mary looked up at her with eyes of steel. "You have no idea what I am capable of, Julia. I've been in this town for years and I've learnt to be tough, tough enough to spot the likes of you and what you really are. You breezed into town and decided you wanted Ezra and you got him. You didn't tell Alex about the two of you because you wanted to spare him anything. You told Alex in that disgusting way because you wanted her to know that you'd taken him away from her. Perhaps some of it had to do with fearing Ezra might just change his mind about you two once she was back but it was mostly because you needed to win. So I'm giving you fair warning now. You try that sly, vicious garbage in my town again and I swear I will nail your fancy hide to the wall by the time I'm finished with you."

Julia rose to her feet abruptly, clearly shaken and knowing now that her assessment of Mary Travis had been quite erroneous. She had thought Mary was simply formidable, she had no idea until now that the widow was also perfectly ruthless and had no conscience in using such methods to protect her own. "I think you've said enough" Julia replied.

"I think we understand each other now, don't we?" Mary looked at her with a raised brow as Julia started to collect her things to make a hasty departure.

"Yes," the young woman replied through her teeth, hating that anyone could get the better of her but knowing she was helpless in this situation. She did not desire Roderick Packard's presence in her life and she could become accustomed to dealing with Mary Travis' request. "We do."

As she hurried out of the room, Mary allowed herself a little smile and asked as Julia crossed the floor. "You sure you won't stay for another cup of tea?"

Ezra Standish thought he would try again. For two days, he had stood on her back porch, hoping she would answer the door so he could try to make some explanation about the unfortunate turn of events in their relationship. Ezra did not want her to think that this was anything to do with her. He still cared a great deal for Alex and he knew his actions had caused her a great deal of pain. Ezra had a gentleman's code when dealing with women and he knew he had lapsed severely in how he had handled this entire situation.

"Alexandra please," Ezra knocked on her door again. "We need to talk."

Once again, the silence that greeted him during his last two visits, permeated through the door and told him to . He wished he knew how she was because it was driving Mary, Inez and Nathan insane not knowing. Mary's distress in turn annoyed Chris while the same thing went for Inez and Buck, while Nathan had not actually rebuked him for what he had done, Ezra was unable to ignore the fact that Nathan viewed his relationship with Julia with distaste.

"People are worried about you. I am worried about you" he implored, hoping that his words reached heir in some shape or form. While he was realistic that things could never be the same between them again, he did want everything else to return to normal. He paused a moment as the silence continued, trying to think of some way to reach her. "There is no way for me to apologize for what happened, and no words that will make what Julia did right. I suppose you could take some consolation in the fact that I deserve what I am getting, you need someone better than me, perhaps you always did."

To his surprise, the door swung open.

She stood before him, clad in a robe and nightgown, looking quite ill indeed. Her pallor was almost grey and there were circles under her eyes while her nose was rubbed raw from the handkerchief she was clutching in her hand. "Normally, I wouldn't let you see me in this state," she replied, her voice betrayed the cold she was suffering. "However, what do I care now?"

"How long have you been at the door?" he questioned.

"Long enough to know that your groveling leaves a great deal to be desired" she retorted, remaining at the doorway, with no intention of letting him in.

"It's been a long time," Ezra said with a faint smile. "I am out of practice in the art. You, however, do not look at all well."

"I went through six years of medical school," she quipped. "I don't need you tell me that."

"Obviously," he recanted and then took on a more serious note. "I never meant to hurt you."

Her eyes glazed over as if she was trying not to cry and to most part she succeeded but the sorrow in her eyes spoke more vividly than tears could express. "You did any way. Do you love her?"

Ezra was not certain how to answer this but he knew she deserved an honest response. "Yes," he nodded. "I do."

There was a flicker of pain in her eyes as the words registered but she crushed it mercilessly. "You're a fool." She pointed out without hesitation a moment later. "I've seen rattlesnakes that are kinder."

"You are correct on both counts but it was not something I could help. I just wish you had not been caught in the cross fire."

"I'm still hurt Ezra," she whispered. "I am hurt, humiliated and I feel worse then I've ever felt in all my life but I will survive. We'll stay out of each other's way for awhile and eventually I'll get used to seeing you with her, but until then, allow me the courtesy of keeping her away from me, would you?"

Ezra nodded slowly, willing to grant any request after the pain he had caused her. "I will see that it is done."

"Good," she stated withdrawing into the house once more, pulling the door behind her as she left. "Goodbye Ezra."

As the door closed quietly after her, Ezra could only sigh and reply softly even though he doubted she would have heard him. "Goodbye Alexandra."

Chris perused the article in the Clarion News regarding the final disposition of the robbery murders and the man who had brought about the entire affair in the first place, Lambert Henderson. After his death, the seven had learnt that Lambert had been in and out of town over the last few days, alternating his search for Julia Pemberton while on the other hand cleaning up any loose ends that might be traced back to him. Unfortunately, this included dealing with Elisa the working girl and the horse trader who had provided the outlaws with their mounts.

Shortly after Chris had left Elisa that night, Lambert had made an appearance in Purgatory and strangled the young woman inside her tent. If it were not for someone seeing Lambert leaving after the murder, Chris was painfully aware he might have been implicated in the death. Fortunately, Lambert had arrived too late to keep Elisa from giving Chris the information he required, unlike the horse trader who was murdered at the same time he and the others were ambushing Lambert's partners at the stage.

His partners were little more than small time outlaws who were quick with the gun but seldom stole anything worth the price of the lives that they had ended. Lambert had been wise in selecting them because he knew they would have no hesitation in drawing their guns on unarmed civilians for the promise of easy money. It was uncertain where he might have met them because no one in Purgatory recognized the men, or at least they would not admit to it. Places like Purgatory chose to keep their patrons anonymous, unless it was in exchange of a stipend.

Lambert Henderson had come out west about a month before his parents embarked on their journey through the west. His father had recently sold the family's textile factories in Chicago for a tidy sum of almost a million dollars, all which would have been left solely to him upon the death of both parents. The Hendersons, like most immigrants coming in search of streets paved with gold, had arrived in the New World and found out the truth regarding that particular myth. Through years of hard work and determination they had built themselves a small empire in cloth and calico. Lambert had been their only child, and in their fierce need to see that he wanted for nothing, had indulged his every whim.

By the time he had grown into adulthood, the young man was accustomed to having everything and did not take kindly to being refused it. He had enrolled in college and quickly took up the habit of gambling, except he was as proficient at it as he was at his studies, which was to say not very good at all. Very quickly, he incurred massive debts to characters with no patience to wait for their money. Assuming as always that his father would extricate him from this situation, Lambert had bee astonished to hear the old man's refusal. In his rage, he conceived of the plan that would eventually see the deaths of so many people and ensure his escape when the dust had settled.

Evidence of the stormy week had more or less dried up with the coming of the sunshine. Chris found himself seated in front of the door as he read Mary's summation of the entire week in her article. The position allowed him to bask in the warmth of the sun while still remaining indoors. Chris set down the paper wondering how Vin was faring out on his own. The tracker had wanted some time to himself, which was not unusual for Vin, because Chris knew that people tended to overwhelm him at times and Vin craved the isolation of his former years on occasion.

Behind him, Josiah and Buck were engaged in a game of checkers and Chris smiled slightly hearing Buck swear after losing the third game in a row. For a man accustomed to playing chess most of the time, Josiah found checkers rudimentary in comparison. The preacher took Buck's grumbling with a faint smile although JD was more vocal in his response. The young man was enjoying Buck's defeat quite profoundly and Chris estimated another two or three minutes before Buck throttled him.

Nathan was engaged in the same activity as he was, reading a book and enjoying the relative quiet of the early morning. They had driven themselves hard the past three weeks in their search for the outlaws and Chris relished the temporary peace while it lasted. No doubt, some other catastrophe would follow soon enough but at this moment, Chris was content to await his arrival.

A shadow stole across him, blocking out the sun when Ezra walked through the bat wing doors in the saloon. Chris was well aware of where the gambler had been and wondered if he had any more success getting Alex to talk to him. Chris who appreciated the need to be alone after a particularly painful experience had been unsurprised when Alex disappeared into her house these past two days, shunning the company of all. The action had driven Mary, Inez and Nathan insane with worry despite Chris' belief that Alex would emerge when she was ready. However, Ezra worried worst of all since he was the cause of her withdrawal.

"Any luck?" Chris asked as Ezra walked by.

"She opened the door for me" Ezra sighed, uncertain if that was progress or not.

"That's something" Chris shrugged.

"Is she okay?" Nathan asked, coming over when he heard that snippet of news.

"She appeared to have a severe cold," Ezra confessed, "but she did not seem to appear on death's door, if that is what concerns you."

"Maybe I ought to go see her" Nathan mused and then realized that Miss Alex probably wanted to be alone right now and she was after all a medical doctor. She would know better than him how to look after herself.

"She was not in the best state to receive visitors" Ezra pointed out. "I get the impression she might have spent the past two days in bed."

"Well, she was out in the rain for three days almost" Nathan reminded. "Not that you would have noticed" The healer said sarcastically eyeing Ezra as he made that point.

Ezra frowned, knowing that he would have to endure such jibes from Nathan for quite some time and realizing that the healer was perfectly justified in doing so. "Thank you for reminding me Mr. Jackson. I take it you are going to be responsible for my penance in the immediate future over this issue?"

"What are friends for?" Nathan grinned.

"Wonderful," Ezra groaned. "Who needs enemies?"

"Considering what you got for a lady friend," Chris drawled with a devilish grin. "I say you're filled up on both."

Alex heard the door knock and groaned.

Go away.

She was not in the mood for people and the brief exchange with Ezra had sent her into another pathetic fit of tears. She had not realized facing him would be so hard, even though she had done nothing wrong and he was the guilty one. It was a hollow realization because in the end he was still with that red headed snake and she was here wallowing in self pity while trying to deal with the cold that risen from the ordeal in the wilderness with Vin Tanner.

Vin Tanner.

He was relegated to one of those places inside her where she placed all things too difficult to deal with at present. Alex was in no mind to think about him and what the future might now hold for their relationship, now that Ezra was no longer in her life. Even thinking those words made Alex recoil in anguish because she had never imagined that possibility ever coming to pass. After the turmoil with Vin in Agnes' cabin, Alex had believed she was safe in the knowledge that Ezra would be waiting for her when she returned. Now she felt as if she were cast adrift, with no idea of anything any more.

"We're not going away until you open the door!" Alex heard the second knock followed by Inez' familiar, determined voice.

She meant it too, knowing what the Mexican could be like when she was adamant about anything. Alex sighed and decided that perhaps it would not be so terrible having some company. She had been a hermit these past few days and was no doubt a source of concern to her friends. Just because Ezra had behaved like a complete ass did not give her the right to treat them poorly. Climbing out of bed, she padded down the hall and went to answer the door.

"Its about time" Mary stated when Alex swung open the door. Both Inez and Mary brushed past her, entering the house without waiting to be invited. "You had us worried sick!" the blond woman declared as the duo headed toward her kitchen with every expectation that Alex was to follow.

"Leave me alone" she whined as she followed them into the kitchen, somewhat curious as to what Mary and Inez had brought with them.

The two women were going through her kitchen, grabbing plates and glasses from their compartments as Alex sat down at the kitchen table. She could smell the enticing aroma of baked pastry under the dishcloth that concealed it. "What's under there?" she inquired.

"Apple and cinnamon pie" Mary said with a wicked gleam in her eyes as she set down the plates. "Is it starve a cold and feed a fever?" Mary looked at her as she sat down. "I can never remember. You're the doctor."

"Today, I don't care." Alex replied as she looked into the paper bag that set next to the pie. Inside was a tall bottle of scotch. "Inez, did you swipe this from the saloon?" she asked reproachfully.

Inez gave her an innocent look. "I am a partner of the business" she remarked with complete dignity. "I do not need to swipe. I just took it when no one was looking." Inez laughed, joining them both at the table.

"It's not the bottle that Ezra uses for drinks on the house is it?" Mary asked, remembering what Ezra had said about the free drinks in the saloon.

"There is no such bottle." Inez said gruffly. "I just told him that so he wouldn't complain any time I had to give anyone a free drink."

"Can we please not use the 'E' word?" Alex grumbled. "I do not eat well when I am a blubbering wreck."

"Well in your honor, I have been torturing him with an exceptionally bad mood the past two days" Inez grinned a she poured them all a round of drinks while Mary began to serve the pie. "He'll either shoot me or go crazy, whichever comes first" Inez' smile was almost sadistic in its pleasure.

"Keep it up for a week at least" Alex had to laugh at the wicked gleam in her eyes. The doctor was starting to feel a little better although not much. "Make him suffer."

"Aside from the cold, how do you feel?" Mary asked seriously since Alex had been hidden away for two days.

"I feel like hell," Alex admitted, trying not to let the emotion get the better of her. She felt awful and that was the truth. Her heart felt as if it had been torn from her chest and each time she thought of Ezra with that woman, Alex wanted to bury her head under her pillows and never come out.

"That's men for you." Inez sighed, taking a sip of her drink and savoring the liquid in her mouth. "They can never make up their minds. One minute they say they're the one for you and the next minute you know, he's chasing everything in a skirt around town. Sometimes, I wonder why we bother."

"Speak for yourself." Mary remarked. "Chris is perfectly wonderful except I can't get him wear anything else but black for some reason. Is there something wrong with blue?"

Inez and Alex simply stared at her.

"What?" Mary asked defensively.

"Chris may be the exception." Alex pointed out moving off the topic of Chris Larabee's fashion sense. "I am perfectly content to believe that all men are slime at this point." With that, she dug into the pie and took a large bite and introduced comfort food to her stomach for the first time since she was a teenager, pining after her first crush.

"Even Vin Tanner?" Mary asked gingerly, wondering if Alex had any feelings on the subject of the tracker. Mary was certain that more had taken place between Vin and Alex out there at the Doherty place, even if none of them were saying what that might have been. Sometimes the best way to forget about an unhappy relationship was by toying with the idea of a new one.

"Don't go there." Alex groaned, not wishing to discuss the tracker in any shape or form at this point. Her feelings towards Vin were an enigma that Alex was too raw from Ezra to try and decipher at this time.

"Vin would never hurt a woman" Inez said confidently about her close friend. "Although I don't think he has known that many."

"He knew Charlotte." Mary pointed out.

It was the first time that Alex had heard about any woman's name connected to Vin Tanner. "Who's Charlotte?"

Mary went on to relate the story about how Vin had become infatuated with Charlotte, the wife of one of the men leading the wagon trail further west. The whole affair had ended badly with Vin having to give her up at the end of the journey. The incident was one of the few occasions where Vin and Chris had disagreed on anything, even though Chris professed to not judging him and tried to advise that the affair was ill timed.

"I never pictured him so passionate." Alex replied, even though she knew perfectly well just how passionate Vin Tanner could be when he was properly inspired. Did she inspire him? Alex believed so and she also remembered those precious few moments inside the cabin when suddenly, Ezra Standish had been the farthest thing from her mind.

"He has to be drawn out, that one" Inez commented. "I think once you make him admit it, he'll surprise you."

"I suppose he would." Alex mused, suddenly letting her mind drift away on the memories of their kisses. For that one brief moment, it had been the most perfect experience of her life, before the fears and obligations to Ezra had crowded in on them and she had run from Vin like a frightened teenager. In hindsight, Alex wondered if it would have been better if she had allowed Vin to make love to her. At least, Ezra's betrayal would not be so acute then.

Mary smiled faintly, recognizing the glimmer in Alex's eyes as that thought crossed her mind and knew that Alex was on the mend, even if the doctor felt like her world was ending at this moment. It would take time but the possibility of what Vin Tanner could mean to her was now starting to dawn on Alexandra Styles.

They say patience is a virtue and happily, Mary Travis had a great deal of it.

Alex and Vin would be together. It would just take a little longer.

And a bit more pushing.

THE END