Disclaimer: All the characters from the "Magnificent Seven" T.V. series are property of Trilogy Entertainment, The Mirisch Group, MGM Worldwide.
Julia would have preferred it if Ezra were still town when she made her final meeting with Mr Clements. As per his hasty instructions when he had departed Four Corners to rescue Inez and JD from the men who had dark plans in store for both of them, Julia now found herself facing the moment of truth. Waiting at her desk, her fingers drummed a steady rhythm against the polished wood in anticipation of the man's arrival. She allowed herself to feel fear in order to control it in order to carry out the ruse that was necessary for her anonymity to be ensured. Inwardly, even Julia knew that her days of running were over that if this man could find her once, then the one who came after her would have little difficulty repeating the same discovery.
As much as she loathed admitting it, Ezra was right; she could not keep running. She had a life here and friends who might be willing to stand up for her if the need ever arose and such friendship was too precious to Julia to discard it, to say nothing of the life she had forged herself here. Unimaginable as it appeared to be at this time, Julia knew one day she would have to look upon her father and tell him that she was done with him. The idea not only horrified her but it shook her self-assured core to its foundations. She had a persona of strong will and independence which she had worn around herself like a magic cloak that had the power to drive the nightmares and the revulsion of her childhood away like a bad dream.
Julia had told herself she would never play the victim for anyone ever again and had lived her life that way. She had become the user, the manipulator, the one who caused the hurt and it felt good being so empowered. It was only during the nights, in the darkness where no one could see did she feel the remorse and the fear that no one knew existed. Even if Clemens agreed to what she would proposed to him shortly, it was no guarantee that her secret life here would not be exposed to her father. However, in the last few days she had seen how determined Ezra was to protect her and knew that with him at her side she might be able to withstand the storm that would come if Donald Avery made his arrival in Four Corners.
There were also other things she could do to protect herself and along with her preparations to deal with Mr Clemens, Julia made secondary provisions for herself. If it came down to it, her fortune would be protected just as would her Emporium which unbeknownst to anyone but her lawyer in Eagle Bend, that entire business now belonged unconditionally to one William Travis. Since the boy was not of legal age, naturally the property would be held in trust and executed by his mother. Of course she ensured that she still held controlling interest even though the proprietor of the Pemberton Emporium, at least on paper, was Billy. There was no need for Mary to know unless Julia suddenly needed to vanish. There were other preparations in waiting which Julia prayed she would never have to use but felt secure knowing they were in place.
Perhaps she might even tell Ezra about them.
Julia practically jumped out of her chair when she heard the subtle knocking on her door and she swallowed visibly, driving this intense fear from her being because the negotiations about to transpire, hinged on how well she could play out the charade. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the knocked a second time before Julia finally responded.
"Please come in."
The door knob twisted and Clemens came into the room, wearing a long travelling coat and appeared to be ready for his journey in an hour or so when the stage finally made its arrival in Four Corners to spirit him away back to the East. Clemens seemed rather surprised to see that she was still here and Julia ventured a guess that he had believed she would have fled rather than face him.
"Miss Aver...I mean Miss Pemberton." He corrected himself when he saw her stiffening upon mention of her old name.
"Mr Clemens," Julia pulled back her lips in a smile. "Please sit."
"I do not have a great deal of time, Miss Pemberton." The man remarked as he removed his hat and sat down. "I hope our business can be concluded quickly and amicably." His gaze shifted across the room, searching it for a few seconds before returning to her. "I take it Mr Standish won't be joining us."
"Mr Standish is away on business in a law enforcement capacity," Julia replied casually as if it did not make the slightest bit of difference that Ezra was absent, even though in truth she wished he were here more than anything in the world, but understood his reasons completely. "It will just be us."
"That serves me well enough." Clemens answered, glad that the gambler with the shrewd wit would not be present. "Now, you wanted me to return some money back to Philadelphia?" He looked at her.
"Yes," Julia nodded and opened up the account book on her desk to the appropriate page. When she arrived where she needed to be, she retrieved a single slip of paper and handed it to him. "Here you are, the receipt that proves I have deposited the sum of $50, 000 to a bank account in Philadelphia in your name. I am assuming that you live there."
"Yes," Clemens brow furrowed, not like this at all. "I do but it I thought I was taking a cheque made out to your father." A bank account in his name not only placed him in a compromising position but was also highly irregular and made him inordinately uncomfortable.
Julia returned his trouble expression with one of complete calm. "I realise but the situation has changed. I would like to remain in Four Corner but I find that I can accept the possibility that my father might find me and so I came to a different arrangement with Mr Standish."
Clemens swallowed hard; suddenly realising that he might be in a great deal of trouble. "What kind of arrangement?" He asked reluctantly, filled with a sixth sense that he was not going to be happy with her answer.
"I have two letters in my hand. There are you copies of course. She produced the sealed envelopes and held it up for him to see them both. "One is addressed to the Pinkerton Agency and another is addressed to my father."
He did not show any signs of anxiety but beads of sweat were starting to form on his skin. He did not speak because the envelopes she was holding in her hand was addressed to Pinkerton and Donald Avery. "What do you intend to do?" He asked after a moment, licking his lips as he found himself in a most untenable situation.
"The question is what would you have me do?" She looked at him with a brow raised with almost glacial indifference to his fear. "If you go back to Philadelphia with reports of my whereabouts, I guarantee you before the day is out, both Pinkertons and my father will have a copy of these letters. A lawyer in Philadelphia has already been procured to hand deliver them to both parties. In my correspondence to my father and your employer, I will reveal to them that I was forced to flee Four Corners penniless because you tracked me down and offered me a stay of execution if I would turn the money over to you. I will make a most convincing argument that you allowed me a head start and had every intention of returning to Philadelphia and telling them both your attempts to find me had failed. If that does not convince them, I am certain the fifty thousand dollars they will find in your new account will."
"You wouldn't..." Clements stammered.
"Try me Sir." Julia said coldly. "At the very least, Pinkertons will fire you, at the most they'll have you charged with blackmail and coercion." She leaned closer, making each word imprint itself on his mind like venom in the veins. "It will be mild in comparison to what my father would do to you. By the time he is done with you, I doubt you will be able to find employment as a stable boy. Donald Avery will destroy you."
Clemens found himself shuddering, aware that her words were true. Pinkertons was extremely mindful about the morality of its agents and even if the charge could not be proven the stain would remain and he would still be discharged. He could not imagine life outside the agency and her threat that Donald Avery would take him apart for such a deception was not idle either. He had much to lose and thanks to his naivette, she had taken advantage of that and used it quite spectacularly.
"You have a wife and three children don't you?" Julia persisted, feeling intense guilt inside but brushed the emotion away because this was a matter of survival, hers. "It will be most hard on them."
Bringing up his family had the desired effect and she could see the worry lines etched in his face as he considered the ramifications of what his disgrace would wreak upon them. Aside from being penniless, he children would be branded the sire of a thief and a blackmailer. He could not even imagine trying to explain this to them. Finally, he looked up at the face of the woman he had underestimated a great deal. He had expected her to use her feminine wiles to coax him into forgetting about her; Clemens had not counted on her mental acumen. His family meant too much to him, more than the prestige of bringing this woman home to her father.
"What do you want?" He asked with a resigned sigh of defeat.
Julia did not smile, having no wish to lord her victory over him when all she wanted was to be forgotten and left alone with the life she had made for herself in Four Corners. "I want you to go home and tell him that you found me in Four Corners where you confronted me about coming home, to which I refused most profusely. You will tell them that I fled town and sold my interests in town and you do not know where I went. Accomplish that and I will see to it that the bank account is emptied and the letters never surface."
"What is to stop me from telling your father everything?" Clemens demanded.
"Nothing at all." Julia retorted, "but there will be an investigation and it will be your word against mine with the money in the bank to prove that there was some impropriety. Can you honestly say Pinkerton would not discharge you rather than wrestle with the possibility that one of their own might be tainted? My father would crush you just to be sure."
"I could wait until you clear me to reveal what I know." He pointed out.
"The letter will not surface as long as I say and my lawyers are creative, they can make the money appear miraculously again. Do not make the mistake of thinking for a moment that I will not have someone taking stock of my interests. By the time you make your allegations, I will know about it and have disappeared from here. All that will be left is your reputation in ruins. I am hardly worth that much to you."
She was right, she was not. Clemens swallowed thickly and rose to his feet after a moment. He put his hat back on his head and stared at her. "My compliments Miss Pemberton, a perfect checkmate."
"Thank you," she said quietly. "I do not wish it this way but I have my reasons. I pray you do not test me in the matter Sir, I do this because I must, not because I like it."
"He won't stop searching for you." Clemens stated as he started walking towards his door. "You must know that."
"I do," Julia nodded sombrely. "I can't stop him from trying but I can slow him down."
Despite the unfortunate circumstances she had placed him, Clemens felt no real malice towards her and wondered what motivated such a fierce desire to remain hidden. He had met many women in his time and during his line of work to know that she was unique and she had played their game well. While he always sorry to lose, he did not wish her ill. "I bid you farewell Miss Pemberton," Clemens replied. "Your father will not learn from me your whereabouts and I hope you are kinder to that one who comes after me."
"I hope the one who comes after you is as much a gentleman." She answered, having to admit that he was that even in defeat.
Pity, she had not been a lady in achieving her victory.
A week following the birth of Inez and Buck Wilmington's daughter, whom both parents had agreed to name Elena Rose Wilmington, a belated wedding reception of sorts was held at the newly weds residence with only their close friends in attendance and a few exceptions. Paloma Rosillos had been so thrilled to have her daughter back safe and sound, not to mention married that she managed to forgive Inez for her indiscretion. She was delighted at her new grandchild and less than impressed by her new son-in-law and took charge of Inez's convalescence at home with the dedication of a general on the battlefield. Naturally, this led to all sorts of arguments between Buck and Paloma until Inez was forced to intercede occasionally by sending them to their respective corners to think about what they had done.
"I can understand Elena," Mary replied as she and Inez looked on while Alex conducted a short examination of the child's state of health inside the nursery. "But why Rose?"
"Rose is Buck's mother's name." Inez said with a smile as she watched her newborn cooing gently in her crib as Alex continued her ministrations. The little girl did not seem to mind and stared at the doctor with her big brown eyes, drawing a smile even through Alex's usual professional detachment. "I thought it would be nice."
"It is a great name isn't it Elena?" Alex remarked looking at Elena with a smile. "You do look like an little rose." With that, she swaddled Elena in her blanket and handed her back to her mother. "Perfect down to her little toes which I can never figure out how since she came from Buck."
"Leave him alone," Inez said coming to his defence because she knew what he had endured the past week. "He's been going through enough hell with my mother as it is."
"So when is Paloma leaving?" Mary inquired as the three women walked out of the nursery into the common room of the house where some of their friends and family were gathered.
"The day after tomorrow." Inez replied as she rocked little Elena gently in her arms. "She is going to live with her sister in Ciudad Juarez. My aunt Dominica has a big house and her husband is gone. I hear there is work there so mama will be going with Calla."
"Speaking of Calla," Alex said with a grin. "You might want to tell her about the situation between Casey and JD before it gets ugly." She gestured to the trio in question at the far end of the room.
Calla was staring adoringly at JD, batting her lashes at the youth in the age old ritual of seduction that could not be mistaken for anything else and JD, whose experience with women was as limitless as his ability to cope with pregnant ones, was rather taken by the attention. Unfortunately, Casey who was standing at his side was pointing daggers at them both and the three women estimated that it would not be long before the entire situation decayed into a screaming match.
"Uh Oh." Mary declared, raising a brow.
Inez was about to speak when she heard Buck's voice exploding, followed by the shrill voice of her mother spewing colourful Mexican expletives for all to hear. This was hardly a novel situation and Inez rolled her eyes in resignation wondering if there was any way she could escape being caught between them.
"Goddamn it woman, quit dogging me or I'll put a bullet into you." Buck bellowed as he came into the house, searching for Inez, with Paloma following closely behind. "Inez, would you kindly tell your mother that I am not some kind of a drunk because I decide to have a drink with my friends!" Buck implored when he crossed the floor and reached her.
"How could you marry this stupid, big oaf!" Paloma cried out. "He has no responsibility, drinking when his daughter is only a week old!"
"Well I was going to wait until she was older before I offered her something but she seems to only like milk and straight from the tap!" Buck growled, glaring at the woman.
Inez, Mary and Alex could only watch opened mouth as the two of them descended into another fierce bout of arguing and completely forgot that they had come to Inez for mediation. Shaking her head, the new mother took her child and her friends away from the scene of the carnage and headed towards the kitchen.
"I think cake is in order." Inez remarked, deciding that she was not stepping into the middle of their altercation until blood was spilled.
"Oh I say that was for sure." Alex agreed trying to hide the snigger that was threatening to steal across her face.
"Not for me," Mary confessed, wrinkling her nose in distaste. "I have not been feeling well lately."
"Oh?" Alex turned to her, always concerned when one of her friends made such statements.
"It's nothing," Mary shrugged. "I'm just off my food. It's probably a stomach bug."
"Well," Alex said sceptically, never incline to dismiss anything when it came to someone's health. "Come see me if it gets worse. As it is I'm inclined to think that it is serious."
"Why?" Mary looked at her strangely. "It's just a stomach bug."
"I know," Alex nodded and said with a teasing smile. "But you never say no to cake."
Mary started groaning about how overly cautious Alex was being about her ailment while the doctor returned with just how rare it was that Mary refused cake, citing in particular the time that Mary had a cold and still manage to Billy out to get confectionary. Inez strolled away from the scene of yet another heated conversation, cradling Elena in her arms relatively unconcerned; Alex could readily take care of any blood spilled if necessary.
She walked to the front door of the house and saw her friends enjoying the sunshine in the garden outside. Josiah was leading Lilith around on his horse not too far away with Audrey calling out to her daughter to be careful despite the preacher's assurances that she was perfectly safe. Audrey was one of the few people that Inez had invited today and seeing how wonderfully she and Josiah got along made Inez doubly pleased.
Meanwhile Ezra was trying to convince Billy Travis that it was probably best if he went to play with Lilith for awhile since the young boy had been following the gambler and Julia, more specifically Julia really, all day since Chris and Mary had arrived. Rain waved at her from the table and motioned her to come out of the house to which Inez nodded the affirmative, even though she was happy where she was for the moment. Rain was at the table of food, picking selections onto her plate and frowning at Nathan when he came up behind her and stole a piece of chicken with his fingers.
Under the shade of nearby tree, Chris Larabee sat with whatever he was drinking, looking completely relaxed as he enjoyed the delicious heat on his face and appeared nothing like the hardened gunslinger they had all come to know. She saw Vin Tanner picking up Billy Travis and putting the kid over his shoulders, in an effort to rescue him from Ezra before the southerner got it in his mind to challenge the kid to a duel over Julia's time this afternoon. Inez watched her family and all their craziness, with a smile of contentment on her lips before looking down at her baby.
"You know something, my little rose?" Inez spoke to the child who had since fallen asleep in her arms. "We have a strange family." She said looking up at the people in her life who had made this little bundle in her arms possible with their friendship and support. "But I think you'll like them very much."
THE END