Hell House

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

BACKSTORY:

In this Dallas alternate reality story, Kristin Shepard is alive and just abandoned poor little Christopher, leaving him with Jeff Farady, who in turn, sold him to Bobby. Kristin returns, some years later, clean, sober and wanting her son. Christopher, who is missing Pam and longing for a mother, falls in love with Kristin immediately and Bobby impulsively marries Sue Ellen’s sister, who is also J.R.’s former mistress and a tramp extraordinaire.

And that is not even the half of it.

J.R. is appalled by what Bobby has done by bringing Kristin into their lives at Southfork. And so is Katherine Wentworth, who is back in Dallas, despite Bobby’s warning for her to stay away. J.R. in turn, marries Katherine and brings her to live at Southfork as well, the goal being that Katherine will attempt to break up Bobby and Kristin and get his ex sister-in-law, the hell out of their lives!

Sue Ellen is disgusted with everyone at Southfork and leaves Dallas with John Ross. She does not want John Ross in the same house with Kristin or Katherine. And Sue Ellen has met a very sophisticated man named Galen, who is the King of a small country named Moldavia. Sue Ellen is taking John Ross there for Galen’s son, Michael’s wedding…

Then there are Kristin and Katherine themselves. Nothing is going quite the way they planned. Bobby married Kristin for Christopher and has not slept with his new wife. So when a newly divorced Dusty Farlow returns to Dallas to find Sue Ellen and encounters Kristin instead, a spark is lit. And when Mark Graison returns from the dead and learns about Pam, he is determined to protect Katherine from J.R.. And a spark is lit between Katherine and Mark as well, one that neither anticipated.

To make matters even worse and hellish, there is Ray and Jenna. Or Jenna’s family. Lucas Wade never died and at one brief time, married Public Relations executive, Leslie Stewart, then divorced her after she slept with J.R.. But Leslie had given Lucas a daughter, Ann, and she left with her for California.

Ann visited Lucas in the summers and when she was ten, Lucas married Judith Ryland! Harris was twenty then and Ann got to know her new family, despite not really liking Judith all that much. Ann is now finishing college and Harris is engaged to Monica Colby but the spark between Ann and Harris was lit back when she was seventeen…



****

Miss Ellie sat at the breakfast table outside and stared out at the land that made up Southfork. Actually, she wasn’t staring at the land itself but was thinking about simpler times. Back when her two sons lived here with their nice wives, and her other son lived in California with his nice wife, and her beautiful granddaughter graced this ranch.

Those were now days gone by. Lucy was off in Europe, Gary and Val always seemed to off and on again, J.R. never could appreciate what he had had with Sue Ellen and Pam’s fate still hurt her heart.

Clayton came out of the house and watched his wife. She was staring out beyond all of the vehicles that were approaching, readying the ranch for the annual Ewing Barbecue. He closed the sliding door that lead into the house and joined his wife at the table.

“Ellie,” he said in a no-nonsense tone, “I know you’re worried about J.R. and Bobby. But they will get back here in one piece.”

Ellie looked at Clayton. Yes, she had briefly forgotten to worry that J.R. and Bobby had rushed to Moldavia, after the news of that God awful wedding had been all over TV. Ellie had only met King Galen once, when Sue Ellen had invited herself and Clayton over to her penthouse to meet him. Ellie still didn’t know what to think about what had happened, except that she wanted John Ross back here on Southfork!

And J.R. and Bobby went to get him.

“It would help if they would call.” Ellie said, picking up coffee to sip.

“I’m sure that they aren’t in any danger.” Clayton said firmly. “But I suspect that the problem now has to do with Sue Ellen.”

Ellie sighed and set down her cup.

“John Ross is not safe in Moldavia. He will be here, no matter WHO is living here. I would hope Sue Ellen could see reason with regards to my grandson. If I was in her situation…”

Miss Ellie trailed off. She could never imagine being in Sue Ellen’s situation. Jock had been a wonderful husband. She couldn’t imagine him constantly running around behind her back. She couldn’t imagine being forced to take her sons to a foreign country so she could be with a King. Nor could she even contemplate Jock re-marrying a relative of hers or someone that had once shot him.

Clayton said no more. He knew Ellie couldn’t imagine Jock doing to her, what J.R. had done to Sue Ellen. And then there was Bobby. Clayton was about to run his strange, marital arrangement around in his mind, when Kristin came out of the house, her long hair draped over one shoulder. She was wearing a skirt suit and carrying a designer purse.

“Good morning, Kristin.” Clayton said quietly. Miss Ellie said nothing and Kristin set her purse in Pam’s former dining place. She then gripped the edge of the chair.

“Good morning, Clayton, Miss Ellie. Have you seen Christopher?” she asked.

Miss Ellie replied.

“Yes. He’s been riding John Ross’s horse, Thunder.”

“Well, the horse really isn’t John Ross’s any longer, is it?” Kristin asked, now seating herself.

“Of course it is,” Miss Ellie answered. “For when he visits J.R. here at the ranch.”

“I think we need to be realistic about how much we’ll be seeing John Ross from now on. Knowing my sister, she’ll force Galen to adopt him and my nephew will end up being King of Moldavia when he grows up. If there’s a country left.” Kristin said snidely.

“Do you even care that your sister and nephew are in danger, Kristin?” Clayton asked coolly. “Or Bobby for that matter?”

“What I care about is my son’s well being on this ranch. And I think having half of this house cleared out, has done wonders for him.” Kristin told them both, before scooting out of her chair and standing up. Miss Ellie noticed that her new, skinny daughter-in-law had not eaten anything.

“Are you off to the hospital?” Miss Ellie asked, changing the subject. Patricia Shepard had suffered a mild heart attack when she heard about the Moldavian Massacre and Kristin had been going to see her daily.

“Yes. She’s actually due to return home by the end of the week.” Kristin said, taking her eyes off of Miss Ellie as Katherine came out of the house. Her dark hair bounced as she approached the breakfast table.

“Good morning, Clayton, Miss Ellie.” Katherine said and moved to the opposite side of the table to sit in the spot that used to be Sue Ellen’s.

It was obvious she had nothing to say to Kristin. Kristin smirked. Watching Katherine roil with jealousy over her marriage to Bobby, was about the only good part of living on Southfork. That and being with her son.

“Good Morning, Katherine.” Clayton said. Katherine he could tolerate somewhat better, since he had been friends with her late mother, Rebecca Wentworth. But he thought she had made a horrible mistake in marrying J.R…..whatever her reasons were.

“Good Morning, Katherine.” Miss Ellie managed. This woman had shot and blinded Bobby! What was J.R. thinking??? It wasn’t that she didn’t understand Sue Ellen’s concern with regards to not wanting John Ross around either of them. But being here was better than being in an unstable country where in which terrorists killed wedding guests!

“J.R. called.” Katherine said a tone that almost sounded as if she were purring. “Sue Ellen is being difficult and refusing to allow him to take John Ross out of the country. King Galen is using his influence to keep J.R. from leaving with his son.”

“And Bobby?” Kristin asked. Katherine gave her a coy look.

“You haven’t heard from your own husband?” she asked in a fake sounding, concerned voice.

“No.” Kristin admitted boldly. “But I’m sure he’s too busy trying to keep the peace between J.R. and Sue Ellen to do much else.”

“Well there is that…and the new Princess. You should keep up on your tabloid reading, dear.” Katherine said, now standing up out of her chair. “I have to get going. I have some business in Dallas. I will be back a little before the start of the barbecue.”

She put a hand on Clayton’s shoulder as she walked off towards her car. Kristin decided to follow her and Clayton and Miss Ellie boldly watched the two women, hoping that Katherine’s snippiness would not start something over in the driveway.

Kristin moved quickly so that she was blocking Katherine from getting into her car!

“If you have something to say about Bobby, just say it!” Kristin snapped.

Katherine tossed her hair.

“Let’s see…he doesn’t love you. Your marriage to him is pitiful…”

“And yours to J.R. is any better? Your husband was waiting for me when I got out of the shower last month. I had to politely tell him to go and find you if he was so…’hungry’. But you were nowhere around. Is that because of Mark Graison?” Kristin asked with a smirk.

“Why don’t you stop embarrassing yourself and leave Bobby and Christopher alone? Bobby married you because he wants a mother for Christopher. And whatever is going on between J.R. and myself…well…at least SOMETHING is going on. You can’t say the same, can you?” Katherine asked with a smile that lit up her face.

But Kristin didn’t blink.

“I believe I asked you why you were never home?” Kristin asked.

“Because I don’t need to be. Now, if you don’t mind?” Katherine asked blithely. Kristin moved aside and Katherine got into her car.

“Bobby doesn’t want you. He never will.” Kristin told her. Katherine looked up at her innocently.

“No. It appears he doesn’t. He now wants the new Princess of Moldavia.” Katherine said as she reached over to the passenger side of the car and tossed out a tabloid magazine at Kristin’s feet! She then started her car, backed out of her parking spot and sped off!

Kristin slowly bent down to pick up the supermarket rag. And on the front cover was Bobby with his arm around the waist of Amanda Carrington, who was still wearing her wedding dress. Someone was pointing a machine gun at them!

Kristin slowly folded the tabloid and walked to her own car, knowing that Miss Ellie and Clayton were watching her. She opened her door, tossed the magazine inside and got in. She would confer with her mother at the hospital about what to do about this latest slight from Bobby.


****

CALIFORNIA—

Harris Ryland and Monica Colby were lying out in the sun, poolside at her family’s estate. Harris wore nothing but swimming trunks and Monica had on a bikini. A servant approached them by the pool and told Harris that he had a phone call.

It was his mother, Judith Wade.

“Hello, Mother.” Harris said, sitting up. Monica could hear the conversation but kept her eyes closed. Their wedding was just months away and her own mother, Sable, was trying to finesse it so that Harris would live in California, so that Monica didn’t have to live in Texas. But so far, things didn’t look good…

“We just got back, thank God!” Judith huffed.

“From where?” Harris asked.

“Harris! I told you Lucas and I snagged an invite to that Moldavian wedding! Lucas barely dodged a bullet himself!”

Now Judith had Harris’s full attention!

“You told me that Lucas and you were headed to Italy!”

“Yes well, I convinced Lucas to change those plans so that I could see just what Sue Ellen Ewing was doing in Moldavia! My God! That woman is about to be a Queen! That’s quite a come up from the Ewings.”

“I heard J.R. and Bobby were there?” Harris asked and now Monica sat up.

“Yes and just from what I could tell, that was not going well. J.R. wants his son back in America and Bobby is following after J.R., as usual. I would say Jenna was lucky to get the hell out of that relationship but she married down so…” Judith trailed off. Ray Krebbs was not a real Ewing as far as she was concerned and Lucas was not overly thrilled with his oldest daughter’s marriage to an illegitimate Ewing.

But Jenna had made quite a little family for herself, so Lucas did not pay her that much mind anymore. Ann, his younger daughter, was a different story…

“Honey,” Judith said, “Lucas wants you to go to the Napa Valley, collect Ann and bring her back to Texas.”

“She’s still in school, isn’t she?” Harris asked. Now Monica paid attention to the conversation.

“Yes and she was arrested protesting dog fur that was being used in some store someplace. And I love dogs, you know that. But Lucas thinks Leslie is too busy looking out for the interests of Falcon Crest to be watching Ann. Lucas wants her back in Dallas and working at Ryland-Wade.”

Harris nodded on his end. His mother’s marriage to Lucas Wade and his then failing empire had benefited them quite nicely. The only annoying part was that Lucas still had a say in important decisions that Harris didn’t think he had any business even knowing about! Wade was the one that almost lost everything and he and his mother had saved his sorry hide. That meant Lucas should keep his mouth shut, period!

Then there was sorry Jenna. Jenna who had tramped around Europe, returned and showed no interest in the family company. She could have used her influence with the Ewings to help out her father, but she didn’t. She got herself in legal trouble, lost Bobby and was now married to that illegitimate rancher Ewing. Harris couldn’t remember if his name was Ray or Gary? She’d gotten herself pregnant by Bobby, who re-married his ex-wife instead and had a son by him. Then later on, she adopted some little girl out of nowhere that they named Emma. Harris wondered what the hell was wrong with the two of them that they couldn’t come up with their own children?

He also sometimes wondered who in the hell Emma’s parents had been? She was very pretty and too good to be with the likes of Krebbs and Jenna. But that was just his secret opinion…

And then there was Annie. Harris had been in his early twenties when Judith married Lucas and Annie was ten back then. She visited in the summers and all year when she was in high school. It had been primarily Harris’s job to look after her, since her own mother, Leslie Stewart, was too busy with her shady P.R. business, to watch her only daughter properly. Judith had told him that Lucas threw Leslie out after finding out that she had slept with J.R.. Ewing.

“What would Annie be doing at Ryland?” Harris asked and now Monica was opening staring at him.

“The same thing Ray will be doing, I guess.” Judith replied.

“Ray?” Harris asked. “I don’t follow you.”

“Now, Harris…I didn’t want to tell you this, but Ray has expressed some interest in working for the company.”

“Doing what? Roping the cattle that come into the company parking lot?”

“Believe me, Harris, I don’t like it either. And I’ll expect that you’ll show Ray that Ryland Industries is not for him.”

Harris could almost hear her smiling. Her subtle dropping of ‘Wade’ from the company name, told him they were on the same page.

“And as for Miss Ann,” Judith said, “we’ll need her on our side in case Jenna convinces Lucas to keep Ray on.”

“Understood. I’ll leave for the Napa Valley today.” Harris told her. Judith hung up and Monica touched his arm.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Mother and Lucas were at that Moldavian Wedding. Lucas just wants all of his family around now, that’s all.” Harris said and got up from his chaise. Monica stared up at him as he found a robe and put it on.

“Harris? That sounded like more than just about your mother and step-father being at some wedding massacre! Tell me what’s going on!” Monica said and stood up as well. Harris reached for her chin and pulled her to him for a quick kiss.

“Annie is in trouble at school and Lucas wants her home. He also wants Jenna’s no count husband working for Ryland-Wade. We’re going to give it a try but it won’t work out, I’m sure.” Harris said in a dismissive tone.

“You know, I like Jenna. And I like Ray.”

“I like them too, darlin’, but this is business.” Harris replied, looking around to see if he had forgotten anything poolside.

“No you don’t. You don’t like Jenna. You don’t like Ray. But you do like Ann.” Monica replied and Harris turned his attention to her.

“Alright, honey, what is it? What is bothering you?”

Monica tossed some hair.

“Jenna seems to believe that Ann and you were in the car that ran Sue Ellen Ewing and Ray’s nephew off the road, one night, back when Ann was a teenager. She could never prove it…”

“What in the HELL?!” Harris snapped. “Jenna told you that?”

“Ray believes it. Jenna was secretly living in town back then…”

“I know! Where in the hell would she get an idea like that?”

“She never said, Harris. But Jenna is not a liar.”

“The hell she isn’t! She tried to pawn that daughter of hers she had with that fake, Italian Count off on Bobby Ewing! I’m leaving to go get Annie and then I’m going to give Miss Jenna a piece of my mind!”

Monica touched his robe.

“Harris, don’t! Forget I said anything. I just…I don’t know.”

Harris pulled Monica into his arms.

“What is it you don’t know, Monica?”

Monica shook her head and kissed Harris, hard! She then let go go him.

“Jenna thinks that something was going on between Ann and you back when she was a teenager. Tell me there wasn’t and we never speak of this again.”

“There wasn’t. Annie’s mother didn’t give a damn about her and I looked out for her, when Lucas, my mother and Jenna couldn’t be bothered. There is nothing beyond that.” Harris told his fiancee and he felt Monica melt into his arms. He held her tightly while thinking of the moment he got Annie alone after four years apart.


****

MOLDAVIA-

Sue Ellen stared at the table full of tabloid magazines, that showed Bobby looking very protective of Amanda Carrington.

Kristin couldn’t be happy about it.

Katherine was probably only mildly unhappy about it.

Miss Ellie was probably worried sick.

Sue Ellen shook her head and turned as the door to her room opened and J.R. entered. His expression was grim. Then again, there wasn’t much to smile about these days. She cared for Galen, deeply, but the Moldavians seemed to think that his involvement with her, had caused him to not see the attack coming. Many important people were killed at that wedding and there were already lawsuits against the Moldavian Crown.

“John Ross’s things are packed.” J.R. told her. “You need to come with with us, Sue Ellen.”

“Do you understand that Galen is important to me?”

“Do you understand that your son’s well being…”

“J.R., do not start that with me! I am not about to send my son back to Southfork to deal with your pyscho wife and my tramp, psycho sister! That place is no longer a healthy environment for anyone to live in!”

“My son is not going to live someplace where people come crashing through the windows to mow people down with machine guns.” J.R. said coolly. “Now you know I’m right.”

Sue Ellen said nothing to that. J.R. spoke again.

“What is it you want, Sue Ellen? Do you want me to leave Katherine?”

“Why are you with her? Seriously, J.R, even if the two of you broke up Bobby and Kristin, he’d never want Katherine. Is this about Kristin? Are you still enamored with my baby sister?” Sue Ellen asked impatiently.

“Let me ask you something: do you believe Christopher is Kristin’s child?” he asked.

Sue Ellen could not hide her surprise and shock!

“What?” she asked.

“I can see that it has never occurred to you that that sister of yours is lying through her teeth! Bobby found out that she miscarried the child that she claimed was mine. Then Bobby finds out that Christopher is a second child Kristin gave birth to with that drug addict Farady. He sells the boy to Bobby and Pam and Kristin is nowhere to be found anywhere. Now she’s back, ready to be a mother and get her hands on Ewing money.” J.R. snorted.

Sue Ellen rubbed the back of her neck.

“I don’t know, J.R.. I mean anything is possible but Bobby believed her. He married her.”

“Yes and he’s never been more miserable in his life! You know why that is? Because he knows damned well something is off. He can’t even bring himself to touch her!”

Sue Ellen now folded her arms.

“Alright. Let’s say it’s true. What do you plan to do about it? Or more specifically, what do Katherine and you plan to do about it? My not wanting John Ross at Southfork had more to do with just my sister.”

“Katherine cares for Bobby, you know that. Once we get Kristin the hell out of Bobby’s life, she marries him and looks after her own nephew.”

“And Kristin just goes away?” Sue Ellen asked skeptically.

“For a price, yes.”

Sue Ellen shook her head sadly.

“J.R., my mother is now involved. She and Kristin are close again. And she’s been counseling my precious, baby sister, on how to not lose a Ewing man like I did.”

“You didn’t lose me, Sue Ellen. You know that.” J.R. said firmly, just as King Galen boldly opened the door without knocking and entered. He then closed the door behind him.

“J.R., I have arranged safe passage for your brother and yourself, out of Moldavia.” Galen told him.

But J.R. stared him down.

“Well that’s all well and good, but I’m going to be needing ‘safe passage’ for my son as well.” J.R. replied. Galen looked from J.R. and over to Sue Ellen.

“Sue Ellen…maybe it would be best if John Ross left with his father.” Galen said. Sue Ellen gave him a worried look before answering.

“Everything isn’t okay, is it?” she asked softly. But J.R. is the one that responded!

“Hell no, it isn’t, Sue Ellen! The King here is about to tell you what he should have told you, when he dragged you out of Texas and into this Godforsaken place!

Galen tore his eyes off of Sue Ellen Ewing(he wished she would return to using her maiden name) and gave the crude Texan a patient stare.

“Yes, Mr. Ewing. You are correct. Things have not quite returned to normal in a manner I am comfortable with. I think you should leave with John Ross. For now.” Galen stated.

Sue Ellen was about to respond but J.R. interrupted again!

“Listen to him, Sue Ellen! These Moldavians are upset about you! Hell, that Colby woman was taken by those terrorists because they thought SHE was you! And she’s still missing!” J.R. fumed.

Sue Ellen looked from J.R. to Galen, her face registering shock!

“Galen? Is that true?” she asked him.

Galen nodded slightly.

“The part about Alexis Colby being missing, yes, it is true. But the part about the people of my country not liking you, no. They love you, Sue Ellen. This whole thing is about another son of mine. Someone that has a following here in this country. They want him to succeed me and not Michael.” Galen said. J.R. lifted a brow. He had been so concerned with John Ross and Sue Ellen getting out of here, that he had never given any real thought to WHY the terrorists had shot up Michael and Amanda’s wedding. King Galen had another son?

J.R. surmised the obvious. That this ‘son’ was illegitimate.

There was another knock on the door. Galen turned from Sue Ellen and J.R. to walk over to answer it.

It turned out to be Bobby. He nodded to Galen, while still standing out in the hallway, before focusing on J.R..

“The car is here to take us to the plane King Galen has arranged.” Bobby said before now looking over at Sue Ellen.

“I understand your concerns. If you want to stay, fine. But let John Ross’s family look after him until Galen gets things settled here.” Bobby said. Sue Ellen nodded in agreement and J.R. felt like throwing up his hands! Bobby didn’t say anything any different than what he himself said, and now Sue Ellen was being agreeable!

J.R. told himself not to obsess over such a small point. John Ross was coming back to Southfork with him. He would get Sue Ellen back when he and Katherine got rid of Kristin.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Kristin paused before entering her mother’s hospital room. She heard a man’s voice and it sounded oddly familiar.

“Leave my room now, Mr. Farlow.” Kristin heard her mother’s voice say in a commanding tone. “I would hate to call Clayton and tell him that his son was harassing a sick woman.”

Kristin opened the door and saw her mother, Patricia Shepard, sitting up in her hospital bed, hardly looking sick. But she had had a mild heart attack, after hearing about what she called ‘That Terrorist Wedding’. And yet Kristin knew that her mother was still hoping that she could one day say that she had a ‘Queen’ for a daughter.

Dusty Farlow turned and stared at Kristin as she entered the room. Kristin extended her hand towards Dusty and he instinctively reached out to clasp it.

“Mr. Farlow, how kind of you it is to visit my mother. Have you heard anything from Sue Ellen? My mother and I have been worried sick and as you probably know, Sue Ellen and I are not on the best of terms.”

Dusty found himself squeezing Kristin’s small hand before releasing it.

“I actually came here to find out if your dear mother had heard anything. Like yourself, I’m worried sick.” he replied. Patricia refrained from snorting! While Dusty had a good family background, he was not a king! She wanted better for Sue Ellen ever since she had rid herself of J.R. and she feared Dusty would ruin everything if he came back into her oldest daughter’s life.

As for her youngest daughter, after slutting around in California and taking drugs, Bobby Ewing was more than any woman that acted like that, could hope to get. And Patricia planned to make sure that Kristin kept her position as Mrs. Bobby Ewing.

“Well, Mrs. Ewing…” Dusty began, but Kristin gave him a mesmerizing smile.

“Please, call me Kristin. After all, we’re practically related, aren’t we?” Kristin purred.

Dusty disagreed, but refrained from saying that.

“Well, Kristin, I didn’t mean to add anymore trouble to your family. I inquired about Sue Ellen and your mother seemed to mistake my concern for something sinister.” Dusty said in a deep drawl. Patricia frowned.

“You seem to reappear, Mr. Farlow, just as Sue Ellen has gotten her life together. Are not married yourself?” Patricia asked.

“I was. But things didn’t work out.” Dusty replied.

“Because of your feelings for Sue Ellen?” Kristin inquired. Patricia looked from Dusty to Kristin. As much as she disliked Dusty, Patricia thought Kristin’s question was rather impertinent!

“Why don’t you walk me to the elevator, Mrs. Ewing, and I’ll unburden my deepest secrets to you.” Dusty replied in a tone that could not be mistaken for anything else but flirtatious.

Kristin smiled in response before glancing at her mother.

“I’ll be back.” she said and Dusty offered his arm. Kristin took it and could feel her mother’s disapproving eyes on her back. Once they left the room, Dusty spoke.

“If your mother’s eyes had been bullets, I’d have been shot in the back by now.”

Kristin grinned up at him!

“I was thinking the same thing. About both of us.”

Dusty half smiled down at her.

“I’m sure Sue Ellen is fine.”

“I’m not concerned.” Kristin said boldly. Dusty didn’t look surprised by her words. Everyone in Dallas knew the history between the Shepard sisters.

“Is that because of J.R.?” Dusty asked. Kristin looked puzzled.

“I don’t follow you…”

“You’re upset that J.R. flew to be by her side. He’s the reason you’re at Southfork, right?”

Kristin sighed.

“Is that what Sue Ellen told you? I’m married to Bobby because I love him and our son.”

“So your worried about him?” Dusty asked. Kristin sighed again and her hair moved off of her shoulder, something Dusty could not help but notice.

“You’ve seen the tabloids, haven’t you?” she asked.

“I skimmed them looking for news of Sue Ellen and John Ross.” Dusty admitted. “I saw Bobby with Princess Amanda.”

“Bobby was just being chivalrous.” Kristin replied.

“He called and told you that?” Dusty asked.

“Why do you care?” Kristin asked. “Why all of these questions about Bobby and myself? Bobby went to help J.R. bring home John Ross. That’s it.”

“Because I see a woman that has no one to care for her. Not even her own husband. And you’re Sue Ellen’s sister. If things had worked out differently between your sister and myself, we’d have been family.” Dusty told her. Kristin had never thought about it like that. She shrugged.

“I suppose.” Kristin said. “Well, I should get back to my mother now, Mr. Farlow. Will you be coming to the Ewing Barbecue?”

“It’s Dusty. And yes, my father and Miss Ellie were so kind to invite me. So you will be seeing me again, Kristin.” Dusty said, before favoring her with a smile. He then reached for her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. Kristin did not pull her hand from his lips and scarcely noticed when he let her go and turned to walk towards the elevator.

How Sue Ellen could have lost a man like that, Kristin would never understand. She reluctantly turned and walked back to her mother’s hospital room. She would need her counsel on how to deal with Bobby’s embarrassing tabloid photo.


****

Katherine pulled up outside of Pam’s former, colonial style mansion. Mark had moved in when he had returned to the land of the living and Katherine worried for him. She didn’t think it was healthy for him to be living in Pam’s old house, as if he was waiting for her to return somehow.

Mark swore to her that he was not doing that. He said the house had meant something to him and that’s why he had purchased it. Cliff had sold it to him, since he had been put in charge of Pam’s affairs when she left Bobby and Christopher after her accident. Pam had supposedly died in a clinic in some undisclosed country. Or that’s what Cliff told her, making it clear that he didn’t consider her worthy of any information about her own sister.

Katherine could care less what Cliff thought about how she had treated Pam. She didn’t even care that much what Bobby thought. Bobby was just wrong. Anything Katherine had done to Pam, was out of her love for Bobby, a man Pam threw away, then wanted back once he was gone.

But as she spent more time with Mark, Katherine found herself a bit defensive about how she had acted, with regards to Bobby and Pam. But oddly, Mark did not sit in judgment of her. Katherine suspected that was because he didn’t like Bobby that much.

Katherine looked down the circular drive aways and saw a truck that looked vaguely familiar. It was a pick up truck but it didn’t look like it belonged to a gardner or a contractor. It was newer and quasi fashionable. Katherine tore her eyes off of it just as the front door opened and Jenna Krebs stepped out of the house, carrying a box of Pam’s things!!!

“Excuse me?” Katherine practically hissed, closing the distance between them. Jenna gave her a patient smile.

“Hello, Katherine.”

“What are you doing here? And why do you have my sister’s things?”

Jenna just stared at her.

“Well?” Katherine asked in a demanding tone.

“I was just thinking that I was probably more of a sister to Pam than you ever would be.” Jenna replied coolly. For that remark, Katherine slapped her, knocking Jenna off of her feet! The box she was holding fell down onto the driveway, just as Mark and Ray hurried out! Ray ran to Jenna to help her up and Mark dragged Katherine away from them!

“What the hell is going on out here?!” Mark barked. But he knew. Katherine and Jenna had gotten along about as well as Pam and Jenna had!

“Let’s get you up.” Ray said to Jenna and he helped his wife up off of the ground. Jenna took a deep breath and put on a cool demeanor. She resisted the urge to rush Katherine and claw her eyes out!

Mark shoved Katherine into the house and pulled the front door closed. He then faced Jenna and Ray.

“Jenna, I’m sorry.”

“That’s alright, Mark.” Jenna said calmly. “It was my fault. I mentioned that tabloid and she just lost it. Thank you for the toys. Lucas and Emma will love them.”

Ray said nothing. He suspected that Katherine had noticed what Jenna had and had blown a gasket! Ray had never gotten the impression that Katherine cared all that much for Christopher, so it had to be just the idea of Jenna having anything that she thought she should have, like Bobby, that ticked Katherine off.

“Pam’s gone and Christopher’s too old for these toys.” Mark said, smiling softly at Jenna before shaking Ray’s hand. Ray and Jenna watched Mark go back inside to deal with Katherine, before speaking.

“Maybe we should have turned Mark down when he called.” Ray said. Jenna scoffed!

“I don’t care about Katherine or her hurt feelings…if she has any at all. I don’t even want to think about her. I just want to get through the barbecue. Daddy wants you to meet some important business associates of his. And I just know Harris is going to be a problem.” Jenna sighed.

Ray said nothing to that. He would never know why or how he had decided that he wanted to dip his foot into the business world, but when he told Jenna, she seemed overjoyed. She told Lucas, who made room for him at Ryland-Wade. He’d be working for Harris, whom Ray didn’t especially like. But he also did not expect to start at the top when he knew nothing about the company itself.

Meanwhile, Katherine watched Ray and Jenna get into Ray’s truck and drive off. She dropped the curtain and turned to Mark.

“Why?” she asked and watched Mark watch her without answering.

“Are you going to answer me?” Katherine demanded.

“I’ll answer you when you answer me.” Mark said calmly. “And they were just toys, Katherine.”

Katherine folded her arms and looked away. Mark decided to press on.

“I came back to Dallas to find Pam had re-married Bobby, gotten into an accident and left her husband and son. Cliff told me she died from her burns. She died alone.”

Katherine turned back to him.

“If it had been up to me, that would not have happened, Mark. But Bobby sent me away. And maybe Pam wouldn’t have wanted me there.”

“What happened between Pam and you, Katherine? Because if memory serves me correctly, you were as close as sisters could be.” Mark said.

Katherine thought about lying. But she didn’t feel like it. At least she didn’t feel like lying to Mark.

“I cared for Bobby. Pam didn’t like that and we grew apart.”

Mark lifted a brow.

“You cared for Bobby? When? Like the whole time?” he asked. Katherine sighed.

“Yes. The whole time. And I did little things to keep Pam and Bobby from getting back together. I did not count on Jenna Wade re-entering Bobby’s life or other things. I do know that I would have let things be if I thought Pam would have been alone. She wasn’t. She had you. Only I didn’t expect you to get a terminal illness and leave.” Katherine said quietly.

“Oh.” was all Mark said and Katherine could see he was pondering all she had told him. She looked around for her purse and picked it up.

“I didn’t come here to re-hash the past. Or to pick fights with one of Bobby’s exes. The Ewing Barbecue is today and I want you to be there. I’m sure Christopher would love to see you.” Katherine said.

Mark did not answer that directly.

“Why are you married to J.R.?” Mark asked.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Katherine. Why are you married to him? And why are you living at Southfork with Bobby and his new wife?”

“I should get going.” Katherine said firmly. “I’d love to see you at the barbecue.”

Mark moved across the room quickly and grabbed Katherine’s arm!

“And I’d love for you to tell me the truth! I know that Bobby’s new wife is Sue Ellen’s sister! I know she had an affair with J.R.! Are you two planning to break up Bobby’s marriage? Is that it?”

Katherine pulled her arm from Mark’s grip!

“J.R. and I have a connection. And I am at Southfork to watch out for my nephew! I don’t believe Kristin is his mother and neither does J.R.”

Mark’s facial expression changed.


“Do you have proof?”

“No, Mark, but Bobby doesn’t have anything that proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Kristin IS Christopher’s real mother! And he just loves her to death! I cringe thinking what could happen if she’s not telling the truth!” Katherine huffed.

Mark said nothing for a few moments, then nodded.

“Why don’t you let me look into it? And if I find out that Kristin is not Christopher’s real mother, then I’ll give you proof to give to Bobby.”

Katherine smiled up at him and patted his face. She turned to leave but Mark grabbed her arm again and turned her back towards him.

“But if she is Christopher’s real mother, Katherine, I want you to end this farce with J.R.. No good will come of it.” Mark told her.

“Of course.” Katherine lied. “I’m only there to watch over Christopher. J.R. really loves Sue Ellen…I’ll leave if you say Kristin belongs on Southfork.” Katherine lied. Mark pulled her into his arms and held her and Katherine could not help but think how easily she melted in his embrace.

****

CALIFORNIA-NAPA VALLEY

Harris’s limo pulled up outside of the house that was owned by Angela Channing. The grounds to Falcon Crest were quite impressive and he had had the limo driver take some detours so he could look around. Falcon Crest was probably Leslie’s biggest client.

He got out, wearing a suit and walked up the stairs to the house. He rang the bell and after a few seconds, an elderly Asian man opened the door, inquired as to who he was here to see and allowed him inside.

It was not long before Harris got the distinct impression that something was amiss…

He sat in a parlor of sorts, across from Leslie, who was sitting behind a desk that Harris knew did not belong to her. He could see framed pictures of the Channing and Giobertti’s members of the family, behind her.

“Well Leslie,” Harris said, taking in her striking blonde looks, “you’re looking just as pretty as ever. I’m here to get Annie. Lucas wants her back in Dallas.”

“Yes,” Leslie said coolly, “Judith called and said you would be coming by. Ann has one more year of school before graduating…so is this an internship with Ryland-Wade?”

“Lucas wants Annie to finish her schooling at a Texas college. He’s making the arrangements now.” Harris said, now standing up. This meeting was over as far as he was concerned.

Leslie looked up at him, still seated behind the desk. Her expression was one of slight amusement.

“Ann’s major is political science and she’s helping on a political campaign right now. Why don’t you come back and get her in November?” Leslie said, now standing as well.

Harris eyed her.

“What’s going on here, Leslie?”

“I think I told you that Ann…”

“I’m not asking about Annie. I’m asking about you. Where is everybody and what the hell are you doing sitting behind Angela Channing’s desk?” Harris asked in a no nonsense tone.

Leslie folded her arms.

“Angela had a small stroke and fell down the stairs. Everyone is at the hospital. I am looking after things here while they are away. Now, I am going to have to insist you leave.”

“Excuse me?”

Leslie moved closer to Harris.

“You’ll come back in November or I’ll tell Ray Krebbs that it was you that was behind the wheel of that car, that ran into Sue Ellen Ewing and Mickey Trotter all those years ago. They never did find the car.”

Harris grinned at her!

“That car ran into us! Meaning Annie and myself and she was driving. You did know that, didn’t you?”

Leslie’s expression darkened and Harris knew he had his answer. He looked away from her and around the house.

“Where’s Annie?” Harris asked, his tone not so tolerant or friendly. Leslie Stewart and his mother had been acquaintances when Leslie had been married to Lucas. It was a poorly kept secret that Leslie had practically handed over Lucas to his mother! And in turn, Judith Ryland had sweet talked Lucas into giving Leslie generous alimony payments and child support all of these years. Harris himself, had not appreciated his mother marrying Wade, though getting controlling interest in Wade Industries had been a plus.

Annie had been a plus as well. He had taken on the main job of looking after her when she came to visit as a child.


Then when high school came around, Annie was no longer a child. She was a teenager that neither Lucas, Leslie or Judith had the time to be bothered with. Harris was the one that got Annie out of many a scrape and bribed many a parent or teacher to look the other way when Annie did wrong.

By the time Annie turned eighteen, he was hopelessly in love with her.

“Not here.” was Leslie’s cold answer. “And she’s not returning to Dallas to get involved in whatever Lucas has going on.”

The door to Falcon Crest opened and Ann walked in, wearing a peach, sheath dress that showed off her long legs. She set down a suitcase in the door way and smiled at Harris and her mother.

“Daddy called me and I said I would be ready when Harris arrived, Mom. Harris, hello.”

“Well hello there, yourself, Annie.” Harris said, lighting up at the the sight of her, something Leslie could not help but notice. But she kept her composure. Ann was going to do what Lucas wanted, in the end.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 3

Miss Ellie could now enjoy the barbecue.

Bobby had called.

J.R. and him were headed back to Dallas with both John Ross AND Sue Ellen! Ellie had no doubts whatsoever that Bobby’s calm and critical thinking had saved the day. She was walking down the hallway towards the stair landing, when she spotted Kristin in Christopher’s room, straightening up things even more than their maid, Theresa, had already done. Ellie stopped in the doorway.

“You must be relieved.” Ellie ventured. Kristin turned around to stare at her mother-in-law. She had just finished putting some action figures of Christopher’s away in a chest.

“It would have been nice to hear that my husband was alright, from him. Or even yourself. I heard the servants talking.” Kristin said blithely. She was dressed in appropriate barbecue Texan gear. She picked up the cowboy hat that she had set down on her son’s bed, when she decided to straighten up his room.

“I’m sorry, Kristin. I think Bobby could only get in that one call and you weren’t here. He did ask to speak to you.” Ellie said with more sympathy than she thought she would be able to muster up.

Kristin just nodded and walked over to the window to stare down. Guests to the barbecue were almost swarming in. Her eyes fell upon Clayton, who was standing with his son, Dusty and Ray. At one point, Clayton and Ray were just talking and Dusty looked up towards her window. He nodded up to her and Kristin found herself smiling down at him. She turned from the window and looked at Miss Ellie.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about, Miss Ellie. I’m sure you’re right. The whole thing sounds perfectly awful. Did Bobby say anything about how Sue Ellen is doing?”

“No.” Miss Ellie said truthfully. “Though I know this whole thing has to be very hard on her. She cares for Galen.”

Kristin said nothing to that. She looked out of the window again and saw something else.

Katherine.

Katherine had red highlights in her hair and was wearing a very familiar looking dress. Kristin stared down at her so long, that Miss Ellie walked over to the window to join her.

“My.” Miss Ellie said. Kristin looked from Katherine to her.

“Doesn’t Katherine’s dress look familiar?” Kristin asked. It was a white, silk, halter dress. Sort of reminiscent of the dress Marilyn Monroe wore in ‘The Seven Year Itch’, but more off white in a way.

“Yes. Pam wore a dress like that at her first Ewing Barbecue here as a Ewing.” Miss Ellie said and Kristin looked at her mother-in-law and could see that she was remembering. Miss Ellie was seeing Pam.

Kristin looked down at the crowd again. Mark Graison was by Katherine’s side with his arm draped around her waist, while they talked to Clayton and Dusty. This is what Katherine wanted! For everyone to see Pam when they saw her!

This was for Bobby. And Bobby would see her as Pam when he came back home! Damn her!

Miss Ellie tore her eyes off of the group below and looked at Kristin.

“Why don’t we go down together? I’ll make introductions…”

“Maybe later, Miss Ellie.” Kristin said dismissively and struggled not to look as if she were hurrying from the room. She went back downstairs, through the house and went outside. She walked right up to the group. Clayton saw her first.

“Kristin, you know my son, Dusty? He said you met at the hospital earlier?” Clayton asked.

“Hospital?” Mark asked. Kristin took a deep breath before answering.

“Yes. My mother fell ill when she heard about my sister and nephew being caught up in that Moldavian Massacre.”

Dusty shook his head.

“I went to see Patricia hoping I could help. The tabloids are blaming everything on King Galen’s romance with Sue Ellen.”

“Why?” Mark asked.

“The thinking is Galen is too busy pursuing Sue Ellen to rule the country. But the word is that that whole thing had to do with a son of Galen’s that wants to be acknowledged.” Dusty said.

Mark nodded slightly.

“I heard that too and I think that’s going to become public knowledge soon.” Mark said.

Katherine eyed Mark. To be honest, she’d prefer for Sue Ellen to continue suffering from bad publicity. But she had not realized that Mark knew anything about any of this.

“What do you mean?” Clayton asked.

“Meaning that King Galen’s illegitimate son is an American. There is talk that he orchestrated the whole thing.” Mark said and Katherine felt his arm tighten around her middle. She could feel Kristin eyeing her curiously and refrained from smiling. Bobby’s twit wife was trying to figure out why she looked slightly different. But Mark had subconsciously figured it out, as had other guests that gaped at her, while making their introductions.

Kristin had nothing to say about any of this, to be honest. Sue Ellen had always been one upping her through life, with regards to social position. Though this time, Kristin knew that while it appeared her sister had done well for herself, Sue Ellen’s heart would always be here at South Fork and by J.R.’s side. That and if Sue Ellen could not seal the deal and get Galen to marry her, she would be known as the troublemaking, American woman that caused the Moldavian Massacre.

“I hope you’re right, Mark.” Kristin said. “Sue Ellen deserves better than to be blamed for what happened over there. Hopefully when she gets back here, we can hear about what really happened.”

“Sue Ellen is coming home?” Dusty asked. Clayton gave him a look that Dusty ignored.

“Why yes.” Kristin replied sweetly. “J.R. was not about to have the mother of his child stay in such a god forsaken place. Miss Ellie was seeing about making up a guest room for her when I came out here.”

Kristin smiled at Katherine before walking off. Katherine pulled out of Mark’s hold and headed into the house! Clayton sighed and walked after her, leaving Dusty and Mark alone.

“I’m going to see how Kristin is really doing.” Dusty told Mark, clearing his throat. Mark nodded.

“Understood.” Mark replied and watched Dusty take off after Kristin. He had no doubts whatsoever that what Bobby’s new wife had said, was a lie. Miss Ellie would never be that disrespectful to Katherine, would she?

No. But J.R. might.

****

Judith left her husband, Lucas, to talk to old friends about the old days, when she spotted Jenna talking to a group of women. Two of them saw Judith coming and excused themselves from Jenna. Those two women had worked in Judith’s secret whore house, before marrying well and didn’t want Judith to ‘remind’ them of that in front of anyone!

The other women, Judith shooed away and Jenna turned to face her step-mother.

“Judith.” was all she said.

“Jenna. Your daddy would have appreciated a call to find out how he was doing, after that hellish wedding.”

Jenna eyed Judith.

“What were you two doing over there anyway? How did you get an invite to a wedding like that?”

“Your daddy knows people. Something you should well know. Where’s Ray? Lucas would like to introduce him to some people.”

“Really?” Jenna asked, sounding a bit hopeful.

“Of course! I know you don’t think that I’m supportive of what you want to do for Ray…”

“No, Judith. I think you’re fine with whatever my father wants. But Harris is another story.” Jenna told her. Judith lifted a brow as a slight wind kicked up, blowing her hair around.

“Harris is fine with mentoring Ray. We’re family.” was her reply.

“Mentoring and then equal partnership. Just like what J.R. and Bobby have at Ewing Oil.” Jenna told Judith.

“J.R. and Bobby are blood brothers. They both had a mutual respect for Jock. Trying to make my son and your husband over into them is just never going to happen.”

“Ann called me.” Jenna said abruptly. “Daddy ordered her back to Dallas. Apparently she will be working for Ryland-Wade as well. I think that was your doing.”

Judith cleared her throat and looked around before saying what she was about to say.

“I got your father to agree to this because of what you told me about Harris, Ann and that car accident. But Ray will stay under Harris’s thumb for as long as Harris wants him to be there. Otherwise, Harris learns that Ann had his baby and gave my little granddaughter over to you and your sorry husband. And after Harris takes Emma from you and raises her with Monica, you will be out of a daughter and your husband will be out of a job. Hell, you might even lose Ray, making that the second Ewing man you couldn’t hold on to.” Judith told her step-daughter, just as Ray walked over with Emma, bouncing her up and down in his arms as he carried her. Emma reached out for Judith!

“Hi Grandma Judith!” she squeaked.

“Now, now, honey bunny, I’ve told you it’s just ‘Grandma’!” Judith cooed, reaching for her granddaughter. Ray reluctantly turned her over and watched as Judith carried her off. Jenna looked around.

“Where’s Lucas?” she asked.

“Off with Christopher.” Ray said quietly. “And apparently J.R. and Bobby are coming home tonight. They even convinced Sue Ellen to return.”

Jenna nodded and Ray touched her shoulder.

“What did Judith want?” he asked. Jenna smiled up at him.

“She said Daddy was looking for you. He wants to introduce you around.” she told him, ignoring Judith’s threat. Ray was going to take over Ryland-Wade once Harris married Monica and moved to California. Jenna planned to see to that.

****

Kristin tried to think about how Sue Ellen would act in a situation like this? When she had been publicly humiliated and forced to save face?


She was not Sue Ellen. And Sue Ellen was either drunk or half drunk when those type of things happened to her. Liquor and drugs can give someone a lot of courage. Kristin herself knew that, unfortunately.

She was lying in the hayloft of the stables, staring out over at the barbecue and hoping that no one had noticed she was gone. Bobby would hear about how she had not made the rounds, ingratiating herself to people at the barbecue and would probably be ashamed of her. Kristin sighed. She needed to be thinking about Christopher and his place in the Ewing family. He would have to fight to make a place for himself here and she needed to be strong enough to help him.

And yet she could not make herself move.

It was as Kristin was thinking along those lines, that she heard hay rustling. She glanced over her shoulder to see that Dusty Farlow had made his way up the ladder and to the hayloft. Once Kristin saw it was him, she returned her gaze to the barbecue. It was not long before Dusty knelt beside her.

“I won’t get in to how long I’ve been looking for you. I didn’t expect to find you hiding in here.” Dusty said, his tone almost reproachful. Kristin, who was on her stomach with her arms under her chin, now sat up on her side and glared at him!

“Is that what you think I’m doing in here, Mr. Farlow? Hiding?”

“I thought we agreed you’d call me Dusty?”

“Why should I be so informal with you? I’m not Sue Ellen.” Kristin groused.

“I know that!” Dusty practically snorted and now Kristin paid him more attention!

“What does that mean?” she asked in a huffy manner.

“I mean that Sue Ellen would have never humiliated Katherine like that in public.” Dusty said matter-of-factly.

“Your right. She would have done it in private and while drunk. Now if that’s all…”

“No, Kristin, that’s not all. The Wentworth’s and the Farlow’s are old family friends. I don’t know Katherine all that well, but we were both at one another’s homes when we were younger. I think you should apologize to her.”

Kristin smirked!

“You want me to apologize to J.R.’s wife? Seriously, Dusty, Katherine married J.R. to break Bobby and myself up! And didn’t you notice how she looked today?”

Dusty looked baffled!

“How she looked?”

“Yes! She was trying to look like Pam! You could see Mark was all over her! And her hope is that Bobby will be too! I have enough to deal with from Katherine, J.R., Jenna’s death glares and Pam’s ghost! I don’t need anything from you!”

Dusty clenched his jaw.

“I had no idea things were that bad around here.”

“Miss Ellie should have introduced me around.” Kristin continued to complain. “Then things might have gone differently today.”

“And yet you don’t blame Bobby for any of this?”

Kristin eyed him.

“Why would I blame him? He’s done nothing…”

“Exactly.” Dusty said wryly. “And he should be here, standing up for you and introducing you around. He’s not here because he doesn’t want to be here, does he? Not really. Your marriage to him is just as much a sham as Katherine’s is to J.R..” Dusty said pointedly.

“Who told you that? Clayton? I wouldn’t have taken him for a gossip.” Kristin said wryly.

“No. Sue Ellen. She didn’t think Bobby would make you happy and she was worried.”

Kristin tilted her head.

“So your here because Sue Ellen is worried about me?” Kristin asked.

“I never said that.” Dusty replied. “But I’ve been where you are, Kristin. I was married and I did it to forget Sue Ellen.”

Kristin stood up and looked down at Dusty.

“I married Bobby for Christopher. I figured love would come later. And I still believe that, ‘Mr. Farlow’. You have a pleasant day.” Kristin said and walked over to the ladder to climb down. She suddenly couldn’t wait to see her sister back in one piece! She wanted to see if Sue Ellen planned to take up where she left off with Dusty Farlow after losing her ‘King’. And Kristin suspected that if she was coming home, then Sue Ellen had indeed lost him.

She also planned to seduce Bobby the moment she had him alone. And if he did not respond to her overtures…

Kristin refused to think like that. Bobby would come around. After being a war torn country, he would need his wife. And Kristin planned to be there for him.

****

“Katherine!” Clayton thundered. “You apologize this instant! If Rebecca could see you now…”

“If my mother could see how Miss Ellie was disrespecting my position as J.R.’s wife in this house, she’d be upset for me, Clayton!” Katherine snapped.

Miss Ellie kept her cool.

“John Ross will be in this house and he’ll need his mother. If I thought you had a good relationship with him and could comfort him through his ordeal…”

“J.R. will be here! And I don’t think that Sue Ellen should be rewarded with shelter here, after putting her son in danger in the first place!” Katherine hissed. “You let her stay here and I’m leaving! Then you can explain to J.R. how you ran his wife out of here!”

“J.R. is the one that wants her here, Katherine.” Miss Ellie said calmly. “I didn’t just come up with the idea like Kristin said. Now if you don’t mind…”

“Your lying.” Katherine said just as calmly. “Bobby is probably the one that wants her here.”

“You can ask J.R. for yourself when he returns.” Miss Ellie finished and walked off. Clayton left with her and Katherine stared after them a moment, before hurrying down the stairs and into the sitting room! She grabbed a bottle of bourbon, hurried back up the stairs and marched towards the guest room! She went in, closed the door and poured bourbon on the bed! She then left the bottle on a night table and left the room, closing the door behind her.

That was when she ran straight into Mark!

“Mark? I didn’t realize you were still here.” she said, looking around him.

“I thought you could use some fresh air, away from Southfork.” Mark said knowingly.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’d better stay here for when J.R. and Bobby come back.”

“With Sue Ellen?” Mark asked knowingly.

“Mark,” Katherine said in a fake voice, “she is John Ross’s mother and he’s been through hell. I’m just going to have to put up with it.”

Mark smiled down at her.

“That is the Katherine that I remember! But I still think we should go for a drive. I know Kristin’s news in front of everyone like that, wasn’t easy to take.” Mark said, reaching for her hand. Katherine nodded her assent and he pulled her towards the stair landing. Maybe Mark was right. Maybe a nice drive someplace would clear her head and make her somewhat sorry that she had vandalized Sue Ellen’s guest room with bourbon.

****

The private jet that belonged to Ryland-Wade was in the air while the goings on at Southfork were taking place. Ann stared out of the window as Harris finished up a phone call and then moved to sit down next to her. She was different, Harris thought, but maybe she just seemed different after their years apart. He had to struggle to remember that there had been no promises made between the two of them.

The accident had been just that. An accident. Annie had been grounded from driving for getting too many tickets but Harris let her drive anyway. Probably because his mind had been elsewhere. Lucas had interfered in a business deal and Harris had to struggle to remember that the man did still have some say in the business, even though Ryland had saved Wade Industries from being as extinct as the dinosaurs.

Not to mention he had to help run the other Ryland ‘side business’. Annie had found out about it and had thought it would be cute to blackmail him for extra money for college spending money, with her smart teenage self! But oddly, that was when Harris began to see her differently. He offered her a secret cut, above her allowance, if she helped keep the girls that worked there in line, after school.

Harris knew Lucas would kill him if he found out that Annie was involved in the prostitution business his mother and himself, had been running for years. Harris knew that Lucas knew it existed and turned a blind eye to it. Harris figured his step-father put up with it as long as it didn’t embarrass him. And Judith had been very discreet over the years, paying off local law enforcement to turn a blind eye and other things.

Having Annie help run things changed things between them. In a good and bad way.

Six months before the accident, Annie had called Harris sounding panicked. She said a customer had gotten handsy with one of the girls and she had bashed him over the head with some statue made of wrought iron. Needless to say, when Harris arrived, the customer was dead, the prostitute that was victimized, was paid off and sent elsewhere—meaning out of Texas.

Harris and Ann dealt with getting rid of the body, who turned out to be a man named Roger Larsen, an escaped convict that had raped Lucy Ewing. Harris had some trusted men bury the man underneath an old outhouse on the property, while comforting a frazzled Annie by making tender love to her when they were alone.

Harris knew right away that he was not Annie’s first but he got so lost in her enthusiastic response to his lovemaking, that he gave it no more thought that night. Or the next day in her room at the house. Or that night in the stables. Or on the side of the road in his car in the rain…

Then came the night of the accident. Yes, they were kissing while driving and didn’t see the car. Nor did they help Sue Ellen or Mickey Trotter when they saw they were badly hurt. Harris just dragged Annie back to the car and took over driving them back home.

Shortly after, Annie left to live with her mother, finishing high school in California and Jenna became a constant figure in their lives again. Harris frowned to himself when he thought about it. He had never really connected the two events until now.

“You were kind of quiet in the car.” Harris said for an opener. “What’s your mama doing at Falcon Crest?”

Ann cleared her throat.

“Angela Channing had a stroke and mom is just helping out.”

Harris grinned at her!

“Come now, darlin’, Angela Channing doesn’t need any help, stroke or not. What really happened? Did Leslie throw the old woman down the stairs or something?”

“Oh my God, Harris! No! She really had a stroke, okay?” Ann sniffed. Harris reached out to touch her bare leg.

“I’m sorry, sugar, you know that. I’ve just missed you all of these years. I’m glad to see you.”

Ann removed his hand from her leg.

“Your getting married. And I’m seeing someone.”

Harris raised a brow.

“Who would that be?”

“No one you know.”

“Oh I’m sure I don’t! That’ll change! You tell me who he is and we’ll invite him to Dallas to meet your daddy.” Harris said in a semi-threatening tone.

Ann said nothing and looked out of the window. Harris moved closer to her, touching her hair.

“Monica means nothing to me, Annie. We’re planning a merger with ColbyCo, that’s all.” he whispered, burying his face in the back of Ann’s hair. Ann pulled away and stood up.

“Harris…when I left Texas I wasn’t really alright.”

Harris stood up as well.

“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

“I mean I left because I was sick.” Ann said.

“Sick with what?” Harris asked.

Ann coughed!

She then spoke up.

“A baby.” she said in small voice. “My mother didn’t know but Jenna took me on a trip with her and I had the baby and gave it to her. And Ray.”

Harris stared at her, disbelieving.

Then he realized…

“I knew Emma was too cute to be some orphaned baby by drug addicts! She’s mine? Is that what you’re telling me?” Harris barked.

“Who told you Emma’s parents were drug addicts?” Ann asked.

“I just assumed it! Well, well, well, Miss Annie! I’ll tell you what is going to happen now: we’re going to Ray and Jenna’s and getting our child back! And then…”

“And then what, Harris?” Ann asked, her tone full of pity. “We tell your mother? My father? You tell Monica and she does what? I’m sorry but I couldn’t come back here without telling you the truth. Also, I like Ray. I don’t want to hurt him.”

“You don’t want to hurt him?! But you’re fine with hurting me? You didn’t think I’d want our child? You didn’t think I’d want YOU and Emma?”

Ann sniffed!

“I couldn’t deal with all that had happened, Harris. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you…”

“Oh, you’re damned right you shouldn’t have told me! I’m not letting my little girl stay with Ray and Jenna for one more second! Mama already loves her so she’ll be no problem. Lucas will just have to understand and so will Monica!” Harris yelled.

Ann suddenly felt anger burn through her! She walked right up to him and began to yell in his face!

“I should have never told you anything! I thought that you might care that our daughter was safe and…”

But Harris Ryland grabbed Ann Wade’s face and pulled her to him!

“Are you trying to tell me that you don’t still love me, Annie? You don’t want to be wife? Is that what you’re trying to say to me?”

Ann’s eyes were lost in his! She couldn’t tell him that because it wouldn’t be true. Passion overcame them as they fell to the floor of the plane and before Ann knew it, she was writing against the hot, swollen determination that consumed Harris Ryland, while his hypnotic voice urged her to give herself to him and not hold back.

Meanwhile, on another plane, Sue Ellen rubbed her throat and looked over at Bobby, who was sitting with Princess Amanda from Moldavia. She shook her head at J.R., who was casually reading a magazine. She sat down beside him.

“You don’t care about the trouble Bobby is going to cause by bringing that woman to Southfork, do you?” Sue Ellen asked him. J.R. set down his magazine, turned in his chair to grin at Bobby and Amanda, before looking at Sue Ellen.

“Bobby is just trying to make sure she’s protected, that’s all, darlin’. We’re going to get some of our good ole’ boys to look after the princess, properly.” J.R. replied.

“I’m taking John Ross back to my place.” Sue Ellen told him firmly. “I won’t have him involved in what will happen when Kristin sees Bobby come in with Amanda. They were in the tabloids. I know my sister saw at least one of them.”

“Let Bobby handle his own business, honey, okay? None of that has anything to do with keeping my son safe.” J.R. said, eyeing a sleeping John Ross, who was covered in a blanket on a couch.

“And Katherine? What will she say about this?” Sue Ellen asked knowingly.

“Sue Ellen, Katherine is not Kristin. And she’s my wife. She won’t care what Bobby does. Look, Mama will want to see all of us under one roof at Southfork. I called and she’s already made up a guest room for you and John Ross’s old room is ready for him. So there will be no problems. Mama will make sure of it.” J.R. said, reaching for his ex wife’s hand and kissing it.

Sue Ellen could not help but smile wanly. J.R. had always been good at putting a positive spin on less than positive situations. But she told herself that Miss Ellie and Clayton would keep the peace within a crowded house.

Sue Ellen, unfortunately, would be very wrong.

 

[Karin Schill]

If I could I would rate your posts as creative. You do have a wonderful gift of being able to tie different fandoms together in a way that makes sense in your stories.
Great plot twist how Jenna and Ray are raising Ann & Harris daughter. Also very creative idea to make Jenna and Ann half-sisters. Love the Harris/Ann stuff.

Also wicked to have Katharine and Kristin living at Southfork as JR and Bobby's wives. I bet the drama will kick up a notch when Sue Ellen, JR, Bobby and John Ross come home.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Yes, the drama most certainly will! Once I finish this installment I plan to work on Part 2 of that Dynasty fan fic I posted a couple of months ago.

One of the reasons I titled this one, 'Hell House' is because the idea of anyone having to live in the same house with Kristin and Katherine, has got to be hell. But at the same time, the older I get, the more I think about the fact that wrong or right, Kristin and Katherine had a 'side' to their stories as well. Kristin just never had a chance and yet she was young and thought she knew everything. Sue Ellen and Kristin were almost generations apart with regards to how they handled their lives.

Katherine was wrong. Flat out wrong. But I can't imagine thinking I'm an only child only to find out that my mother had two other children with some guy and left them. Then your mother gives the reigns of your father's company to a half brother you don't know very well. And then you meet 'Dream Boat Bobby' that you can't have. Someone should have fixed her up with someone.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 4

SOUTHFORK-EVENING

The trouble happened as expected. Meaning when J.R., Bobby, Sue Ellen, John Ross and Princess Amanda walked into Southfork…

J.R. recognized Dusty’s car and began the trouble.

“What in the hell is your son doing here this late? I see his car out there!” J.R. huffed to Clayton.

But Miss Ellie spoke.

“Dusty had dinner with Clayton, Kristin, Christopher and myself. It was getting late so I had Theresa make up a guest room.” Ellie said calmly.

“Dusty is here?” Sue Ellen asked. She had one hand on John Ross’s shoulder. John Ross was still half sleepy and he went to Ellie to give her a hug.

“That’s right, Sue Ellen! Your rodeo lover is here! I want him out of here! He can sleep in the bunkhouse but I don’t want him in here!” J.R. told them.

“I will decide who stays in this house and your step-brother will be here tonight, J.R.” Ellie said, feeling an irritation that could only be brought on by her oldest son . She moved around J.R. and walked over to Bobby and Princess Amanda. She held out her hands to Amanda and Amanda, sensing more warmth from Bobby’s mother than she had ever experienced with her own, clasped Ellie’s hands.

“Thank you, Miss Ellie for your most kind invitation. I don’t know what I would have done without Bobby. He kept everyone calm.” Amanda said in a gentle, soft spoken British accent.

“You have been through hell, I am sure.” Ellie told her. “We have no intention of allowing anything to happen to you here. Bobby, you might want to go and get Kristin and Christopher. They will want to meet Amanda, I am sure.”

Bobby knew his mother really meant, Kristin, but he nodded and excused himself from Amanda. He passed J.R. and Clayton, who were still arguing about Dusty being in the house. When he got upstairs, he glimpsed Sue Ellen corralling John Ross into his old room and closing the door. He stopped before his own bedroom door, took a deep breath and opened it…

Bobby stepped in and quickly closed the door!

Kristin was lying on their bed, naked, with her hair draped around her in a mermaid fashion.

She was also wearing a cowboy hat.

“Good evening, Mr. Ewing. Welcome home.” Kristin purred.

Bobby’s eyes covered her from heads to toe, which Kristin took as an encouraging sign.

“Kristin, I need for you to get dressed and welcome a guest I brought back from Moldavia.”

Kristin frowned. That was not the response she expected to hear.

“You mean Sue Ellen and John Ross?” she asked.

Bobby moved to sit beside her on the bed.

“No. I mean Princess Amanda. Her husband, Prince Michael, stayed behind in Moldavia to help his father bring some sort of stability to the country. There was a fear that if Amanda stayed, she would be in danger. It is also known that she is from Denver so she needs to be someplace safe…”

Kristin suddenly took off her hat, got out of bed and shook her hair out!

“She’s here? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Bobby got off of the bed and walked up to her. He gently rested his hands on her shoulders.

“Yes. Mama has made up a guest room for her.”

“Where? There’s only so much room in this house!” Kristin snapped.

“She’s going to be in Lucy’s old bedroom. Now, I want you to get dressed and…”

Kristin slapped Bobby! She found she could not help herself! Her hand just itched!

“You’re telling me you brought that woman here? The one you were in the tabloid with?” Kristin asked in a no-nonsense tone.

“Kristin, she needs help!”

“So does our sex life!” Kristin snapped.

“Honey, it will happen when it happens.” Bobby said gently.

“You mean when you get over thinking you’re too good to touch me, right?” Kristin said and headed to her closet. She was nothing but her mother’s daughter—at times. She would go downstairs, meet ‘Princess Diana from Wherever’ and not let on that she was madder than a wet hen!

“Kristin, please! Look, J.R. is angry because Dusty is here…I just don’t need this, okay? Come downstairs, meet Amanda and let’s act like a family, okay?” Bobby asked, then turned to walk off without waiting for her answer. He was going to go and get Christopher.

Bobby closed the door and Kristin stared hatefully at it. She then put on a robe, walked over to the mirror to quickly brush out her long stresses, before walking to the door and opening it. She stepped out into the hallway, looked around and then walked down to J.R.’s room. She opened the door quickly, saw Katherine was nowhere around and walked over to a night table. Kristin opened the drawer, found a gun, pulled it out and left the room…

Kristin then calmly walked down the hallway and to the stair landing to look down. Miss Ellie and Princess Amanda were by the front door, looking very mother and daughter like. Kristin pointed J.R.’s gun at Amanda’s ear and fired!

Dusty, who had been taking a very long shower and fantasizing that Kristin was sharing it, turned off the water! That sounded like a gunshot! He hurriedly reached for a towel!

Outside, Mark and Katherine drove up with more of Pam’s things when they heard the shot! Katherine noticed there were more cars around than usual.

“Was that a gunshot?” Katherine asked breathlessly. Mark turned off the engine and looked at her.

“Stay here. I’m going to find out what’s going on!” he said tersely and got out of the car. Katherine peered after him, wide-eyed, from the passenger seat.

Inside the house, Dusty had ahold of Kristin from behind, while Bobby got the gun out of her hands! Kristin had not shot Amanda’s ear off.

She had hit Miss Ellie in the shoulder.


****

NEXT MORNING-

Lucas Wade tried to ignore his wife, Judith’s, uncontrollable laughter at the headline in the morning paper. Harris smiled, having glimpsed it himself. Ann ignored her step-mother. She didn’t think anyone getting shot was funny!

“Are you going to be alright, Judy?” Lucas asked, now making it a point to stare down his wife. Judith struggled to catch her breath but she was almost crying!

“Oh come on, Luke! I’m just…I know you like Ellie Farlow. I know you were friends with Jock but Jesus…” Judith trailed off, collapsing into laughter again. Harris shook his head.

“I don’t know what Bobby expected bringing home another woman like that.” Harris noted. Lucas nodded, agreeing with his step-son for once,

“He wouldn’t have dared pulled that on Jenna.” Lucas said, picking up his coffee and sipping it. Judith pulled herself together and tossed the paper aside.

“Now, now, Luke. The article said that the poor Princess needed a place to stay. Bobby thought a hotel was too good for her or something…” Judith trailed off as she descended into loud laughter again. Ann looked at her father.

“How is Miss Ellie?” she asked him.

“Probably embarrassed and horrified.” was Lucas’s answer. “Nothing like that would have taken place if Jock were still alive.”

Judith tried to pull herself together again. She tried to keep a straight face but couldn’t as she uttered the words.

“Kristin was arrested!” she cried, before collapsing into laughter again. Ann had had enough!

“What is so funny about any of this? Bobby is a nice man. He offered to protect a princess and his mother is shot for it. I don’t think this is very funny.” Ann sniffed.

Now, Judith pulled herself together!

“You listen to me, Miss Ann! What’s funny about it, is that your sister would have done the same thing if she had been in Kristin’s position and we all know it! If your father brought home some princess and expected me to clothe and feed her, he’d be six feet in the ground!”

“Would I?” Lucas asked wryly. Judith turned from Ann to Lucas.

“Oh come on, Luke! I’m just telling your daughter that Kristin wasn’t about to put up with any nonsense from Bobby.”

“Ellie Farlow is an old family friend. You know who else was one? Harper Ryland. I would hate to think that anyone was laughing the way you’re carrying on, after he killed himself. People said that you drove him to it.” Lucas said. Ann glanced across the table at Harris, who looked nothing short of enraged! He was about to get out of his chair but Judith gave him a look and her son dropped back into his seat.

“I believe you could be right, Lucas. I’ll make arrangements to send Ellie a nice floral arrangement today.” Judith said with fake sweetness, just as Jenna entered the dining room, having been let in by a maid. She walked over to kiss Lucas on the cheek, then smiled at Ann.

“Ann! I heard you were here. We have to get together soon.” Jenna said, then looked down at Lucas. “You heard about what happened at Southfork?”

Lucas took his daughter’s hand in his and brought it to his lips for a kiss. Judith and Harris both rolled their eyes!

“I’m just glad you weren’t there. I was just telling everyone here that Bobby would have never gotten away with pulling that on you.” Lucas told her. Jenna nodded and rubbed her father’s shoulder.

“I’m going to pay Miss Ellie a visit in the hospital. I was also hoping to maybe visit Sue Ellen and find out what happened in Moldavia.” Jenna said. Judith decided to interrupt the love fest.

“Today’s Ray’s first day, right?” Judith asked as she took a sip of coffee.

“Yes.” Jenna replied. “Which is another reason I’m here. Ray drove to the office…with Monica.” Jenna said, now looking directly at Harris!

“Excuse me?” Harris asked.

“Monica flew in last night and arrived late for the barbecue. She had hoped to find Daddy or Judith, but instead she found Ray and I. She stayed with us the other night and will be coming here, of course.” Jenna told him.

“Why am I just hearing about this now?” Harris asked her.

“Because it was late and now it’s morning, Harris. You can be reunited with the woman you love, today. At Ryland-Wade.” Jenna said, just as a servant walked in and told Ann she had a call. Ann excused herself and headed out of the dining room. Judith glanced after her, while Lucas focused on Jenna and Harris.

“Harris, we need to get Monica here so that can fix up which wing of the house you’ll be living in.” Lucas told him.

“Monica and I have to work out whether we’ll live in California or here.” Harris said and stood up. “Jenna, can I have a word with you?”

“Of course.” Jenna said in a fake, sweet tone and left the dining room with him. Lucas stared after them.

“I wonder what that’s about?” Lucas asked.

“Harris probably didn’t appreciate finding out that Monica came in last night. Jenna should have called us.”

“Monica was just being considerate of us, that’s all. Now, about Ray…I’m not stupid. You were the one that asked Harris to go and get Ann, didn’t you?” Lucas asked his wife.

Judith had been prepared for her husband’s suspicions. And she had a good answer for him, that would stop his wondering as to whether she and Harris planned to sabotage Ray.

“Leslie asked me to get her, Lucas. In case you haven’t kept up with your ex-wife, Leslie’s got her hands full at Falcon Crest. And she didn’t want Ann being dragged into it.” Judith lied. Meanwhile, Jenna and Harris had a stand off in the hallway by the stairs!

“You will never turn that husband of yours into a real Ewing! So stop using my family’s company to try!” Harris hissed.

Jenna smiled coyly.

“It’s Daddy’s company too. And you’re going to help turn Ray into a better Ewing than even J.R. and Bobby are or…”

“Or what, Jenna? Annie told me about Emma. Last night on the plane.”

Jenna suddenly stopped smiling.

“She told you?”

“Yes. And that’s going to end as well. I’m not letting my little girl live with two losers like yourselves!”

“How dare you! I took my baby niece in after you left Ann alone and pregnant!”

“Who told you that? Annie?”

“Ann called me…”

“I’m sure she did! To avoid telling Lucas or Leslie about it! We’re going to make a deal. I’ll teach Ray what he needs to know if you sign my baby girl back over to me!”

Jenna shook her head.

“No. Ray and I are her parents.”

“No, Annie and I are.”

“Well Ann is in no position to be anyone’s mother.” Jenna scoffed.

“She will be as my wife!”

“What are you talking about? What about Monica? And we both know that this marriage of yours is about a business merger. Your mother and my father will kill you if it’s ruined because you had inappropriate relations with Ann!”

“You told Monica that, didn’t you?” Harris asked.

“I think she has a right to know.” Jenna replied coolly.

“How about this, ‘Miss I was too stupid to get Bobby Ewing to marry me’, you keep the hell out of my business!”

“You keep the hell out of Ann’s life!”

“Ann is my life!” Harris said with more emotion that he meant to show. “And when I get Emma back, Ann will be by my side. Now you stop playing around and turn my daughter back over to me, or Ray will be beyond humiliated at Ryland-Wade.”

“And if you don’t help my husband thrive there, Harris,” Jenna said, offering her own counter attack, “I will tell Daddy everything. That means I will tell him about the accident and Ann’s pregnancy. He will be so grateful for what I did for my sister, that he will just GIVE Ray your job!” Jenna huffed and turned to walk off towards the front door! Harris took a deep breath and returned to the dining room. He seated himself and ignored his mother’s pointed stare.

“What was that all about?” Lucas asked.

“Oh nothing. Jenna seems to think that I don’t wish Ray all the best. Where is Annie? We need to get a move on if we’re going to drive in together.” Harris said casually.

Ann, meanwhile, looked around carefully as she spoke with her mother…

“Mom, it’s over. Leave it alone.

“Prince Michael does not love Amanda. He loves you. He has called here three times…”

“He needs to be calling Southfork. Where his new wife is.” Ann said and hung up on her own mother. She knew what she had done was disrespectful but she couldn’t help it. Her mother should be telling Michael not to call anymore.

Ann stared down at the phone and tried not to think of how she had surrendered to Harris’s insistent lovemaking on the floor of the plane the other night. Ann reddened at the memory of how she had succumbed to all of Harris’s pleasure, striking thrusts. Ann then shook her head. She was going to make sure Emma stayed with Ray and Jenna. But how?

****

SOUTHFORK-

Katherine knew she had not missed J.R., not one moment that he had been gone from Southfork and in danger in Moldavia. And yet the pleasure that was encasing her naked body as she moved up and down upon J.R.’s bloated organ, was not from relief at having her husband home and back in her bed.

It was because she was still in a gleeful mood after last night! Last night’s events almost made Katherine lose all sense of herself as she continued her passions strained ministrations upon J.R.’s thick penetration.

The first treat was seeing Bobby again, safe and alive.

The second was seeing his reaction to her dress, which she had still been wearing, her red highlights and Mark. Dear Mark. Bobby could not take his eyes off of the two of them.

Then there was Kristin and Dusty Farlow. Sue Ellen could not take her own eyes off of the two of them! And Katherine could see that Dusty had real concern for poor little gun wielding Kristin! If Kristin’s shooting Miss Ellie didn’t end Bobby’s farce of a marriage to that woman, nothing would!

Katherine collapsed into JR’s arms as the world spun gleefully around her, and she felt him clasp them around her. His hands wandered down to cup her buttocks and he murmured into ear.

“That was a nice welcome home, darlin’.”

Katherine pulled herself out of his embrace and got out of bed. She put on a robe and shook out her hair.

“Do you think Bobby got her out on bail?” Katherine asked.

J.R. rested an arm behind his head.

“What bail? Hell, you know Bobby! He threw her out and told her not to come back! I think she’s with Sue Ellen.”

“Oh God! Sue Ellen would take her in after she shot Miss Ellie?” Katherine asked, a bit surprised.

“No. Probably not.” J.R. replied, getting out of bed, naked. He walked over to a window and peered out from behind the curtain.

“Well I’ll be damned!” he swore. Katherine joined him by the window. Dusty and Kristin were getting out of his vehicle and approaching the house! Dusty had a hand on the small of Kristin’s back. They had gotten out of his car and were walking towards the house. J.R. and Katherine both saw Bobby come out and confront them!

“Damn! I’d better get down there!” J.R. griped and looked for a robe and slippers. Katherine stayed rooted in place and opened the window a bit, so she could hear what was going on…

“I told you to never come back here.” Bobby told Kristin. Kristin stepped forward.

“I know things got out of hand last night. I would never hurt Miss Ellie for anything in the world. Please, I just want to see Christopher.” Kristin said and looked up towards the window of his bedroom. His small face stared out, looking hurt.

“Christopher? Honey? Can you come down here?” Kristin called out.

Christopher slammed the window shut! Katherine heard the sound and left her own window and her room. She then walked down the hallway to Christopher’s room and softly knocked on the door.

“Christopher? It’s Aunt Katherine. Can I come in?”

The door opened and Christopher fell into Katherine arms, sobbing!

“Mom’s bad just like everyone said she was! She shot Uncle J.R. and Grandma! What if she kills me too?” Christopher cried. Katherine calmed him down and held his face within her hands.

“Aunt Katherine isn’t about to let anyone kill you. Especially your no good mother, okay? Now how about I ask your father if you can spend the day with Uncle Mark and myself? Over at Mommy Pam’s old house. Okay?”

Christopher nodded enthusiastically and Katherine smiled, letting him go. She closed the door to his room and went back to her own. She needed to shower, dress and tell Bobby that his son wanted to spend time with Mark and herself today. Hopefully the idea of it would make Bobby jealous…for more than one reason.

Meanwhile, J.R. joined Bobby outside and shook his head at Dusty!

“You stupid sonofabitch! She’ll rob you blind, shoot you then rob you blind again! I saw how Sue Ellen looked at you last night when she saw what was going on between the two of you!” J.R. barked.

“Shut up, J.R.!” Kristin snapped. “Nothing is going on between Dusty and I! Just like NOTHING is going on between Bobby and myself. Isn’t that right, Bobby?”

“Leave.” was all Bobby said. Dusty reached for Kristin’s arm.

“Let’s go. There’s nothing more to be done here.” he told her. But Bobby now stared him down.

“Just where do you fit into all of this, Dusty? I always thought you were good for Sue Ellen. But you’d sleep with her sister as well?”

J.R. coughed and walked back inside the house! Dusty moved Kristin behind him and got in Bobby’s face!

“No one put a gun to your head, Bobby. You married a woman and then couldn’t be a real husband to her. To add insult to injury, you’ve brought your lover onto this ranch and told Kristin to just deal with it. And yet somehow you think your still better than your brother?” Dusty asked.

Bobby punched Dusty, causing him to flail back against one of the patio chaises! Kristin got in front of Bobby!

“I will go! But this isn’t over! I’m not leaving my son here with you.”

“Because he’d be so much better off with you?” Bobby asked in a mocking tone.

“Your dead wife’s psycho sister looks at old photographs of Pam and dresses like her. I just plan to tell a judge that you couldn’t be a real husband to me because you were too busy sleeping with Katherine!” Kristin snapped, before turning back towards Dusty, who was now upright and staring at Bobby accusingly, as if Kristin’s accusation was true!

Then Jenna’s car pulled into the driveway…

“Oh God. Okay, we’re leaving.” Kristin sighed and walked towards Dusty’s car. Jenna got out and started to walk past her to Bobby, when she stopped and stared at Kristin.

“For what it is worth, I feel for you. There will never be any getting around Pam. Dusty Farlow is a good man.”

Kristin half glanced back at Dusty, who was standing near Bobby watching them. Kristin got the distinct impression the men thought a catfight would ensue and did not want to get too close!

Kristin faced Jenna.

“Dusty loves Sue Ellen.”

“Dusty couldn’t take his eyes off of you at the barbecue yesterday.” was Jenna’s reply as Dusty walked over. Jenna said hello to him and watched as him and Kristin got into his car and left Southfork. Jenna took a deep breath and walked over to Bobby.

“How is Miss Ellie?” she asked.

“Recovering. Clayton is with her now. I was going over with Christopher to visit. I’m sure Mama would love a visit from you.” Bobby said in a jovial manner.

But Jenna just stared at him.

“What?”

“Your very perky for someone who is cheating on his wife with a princess.” Jenna said.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m not.”

“I’ll call when Miss Ellie gets out of the hospital.” Jenna told him and turned to walk back to her car. Why she had come here, she’d never know. After all, Ray was the one that needed her today. Ray, who was starting his first day of work in a Viper’s nest called Ryland-Wade.

Bobby watched Jenna walk away from him. She had not been totally wrong. Amanda was now staying with Sue Ellen, amid security, in Dallas. And there was a part of him that was drawn to the new Princess of Moldavia.

He had one stop to make before going over to the hospital to see his mother. A meeting of sorts and it was not one he was looking forward to.

 

[Karin Schill]

Ouch! Seems like Kristin is really in the dog house. Hurting Miss Ellie is not cool!

I don't know where you are planning to go with this. But if Bobby can't be with Pam, I sort of like him with Jenna...

I know she is married to Ray. But I have a feeling their marriage might run into trouble after Harris try to take Emma away from them.

I'm definitely rooting for Ann/Harris to end up together.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

I remembered you were a Bobby/Jenna fan. I don't know. Honestly, sometimes I don't know where I am going with this until it's written. But I think you'll be surprised.

I always thought Jenna and Ray were strange. Meaning I wondered if he had been interested in her, even when he was married to Donna?

Oh I want Harris and Ann together too! That's one of my main gripes about season 3 of TNT Dallas. That and what happened between John Ross and Pamela.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 5

Bobby had given Katherine no trouble at all with regards to taking Christopher to visit with Mark at Pam’s old house/Mark’s new one. She sat on a chaise, wearing a midnight blue bathing suit and watched Mark fling Christopher up in the air while they were both in the pool! Christopher was too big for such a game but Mark didn’t seem to care. Katherine stared at him, worried that he was exerting himself when he shouldn’t be. But Mark said all signs of his illness were gone, so she decided to take him at his word.

She allowed her mind to wander to other things now. Like Princess Amanda showing up at Southfork last night. Something was off about it. Bobby wasn’t stupid or naive(or at least overly so). Bringing her home with him not only ticked off his wife, but actually put everyone at Southfork in danger. While the ranch had capable ranch hands that new how to handle weapons, were they any match for terrorists? Katherine didn’t quite get why suddenly a ranch in Texas was safer than the protection Amanda’s father, a billionaire named Blake Carrington, could have provided?

Mark and Christopher got out of the pool and a housekeeper that Mark had hired named Mrs. Hutchinson, took Christopher inside for lunch. Mark told Christopher that him and Katherine would be in in a minute and Christopher padded off towards the house. Mark sat down next to Katherine and toweled off.

“I think Christopher and you should stay here.” Mark said. Katherine looked up at him with surprise!

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. You have a journalism background and I know people. Something is off about Bobby and Princess Amanda. I don’t think anything is going on with them romantically. And if nothing is going on between them then Bobby’s involved in something else.” Mark said pointedly.


“Like what?” Katherine asked.

“Something that Christopher and you should stay far away from.” Mark said.

Katherine leaned forward.

“I was thinking something was off about this whole thing as well. But with Kristin shooting Miss Ellie…well…no one is thinking beyond that.” Katherine mused.

“Okay, then you see my point. Let’s leave Christopher here with Mrs. Hutchinson and go back to Southfork to pack some things. You will stay here until Bobby gets his life together.” Mark said firmly.

Katherine could not help but smile.

“Okay but Bobby is not going to let Christopher live with you…”

“Katherine, Bobby is hiding something about this whole thing. And if he doesn’t want that to come out, he’ll let Christopher stay here.”

“I was just mulling this around in my mind, Mark. I mean, yes, things seem off but do you really think Bobby is part of this whole thing?”

“I don’t know. But I do know that Moldavia is divided. Galen has a son that was born to an American mother, that the people want to see on that throne before Prince Michael. Bringing Princess Amanda here put a lot of people in danger.” Mark said.

“How do you know that for sure? You said something at the barbecue about it but you didn’t elaborate.”

Mark sighed.

“The clinic I was in…it was in Moldavia.”

“Oh my God, Mark! Did you know that something was being planned for that wedding?” Katherine asked, unable to hide her shock.

“No. All I ever heard was that the ‘American Son’ could do a better job as King than Galen or Michael.” Mark admitted. Katherine reached out to touch his arm.

“You know you can’t tell anyone you were there, don’t you?” Katherine asked him.

“I’ve told you.” Mark said with a smile. He reached for her hand and squeezed it.

“I’m serious!” Katherine exclaimed, squeezing his hand back. “I just…I don’t want you to go through stress of it and maybe have…have a setback.”

Until that moment, Katherine had not realized how important having Mark back here, in the land of the living, had meant to her. And the more she took in the enormity of it, the more fearful she became. And that was because in that moment, Katherine suspected that Mark Graison was not telling her everything.

“Okay, Mark. I’ll talk to Bobby.”

“We’ll talk to Bobby. And J.R..” Mark said, kissing her hand before releasing it.


****

Dusty pulled into the hospital parking lot, found a spot and looked over at a fuming Kristin.

“Maybe now is not the time to visit Miss Ellie.” he cautioned.

Kristin looked at him.

“I’m not here to visit her. Mother is coming home today.” Kristin revealed. She had actually stayed at her mother’s house after Dusty bailed her out.

“Oh.” was all Dusty said to that.

“Yeah. ‘Oh’.’ Mother probably knows everything. She’s in the same hospital Miss Ellie is in and she reads the papers.” Kristin sighed. She was dreading a lecture from Patricia, knowing full well that she had went against her mother’s teachings. To Patricia’s way of thinking, Kristin should have welcomed Amanda into her home with open arms and forgot that Bobby had disrespected her.

Dusty looked away from Kristin when he heard some commotion in front of the entrance of the building. He looked back at Kristin.

“There are reporters over there.”

“Oh God! Let’s just go! I’ll…”

But to Dusty and Kristin’s surprise, Sue Ellen came out of the hospital, pushing Patricia in a wheelchair! Kristin got out of Dusty’s car and gaped at the sight, while Dusty slowly got out on the driver’s side. He caught Sue Ellen’s eye but she did not give him a welcoming look. Soon, Sue Ellen and Patricia were swarmed by media!

“Mrs. Ewing, is it true that your sister is having an affair with King Galen and that Princess Amanda knew?” a reporter yelled out.

Patricia kept her cool but inwardly she was livid! How could Kristin mess up her own life so badly? She had Bobby and her son! Now this! And she hoped what that reporter was alleging wasn’t true!

But Sue Ellen was as poised as ever.

“My sister was cleaning her gun and it went off, unfortunately. There is nothing more to the tragic events that took place last night at Southfork. Now if you will excuse me, my mother needs her rest and I have to get her home.” she answered.

But there were more than a few reporters that weren’t buying Sue Ellen’s story…

“Mrs. Ewing, is it true…” the reporter began. But Sue Ellen gave him a sharp look.

“Aren’t you from the Houston Mirror?” she asked. Patricia rolled her eyes and spoke!

“That paper is trash, Sue Ellen! Do not give him the time of day!”

But the reporter was used to such put downs about his newspaper. And he didn’t care!

“I don’t want to ask about the shooting at Southfork or even about the Moldavian terrorist wedding. I want to know if there is any truth at all to the allegation that your ex brother-in-law, Bobby Ewing, really went to Moldavia to get his lost son back?”

Sue Ellen just stared at the reporter as if he were nuts! Patricia did as well, before looking up at Sue Ellen. Dusty and Kristin looked at one another!

“What is he talking about?” Dusty asked Kristin.

“How would I know? Bobby doesn’t have any other children but Christopher and Lucas.” Kristin said, now watching Sue Ellen to see if she could tell if she was lying or not. Kristin could honestly say her sister didn’t look as if she knew what the HELL that reporter was talking about!

Kristin moved away from Dusty before he could stop her, and walked up to the reporters. They saw her and turned away from Sue Ellen and Patricia to pepper her with questions!

“Mrs. Ewing, is it true that your husband has a Moldavian child?”

“Of course not. Now I am here to make amends with my mother-in-law. You people are bothering my mother and sister.” Kristin said coolly.

But the Houston Mirror reporter was not so easily cowed.

“I’m not saying the child is Moldavian, Mrs. Ewing. I’m saying that your husband’s first wife was pregnant when she was in that car crash. I’m saying that Pamela Ewing knew King Galen, HE got her out of Texas and brought her to a clinic where the baby was saved. I’m saying that Galen is raising him, secretly and the terrorists think that that child is really the King’s. Your husband, Mrs. Ewing, doesn’t agree. He thinks the child is his…”

The fetid reporter’s words were cut off by a punch for Dusty, just as Kristin slipped to the ground in a dead faint.

****

Lucas Wade met with Ray, Harris and Ann in his office. He addressed Harris first.

“Harris, I want you to bring Ray and Ann in on a deal I’ve been working on.” he said. Harris kept his expression neutral.

“What kind of deal, Lucas? I didn’t know you had anything going on.” Harris said. He had realized long ago that Lucas would have to die before he got full control of the company that the Ryland’s had controlling interest in.

“No. This was delicate.” Lucas said and his eyes slid off him and looked at Ray.

“You were once involved with Bobby’s first wife, right? Pamela? Cliff Barnes’s sister?”

That was the last question Ray ever expected to hear come out of Lucas’s mouth! He glanced at Harris, who looked just as perplexed as he did. Ann backed back a little, not liking where this meeting was going already!

“Yes. It was a long time ago. Why?” Ray asked.

“I wasn’t in Moldavia just to attend a wedding. I’ve secured the drilling rights down there from King Galen. But I don’t want anymore terrorist nonsense blocking profits. Those people seem to think Galen has another child. A young one.”

Ray folded his arms.

“I still don’t get what you’re saying, Lucas? What does Pam have to do with any of that? She’s dead.”

“Maybe. Maybe not.” was Lucas’s reply. “But I have it on good authority that Bobby Ewing didn’t go down to Moldavia to help J.R. get his boy back. He thinks Pam’s alive and he thinks that boy is his. Apparently she was pregnant at the time of her accident and the baby lived.”

Harris interrupted.

“Lucas, I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with Ray. I don’t get where you’re going with this.” he said.

“Ray,” Lucas said, ignoring Harris, “I need for you to find out if Pamela Ewing gave birth to a boy and if Galen is raising it. You’ll go down with my men to begin the drilling operations. You find out what we need to know however you have to.”

Ray just shook his head.

“No.” Ray finally said.

“Excuse me?” Lucas asked.

“You heard me, Lucas! None of that is true and I wouldn’t hurt Bobby that way…”

“Oh, Bobby knows it. And that’s why he can’t give that pretty young wife of his, the time of day in bed. He thinks Pamela is alive and he thinks he has a son. I don’t know that it’s not true.”

“Why would Galen keep the child if it isn’t his?” Harris asked.

“That’s the interesting part,” Lucas said, “there is an allegation that Pam did lose the baby and had an affair with Galen after she recovered. Apparently, the first Mrs. Ewing is living in Moldavia.”

“She was burned, wasn’t she?” Harris asked. “I don’t see it, Lucas…”

“You don’t have to see it, Harris, just do as I say! And that means you make sure you’re properly married to Monica Colby. We’re going to need all of ColbyCo’s resources when we merge with them.” Lucas said. He then turned to Ann.

“Ann…your mother informed me of what was going on between Prince Michael and yourself. Your being married to him would help the family out a lot, sweetheart.”

Harris’s face grew beyond red with rage!

“What in the hell are you talking about, Lucas?! Annie doesn’t even know him!”

“That isn’t true.” Lucas said calmly. “Is it, honey?”

Ann cleared her throat and ignored Ray’s curious look and Harris’s accusatory stare!

“Daddy, I didn’t know he was engaged to be married. We broke up when we found out. He’s married to Princess Amanda now.”

“That’s not going to work out. And when it doesn’t, we’re need to get you a wedding dress even prettier than Princess Amanda’s.” Lucas said in a tone one would use with a pet.

Harris and Ray were about to say something else to Lucas, when the door opened and Lucas’s secretary walked in with none other than Bobby Ewing. Bobby ignored Ray, Harris and Ann and walked right up to Lucas.

“Alright, Lucas. Tell me where my son is?” Bobby asked, his tone one of restrained fury.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 6

“Ray, Harris, Ann…I need to speak to Bobby. Alone.” Lucas told them. Bobby tore his eyes off of the man that would have been his father-in-law, if things had been different. He then looked at Ray.

“You were in on this? The whole time?” Bobby asked Ray, staring him down.

“Bobby, I don’t even know what ‘this’ is! It’s my first day!” Ray half yelled. “I get here and Lucas is saying that Pam is alive and that you could have a son living in Moldavia!”

Harris snorted!

“This is bullshit, Lucas! I’m marrying Monica, isn’t that enough? We don’t need to be drilling someplace with a King that forces himself on sick women!” Harris huffed. Bobby looked at him, then at Lucas!

“What is he talking about? Harris, what are you talking about?” Bobby asked and took a threatening step towards him. But Ann got in between them!

“Bobby, no one knows anything for sure, okay? I’m sorry for this.” Ann said. And she was. Bobby was trying to put his life back together with a new wife and now some lie was going to tear him apart again! Prince Michael never said a word about any of this! If his father was raising a baby secretly, Ann was sure Michael would have told her!

Or would he? Ann just barely found out about Amanda.

“All of you. Out.” Lucas said. Ray clenched his jaw and hurried out of the office. Harris gave Bobby a warning look and grabbed Ann’s hand to pull her away from Bobby and out of the office.

That left Lucas and Bobby alone.

“I’m here.” Bobby began. “And I convinced Princess Amanda that she needed time away from everything that was happening in Moldavia. I brought her to Southfork. Now where is Pam? Where is our son?”

Lucas smiled coldly at him and leaned against his desk.

“Your wife is a poor shot, don’t you think? She was dead on with J.R. but not so much with the Princess, was she?” he asked slyly,

“Where are my wife and son?” Bobby asked in a voice that didn’t sound so much like he was asking.


Lucas cleared his throat.

“Alright. I’ll cut the bullshit. Pamela is dead and your child died when that truck hit her car. I told Ray just now, that I hired him to go to Moldavia to look for Pamela. I told Ann that I wanted her to be Prince Michael’s wife since I don’t believe the relationship he has with Amanda Carrington will last. I lied to them too. About everything.” Lucas said in a somber tone that had an edge of malice in it.

“Good God, Lucas, WHY? This is because of Jenna, isn’t it? How could you…how…our families…”

“No, Bobby. Our families do not go way back, if that’s what you were going to say. But Jock and I do.” Lucas replied and that was when Bobby got the odd feeling that his father played into all of this, somehow.

“What do you want? You must want something to have me bringing princess’s to Texas that don’t belong here so that you could interfere in my life! What. The. Hell. Do. You. Want?” Bobby said with a tone that sputtered cold rage.

“I want my grandson to be a Ewing. My namesake. The Ewings are the only royalty I ever cared about. Texas Royalty. And Jock was like the brother I never had. I wanted a wife like Ellie and sons like Jock had. But my first wife lived long enough to only give me Jenna. And my second wife gave me Ann.”

“I can’t marry Jenna, Lucas. That ship has sailed. Ray and her are very happy together.”

“I doubt that, boy, but sometimes you have to settle. And Jenna settled. I don’t ‘settle’ when it comes to my family.” Lucas told him.

“Lucas, I am only abiding by Jenna’s wishes. She doesn’t want to confuse our son.” Bobby replied.

“I want him to have the Ewing last name. And I want you to send Christopher away…with that tramp mother of his.”

Bobby’s mouth dropped open!

“Let me get this straight: you lied and spread a story around about a lost, illegitimate Moldavian son so that dissidents could get all whipped up and kill people at a wedding, all so you could make me believe that this lost ’son’, was really mine?”

“Galen has another son. No one really knows who is, but there are people that know who the child’s mother is. It just isn’t Pamela.”

Bobby now clenched his jaw.

“And instead of just coming to me with this absurd request about Lucas, you had to hurt me…”

“Because you hurt my girl! You think she wants to be married to Ray Krebbs? Hell, Donna Culver took all she could take, living in that stupid looking house in the middle of a field someplace! You needed to pay a price for throwing a way the best woman you could’ve ever asked for for a wife!” Lucas snarled.

“Bravo, Lucas. You were very imaginative. Now I am going to correct all of the reporters that think that this story is true. I am going to go to Kristin and tell her just what happened and I’m also going to tell Princess Amanda about all of this. I’m sure King Galen will have something to say about it as well. Goodbye, Lucas.”

“Where the hell do you think your going, boy? I’m not through.”

“Yes we are.” Bobby said and turned to walk off. But Lucas’s words stopped him cold.

“How about I give the papers another story? One where I tell them about a conversation I had with Jock, about how he had sex with your current wife, in the garage out at Southfork, during one of your family barbecues? Or I could tell them about the time Jock had sex with Kristin at that nice little apartment J.R. got for her? Jock said that Kristin could balance a bottle of bourbon on her head, while dancing naked for him.”

Bobby slowly turned back towards Lucas.

“Your lying.” was all he said.

“Christopher, in all likelihood is your baby brother, Bobby. And if you don’t want that known, then you are going to give Lucas your last name. And…your going to get rid of that tramp wife of yours and marry my Ann.” Lucas said coolly.

“What?! She’s…”

“Tall?”

“No!” Bobby snapped. “You’re out of your mind!”

Lucas continued talking as if Bobby had not said no.

“You see, I let some things slip by when Ann was in high school. I didn’t pay enough attention to things that were going on right in front of my nose. But the long short of it is, Harris and Ann began an inappropriate relationship that resulted in my granddaughter, Emma.”

Bobby folded his arms.

“Jenna’s little girl?” he asked. “She’s Ann and Harris’s?”

“Yes. Though not for long. Judith and I will be raising her, though Judith doesn’t know that yet. Harris will be leaving for California to live with his wife, Monica Colby and Ann is going to be living on South Fork—with you.” Lucas told Bobby.

“Thank you, Lucas. I have now have more to share with the media about what a crazy, old bastard you really are.” Bobby said and turned to skulk out of Lucas’s office. He did not bother to close the door behind him and Lucas turned towards the window of his office and smiled. He planned to make sure Ann had what Jenna was unable to keep for herself.


****

Katherine felt rage stir within her, as she watched Kristin faint in Dusty Farlow’s arms and the media continue to pepper Sue Ellen about questions about Pam. She was in Mark’s study and he asked Mrs. Hutchinson to keep Christopher busy, meaning keeping the TV off, so that he would not hear the news.

Mark walked in, half dressed from being in the pool with Christopher and closed the door. He joined Katherine by the TV and she picked up the remote and turned it off!

“Hey!” Mark protested.

“Did you know Pam was alive this whole time?” she asked him.

“She’s not! I don’t know where this story came from but it’s a lie!”

“And you know this, how, Mark? I mean I do believe you, because if my dear sister had been down there, you would have moved heaven and earth to get her back here, I’m sure!”

There was something about the way Katherine said that, that sounded odd to Mark. He then realized that Katherine’s tone had been downright hateful!

“So, are you upset that your sister may actually be alive? Does this ruin your plans to pry Bobby from Kristin?”

Katherine took a deep breath before responding.

“I am happily married to J.R.. And if Pam came back to Bobby, she would be better than Kristin Shepard!”

“She’s Kristin Ewing, Katherine! Mrs. Bobby Ewing! And yes, if Pam had been in Moldavia, I would have moved heaven and earth to get her back to Christopher!” Mark yelled.

Katherine folded her arms.

“I think I need to get Christopher back to the ranch. Bobby will want to help his son deal with the fallout of this.” she said casually and began to leave the room.

But Mark grabbed one of her arms and pulled her back to him!

“You don’t think I see what you’ve been doing?! You suddenly have red highlights in your hair and you wear a dress that everyone raves about at the barbecue. Because it was the same one that Pam wore when she debuted as Mrs. Bobby Ewing at her first barbecue. You want all of her clothes and…”


“You know what, Mark? I want all of Pam’s clothes and I want every damned thing she ever had! And that includes Bobby!” Katherine snapped, her eyes crackling with rage.

“Does that include all of her men, Katherine?” Mark asked and pulled her to him for a hard, bruising kiss! Katherine thought about fighting his mouth for like three seconds, before his kiss blended into kisses and before things went where they were bound to. Katherine pulled back and grabbed Mark’s face!

“I hate her, Mark! I don’t want her to be alive and if she is, I will chase Bobby until the end of time!” Katherine snarled before Mark’s mouth swooped down possessively on hers! In this moment, he didn’t care that Katherine had just told him that she hates Pam. He didn’t care that she told him that she wants only Bobby.

What Mark did care about was the here and now. And he couldn’t honestly say when he first returned to Dallas and found out Pam was lost to him, that he was so wounded that he had moved into the house he had spent the happiest years of his life in, with the woman he had loved.

Now, he was going to make love to that woman’s sister, who had hated her and yet, Mark Graison could not stop himself as he practically ripped Katherine’s bathing suit off of her, while she reached out to help him out of his own clothing…

Before Katherine Wentworth Ewing knew what was happening, Mark Graison had cupped her buttocks possessively and lifted her up onto his waiting girth, mounting her upon him like a coat dangling from a hook. Katherine then lost herself in Mark’s lovemaking, as his formidable flesh used her fiercely and tirelessly, leaving her almost too breathless to even moan.

Meanwhile, at the Southern Cross Ranch, Kristin awoke on a couch in a front parlor within the house. She slowly sat up and looked around, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. Dusty soon appeared and seeing that she was awake, sat down beside her and handed her a glass of whiskey!

“I would have gotten you some water, but after what you went through today…” he trailed off and Kristin gratefully took the liquor, gulped it down and handed him back the glass. She then ran a hand through her hair.

“Is there any truth to what those reporters were saying?” Dusty asked. Kristin shrugged hopelessly.


“I don’t know.” she admitted. “But if Pam did have his son and the child was in Moldavia, it sounds like something he would do. Bobby would want to find his son. And Pam, I guess.” Kristin noted. Dusty peered at her.

“You seem to be accepting of all of this.” he noted.

“I’m not accepting of any of it. But Bobby doesn’t love me and I don’t think that will ever change. No matter how much effort I put into it.”

Dusty stood up and took Kristin’s glass over to the bar. He began to pour himself, and her, another drink.

“Tell me what happened at Southfork the other night?” he asked, while mixing the drinks.

“What do you mean?” Kristin asked, now standing up.

“I mean, we all had dinner then you went to your room and I went to mine. Then I heard gunshots. What made you do what you did?” Dusty asked her, now turning back and walking over to give her another drink. Kristin took it, but set down the glass on a coffee table.

“I had been waiting for Bobby. I decided that I would give him a special ‘welcome home from danger’ surprise.”

Dusty sipped his drink, smiling down at her.

“And what does a Kristin Ewing ‘welcome home from danger’ look like?” he asked.

“Oh. Well, first I need a cowboy hat.” Kristin almost purred. “Do you have a cowboy hat, cowboy?”

Dusty walked over to a chair across the room, picked up one that was in a chair and tossed it to her. Kristin caught it and then began to undress…

Dusty Farlow knew, as he held Kristin’s slip hips within his grasp and she rode him tirelessly, while keeping one hand on the tip of his hat, that he had lost whatever chance he could have ever had to get Sue Ellen back, when he chose to be with Kristin in this moment.

And as for Kristin, she tried not to think about what a nice ranch this would be to live on. She tried not to think about how hard hitting Dusty’s thrusts were when he picked her up off of him and turned her around on that couch. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine that it was Bobby Ewing’s full hip and hammering thrusts she was responding to.

But she knew she was with Dusty Farlow and he had a hypnotic way of not allowing her to forget that.

****

Bobby returned to Southfork just as it began to rain. He had wanted to be with Clayton and Mama at the hospital, but he knew that the trouble Lucas had caused in his life, had now spread to the rest of his family and the public at large.

He saw that J.R.’s car was in the driveway and thanked God for that! Bobby needed his big brother’s help here. J.R. would know what to do about all of this, including Lucas Wade.

Bobby walked into the house, calling out for J.R..

He found him almost immediately.

He was standing at the bottom of the stairs, naked, with his arms outstretched! Bobby watched as Princess Amanda slid down the winding bannister, and plunged onto J.R.’s waiting length! J.R. was knocked backwards onto the floor and Amanda began kissing him passionately…

Bobby cleared his throat loudly and the two stopped what they were doing and looked over at him.

Princess Amanda had the grace to be embarrassed.

J.R. did not.

“Hey, Bobby!” J.R. called out to him, as if he hadn’t been doing what he was caught doing. “How’s Mama? You saw her at the hospital?”

“Get dressed. Both of you. We need to have a very long talk.” Bobby told them and turned to head into the sitting room. He definitely needed a drink after getting an eyeful of Princess Amanda and J.R. naked! And he didn’t bother to ask if Teresa or any other servant was around. There is no way J.R. would romp around here, bare assed if anyone else was home.

He took a long swallow of his drink and tried not to think about Kristin and Jock. There was no way Christopher even looked like Jock!

Or did he?

No. He did not. And Jock Ewing was never unfaithful to his mother not one day in their married lives!

Bobby turned as J.R. and Amanda returned, dressed, to the lower floor and walked in to join him.

“Alright, Bob, you seem upset. What’s going on?” J.R. asked, moving next to him to make his own drink. Amanda sat on the couch.

“I just got back from a meeting with Lucas Wade.” Bobby began. J.R. paused, mid-drink to raise a brow. Amanda just gave Bobby a blank stare.

“You met with ole Lucas Wade? You would’ve been better off facing those Moldavian terrorists!” J.R. quipped.

“Who is Lucas Wade?” Amanda asked.

But J.R. answered.

“He is the father of the best woman Bobby ever had in his life! He threw her away and re-married a woman…”

“Watch yourself, J.R.!” Bobby snapped. “And you’re actually right. My meeting was all about Jenna.”

J.R. clamped his lips closed and let Bobby talk.

“Amanda, Lucas Wade and his wife, Judith, were guests at your wedding. Do you know them?” he asked her. Amanda shook her head.

“No. Michael or Galen must have invited them.” Amanda replied.

“I ran into Lucas as he and Judith were leaving Moldavia. They got out of there before we did.” Bobby said.

J.R. now looked confused.

“They were there? I never saw them.”

“That’s because you were busy screaming at Galen and Sue Ellen about John Ross.” Bobby said wryly. “But Lucas pulled me aside, and said that one of the terrorist told him that the whole thing was about a child that their group, wanted to succeed Galen instead of Michael.”

Amanda rolled her eyes!

“None of that is true! No one can ever come up with a mother for this supposed child. No one has ever seen him.”

J.R. now eyed Bobby suspiciously.

“What is going on with you, Bobby? What did Wade tell you?”

Bobby took a deep breath before saying what he needed to say.

“He said that the terrorists were saying that the mother of the child was American. That she was from Texas and had been burned. Galen fell in love with her, healed her and she had his child. Lucas however, thought that the child had to be the one Pammie and I were supposed to have.”

J.R. slammed down his drink and Amanda jumped!

“That bastard told you Pam was alive with your child and living in Moldavia? He’s that angry over Jenna?” J.R. huffed.

“He said that he would find out exactly what was going on if I helped get Amanda out of Moldavia. Lucas said at the time that there terrorists wanted to kill her but he revealed a whole other agenda.” Bobby admitted, now looking at Amanda.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into this. But Lucas knew so much and…”

“You don’t have to apologize, Bobby,” Amanda said, standing up and walking over to him to clasp his hands, “I don’t think you would have deigned to hope that your wife and child were still alive, if your marriage to Kristin was as it should be. I apologize if I’m speaking out of turn.”

“No!” J.R. piped up. “You aren’t! And she’s right, Bobby! So you went to Wade and he told you he was lying about everything?”

Bobby let go go Amanda’s hands and turned back to J.R..

“Yes. And he hadn’t just lied to me. Ray was there, thinking he was going to be working for Lucas. But what he wants, is for me to give my son, Lucas, with Jenna, my last name and marry Ann.” Bobby said.

“Ann?” Amanda asked. “Who is that?”

“Apparently your husband knew her. And Lucas wasn’t pleased that Ann was thrown over. He wants me to marry Ann and bring her here to Southfork to live.”

Before J.R. could chime in again, Amanda spoke.

“I’m sorry, but this is a very elaborate ruse for an outcome that this man still cannot make happen. Am I missing something?” Amanda asked.

Bobby nodded.

“Yes. But now I need to talk to J.R. alone. You need to get packed. I’m sure your father would be relieved if you would go back to Denver so he could look after you.” he said gently. Amanda nodded, then turned to leave the room. Once she was gone, Bobby turned to his brother.

“I thought she was staying with Sue Ellen?” Bobby asked.

“She was. But I paid Sue Ellen a visit, found the Princess there as well and brought her back here to help me with my stress. That was damned traumatizing to watch your wife shoot our mother!”

“Sit down, J.R.. Unfortunately, I have something else that’s ‘damned traumatizing’ to tell you.”

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 7


Ray, Harris and Ann returned to Lucas’s office. Lucas was now sitting behind his desk, his eyes raking over them with contempt.


“Well,” Ray said coolly, “you really made a fool of me, didn’t you?”

“Your mother made a fool of you, Ray, when she didn’t tell Jock about you. Then again, your mother was no Miss Ellie, was she?”

Ray started towards him, but Ann grabbed his arm!

“What is this, Daddy? What did you tell Bobby?”

“I told him that his beloved wife isn’t alive, nor is their child. I just did that to mess with his head. I want my grandson to have the Ewing last name. And I want you married to Bobby.” Lucas told her.

Now Harris stepped forward!

“Excuse me?! You want Annie married to Bobby Ewing? What in the hell for?” Harris asked, his tone full of loathing for his step-father.

“So that you don’t get any ideas, Harris, about marrying Ann.” Lucas replied as he slowly stood up. He looked at Ray.

“When did you find out that Emma was really Harris and Ann’s?” he asked his son-in-law. Ray gave Harris a look and could see that this news was not a surprise to him. Ray then looked at Ann, who was staring at her father.

“I found out when Jenna told me. Ann went to her when she was in trouble.” Ray said. Lucas looked from Ray to Ann.

“Well thank God you gave my granddaughter to your sister, instead of giving her to people that aren’t family.” Lucas said before looking at Harris.

“So when you were keeping an eye my daughter all of those years, you were really doing what, Harris?”

Before Harris could answer, Ann found herself grasping his hand and talking!

“Daddy…it just happened. No one ever wanted to date me or treated me like I was anything other than a gangly giraffe. Harris was there when I was in trouble and when I was sad…and when I needed him for anything! Nothing happened before I turned eighteen. My last year of high school here. I left for California and went to college and met men there and they weren’t him. They weren’t Harris. I know that Harris is getting married and that Emma is better off with Ray and Jenna. But don’t be angry with Harris or Ray. I made the decision to give my baby to them…”

Lucas slapped Ann, interrupting her! Harris leaped at him and grabbed him around the throat! Ray struggled to wrench Harris off of Lucas and was actually unsure that he should even be doing that! But he did and Lucas straightened his clothing and pointed at Ann!

“What you are, Miss Ann, is not Jenna! Jenna never sat in her room feeling sorry for herself over nothing! Judith tried to help you meet the right people and fix you up with boys but I guess you only wanted your step-brother…Mr. Mama’s boy here!”

Harris glared at Lucas with unvarnished hatred.

“I didn’t know Annie was pregnant! You think for one minute I would have let her leave Texas if I had known?! I know now and yes, Annie and I are going get married and raise Emma ourselves!”

Ray glared at Harris!

“Emma’s my daughter and she’s not going anywhere!” he snapped.

“Actually, Judith and I will be raising her. I’ll make Jenna understand.” Lucas said dismissively. “And as far as Bobby Ewing is concerned, he is going to divorce his wife, give my grandson his rightful last name and marry Ann. Harris, you are going to marry Monica Colby and move to California! And if you think I would have EVER allowed my daughter to marry into your family, Harris, both you and your mother have another thing coming! I know all about that side business that your mother and you have going. I wouldn’t have Emma being sullied with that type of trash in her family name. Emma is going to be a Wade, not a Ryland! Now all of you get the hell out. Oh and Ray…you are very fired.”

Ray turned and walked out of the office calmly. He even closed the door behind him. Lucas looked at Harris again.

“Monica is in the reception area of your office, Harris. She’s been waiting awhile.” Lucas said.

But Harris didn’t move.

“You clearly have something you want to get off of your chest?” Lucas asked, just as Ray came back in carrying a .45! He pointed at a shocked looking Lucas and fired, hitting him in the forehead and killing him instantly!

Ann didn’t even scream when it happened. Harris was able to think quickly on his feet! Suddenly, he knew how he was going to get Emma back and keep Ray and Jenna in line! He looked at Ray!

“You’re going to follow my lead or else you will lose everything, including Jenna!” Harris hissed at him.

Ray continued to glare down with hatred at Lucas, while Harris ran to door opening just as people began running towards it!

“SOMEONE CALL THE POLICE! BOBBY EWING JUST SHOT MR. WADE AND RAN OUT OF HERE!!!”

****

The police picked up Bobby within a half an hour of the killing. Jenna refused to believe Bobby would do such a thing, something that ticked Ray off! He didn’t know why, since technically, his wife was right. But he just didn’t like it, was all.

He was dealing with his own sense of unexpressed rage over Lucas’s deception. Ray was also feeling guilder than hell. Not over killing his father-in-law, but for dragging Bobby down. What Lucas pulled on him was lower than living hell!

Miss Ellie forced Clayton to check her out of the hospital so that they could get through this as a family. Harve Smithfield, the Ewing family lawyer was coming in to deal with all of this and so far the only thing that was in Bobby’s favor, was that two Ryland-Wade employees saw him walking out of the building, seemingly in no hurry.

Harris said he ran out of there.

What was working against Bobby was motive. And Bobby had a good reason to blow Lucas Wade away. Ellie tried not to think about what Bobby gently told her about Kristin. That had to be kept a secret. And unfortunately, Kristin could not know about this heinous accusation against her, with regards to her and Jock, and Christopher’s true paternity. At least she couldn’t know right at this moment.

Kristin had left Bobby and Southfork after the shooting. And because Bobby was accused of murder, Kristin insisted on taking Christopher with her.

Bobby agreed that their son needed to be away from what was going on right now. But he told Kristin that he would expect Christopher to return to Southfork once he was cleared. Kristin took her son to the Southern Cross Ranch—and to Dusty Farlow.

Then there was Katherine. Ellie would have thought that the hateful young woman would’ve used this as a chance to get into Bobby’s good graces. But now even Katherine, who was prone to shooting people for very little reason, seemed uneasy around Bobby.

It was morning, again, on Southfork and Ellie sat at the breakfast table, her arm in a sling as she pondered how it was that her family was falling apart again? But when she thought about it, Ellie realized that her family hadn’t been a family for a long while. Even before Kristin and Katherine showed up.

She looked over as J.R. came out of the house to join her at the patio breakfast table. He grunted a ‘good morning’ and sat down in his place. Ellie peered at her oldest son. She knew he was worried for Bobby.

“How did you sleep?” Ellie found herself asking him.

“How do you think I slept? My brother is being accused of a crime he didn’t commit! Mama, we all know damned well that either Ray or Harris Ryland did this! And if I had to guess, I’d bet on Harris! Hell, Ray doesn’t have the guts to kill anyone outright!” J.R. snapped.

Clayton came out of the house and caught that last bit about Ray.

“Classy as usual, J.R..” Clayton said before taking his seat at the head of the table. J.R. said nothing in response to him, though he did favor him with a look of resentment. Clayton’s damned son, Dusty, had taken up with Kristin and because of it, he could barely get Sue Ellen on the phone! And he knew his ex-wife. Sue Ellen had given up on trying to become the Queen of Moldavia and was now hell bent on breaking up Dusty and Kristin!

“I’m being real, Farlow! If Jenna ever gave two damns about Bobby, she’d find out who really killed her daddy and help Bobby out!” J.R. sniffed. Meanwhile, upstairs, Katherine sat up in bed and stretched! She had pretended to be asleep when J.R. ran his fingers down her bare back, his little sign to her that he wanted sex. He actually had the gall to shake her awake and she told him she couldn’t have sex with him while Bobby was in the house! She lied and said she was scared he would shoot her!

J.R. told her that was the pot calling the kettle black, but Katherine curled up in a naked ball and pretended to go back to sleep. Luckily, J.R. got up and showered, so that spared her from having to come up with another lie, or endure his lovemaking while fantasizing he was Mark, which was not easy to do.

And then there was Mark himself. Mark had heard Bobby’s allegations against Lucas Wade, and took them to mean something completely different than what Bobby had said. Meaning, he believed that Wade had lied to Bobby about Pam being dead and planned to return to Moldavia to hunt for her himself! Katherine was too shocked to even be insulted and yet, she could not bear for Mark to go scrounging around in that godforsaken country alone, looking for a dead woman.

Katherine planned to go with him. She had not told Mark this yet, but intended to today. And as for J.R…she planned to tell him she was going to make sure that Mark didn’t find Pam! The concept alone would keep J.R. from suspecting that her real goal was to spend time with Mr. Graison himself.

She was going with Mark so she could be there for him, when he found out Pam was not alive. And Katherine was doing this with the hope that maybe…maybe when the truth finally set in, he could let go of her sister for good. Katherine picked out her clothing for the day, then pulled a suitcase out of the closet before going into the bathroom to shower. She closed the door behind her just as J.R. re-entered their bedroom. He eyed the suitcase on the bed just as the telephone rang on his nightstand. He picked it up on the second ring.

“Hello?”

“J.R.. I was hoping I would get you.”

“Leslie,” J.R. replied with a wry smile and sat down on the bed, “how are things going?”

“Better.” Leslie said mysteriously. “When will you be coming out?”

“Probably by the end of the week.” J.R. told her.

“Well, I can’t wait that long for information about Lucas’s murder. I have no doubts whatsoever that Bobby did not kill him. But I can’t get Ann on the phone and Judith and Harris are tightlipped.”

“It was one of them! Probably Harris! He’s the one that’s been flapping his gums about Bobby being in the office with Lucas and killing him!”

“What about Ray?” Leslie asked.


“He’s backing Harris up and so is your daughter!”

On her end, Leslie was silent for a moment before throwing in her two cents.

“Harris is not that bright. Alone. And I could see Ray letting you hang for a crime you did not commit, but not Bobby. I need to talk to Ann about what happened. I also need to know about Lucas’s will.”

J.R. was about to answer when he heard the water in the shower turn off. He then spoke.

“Bobby knows her a little better than anyone else here, from when he was engaged to Jenna. I’ll talk to him about seeing what he could get out of her.”

“How is Bobby?” Leslie asked.

“In a bad way that I don’t want to see him in.” J.R. replied. “I have to go. I’ll be out there soon.”

He hung up, ending his mysterious call, just as Katherine came out of the bathroom, draped in a towel and stopped short with surprise!

“J.R., I thought you had left for the day.” Katherine said, now eyeing the suitcase that he was looking at. J.R. looked from the suitcase to her.

“I came back up here, because I thought it was about time we had a little talk about how much time you’ve been spending with Mark Graison.”

Katherine gave J.R. a confused look.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Meaning what are you doing with him?” J.R. asked.

Katherine rolled her eyes!

“My God, J.R.! I am taking the initiative here. Mark is going to Moldavia to find Pam and I plan on going with him. To make sure she is not found.” she sniffed.

J.R. said nothing for a moment, as he stared at her. Hard.

“There was a lot of gossip about things that happened at the barbecue.” he said.

“What things?”

“Like the fact that Mark Graison was all over you!”

“He was ‘all over me’, J.R., because I made myself look like Pam. For when Bobby got home. Now there is nothing more to it. I’m just being a good friend.” Katherine sniffed.

J.R. now looked as if he only half believed her. But he let it go.

“So Graison thinks that Bobby is lying about what Lucas Wade told him?” J.R. asked.

“Yes, actually. Mark thinks that a man that hateful would just tell Bobby that he lied, so that he could sucker punch him later with the truth. I suppose there could be something to it. I mean Lucas Wade didn’t expect to be shot down in cold blood. Maybe Pam is alive and he took the secret to his grave.” Katherine guessed.

“I was hoping you could stick around to help me with something else.” J.R. said.

“What?”

“Kristin.”

“Oh God! What about her? Really, J.R., she’s Dusty Farlow’s problem now.”

“And I would be fine with that if there was all there was to it. But Bobby and I need to find out something for sure about her. Her and Christopher.”

Katherine suddenly paid careful attention to J.R.’s blathering.

“What do you mean, ‘find out something about her’? Like what?” Katherine asked. J.R. closed the distance between them.

“I need for you to make arrangements to spend some time with your nephew. Then, I want you to bring him someplace. To a lab.”

“What’s going on, J.R.?” Katherine asked.

“There’s a chance that Christopher is a Ewing after all.” J.R. revealed, trying to keep the disgust out of his voice.

“What?! How?”

“Christopher could be the little brother Bobby and I didn’t know existed.” J.R. told his wife.


****

SOUTHERN CROSS RANCH-

Kristin was not fooled by Sue Ellen’s ‘sudden’ insistence that John Ross come over to play with Christopher. They were in the movie room with Dusty, watching film of his past rodeos. The boys got very excited whenever it looked as if Dusty would be gored by the bull!

Kristin was in the kitchen and Patricia nodded with approval as she watched her younger daughter go over the dinner menu with the cook. Kristin was now the First Lady of the Southern Cross Ranch.

Now all she needed was a marriage license to seal the deal.

Dusty Farlow suddenly didn’t seem like the problem he used to be, Patricia thought. And ordinarily, she would have been wary of what was going on between Dusty and Kristin. But Bobby’s reputation was so besmirched, she didn’t want either of her daughters stepping another foot back on Southfork ever again! And yes, she believed whole heartedly that Bobby had shot and killed Lucas Wade.

“Where is Sue Ellen?” Patricia asked, as Kristin returned to breakfast bar.

“Pretending to use the bathroom.” Kristin said snidely. “But I’m sure she snuck off into the movie room to ask Dusty what the hell he is doing with me.”

“Now, now, Kristin! Sue Ellen and Dusty are a thing of the past! That and your sister is planning a trip to Moldavia. King Galen has finally settled down those ruffian terrorists.”

The unspoken suggestion being that there was still a chance Sue Ellen could be queen of something. Kristin raised a brow.

“I think that ship has sailed.” Kristin said airily. “Now, if you will excuse me, Mother, I am going to keep my sister from making an even bigger fool of herself than she already has.”

Patricia pursed her lips into a disapproving frown and watched Kristin saunter out of the kitchen. She knew it was not right that her daughters always seemed to be involved with the same men, but there was no help for it now. If there ever would be.

Meanwhile, Sue Ellen had managed to corral Dusty out of the room the boys were in, leaving them to watch him get damned near gored by craven beasts, back in the day. They were out on one of the terraces when Sue Ellen began her talk with him.

“Talk to me, Dusty. What happened with Linda? Why aren’t the two of you still married?” she asked in a pleading tone.

Dusty’s eyes almost pierced her own.

“I’m not married to Linda any longer because Linda wasn’t you.”

“And now? Are you with Kristin because you want me? Dusty, I am here in front of you! I realized that Galen and I could never work.”

“Have you finally realized that J.R. and you would never work either?” Dusty asked.

“Yes! Yes, Dusty! Look, I know that Kristin looks as if she needs saving. But the reality of this is that she is still Bobby’s wife and that they can still work things out. You have taken up with the woman that shot your father’s wife!” Sue Ellen exclaimed.

“She was not aiming for Miss Ellie. Everyone knows that and there is nothing that can be done to change what happened. We all just have to move on. And that is what I am doing. Moving on.” Dusty said pointedly.

“So this thing with my baby sister is temporary?” Sue Ellen asked.

Dusty paused before answering.

“I’m sorry you find this so upsetting, Sue Ellen. I can’t explain what happened. I just fell in love with someone else. The moment I saw your sister at the hospital…”

“OH MY GOD!” Sue Ellen screamed as her heart was breaking. She backed away from him, turned and ran back into the house. It was not long before she ran smack into Kristin!

“Sue Ellen? What’s wrong?!”

Sue Ellen slapped her, just as Dusty stepped off of the terrace and came inside!

“Sue Ellen!” he barked.

Sue Ellen turned back to give him an aggrieved stare, before facing Kristin.

“Congratulations, Kristin! You have managed to ruin my life for a second time in a decade!” Sue Ellen snapped and pulled herself together. She then walked away from Dusty and Kristin to go and get John Ross. She was going to take him back to Southfork, then make arrangements to travel to Moldavia to be with the only man of hers that Kristin had not sullied.

Dusty hurried over to her and Kristin sank into his arms! Ordinarily, Sue Ellen’s melodrama would have made her secretly grin. But she wasn’t smiling this time as Dusty’s arms tightened around her. Dusty had picked her over Sue Ellen. J.R. had never done that. Bobby hadn’t really picked her over Pam. Not really.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 8

Last night at the Ryland mansion had been harrowing.

Monica had rushed into Harris’s arms at Ryland-Wade, once she spotted Lucas’s dead body. Ann watched them both before speaking to the police and keeping up her part of the lie—that being that Bobby Ewing had went into her father’s office with a gun and shot him down dead.

Monica had stayed at the mansion and had went to sleep in Harris’s room… in his bed and in his arms. Ann thought about that until she couldn’t any longer. She got up early, left a note for Judith about going to Jenna’s then left the estate.

She then went to Jenna and Ray’s. Ann locked eyes with Ray briefly, then hugged Jenna, who was the only one of the three of them that was actually broken up over Lucas’s murder. She kept insisting that both Ray and Ann tell her again, about what ‘really happened’ and that there was no way that Bobby could have done such an awful thing.

Ann hid the fact that Jenna was the only one that had any good memories of Lucas. He was someone she saw in the summers and then barely saw the four years of high school she attended in Texas. And his final words to her were quite telling about who he thought was worth a damn in his life.

Jenna.

Ann asked if she could take Emma and Lucas and do some shopping with them, just so Ray and Jenna could help Judith make the funeral arrangements without having to worry about the kids being in their hair.

Jenna smiled gratefully.

Ray smiled and half shrugged. Ann would be helping out. He was having a hard enough time keeping his part of the secret—that he had been the one to kill Lucas.

Ann took the kids out of their house, put them in her car and took them to Southfork. Lucas and Emma seemed a bit confused by the stop over there and Ann told them she just needed to get something from the Ewings, before they went shopping.

Bobby was outside by the pool when Ann got out with his son and her daughter. He wore swimming trunks and carelessly threw on a robe.

“Ann?” he said more than asked. Ellie came out and saw Lucas and Emma. She invited them into the house for ice cream and they were drawn to her warmth and light like many a person in the world was. Ann smiled at her, thinking how she had always wished to have a mother like Miss Ellie.

She then turned to Bobby.

“After you left Daddy’s office, he had some things to say.” she said. Bobby tilted his head.

“So…he was alive after I left. You will admit that.”

“Jenna doesn’t believe you killed Daddy. I know you didn’t.” Ann replied.

Bobby folded his arms.

“What are you trying to say, Annie?”

Harris was the only other person that had ever called her that.

“Daddy said that he asked you to marry me. That he wanted you to leave Kristin and give Lucas your name.”

“Yes. He did. Where are you going with this?” Bobby asked.

“I want to marry you, Bobby Ewing. I want to marry you and raise Emma here. I can’t leave her with Ray and Jenna. I can’t let Harris have her either. Please. Help me.” Ann said, her eyes suddenly becoming hypnotic to him.

“I’m getting an annulment.” Bobby said. “But…”

“But, Bobby Ewing, marry me, let me finish college here, be Emma’s father…do this and I will go to the police today and tell them that Harris killed my father.” Ann told him.

Meanwhile, a puzzled Harris folded up Ann’s note, turned and joined Monica at the table with a kiss, before sitting down and looking at Judith.

“How are you this morning, Mother?”

“My goddamned husband was killed by Bobby Ewing! How do you think I am?!” she snapped. A servant came in to get Monica. She had a phone call. Monica stood up, pressed a hand on Harris’s shoulder and gave Judith a sympathetic glance before leaving.

Once she was gone, the conversation changed a bit…

“Annie probably just wanted to be with her big sister right now.” Harris said.

“I could care less where that girl is, Harris! I want you to tell me what the hell happened in Lucas’s office yesterday! Right now!” Judith yelled.

“Your husband got shot and killed. We now have control of Ryland-Wade…which will be called Ryland again.” Harris said dismissively. Judith clenched her jaw.

“You tell me what all that nonsense was about that Bobby was sputtering? About Lucas telling him that his first wife was alive?”

Harris had picked up the newspaper and glanced at it. He then looked at Judith.

“Your going to tell me you didn’t know anything about what Lucas was doing to Bobby?” Harris asked.

“Of course not! I assumed that he’d made his peace with Jenna’s marrying down and was trying to raise Ray’s profile!” Judith exclaimed.

“He hadn’t made peace with not becoming Jock Ewing, that was his damned problem! He didn’t like Ray, he apparently knew about Annie and me and planned on taking Emma away from Jenna so the two of you could raise her! Your going to look me in the eye and tell me you didn’t know about that?”

“Oh Jesus, Harris, I knew about Ann’s pregnancy before she did! A woman can tell these things and I GUESSED you were the goddamned father! She never went out with anyone so it had to be you or one of the servants!”

“That’s real nice talk!” Harris snapped. “Well here’s what’s going to happen…”

“What would that be, Harris? You’re going to take Emma from Jenna and Ray, how? And you want ColbyCo to be part of Ryland just as much as I do. You won’t get that marrying Miss Ann!”

Harris straightened his tie.

“I plan to tell Monica the truth about Annie and myself. Jenna half told her anyway. Then I’m going to ask her to help me raise Emma. We’ll be married and…”


“Whoa! And Ann is going to feel about this, how?”

“She wants Emma to stay with Ray and Jenna. I love her but I think she’s too young to be a mother right now. We’ll let her finish college….I’ll divorce Monica once I get what I need and…”

“You are stupid.” Judith said, standing up. “Do you think Ann left this house early, because she really wanted to be with her sister? No. She didn’t want to look at Monica and you and by the way, you two were damned loud last night! Now I expect Lucas’s will, will divide up the company between myself, Jenna and Ann. There will be money for little Lucas and Emma as well. And I also expect that neither Jenna nor Annie, will let you just do what you want at Ryland-Wade.”

Harris had nothing to say because his mother was probably right. About all of it.

She walked to the back of his chair and rubbed his shoulder.

“We’ve got to be smart about this. Emma stays with Ray and Jenna…for now. Until we see what cards we’re holding after the will reading.” Judith told her son, just as Monica came back into the dining room and announced that her father, Jason Colby, would be coming to Texas.

****

Katherine had left Southfork shortly before Ann had arrived. She now pulled up in front of Mark’s house that she had to keep reminding herself, was his and no longer Pam’s and saw…

Police cars and an ambulance! Katherine parked, jumped out and hurried towards the front door! A uniform stopped her!

“Miss, you can’t go in there!”

“Is Mr. Graison alright?!” Katherine asked, panicked, just as the door opened and Mark, who’s eyes were closed, was being brought on on a gurney by two EMT’s!

A police detective and Mrs. Hutchinson came out next and when Mrs. Hutchinson saw Katherine, she explained who she was. Katherine didn’t know who to look at! Mark, who had been put in the ambulance that was now driving off, Mrs. Hutchinson or the police detective, that was peering at her with suspicion. Katherine suddenly realized why. He was one of the men that had questioned her after she had admitted to shooting Bobby.

Detective John Zorelli had just left Philadelphia and moved to Dallas when he took Katherine’s confession with regards to shooting Bobby Ewing. Then, the last he remembered, Katherine made bail and disappeared. Now here she was, standing in front of him and as far as he was concerned, she was his first suspect in this break in! Zorelli was actually looking into another position, one where he would be a sergeant, currently in Denver…

“Katherine Wentworth, right?” Zorelli asked as his eyes roamed over her.

“It’s Mrs. J.R. Ewing now. And I remember you, Detective. Those charges against me were dropped.”

“I suspect they were made to go away.” Zorelli countered and Katherine rolled her eyes!

“Think whatever you like, Detective! Mrs. Hutchinson, what happened to Mark? He isn’t sick again, is he?”

Zorelli looked at the maid, who appeared to be quite distressed!

“No! I came to work this morning and found the house looking like a tornado had been through it. Someone broke in and attacked Mr. Graison.” she sniffed.

Zorelli took over.

“It looks like Mr. Graison interrupted the burglar and got hit in the back of the head for his trouble.”

“A burglar? What was taken?” Katherine asked.

“Nothing of any value that we could see. And there are plenty of things of value in there. I think this person was looking for something very specific. Would you know what that was?” Zorelli asked her.

“No! I mean Mark has been just trying to get his bearings since returning to Dallas.”

“Yeah,” Zorelli said, looking through his notebook, “Mrs. Hutchinson here said he faked his own death, some years back. Is it possible he made enemies while he was pretending to be dead…where was he? Did he say?” Zorelli asked.

“How dare you put this off on Mark!” Katherine snapped, looking him up and down. “Mark Graison left here to spare his loved ones the trauma of watching him die of a terminal illness!”

“Yeah,” Zorelli said sarcastically, “and apparently he holed up in Moldavia, right?”

Katherine frowned. That was not common knowledge and as far as she knew, she was the only one that knew that. Though it was always possible Cliff had known.

“Yes.” Katherine said tightly.

“And you knew he had been there?”

“I learned of it just recently. Where are you going with this, Detective? Mark is the victim here!”

Zorelli eyed her. Katherine did seem genuinely concerned about Mr. Graison. When he had interrogated her after she shot Bobby Ewing, he would not have taken her to be the type of person that gave two damns about anyone but herself.

“Mrs. Hutchinson here, didn’t think anything of any value was taken. I’d like for you to come in and look around and see if you notice anything.” Zorelli said, not directly answering Katherine’s assertion that Graison was the ‘victim’.

But Katherine was not about to help Zorelli railroad Mark! She looked from him and turned to Mrs. Hutchinson, giving her a withering glance.

“You’ve been quite chatty with the Detective here, Mrs. Hutchinson. You go with him and show him around. I don’t live here so I wouldn’t know. Now if you will both excuse me…”

Zorelli took over. Clearly Katherine Ewing thought the maid had told him something that put Graison in a bad light. He looked at Mrs. Hutchinson.

“Thank you, Mrs. Hutchinson, I won’t be needing anything more from you.” he told her. The maid’s eyes were now shiny with tears and she nodded before going back into the house. Zorelli pulled the door closed after her and looked at Katherine.

“You know, you were pretty hard on her.”

“And your being hard on Mark.” was Katherine’s reply.

“I can see you care for him. Do you care for Ewing that way? Not the one you shot but the one you’re married to?”

“I’m going to the hospital to see Mark, if you don’t mind…”

“Mrs. Ewing,” Zorelli said in a no nonsense tone, “I don’t think Mr. Graison faked anything here. I think he had information that someone wanted and walked in on them taking it. I wanted you to come into the study with me to just see if you could tell what that information could have been.”

Katherine regarded him for a moment.

“I thought you said the whole house had been ransacked?”

“It was just the study. Specifically Mr. Graison’s desk and safe. There were pictures he had of himself and…your sister, right? They were knocked over, along with one he had of the two of you.”

This startled Katherine and Zorelli took in her reaction.

“I’ve been in that study. There are no pictures of me around.”

“Well I could show it to you.” Zorelli told her and Katherine’s curiosity got the better of her. She followed Zorelli inside and saw that was he was saying was true. The house, at least the first floor, looked neat as a pin until they reached the study. Once there, Katherine could see that she could not step on any carpet without stepping on papers and other items. Mark’s safe was wide open. Zorelli walked over to a pile of framed photographs that someone, maybe Zorelli himself, had set down on a couch. Two of them were pictures of Mark and Pam. Katherine reached down and picked up the one of herself and Mark. She remembered taking this, back when Mark was engaged to Pam. It had never been in a frame before.

Mark had put it in one.

Katherine tore her eyes off their picture and looked at the two with Mark and Pam. She set her own picture down and picked them up…

“Someone tried to take these out of the frames.” Katherine noted. Zorelli nodded.

“What I think is that someone thought that Mr. Graison had hidden something within the frame but behind the photographs.” he said. Katherine dragged her eyes off of him and wondered what in the hell Mark had gotten himself into? She had had a feeling that he knew more about King Galen and what was going on in Moldavia, for awhile, but now…was it possible what had happened was related to that?

“Your thinking something, Mrs. Ewing. Spill it!” Zorelli ordered more than asked. But Katherine pulled herself together and set down the photographs.

“I’m thinking I need to go to the hospital and see if Mr. Graison is alright.” Katherine said coolly before turning and walking out of the study. Zorelli watched her dark hair sway as she walked away from him and he listened for the sound of the front door closing, before he walked over to the couch. He picked up the two pictures of Mark Graison and Pamela Ewing. He had seen the news and heard the rumors. Detective John Zorelli decided that he was going to begin his investigation into Graison’s assault, by finding out if someone thought, that Graison thought, that Pamela Ewing was still alive.

Bobby Ewing was free on bail after being accused of killing Lucas Wade. He was now Zorelli’s primary suspect.

****


Sue Ellen arrived at Southfork with John Ross’s things and her own bags packed. She had called Galen, who swore that the unrest had settled down. He also wanted to be with her, unlike Dusty and…

She didn’t see J.R.’s car around and was grateful for that. It would have made things harder. Princess Amanda, who had been staying with her briefly, had left for Denver. Sue Ellen was not one to give advice, but she thought that Amanda needed to be traveling back to Moldavia to be with her new husband. But Sue Ellen got the distinct impression that Amanda had given up on her marriage already. She didn’t know why, but she could not help but feel that maybe something had happened between her and Bobby. Sue Ellen sincerely hoped that wasn’t true, because the last thing Bobby needed was to be accused of wrecking Amanda and Michael’s marriage AND trying to keep himself out of prison!

Bobby came out of the house and walked over to her with concern.

“I just saw John Ross. He said he’s staying here. Please tell me you aren’t going back to Moldavia?” he asked her.

“Galen needs me. At least someone does.”

“What does that mean?” Bobby asked.

“You know what it means. I just left my baby sister at the Southern Cross Ranch. She is now in the arms of the only other man I loved other than J.R.. I can’t stay here and watch Dusty and Kristin. I know you don’t care but I do.”

“Do I really look like I don’t care that my wife and son are living someplace else?” Bobby asked gently.

“I didn’t say you didn’t care that Kristin and Christopher are not living here. I said you didn’t care about Dusty and Kristin. My God, Bobby, do you really believe that nonsense about Galen and Pam? I would not be heading to Moldavia if I thought there was an ounce of truth to that disgusting rumor.”

“Lucas Wade started it. He admitted it to me, the last time I saw him.” Bobby confided. Sue Ellen looked puzzled.

“I know you said he was upset over Jenna after all of this time…” she began but Bobby interrupted her.

“Sue Ellen, he was more than upset. He made some allegations against Daddy that J.R. and I have to find out about. And if there is any truth to them, then Mama is going to be hurt very badly.”

“What kind of allegations?’ Sue Ellen asked, now staring at Bobby with real concern. Maybe now was not the time for her to leave Texas? Maybe she was needed here?

“I can’t say anything now. Not until I have proof.” Bobby said, just as Theresa came out of the house and walked up to the two of them. She smiled at Sue Ellen and looked at Bobby.

“Mr. J.R. called. He had to go to California on an emergency. He said he would get what he needed there.” she told them. Bobby frowned.

“J.R. is going to California? Did he say why?” Bobby asked. Theresa shook her head and turned away to go back into the house. Bobby suspected that J.R. had found out something about Kristin’s time there that could squash Lucas’s heinous accusation against Jock.

He looked at Sue Ellen, who was staring at him curiously.

“We will take good care of John Ross. Say hello to King Galen for me.” Bobby told her.

Hours later, Leslie Stewart waited patiently for J.R.’s arrival to Falcon Crest. She would not have insisted that he come here except that a problem had arisen needed to be taken care of. And she could not handle this particular hiccup.

There were times when Leslie regretted getting involved in any of this. But the clients J.R. had secured for her, had resulted in her becoming the sole owner of one of the most prestigious P.R. firms in the country. Before…before she worked for firms, which while that enabled her to raise Ann on a nice salary, she was always fighting and scraping with her male colleagues to get the good clients. And many times, Leslie would lose out.

Then it happened.

J.R. had never told her where he found Pamela Barnes Ewing or all that he did to get her to recover. J.R. bought out the last firm Leslie worked in, gave it to her and she renamed it Leslie Stewart & Associates.

Leslie should have known she would pay a heavy price, when J.R. did not want to resume their affair as ‘payment’ for all that he had done for her.

And what he did was secure her the Falcon Crest account…and give her a ‘younger sister’. One that had been in a horrible accident and was recovering. Angela had been seemingly moved by her devotion to her ‘sister’. She had insisted that Leslie and her sister, Pamela Sutter, stay in a gate house on the property. Angela knew that Pamela’s accident was so horrible, that while she had recovered from her physical injuries, her memory had been left fractured.

Ann had been college and Leslie always made it a point to visit her at school, just to keep her away from what was going on. Leslie told Ann that a sister that she had been estranged from, was staying with her, Back then, Pamela had bandages on her face, so Ann did not recognize her as Pamela Ewing. And by the time Pamela did have the bandages removed, Ann was living on campus and did not come around at all, really.

To this day, Leslie was unsure as to how or even when, Angela’s suspicions were aroused, but one day, Angela confronted her and made it clear that she knew exactly who her sister really was, what her association with J.R. Ewing was and that from now on, Leslie would work for her for FREE!

Leslie didn’t work for free.

She suddenly could not control her enraged and spasmodic hands, when they reached out and swept Angela down the staircase! Angela had not screamed very loudly, so no one heard anything. Leslie then hurried back up the stairs to Angela’s grandson, Lance’s room, to tear off some of this shirt. She then ran back down the stairs and shoved the cloth in Angela’s hand.

Leslie knew her time was running out. Lance was in jail because Angela could not clear him. She had suffered a stroke, mid-fall and couldn’t talk. Lance had an ex wife named Melissa that nosed around, but was relatively easy to finesse. Angela had one blind daughter named Julia and another crazy one named Emma, who had self reported to a mental institution for reasons Leslie did not know or care about.

That left Chao Li and Pamela, who was concerned about Angela enough to visit with her. Leslie was always on pins and needles when Pam went to see her at the hospital. It would be just her luck for Angela to suddenly be able to talk and tell Pam everything.

Unfortunately, J.R. was now needed. For Pam had seen a copy of a newspaper with Bobby on the front page and swore that he was someone from her past. Leslie gently told her that maybe she should tell her new ‘husband’, who traveled on business frequently, how she was feeling and why she suddenly felt Bobby Ewing was someone she would ever know.

But Pam wasn’t convinced. And that was because someone else that they had not counted on, had recognized Pam.

So Leslie was not the only one waiting for J.R.. Pam was as well. Pam, who thought J.R. was a man she was married to named Mark Graison…

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 9

Kristin was only mildly surprised to be told by the maid that Bobby was here to see her. She had been looking at some decorating books and had her eye on fixing up some of the rooms here at the Southern Cross, though she knew she was being high handed. The more she thought about her and Dusty, and how fast things were going, the more she thought about her mother’s words. About getting Dusty to marry her.

Seeing Bobby walk towards her reminded her of fast things were moving in her life. Was it possible to salvage anything with Bobby?

Kristin stood up from the couch and faced him.

“Christopher is out with Dusty and some of the hands checking on a few of the bulls. If you’d like to wait…”

“No.” Bobby said coolly. “I don’t want to wait. I want an annulment.”

Kristin kept her facial expression, expressionless.

“Yes. You would certainly qualify for one.” she said wryly.

“So you will sign the papers when I send them to you?”

Kristin smirked!

“Look, Bobby, do whatever you want. You won’t be free anyway. I don’t think even Bobby Ewing can overcome witnesses watching him shoot someone dead in cold blood.”

“I’m going to have the papers sent out today.” Bobby said, ignoring Kristin’s snark. “And Mama will not press charges for the shooting. We all just want to move forward.”

Kristin gave her husband a suspicious look!

“Yes, we do. Want to move forward ‘suddenly’. And very quickly. What’s going on? Has something changed in your case?”

Bobby was not about to tell her anything about that. But he could not help but say something else…

“Lucas Wade said that my father told him that he had sex with you during one of your barbecues. Is that true?”

“Excuse me?!” Kristin snapped. “Your father was how old? Over 100 if I had to guess!”

“So that’s a no?” Bobby asked, now using snark in his own tone.

“It’s a ‘hell no’! Lucas Wade told you that?” Kristin asked with disgust.

“Yes. It was the last conversation I had with him. He said Daddy told him all about it. And apparently you continued an affair with him when you lived in that apartment J.R. got for you.”

Kristin folded her arms, now peering up at him.

“Why are you here, Bobby, really? This is more than just about visiting Christopher.”

Bobby sighed before speaking.

“Lucas said that Christopher was Daddy’s. That would make him my brother. I need to know for sure. There is a place that I want to get him tested…”

“Oh of course, Bobby!” Kristin exclaimed dramatically. “Of course I’ll turn my son over to you for this disgusting task! Are you kidding me?!”

“No, Kristin.” Bobby said quietly. “I am not. I need to know for sure if I am going to be raising my son, or my younger brother? And if it is the latter, I will make sure I get sole custody.”

“Let me go get Christopher then. So you can find out how wrong and stupid you are.” Kristin huffed and walked out of the room. Bobby stared after her and then began to wander around the room, trying to think of what he was going to tell Christopher about what they needed to do and why. Despite being at odds with Kristin, he did not want to ruin his son’s relationship with his mother.

Bobby decided to keep Jock out of it, for now. He knew J.R. would not approve of what he had done here with Kristin. J.R. had wanted Katherine to come and take Christopher out of here so they could get the tests done quietly. But Bobby didn’t want to let Kristin off of the hook. Kristin had been playing musical chairs with regards to who Christopher’s father was, from day one.

Her games were over.

Bobby turned back to the room entrance, and only had a second to react to the sight of Kristin pointing a gun at him! He dove behind a couch as she began firing, but was hit in the leg!

“GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, BOBBY! GET OUT NOW OR I WILL BEGIN FIRING AGAIN!” Kristin screamed. The maid appeared behind Kristin and she turned around.

“Mrs. Doakes,” Kristin said in a kind and soft voice, “would you please find Mr. Farlow and tell him that Mr. Ewing tried to attack me and I had to defend myself.”

Mrs. Doakes nodded and hurried off! Bobby ripped part of his shirt off to staunch the bleeding in his leg from behind the couch!

“You won’t get away with this! Dusty may have believed that mama was an accident but now this…” Bobby half croaked.

A vase that was near the couch he was behind, was shot at and shattered! Bobby covered his head as to not get hit by the debris!

“How about I tell a story, Bobby? One in which your precious Pamela, had sex with your precious father during the Ewing Barbecue, went away and had a baby by him and then gave it to the King of Moldavia?” Kristin snapped, just as Dusty and two ranch hands hurried into the house and stood beside Kristin!

“Where is he?” Dusty asked and Kristin handed him the gun.

“Behind the couch. He tried to choke me when I told him I wouldn’t let Christopher leave with him!” Kristin moaned, tearing up for effect. Dusty hurried away from her and found Bobby behind the couch! He hauled him up and the two ranch hands were at his side for support.

“Your making J.R. look like a real gentleman these days, Bobby.” Dusty told him, as he shoved him towards the ranch hands.

“Kristin is lying!” Bobby snapped.

“You aren’t here for Christopher?” Dusty asked coolly.


“Dusty,” Bobby said brokenly, “there is a chance that Christopher’s real father was my father. I just need to know for sure…” Bobby trailed off as the pain from his leg overcame him and he passed out. The ranch hands moved Bobby to a couch and Dusty told Mrs. Doakes to call a doctor. They couldn’t risk taking Bobby to a hospital. There would be too many questions.

Bobby could feel himself drifting off from the pain. He grabbed one of the ranch hands arms!

“Call Annie! Tell her to clear me, please! Tell her…”

Bobby soon lost consciousness and Dusty hurried over! He then looked at the ranch hands.

“Let’s drop him off at the hospital and say we found him on the side of the road. Then get out of there as quick as you can.” Dusty instructed them. Kristin watched as one of the men threw Bobby over his shoulder and the other hurried out to bring a truck up to the house. Once they left, Dusty faced Kristin, and his expression was hard with fury!

“Do you want to explain to me how you shot another Ewing in just a matter of days, Kristin? Huh? Answer me!” Dusty snapped.

Kristin moved past him and walked over to the bar. She poured herself a drink, gulped it down and then turned back to Dusty.

“I shot Bobby because apparently it’s not enough that he believes his dead wife and baby are alive. He told me that Lucas Wade told him that I slept with Jock Ewing and that Christopher is his! He thinks Christopher is his brother and he’s going to go to court telling that trash to a judge so he can get sole custody of my son!”

Dusty’s mouth dropped open! He closed it quickly and replied.

“I can see from your demeanor…”

“That I’m appalled?! I would have NEVER with someone that old, okay? Not to mention that in all honestly, I don’t think Jock Ewing would have ever cheated on Miss Ellie with anyone! Bobby should have known that Lucas Wade was lying!” Kristin snapped.

Dusty slowly moved towards her and took the liquor glass out of her hand. He set it down on the bar and touched her shoulders.

“Kristin, honey, I get why you would have been angry. I get why you would be scared of Christopher hearing of such a thing. But you can’t pull out a gun and just shoot people when you don’t like what they say to you. You know that!”

“Dusty, he was here to take Christopher for some kind of ‘testing’! I couldn’t let him take him!” Kristin argued.

“Why?” Dusty asked.

“Why what?”

“Well Christopher won’t be Jock’s child, will he?”

Kristin pulled away from Dusty and left the room. Dusty ran a hand over his face, knowing he had just made things worse. Meanwhile, up in her room, Kristin went over everything that had happened in her head and got stuck on the name Bobby was calling out.

Annie. Annie who?

Surely Bobby didn’t mean Ann Wade? Kristin slowly sat down on the bed she now shared with Dusty. Ann had been at Ryland-Wade when her father was killed. That had to be who Bobby had been talking about. Bobby had wanted them to call her so that she could clear him.

Kristin stood up from the bed and looked around for her purse. She was going to pay Ann Wade a visit. Kristin wanted to know if Ann could actually clear Bobby of murder and if she could, why she hadn’t done it already?

****

Ann dropped Lucas and Emma off at Ray’s before heading home. She found that except for the servants, she was alone. Ann changed into a bathing suit and decided to veg out by the pool, while re-thinking her time at Southfork earlier.

Bobby had actually said yes to her ‘marriage proposal’, just as Miss Ellie appeared and offered her something to eat as well. Ann had found herself lulled into the house by Ellie Farlow’s gentle warmth and found Clayton was with Emma and Lucas, and they seemed to really like his company.


And then there was Emma. Emma who called her ‘Auntie Annie’. It would be ‘Mom’ or ‘Mommy’ soon and the idea of it terrified her. But Ann sensed that Bobby would help her with that. Bobby, Miss Ellie and Clayton. Emma had Harris’s eyes…

By the time Ann, Emma and Lucas were ready to leave Southfork, Bobby was gone. Ann wondered if he had went to the police and told them what she said about Harris?

Ann knew that hadn’t happened, when she looked up from her chaise and found Monica casually striding to her, in a bikini. If Harris had been arrested, she was sure Monica here would have come braying towards her like some hyena. Monica sat down in the chaise next to Ann’s and smiled at her.

“I hope you don’t mind if I join you?” Monica asked.

“Not at all.” Ann replied politely and sensed that she was about to be interrogated. Monica settled in but did not lie back on the chaise.

“In case you were wondering, Judith called Jenna and they are out and about, tying up loose ends with regards to Lucas’s funeral. Harris is at Ryland-Wade. I guess he wants to let the employees know that there won’t be any changes now that Lucas is gone.” Monica said.

Ann just nodded. She herself was lying back on her chaise, her eyes closed.

“My father is coming here. He was disturbed by what happened and wanted to make sure that things go as planned.” Monica continued talking.

Ann’s eyes opened and she looked over at Harris’s wife-to-be.

“Meaning the merger?” she asked.

“And my marriage to Harris.” Monica replied.

Ann said no more and closed her eyes again.

“And…well…Harris is acting kind of funny about moving to California.” Monica said.

“Harris doesn’t like California.” Ann said, her eyes still closed. Monica gave her a hard stare.

“You know this how?”

“I know it because he said it.” Ann said, and began to get up. Her time in the sun was ruined by Harris’s…whatever…here….

But Monica got up as well.

“Ann, Harris has asked that if we live in California, in our own home, that a special guest room be built for you.”

Ann smiled patiently at Monica.

“That’s nice of him.” Ann replied.

Monica’s own patience was running thin!

“You know Ann, you don’t strike me as the forgotten child that was not Jenna, to me! And yet Harris insists that you need caring for.”

“Monica, I would not worry about a guest room in California. Harris doesn’t like California. You’ll be living here.” Ann told her with a certainty that made Monica distinctly uneasy. It was as Monica was about to say something else, that a maid named Mrs. Gomez, walked out and told them that Kristin Ewing was in the house waiting to see Ann.

“Kristin Ewing?” Ann asked and wondered if Bobby had told her what was going on? He probably had otherwise she couldn’t see any reason why Kristin would be here wanting to see her!

Monica frowned.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be talking to Bobby Ewing’s wife. I’ll call the police.” Monica offered.

But Ann shook her head.

“I’ll deal with her. Alone. Mrs. Gomez, which room is she in?” Ann asked.

“The front sitting room.” Mrs. Gomez replied and Ann followed her back into the house. Monica stared after the two women, her unease at the situation growing by each minute. She looked over at a phone sitting on a small table and hurried over to it. She sat down on a chaise and dialed Harris’s number at Ryland-Wade.

His secretary told her that he wasn’t in. Monica calmly thanked her and hung up. Harris had told her he would be at work! Why wasn’t he there?

Harris was not at Ryland-Wade, because he had paid someone in Harve Smithfield’s office to let him look at Lucas Wade’s will. He was in the clerk’s office that had given him access and the door was locked. Harris sat at the man’s desk and just shook his head!

His mother had been left a generous amount of money, as had Jenna.

Harris had been left nothing monetarily, which he was fine with. But he had hoped Lucas would turn over his shares in the company to him, since he had practically ran the company for over ten years!

No. He had left all of his shares to Annie! Annie who had no experience running anything! Harris sat back in the clerk’s chair and tried to figure out Lucas’s reasoning for this. He had actually expected that if Lucas was going to cheat him out of the company shares, that he would then have to deal with both Jenna and Annie.

But he would not have to deal with Jenna.

Just Annie.

That slap Lucas had given Annie during his final moments, was about as much emotion he had ever shown towards her that Harris had ever seen.

He then thought of Bobby Ewing and Lucas’s obscene comment about Annie marrying him. Could that be what this was all about? Lucas’s crazy fantasy of tying the Wade’s and Ewings together? Was he trying to make that come true through Annie’s company shares and a marriage to a Ewing?

Harris got up and put the will back where it had been in the filing cabinet. Annie wasn’t marrying Bobby Ewing and once Harris was married to her, he would deal with her shares. He then thought about Monica and his impending nuptials. There was a secret that Harris had found out about the Colby family. One that he intended to share with Jason Colby when he arrived in Texas. And if Colby wanted it to stay a secret, he would give him shares of ColbyCo without his having to marry Monica.

Harris thought of her briefly. It wasn’t that he had no caring for Monica. She just wasn’t Annie.

****

TEXAS HOSPITAL-


Katherine sat in a waiting room, anxious for news on Mark’s condition.

Her anxiety was heightened as she watched two men drop Bobby off by a counter, then run out! Katherine jumped up and hurried over, just as nurse called for help!

“That’s Bobby Ewing and I’m his sister-in-law! What happened?!” Katherine gasped, horrified.

The nurse gave him a cursory look over, as two orderlies hurried over with a gurney!

“He’s been shot in the leg and has lost consciousness. You say you’re his sister-in-law?” the nurse asked Katherine brusquely.

“Yes.” Katherine answered, her eyes on Bobby.

“Maybe you could inform other members of your family about what’s happened.” the nurse said, just as the attending doctor hurried out of a room, then directed the orderlies to take Bobby in an opposite direction Mark was in. Katherine stared after Bobby, wondering who the hell at shot him? Could it have been someone wanting to avenge Lucas Wade’s murder?

Detective Zorelli appeared, like the bloodhound he apparently was. Katherine sighed when he walked up to her.

“I just heard Bobby Ewing was found shot on the side of the road.” Zorelli told her. Katherine frowned.

“Oh the side of the road? I saw two men bring him in.”

“I saw them too! I pulled up behind them just as they dragged Ewing in here! They claimed they found him on the side of the road.” Zorelli explained.

“And you believed that?” Katherine asked sarcastically.

“Actually, no.” Zorelli revealed. “I saw their truck. It was from the Southern Cross Ranch. The same ranch that Ewing’s gun slinging wife is holed up at.”

Katherine lifted a brow.

“Okay, while I could see Kristin shooting Bobby, I don’t see why she would? She only cares about money and her and Dusty Farlow are practically engaged…” Katherine trailed off. Could it be possible that Bobby had confronted Kristin about Jock possibly being Christopher’s father?

“You know something.” Zorelli said quietly and before Katherine could deny it, a doctor approached her.

“Mrs. Graison?” the doctor asked. Zorelli now lifted a brow as Katherine turned to face him.

“Actually, Mr. Graison and I are just friends. He was once engaged to my late sister.” Katherine said.

The doctor frowned.

“Mr. Graison specifically said you were his wife. His wife ‘Katherine’. You’re telling me you’re not and that he should know that?” the doctor inquired.

“Doctor…”

“I’m Dr. Hudson.”

“Dr. Hudson, I am married. To someone else and yes, Mr. Graison knows that. Or he should.” Katherine told him.

“I’m Sergeant John Zorelli and I’m investigating the break-in at Mr. Graison’s home. If he thinks Mrs. Ewing here is his wife, then his injuries must be more severe than you thought, hey?”

Dr. Hudson folded his arms.

“Well that’s just the thing: Mr. Graison has a mild concussion. I just can’t see it causing confusion like this.”

“Can I see him?” Katherine asked and Dr. Hudson nodded. They both walked off and Zorelli thought about following after them. But instead, he turned and walked down the opposite hallway and found where Bobby Ewing was being worked on. He remembered the last time he saw this man in this same hospital.

Katherine Ewing, then Katherine Wentworth, had tried to kill Mr. Ewing, as he lay in his hospital bed, recovering from being shot and blinded by her. And if Zorelli had not been assigned to the Graison break in, he would’ve zeroed in on Katherine again, as his number one suspect.

Meanwhile, Katherine followed Dr. Hudson into Mark’s room and found an alert and eager looking man, sitting up in bed. He grinned at her in an almost wolfish manner!

“Mr. Graison, I brought Katherine in to see you. Your wife.” Dr. Hudson said in a stilted manner. Mark picked up on it and eyed him.

“Yes. She is my wife. I know that, doctor. Now when can I get out of here so we can go home?” Mark asked.

Katherine took over the conversation.

“Mark…uh…do you remember what happened to you?”

“You told me you were going to have lunch with Pam…then nothing.” Mark replied, reaching for Katherine’s hand. He clasped it tightly.

“You think I was having lunch with Pam?” Katherine asked.

“Yes…what’s going on, honey?” Mark asked her and Katherine turned to the doctor. He motioned for her to meet him in the hallway and Katherine turned back to Mark.

“I’m going to talk to Dr. Hudson out in the hallway, okay?”

“Okay. Can I have a kiss before you go?” Mark asked in the same, wolfish manner. Katherine smiled down at him and willingly obliged him, before pulling her mouth reluctantly from his. It was as she pulled away that Mark noticed her wedding ring.

“Where did you get that wedding ring? That isn’t the one I gave you.” he noted. Katherine glanced down at it, then smiled at Mark.

“Pam stole mine. So I got this one. I’m sorry, I meant to tell you.” she said, not even thinking about how easily that lie came out of her mouth.

“Well…Pam has problems. You said she was stealing from The Store. Maybe we can talk to Bobby about getting her some help.” Mark said, smiling up at her.

“Yes. We will.” Katherine grinned enjoying this lie immensely. She turned to leave the room and once outside, Dr. Hudson looked at her gravely.

“I’m going to run some more tests on Mr. Graison, but I think this loss of memory is more emotional that physical. I am not unaware of who you are, Mrs. Ewing and all that your family is going through. Is it possible Mr. Graison is dealing with some sort of trauma?”

“Yes.” Katherine conceded but she did not elaborate.

“Well in that case, it would be very helpful if you could go along with his belief that the two of you are married. I know it would cause some distress within your own marriage…”

“No, Dr. Hudson. I will make my husband understand that helping Mark is something I need to do.” Katherine told him.

Meanwhile, J.R. arrived at Falcon Crest, where in which long time servant, Chao Li took his hat, greeted him and then disappeared within the confines of the estate. Leslie came down the stairs to greet him.

“Hello, ‘Mark’.” was all she said.

“Leslie. Where is Pamela?” J.R. asked casually.

Leslie looked around for Chao Li before speaking.

“Out.”

J.R. looked around as well.

“Alright, darlin’, I don’t have time for any of your games…”

“This isn’t a game, ‘Mark’. Your wife is out. She’s been spending time with Angela’s doctor.”

J.R. eyed her.

“Angela’s doctor? What are you trying to tell me?”

Leslie folded her arms.

“I’m trying to tell you that we need an exit strategy. I wasn’t going to pretend to be Pam’s sister for years on end. That was not our deal. And there was no part of this arrangement that had anything to do with your pretending to be married to her and sleeping with her.” Leslie said coldly.

J.R. was silent for a moment. He realized that they had been lucky in this elaborate scheme. Lucky that Ann barely came home and had only seen Pamela when she was bandaged. Lucky that Ann had never been here when he was here.

But Angela had been here. And while she had known who he was, the old woman had assumed that he was there for Leslie. And the last time J.R. saw Angela Channing in this house, she had not known that Pamela was anyone other than Leslie’s younger sister.

He had been lax on checking up on things around here. But Bobby’s marrying Kristin like that had thrown him. And to be blunt, he has assumed that Sue-Ellen’s tramp sister was dead or homeless someplace. J.R. had never expected to see her lying face again.

“You know, Leslie, honey, we’ve never talked about how you managed to empty out this house, now have we? Why don’t we have Chao Li fix us a nice dinner and you can tell me all about it while we wait for Pamela, alright?”

Leslie raised a brow.


“I’m leaving for Moldavia. Tonight.”

J.R.’s expression changed from tacit understanding to slow fury!

“What the hell are you talking about?! You can’t go anywhere!”

“Oh but I am. Because you see, J.R., dear, Angela’s doctor is a man named ’Mitch Cooper’. Does that name ring any bells for you?”

J.R. clenched his jaw.

“He was once married to my niece.” he said in a low tone.

“Yes he was. And recognized Pamela and understood that something had happened to her that made her lose her memory. He had the nerve to call and threaten me. I told him nothing but he is not a fool. And between his knowing who Pamela really is, and Angela’s recovery, I’m not staying.” Leslie told J.R. point blank.

“What does Pamela know about Angela’s fall?” J.R. asked.

“Nothing. But she is rather fond of her and believe me, except for Chao Li, she’s the only one that is. So Pam visits her often.” Leslie said.

“Okay. This is what’s going to happen: I’m going to the hospital to bring Pamela back here. I’ll have Chao Li pack her things.”

“And your taking her where this time, J.R.?” Leslie asked sarcastically.

“Oh she’s going to Moldavia with you! Her ’sister’! And I’ll deal with Dr. Cooper myself. As far as anyone knows, Pamela Sutton just happens to be a woman that looks like Pamela Barnes. There is no proof that they are one in the same woman. And that’s the way it’s going to stay until I say otherwise.” J.R. told Leslie.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 10


Ann walked into the front sitting room and found Kristin sitting on a small couch, waiting for her. Kristin stood up and was about to walk toward her, when Ann pulled out a small revolver and pointed it at her!

“You won’t mind my arming myself, will you? You have a bad reputation.” Ann said as she eased back to the room opening and pulled the door closed. Kristin put her hands up but was hardly frightened.


“No. Of course not.” Kristin replied in a friendly tone. “Just like you won’t mind explaining what’s going on between yourself and my husband.”

Ann kept her expression neutral.

“I don’t know what you mean.” she replied.

“Oh I don’t think that’s true. Otherwise you wouldn’t have thought to come in here with a gun. Let me bring you up to speed, dear: Bobby was shot and before he passed out, he wanted someone named ‘Annie’ to clear him. You were there when your father was killed by Bobby. Bobby did kill your father, right?” Kristin asked.

Ann raised a brow while cocking her gun.

“Go back to the part about Bobby getting shot. How did that happen?”

“He was found on the road outside of the Southern Cross Ranch in that condition.” Kristin lied. “I think it might have been self inflicted.”

“You mean Bobby tried to kill himself? Outside of the Farlow Ranch?”

“Yes.” Kristin sighed dramatically. “He really wants me back. Badly. But of course I can’t risk my son’s safety by going back to him. He was taken to the hospital.”

Ann eyed her. She knew that last bit about Bobby wanting her back was not true. But was the first part correct? Had Bobby been shot?

Kristin lowered her hands and tilted her head.

“Well? Was my husband talking about you? Can you clear him?”

The door to the room opened and Monica, along with two security guards, walked in towards Kristin. Monica stood at Ann’s side and she lowered her gun.

“This woman is the wife of Mr. Wade’s murderer.” Monica said calmly. One of the guards grabbed Kristin’s arm and she smirked at Ann as she was escorted out of the house. Once they left, Monica faced Ann.

“Where did you get that gun?” Monica asked her.

“From the room guns are kept in, Monica.” Ann told her. “You should get to know the house you’ll be living in.”

“You know, Ann, I am really trying here. I know that you are important to Harris. That means you’re important to me as well. Harris wouldn’t have wanted anything to happen to you today. I just thought I would bring in back up. But apparently you didn’t need it.”

Ann felt slightly guilty. Monica did sound like she actually cared.

“I’m sorry,” Ann said, “I was just thrown by something Kristin said. She told me Bobby had been shot and she acted as if he had tried to kill himself. I think she shot him.”

“Oh my God!” Monica breathed. “Do you think Bobby tried to kill himself over Lucas?”

“No.” Ann said. “I don’t think he tried to kill himself at all.”

Ann then walked out of the room and away from Monica. She needed to find out what hospital Bobby was at and find out what was really going on. Kristin knew that something was happening between Bobby and herself. And Ann needed to know if Kristin was just guessing, or if Bobby had done more than just utter her name.

Mrs. Gomez entered the room Monica had been left in, to tell her that her father was on the phone. Monica thanked her and picked up a phone on a nearby coffee table.

“Hello, Daddy! When are you coming in?” she asked, trying to hide her unease.

But Jason Colby was not so easily fooled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing. I just can’t wait to see you!” Monica asked, putting cheer into her tone.

“Well I’m actually almost there. My plane will land in an hour. Now tell me what’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing because I can hear it in your voice.” Jason told her stoutly.

Monica looked around to make sure she was alone before speaking truthfully.

“Daddy…I just walked in on Ann holding a gun on Kristin Ewing.”

“Kristin Ewing…that’s Bobby Ewing’s wife, right?”

“Yes.”

“How did she get onto the property? Surely Lucas had security?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this estate and I really don’t want to, okay? I want to live in California and I need for Harris to understand that.”

“Monica, he is looking at houses…”

“Yes and he wants his step-sister to have a room there too! When she comes to ‘visit’!” Monica said in a pained voice. “Only I don’t think this room Harris wants is about Ann ever visiting us! I think he wants her to live with the two of us!”

“Okay, honey, calm down. Now you know that just can’t be true. Ann’s mother lives in the Napa Valley. Ann is from California. I am sure it is nothing more than that.” Jason said in a soothing tone. But he did not like how his daughter sounded at all.


Monica rubbed the back of her neck.

“I guess you could be right about that.” she conceded.

“Where is Harris now? Was he there when Kristin arrived?”

“No. He went to Ryland-Wade.” Monica said. She did not want her father to know that Harris had lied about that. She didn’t want her father, or anyone else, thinking that she was clueless when it came to her husband-to-be.

“And where is Ann? Kristin Ewing is not still there, is she?”

“No. Security escorted her out of here.”

“And is Ann alright?”

“Daddy, I told you, I came in here and found ANN holding a gun on KRISTIN! Ann is perfectly fine!”

“Okay, honey, then you keep calm, call Harris and let him know what has happened. I will call you when my plane lands. I love you.”

Monica smiled with relief. Daddy was coming. She was worrying for nothing.

“I love you too, Daddy.”


****

Dr. Hudson decided to run more tests on Mark, which kept Katherine at the hospital. She soon spied Miss Ellie and Clayton hurry in down the hall! Since Mark was still in with the doctor, Katherine made her way down to the ‘Ewing Hallway’ to find out just what the hell was going on!

Clayton was the first to notice her, just as Ellie went in to see Bobby, who was now awake and alert.

“Katherine? What are you doing here? What do you know about this?” Clayton asked in an accusatory tone.

“I had nothing to do with this, Clayton.” Katherine said coolly. “I’m here because someone broke into Mark’s home and attacked him. The doctors are with him now.”

“Mark was attacked? Bobby was shot…my God…” Clayton sighed, running a hand down his face. Katherine was not going to hold her breath waiting for an apology from him. She ‘supposed’ she had a bad rep when it came to shooting Bobby…

“Have you gotten ahold of J.R.?” Clayton asked.

“No. I’ll call him at work.”

“He’s not at work.” Clayton asked, eyeing her in disbelief. “He’s in California by now.”

Katherine tried not to look as if she had not known that, but failed.

“I knew he was going out there but I thought it would be in a day or two.” Katherine admitted.

“No. He left quite suddenly. So you have no number for him where he can be reached?” Clayton asked. Katherine folded her arms.

“No, Clayton. I do not. Something you probably already knew. You know, I would dare say that my mother would be appalled at how you are speaking to me right now!”

` Clayton looked quasi apologetic.

“I apologize if I seemed rude here, but I have to think of my own wife! She was shot in her own home! Now Bobby has been shot…”

“Not by me! And let me tell you something Clayton Farlow! The police detective that is looking into Mark’s assault, saw two Southern Cross ranch hands, drop Bobby off outside of this hospital! I’d be willing to be that the same ‘shooter’ that dinged Miss Ellie, also shot Bobby!” Katherine snapped before skulking back off towards Mark’s room! She had only wanted to show family support and instead she had to listen to baseless innuendo and snideness about J.R.’s whereabouts!

Dr. Hudson was coming out of Mark’s room when she arrived. He looked grim.

“What is it?” Katherine asked, her nerves on edge.

“What it is, is nothing, seemingly.” he replied.

“Meaning what?”

“Meaning that Mr. Graison is fine and shouldn’t be without his recent memory. And yet he is. I think we’re going to have to just see how this plays out. If you’re still willing to help him, Mrs. Ewing.”

Mark suddenly opened his hospital room door, dressed and ready to leave. He eyed Dr. Hudson.


“What did you just call her?”

“Excuse me?” Dr. Hudson asked.

“You heard me. You called her ‘Mrs. Ewing’. She’s Mrs. Graison.” Mark corrected him.

Katherine floated into his arms.

“Now, now, Mark, I’m sure you didn’t hear him right. He knows I am Mrs. Mark Graison.” Katherine told him and she felt his arms wrap around her instinctively…as if they had always belonged around her.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Graison. The Ewings are here and I must have gotten confused.” Dr. Hudson said. “I apologize.”

Mark lifted a brow.


“The Ewings are here, why?” he asked, looking from Dr. Hudson and down at Katherine. “Is Pam here? Is that why you were gone for so long.”


“Bobby was shot.” Katherine replied.


“By who? Pam?” Mark asked.

Katherine would have LOVED to have said ‘yes’ to that, but Dr. Hudson would have given her away. She shook her head.

“No one knows.” she replied semi truthfully.

“Pam has to be beside herself.” Mark noted. Katherine tried to keep her irritation from showing. That was the second time in like minutes, that Pam’s name had been spoken by Mark.

“Mark…one of the reasons Dr. Hudson wanted to examine you, is that you have seemingly forgotten some things. Like the fact that Pam died.” Katherine said coolly. Mark’s arms suddenly left her body and he looked at Dr. Hudson, then at Katherine again.

“Your sister died? I would think I would remember that, Katherine!”

“Yes. But you didn’t. That’s why Dr. Hudson ran more tests.” Katherine replied.

“Pam is dead and Bobby was shot.” Mark murmured. Katherine motioned for Dr. Hudson to leave and he quietly did so. Mark scarcely noticed as he turned to look out of the window. He then turned back to Katherine.

“I don’t understand what’s going on. I was hit in the head during a burglary and now I don’t remember that Pam is dead. What else have I gotten wrong?” Mark asked.

Katherine could not make herself tell him that they weren’t man and wife. She could not make herself say that it had been Pam, Mark had been in love with and not herself.

“Nothing. But thinking Pam was alive was just so disconcerting to me…I am still in shock….” Katherine trailed off and worked up a few tears.

“Hey!” Mark exclaimed and pulled her to him to hold her. “Look, the doctor will figure out what’s going on, okay? But can we get out of here, please? I want to get you home as soon as possible so we can work on making our baby.”

Katherine pulled back a bit and gave him a fake smile!

“Our baby?”

Mark tilted his head.

“I’m wondering if you’re the one that got hit in the head? You’re looking at me as if we did not agree to try again.” Mark asked gently.

“Again?” Katherine asked casually.

Mark now looked at her with real concern. Katherine tried to assuage his fears with a small kiss, that he ended. He placed his hands on her shoulders.

“What’s going on? Why do I feel like you’re not telling me everything?”

“Mark,” Katherine said with a sincerity that seemed to come from somewhere deep inside of her, “I want nothing more than to give you a child.”

Mark smiled down at her, before pulling her back into his arms and holding her close. Katherine tightened her arms around him as well…just as the door opened and Dusty Farlow appeared. Mark let go of Katherine and she turned around.

“Dusty? What are you doing here?” Katherine asked.

“Mark, I need to speak to Katherine alone.” Dusty said.

“Why?” Mark asked, his tone slightly on edge.

Dusty rolled his tongue around in his mouth before answering.

“I just do.”

“Why?” Mark asked again, this time not so politely. But Katherine turned Mark’s face so he was looking at her.

“I’m going to be in the hallway. This won’t take long.” she told him.

“What won’t take long?” Mark asked, his tone now hostile. Dusty eyed the both of them. He had thought Graison was a bit too cozy with Katherine at the barbecue, but now they looked like they were quite involved.

They had actually looked like lovers.

“Mark, trust me, okay? I just need to talk to Dusty for a moment. I’ll be back in and then we’ll get out of here.” Katherine said. Mark clenched his jaw but nodded. Katherine walked out of the room first and Dusty could not help but glance back at Mark before following Katherine out into the hallway. He closed the door behind them.

“Dad told me that Mark was attacked?” Dusty asked. But Katherine wasn’t in the mood to answer any questions about Mark.

“What do you want?” Katherine asked.

“Dad said that a police detective saw some of my men drop Bobby off.”

“Yes. They should have been more careful.” Katherine sniped.

“I need for you to say that you were wrong.” Dusty said in a hard tone.

“I didn’t see it, Dusty! But the same detective that worked on Bobby’s case when I shot him, is the one that saw the whole thing!”

“I understand that. I need for you to not remember this police detective telling you that.” Dusty told her.

“Why? So you can protect that gun wielding tramp your involved with? Huh? And don’t look at me like that. J.R. told me all about Jock and her.”

“Kristin denies it.” Dusty replied.

“I would too if I was her! That’s like if J.R. accused me of sleeping with YOUR father!”

“My father isn’t as old as Jock Ewing was! And I really don’t want to visualize that, okay? Just don’t remember what this Zorelli character told you. Can you do that?”

“I could do it, Dusty, but why would I want to?”

Dusty folded his arms.

“I don’t know what this is you have going on with Graison in there, but everyone knows you’d throw him over in a heartbeat for Bobby. His marriage to Kristin is over. Now is your chance. I’ll do what I can to push Bobby in your direction.”

Katherine smirked!

“Right! Because Bobby is going to listen to you. The man his wife is now sleeping with. Look, I have my own problems here. Mark was attacked and he thinks I’m his wife. The doctor can’t figure out why this is happening so I have to juggle Mark and J.R..”

Dusty eyed her.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Katherine asked.

“You’re not interested in Bobby anymore, are you? I can see how you are with Graison.”

“How about this: I go along with what your asking, if you back me up with Mark. Help me get out of here with him without us running into anyone that knows that we’re not married, that Pam is not alive and that I’m married to J.R..”

Dusty nodded.

“Okay. But when asked to back up Detective Zorelli’s story…”

“I won’t know a thing.” Katherine promised.


****

Kristin returned to the Southern Cross, only to find out that Dusty and Christopher were now at the hospital! Clayton had ordered Dusty to bring Christopher to the hospital to be with Bobby.

Kristin herself, did not dare show her face there. So she used her alone time to go over what she learned, and did not learn, from Ann Wade.

Ann had armed herself. And maybe she had done it because of what Kristin had done to Miss Ellie and J.R.. And maybe Ann had guessed that she had shot Bobby as well…

Or, Ann had armed herself because she expected trouble out of her. Ann had told Bobby she could clear him and yet she hadn’t. Why?

Kristin found a newspaper and re-read what had supposedly happened to Lucas Wade. Harris Ryland said Bobby had met with Lucas, shot him and then left.

Ann and Ray had been there as well and said that that was what had happened. But to be honest, as many problems as Kristin had with Bobby these days, she just didn’t see him as someone that would just shoot someone, then walk away.

Ann Wade knew who had killed her father. She knew it wasn’t Bobby and Bobby knew that. So why hadn’t Bobby been cleared yet?

Kristin set down the newspaper and walked over to the phone. She had decided to call the other witness to Lucas Wade’s murder.

Ray.

But unfortunately, she didn’t get Ray on the phone.

She got Jenna.

“Jenna. This is Kristin. I’m sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you. I just heard about Bobby. Ray and I were about to leave for the hospital. I take it you aren’t calling from there?” Jenna asked.

“No. Dusty and Christopher are there. I figured my presence would make things worse.” Kristin replied.

“Well does anyone know what happened? There was a news report that said Bobby was found outside of the Southern Cross?”

“Yes,” Kristin continued to lie, pleased that the cover story had made the media, “one of the ranch hands found him out there. I think he meant to come and get Christopher and…to be honest, Jenna, I don’t know what to think or what Bobby could have been planning. I’m actually calling because of your sister Ann.”

“Ann?” Jenna asked.

“Yes. Bobby had shot himself in the leg and before he lost consciousness, he asked us to make sure that ‘Annie cleared him’. I assumed he meant your sister. This whole thing has torn Christopher apart, so I went to visit your sister, to ask her what she knew. Jenna, she pulled a gun on me! I know I have a bad reputation but I just felt as if she knew more than she was telling.” Kristin told her.

“Your saying that Ann can clear Bobby of my father’s murder? Meaning she knows who really did it and is not telling?” Jenna asked.

“That’s what I suspect, yes.” Kristin said.

“Alright, Kristin. Thank you for calling. I will see if I can get to the bottom of this.” Jenna said and then hung up without saying goodbye. Ray, who had been out in the truck, waiting for her to come out, came back in just as his wife was hanging up the phone.

“I wondered what was taking so long. We need to get a move on so we can go see what happened to Bobby.” Ray said. Their housekeeper, Mrs. Morales, would be looking after Lucas and Emma while they were gone.

Jenna turned to look at Ray.

“That was Kristin.”

Ray raised a brow.

“What the hell does she want?” he asked.

“She said that the Southern Cross ranch hands found Bobby shot outside of the property. Kristin also said that before Bobby passed out, he said that Ann could clear him of Daddy’s shooting. Why would Bobby think that?” Jenna asked.

Ray felt his whole body grow cold.

“I don’t know. We all saw Bobby do it.” Ray replied.

Jenna stared at him.

“Ray, if Harris has threatened you, I need to know. Because I never believed Bobby killed Daddy. And I am having a big problem with the fact that you can’t stand up to Harris! He killed my father, didn’t he?”

Ray closed the distance between them and rested his hands on her shoulders.

“Honey, Bobby was in a bad way. This is Pam we’re talking about. Pam and their unborn child. What your father did was beyond horrible. I still don’t get his reasoning.”

Jenna stared up at Ray.

“So he told you he was doing all of this, before Bobby came into the office?”

“No.” Ray said stoutly, knowing Jenna was trying to trip him up. “We were there while Lucas told Bobby what he had done and what his plans were for everyone—including his wanting Ann to marry Bobby.”

Jenna shook her head and pulled away from her husband!

“That’s the most unbelievable thing of all. That Ann would ever marry Bobby or look his way.”

“Jenna, he didn’t care. Your father was determined to have one of his daughters become a Ewing. Are you going to tell me you had no idea that that was how he felt this whole time?” Ray asked.

Jenna sighed.

“I barely got back into his good graces after leaving Bobby and marrying Naldo. I hate thinking about that time. That stupid time in my young life. Let’s just go to the hospital and see how Bobby is, okay?”

Ray nodded and kissed her gently. Jenna walked out of the room but Ray lingered momentarily as he tried to keep his wits about him. If Bobby knew Ann could clear him, then he knew who had killed Lucas. And yet he had said nothing to the police yet. Why? And why had Ann told Bobby anything at all?

****

Ann appeared at the hospital and looked around. She spotted Miss Ellie and Clayton sitting in chairs outside of a room and walked over to them. Ellie looked up with surprise.

“Ann? What are you doing here?”

“Kristin paid me a visit out of the blue. She told me that Bobby had tried to kill himself outside of the Southern Cross Ranch. I had security throw her off of the property.”

Clayton slowly stood up.

“Kristin came to you and told you this? Why?” he asked.

“I don’t know! And her visit really scared Harris’s fiancee, Monica. I thought I would come by and see what was going on.” Ann said. Clayton spotted Dusty and Katherine down a hallway and excused himself to go and talk to them. Ellie saw where he was going and stood up as well.

“Clayton does not like the fact that any of this happened on his property. I’d better go with him to find out what is going on.” Ellie said and walked after Clayton.

Ann looked around before slipping into Bobby’s room…

Bobby was deep in thought about many things, when he saw Ann enter and close the door behind her.

“Annie? What are you doing here?”

“Kristin came by my house. I got the feeling she knew about our agreement.” Ann told him.

“I told her nothing, Annie. But I do want to ask you something: you were telling me the truth about Harris? He killed your father?”

Ann sat down on the edge of the bed and shook her head.

“No. It wasn’t Harris. And it wasn’t me. It was Ray.”

“RAY!” Bobby snapped.

“Well, Bobby, Daddy just made him look like such a fool! And that was before you arrived. And then when he found out how he lied to you about Pam and your baby, he just freaked. Harris decided to frame you.”

“But it was Ray that killed Lucas?” Bobby asked.

“Yes. Bobby, I like Ray. I do. But watching him shoot my father…I can’t leave Emma with him. He’s a good father but I just can’t do it. That’s why I asked you what I asked you.” Ann told him.

Bobby reached for her hand.

“I can’t marry you if I’m in prison, Annie. If Ray did it, then he has to take responsibility for it Now I need for you to tell the police what happened.”

Ann snatched her hand from his!

“You don’t want to marry me, do you?”

“Annie, I will help you get Emma from Ray and Jenna. But I don’t think our being married is the way to do this.”

“Then I guess you’re going to prison.” Ann sniffed and turned to walk out of the room. She walked down a hallway, saw Ray and Jenna getting off an elevator, turned around and walked off towards the stairwell. She hurried down several flights of stairs, until she reached the first floor. She then opened that stairwell door, walked out and headed towards the exit/entrance of the hospital.

But when Ann got to her car, Harris was standing next to it!

“Harris?” Ann asked. “What are you doing here?”

“I should be asking you that.” Harris said in a light tone. “I got home and saw security throwing Kristin Ewing off of our property and you driving off like a bat out of hell. Why are you here?”

“I came to see Bobby.”

“Yes, I heard he was shot outside of the Southern Cross. That means his wife probably shot him. Were you here to say you were sorry?” Harris asked sarcastically.

Ann rolled her eyes!

“You’re getting married, Harris! That means it’s none of your business where I am or what I do anymore.” she replied in a huffy manner. Harris’s eyes roamed over her.

“I’m sorry, darlin’ if I came off as nosy. It’s just that what you’re doing is a ‘Jenna Thing’. You know… visiting sick people in hospitals and things like that. An ‘Annie Thing’ is helping me run whore houses and sleeping beside me at night. I know you’re angry about Monica. But things are not going to happen the way you think they are.”

Ann peered at him.

“What do you mean? Monica told me her father is coming.”

“He is. For all the good it will do him.” was Harris’s reply.

“Why?” Ann asked, now very curious.

“I’ll tell you why, if you tell me why you’re really here visiting Bobby Ewing.” Harris said.

Ann decided it would be better to half lie.

“Kristin came to see me.”

Harris’s smirk changed to concern.

“I saw her being thrown off of our property. I then saw you race off and I followed you…that’s what this visit is all about?”

“Harris…Kristin knows what Daddy wanted. I think she thought I was competition or something.”

“That woman is laying up with Dusty Farlow and now she wants to know what Bobby is doing? She’s shot J.R., Miss Ellie AND Bobby…probably. She needs to be put away.” Harris huffed.

“Bobby is fine though.” Ann said.

“The hell do I care how he’s doing! Look, honey, just stay away from the Ewings, okay? We need to be ready for your daddy’s will reading. And then you’ll understand just what I’m trying to do.” Harris told her, reaching for her. Ann found herself unable to resist floating into his arms. What did Daddy’s will have to do with the two of them? She pulled away.

“I don’t want to go to that.”

“Annie what are you talking about? You have to.”

“Why? So everyone can hear how he really felt about me? He probably left everything to Jenna anyway.”

“I think Lucas was full of surprises. Now I want you to get back in your car here, go back home and be as nice as pie to Monica.”

Ann was about to respond to that but didn’t. She did as she was told. She got in her car, pulled out of her parking space, gave Harris a wave and drove off. And as she got onto the road that would take her back home, Ann could not shake the feeling that she would soon be feeling sorry for Monica Colby.


****


NAPA VALLEY-

J.R. got off of the elevator on the floor Angela Channing was on. He glanced down a hallway and saw Pamela talking to Richard and Maggie Channing. J.R. knew that Channing was no one to eff with and turned down another hallway. The one that would lead him to Dr. Mitch Cooper’s office.

J.R. saw his secretary wasn’t in and just barged right in! Mitch looked up, then down, then up again, as J.R. closed the door and leaned against it.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the husband that couldn’t afford Lucy. Leslie told me you were Angela’s doctor. How is she?”

Mitch slowly stood up.

“I would say that Angela Channing and what she will say when she can talk or even write, is the least of your problems.” Mitch said coolly.

“Well now, what do you mean by that, doctor?”

“I don’t know, ‘Mark’, you tell me.” Mitch answered, his eyes locking on J.R.’s. “I ought to call Bobby right now…”

“And tell him what? That you’ve been making time with his wife?”

Mitch grinned!

“What are you talking about, J.R.? I’ve been with this hospital for two years. And one day, a woman visits a patient of mine that looks like my ex-wife’s aunt! I talk to her and examine her…”

“You put your damned hands on her?!” J.R. snapped.

“Just to look over the burn damage she had suffered from! From all that Lucy told me about how you felt about her, I’m surprised you bothered to get her a decent doctor!

“Does Lucy know about this?”

“We’re not in touch. And no. I haven’t told a soul. But I have let Pamela know that I think that her ‘sister’ Leslie and yourself, have not been upfront. I plan to call Cliff Barnes as well.”

J.R. thought about threatening Dr. Cooper. But he decided that was not the way to play this.

“Alright. You’re right. But you’re only half correct. Yes, I had Pamela taken from that hospital and yes I had help from Leslie. The plan was not to keep her from Bobby. The plan was to get her well so she could go back to him.”

“Right!” Mitch scoffed. “So if that was the ‘plan’ then why are you pretending to be her husband? What do you think Bobby is going to think when he finds out you put your hands on his wife? Or Mark Graison? I’m sure he would also be very interested in knowing about all of this.”

J.R. folded his arms and peered at Mitch.

“And yet you haven’t told them. Why?”

“Pamela needs to recover from her memory loss on her own. She saw a picture of Bobby in the newspaper. She is starting to remember, J.R. and it will only be a matter of time before she realizes who you really are and what you have done.” Mitch said, just as the door to his office opened and Pamela walked in. Mitch smiled at her and could not help but think she looked ravishing, her dark, red hair draped over one shoulder.

Pamela stopped short when she saw ‘Mark’.

“Mark? When did you get in?”

“I got in just now, darlin’.” J.R. said and reached for her arm. “Leslie said you’ve been spending a lot of time here at the hospital. I don’t think it’s good that you be here so much. You’re still recovering.”

Pam sighed.

“And you’re in Dr. Cooper’s office to tell him that too? Leslie told you about the man I saw in the paper, didn’t she.”

J.R. looked at Mitch.

“I need to be alone with my ‘wife’.”

“No.” Mitch replied and Pamela looked at him with surprise.

“What is going on here?” Pamela asked.

Suddenly, Mitch was paged! He glowered at J.R. before smiling at Pamela.

“I have to take care of this. I’ll be back.” he said and left the office. J.R. closed the door behind him before facing Pamela.

“Why am I hearing from other people that you’re getting memories back?”

“You’re hearing from them because you’re never home.” Pamela told him. J.R. reached for her shoulders and kneaded them.

“You know it’s business. You know I have to pay for your treatments and your care somehow. I thought you understood that?” J.R. asked softly.

Pamela’s face softened in response.

“I do, Mark, I just miss you. And half of the valley thinks that either Leslie or I pushed Angela Channing down the stairs at Falcon Crest! And then I saw that picture…the one of the man named ‘Bobby Ewing’….”

J.R. took a deep breath and lied.

“Pamela, honey, that man…he was the one that ran into you and caused your accident. He is the one responsible for all of this. Now he’s shot someone and he’s probably going to pay for his crimes. That is who you are remembering…Pamela!” J.R. cried out as Pamela began to slip to the floor in shock. She shook her head hard and leaned on J.R. as he pulled her up.

“I’m fine…I just…”

J.R. cupped her face within his hands.

“This is too much for you. Now Leslie has found work in Moldavia and I want you to go with her.”

“No.” Pamela said firmly. “I want to be where you are.”

“Pamela…”

“I won’t go!” Pamela said insistingly and she threw her arms around his neck. “Promise me that I am going with you when you leave here. Promise? I am recovered enough! Leslie should not be taking care of me forever! I’m ready to resume our life together.”

J.R. response to her was to weld her body to his, and cover her mouth in a possessive kiss that surprised even him. He pulled his lips from hers and slipped an unyielding arm around Pamela’s waist, almost consuming it, as they left Mitch Cooper’s office and returned to their bed at Falcon Crest, where soon, J.R. was inside of Pamela Barnes Ewing and making love to her with a fiery zeal that stunned them both.

 

[Karin Schill]

Yikes! I can tell that you don't know where you're going with this as it's a big fat mess.

Sorry if I ruined your original plan when I asked about Bobby & Jenna.

The idea of Pam and JR is seriously disturbing to me.
It would have been better to have her be dead than for this. I can't stomach them together.

I'm sorry to see Lucas being killed off so fast. I quite liked the family dynamics of the Wades/Rylands.

Still hoping Ann & Harris will work things out. I don't want her to get married to Bobby.

Over all your stories has a tendency to crossover from several of the 80s soaps. I think you have that in common with @stevew
In this story we have Angela Channing (Falcon Crest), Amanda Carrington, Zorelli, King Galen (Dynasty) and also a mix between new and original Dallas characters.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Usually I end at like ten or eleven chapters and, write another story, then continue with a 'Part 2'. So there will be another chapter that's cliffhanger like, and then I'll return to 'Reel Dynasty' or come up with a Falcon Crest Saga. That's the only one I have not focused on so far.

 

[80's Cha Cha Cha]

Chapter 11


Hours later, decisions were being made in the world of the Ewings, the Ryland’s and Wade families.

Bobby and Miss Ellie had made the painful decision to press charges against Kristin. But even that caused unexpected problems. For Dusty swore that Bobby was never inside the house. He said Bobby was found outside on the road.

The police were not so quick to believe Bobby, given the murder charge he was facing. Kristin lied and said she didn’t even know Bobby was in the vicinity of her or their son, whom she feared for.

Detective Zorelli said he himself saw two Southern Cross Ranch Hands drop Bobby off and then take off. He said he had told Katherine as much but…

Katherine didn’t remember being told anything like that! And she also said she had other things to think about, like nursing poor Mark Graison back to health. She also told Bobby, Miss Ellie and Clayton that she would be staying with Mark until he recovered.

Clayton wanted Kristin thrown the hell off of his ranch and it was still HIS ranch! That meant that Dusty, Kristin and Christopher would have to find another place to live.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, an earthquake hit California…

***

Miss Ellie was very aware that South Fork, while empty without Kristin and Katherine, was also much quieter.

It was dinner time and Miss Ellie smiled over at John Ross, who had had many of his favorites made for dinner. Bobby sat next to him and the two, oddly, talked about what they had thought about Moldavia when they had been there. Ellie couldn’t understand why anyone would want to talk about that awful place, or why Sue Ellen would return there.

She felt a twinge of guilt. Of course she knew why Sue Ellen had went back there. There had been nothing left for her here with regards to J.R. or Dusty. And to be blunt, Ellie wanted J.R. to put his foot down about getting custody of John Ross. She didn’t want her grandson living in Moldavia and that was that!

Clayton was quiet and she knew why. She also knew that Clayton would not want to speak about Dusty, Kristin or Christopher at the dinner table. Ellie was shaking her head at just how out of control that situation was, when Teresa entered the dining room and told them that a police detective was there to see Bobby.

Bobby managed to get out of his chair and used a cane to greet none other than Zorelli! Bobby recognized him as the detective that had told the authorities working on his case, that he had seen the Southern Cross ranch hands dump him in front of the hospital. Clayton began to get out of his chair as well, but Ellie stopped him, telling him to let Bobby handle this alone.

Clayton slowly sat back down. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Bobby, but his ranch’s reputation was at stake! No one that worked for him had ever been involved in such shady dealings until Kristin sullied Dusty’s life. And he just knew there would be more of this kind of nonsense, if Kristin wasn’t put away for good!

Meanwhile, Bobby and Zorelli spoke outside…

“I know it’s not my case, but I wanted to find out how you’re holding up.” Zorelli told Bobby.

“About as well as can be expected, considering the fact that my son is not with me.” Bobby told him.

“And that’s why you went to see your wife, right? To get your son back?” Zorelli asked him.

But Bobby didn’t answer him. He eased into a chair at a patio table and looked up at the police detective.

“Why are you really here, detective?” Bobby asked, trying not to grimace from his wound.

“You don’t remember me, do you? Not that I’d expect you to. I mean you were blind then.” Zorelli said.

Bobby raised a brow.

“You worked my case before? When I was shot…”

“By your now sister-in-law, Katherine Wentworth.” Zorelli revealed. “I have to say, the outcome of that surprised me. You just let her get away with it. Then you let her marry your brother…”

“First of all, I didn’t ‘let’ Katherine get away with anything. She ran off. It was my brother that got the charges against her dropped.”

“Your brother, J.R.?”

“Yes.” Bobby said, now quite curious as to where this conversation was going.

“How did that all come about, if you don’t mind my asking? I mean I have several brothers and if some woman shot even one of them, I wouldn’t up and marry her.”

Bobby folded his arms.

“J.R. said that he and Katherine just ‘up and fell in love’, but I think he married her so that he could cause trouble for Kristin and myself.”

“Meaning, Katherine still wanted you?” Zorelli asked.

“Yes. But J.R. and Katherine wasted their time. I couldn’t be what Kristin wanted. I made a mistake marrying her. Now if you don’t mind, Detective, I would like to get back inside and finish my dinner.”

“Oh. Yeah, sorry. Listen I just have one final question. It’s about your first wife. She’s Katherine Wentworth’s sister, right?”

Bobby felt oddly chilled. He did nothing but nod. Zorelli decided to cut to the chase…

“Did you know that Mark Graison was attacked early this morning, or maybe even late last night? He was hospitalized in the same facility, down the hall from you.”

Bobby stared at Zorelli for a moment before speaking.

“I think someone might have mentioned that. Katherine was there with him, right?”

“Yes. She was. She was also at Mr. Graison’s residence, which is the former residence of your former wife, Pamela. Katherine was there when Mr. Graison was being taken to the hospital. The only room that looked like it had been disturbed was Mr. Graison’s home office. Whoever this thief was, was very interested in what was behind the frames of some pictures that had Pamela and Katherine in them.”

“Meaning?” Bobby asked.

“I returned to the house while your sister-in-law was with Mr. Graison at the hospital. I might have found what the intruder was looking for. I found something taped inside of the fireplace. A piece of paper with the name ‘Pamela Sutter—Falcon Crest’ on it. Is that name familiar to you?”

Bobby slowly stood up.

“No. Who is she?” he asked, but God help him, he knew what Zorelli was about to say…

“I think Mr. Graison thought he had found your first wife and for whatever reason, taped that piece of paper to the inside of his fireplace. The fireplace doesn’t actually work, for whatever reason, so there was no worry of the paper being destroyed. But I guess I wanted to get your feeling on Katherine. Do you think it is possible that she found out what Mr. Graison had and hurt him to get it?”

“Katherine is capable of anything, so I don’t know. Do I think she would hurt Mark? No. I don’t believe that. But maybe she hired someone…Falcon Crest…Lucas Wade’s second wife works there for the owner. At least I think she does.” Bobby told Zorelli.

Zorelli didn’t like hearing that.

“You mean the man you killed, has an ex that works where your first wife may be?” Zorelli asked, now looking at Bobby suspiciously.

Bobby caught the look but stood his ground.

“Detective, I don’t think Leslie would have anything to do with any of this. She worked for J.R. at one point before divorcing Lucas and leaving Texas with their daughter, Annie. Annie would have seen Pamela if she had been anywhere around Falcon Crest.” Bobby said.

“You’re sure of that? Your wife was badly burned. Maybe she doesn’t look how she used to.”

“Even if that were true, Leslie would have known her and informed either myself or Cliff, Pamela’s brother.”

“Mr. Ewing, ‘woulda’, ;coulda’ and ‘shoulda’ are some of the most commonly used words when it comes to crime. People don’t do what’s expected of them and they lie all of the time. I personally think I’m on to something here. I came by to ask you if ’Sutter’ is an alias of some sort that your wife’s would have used or even Leslie…”

Bobby found that he was unable to quell how upsetting he was finding this whole conversation to be!

“You really believe you have something here, don’t you?” Bobby asked.

“I do. I’d like to talk to your brother, J.R.. He might know something.”

“Know something about what? About whether my wife is alive?!”

“I know he didn’t care for her much.” Zorelli said, seeing that he was upsetting Bobby. He began to tone down his questioning.

“No, but J.R. knew that my son and I loved and needed her. And there is no way J.R. would be involved in any ‘plot’ to keep Pamela from me or my son. What does Mark have to say about any of this?” Bobby asked and then stopped himself. Mark had amnesia. He would remember none of this.

Zorelli could see that Bobby knew the answer to his own question and stopped his questioning. But he did have some parting words.

“Mr. Ewing, I didn’t mean to upset or offend you. I know your dealing with your own drama. But one of the reasons your looking at murder charges, is because of motive. You said old man Wade told you he knew where Pamela was. You said, he said, he lied. Now I find evidence that your wife may be alive and living in the same vicinity of Wade’s second wife. I’m just not a big believer of coincidences." Zorelli said, before turning and walking off towards his car. Bobby sat very still and watched Zorelli get into his car and drive off.

Once he was gone, Bobby managed to stand up. He was not a big believer in coincidences either. He thought of Annie and her parting words to him at the hospital earlier. He had to think if she would have recognized Pamela if she had seen her at Falcon Crest? That, Bobby could not be sure of. But he planned on finding out.

***

Harris was very aware that Ann was either sulking in her room or someplace in the house, while he, Monica, Judith and Jenna, entertained Jason Colby. Ray had disappeared someplace and Harris suspected he was off outdoors looking at their horses. Ray was very much an outdoorsman. He knew that and Lucas had as well. Harris had been suspicious of his step-father’s motives with regards to Ray from the very start. But he had also thought Jenna had pushed her father into it or something. He could have never thought that Lucas had been making such elaborate revenge plans all of this time.

He eyed Jason, who was over by the fireplace, laughing with Jenna. Oddly, Harris thought that Lucas would’ve liked Jenna marrying someone like Colby over there, even though he bordered on the old coot side a bit. His eyes moved from them to hid mother and Monica. Judith was telling her about Kristin sleeping with J.R. years ago and how at one time, Christopher was rumored to have been his. Harris decided to slip away and make Annie come down and join in on the misery!

Harris hurried up the stairs and down the hallway where her room was. He knocked twice, got no answer and opened the door. He found Annie lying on her bed, while looking at a fashion magazine. Her TV was on as well and a game show was blaring.

Harris closed the door and walked over to her.

“Jason is asking after you downstairs.” he told her, moving aside more magazines to sit down on the bed.

“And?” Ann asked, not looking at him. She was looking at a page that had a Chanel evening gown on it.

“Annie, honey, don’t be like this. Now you’re being plain rude not being downstairs to help entertain our guest.”

Ann looked over at him.

“Jason Colby is nothing to me. He’s going to be your father-in-law. And I don’t have to do anything you or your mother say anymore.”

Harris reached out to massage one of her bare legs. She was wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

“No, you don’t. And whatever it is you want now, I can make happen.” he told her. Ann thought about flinging his hand off of her leg, but refrained from doing so. Probably because she was used to Harris putting his hands on her whenever he liked, and her not minding.

Ann sat up a bit and pulled out a picture from within the magazine, telling Harris that she had not really been looking at the magazine itself. It was a picture of Emma. Harris took it and frowned.

“Isn’t this the picture that Jenna and Ray keep in their hallway? On that table in front of the mirror?” Harris asked.

Ann nodded.

“I swiped it today. I also spent time with her and little Lucas. Emma asked me about bringing her some Christmas presents early and bringing nothing to Lucas.” Ann smiled.

Harris smiled as well.

“Christmas is like six months away!” he exclaimed. Ann nodded, still smiling.

“I know! She is just so full of energy and life…and I don’t know how to get her back without hurting Ray and Jenna.” Ann said quietly, reaching for the picture.

But Harris pulled it out of her reach to stare at it a bit longer, before addressing her.

“This is going to be the last time Jason Colby or Monica are in this house. I plan to tell Monica I won’t be marrying her.”

Ann raised a brow and sat up.

“What do you mean? If you do that then you won’t get part of ColbyCo.”

“I can still get it. And marrying Monica wouldn’t necessarily guarantee I do get it. I found out that her and Miles are not Jason Colby’s children.” Harris sighed, putting down the picture.

“What? Who told you that?” Ann asked.

“No one told me. I had an investigator look into the family. I was hoping there was some leverage I could use against them, in case they got out of line after I married Monica. Now I don’t need to.”

“Harris, I don’t understand! Jason knows this and doesn’t care so…”

“He does not know it. And neither does Monica.” Harris told told her. Suddenly, Ann didn’t like any of this!

“You can’t tell Monica that! You can’t!”

“No. I don’t plan to. I plan to just have a nice quiet talk with Jason.”

“Okay, Harris but if Jason doesn’t know it either…you could really hurt them.”

“I want this merger and I want you to be my wife. I want Emma and I want to live here…minus my mother. Tell me you don’t want that too, Annie?”

Ann said nothing as she found herself losing herself in Harris’s gaze.

“I don’t care about the merger. We were fine without the Colby’s. Just tell Monica you don’t want to marry her without hurting her, Harris.”

“Darlin’, sometimes, that’s the way business works.” Harris told her firmly. He then handed her back the picture. “I want you to get dressed and come on down. You’re still a Wade and you need to represent.”

Ann’s response to that was to give him a coy smile.

“Go and lock my door and I’ll show you how I ‘represent’.”

Harris’s smile matched her own, as he hurried over to her bedroom door to lock it, then began undressing…

Meanwhile, Judith was appalled to be told by Mrs. Gomez that Bobby Ewing was at the door! Jason was just as appalled and went to the door with her, along with Monica, to confront Lucas Wade’s murderer.

“Bobby Ewing,” Judith said, shaking her head, “you have one minute to explain how you have the nerve to be standing at my front door, before I get one of Lucas’s old shot guns and blow you away with it.”

Bobby took a deep breath, then looked from her to Jason and Monica. He nodded at Jason, whom he recognized and Monica.

“Mr. Colby, Monica, I know this is a hard time for your family. But I need to speak to Ann.” Bobby said.

“That’s not happening, Mr. Ewing.” Jason told him. “And from what I’ve heard, you’ve seen enough trouble to last a lifetime. Now turn around and do what Mrs. Wade asks. Leave.”

But Monica could not stifle her curiosity….

“Why? Why do you want to see her? Is this because of Kristin? She was here earlier.” Monica said.

Bobby could see that he had three people in front of him, that were barring him from getting the answers he needed from Ann about Pam. He thought about turning around and leaving, when Jenna appeared in the hallway behind them.

“Jenna,” Bobby called out to her, “I need to see Ann. It’s important.”

Jenna moved so that she was standing close to Jason.

“I really don’t think it’s a good idea. I’m sure your attorney would agree.” she replied.

“I didn’t kill Lucas, Jenna! When I left him in his office, he was very much alive. And Ray knows that. Ray, Harris and Ann know it.” Bobby said firmly.

Jenna shook her head.

“I want to believe you, Bobby. But Ray would not lie about seeing you. Neither would Ann. Now please leave. You’re interrupting our get together.” she said firmly.

Bobby clamped his lips together. He was going to have to lie to get into this house and see Annie. And he knew something he could say that would make everyone in front of him, want answers from Annie.

“Annie and I are engaged. Your father wanted this, Jenna and so does Annie. Now can I see her?” Bobby asked politely as he watched Jenna’s face turn to shock and quasi rage. Jason put an arm around her and Judith snorted!

Monica, however, wanted to believe that Bobby was telling the truth about Ann. She wanted to believe that Ann would no longer be the real or imagined threat that Monica saw her to be.

“I think,” Monica said, “the only way to get this straightened out, is to get Ann down here.”

Judith looked at Monica as if she were crazy!

“There is no agreement between Bobby and Ann to marry that Ann would have any part in.” Judith said and turned to face Bobby again.

“What do you really want?” Judith asked him.

Bobby knew that everyone thought he was crazy to still think Pam could possibly still be alive. But there was also this part of him, that thought about what Lucas told him in his office that fateful day. Bobby felt he understood the man better than he ever had before.

He also understood J.R. and the depths he would go to to keep Pam from coming back to the Southfork and him. He didn’t want to believe what Zorelli had alleged about J.R. but he had been through too much to not see this thing through.

“If I can’t see Ann, then maybe one of you could tell me if you have ever met Leslie Stewart’s sister?” Bobby asked.

***

Dusty sat in his sunken in tub with his eyes closed.

Decisions would have to be made. Hard ones.

He was not leaving the Southern Cross Ranch. And as much as he wanted to be with Kristin, despite her hellfire ways, he could not allow this woman to destroy his family legacy. He couldn’t allow her to come between himself and his father.

Kristin sauntered in, naked, with her hair pinned on top of her head. She sank into the tub and moved so that she was next to him. Dusty opened his eyes but did not look at her.

“I told Christopher to pick up in his room. I swear, I don’t know where he got such messy habits. Probably from Bobby.” Kristin purred and closed her eyes.

“I think that Christopher needs go back to Southfork. And you need to go and stay with your mother.” Dusty said quietly. Kristin’s eyes opened and she looked over at him.

“What?”

Dusty looked at her.

“Honey, I’m sorry but I can’t have anymore of what happened today, happening again.”

“It won’t. Bobby understands…”

“You shot him and we lied about it. My father knows we lied and he doesn’t like it. I don’t like it.” Dusty said firmly. Kristin slowly got up out of the tub and allowed him to take in her nudity.

“I don’t like it either, Dusty. But what was I supposed to do…”

Now Dusty rose up and began yelling!

“You were ‘supposed’ to tell him you didn’t know what the hell he was talking about! You were supposed to tell him you’d sue him for defamation! You were supposed to come and get me! You were NOT supposed to whip out a gun and blow him away!”

Kristin rolled her eyes!

“Oh for God’s sakes, Dusty! I did not ‘blow Bobby away’! He was hit in a small spot on his leg!”

“Would you like to be hit on a ‘small spot on your leg’?” Dusty asked sarcastically. “Look…I need a break until I figure out what we’re going to do.”

Kristin smiled coldly at him.

“I think you’ve figured out what ‘we’ are going to do, already. And I’ll pass on the advice on Christopher. Bobby killed someone, or do you believe I did that shooting too?”

Dusty was about to reply when a knock on the bathroom door, interrupted their argument.

“Yes?” Dusty called out.

“I am sorry to interrupt,” Mrs. Doakes called out, “but your ex-wife is here.”

Kristin raised a brow and looked from the closed door and over to Dusty. Dusty put in a robe and walked over to the door. He opened it, thanked Mrs. Doakes, then closed it again.

“Your ex-wife is named ‘Linda’, right?” Kristin asked calmly. “Why would she be here?”

“We’re still on good terms. She understood that I need to deal with my feelings for Sue Ellen. I’m getting dressed see her. I would appreciate it if you came down and greeted her without a gun.”

Kristin rolled her eyes at that comment. She watched Dusty leave the bathroom, and her. Kristin turned towards a mirror and fussed with the tendrils of hair that were coming down around her face. ‘Linda’ had not just shown up out of nowhere.

Someone had called her. Probably Clayton, if Kristin and to guess.

Kristin took down her hair and shook it out. She would greet Linda as well, just as she was. Kristin walked out of the bathroom and through her and Dusty’s shared bedroom. She opened the door, pranced out into the hallway and headed towards the stair landing…

But once there, Kristin backed back a bit! Linda was down below and she was not alone! Kristin squinted at the man that had accompanied her. He looked familiar…

“I didn’t realize you were seeing a police detective, Linda.” Dusty said as his eyes locked with Detective John Zorelli’s.

“You were at the hospital earlier.” Dusty said coolly, before looking at his ex. “What is this?”

“Dusty,” Linda said in a calm tone, “Clayton called. He’s concerned, that’s all. John thought he could help as well.”

“How long have you two been seeing one another?” Dusty asked, not buying this coincidence at all.

“Maybe a year.” Zorelli replied. “Look, Mr. Farlow, I know how this looks, but Linda asked me to come along as well.”

“That’s right,” Linda said, touching Dusty’s chest, “I am actually concerned for both you and Kristin. I’d like to talk to her if I could…”

It was as Dusty and Linda were talking, that Zorelli glanced up and caught sight of Kristin in a towel. Their eyes locked before Kristin smiled at him, then opened up her towel to give him a nice, long look, one that Zorelli could not help engaging in, before she closed the towel and walked off down a hallway. Zorelli tore his eyes off of the spot she had been in and did not acknowledge seeing her.

“Look,” Zorelli interrupted them. “maybe this is a bad time. I just heard you say that Kristin was leaving?”

“That’s right.” Dusty said in a little calmer tone. “Christopher is going back to live at Southfork and Kristin is going to her mother’s. I know I need a clear head if I’m going to get a handle on what’s going on here.”

“What’s going on,” Linda said in a firm voice, “is that you have transferred the feelings you have for Sue Ellen, over to her sister. It’s not healthy for either one of you.”

Zorelli could see that Dusty didn’t like hearing that and tried to reign his girlfriend in…

“Okay, Linda, you’ve said your peace, okay. Actually, we’re going out to dinner so we have to get going.” Zorelli said, giving Linda a knowing look. She nodded and looked at her ex again.

“I’m sorry if I overstepped by coming here. Don’t be mad at Clayton. He’s just worried.” Linda said softly, reaching out to rub Dusty’s arm. Dusty did not react but just nodded in acceptance before giving Zorelli a wary look.

“I think it’s a hell of a coincidence that you’re involved in this case and with my ex-wife.” Dusty told him.

Zorelli shrugged.

“It would be a coincidence if this thing with Bobby Ewing had happened last year, when Linda and I first started going out. And I did see your men drop Mr. Ewing off at the hospital and take off. Somehow you managed to get your new buddy, Katherine Wentworth, to act like I never told her what I saw. Are your wife and her friends? You know, with their both using Mr. Ewing for target practice.”

“Get your boyfriend out of here, Linda.” Dusty said coolly. Linda nodded and grabbed Zorelli’s hand. They both walked to the front door, with Zorelli opening it and allowing Linda to exit first, before locking eyes with Dusty and leaving after her.

Once outside, Linda faced him.

“John! Why did you have to agitate Dusty like that?”

“Dusty needs ‘agitating’! And what do you think would have happened if you had shown up here alone? I’ll tell you what: you would’ve been Kristin Ewing’s next shooting victim!”

“Dusty would have never let anything happen to me.” Linda said.

“God, you just think he’s so great, don’t you? He didn’t have the sense enough to appreciate what he had with you and your still defending him.” Zorelli groused. Linda gave him a quick, surprise kiss!

“I agree with you, ‘Detective Zorelli’. But I’m with a man that does have the sense…to appreciate me. That’s all that matters.” Linda told him and pulled him towards his car. Zorelli smiled at the back of her head, while trying to blot out visions of Kristin Ewing’s naked body.

***

Katherine and Mark returned to ‘their’ home and she talked him into resting(meaning napping) before any lovemaking. Somehow, the ides of sleeping with Mark when he was in this condition, didn’t sit as well with her, as it had before.

She was surprised at how much of ‘their’ life together, Mark had just conjured up in his mind. Dr. Hudson seemed to think that some of the experimental meds that he had used in that clinic in Moldavia, might have something to do with all of this. He informed Katherine that many of the drugs that he had detected in Mark’s system, were not sanctioned by the FDA.

She began cleaning up the study that had been rummaged through, first by Mark’s assailant and then the police, when the phone on Mark’s desk rang. Katherine, without hesitation, answered it.

“Hello?”

“Well hello there, darlin’! I figured you’d be at Graison’s.” J.R. replied.

“J.R.. Bobby told me you left for California. I’m assuming you’re looking into who Christopher’s real father could be?” Katherine asked and made herself at home in the chair behind Mark’s desk.

J.R. did not answer that.

“I heard Bobby was shot by that tramp wife of his and that Farlow is covering it up. What’s going on?”

“Bobby is fine and Kristin is practically his ex-wife now. Just as you wanted.” Katherine assured him.

“Well honey, it was supposed to be what ‘we wanted’. Kristin may be the next ex-Mrs. Bobby Ewing, but you’re not much closer to being his third wife. Now why is that?”

Katherine rolled her eyes!

“You expect me to believe that you really want me with Bobby? After you sabotaged my attempts before to be with him?”

“That wasn’t me! You didn’t try very hard!”

“You’re the one that told me that he didn’t want women that had been with you…”

“And yet he married Kristin! Darlin’, I figured you would use Christopher to get close to him, like she did. But instead you’ve been running around with Graison. Now I want you to end whatever it is is going on with him, and get yourself married to Bobby.”

Katherine leaned back in her chair.

“So I would be Mrs. Bobby Ewing and you would be married to who, J.R.? Sue Ellen?” Katherine asked just as she heard something on J.R.’s end.

It was a woman saying the name ‘Mark’.

“J.R.? Who is that with you?” Katherine asked.

“Just do as we planned!” J.R. snapped and hung up. Katherine slowly replaced the receiver just as Mark sauntered into the room, wearing a robe.

“Who was that?” Mark asked. Katherine stood up from the chair and walked to him.

“That was Dr. Hudson.” she lied. “He called to find out how you’re doing. How are you…doing?” she asked, touched his robe. Someone with J.R. had called him ‘Mark’.

And Katherine could not get it out of her head that the voice had sounded familiar. Hauntingly familiar.

“Better than I have been in a long time.” Mark told her, before his mouth covered hers in a possessive kiss that Katherine surrendered to, as they both began to shed their clothing. She could not erase from her mind that somehow, someway, J.R. had a secret that she could use to her advantage and it excited her beyond reason! It excited her as she stood against the fireplace with her hands on the shelf above it, as Mark’s engorged heat rutted into her with abandon, causing her heavy breasts to sway with purpose. It excited her another time, as Katherine bobbed furiously on Mark’s fleshy rod while he sat in a chair and she on his lap. Mark almost bellowed at her movements and Katherine hoped Mrs. Hutchinson could hear them.

Yes, J.R. had a secret. And it was one that would enable her to have Mark, Bobby and whatever she wanted from now on. That much, Katherine Wentworth Ewing, knew for a fact.


***

Leslie was about to call Ann again, when she saw J.R. come down the steps, wearing nothing but a black silk robe and holding a drink in one hand. Leslie coolly replaced the receiver and leaned back in her chair.

“I don’t think,” J.R. began, “I will ever get used to how comfy you look in that chair.”

Leslie said nothing at first.

Then she found her voice.

“I hadn’t realized you had returned with Pamela.”

J.R. stared at her.

“We did. Dr. Cooper is a real problem. You should have been able to handle him.”

“Handle him?”

“He would have never known anything about this, if you hadn’t put Angela Channing in the damned hospital! Hell, Leslie, even I know better than to shove some 80 year old woman down a flight of stairs!”

“She is not 80.” Leslie deflected.

“But she is old, Leslie, damn! You made this mess, Miss P.R. and you should have fixed it! Now I have a wife that won’t leave for Moldavia with her ‘sister’.”

Leslie looked him up and down.

“Surely you know how to bed her properly, J.R. to get her to be more ‘agreeable’, don’t you?”

“You ought to know about that, darlin’. Now I have to get back to Dallas. When Pamela wakes up, you tell her I had to leave on a business emergency…”

Leslie stood up!

“When she wakes up, I plan to tell Pamela that you are J.R. Ewing, that Bobby is her husband and that you lied to her to keep her away from her life! I don’t have time for anymore of your Ewing nonsense! I need to find out what Lucas left Ann in his will and make my mark in Moldavia! This was never supposed to go on forever…”

Leslie’s rant was interrupted when the world around her and J.R. began to quake violently! J.R. went reeling backwards into the hallway, while Leslie was hurled backwards through a glass window from the force of the quaking!

Pamela struggled out of the bedroom she shared with her husband, ‘Mark’, wrapped in nothing but a white sheet! She saw a chandelier fall on poor Chao Li below, just a few feet from ‘Mark’!

“MARK!” Pamela screamed as she saw him struggling to keep his balance. And it was as she screamed her husband’s name, that memories of another life began flooding through her mind! Memories of Bobby, Christopher, Cliff and…

“J.R.!!!” Pamela began screaming in fury and outrage! J.R. heard the change in her tone and looked right up at her, as she trembled on the staircase…right before the staircase itself, collapsed and fell into the earth that had split open, right before his very eyes!

“J.R.!!!” Pamela screamed again, before she fell into the hole that had opened up in the earth. J.R. hung onto the inside of a doorway in shock, unable to believe that he had seen what he had just seen! He looked back over into Angela’s study, as the quaking lessened. There was shattered glass by one of the windows and blood…Leslie must have fell through it… DAMN!

He clutched the inside of the doorway even harder, as he looked over at Chao Li, who was trapped under a chandelier. J.R. knew if he survived this, he could not be identified as one of the survivors of an earthquake at Falcon Crest!

And he could not let anyone know, especially Bobby, that he had watched his wife fall into the earth and die. For a second time.

THE END


AUTHOR’S NOTE: I’m leaving the story here at this point for now. I may return with a follow up where in which J.R. has some explaining to do.

 

[Karin Schill]

Yikes! So Pamela was killed off again?

Oh well might be just as well as I don't see there being anyway back for her and Bobby after she slept with JR.

Interesting how Katherine would rather have Mark than Bobby. Somehow I can see them work pretty well together as a couple. They are both rich and spoiled.

Creative to pair Linda Farlow with Zorrelli.

I hope Jenna finds out the truth about who killed her father and that Bobby is cleared.

I like Ann & Harris. Bye, bye Monica.