Step 1 :\(AC = 3CB\)
Step 2 :\(AB = AC + CB = 4CB\)
Step 3 :\(M = \left(\dfrac{-4+1}{2} , \dfrac{7+a}{2}\right)\)
Step 4 :\(BM = \dfrac{AB}{2}\)
Step 5 :\(CB = \dfrac{AB}{4} = \dfrac{BM}{2}\)
Step 6 :\(C = \left(\dfrac{1 - 4}{2}, \dfrac{a + 7}{2}\right) = (-1,1)\)
Step 7 :\(a = -1\)
Step 8 :\(b = \dfrac{4}{3}\)
Step 9 :\(b - a = \dfrac{4}{3} + 1 = \boxed{\frac{7}{3}}\)