The Sheriff of these here parts...

( closed for sallythescorpian )

Ridgefield, Kansas about 1843 was not a place anyone with half a mind wanted to visit. First of all it was in the middle of no where with only farms and fields for as far as the eye could see. With only a few standard necessities in town for survival like a general store, a jail, post office, saloon, blacksmith and carpentery shop in wo

Second, it was town under siege by the very two men that had taken a vow to protect the citizens. Sheriff Arnold Godfry and Deputy Brian Gramm ran the town with an iron fist. No one... but no one ever raised a hand against the two of them. First of all, they were the only two allowed to carry weapons in the town to begin with. Second, anyone that tried to get out of hand with either of them, often found themselves facing a rather painful death.

It was not your typical 10 paces and fire kind of death. One could only be so lucky. They last person who had pissed off either of the men found themselves tied feet first to the back of a horse dragged at full speed out of town by a panicked horse. He was found pummeled to death next to the horse a week later...

No one crossed the Sheriff or his deputy...

So this is it, she thought looking around the dusty and desserted streets of Ridgefield Kansas, this is where he died. She looked about, hoping to see someone with an air of authority, who could point her in the general direction of the Sheriff, or, better yet the Sheriff himself.

She wondered idly where they had buried him, or, for that matter if they had even given him a decent christian burial. But that was not her concern, not today.

Maggie Swanson was heading on an adventure, or at least that was what she told herself. She was going West with the wagon train, on her way to her wedding. Her husband was a settler in Idaho, a properous man, with a big farm, or so she was told, she had not yet met him, as everything had been arranged through her cousin. But that fool had gone and gotten in a fight, getting himself killed.

That was why she was here. She had a horse, a fine black stallion, with a white star just below his forelock, and at 16.2 he was large for a woman of her stature, but he was all she had left. She had grown up in Richmond, but her father had died, and her brother had gambled away the families money, leaving her no option but to hurry up and marry. They were disgraced in Richmond, so her cousin Arch had arranged a marraige, and a new life for her, and even gone so far as to purchase her fare, and accompany her along the Oregon Trail.

Five days earlier, he had ridden in to town, riding ahead of the wagon train, as he had some business to conduct in Ridgefield, and that had been the last anyone had seen of him. A rider had hailed them telling them he had been killed in a fight in the one horse town. She had been shocked, and upset, but then she realised - Thunder! Her horse, he was still there, somewhere, and she intended to get him back!!

Then she saw him, the Sheriff, or perhaps a deputy, but no matter, he had a star denoting his status. He made her uncomfortable, his gaze seeming to see much more than she was comfortable with, assessing her. Notwithstanding her nerves, she strodet up to him, and introduced herself.

"I'm Maggie Stanton. My cousin, Arch Stanton was killed in a fight in your town five days ago. I have come for his horse - a black stallion, with a white star, where can I collect him?"

"I'm Maggie Stanton. My cousin, Arch Stanton was killed in a fight in your town five days ago. I have come for his horse - a black stallion, with a white star, where can I collect him?"

Deputy Brian Gramm looked down at Maggie and gave a smirk. He said, "Yeah... I know that horse. That is one fine horse I must admit. Though, I have to tell ya, the Sheriff has taken quite a shine to it. Thinkin he was plannin on keepin it if no one came to claim him."

He let his eyes gaze down her a moment. She wore a relatively plain pale tan dress and some kind of corset under it he imagined. Her bonnet covered her long golden locks of hair. Her eyes were deep and her smile weak. It was obvious to him that she had a quiet reserve about her that appealed to him.

He glanced up and down the dusty old road and only saw the General Store Keeper on the porch sweeping. He was an older man, white hair in his mid 50's. His name was Hagrad and he and his wife had been in this town since he was founded. Unfortunately, his wife had died about 3 years ago so he was running the store on his own now.

The Deputy caught the eyes of the Hagrad and quietly tipped his hat to him. For most people that casually looked on, it was a sign of respect. But for Hagrad and the rest of the residents of this town, it was a message to mind his own business. The old man took his broom, gulped nervously and scurried back inside the store.

Brian looked back to her and said, "Tell you what... ummm... what didya say your name was again... Mildred? No ... Maggie! Sorry bout that... I tend to have a horrible time with names and all... Tell you what Maggie, the sheriff is out doing rounds checking on the residents of these here parts. Should be back in in a couple of hours I would imagine. How about we wander over to the saloon over there. They are serving up beef stew as their daily special. How about I treat you to lunch while we wait on him?"

He offered his arm to her...

" How about we wander over to the saloon over there. They are serving up beef stew as their daily special. How about I treat you to lunch while we wait on him?"


Maggie exhaled a sigh of relief, she hadn't realised she had been holding her breath. Thank the Lord the lawman was a gentleman. So many of these new frontier towns were run by immoral opportunists, hell bent on taking advantage of those weaker than them.

She smiled, a more genuine smile this time, and she took his proffered arm, and accompanied him to the saloon. It was brash, loud, and with the anticipated clientele, and it was not a place she would willingly frequent, however, she had no desire to loiter around the town, and she was in the company of the town's law man, so she relaxed, and sat to a plate of stew.

"It is good of the Sheriff to take care of my horse, I am grateful"

No sooner had the words left her mouth, when it occured to her, that the sheriff might apply to her for the cost of livery. Horses weren't cheap to keep, and he had been kept for several days now. She thought of the couple of coins in her purse, no more than a few cents, and she hoped it would be sufficient.

She wracked her brain for something more to say, to change the subject, really, but could not think of anything suitable.

Finally, having cleared her plate, and mopped up the surplus gravy with bread, she looked around, the silence becoming uncomfortable.

"So, do you come here often?" she asked, unaware that it sounded like a lame chat up line.

Deputy Brian Gramm smiled and said, "Well ma'am... I come here for lunch everyday... here bouts at least. That is why I know this place serves the best food in town... coincidentally the only food served in town too..."

He gave a chuckle as he ordered up a couple of shots of whiskey and offered her one. He raised his up to her, then down his quickly and slammed the shot down on the table. He glanced out the window and saw the Sheriff himself riding Thunder slowly through the main street of town towards the sheriff's office. The deputy said, "There's the sheriff now. You bout ready to go settle up on the horse issue?"

A waitress walked over and said, "Can I take those plates sugah?" She made it a point to keep her eyes on the new arrival in town rather than the deputy.

The Deputy said, "Now Candace... we are just about to leave... you can pick em up after we go..."

"Yes, sir..." the waitress said though she continued to stare at the woman at the table... and tried to warn her with nothing but her eyes not to go with him. She shook her head a tiny amount before the Deputy reached up and slapped the Candace's ass and said, "You can go now..."

"Sure... sure deputy... no problem." She turned and left back to the kitchen. She stopped only a moment before turning and peering out the small window in the door. She caught the gaze of the woman one last time before the Deputy and her left for the sheriffs station...

"Can I take those plates sugah?"

Maggie glanced up, taken by surprise at the voice. she had retreated into a world of her own, and had been wracking her brain for something else to say to the Deputy.

She glanced up, expecting the waitress's attention to be directed to the Deputy, but to her surprise, the girls stare was concentrated on her.


"Now Candace... we are just about to leave... you can pick em up after we go..."

He dismissed her, but kindly so, and Maggie smiled up, wondering why on Earth the girl continued to stare at her. Then it hit her. The waitress.... Candace, he had called her, she must be sweet on the Deputy, and thought Maggie to be the competition. She looked up, and smiled, in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. But Maggie noticed her long, sad stare as they left the saloon. Poor girl! Must be unrequited love, she thought.

Looking up the street, she heard a horse whinny, and she recognised it instantly as Thunder. Thank God the Sheriff hadn't sold him, lost him, or done anything else out of the way. Excitedly she hurried over, reaching up to the horse, running her hand over his head, and stroking his shoulder.

"Hey boy, i missed you!" she whispered softly to the horse, before she looked up at the imposing man sitting astride.

"Sheriff, I cant thank you enough for taking care of my horse. My cousin had him with him when he came into town, and I understand that there was an altercation of some sort, and my cousin............ well, he came off the worst of it."

Several hours had passed, and she was acutely aware of the time. Nightfall was rapidly approaching, and she needed to get back to the wagon train. They had bypassed the small town and were pressing own west, and if she didn't leave soon, they would be gone too far ahead for her to have any chance to catch up.

"I dont mean to seem ungrateful, or to rush you, but I need to catch up with the wagons."

The sherrif had dismounted, and she was taken aback by the sheer size of him. Standing six foot three or four, with vast, broad shoulders, he looked as though he could carry this town on his back. He and the Deputy were very similar in build, but the opposite in looks. The Sheriff was dark - thick black hair, worn longer than was the style, almsot black eyes, and skin that suggested some Native American blood in there somewhere. The Deputy was the opposite. Blonde hair, cut very short, and piercing blue eyes contrasted with his light golden tan, and his build was marginly less impressive. He was of slightly lighter build, but was equally fit, and perhaps a little younger.

Stroking the horse, and noting that he was not sheened with sweat, she thought he looked fit enough. She adjusted the stirrups as she began to thank the lawmen for their hospitality, first on the near side, and then moving around to the other side of the horse, where she could no longer see either of them, she adjusted the other, shortening it up to her leg lenth.

She didn't want to yank up her skirts indecently, with the two men there, and she would need to if she was to get her foot into the stirrup.

"Sheriff, could I bother you for a leg up?" she asked confidently as she held the reins in her hands.

Sheriff Arnold Godfry watched this young lady as if he were inspecting a cow or pig to buy. He watched her take the reigns of the horse and it was obvious the two of them had history. He glanced over to his deputy and searched for the signal that he got. This girl was a good one. No rings on the fingers. No large bags of luggage anywhere.

The Sheriff said, "Well, young lady, just hold on a minute. First of all if you are talking about the wagons I saw heading west, they are going to press through the night, so I was told at least. I talked with them a bit and warned them that these parts are Comanche and it would be wise not to linger very long. Didnt know you were part of that group. Might be too late as it is."

Deputy Brian Gramm said, "Then, of course there is the livary fee. Figure the grain and stall for a week is worth about a dime... don't you figure?"

The sheriff said, "Reckon so. Oh... I don't like to charge for that kind of stuff, but the feed prices have gone up lately and not much I can do bout that ..."

They watched her as she fumbled for some coin and come up shy. The sheriff said, "Hmm... a little low on money huh. Well... not one to be to finicky about things like money.. I will take a few pennies for it..."

He watched her turn to get on the horse again and said, "Now hold on. Sorry to bother you about this again, but I need to get you a receipt. The mayor insists on reciepts be given out on all transactions save liquour. It will only take a minute. If you will come into my office with me and the deputy and we will get you all squared away.

He led Maggie into the office and when the deputy closed the door behind them, the sheriff sat down and pulled out a reciept book and started writing down the transaction. He paused and said, "Oh... um... do you have some kind of ID on you?"

"Then, of course there is the livary fee. Figure the grain and stall for a week is worth about a dime... don't you figure?"

The colour drained from Maggie's face. No! She didn't have that much, she knew it. Maybe the Sheriff would say it was okay! She clung to that hope.

"Reckon so. Oh... I don't like to charge for that kind of stuff, but the feed prices have gone up lately and not much I can do bout that ..."

She pulled out her money, the few coins looking megre, and she knew she hadn't enough. Oh God, she would lose her horse!! But then, a chink of light, the sheriff accepted what she offered!!

"Oh thank you! Thank you Sheriff!" she gushed, before she prepard to mount up, but the Sheriff's voice halted her.

"Now hold on. Sorry to bother you about this again, but I need to get you a receipt. The mayor insists on reciepts be given out on all transactions save liquour. It will only take a minute. If you will come into my office with me and the deputy and we will get you all squared away.

She didn't want to. She wanted to head quickly out of town, to catch up with the wagon train..... but she couldn't be rude, especially as he had been gentlemanly enough to accept only a portion of his payment. She managed a smile.

"Sure Sheriff, lead the way, and tying the reins to a post outside the jail, and followed him into his office. It was basically furnished in the expected manner, a desk and a few chairs, and a few cupboards. She didn't take a seat. Instead she smiled.

"I really do appreciate you taking care of my horse, and if I had anymore money, I'd pay it gladly! But I have nothing, I'm travelling west to mett up with my husband, and fulfil our marraige contract, until I get there, I have what I stand in!" she smiled, regreting running her mouth off. She looked up expectantly, waiting for the receipt, so she could get on her way.

"Oh... um... do you have some kind of ID on you?"

She looked up sharply. "Me? No, I have no ID? Why, do you requrie some for the receipt?? If so, it doesnt matter, I need to get going, if I'm to have any chance of catching up, I dont want to ride alone in the dark, its too dangerous!"

"Me? No, I have no ID? Why, do you requrie some for the receipt?? If so, it doesnt matter, I need to get going, if I'm to have any chance of catching up, I dont want to ride alone in the dark, its too dangerous!"

The sheriff looked up at her and then said, "Well ma'am. I am afraid that is going to be a problem." he got up and walked over to a wall filled with wanted posters, examined them and pulled down one in particular and walked back towards her. He said, "You see... of recent, there have been a rash of con artists coming through towns in this part of the country. Women who read up on the deaths of men in various parts of the country, then try to go claim their possessions, claiming they are relative. Supposedly, there is about 4 of them doing this scam and coincidentally one of their descriptions fits you to a T, Ms. Stanton."

He offered her a chance to review the poster for which she did. He said, "Now, if you are not part of this gang of horse thieves, then you got nothing to worry about. But, you have to understand why I have to see some kind of ID. A birth certificate, some kind of tax ticket, someting. Otherwise, I risk handing over a prize horse to horse thief and well... you can understand why I can't just go about doing that now don't ya, little lady?"

The deputy leaned over and whispered ominously, "Do you know what the crime is for horse thievery is, Miss Stanton?" He looked to the sheriff and said, "But how are going to prove she is not a thief?"

Sheriff took off his hat, pulled out hanky and wiped his brow and said, "Well... I can send a telegram to the state paper and request the last known whereabouts of the gang. But... problem is that will take at least... oh I don't know... 3 days or so to get a response back."

The deputy whistled in surprise. He said, "Wow... three days... that is ... well... quite a bit of time... Tell you what sheriff... what if I paid the rest of that livary fee. Perhaps we can just... you know... let her off the hook?"

He glanced towards the girl and knew he was playing her right into his hands. The sheriff said, "That don't confirm to me if she is one of these womenfolk though... and without some kind of identification well... I just can't let her go till I can prove she is innocent..."

"Well ma'am. I am afraid that is going to be a problem."

With those words, her heart sank, and her world crumpled.

She looked at the poster - "But, I dont look anything like that woman!! Nothing! We have the same fair hair, and that, is about it. Her lips are thinner than mine, her cheekbones higher - Look man, look!! Its not me!!"

"Now, if you are not part of this gang of horse thieves, then you got nothing to worry about. But, you have to understand why I have to see some kind of ID. A birth certificate, some kind of tax ticket, someting. Otherwise, I risk handing over a prize horse to horse thief and well... you can understand why I can't just go about doing that now don't ya, little lady?"

She wracked her brain. "Look, I can prove he's my horse! I'll show you. If I call him he'll come to me!" She knew she was beginning to sound desperate, Hell, she was desperate. With every passing minute that wagon train was getting further away, and harder for her to catch up. She was all out of options. She had no money, nothing, not one cent. If she ended up stuck here........ it didn't bear thinking about, there was only one thing a woman with no money could do to earn it in a place like this, and she did not want that!!!

"Do you know what the crime is for horse thievery is, Miss Stanton?"

Oh Jesus! The hung people for horse theft!! She stood wide eyed, but unable to think of anything productive to say.

"Well... I can send a telegram to the state paper and request the last known whereabouts of the gang. But... problem is that will take at least... oh I don't know... 3 days or so to get a response back."



Already she was shaking her head. "No, no! There is no time for that!! I wont be able to catch up! I have to get that wagon train. I have nothing else, nothing!!"

".. Tell you what sheriff... what if I paid the rest of that livary fee. Perhaps we can just... you know... let her off the hook?"

She looked at the Deputy! "Oh Thank you thank you!"

Turning to the sheriff, she smiled her most winning smile.

"Please?? I beg you sheriff, please?! I really would appreciate it so much! I know youre a good christian man, please! You wont regret it, I swear!! I'd be eternally grateful!"

" I just can't let her go till I can prove she is innocent..."

"Oh Please sheriff!! What can I do to prove my innoncence?? "

:: Franklin Trenton ::

He rode slowly on his white and tan paint alongside the wagon trail with the buggies and families and friends who were all making the same trek to the west. He was distracted though and kept looking back for a reason.

Maggie Stanton was a young woman whom he had come to meet only on this trail. Woman had had a lot of hard luck in her life. And in the last month since the trail had started they had gotten to become good friends. He had gotten to know her on a personal level quite well and knew she was about as sweet as they come.

He recalled her telling him how she had to go to this town about 4 hours north of the trail to pick up a horse of her cousins and he had at first tried to tell her not to go... but when she refused offered to go with her. She had insisted he stay here and that she would go. It had been nearly 12 hours now and he had expected to see her at least 3 hours ago. Normally it would not have been a big deal for they would have stopped for the night, camped out and then got back with it in the morning.

However, when that sheriff warned of indians in the area, the leaders opted to push through the night and camp out in the morning somewhere instead when they were safer. This meant that Maggie would not have the evening to catch up to the train and this worried him.

When he had finally had enough, he said, "Okay... I have to go." He raced up to the leader and said, "I have go back for Maggie. We can't leave her alone."

The leaders simply said, "Do what you must and we will do what we will. Good luck."

And with that, Franklin turned and made his way back towards the town of Ridgefield...

:: Sheriff Godfry ::

"Fraid not ma'am. You are just going to need to stay here for a while till we can straighten out your identity. Miss... I don't have much in the way of room and board, but I do have a beds in the cells back there you can stay in for the night. Even give you these pennies back to go and get a bath at the bath house if you want. Wish I had better news for you than I did..." The Sheriff said as he turned and headed out the door. He added, "Going to put 'Thunder' back in the stall. The Deputy will take care of you while you are here..."

And with that note, the deputy and Miss Stanton were alone again. The Deputy said, "Well ma'am... sorry about this. Reckon it is a big inconvenience." He looked at her and said, "Too bad you didn't bring some kind of ID.."

He took her arm and led her to one of the holding cells in the back and said, "Why don't you hang out here a bit, ma'am. Your not under arrest of anything... it is just that staying at the inn cost money and all and at least here is free..."

The Deputy watched her collapse on the bunk and start crying. He, to be honest, didn't care, but for the sake of appearance said, "Hey now... it's can't be that bad. Come on... let's stop crying okay.."

That was it. She had to stay in town, in the jail of all places, but at least it was free. By the time this silly mix up was over and done with, the wagon train would be in Oregon, and she would be stuck here, in this god forsaken one horse town, forever.

She'd have to sell thunder, and having nothing, she better marry up with the first halfway decent guy that came along - it was that, or she'd end up a whore in the Saloon, and that was even less preferable than the poor quality men in this town.

She was a total victim of circumstance, and she cried, feeling very sorry for herself.

"Hey now... it's can't be that bad. Come on... let's stop crying okay.."

Maggie clung to his words of comfort, a seed of an idea in her mind.

"Deputy, is there um..... anything that might make you change your mind? Anything at all??!"

"Well for me... sure... but... it isn't up to me miss..." Brian said. He gazed down her and said, "Tell you what... I got some extra pillows in the other office and a blanket.. maybe that would help you a bit. And... if you are hungry, I will put your meals on my tab... okay miss?"

He needed her to aquire more and more debt. Before too much longer... he would make sure that she was unable to pay anything...

The Sheriff, after putting the horse up, walked to the telegram office and said, "Jed... how ya doin?"

"Umm... sheriff... I am good... thank you... How are you sir?" The man said nervously.

"Good. I came over here for something... but don't rightly know what that is. hmmm... oh well... have a good one..." He left the office... with no telegraph sent...

The Deputy turned and left her alone to her thoughts... meeting the Sheriff outside and learning that no telegraph had been sent out.

"Tell you what... I got some extra pillows in the other office and a blanket.. maybe that would help you a bit. And... if you are hungry, I will put your meals on my tab... okay miss?"

She looked up at him, with gratitude. He was doing his best, trying to make the best of a bad situation.

Thank you, an extra blanket would be wonderful, but the pillow I have is sufficient. I have been camping out, sleeping on the ground for the past two months, so this is much more comfortable than I'm used to.

She thought for a moment, and then said, "I take you up on the offer of a meal too. The food is good at the Saloon - I enjoyed it, and I do really appreciate your kindness."

She glanced out the window, seeing the Sheriff coming out of the telegraph office. Well, there was a start, perhaps this might be cleared up quickly enough after all.

She was bored, so she looked to the Deputy.

"So, tell me a little about yourself. what brought you here?"

The Deputy grinned to himself and said, "Welp... I reckon I was raised about 20 miles south a here. The Sheriff had put a job posting up for a deputy and while I was in town to pick up some feed for the animals, saw it and thought I would try it out. Pa wasn't much for having his son in law enforcement so... I kind of got kicked out of the farm. Pa 'won't have no son of his getting shot down by a common thug...'" The deputy mimicked his pa's voice.

The sheriff walked into the station, then turned and closed and locked the door. He began to close the blinds and shutters of all the windows. The way the cells were located, it was down in the back of the room... hidden from most all other rooms. The sheriff back to the hallway, then turned and said, "Well... got the telegraph... reckon it should take about 3 days..."

The Deputy glanced up the Sheriff and then knew that it was time. The deputy said, "Well... reckon all we can do now is wait..."

"Yep..." The Sheriff said. He looked at her and said, "Listen missy... while we are waiting, we need entertained. How about you get up and dance for us a bit... what do you say?"

Maggie enjoued listening to the little bit of history that the Deputy shared with her. He seemed like a nice man, and she idly wondered if he was married, and then she blushed, wondering why she would think about such a thing, that was clearly none of her business.

She heard the Sheriff return, or at least she assumed it was him, and certainly the Deputy didn't seem inclined to raise the alarm, so she guess she was right. She was struggling to keep her spirits up, as it seemed her future was moving away from her, as the same rate as the wagon train, and she would have no chance to catch up. Had she been certain that she would make it now, she'd have left the horse behind, though it would have broken her heart, and she'd have continued on her journey, but now, even if she left Thunder, and set off, her chances of catching up were decidely slim.

The Sheriff confirmed what she already knew, he'd sent the telegram, and they'd have to wait, but then he continued.

"Listen missy... while we are waiting, we need entertained. How about you get up and dance for us a bit... what do you say?"

It was her first inkling that something might be wrong. Thinking, perhaps she had misheard, as she hadn't really been paying attention, she looked sharply at the Sheriff, and he repeated his 'request'.

Suddenly, she became aware that her exit was blocked by the two men, and she began to feel under threat.

"Perhaps I'd better be going" she said, getting to her feet. "You can keep the horse, Sheriff, I'll just be on my way, see if I can catch a ride and catch up with the wagons" she moved forward, passing Brian, and drawing level with the Sheriff, who was wearing a shiteating grin, and her heart sank. What had she gotten herself into??

"Well now sunshine... don't reckon we are going to be doing that, ya see... It is Indian territory out there and might dangerous for a delecate flower like you." The sheriff said as he put his hand on the holster for his gun. He pushed his hat back and said, "Reckon it is much safer here with us lawmen. Now... let me ask you this again... go ahead and give us a show. Go ahead and dance for us..."

The deputy watched with definite delight as she went from being comfortable and relaxed to a tight as an old drum. He said, "Come now... it ain't all that bad... just one little dance..." He moved his hand towards her hip and she slapped it away from her! She backed up and let her eyes shift from the deputy to the sheriff to the exit and back.

The two men took a step forward as she stepped back and they said, "Ain't know where you can go at the moment. Might as well just... wait..." the sheriff's eyes narrowed and said, "You got yourself a gun hidden under all them pantilooms?"

Deputy moved his hand to his own pistol and said, "I bet she does..." He drew his weapon and leveled it at the young woman they had trapped. He said, "Reckon we should check her?"

The sheriff could see how terrified the woman was and that was alright with him. He said, "I reckon we should. So... ya got a couple of choices here miss. Either... you can come out of ya clothes now on your own... or I am going to get you out of your clothes. I tend to be a little ... hard on clothes so I reckon ya might think about the first option there hun.."

" It is Indian territory out there and might dangerous for a delecate flower like you." That manipulative Bastard!! He'd set this up, picked her off a mile off, her niavity obviously like a beacon over her head.,

"Reckon it is much safer here with us lawmen. Now... let me ask you this again... go ahead and give us a show. Go ahead and dance for us..."



"Safer?? Ha! I seen men like you all along the trail! Cayotes, preying on the weak, now get outta my way!!" She took a purposeful step toward the door, but the Sheriff moved too, blocking her way.

"Come now... it ain't all that bad... just one little dance..."

She hit his hand away. "You wanna watch women dance? Go on over to the Saloon, they got a load of dancing girls there, they're good for whatever else you need too, I reckon!"


"You got yourself a gun hidden under all them pantilooms?"

She wished to god she had! She'd sell her soul for one right now, but it did remind her about the knife in her boot.

They were moving in, and her time was running out, like sand in an hourglass.

"Either... you can come out of ya clothes now on your own... or I am going to get you out of your clothes. I tend to be a little ... hard on clothes so I reckon ya might think about the first option there hun.."

"Dont you touch my clothes, these are the only ones I got!! I'll do it, just promise you wont touch me? Promise?"

Tears filled her eyes, and the Sheriff and his Deputy nodded solemnly, but they had both already burned their bridges with her!!

She bent, lifting her skirts, displaying both a good degree of cleavage, and almost all of her leg. She looked up, and both men were focussed on her breasts, and in a sudden move, she kicked the sheriff, hard, right in the balls, collapsing him to the floor, groaning, and vomiting. She turned and waved her knife at the deputy, backing toward the door, and reaching for the handle, behind her back.

The deputy just watched as she backed to the door and tried to jiggle the handle. He smiled and reached to his key ring on his side and said, "Reckon you would need one of these to get out of here. We rigged this place for just such an event. Oh... and the only other guns in his office are in the gun case over there... which is also locked up tight. He kept his own pistol aimed at her as he then spoke to the sheriff... "You okay sheriff?"

"That bitch...." The older man said as he started to carefully pull himself up to his hands and knees, staring down at his own pool of vomit a moment. He shifted his head to look at their latest query and said, "You are going to pay dearly for that. I mean it you whore..."

He crawled over to the jail cell bars and slowly began to move himself up to a standing position as they watched her trying to open the doors. The Sheriff said, "Go get that knife away from her..."

The Deputy turned and trained his gun at the woman and said, "Yes sir... Now come on missy... drop it... I really don't want to shoot you..." He heard something about prying that knife out of her cold dead fingers and knew she meant business. It was the only thing keeping them from her.

He walked towards her and she kept the weapon trained on him. As the Deputy went to her right... the Sheriff wobbled to her left, forcing her to shift the knife back and forth at both of them... making her vulnerable. It seemed as if, for the moment, the deputy was the bigger threat and she tended to leave that knife aimed at him more than the weakened sheriff...

The younger man made a lurch forward at her, forcing her to slash at him, opening her back up to the Sheriff! He leapt at her, grabbing her wrist! The Deputy shoved his gun in the holster and then pried the knife from her hand! The Sheriff wrapped his massive arms around the delicate flower. The Deputy watched her try and kick at him and he reached down, grabbing her legs and forcing her into the air between the two men.

Despite the screaming and yelling, the two men carried her back to the jail cell and tossed her on the mat! Both me leapt towards her, pinning her legs and arms to the bed! The deputy snapped a pair of cuffs on her wrists and around a jail bar! The Sheriff leaned down and said, "You ready to pay for your assault on me????" He tore at her dress!!!!

"We rigged this place for just such an event. Oh... and the only other guns in his office are in the gun case over there... which is also locked up tight."

Something had told Maggie, albeit, belatedly, that these two had executed this type of stunt before, it was too well co-ordinated, almost as thought they each knew what was coming next. She focussed her attention on the Deputy, he was closing in on her.

"You okay sheriff?"

She glanced toward him, and smiled as she saw him crawling toward the cells! that was where he belonged, but when she glanced back, the deputy had closed in. She rattled the door, not taking at face value what he was saying - she hadn't heard a lock turn, so she continued on trying, thinking perhaps it was just stiff.

The sheriff was upright, almost.

"You are going to pay dearly for that. I mean it you whore..."

His deep voice rumbled over her, making her quiver with fear. She had to get out, she had too!!

"Now come on missy... drop it... I really don't want to shoot you..."

"I'll let go, when its buried in your gut!! Only other way your gonna get it, is if you pry it from my cold dead fingers, you bastard!!"

She was beginning to panic, and she was worried she'd make a mistake. Both these men were able dealers, and one slip up, and they'd have her - she just ahd to keep her wits about her.

It happened so quick - she didn't see it coming, and couldn't say when exactly they got her, but they circled her like dogs circling thier prey, and they struck in tandum, and they had her.

She fought like a wild cat, kicking and scratching and spitting at them both. She got a little pleasure from the curse she heard from the deputy, as she head butted his groin, and she managed another kick to the Sheriff's gut, as she screamed the place down, certian that the townsfolk must hear, that someone would come to her rescue.

Each man was double her weight, at least a foot taller, and the combined effort meant her fight was a token one only, it didn't change the outcome. In short order, she was cuffed to the bars of the cell, still cursing, but captured.

"You ready to pay for your assault on me????"

She screamed, and ear piercing screech as he tore at her dress, ripping it off, and leaving her, to all intents and purposes, naked!

Changing her tack, she began to beg and plead.

"Please dont!! Please, I'm sorry!! You can keep the horse!! I'll jsut be on my way, and we'll forget all about this!! Please, just let me go!!"

"Oh your right sunshine... I am keeping the horse..." The Sheriff said as he tore away the last of the rags that had been her dress a few moments ago. He took a large wad of her dress, balled it up, and said, "Gag her..." He handed it to the deputy who quickly shoved it into her mouth as she was screaming for mercy. He took a strip of her torn dress and wrapped it around her head, forcing the ball of cloth to remain inside her mouth!

The sheriff kept her legs pushed tightly together as the deputy then went and headed to the desk a moment, coming back with two lengths of rope. He took one length as sheriff took the other. The moved her cot away from the wall some and each grabbed a kicking leg and wrapped the rope around each ankle... then moved her legs off the edge of the bed and down... tying her legs apart and to the legs at the foot of the bed.

Once she was silenced and secured, the Sheriff said, "Now... you see what you gone and done? Your dress is in ruins... well... we can't have that... can we." He handed the pieces to the deputy who took them to the closed in oven which had a nice oven sending heat into the room. He tossed the dress into the fire and let it burn. When he returned, he found the sheriff almost out of his long handles, folding his clothes up on the chair in the cell.

He looked down at the naked woman and sat on the bed and said, "You want to know why no one came to your rescue? Because everyone is afraid of us. We rule with an iron fist and no one... I mean no one... will every take that away from us..."

The sheriff let his old tired looking fingers begin touching her skin softly, pinching the nipples, probing her thighs, enjoying the softness of her skin. He said, "So you were lookin for a husband were ya? Well... I am single... I could get the pastor over here right now and marry ya... that way what is about to happen is all legal like in the eyes of the Lord and all..."

The deputy chuckled and said, "You never cared about that before Sheriff..." The younger fella leaned against the cell and just watched....

The Sheriff smiled and said, "Well... with all the women that have been on this bed about to go through the same thing... I can see she is a decent bible lovin Christian... so ... why not... I don't give a damn one way or the other..."

He turned and moved to get on top of Maggie... his tool long and ready and started to lower down onto her... his head just slipping into her...

"You want to know why no one came to your rescue? Because everyone is afraid of us. We rule with an iron fist and no one... I mean no one... will every take that away from us..."

Surely this duo couldn't control the entire town?? She had seen some strong, able bodied men, they could surely overpower the sheriff and his deputy, if they all got together! The whole town couldn't be corrupt, could it??

The sheriff began to touch her, and she recoiled, despising his touch.

"No, no! Get away! It's sinful, leave me be, for the love of God, have mercy and leave me be!" - but with the gag in place, all that came out was a muffled, indecipherable sound.

He ignored her, and began to pinch her nipples, making her turn her head away, squeezing her tyes shut.

"So you were lookin for a husband were ya? Well... I am single... I could get the pastor over here right now and marry ya... that way what is about to happen is all legal like in the eyes of the Lord and all..."

She wouldn't willingly marry him, if he was the last man on Earth!! The Deputy queried the sheriff, surprised.

"Well... with all the women that have been on this bed about to go through the same thing... I can see she is a decent bible lovin Christian... so ... why not... I don't give a damn one way or the other..."

With all the shaking of her head, the tie on her gag had come loose, and she had managed to displace it, pushing it out with her tongue.

"Please sheriff, please do that, marry me. I can't have you do ......that, without the Lord's blessing. Please " she began to sob, hating herself for this weakness, but not having any control over her pent up emotions.

"please sheriff, make me your wife, and I can do that willingly, it'd be my duty, as your wife!"

She looked up at him, pleading with him. If he was getting the Preacher, it'd postpone his rape, and surely a man of the cloth woud not kow tow to him, but would insist she be released.

The sheriff stared down at her and knew exactly what was going on. She was just delaying the inevitable. He seriously doubted she cared if she was married or not. He shrugged and said, "Well... okay. Deputy, go get the minister... We got us a wedding to have..."

The Deputy was clearly disappointed. He was ready to see some action right then and hopefully join in and get a piece of her too. He said, "Well... dang it... you really going to go through with that? You know it ain't real?"

"Just go get the minister... now." The sheriff said as he pulled out of her, sat down on the foot of the bed and ran his hand along her thigh, "I am tired of womenfolk having no choice but to take it. She is willing to give it freely. It is a proposal I can't refuse."

The younger man shrugged and said, "Well... alright..." He turned and headed to the door, unlocking it, leaving and then locking it up again.

The sheriff looked down at her and said, "You going to give it freely... never saying no... right? That is the deal..." He watched her tear stained face nod. He said, "Well then... I reckon we got us a wedding to get you ready for..." He got up and said, "I am going to go get you something. Don't go no where..." He took the cloth and shoved it back into her mouth, then reapplied the rag, retightening it down. He slid a blanket over her naked body and then said, "I will be right back, honey..."

He quickly slid into his uniform once again, sliding his holster on his waist and his boots on as well. He glanced down at her and said, "You won't regret this..." He turned and walked to his door, slipping out and locking it... leaving her alone...

20 minutes later, the door opened once again and it was the Deputy walking in with the minister. The man was an older man, balding, thin, leather thick skin, wearing the traditional black shirt. The Deputy said, "You wait right here Zed. Don't go no where..."

The man walked back to the cell where their little lady was laying and smiled when he saw her. He could see by the sweat and the painfully red marks on her ankles and wrists that she had been fighting like an old hen to get out of the restraints. He sat down on the bed next to her and grabbed her face and forced her to look at him. He leaned in and said, "You think you are smart... getting the preacher here. He may be he a man of the cloth, but backbone he doesn't have." He let his hand slide under the blanket, to her mounds, then down between her legs. He smiled as she struggled once again before he sank his fingers into her deeply!

"What you think you are doing boy...?" The sheriff said as he stepped into the room holding a light powder blue dress.

The deputy pulled out of her and looked at him and said, "Nothing. Just talking with the misses..." He smiled, "What you got there?"

"The misses is mine. I won't share this one. You will have to get your own" The sheriff said, "Now get back with the preacher while she is dressed."

He waited till the deputy was gone before looking back at Maggie and said, "I bought this for ya. You can wear it if you want... or you can get married naked." He finally sat down with her and said, "Listen. I am going to let you up... for now. But if you fight or resist what is going to happen. If you tell anyone about what happened in here... I am going to make your life more horrible than you can imagine. I am only doing this to help you make things right with God..." He slowly and cautiously began to untie her...

Maggie knew she was making the best of a bad situation. The sheriff was willing to marry her, everyone seemed to fear him, at least this way he'd have to take care of her, at least to some extent. If he got her pregnant, he'd have to stand by the child, give it his name, and she thought he'd be less inclined to share of his wife's favours, than he would if she was just another girl.

Surely she could tolerate him? She had no idea of relations between a man and a woman, but on the wagon trail there had been precious little privacy, and she had heard some of the women folk crying out at night, making dreadful noises, and she knew, as bad as it would be, at least one man was preferable to many, and she'd not end up in the whorehouse, spending her life on her back.

I am tired of womenfolk having no choice but to take it. She is willing to give it freely. It is a proposal I can't refuse."



Well that sounded promising! Perhaps, despite all evidence to the contary, he was not an abuser of women, after all! She was all for having a choice.

"You going to give it freely... never saying no... right? That is the deal..."

She blushed, but nodded her head. He'd be her husband, and as such he had absolute rights to her body. She couldn't deny him.

The Sheriff left, covering her with a blanket, and soon after the deputy came in. To think she had thought him a gentleman!! Ha!! He pushed his hand beneath the blanket, and began to feel her up, squeezing her breasts, and probing her tender folds at the apex of her thighs. She struggled frantically, but that was making the blanket slide off. She stopped, and then she heard the Sheriff.

"The misses is mine. I won't share this one."

She was so grateful to him, to spare her the attentions of the deputy, she began to think that despite their rocky start, maybe it wouldnt be so bad after all.

He'd bought her a dress. She stood and quickly put it on. she had no undergarments, hers were shredded, and the sheriff had gotten only the dress, but tears misted her eyes. When was the last time someone had bought her anything?? She smoothed the lines of the dress, and cherished it, despite it being made for a taller woman, of more slender build, she was still grateful for it. It trailed on the ground, being about three inches too long, and while it too loose at her waist, it was tight across her breast, causing them to bulge, and look as though they were about to spill out. Still, it was a nice dress, and the first present she had got in a long time. A wedding present.

She smiled. So she was marrying a different husband. It's not as though she knew the first one any better. The sheriff was willing to marry her, make an honest woman of her, and she appeciated that.

"Okay, lets get this wedding done!"