Hello everyone! Ok so I've been toying with this idea for a while and after the postive feedback I got off the readers of my Batman and 'The Take' stories I have decided to do it. Thanks guys for that btw :) So I hope everyone enjoys it :) And don't worry I will be updating the others as well as this one, I won't forget :)

-Sailor

The day I arrived in Franklin County, Virginia I immediately got an impending sense of dread. I, Florence Thompson the second in command deputy, stepped out of my luxury car, fresh from the bright city lights of Chicago into this dusty, one horse town. The air was thick and dense making my mouth fall into a frown. The main man, the actual Special Deputy was told about the problem in Franklin but decided that taking care of these hill folk was not in his job description so he was going to send me instead. This was nothing new to me, anything he didn't want to do he just handed it down to me. I suppose that was my job as the second in command.

There was a serious growing problem with moonshine distilleries up here; Franklin was known as the wettest county in the world. Now, normally we big shots in the city don't bother ourselves with these hicks but the problem was so bad that the local law enforcement were even in on it getting a cut. And with prohibition out in force, the problem in Franklin was just making a laughing stock of the law and all the stuff was flowing into the cities causing a crime wave amongst the gangsters so they decided to send us in to sort it out once and for all.

As soon as I stepped out, I noticed a few men coming out from a saloon looking me up and down. They weren't used to seeing women in commanding roles obviously. They weren't as sophisticated as we were in that respect or in any respect actually. I saw some of their eyes widen realising I was wearing trousers instead of a skirt or dress. I took out my small notebook where I had the name of the main producers of moonshine in this place scribbled, Bondurant was the first one.

A beat up, dusty car pulled up beside me and what appeared to be the local law enforcement, jumped out.

"Who might you be girly?" one of them said tipping his hat and spitting out some tobacco.

"I happen to be the second in command Deputy brought down from Chicago to sort out this moonshine problem"

"Oh they sent down some big hot shot city slicker?" the other laughed.

"Yes since you hicks can't do it yourself" I said wiping the dust off my shirt.

"Well we ain't built to take orders from no woman"

I sauntered over getting right in his face. "Well you'll take orders from me or I'll make your life a living hell. Now, you do what I tell you"

They both looked at each other and backed off a bit but I knew I was going to have trouble getting them to follow orders.

"Ok now, where can I find Mr Bondurant?"

They both glanced at each other again.

"Are two hicks gonna just stand there or are you gonna tell me?" I said pulling my gun out of my holster a bit.

One of them slowly pointed to a beat up looking building just to the opposite of where we were parked, everything just looks so run down here and I thought no one lived there. I walked over, the dust billowing and settling on my shoes. I was definitely not in the big city anymore.

"Here wait…I'll go in and tell Forrest that you're here" I heard from behind me.

I stopped and turned around to them. "Why would I need you to do that?"

"Just coz Forrest doesn't take surprises too well"

"Do I look like I care?"

"Just…take our word for it. This is a small place and certain protocols are followed when a stranger blows into town" one of them mumbled before running ahead of me into the building. Quite a tight knit community apparently. I wiped my forehead on my sleeve. The heat was stifling and there was no shade anywhere. A few moments later the hick cop brought out another hick. A huge, beastly, bulging man with a shabby cardigan wrapped around him who wore an old hat on his massive head. He clutched a mug in his hand sipping it occasionally as he slowly walked out into the blistering sun.

"Special Deputy, this is Forrest Bondurant"

Why did he call me Special Deputy? I told them that I was the second in command…but if he wanted to call me that I wasn't going to correct him.

"Ma'am" he greeted tipping his hat, his voice so low it sounded like a growl being emitted from his chest and it was hard to make out actual words.

"Mr Bondurant?"

"It's Forrest" he said with that drawl that would give you goose bumps.

"Ok…"

"Excuse me for asking ma'am but what business has a lady like you have with us here folk?" he said cutting across me. "Just that the sun, well she's very hot today and I'd like to get inside" he muttered lowly, so low in fact I almost missed it.

"Well we can talk inside if you'd feel more comfortable?"

The truth was, I was dying out here in the heat and talking inside the shade would be a lifesaver.

"No, I'd rather not have your kind in my bar"

Ouch.

"Well there are rumblings that you and your family are running the distilleries down here"

He merely looked at me as if I hadn't said a thing.

"And I've been sent from Chicago to sort it out" I said.

"They sent a woman?" he mumbled into his mug.

"Is that a problem?" I snapped.

"Um…yea, we don't take no orders from no big shot city Deputy and especially not from a woman"

"Well either you follow the orders or I'm gonna make your life hell" I sneered, but it just seemed to roll off his back.

"Things must be bad up in the big city if they've put a woman in any sort of authority" he said taking another sip.

Except I was told to expect this, they still see women as just being home makers and don't realise they have the capacity to do anything else with their lives. At least in the city they were a bit more advanced, but I was still the minority in a male dominated business. But I wasn't about to let these country bumpkins talk down to me.

"Mr Bondurant" I said stepping towards him "I was sent to find your stills and shut you down…I'm gonna be watching your every step country boy"

"You watch that mouth Deputy; you ain't in the big city no more, you in Bondurant country now and a mouth like that is dangerous round these parts" he said his eyes shifting from side to side.

Suddenly two guys burst out through the doors.

"What's goin' on Forrest?" asked the smaller one.

"Nothin' for you to worry about Jack" called Forrest still staring at me from under his hat. I walked over and stood close to him gripping my gun. He smelt of cigars, strong coffee and just a general mustiness.

"Mr Bondurant, if you're trying to intimidate me out of doing my job, you've failed. I'm here to shut you down and I'm not leaving until I do, am I making myself clear?"

"Crystal ma'am, just don't be expecting to find anything here. Us Bondurant boys ain't into nothing illegal like that are we boys?"

I looked up at who I assumed were his brothers and they both nodded.

"Nah, we got our little bar which keeps us going, nothing else goin' on here ma'am so you may as well head back to your big city"

"How are you making money with a bar with prohibition in place?"

"Ah, we do our special Bondurant coffee" he mumbled.

"I'll talk to you later Mr Bondurant"

"Ma'am" he said tipping his hat again. Clearly manners were a priority even to a woman who is trying to ruin them. I headed back over to my car, and took once last look at the Bondurant boys. The younger one seemed slightly less sure of himself than Forrest and a lot chattier so he might be a good place to start. But I'd say that Forrest character is one to watch.

I sat back in the car and the driver sped off down the dusty road towards the main street in the town. I'd say it was about a twenty minute walk from the Bondurant place.

"Where's my hotel?" I asked as he parked the car.

He merely pointed to the building right opposite us and take it from me, it looked nothing like a hotel.

"Are you kidding?"

"Nope"

I dragged myself over to the door and walked up the stairs. I walked into the dingy hotel and saw a guy half asleep at the reception desk. I banged on the counter disturbing him which he didn't appreciate.

"I'm sorry for waking you but I'm staying here and I would like to get my key" I snapped.

"You the one from the city?"

Is this what I'm going to be known as?

"Yes"

"Room 12" he said pushing the key across from me.

I walked up the many sets of stairs and eventually got to my room. I opened the window but there was no point, the air was just as hot if not hotter out there. I thought back to what had just happened and remembered Forrest mentioned the heat. So he talks about the heat and yet he wears a cardigan? I shook my head and threw myself on the bed, the air totally knocking me out.

Once the evening hit and I had woken up from my nap, the air seemed a lot cooler. Either that or I was just becoming accustomed to it. I splashed some water on my face and got changed into a fresh set of clothes before deciding to take a walk around, see what was happens in this sleepy town at night.

Well I found out the answer to that pretty quickly, nothing. They had obviously all heard I was here because everyone I had passed either stopped and stared or whispered something to each other. It didn't bother me, it made me feel good knowing my presence made them wary, might make them more inclined to talk. I decided to walk down to the Bondurant place and see what was going on there. The cool, fresh air felt good in my lungs, least that was one positive thing about this place. I lit a cigarette just out view of the road watching from the shadows. I saw an old pickup pull up outside the Bondurant place and the younger lad jumped out of the driver while the other one jumped from the back and Forrest slowly stepped out of the passenger's side. The younger one seemed a big excited…hmm wonder what they were just doing. Forrest waited until the other two were in before taking one look around and walking up into his bar. I waited a few minutes before heading over. I waltzed up the steps and already heard slurred speech and rowdy behaviour. Yea sure Forrest, coffee.

As soon as I walked in, the conversation and mood in the place died. Forrest was nowhere to be seen but his younger brother was seated at the bar and turned around straight away to look at me. I flicked my blonde hair behind my ear and smiled at him. He was going to be an easy target, I knew it. Most of the guys downed whatever they were drinking and made a hasty exit until only a few were left. I sat myself down next to the youngest Bondurant I assumed. He looked at me sideways before swallowing heavily.

"Hi, the name's Florence"

"You're the Deputy"

"Yea but I got a name, it's Florence" I smiled trying to relax him so he'd be more inclined to talk.

"So what's a girl gotta do to get a drink around here?"

He seemed to shake slightly, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple.

"We don't serve your kind in here"

"That seems kinda unfair; all I want is a drink"

He turned to look at me, and then looked over my shoulder and I heard someone's footsteps step forward. I turned around and saw Forrest standing there minus the hat but still with that cardigan.

"Jack" he mumbled.

Jack immediately stood up away from me.

"Here to cause trouble Deputy?"

"Not at all, all I want is a drink Mr Bondurant; you said this was a bar. But I'm being told you won't serve 'my kind' in here"

He took a deep breath and hunched over a bit looking over at Jack.

"Did you not serve her?"

"No…Forrest…remember?"

"Jack, if this lady wants a drink you get her a drink" mumbled Forrest. "Give her a cup of our special Bondurant coffee…on the house of course. I apologise ma'am"

"But Forrest she's the Deputy…"

"I also have a name, it's Florence" I said to Forrest.

Forrest glanced at me before putting his hands in the pockets of his cardigan. "She's still a lady and we serve ladies in here, no problem" he pressed.

"But what about…"

"Just do as you're told Jack" he muttered before turning around and walking back into the little room at the back.

So Jack ran around behind the bar and poured me a mug of their coffee but it was obvious I was the only one drinking coffee here.

"This is a nice place" I lied as Jack washed the bar area around me. "How'd you come to get this?"

But he said nothing, kept his mouth closed tight; he didn't even look at me. I sat there for a while just observing the place. It was quaint but that was really the only positive thing I could say about it. Just as I was noting how uncomfortable the stools were, I saw Forrest appear from the corner of my eye. He walked over and took the seat beside me.

"You're right Mr Bondurant, this coffee is something special" I said taking another sip.

"Hmm" he mumbled. Even that came out so low I nearly missed it.

"You Bondurant boys aren't much for talking are you?"

I saw Jack glance at Forrest who looked like he didn't even hear me.

"We don't talk to Deputy's" I heard Jack mumble as he wiped the counter.

"Jack…" Forrest pressed. It was like he was his father.

"No Forrest…she's trying to ruin us! We shouldn't even be serving that bitch!" he snapped.

"Jack!" he yelled "We do not talk to ladies like that…doesn't matter what they are" he said his eyes staring into Jack's.

They seem to only be bothered to talking to one another. But clearly manners were a big thing especially to Forrest.

"Can I have another coffee?" I said drinking down the last of it.

"Jack" called Forrest and watched him as he poured another cup.

"On the house" Forrest mumbled. "Jack, go and see if Howard is ok in the back"

Jack reluctantly walked away leaving me and Forrest and as you can imagine the conversation was flowing.

"So Mr Bondurant…"

"Forrest"

"I was asking your brother, how did you come to get a place like this?"

"Hmm"

"Family leave it to you?"

"Hmm"

"Are they your only brother's?"

"Hmm"

So I gave up trying. Clearly getting conversation out of Forrest is near impossible so there's no point in pumping him for answers so we sat in silence as I drank my coffee.

"Forgive me Deputy but while I will allow you to have coffee here this time, I would rather you didn't come around here or hassle my brothers and the only reason I have not kicked you out onto the street with a broken nose is because you're a woman. But you're a deputy none the less and we don't got no time for you folk around here"

"Mr Bondurant I merely just wanted to check out your famous coffee" I said drinking the last of it. I got up and saw him get up and walk me to the door. "And if you think this is hassle you just wait and see what I have planned for you and your brothers"

I walked down the set of stairs out into the brisk night air and heard the door slam behind me. I looked around and saw Forrest's back standing just inside the door as if he was contemplating something. I made my way down the now pitch black road and lit a cigarette. The light wind whistled through the trees and it was amazing how clear it was. In the city, there is just constant noise but here, everything is so peaceful. Now I'm sure if I came to live here, it would drive me insane after a week but it was a nice change. But then I heard footsteps behind me. I looked around but couldn't see anyone but I quickened my pace.

"Deputy Florence" I heard echo past me from a familiar very low growl like tone.

I stopped and turned seeing Forrest come into my vision through the darkness.

"Yes Mr Bondurant?"

"Are you ok to get home or…" I heard him mumble, or at least that's what I thought he said.

"What?" I said gripping my gun, just in case. When you've lived in the city as long as I have, you learn to trust no one.

"Are you ok to walk home…it's just um, late and dark" he said lower again.

"What…oh yea I'm fine, thanks Mr Bondurant" I said turning to keep walking, still wary of him.

"Uh, it's Forrest" I heard him mumble after me while I practically jogged down the road.

I got back to the hotel breaking out in a sweat from the fast walk and also it was still hot out after all. I sat in the bathtub thinking back over what just happened. If he thinks that was hassle tonight, he's in for a real treat in the coming weeks and months. I took one last drag of my cigarette before stubbing it out and sinking my head under the tepid water.