A/N: Hello, again! First of all, I would like to thank you all so much for your kind reviews on the first chapter. They made me smile. One note before the chapter, my mom will be chipping in and writing all the really sappy Chelsie moments in order to please you guys. Any kissing is NOT mine! Thanks, and enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 2: The Sheriff

The next day, Anna woke early and began her daily routine. She jumped out of bed in the cottage that Mr. Crawley had graciously provided the Bateses after their wedding. She gathered her things, ruffled Mr. Bates's hair, and headed out to the ranch. As she was walking down Ripon Avenue, the main street in Grantham City, she heard loud voices coming from the saloon.

"Oh, rrrrreally, Mr. Green? I believe we have business to attend to! As muuuuussshhh as I would loooove to shtay here w-with these loooovely ladies, duty calls!" This was followed by bursts of laughter. Anna recognized the voice. It belonged to Sheriff Tony Gillingham, the local keeper of justice, who was assisted by the equally incapable Deputy Green.

Just then, the two men burst out of the saloon's double doors and stumbled into the daylight. Obviously very drunk, they headed toward their horses, kicking up dust in their wake. Anna was praying that they wouldn't notice her hurrying out of the square. She was already late, and she did not want to deal with these men this morning, especially since they were drunk. However, it seemed luck was not on her side, as Deputy Green spotted her and began stumbling across the town square.

"Why, helloooo there! Anna, is it? Headed off to the big house, are we?" drawled Green.

"Yes, and I've got to be off, really," Anna said.

"Oh, nonsense! Shhhurely you've got time for a drrrrink with us?" Green slurred, raising his eyebrows.

"No, no, I really must be going!" Anna replied hesitantly, and hurried off to the ranch.

Meanwhile, inside the main office at the Town Hall, the Dowager Mayor observed the scene in the square. "Mr. Molesley!" she called to her assistant. "Keep your eye on these two! I don't trust that Sheriff Gillingham; in fact, I don't trust anyone who follows Mary around as eagerly as he does."

"Yes, ma'am," replied Molesley. He began to back out the door, but the mayor's voice stopped him.

"Oh! And Molesley, have you found a new job yet? I have been gracious enough to take you on at your father's pleading, but I'm afraid you don't quite fit the qualifications."

Molesley looked at his shoes. "Yes, ma'am. I've been looking into other posts. You really have been most generous, ma'am. You've been a kind employer," he stammered.

The mayor looked surprised. "Oh? Pity! I must have been doing it wrong!"

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the ranch hands were busy at work. That is to say, Alfred and Jimmy were busy roping in the new calves, and Thomas was sitting watching them.

"Come on, Alfred, you can do better than that! Look at Jimmy!" teased Thomas. Jimmy was lassoing calf after calf like a professional. Alfred was… well, Alfred was trying.

"Whoa, boys, what is this I see?" Jimmy said, pointing incredulously. Thomas and Alfred followed his finger and saw what he was pointing at with wide eyes. It was Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson each on their own horse, riding relatively close to each other. It looked like they were surveying land plots.

"Her Ladyship is very excited about the upcoming rodeo," said Mrs. Hughes as she rode alongside Mr. Carson.

"Yes, and I daresay it will be a lot of work for you, Mrs. Hughes. But you always manage to pull it off with elegance and style," Mr. Carson flattered her.

"Oh, come now, Mr. Carson. The success is always because of your efforts as much as mine." She tried to turn his compliment back on him.

"Right, then," he agreed. "We'll share the credit. We're both very good at what we do, if I do say so myself."

Mrs. Hughes changed the subject. "Mr. Carson, do you ever wish you'd gone another way? Owned a saloon or general store? Been a bounty hunter or train robber?"

"Do you?" Mr. Carson avoided answering her.

"I don't know. Sometimes. Maybe," answered Mrs. Hughes.

Inside the house, Mr. and Mrs. Crawley were lounging in the sitting room. Robert was reading the latest paper, and Cora was planning an upcoming rodeo.

"Robert, should we invite that nice Mr. Napier to the rodeo? He seemed rather taken with Mary, but do you think it's too soon?" Cora asked her husband. Robert looked up from his newspaper.

"Whatever you think is best, dear," he said. Mary's late husband Matthew had been killed in a wild mustang stampede six months ago. Mary was still very heartbroken.

"I'll invite him," Cora said, "I want it to be grand affair, so I'll invite as many people as I can!"

A/N: Well, there it is. Chapter 2. Please leave a review and tell me how you liked it. I'm really excited for the upcoming rodeo scene; that's where all the drama is going to happen! (The future may hold a shootout/gunfight involving a certain Mr. Bates.) Also, I've had an idea to have Chelsie get themselves into a bull riding competition! Tell me what you guys think!