A/N: Thanks for the reviewers! I'm sorry for giving Miss M only a little part in this chapter. But I'm not changing the focus of the story; I wrote it just like the storyline I've planned before. Please enjoy! ^u^

Disclaimer: Aoki Takao-sensei

Setting: Alternate Universe

Sheriff and the Thief

Chapter Three

Sheriff Max, Kenny, and Major Dickenson were in F-Dynasty now.

"Tell me," said Sheriff Max to Kenny, "all that happened."

Kenny took a deep breath.

"I was on the way to come here from Hilary's," he started. "And then I met Major Dickenson before arriving here. Major Dickenson called me…"

Kenny's words were cut by Raul's coming to serve tea for Major Dickenson.

"Thank you, Raul," said Major Dickenson. He still looked so sad.

"You're welcome," Raul smiled slightly. It's not his habit to serve tea. Who will order tea at this tavern in usual situation?

And then he went back to his place where he and Julia were trying to hear the conversation quietly.

"Kenny, continue your story," said Sheriff Max.

"Major Dickenson called me. He seemed so panic, his face was so pale. I felt a bad presentiment directly. And so bad it be a fact."

Kenny took a deep breath again. Actually he didn't want to talk about this. Emily's kidnapping was so disturbing him. But he knew well, his hope was only in Sheriff Max's hands. So he would do anything to help Sheriff Max rescuing Emily.

"That's it, Sheriff. You know what's happened after that. Major Dickenson and I met you who pointed your pistol at us."

Sheriff Max nodded.

"Fine, thanks Kenny," he turned his head to Major Dickenson. "What about you, Major Dickenson? Would you like to tell me your story?" asked Sheriff Max politely.

Major Dickenson closed his eyes.

"It was nine p.m. when Emily received a call. She was so happy when she knew that her wedding dress had been ready to be worn. So she decided to go to her tailor at that time. I told her to go there tomorrow because it had been a late hour. But she didn't listen to me."

"How come she was so stupid," Sheriff Max grumbled.

"Don't talk about Emily like that!" Kenny hit the table. Sheriff Max and Major Dickenson gazed on him confusedly.

"So—sorry," said Kenny nervously when he realized what he did. "I'm just… I…"

"It's okay. It's me who should say sorry," Sheriff Max said guiltily.

"Yes you should. How come you can mock your fiancée in this situation, Sheriff? Don't you love her?" yelled Kenny in his heart. Actually he wanted to say it to Sheriff Max directly, but he knew well it's impossible.

"But Emily was stupid at that time!" Major Dickenson agreed. "She didn't come back until midnight. My wife and I were so worried, thus I went to Emily's tailor. I promised myself to be angry with Emily if I had met her. But when I arrived at her tailor's place, she had already gone from there. Her tailor told me that Emily went to your office, Sheriff Max. Emily would be waiting for you there until you come back. She wanted you to see her in her wedding dress."

Sheriff Max seemed struggling hard not to grumble.

"So you can say how stupid she was," said Major Dickenson frustratingly. "I have told her that tonight Miss M will make you busy, so better for her not to disturb you. But she was desperate. She is so stubborn, whereas she will be okay if she waits you until tomorrow—until today."

Three of them took a deep breath.

"So Joseph kidnapped her at my office?"

"Yes."

Sheriff Max shook his head. It was not for the first time he regretted Emily's stubbornness. He also regretted his decision to give Emily the duplicate key of his office which makes her can come anytime. He will take that duplicate key if he can rescue Emily.

"Why the tailor gave Emily the dress?" asked Kenny. "Shouldn't the dress be there until the wedding day?"

"Emily forced her," Major Dickenson answered. "You know Emily. As her childhood friend, you ever be forced by her, don't you?"

Kenny nodded. Emily is really a stubborn girl.

"So the tailor gave Emily the dress."

"Yes, she borrowed her. Emily promised to turn it back when you have seen her wearing it. But now the dress is gone, with Emily too."

Sheriff Max sighed. He had not paid the dress full. But who cares about it? Emily is the most important now.

"Afterwards you go to my office, Major Dickenson."

"Yes. Your office had turned into a mess. The door wasn't locked, and pieces of paper was scattered around everywhere.

"I called Emily repeatedly—I thought maybe she was in toilet or else. But Emily was nowhere. I was starting to think maybe Emily had gone home, maybe she had given up waiting for you. But…"

Major Dickenson dived into his pocket, taking out a folded paper. He gave it to Sheriff Max.

"What's this, Major Dickenson?" asked Sheriff Max.

"I found it on your table at that time, before I went home. It's a letter from Joseph."

Sheriff Max unfolded the letter. He found a very untidy scrawl inside. He read it.

"Dear Sheriff Max,

I kidnap your lovely fiancée. If you want to rescue her, come to horse stall in Death Valley. ALONE.

Your lovely bandit,

Joseph

P.S.: You are not allowed to come with police car. The only way I allow you to come here is riding a horse."

Sheriff Max crumpled the paper up after reading it. He threw it away furiously.

"He really mocked you, Sheriff," Kenny sighed. Now he does nothing when Sheriff Max started swearing and cursing.

"Will you go there?" Major Dickenson asked worriedly.

"Of course!" Sheriff Max answered with no doubt. "I will rescue Emily and arrest that bastard once more."

Sheriff Max stood up. He took his sheriff hat and was ready to go. But Kenny's words restrained him.

"Joseph did not ask for any ransom or redemption about this," Kenny frowned. He looked at Sheriff Max. "Isn't it weird?"

Sheriff Max sighed. He sat down again.

"It's weird," Major Dickenson agreed. "We all remember about a crazy looting done by Joseph months ago, don't we? So it's really weird he didn't ask for a ransom if he is a money-oriented person."

"I understand," Sheriff Max took a deep breath. "But the answer is easy. The only compensation he wants is my life."

Silence.

"What—what do you mean, Sheriff Max!?" yelled Major Dickenson in panic. "Your life!?"

"Yeah," Sheriff Max nodded. "I'm sure he wants to take revenge. All he needs is seeing me dead."

"Bu—but you may not be dead! What about Miss M!? What about Emily!?"

"I know, Kenny," Sheriff Max stood up. He patted Kenny's back. "If I'm dead, I hope you can continue my duty to be a sheriff and arrest Miss M. About Emily…" Sheriff Max couldn't finish his sentence.

"You won't die. You may not. You will rescue Emily, come back here safely, marry her, and do your duty to arrest Miss M!" Major Dickenson said flatly.

Sheriff Max couldn't help to smile.

"All right," finally he said, laughing. "I won't be dead."

He wore his sheriff hat.

"Now better for me to find a horse. Kenny, please pay my milk soda. And don't forget to pay doughnuts you've taken from Hilary's."

"Wh—what!? Sheriff Max, I didn't take the doughnuts, okay? It was Miss M!!!"

"But she disguised as you," Sheriff Max replied apathetically. "So pay it or Miss Hilary will destroy your house."

Kenny gulped. Sheriff Max chuckled, and then went out.

***

Sheriff Max borrowed a brown horse from his friend. He decided to go now, as soon as possible. Major Dickenson and Kenny escorted him to the border of the town.

"Are you sure you want to go now?" asked Major Dickenson. "Now is three a.m."

"Death Valley is far enough from here. If I go later, I will be in the heat of the day. You are supposed to know, Major Dickenson, the weather in this region can be so hot enough to kill us. That's why I decided to go now."

Major Dickenson and Kenny looked at each other. Sheriff Max was absolutely right. Living in western area usually can make someone burnt.

"I'll be back with Emily and handcuffed Joseph," said Sheriff Max. He turned his head to Kenny. "I hope you can take care of this town until I come back."

Kenny nodded. His feeling at that time was full of anxieties.

"I'm proud for having you as the sheriff," Major Dickenson patted Max's sheriff badge softly. "And this town is always proud too."

"Thank you, Major Dickenson. I'm leaving now."

Sheriff Max galloped away.

"Let's go Kenny," said Major Dickenson after seeing Max's departure for a while. "All we have to do now is waiting."

"And praying," added Kenny.

"And praying," Major Dickenson agreed. The two turned around, walking away.

"I hope Miss M does nothing during Sheriff Max's absence here."

"I hope so, Kenny."

Fortunately their hope became real, because Miss M was following Sheriff Max quietly now.

"I won't let you do something bad again, Joseph," Miss M whispered to herself. Her white horse walked slowly, far behind Sheriff Max and his horse.

***

After a full day long journey, Sheriff Max arrived at Death Valley. It was a dry and narrow valley. The name 'Death Valley' was given because there were many cliffs around the valley. Besides, the hot weather there was like a hell.

It was easy to find the horse stall, because almost no other buildings there. That horse stall used to be a horse ranch years ago—Sheriff Max was sure about it. There was a small house not so far from the stall.

"Emily should be inside one of those buildings," Sheriff Max said to himself while jumping down from his horse. He tethered his horse's rein in front of the horse stall. Afterwards he took out his pistol and battered down the door.

"Emily!!! Where are you!?"

He looked at his surroundings. Emily was nowhere.

"Emily!"

Sheriff Max walked carefully. This horse stall was really in disorder. Stacks of straw were everywhere, and an unpleasant scent smelt.

"Emily! Are you here?" Sheriff Max was trying to call once again. But there was still no answer. So he got out from the stall and then went to the small house. He battered down the door again.

"Emily!" Sheriff Max ran to Emily who was roped in a chair, precisely in front of him.

Meanwhile Emily was so surprised seeing Max there.

"Max…? Is it really you?" she whispered. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes I am," Sheriff Max smiled encouragingly. He untied Emily's knot. After that Emily directly hugged him tight.

"Oh Max… I'm really glad seeing you here. I… I'm scared— the bandit—" she couldn't restrain her cry anymore.

"Joseph didn't do anything bad to you, did he?"

"He didn't. But I'm scared—"

"It's okay, dear. You are safe now."

Sheriff Max released himself from her hug. He held Emily's shoulders, looking at her.

"Listen to me, Emily. What you have to do now is going back to the town. Ride my horse—it is in the stall. When you have been in the town, meet your father and ask him to send police here."

"But—but what about you?" asked Emily whose eyes had been full of tears.

Sheriff Max took a deep breath.

"Joseph has business with me. I'm sure he wants to take revenge. So I ask you to go back in order that you will be okay. I don't want to see you in danger again, Emily."

"But it was my fault! I was in danger because of my own fault!"

"Emily, please," Max begged. "I'm serious. Please don't be stubborn in this time. If something bad happened to you, I can't forgive myself forever."

Emily didn't answer.

"Emily, please," he repeated.

"I know what you meant with 'send police here'," Emily said sadly. "Oh Max, sometimes I wish you are not a sheriff, so you will not put yourself in danger continuously. But I can't help to admit: you who are like that are you whom I love so much."

Sheriff Max smiled. Emily hugged him once more and then walked slowly to the door.

"Emily," Max called her when she was practically going out. Emily turned her head to him.

"You look so beautiful in your wedding dress."

Emily couldn't say anything. Her tears fell down again. And then she ran away—she knew if she gazed on Max once more, she couldn't go. But she also knew, maybe this time was the last time she could see her fiancé. Max's words, 'send police here', were meant she has to send police here to take Max's corpse—not to help Max arrest Joseph.

Meanwhile, Max felt a big relief when seeing Emily had gone. He had promised himself not to take Emily's life at risk. He knew he only had a small chance to win against Joseph now. Here is Joseph's area, and Joseph is sly, and Joseph has many subordinates who as sly as him. So it's obvious, isn't it? Sheriff Max's words for Major Dickenson and Kenny hours ago were just words. Actually three of them knew well that Sheriff Max's chance to defeat and arrest Joseph would be so small if he went alone.

But Sheriff Max will never give up. He will fight until the end.

"Well, well, well."

There's a sound of clapping hands. The sound came from behind Max.

"It was really a heartwarming view between a sheriff and his fiancée."

"Stop talking! I'm here now, Joseph, as you wish," said Max coldly. He even didn't turn around.

"Yes, you are here. Thank you for it. But it won't be for a long time."

Sheriff Max turned around quickly while pointing his pistol. But he was not as fast as Joseph. The bandit had cocked his pistol exactly at Max's chest.

"Good bye, Sheriff," Joseph smirked. And then he shot.

Immediately Sheriff Max felt an excruciating pain. His surroundings gradually turned into a dark. He collapsed.

TBC

A/N: Hope you like this long chapter! ^_^ Please don't be disappointed because of Max and Emily's scenes here—it's just a slight. Max's relationship with Miss M will begin in the next chapter. So please be patient, guys! Thanks for reading and thanks more for reviewing.