Sheriff Of RedRock

A/N: Thank you to all of you who favourited, followed or reviewed. I appreciate all of the actions.

Chapter two

The two deputies followed their sheriff as she got the lay of the land. She walked the entire length of the town, examining each building. Rigsby filled the relative silence with chatter about each building itself. Although Lisbon found the talking slightly irritating, it was handy to have someone who knew each building. The women were out early, collecting water from the pump. She greeted them, and continued walking down the street. Cho walked next to her. "Sheriff," he said. "Bosco would like to see you this morning."

Lisbon nodded, and walked over to the mayor's office. The two deputies waited outside for her.

Grace already knew that T Lisbon was a woman. Her boss had complained non-stop for the last half hour about it. So it came as no surprise to her when a woman walked through the door, claiming to be the sheriff. Grace showed her through to Bosco's office. "Thank you, Grace," said Bosco, waving his hand at her.

Lisbon sensed that this man had little regard for women, and definitely didn't think they were equals. "Mr Bosco," said Lisbon. "Why do you need to see me?"

Bosco sat down at his desk. "Ms Lisbon…"

Lisbon raised her hand, stopping him talking. "It's either 'Lisbon', 'Sheriff Lisbon', or just 'Sheriff'. I don't want to be called 'Ms Lisbon'."

Bosco nodded, his face hard. No woman had ever spoken to him that way before, and he didn't like it. "Okay then, Sheriff, why did the state troopers send a woman?"

Lisbon shrugged. "I am the best officer they have. I am also their best shooter. And I have the most reason to want Red John dead."

Bosco folded his hands on top of the desk. "What reason do you have to want Red John dead?"

Lisbon sat down opposite him. Her face was cold and emotionless. Bosco felt actual fear for a split-second, but shook it off. "I'm the oldest of four, with three younger brothers. Red John and his gang attacked the local bank where we lived. My mother and I were just outside the door, and that monster shot her in cold blood. He looked directly into my eyes, and then ran away. I was only twelve. My youngest brother was four." Lisbon's green eyes turned to steel. "I want him dead. He must suffer for what he did."

Bosco felt a chill run up his spine. This woman was serious about her goal. "What makes you think you will kill him? You're only a woman. The word 'sheriff' means nothing against that."
Lisbon leant forward. "Next time you go to the station, take a close look at the hole I made in that sign. It should surprise you."

She stood up and walked out, leaving a confused Bosco sitting at his desk.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Jane opened the door to the general store he owned and walked in. The store was tiny, with a few shelves and a long table down the centre. He examined his stock, checking for anything he might need. Jane was an unusual man, according to most of the townsfolk. He didn't fit in with their way of living. He preferred sarsaparilla and tea over strong liquor, and card tricks over shooting a rifle. The men ridiculed him for his three-piece suits, and his seeming inability to shoot a gun or ride a horse. The woman all swooned at his crystal blue eyes and thick curly blonde hair.

He was an attractive man, but no woman seemed to appeal to him. He never flirted back when they tried. He was obviously an unattached bachelor, but he wore a battered old wedding ring. Some of the women had asked about it, but he had just told them that his first wife had died. No other explanation was offered, even when they pressed for more.

Jane checked everything in the store, and then turned towards the door as it opened. Two women walked in, and he greeted them. "Good morning, Ms Martins. Ms Harrigan."

The two women greeted him in return, and began to browse through the items. "Mr Jane," said Lorelei Martins. "Do you have any sewing needles?"

Jane shook his head. "They should be coming on Tuesday, Ms Martins."

The woman nodded, and brought her basket of goods over to the counter. Jane knew she was attractive, with her dark hair and eyes, but nothing actually drew him to her. Ms Martins paid for the few things she had carried to the counter. "Good day, Mr Jane," she said, smiling and walking out.

Ms Harrigan headed over to the counter and set down her empty basket. Jane turned to her. "Mr Jane," she said, glancing around. "Have you heard about the new sheriff?"

Jane nodded. "I heard about her."

Ms Harrigan smoothed her dress down. "She's staying at my lodging house. A sweet woman, hardly what you would expect for a sheriff."

Jane nodded thoughtfully. "I heard our mayor complaining about her last night at Bertram's. He's not happy about having a woman sheriff. She seems a tough woman, to have Bosco up in arms about her. This should be fun."

Ms Harrigan shook her head at him. "She definitely commands authority, Mr Jane. I know your tendencies to be a little difficult. Don't push her."

Jane smiled at her. "Bosco did mention a hole in the station sign."

Ms Harrigan picked up a few items, and paid for them. "Good day, Mr Jane," she said. "I suggest you don't irritate Ms Lisbon the way you irritated Mr O'Laughlin. She doesn't seem as tolerant."

Jane laughed. Ms Harrigan smiled and left. O'Laughlin had been unable to control the rather infuriating habits of Mr Jane, who spent a lot of his spare time at the sheriff's office. Ms Harrigan had a feeling that the new sheriff would keep Jane in check.

Jane was standing by the door when three people walked along the street past his shop. Two were Rigsby and Cho, two of his closest friends. The third was quite obviously the new sheriff. She was a tiny woman, not much taller than five ft four, with dark hair and determined green eyes. She was different to the other women in the town, and Jane was drawn to her. "Morning, deputies," said Jane, stepping onto the tiny wooden porch in front of his shop. "Sheriff."

They stopped, and Jane stepped onto the street. Cho and Rigsby shook hands with Jane, and then Lisbon stepped towards him. Jane looked down at the tiny sheriff, and smiled. "You must be Teresa Lisbon."

Lisbon stared straight into his cobalt eyes. "Sheriff Lisbon," she replied. "And you are?"

"Patrick Jane. I own the general store."

Lisbon nodded and turned away. Jane glanced at Rigsby, who shook his head. Jane knew what Rigsby was trying to tell him, but he chose to ignore his friend. The sheriff was too interesting a study for him to let her walk away. He grabbed Lisbon's arm, stopping her from leaving. What happened next surprised them all. The tiny woman turned, grabbed Jane's vest, and had her revolver pressed to his chin before anybody could blink. "Don't try me, Mr Jane."

Cho gently grabbed the sheriff's arm and pulled her away. "Let's go, sheriff."

The woman nodded and slid her revolver back into its holster. She turned and stalked up the street. Rigsby turned to Jane. "I did warn you. She's a real fireball. Put a hole in the station sign too."

Jane nodded. "I was at the bar. Bosco isn't happy about having a woman sheriff."

Cho shrugged. "She's a nice change from the other sheriffs we've had."

Jane stared after her. "She must be," he murmured.

Rigsby snapped him out of his trance with a clap on the shoulder. "See you later, Jane."

Jane vaguely nodded as the two men walked after their sheriff. Lisbon was as Bosco had described her; but she was also as Ms Harrigan had described her. This woman commanded authority. And he knew that many of the men in the town would not give it to her. That was the issue with being a woman, men refused to take her seriously. Those men were in for a shock.

Jane found this woman intriguing, and he hoped to get to know her better. He went back inside.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Lisbon fumed. That man had known immediately which buttons to push in order to made her mad. He was insufferable and infuriating. The three of them walked to the bar just up the street. Lisbon pushed the door open and strolled in like she owned the place. There were three men already at the bar, and the bartender looked up. Gale Bertram had heard Bosco complaining the night before, and so he instantly knew who the woman was. "Good morning, sheriff."

Lisbon looked him over. "Good morning. You must be Bertram."

Bertram smiled. "You're good at guessing, Sheriff."

Lisbon shrugged. "Not really. Your name is on the wall outside."

The men at the bar laughed, and Bertram shrugged. "Would you like anything to drink, sheriff?"

Lisbon shook her head. "I'm on duty. Maybe later."

She turned to leave, and stepped out onto the street again. The two deputies stayed inside, giving Lisbon a chance to go off on her own. She left the outskirts of the town and climbed a nearby hill. The morning sun glinted off of the rocks, and she squinted. The town was nestled in a steep, wide valley, and surrounded by the red rocks that gave it its name. The train track ran down the centre of the valley, parallel to the river. She wasn't just out for a walk to admire the scenery. She was also scoping out the area, looking for weak points in the terrain. Two hours of trekking across the countryside later, and she was back where she started. There were points that she saw would need protecting, but the town was relatively secure.

She headed back down the hill, and walked back into the outskirts of the town. She passed a blacksmith, and decided to stop in. The blacksmith was an elderly man named Bret Stiles. He was beating out a horseshoe. "Good morning, Ms Sheriff."

"Good morning, sir."

The man pulled off a glove and held out his hand. "Please, call me Bret."

Lisbon shook his hand. It was calloused and rough, a worker's hand. Lisbon decided that she liked this man. After a few minutes of chatting with Bret, Lisbon said that she had to leave. Bret escorted her to the door. "Please come back anytime, Ms Sheriff."

Lisbon thanked the man and left his shop. She walked out of the shop and was met by a large group of men. Bosco was leading them. "Sheriff Lisbon," he said. "We want to see you shoot."

Lisbon shrugged. "You already have."

Bosco shook his head. "I saw you shoot a sign. We want you to hit an actual target. You can't be a sheriff and not know how to shoot properly."

Lisbon knew they were making excuses. She turned and walked out of the town again. "Pick your best shot. We'll have a face-off."

Bosco stepped forwards. "I'll do it."

Lisbon nodded. "Pick your target."

Bosco looked out across the field, and spotted an old gnarled tree stump. "We each get six shots. Most bullets to hit the stump will win."

Lisbon nodded. The stump was about thirty yards away. She pulled the revolver from her right holster and aimed at the target. Six shots rang out, and Lisbon lowered her gun. She re-holstered her revolver and turned to Bosco. "Count the holes."

Bosco nodded and turned to the man next to him. "You heard the sheriff, Partridge. Go count the holes."

The dark haired man nodded, and walked over to the stump. He had to count twice, just to make sure. He hurried back. "Bosco," he said. "There are six holes. But… well, you should see it."

Bosco frowned and hurried over to the stump. There were six neat holes in the stump, forming the letter L.

Lisbon smiled. The L had been her trademark, and something she had taught herself at a young age. She turned to the man who happened to be standing next to her. "If you need me, I will be at my office."

The woman sheriff walked away, leaving the men standing there amazed.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

On the top of a nearby hill, a man named Bob Kirkland stood watching the events unfold. As soon as the group made its way back into the town, he progressed down the hill to the stump. 'That woman sheriff can definitely shoot,' thought Kirkland. 'Red John will want to know.'

He climbed the hill and got onto his horse. The sheriff had walked right past him without seeing him. He was camouflaged against the terrain. He rode away from the town, ready to deliver news to Red John that could destroy their plans.

A/N2: I have had trouble writing this chapter, so I need your input. Please let me know what you think of it and if I need to do anything else. Thanks.