3: The second day.

Sarah Walker = The reporter

Bryce Larkin = Sarah's editor & co-reporter

Jill Roberts = Paper Copygirl & Ex Head cheerleader

On the second day, Bryce was in early, as the editor, the deadline for the twice weekly edition was soon as he needed more content so he wouldn't have empty spaces. Sarah was also in early colluding with Bryce into getting her bylines right and ready for printing. She noticed something about Bryce she hadn't noticed the day before, it was Bryce's smell, he had cologne on today. It was best if she didn't comment on it, pretend she hadn't noticed.

Just before office hours opened Jill Roberts arrived. Sarah noticed that Jill had an overpowering perfume on today as well. Sarah wondered if this was because she was new here and someone was staking her ground. Did Jill have desires on Bryce? Was this a subtle way of staking her claim.

Bryce the Editor, had a list for Sarah to attend to. Most of the items on the list were trivial in nature, Mrs Smith pumpkins, Farmer Downs prized cow, Hazard town Fair organising committee chairman, etc.

After spend the morning getting her bylines right and ready for printing, Sarah started on the task her Editor set for her today. First stop was to talk to Mrs Smith about her prize winning pumpkins. Mrs Smith made a fresh batch of pumpkin scones that smelt delicious. Sarah had a pleasant interview with Mrs Smith, not to mention the two cups of tea and three of the scones.

The next port of call was Farmer Downs dairy, Father downs had won the best milking cow for five of the last seven years. Now Sarah didn't know anything about cows, they were bigger than she thought and smelly. She had to borrow Mrs Downs' rubber boots as Mr Downs showed her his dairy and then explain the milking process. She was grateful for the boots as there was cow shit everywhere and she wouldn't wanted her shoes ruined.

Sarah discovered there are two types of farmers, ones that didn't say much and generally nodded instead of commenting and the other that would talk the paint off the wall like Mrs Downs.

After managing to get away from more of Mrs Downs gossip Sarah had to inform her that she had other appointments that day. Her next appointment was with the chairman of the Hazard county Fair organizing committee.

Diane Beckman was a short rotund woman with a cedar oak dyed hair,. Her grey roots were starting to show. Ms Beckman welcome Sarah in and offered her a seat.

"The role of the committee we have organize the town fair . I also have to be on the lookout for the town's next beauty queen"

Beckman stated as she lent back in her chair.

"Miss Walker, we were wondering if you would like to be a contestant in the Miss Hazard Quest this year?"

Sarah had to resist the urge to laugh at the proposal but she did shake her head.

"No Thanks, I'm here to report the news, not be the news. Besides it should be a local girl."

"Well, there's no harm in asking."

The interview seem to wrap up after take, when Ms Beckman suddenly received a phone call and had to leave.

"I'm sorry but I'm required elsewhere. I needed down at the courthouse."

"Is there something wrong?" Sarah's reporter instincts suddenly bubbled to the surface. There could be a late item for the Herald.

"No, just routine, because not only am I the chairman of the committee to organize the local fair. I am also the circuit judge for these parts."

"You're a circuit Judge?"

"Have been for nearly twenty years!" Beckman said proudly.

"So do you sit for all cases that come by the court?"

"Most of them, there have only been a few occasions when someone else has had to sit in because I've been otherwise indisposed."

"Even for serious crimes, like murder?"

"Especially the serious ones, my dear, they're the interesting ones. I wouldn't miss one of those!" The Judge had a twinkle in her eye.

Beckman had shown Sarah the door and Sarah knew she had to leave, she gathered her things and politely thanked the Judge for her time as she walked out the door.

The last scheduled stop for the day was the sheriff's office. The Herald has a regular column dealing with law and order issues. The column also gives advice on survival during the harse summer heat and freezing winters. She entered the office and noticed that it was small compare to the office she works out of. She was let in by a deputy Skippy Thompson. Thompson was a tall man with out of control blonde fizzy locks. He looked geekish as he also wore goldrimmed glasses. As Thompson shut the door behind him Sarah could see Sherriff Casey at his desk relaxing while looking out the window. He snapped to attention when he noticed he had company.

He stood up and Sarah could see he was a huge man. The man was solid, a brick with eyes came to mind. The way he held himself, Sarah knew that he had spent time in the military, she just didn't know which arm. She notice he gave her a quick up and down before offering his hand.

"Sherriff John Casey!" he said with authority.

Sarah gave his hand a polite shake.

"Sarah Walker Hazard Herald."

"Pleased to meet Mam. This is my deputy Officer Skippy Thompson."

Sarah turned and shook Officer Thompson's hand.

"Mam."

Sarah notice that unlike the Sheriff, Deputy Thompson was more of an ogler as she could see him slowly giving her the once over.

"My editor has told me that the Sheriff Department has a regular column in the Herald." Sarah said.

"That we do. Mam" was the curt reply

Skippy got up and handed Sarah a manila folder , inside it was a hard copy of the column and a 3.5 inch floppy disk. Sarah knew that the IT budget for the Sheriff department didn't include modernizing the equipment.

"Thank you for this," Sarah said with appreciation and then she made an attempt to leave.

"I'll walk you home as I'm on the way." The sheriff got out of his chair and quickly moved to the door to open it so Sarah could leave.

"It's not necessary."

"How do you know were I live?"

"A good sheriff knows everything."

"I'm sure that is not necessary"

"You're just in the next street. Look, I'm not the sort of guy who wants an goodnight kiss on the doorstep."

That was not the sort of comment Sarah would expect to come out of the sheriffs mouth. She decided to accept the offer so the two of them departed that Sheriff's office together. The sun was low in the afternoon sky so the trees and buildings were casting long shadows, it was noticeably cooler in the shadows than in the sun. The sheriff didn't say much until they came to his street.

"Well this is me, I'll just continue and stop at your corner."

They continued on one more block and true to his word the sheriff stopped at the corner whilst Sarah walked on to her rental in the street. She walked up her steps and looked back to see the sheriff turning around and walking out of view.