The Sheriff of Black Rock   Part 3
by M.C.
Tough town tamed by tougher woman sheriff.


(a story inspired by Sheila Burgess)

After tossing the six unconsious cowboys into their jail cell, Sheila 
comely sat down for a cup of coffee. As she drank she reflected on what 
she had accomplished in less than day as sheriff. First, she beat up Jim 
-  the town bully. Then, later that evening, she knocked out three tough 
cowboys. And this very morning, when Bill Walker rode into town with six 
more of his men to release the three she had arrested, Sheila first 
outdrew them all - shooting the guns right out of their hands - and then 
beat them all up. Afterwards she took the stunned Bill Walker into her 
office, battered him around, spanked him and then gave him a stern 
lecture on how he and his men are to behave from now on. Sheila giggled 
to herself, " not bad for a day's work". 

There was a knock on the door. "Come on in", Sheila said. Mary, the 
town's Mayor, entered. " Sheila, you were wonderful, if I hadn't seen it 
with my own eyes I'd never have believed it ". Sheila smiled," thank 
you, it really wasn't all that difficult though ". Mary looked at her in 
amazement, " you outdrew six men....and then beat them all up. How could 
you say that ? " Sheila laughed," my reflexes are so much faster then 
theirs, and when it comes to fighting I have these ". Sheila stood up 
and flexed her magnificant muscles for Mary -  all 17 inches of them. " 
No ten men stand a chance against these babies ", she said proudly. " I 
don't think the cattlemen will be giving you anymore trouble - Mr. 
Walker and I came to an 'understanding '. Now, tell me more about these 
gamblers ". 

Mary told Sheila the story about how Jeff Stevens and his henchmen moved 
into Black Rock soon after it was announced that the railroad was going 
to be built through the town. Mary suspected that their goal was to 
cheat the settlers - who are moving out West - out of their money. " 
Well ", Sheila said, " that doesn't sound too nice. I guess I'll have to 
do something about that won't I ? " Mary looked at the mighty woman 
before her and asked, " Sheila, aren't you afraid of anything ? "  
Sheila smiled and said in soft, but confident tone," nothing that I've 
encountered so far......and you shouldn't be either ". Mary looked at 
Sheila; the question was written all over her face. " Mary ", Sheila 
began, " you're a woman - and women are always superior to men. You just 
have to believe in yourself and forget about all the garbage you 've 
been taught throughout your life. Once you've done that, then the shy's 
the limit . When I went out into the street eariler today to face those 
six men, I didn't just think I might prevail, I KNEW I WOULD !!!! Those 
cowboys didn't stand a chance. That 's how you must feel about yourself, 
Mary; that's how you become invincible ". Mary gave Sheila an unsure 
smile. Sheila responded with a hug," you'll see, Mary - we'll beat these 
guys ". 

Sheila's strategy for dealing with Jeff Stevens and his men was pretty 
straightforward. Although there was no law prohibiting gambling in Black 
Rock, there were a number of other laws on the books that she could 
inforce. Some of them were so obscure that most people weren't even 
aware of them. Sheila first familiarized herself with these laws and, 
when she had learned them all,  decided to make her move, " it's time to 
do a little bit of town cleaning ", she laughed. 

 Sheila left the sheriff 's office and began to walk about the town. The 
beautiful woman, her long pretty red hair blowing in the wind behind 
her, was a magnificant sight to behold. She smiled to the townspeople 
she met. As she approached an alley she heard the distinct sound of a 
man.....peeing. She waited until he was through, Sheila was nothing if 
not curtious, and then approached him. " Urinating in public is against 
the law. I'm afraid I'm going to have to put you in jail ". Rex looked 
at her and scowled. He was one of Mr. Stevens' most feared 'enforcers'. 
People who didn't pay their gambling debts on time were almost certain 
to be paid a visit by Rex. A good beating almost always followed. The 
six foot two inch, 220 pound man, who used to be a prizefighter, 
arrogently walked over to the five foot seven inch, 170 pound woman and 
said, " you may be a match for those whimpy cowboys, but not for a 
'real' man. Sheily giggled as she looked up at him. " I was so hoping 
you 'd say something like that, I've always wanted to fight a 'real ' 
man, tee hee hee ". 

Rex squared off and threw a punch at Sheila. She comely held up her hand 
and blocked it. Again and again he tried to hit her but Sheila simply 
stood there and easily blocked all his punches. " I hope you 're going 
to show me how a real man fights soon.....I'm getting tired of waiting 
", she teased. Enraged, Rex came after her with everything he had. After 
about two minutes of this Sheila smiled and said, " well, now I've seen 
how a real man fights, let me show you how a real woman fights ". She 
began to fire off punches with such speed and power that Rex was 
helpless against her. So quick and accurate was she that, in less than a 
minute, she had broken his nose, blackened his eyes and knocked out 
several of his teeth. " This is for all of the beatings you 've given to 
people around here. Your days as an enforcer are over. Sheila landed one 
more powerful punch to his jaw and Rex was out. As she emerged from the 
alley, carrying the battered man over her shoulder, the townspeople 
cheered. " He won't be bothering anyone again in this town  again ", 
Sheila announced as she effortlessly carried him off to jail. 

Rex was just the beginning of Sheila's war against Jeff Stevens and his 
henchmen. Everytime one of them spat on the sidewalk or hasseled a woman 
- both against the law in Black Rock - Sheila was there. When the men 
resisted, as they always did, Sheila pounded them into submission - then 
carried them off to jail. She did have a problem, however......the jail 
was filling up fast. Soon there would be no place left to put anybody 
else. Sheila's solution to this problem was simple. She gathered all of 
the cowboys together and gave them a stern lecture on how she expected 
them to behave from now on. She made them all promise to obey the laws 
OR ELSE !!! When the humiliated cowboys, many in tears, agreed - Shelia 
let them go. "Boys will be boys ", she told Mary as they watched the 
chastised cowboys slowly ride out of town. 

Not so lucky were Jeff Stevens' men. Unlike the cowboys who just needed 
to be taught a little discipline, these men were hardened criminals who, 
Sheila felt, had to be eliminated in order for the town to grow and 
prosper. " What the hell's going on ? ", a livid Jeff Stevens demanded 
to know. " How can this woman sheriff simply go around this town beating 
up my men and locking them up ? Something's got to be done about  this 
red - haired demon ". Turning to his assistant, Mr. Stevens roared, " 
get me the Russell boys; they'll know how to 'take care ' of her ". 

 It was evening in Black Rock. Sheila and Mary sat in the sheriff 's 
office laughing. So far, Sheila's offensive against  the ruthless 
gambling interests had gone very well. She had beaten up and jailed ten 
men; half of Mr. Stevens' force. Now, as the two women relaxed, they 
talked about  'girl stuff', their hair, shopping, even guys. Mary 
confided to Sheila that she once had a 'thing' for Jim - the bully 
that Sheila beat up the day before. He began to drink and his 
personality changed. Mary felt that, if he would turn his life around, 
they might still have a chance together. As they spoke, shots were heard 
off in the distance. Sheila quickly put on her guns and went outside. 
She was confronted by looks of terror from several townspeople. " They 
robbed the bank, they robbed the bank !!! ". Off in the distance, Sheila 
heard the sound of horses riding away. Now, for the first time 
really, the magnificant Sheila faced a problem. She, as sheriff, knew 
that it was her responsibility to go after the bankrobbers. But she also 
knew that if she left the town, then Mr. Stevens' remaining henchmen 
would - no doubt - break into the jail and free the imprisoned 
men......forcing her to start all over again. Sheila thought to 
herself........ " What's a girl to do ? " 

end of part 3