The Wrong Foot

These kind of meetings made John Biebe nervous. The cousins who inherited the land were gathered together at Steve and Millies pub waiting for him right this minutes and he knew what was up. He didn’t like it much at the moment either but he had no choice.

John was the sheriff and he did most of the patrolling alone right now. He was hoping Bud White may come on board as a detective just in case and he knew there were some others arriving who may want to put their badges into the ring. Time would tell.

He adjusted himself, smoothed his hair and walked into the bar. He could hear them laughing the moment he did so. Bridgid, Marie, M and Ceri were all seated at one of the tables. There was no one else. What the hell was this all about?

It was Bridgid who saw him first. She nudged M and got the attention of Marie and Ceri.

"Hi , John. Glad you could make it."

Everyone greeted him and Marie asked him to sit down. He turned a chair around and did so. "I expected to see…" he paused not wanting to open a can of worms. "What’s this all about?" he asked.

Bridgid grinned, looking at her cousins. "Remember I told you about your new partner?"

John nodded. He bit his lip, nervously. "Don’t see anyone else here so cut to the chase, B."

"We thought you’d like to take a look at her resume. "

Just as B finished speaking, M reached into her briefcase and took out a dossier. John took it from her and began to look through it. He flipped through the pages slowly. The girls silence made him even more uneasy. "Impressive, degree in law enforcement, got through the academy at the top of her class, did some work with special weapons and tactics. Not that we’d need anything like that around here" he gave Bridgid a kind of withering look. "When do I get to meet this…Siobhan?"

Ceri took a slug of her brew and hurried to answer. "Right now, mate. She’s standing behind you."

John turned around abruptly, nearly knocking the glass the tall beautiful woman held in her hand.

"Whoa Flicka!" Siobhan gruffed. She shifted the glass into her left hand then extended her right. "You must be John Biebe. Pleased to meet you. I’m Siobhan Hennessey. "

He stood slowly, turning properly. Taking her hand in a firm grasp he eyes her up and down. "Miss Hennessey." No other words would form but his mouth still seemed to be moving.

"Right, we’ll have to take care of that. If you can’t talk to me then we’re going to have a hell of a time working together."

Releasing his hand, she took a seat next to Ceri. "If it’ll help you can call me Bonnie. Most of my friends do."

There was a bit of giggling at the table and it was all at John’s expense. He looked at the women , one at a time. "I think, Miss Hennessey, that we’ll remain as professional as possible. Therefore, I am Sheriff Biebe and you are Deputy Hennessy. Do I make myself perfectly clear?"

"Loud and clear, Sheriff Biebe..." Bonnie saluted. "Can I buy you a drink?"

John never botherd to sit back down. He shook his head then took one more nervous sweep with his fingers through his hair. "No thank you, Deputy. I might suggest you go easy as well. You start at 0700 in the morning."

"Well, 0700 would be morning now wouldn’t it?" she cocked off. "Don’t worry, Sheriff Biebe. I know all of my alpha codes and I can tell time with a twenty four hour clock."

"I’m not worried, Deputy. I’ve seen your resume." He stepped back and turned the chair around. "Ladies, it’s been a pleasure."

Everyone said goodbye to him but he left a little bit of worry in his wake as he departed. Did Bonnie Hennessy just one up him?

"How bout that?" Bridgid asked with a chuckle.

"Yes, how about that." M countered. in her proper British accent.

Marie leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "I get the feeling John Biebe has met his match."

"I get the feeling we got off on the wrong foot." Bonnie added