[eemax]

Eh, it seems to me the sheriff horribly abused his position of power. Either LJ and RH were imprisoned rightfully, in which case perhaps they shouldn't be just be released, or else the sheriff wrongly imprisoned them. Either way, he exploited his power as sheriff and blackmailed MM for sex.

RH's actions, on the other hand, while certainly misguided, are at least understandable, if he lives in a typical culture of masculinity, monogamy, and Victorian-era purity, where it's embarrassing to be rescued by a woman and shameful for women to have sex. He was probably feeling emasculated after being rescued by in such a fashion, and took out his anger on MM. (Which is bad, of course, but I don't think it's worse than what the sheriff did).

Finally, RH's "abuse" is left ambiguous, as opposed to the sheriff's which is very much explicit.

[j2kun]

Blackmail is not quite the right word. There is no evidence in the story that MM is not free to reject sheriff's offer without consequence (above RH/LJ remaining in jail, which as we've all observed is not necessarily unjust).

[icebraining]

We also have no evidence that she is sure there will be no consequences. In her position, if the local sheriff had just arrested your loved one (for valid or invalid reasons) and then called you saying he would free them if you only had sex with him, would you really trust him not to take revenge if you refused?

[j2kun]

I agree, but on the other hand sheriff's makes the offer after MM pleads. I think that would suggest that sheriff is seizing an opportunity, not extorting MM or demanding sex.

[banachtarski]

Here's an interesting thought experiment. If the RH in this story was in the sheriff's position, what would he do?