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Girl Waits with Gun


An enthralling novel based on the forgotten true adventures of one of the nation...
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Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

Created: 05/12/16

Replies: 16

Posted May. 12, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

It's clear that Constance is a unique woman for her time. But Sheriff Heath is also unusual in that he takes the Kopp sisters seriously when no one else would. Why do you think he helps them? Discuss their unlikely friendship.


Posted May. 16, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Lois Irene

Join Date: 01/20/16

Posts: 76

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

This is a multifaceted situation. I think that he is concerned about women living alone at this time, as most men would be, but is also capable of admiring the way they live and how fulfilled they appear to be. I also think that he genuinely likes Constance and admires her spunk.
How wonderful that this relationship leads to a gender breaking job for Constance - one that she will excel in and enjoy.


Posted May. 17, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

He's amazed at Constance's perserverance in wanting her $50 and he doesn't like the fact that this is not the first time Kaufman has flaunted authority and the law. Heath believes in the law and doesn't care about someone's social standing. I think he would have backed anyone, man or woman, who had a case like this one. And, like many men, in comparison to a wife who is at home all day with small kids and is probably tired and has little chance for interests other than cooking, cleaning and changing diapers, Constance is a breath of fresh air. Having few of his wife's obligations she is free to pursue Kaufman and is able to reveal her intelligence. I think this friendship is more likely than unlikely.


Posted May. 17, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joyces

Join Date: 06/16/11

Posts: 410

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

As katherinep said I think Sheriff Heath saw an obvious wrong and did his job which coincided with his on feelings about the culprit involved and his concern for the three women in their vulnerable position. As the story progressed and he saw Constance unwillingness to succumb to the harassment by Kaufman and his henchmen his admiration and respect grew. As unlikely a friendship as it was but not all together surprising.


Posted May. 17, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ColoradoGirl

Join Date: 05/16/16

Posts: 149

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think Sheriff Heath is someone who helps people and the Kopp Sisters certainly needed his help. I think the sisters are very likable so it was almost inevitable that a friendship would develop as they grew to know each other and he sough to protect them. I think he also has a sense of justice, as a sheriff should.


Posted May. 18, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
tillieh

Join Date: 04/28/11

Posts: 71

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I believe that Sheriff Heath was the type of man who would stand up for the underdog and so the right thing no matter how people felt about him. He was disgusted with the justice system and the corruption that was going on at the time and wanted to help stop it. I admire both his and Constance's tenacity and courage.


Posted May. 18, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
JLPen77

Join Date: 02/05/16

Posts: 362

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think he recognizes in Constance his own anger at injustice, at the ruling class like Kaufman getting away with flaunting the law and running roughshod over everyone, even the law itself. He sees helping her as a possible opportunity for him to bring charges against Kaufman that may stick. And he is drawn to the sisters' independence and their unconventional personalities; there is a hint here and there that his wife is more conventional, not a real kindred spirit, and perhaps resentful of the demands of his job as sheriff. She fills the role of a wife, but isn't a friend, as Constance becomes. He also respects Constance for her initiative, and her courage and perseverance. Probably he appreciates, also, the respect and kindness they show to him and his deputies, bringing them food, and tending his wound. It seems not everyone treated him with respect in his role as sheriff.


Posted May. 19, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
barb23703

Join Date: 10/04/15

Posts: 102

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

The Sheriff may have seen the plight of the underdog in the sisters situation, just as he was the underdog in his political standing with the county. Once he begins to help them, I think he truly enjoyed the quirkiness of each of the characters and their own innocent view of the world. Constance seemed to surprise him often with her resourcefulness, bravery and ingenuity.


Posted May. 19, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
PiperUp

Join Date: 10/27/15

Posts: 146

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think it started off as concern for the women because they were all on their own but as time passed...I think the Sheriff began to enjoy his interactions with the sisters & came to recognize that they were much more intelligent & capable of protecting themselves than he originally thought. I think he respected them for not being the typical damsels in distress & may even be attracted to it. I'm looking forward to seeing how his relationship with the sisters progresses in the next book; especially his relationship with Constance as they continue to work together as a team.


Posted May. 20, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
barbm

Join Date: 02/04/16

Posts: 77

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

He initially helped because he knew the corruption of Kaufman and that was his job. As the harassment continues, and Heath begins to know the sisters, he feels personal responsibility to protect and help them protect each other.


Posted May. 21, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
joycew

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 107

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think he respects them. They are strong women, braving the world without men to take care of them. His wife whines and complains (and drinks too much). He was ahead of his time in his opinion of the "weaker" sex.


Posted May. 23, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
SusanC.

Join Date: 03/25/13

Posts: 46

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

Well the first reason may be a set-up for future partnerships between the Sheriff and Constance (at least I hope so). I also think that the character of the Sheriff is painted as an upstanding gentleman who wants to protect the sisters at all costs.

While I don't necessarily want to Sheriff to abandon his wife and children I do like the idea that his friendship with Constance becomes a true detective partnership.


Posted May. 23, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
laurelleaf

Join Date: 05/23/16

Posts: 4

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

Well, there would be a sheriff (and that is almost second to royalty.) Would a sheriff not help? ..that's what they're supposed to do, plus, this whole shebang was a really big deal, ...he would want to know these "striking" women. First, because a car has run into a horse and bowled them over. And, as one with a gun himself, they have one thing in common, right?


Posted May. 24, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sharlene

Join Date: 04/10/13

Posts: 78

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think Sheriff Heath felt a responsibility to his job and also had a great concern for the women living out in the country where they were very vulnerable to Henry's evil intentions. I think he came to admire them for their intelligence and ability to get by on their own in a day when most women were taken care of. Although the friendship between hom and Constance is primarily based on their respect for one another, I think they genuinely enjoy one another's company and I detect an underlying physical attraction between the two of them.


Posted May. 26, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kdowney25

Join Date: 01/25/16

Posts: 183

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

Sheriff Heath had had trouble with Kaufman before during the strikes. He said Kaufman and "the silk men" had their own ideas of how to keep order and followed the sheriff's men around to make sure they weren't too easy on the strikers. "I didn't appreciate it" (p. 95). It seemed pretty obvious that the detective who reluctantly took Constance's complaint, really wasn't going to pursue the issue. I think Sherriff Heath was sympathetic towards Constance, and also viewed this situation as an opportunity to deal with Kaufman, who seemed to think he was above the law. Heath said he wouldn't mind a chance to go after that bunch, whom he suspected of other illegal dealings. Through their dealings with one another, Sheriff Heath and Constance developed a friendship built on mutual respect and admiration.


Posted Jun. 01, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathleenb

Join Date: 09/14/12

Posts: 111

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

In the beginning it was a fear for their safety only but as he got to know them especially Constance he realized her stamina was remarkable. Constance's persistence in going after Henry Kaufman was a sight to behold. The Sheriff was not respected in the town and he felt a strong moral responsibility to bring lawbreakers to justice. Constance felt the same thing so I think that brought them close together.


Posted Jun. 23, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Peggy H

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 272

RE: Why do you think Sheriff Heath helps the Kopp Sisters? Discuss their unlikely friendship.

I think he was interested in this case and looking for a way to handle Mr Kaufmann and his cronies. He also was there when the first official brushed Catherine off and was intrigued by the way she handled it. I did won how he and his staff found the time to keep an eye on her house.


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