Ch. 1
"I was hoping you were here to stay."
Vic sighed and leaned back on the couch across from her father.
"Dad, I told you when I called that I was coming for a visit."
He smiled ruefully,
"A man can dream. You're the only one of my kids not living in Philly. All the boys are settling down and you're still off in the wild, wild west."
"The boys are not settling down. Michael doesn't even have a girlfriend. They're just doing what you want them to do."
"And you're not."
She returned his smile.
"When have I ever?"
Vic stood, signalling she was done with this particular subject.
"I'm going to get ready for bed. Got some calls to make."
He nodded, knowing what call she meant. Vic made her way to the guest bedroom and flopped down on the bed. This had been her room when she was younger but it had been drastically made over into her mother's taste. Vic pulled her phone from her back pocket. He answered the house phone on the second ring.
"Hey."
He must have checked the caller ID. She smiled at his tone.
"Hey, yourself."
"How's it going?"
"Oh, you know. There's nothing like a trip home to remind you why you live so far away. It's been nice to see everyone, though. My father says hello."
"I doubt that."
She laughed to herself.
"Yeah, I made that up."
"How are you really, Vic."
She could hear the shift in his tone and she could see his face in her mind as clear as day, worried and curious at the same time.
"I'm okay."
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's kind of nice to be away from everything."
Walt grew quiet.
"I mean the negative things."
"Yep, I know. I had better get going. I need to take care of the horse before it gets dark."
"You went riding?"
"Yep."
"Okay, then, I'll call you tomorrow."
"Vic..."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
Her throat constricted slightly.
"I love you, too. Night."
Walt hung up and looked around the cabin. Without her, it seemed empty and cold. He tried not to convey his disappointment that she was there without him. She didn't need him dragging her down any more than she already felt. He shoved his hat on his head and went to care for his horse. Outside the wind blew. It wouldn't be long before the first snow arrived. He inhaled the air and ran his hands over the warm body of his horse. The animal's strength was obvious to the touch. His muscles rippled just underneath the velvet overlay of his coat. Walt's mind flashed back to standing with Vic while she brushed the horse. He had brimmed with feelings when he had placed his hand over hers and let it linger. In that moment, had felt a similar concern. One that she might decide to leave him and go home. He knew her father was pressuring her to return to her home and pick up the pieces of her life there. He had wanted to tell her so badly that day that he wanted her to stay. That he loved her and he had wanted nothing more than to take away her pain. He wanted her to make her own choice. He wanted her to chose him without pressure or his pushing. That had always been his way. Sometimes it backfired. She had chosen to stay and his heart had swelled. He had been unable to keep the smile off his face when she had simply asked him for a raise. Walt finished up with the animal and gave him one last pat before returning to the cabin.
He took a shower and sat on the bed. It seemed so large without her, even though it really wasn't. He missed her invading his space and chattering away about her day. He lay down and stared into the darkness. Walt considered what he wanted. He wanted to go to her. He wanted to ease her pain and bring her home. Home. Wyoming would always be his home. Vic had referred to Philadelphia as home. He understood. If he lived on the other side of the world, this place would still be his true home. Sighing, he tossed back the blankets and pulled on a pair of jeans and shirt. Wandering out onto the porch, he looked out at the darkened sky. Once he had found the solitude healing, now it was suffocating. Walt leaned on the porch rail and lost himself in his thoughts.
Vic lay on her temporary bed staring at the ceiling. There was light tap on the door. Vic sat up.
"Come in."
Her mother came in, graceful and flowing as always. It eluded Vic how she always managed to look so put together.
"Victoria, everything alright?"
"Yeah, mom. What's up?"
"You know your father is jut worried about you, right."
"Yeah."
Her mother studied her with eyes that mirrored her own.
"We're all worried about you."
"I'm fine."
"You got shot..."
"I've already hashed this out with dad. I'm not looking for a repeat performance. That's in the past. It's over."
"Is it?"
"Yes, I've moved on. I'm happy now."
"Victoria, I know that we haven't always seen eye to eye."
"There's an understatement."
Her mother ignored her tone.
"However, all I want is for my children to be happy. You say that you are happy in this relationship with Walt Longmire?"
"Yes."
"Then where is he?"
"He's respecting what I want, which is something people in this family seem to struggle with."
"Have you asked yourself why you needed this time away from him."
"It's not him I need time away from. It's...everything."
"Including him or you would have brought him with you."
"There aren't any problems with Walt, mom. I know you and dad don't like it but stop trying to make trouble where there isn't any. Jesus!"
Her mother nodded.
"I'm only making an observation. You know your life."