"Who the Hell is Deputy ...?"

Midmorning on a Wednesday, Ruby knocked on the doorframe of Walt's office, when he looked over at her she went in and closed the door. Ferg, Branch and Vic were all in the outer office and she didn't want any of them to hear what she had to say. Walt had been looking out his window but came to stand in front of his desk when Ruby came in, "What can I do for you Ruby?" Walt gave her a small grin.

Ruby gave him a soft smile and said, "I just wanted you to know that I noticed the change on the directory board outside the office this morning."

He held her eyes and casually folded his arms across his chest, then gave her the same small grin as before and asked, "And?"

She smiled broadly, stepped up to him, placed a hand on his arms and stretched up to kiss his cheek, "And I just wanted you to know that I know," she winked at him before she turned to walk out closing his office door as she left.

About an hour later Lucian came through the reception door into the outer offices and bellowed, "Who the hell is Deputy Longmire?!"

Ruby tried to hide her smile as all three deputies shot to their feet. In less than five seconds, Walt's office door opened and he stepped out into the outer office, he and Vic exchanged a quick glance, and he gave her a look that said 'your call'. It had been her idea to change the directory board that hung outside on the landing which listed everyone's titles and names.
Vic straightened her shoulders looked Lucian squarely in the eye and said, "I am.'

"Bout damn time."

Ferg and Branch exchanged a look neither sure exactly what was going on.

Lucian stepped through the short swinging door, shook Walt's hand and clasped him on the back, "Congratulations."

Walt smiled and said a soft, "Thanks."

Lucian reached to hug Vic but she shot out her hand, without missing a beat he shook her hand but leaned in and kissed her cheek, "You too, smarty. Congratulations"

Ruby made her way past the little swinging door as well to join the little group. She stepped over to hug Walt and finally offer her congratulations. Ferg stepped up right away, having put all the pieces together quicker than Branch, and then he looked over his shoulder to Branch with a quick nod as if to say 'come on'. As soon as Ruby had hugged and congratulated Walt and stepped over to Vic, Ferg put his hand out, smiled brightly, and said, "Congratulations Sheriff, uhm Walt." It was a personal thing not a business thing and he wanted to make certain he didn't address his boss as his boss the sheriff but rather as Walt his friend.

Several questions were being asked at once: Ruby wanted to know when they got married. Lucian seriously wanted to know what it taken so long to get Walt to do something, specifically what it 'took to get his sorry ass into gear'. By this point Branch had come over to extend his congratulations as well.

Ruby finally couldn't stand it anymore and held Walt's arm, focusing his attention of her, "Walter, when did you get married?"

He glanced at Vic who gave him a 'you knew this would happen' look and then smiled reassuringly at him.

Walt looked down at Ruby and attempted to soften his words by wrapping them in a warm smile, he hoped looked somewhat apologetic, "Three months ago."

Ruby was joined in a chorus with the other shocked voices, "Three months ago?"

Walt smirked and nodded. He had far too much attention directed squarely on him, his arm stretched in Vic's direction and she quickly stepped in to his embrace. Smiling back at those staring at them she added, "And one week."

"And a week?" "Thirteen weeks ago?" "No way" and "I'll be damned" resounded in a discordant jumble back at the pair.

Vic squeezed Walt around the waist and titled her head to the others, taking the hint he added in mock seriousness, "And five days."

Four pairs of eyes shifted between them.

Lucian was first to take the bait, "And?"

Vic glanced at the clock and then smiled brightly, "And twenty-two and half hours."

Ferg was having trouble with the timeline, "You got married on a Thursday?"

Walt smiled indulgently at the younger man, "Yep."

Branch couldn't help his curiosity either, "Just an ordinary lunch break, huh?"

Vic shrugged, "Kinda."

Ruby was slightly suspicious, "You were married almost three and a half months ago and nobody around here has heard anything about it? I don't believe that. Not in this small town."

Walt couldn't help it and started laughing softy, hugging Vic tighter, when he felt her laughing too, he laughed even harder and then tried to speak, "This… is… too… much…"

Vic snuggled against his chest and giggled at him, "Having fun aren't chya?"

"Uh huh," he managed though his laughter.

She smiled at him, "And you were afraid to tell'em."

Walt grinned down at her, "Not afraid, just, well, uh."

"Afraid." She challenged.

"No. Concerned."

"Concerned?"

"Yep. Didn't want anybody to be hurt for feeling left out."

Ruby's patience was growing thin, she was beginning to think this was all a joke and she was not happy with that thought, "Walter, are you or are you not married?"

Walt stiffened and looked at his long time dispatcher and friend. He thought he saw pain flicker in her eyes. He looked at her and answered earnestly, "Yes, Ruby. Vic and I are married."

Ruby's expression told him she was not going to wait for any more answers or put up with any nonsense, "And how long have you been married?"

His answer was as sober and devoid of laughter as he could manage. He knew Ruby was growing upset but he was so happy and relieved he couldn't help but smile, "Three and half months tomorrow."

"Then how come none of us heard anything about this?"

Walt tried to break the news gently, "Ruby we got married in Cumberland County."

The cacophony resumed, "Cumberland?" "During lunch?" "Why the hell would you do that?" "On a weekday?"

Vic wasn't sure how much more any of them could take; she decided to cut to the chase. "Okay a few months ago Walt asked what I thought about getting married. I told him I thought it was a good idea and asked when he thought he'd want to. Said he wasn't sure exactly when, but we could get our license, and we'd have a year to decide. That sounded good to me so when we had to go to Gillette for the Four Corners: Quad County Conference the following week, we took all our documents with us. During a break in the conference we drug Sheriff Wilkins with us and went to the county clerk's office to get our license. Then a couple of months ago we had a prisoner transfer to Cumberland County. Walt asked me the night before if I thought that would be a good time to get married; neither of us could think of a better time so we took our license with us. Once we delivered the two prisoners, we rounded the corner from the jail and stopped by the county clerk's office before we grabbed some lunch and headed back here."

Their questions had been answered, but the looks on the four faces told Vic they were still a bit bewildered. She looked up at Walt with a 'what else' question on her face.

He shrugged and asked the four gently, "Any other questions?"

Ferg stammered, "You got married in your uniforms?"

Vic smiled sweetly at him and said, "No Ferg I left some details out of my explanation. One of which was we stopped to change first and we stayed in those clothes through lunch; we changed again before we drove back." Ferg smiled back and looked so relieved, for that reason alone she was glad they had thought to take a change of clothes with them.

Branch asked, "Why'dya wait so long to tell anyone?"

Vic and Walt looked at each other for a moment and then back to their friends as Walt offered a simple, "Wanted to."

Lucian glared at Walt, "Cady know?"

"Yep."

Ferg asked, "Henry know?"

"Yep, and aside from all of you that's it."

Lucian nodded, "Okay. What's next?"

Walt shrugged again, "Thought maybe a reception at the Red Pony, a week from Saturday?" He said it as a question more than a statement, so they would share their thoughts and let him know if they could be there.

A brief discussion continued regarding the reception and what the general consensus was concerning the time frame and a few details for the event.

Walt and Vic spent time over the next week and a half inviting people they wanted to be at their reception to 'a party at the Pony'. They gave them no additional information beyond the where and when. They just wanted to celebrate with their friends and not make a big deal about it or contend with gifts or other extraneous elements of typical receptions.