Reditum
This is my first fanfiction, it's genesis was towards the end of September 2015 and it became a welcome relief/rest-bite when my father took ill with cancer, there have been a number of struggles along the way, work, life, love, etc... and ultimately the death of my father just before Christmas. I started watching Longmire part way through season 1 when it was shown in the UK. This story may not be in keeping with season 4 - because we're only just getting to watch season 4 now. The ideas and images I have were from what people were commenting on (Forums, etc). So some characters may not be how they were actually portrayed on screen... As you can tell I'm not American, so I apologise if I spell certain words differently, I use British/English spelling... I hope you like this story. So far I'm up to 20+ chapters.
Chapter 1
She arrived back into Durant, Wyoming; with very little fanfare, the flight to Denver was bumpy and arduous.
She wondered if this was an omen, a sign of things to come, the flight was full; commuters and vacationers, usually she'd take a red-eye flight, but in the present circumstances, she had to settle with what she had.
It was hot and sticky, she swore the rather large man three rows down had a body odour issue, or at least needed to take a shower... the flight attendants were just tolerable with their usual 'sickly charm' – she didn't like people being overtly kind, it put her on edge... and she was already on a knife edge as it was...
The short connecting flight from Denver to Sheridan was just as bearable and she was finally happy to be driving on terra firma...
She had booked herself into the better motel on the outer part of town, not far from the golf course, and far enough away from the Casino. She dropped off her luggage and got into the car and drove into the centre of town.
She was thankful that the hire car had a decent digital radio ... that was one part of this 'back-water' she never missed...
She left Wyoming in the same manner in which she arrived today, no fuss being made – she preferred it that way.
Her leaving some years before had caused ripples... Ripples which didn't care for... staying here back then would have killed her, she thought at the time...
She made her escape and ran... definitely No looking back.
Until today and her return.
The rental car pulled up outside the old Town library... Nothing had changed... everything looked the same as when she left.
It was late afternoon on a warm summer day, and the locals were going about their business, making pleasant conversation.
She took in a deep breath and got out of the car, moving around to the rear passenger door... She unclipped and grabbed her bag; locking the car out of habit – deep down she knew it wasn't necessary, as 'joy-riding' or taking a car wasn't a frequent past-time here, like it was in the big cities.
She walked towards the entrance and opened the old Library door... Making her way slowly up the stairs until she came to the familiar door – a door that no longer bore her name.
It had some familiar names on it and some new names.
Opening the door, she saw Ruby, ever faithful at her desk... Some things never change she thought, Ruby would always be a main-stay of Durant Sheriff's department... deep in conversation on the telephone.
She patiently waited for Ruby to look-up and notice her. No one else seemed to be in the Sheriff's Office as she looked around.
Ruby placed the telephone back into its cradle and spoke before she looked up.
"How can I help you?"
Vic smiled as she replied "Thought I'd drop in and say Hi!"
Ruby quickly scrambled from her desk and moved around it towards Vic – giving her a massive welcoming hug.
"Where have you been?" Ruby said still embracing Vic, she carried on. "I've missed you... you left no forwarding address... no contact details...we called your mum in Philadelphia... She said that you weren't with her... "
Ruby finally releases Vic and gives Vic the opportunity to reply.
Vic took in a deep breath... "I've been busy getting on with my life" - she smiles nervously.
Ruby looked at Vic, taking in her appearance...
"You look amazing Vic!" She smiled reassuringly... "We missed you...Why did you leave?... you didn't even hand me your two weeks' notice... you left it with Cady"
Vic replied... "I'm sorry about that Ruby, but I had to leave... (She sighed)... This place... the job... it was making me unhappy... I made some stupid mistakes... and I needed to leave... before..."
Ruby was about to interrupt Vic, when she heard mumbling behind Vic, she looked beyond where Vic was and saw...