Thanks for checking into my first Longmire fic! The inspiration for the story (and the title subsequently) is the song "Lights of Laramie" by Ian Tyson. I love the world of Absaroka County, it's very reminiscent of northern Wyoming where my inlaws live. Right now I'm just setting up the story, the angst and smut will come later. You'll see characters of both the show and the books, as I think both are wonderful insights into the Longmire world. Please leave a review in the box on your way out, it would be much appreciated!
Spring in Absaroka County was always a big to do. The ranches were waking up from the winter slumber, the Rez was busy with ceremonial hunting and the town was coming full of life. This wasn't his favorite time of year, the big thaw. Taking a deep breath of the clear mountain air, Sheriff Walt Longmire pulled the Bullet in behind the hunter green Jeep Wrangler; effectively parking it in. Walt took in the Albany County plates with the DoD stickers in the front windshield. It looked like his after lunch appointment had arrived from Laramie. Walt huffed to himself as he walked up the steps of the station to his office, Dog following close on his heels.
Ruby was smiled at Dog when Walt walked through the door, hanging his hat on the coat rack. Ruby usually had a smile for Walt unless she had a bone to pick with him. Walt was glad to see her smile, even if it was for Dog. The mammoth beast lumbered over; sitting his butt on Ruby's feet as she scratched him behind the ears. Walt waited for the hind leg to start kicking; Dog loved getting a good scratching.
"Walt, Vic's out to lunch, the Ferg is on a call out by Taylor Ranch Road about some busted mailboxes and Branch is over visiting Lucian. Oh, and your two o'clock is here. She's been here almost a half hour waiting in your office." Ruby sighed as Dog rolled over to get his belly scratched. Walt was shocked that the usual Post-it notes were foregone for a verbal run down.
"Thanks Ruby, I didn't expect her to be early. I should have cut my lunch short, I'll be sure to apologize to her when I get in the office." Walt took a deep breath before turning the knob of his office door. He hadn't expected his new hire to be early, he'd thought she'd be on time. Most of the hires came on time or late, very seldom did they come early.
Walt opened the door slowly, seeing her stand up from the chair she was sitting in across from his desk. She was tall, athletic built, her blouse fit well tucked into her jeans. The long dark hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail brushing her shoulders. The bright green eyes followed Walt as if he was prey; her hand jutting out without hesitation. Walt gripped her hand in his; her grip was firm to match the tanned skin of someone who spent a good amount of time outdoors.
"Sheriff Walt Longmire. Glad you were able to make it up from Laramie. Heard they got a late snowfall down there?" Walt eased down into the chair behind his desk; he hadn't seen the woman but in pictures from many years ago. She had grown into a beautiful woman; that was plainly obvious. She was the same age as Cady; graduated from the University of Wyoming with a double Bachelors of Science in Nursing and Law Enforcement.
"Sarah Redelk. Nice to finally meet you Sheriff. Yes, Laramie got hit pretty heavily. I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it through the Medicine Bow, so I came through Casper on 25. Made the drive a bit longer but glad I left earlier. Dad sends his greetings by the way and wonders when you'll come visit him?" Sarah returned to the seat across from Walt; sitting on the edge of the chair. Sarah had a keen interest in the man she had heard stories about growing up; her father had met the Sheriff when they were stationed in Vietnam together. Her father, Charlie, had been a Navy Corpsman and treated wounds Walt had received in the Tet Offensive in 1968. Charlie considered Walt friend and a hero, they mostly corresponded via mail and phone calls over the years.
Walt smiled across the large oak desk at the Chief's daughter; she had the same curious demeanor as her father, which made Walt wish he had kept in touch better over the years. "Where's your father at these days Sarah? Last I talked to him he was volunteering out at the rez in South Dakota."
"Oh he's still volunteering time at the clinic out there. He usually puts in around 20 hours a week out there. He lives over by Sundance, and works at the hospital in Spearfish as a Physician's Assistant. He has all the time in the world now with Mom passed on, and with Caleb joining the Navy. I was the only one that decided to stay somewhat close to home." Sarah slowly blew out a breath; it was still hard with her mother gone and her brother off in God only knew where.
Walt nodded; he had known about Bonnie's passing five years back. He remembered reading it in the News-Record while waiting on Martha to get done with a specialist appointment in Gillette. Bonnie had suffered a stroke in her sleep; passing away before Charlie ever woke up. Walt had attended the viewing in Spearfish, but not the spreading of her ashes over the Badlands. Walt hadn't made contact with Charlie that day; he thought it more important to leave Charlie with his family. Martha had made sure that flowers were sent to the funeral home; they had been beautiful.
"I'll be working over at the hospital fulltime, so this will only be an as you need me kind of thing if that's okay? Being a Nurse is my passion in life, I want stick with that." Sarah watched the expression flit across Walt's face; she knew he was looking for someone part time which was why she applied. She just didn't think he was pleased with her terms of "part time".
Walt mulled over Sarah's part time terms; he needed someone to fill in the emptiness of Sancho's departure. After nearly losing his life to a serrated knife in his kidney, the Basquo deputy had decided to return to the corrections system. The entire department was sad to see Sancho leave, but could understand why. Walt figured for now that he could live with Sarah's terms; reaching over the desk extending his hand to her. Sarah's eyes widened as she stood, taking hold of the Sheriff's hand.
"I can live with that. Check with Ruby before you go, she will get you some uniform shirts and you can wear jeans as part of your uniform. I hope you don't mind the boys flirting with you; my guys here flirt with all the girls. Oh, I should probably warn you about my undersheriff, she can be a corker when she wants to be. Welcome to the team Sarah." Walt grinned as Sarah shook his hand; he was tickled she agreed to come onboard.
"Thanks Sheriff, you'll call me when you need me then?" Sarah's gaze met Walt's, it was respectful to maintain eye contact.
"You can call me Walt if you like, everyone else does. Yeah if I need you someone will call you on your cell. I imagine you'll be going down to Laramie tonight?" Walt smiled as Sarah chuckled lightly. It reminded him of Cady, which made him a little sad that he hadn't been able to meet her for lunch today. Cady had replaced him with his best friend, Henry Standing Bear. Sometimes Walt wondered if Cady loved Bear more than she loved her Daddy.
"I was planning on heading over to Sundance to stay at Dad's. I'll be back in about a week to start once I get Laramie buttoned up. Thank you so much Walt for this opportunity. I'll let Dad know you'll be in touch soon." Sarah stepped outside of Walt's office to check in with Ruby before Walt escorted her down to her Jeep parked on the street. They shook hands once more; Walt closed the door of the Jeep to watch Sarah pull out into the two lane main street of Durant.
Ruby reminded Walt that it was Tuesday, which meant chess night with Lucian. Walt sighed as he patted his leg, Dog following close behind. A stop at the local liquor store found Walt carrying a bottle of Breckinridge into the Durant Assisted Living Facility. Lucian was glad to see Dog; the beast trotting over wagging his tail for the treat Lucian held in his hand. Walt set his hat on the back of his chair, Lucian always made Walt play black. The bottle of whiskey sat on the side table beside them; Walt sitting across from Lucian. The former Sheriff popped the top off the bottle, pouring the deep amber liquid into a glass.
"You want some Troop? I see you unbuckled your panties and splurged for the good stuff tonight. You got some reason why you're buttering me up?" Lucian never was one to mince words, which made him a brash but effective lawman for nearly half a century.
Walt shook his head; he was trying to cut back on the hard stuff since the investigators from Denver had been knocking on his door. A six pack of Rainier was produced from the bag at his feet, Walt cracking the top on a cold one. "I'm not buttering you up Lucian. Just thought you'd want something a bit different tonight."
Lucian grunted as the glass touched his lips, the whiskey strong on his tongue. His darkened eyes trained on Walt, Lucian could see right through his protégé. "Any reason why I saw you hanging around Red-Nosed Reindeer today? Haven't seen her in a long, long time."
Walt choked on his beer; Lucian always had a way of naming people to fit his own terms. Why would Lucian know about Sarah Redelk? Furthermore how well did he know her?
"How the hell do you know Sarah Redelk? She's going to start working over at the hospital soon and part timer for me." Walt hated asking how Lucian knew Sarah, it could never be anything good.
Lucian laughed out loud; startling Dog from his nap on the sofa. "Hell Troop, ol' Red-Nosed Reindeer used to be engaged to that cocky son of a bitch nephew of mine!"