I release Vic's wanting lips from my own and am consciously aware of my eyes opening as I fall into Vic's omniscient pools of brown. She strips all the pain and hurt away just by her look and her touch. I want to tell her but it's too fast and too soon. My heart and my head are in agreement about the love I feel for this unpredictable foul mouthed filly from Philadelphia. We don't match but we are a perfect fit.
"Walt, I can cuddle with you in the back of the cab forever but I don't think we can afford it and I'm hungry. Let's go eat."
Her words gently bring me back and I settle up with the cabbie. Vic smiles at me. Pleased at what she sees. I can't help but smile back. I take her hand in mine and we order breakfast. Contemplating the possibilities of my best friend and what will happen at the bail hearing. For a moment, I wait for the all too familiar feeling of guilt to come sweeping in to consume me. The same guilt I felt for being with Lizzie when my precious little girl was fighting for her life. Here I am with Vic casually eating breakfast like all is right with the world and my best friend is facing prison because of me. Yet, I don't feel any guilt, just pure joy and happiness. Happiness like never before. The situation seems impossible and fear has taken the place of guilt.
I fear this is too fast and that I won't be able to please her. Vic is high maintenance. I smile at the thought because she isn't high maintenance in the mainstream sort of way but she won't let me get away with anything. She will always challenge me. What happens when I can't give her what she wants emotionally and physically? It's probably why I'm afraid to make love to her. Part of me knows once I do I will be hers completely and part of me fears I won't please her. I shake my head at my thoughts stuffing them back down inside.
"You are awful quiet. You worried about Henry?"
"Yup. You ready?"
"Yup. Let's go get Henry home."
"I hope you are right, Vic and he gets bail."
"If anybody can convince a judge it's Cady. That girl of yours is one smart cookie."
Vic looks up and me and smiles. I smile back before I know I'm doing it. Damn this girl. I'm done and I know it.
We take our seats in the first row of the courtroom behind Cady and the local lawyer. I didn't say anything to Vic about appearances but she went into her professional law enforcement mode; stoic, serious and firm. She was my partner on the bench not my potential lover, not the woman I knew I was madly in love with, no one in the world would know what was passing between us and it made for just another reason for me to love her.
Henry Standing Bear was brought out to the courtroom in the customary county jail orange jumpsuit. His hands and feet shackled. I noticed his hair with a little gray peaking around the edges as he glanced over and nodded in recognition of my presence.
Cady made her case after the customary legalese. The judge looked up and said, "Sheriff Longmire, here?" I stood tall.
"Yes, your honor."
"You came down from Durant, Wyoming for this hearing. Is that customary for any citizen in your town, Sheriff?"
"No, sir it is not but Henry Standing Bear is not a customary citizen."
"Why is that?"
"Your honor I have known this man for most of my life. Grew up with him side-by-side and served our country with him. He is my brother and I take responsibility for him."
"You willing to bet your professional reputation that he is not a flight risk"
"Professional and personal"
The judge looked down and paused. He scratched his grey head and looked up into the audience and at Henry. The judge started to speak, "Henry Standing Bear, I will set your bail at 1 million dollars and if you make bail you will promise to appear in court. Failure to appear, will result in a forfeiture of your bail and a warrant for your arrest of which there will be no possibility for bail. Do you understand my order?"
Henry, still standing, said, "Yes, sir I do."
Cady quickly proclaimed, "Your honor, I have a representative of a Dog Pound Bail Bonds present in court and he has paperwork drawn to post Henry Standing Bear's Bond."
Henry looked back at me and nodded his head. I nodded back. Cady had arranged for a lien on my cabin and property which covered the 10 percent required for the bond.
We all waited outside of the court while Henry was processed to be released. When the big tall Indian walked out of the front of the courthouse I felt relieved but not hopeful because of the long fight ahead of both of us.
He took my hand. "Thank you, Walt. We have to find who killed our beloved Martha. I suggest we do not waste time with formalities."
"Henry, we have to get back home. I didn't want to add to your burden but Branch is back home fighting for his life. I have to find out who shot my deputy. Cady's been up here trying to get you home. She is on the first flight back home."
"Well, I hope you bought a ticket for me so I may accompany my God-daughter home to Durant. I should not stay in this forsaken city alone."
"We both have to come back, Henry. We have to solve Martha's murder. I cannot let her down, again."
Henry put his paw on my shoulder, "I will be with you. We will not let her down, Walter. I assure you."
I walked over to Cady and hugged my daughter. "You did good, punk. I love you, Cady."
"I love you, Dad. What time are you and Vic going to leave? It's a long drive back to Durant. "
"We are leaving as soon as we drop you off at the airport. Are you sure you don't want me to fly home with you? Vic can make the drive on her own, after all she drove up here on her own, you know."
Cady glanced over my shoulder at Vic and Henry deep in conversation. Seeing more than she would say out loud, "Nah, Dad I would like to spend some time with Henry. You know, one by one the men I love are facing the challenges of their lives and fighting for their lives. I figure I better take the time while I can get it. I had you for this time in Denver and I will get a little bit of time with Henry. As soon as we get home I am going to take care of Branch if he will let me. I don't want to fight about it Dad. I know.."
I cut her off. "Cady, I raised you better than to walk away from a friend in need and if you happen to love him I can't be upset about that. For a long time I thought you could do better than him but now I'm starting to think they don't make 'em any better than Branch."
Cady kissed my cheek. "I really do love you, Daddy." She only reserved calling me Daddy for when she wanted me to remind me she was my special little girl.
We piled into the Bullet and I dropped Cady and Henry off at Denver International Airport. I still remembered it as Stapleton Airfield and bigger than most cities. I found my way and unloaded my precious cargo; my family, Cady and Standing Bear.
I pulled away from the passenger zone figuring we had about a five hour drive home. As soon as the Bullet hit the I-25 North, Vic leaned over and closed any distance between us. She tucked her head into my shoulder and I put my arm around her holding her close. Her being here felt so natural and so right like the other part of my family was right here beside me.
"Walt."
"Hm"
"I'm pretty sure that I'm in love with your skinny butt. I thought you might like to know."
My heart stopped for just a moment and I catch my breath. I swerve the Bullet over to the right shoulder and park in the emergency lane. Vic sat up straight but didn't say a word. She looks scared like she said the wrong thing.
I jam the Bullet in park and grab Vic and kiss her. My hat disappears as Vic pulls my hair. I think about how much I love her and how much I want her as our kiss gets deeper. I don't hear traffic, the motor running, the music on the radio; the only sounds I hear are uneven breathing and the deafening of my heart pounding from my desire. We come up for air and I pull Vic closer to me so there is no real space between us. I need her to hear me, "Baby, I know I'm in love with you and I am going to spend the rest of my life making sure you know."
Vic smiled, a wide beautiful smile, you know the kind when you are sure all is right with the world and I returned in kind. We may not match but I know we are a perfect fit, indeed.
