She looks good. I imagine her mouth roaming my body with free reign while soaking up the love she has stored inside for so long. After Vic caught up with two beers, we both, stopped drinking. I didn't want to miss anything about her, the roll of her eyes or the brightness of her smile, nothing to dull my senses.

After dinner, I walk her to the parking lot, and it's a cold Wyoming night. The sky is full with specks of stars smiling on us. Vic hits the remote and the truck locks unlatch, I open the door for her and she hops in the truck offering me a short smile and she pulls her hair behind her ear. It's a habit when she's nervous have you noticed it, too?

"I'm not sure what to do." I admit shyly. "Does that sound stupid?"

She shakes her head, "No, it's not stupid, at all. I don't know what to do either."

She allows my hands to rest on her thighs and I look down watching them trace the denim stretched over her body.

"Vic, my life is so simple, you know."

She looks past me, almost deflated, "I know and I know you like it that way."

I hold my finger under her chin so she is facing me. "But I want you to complicate the hell out of it." Her eyes, her smile, both give me permission, and I lean in slowly.

Our kiss is slow and warm as I savor the taste of her. I want to be ready to go home with her, to make love to her, but I'm not there, yet and I don't think she is either so I give myself permission to not ask and in so doing I realize I am opening myself completely to her.

I feel like I am falling into her as my thoughts fill with the love I have while her hand softly cups my ear.

"Good night."

"Good night."

The taillights of the truck fade into the unique blackness of country landscape. I stand in the parking lot, the cold crispness sinking into my lungs trying to push down my feelings. The feelings that are lingering on the surface and permeating my being.

As I settle down to sleep, I dial the familiar seven digits again, "You're not sleeping?" There is a hint of concern.

"Just wanted to say good night."

"Is this going to be a habit?"

"Maybe tradition is a better word."

She waits to answer me because she is realizing the seriousness of what one word change means, "That's nice," then adds,

"Good night, Walt."

"Good night, my love."

The next morning I check in with Bob for our team debriefing. Everything is set and arranged with Cumberland County. At Bob's suggestion, we are having it offsite in his office since Cumberland's deputies will be at our station.

"It's not for them, Walt. It's for your people." He reminds me.

Ruby and Ferg ride together in the Trans-Am. They follow me in the Bronco as Vic rides shotgun. The sight of Ruby in the Trans-am strikes me as funny, I don't know why, but I laugh when I see them from my rearview mirror pull into the parking lot. I bet you are laughing, too.

Vic makes her way to the side door where Bob is waiting for all of us. I take a deep breath as I pass through the doorframe; Vic catches my eye, and pauses with her hand on the forearm of my jacket. Not a word passes between us but she offers the reassurance that I need.

Bob facilitates the session as only he can and in so doing keeps my secret and Vic's secret. Neither of us has to worry about being exposed to Ferg or Ruby. A lot of things come into my frame as Ferg and Ruby both are receptive to the debriefing.

"I've worried about you for so long, Walter. Being here surprises me but at the same time it doesn't."

My half-smile of reassurance is directed toward Ruby encouraging her to continue.

"For me," she looks at Bob and then over to me, her piercing blue eyes so full of love, "I can worry a lot less because you realize that all of us can't be you. You aren't treating us like you would want to be treated anymore. You are considering us and who we are. That is a huge step for a man like you, Walter."

She looks down at her hands, clasping her purse, "but that doesn't mean I want you to change who you are. You're a good man. There aren't too many left in this world and I don't want to lose the good man before me to the meanness in the world."

"Thank you, Ruby." I can hear the gentleness of Bob's voice as he addresses the sage of Durant.

"Deputy Ferguson," Bob prompts The Ferg.

"Well, ah, I think we all probably could have done a better job this past year, you know, taking care of each other."

The Ferg, looks at me,"But I've realized, Walt, that there's nothing we could have done, in the end." He looks down then over to Vic and Ruby. "None of us would have known. It's just a tragedy all the way around."

Ferg looks over at Bob, "I'm glad we are here, though. We may be less sophisticated than big departments but we are still people, you know."

Vic smiles at Ferg as his lips thin out and he holds his head just a little higher.

We roundtable our thoughts and feelings for a couple of hours as a group, as coworkers, as a team, and as a family. As the head of the family I know I have done right by them but am painfully aware of my failures.

Afterward, we all head to my cabin, for a barbeque, another one of Bob's suggestions. It seems that breaking bread together is vital for team building and bonding.

The weather cooperates and it's a perfect fall day. We eat outside with the stereotypical red checked tablecloth, double insulated paper plates, and large red plastic cups full of Rainer. As liberated as we are; Vic and Ruby fall to traditional roles and set the table while I tend the grill and Ferg takes charge of the tunes.

We sit to eat and Ferg says, "There's an extra place there. We expecting someone, else?" His voice is innocent and non-suspecting.

Vic looks to me and her lips twist. Ruby puts her hand on Ferg's, "It's a place for Branch, honey."

Silence falls upon the table.

Still standing, I lift my cup of Rainer and they all follow suit. I look at each one of them as I toast, "The pain we feel today, will be the strength we need tomorrow." I drain my cup and turn it upside down on the table.