Nicole looked at the young woman across the table, her face still frozen by that question she was asked. She looked down at their hands and brushed her thumb against Waverly's ring finger.
"I honestly don't know. It depends on where I'm stationed. And just the education in Calgary is about 14 weeks. I don't know. I've been saving and I have way more than enough to get through school." Nicole explained.
Waverly nodded and looked away. "You always have a place here."
"Thank you. I can work here while going to school, just once I graduate I need to find work." She said reaching up higher on Waverly's arm.
The brunette looked up and smiled. "I just want what's best for you." She said gently, standing up and pulling her hand away.
"Waverly." She whispered reaching out. "Shit."
Nicole stood up and walked out to the porch. She looked out at the same old pure white snow that reflected the blinding light of the snow. She squinted at the intensity and rested on the old wooden bench. Her hands froze in the sub 10 degree weather. She shoved them in her pockets and watched as Doc came out of the house to go work with the livestock. Wynonna followed him out, turning when she saw Nicole alone.
"Hey, what's up?" She asked.
"Not much."
"You sure?" She probed again, frowning when Nicole answered with a sigh and weak nod. "Okay, let's go. There's a place around here I used to go to."
"Alright." She answered.
"God, I love her so much!" Nicole exclaimed over the trashy music.
"Yeah, you guys make every love story look bleak. But now…" She trailed off taking a sip of a beer.
"Hey, no drinking for you!" She slurred taking the glass away and chugging half of it down. "You're my ride."
"Fine." She said sticking her tongue out.
"I jus' feel so fucking shitty for bringing her into this mess. Grandma's dead, school's starting. There's just so much going on."
"You'll get over it. You two are, like, relationship goals."
"Don' tell Waverly this, but I'm gonna get a dog soon."
"What type?"
"Malamute teen."
"Male or female?"
"Boy named Bryan, I have to get my place checked out first."
"Great!"
"Yeah. I like him so far. He seems so laid back unlike a lot of other dogs. So why'd you bring me here?" She asked with a long gulp from the beer and finishing with a shot. "This is so good, here, you can have one." She said sliding over a peppermint shot. "It's like drinking Christmas." She whispered.
"You're such a cute drunk." She complimented as she took the shot. "Mmm. Yeah, this is really good."
"You know about any positions at the Purgatory, you know?"
"Kinda, there's a good amount of officers, but no Deputy."
"Tha's great. Perfect! I jus need ta breeze through, then ask to join. Hey," she said holding the older Earps hand, "don' tell Waverly."
"I promise." She said. "Scout's honor."
"I wanna surprise her." She said.
"Let's get you home drunkey."
"Okay, to my apartment. Waves shouldn' see me like this." She slurred.
The two young ladies stood up and walked to the old blue truck. Nicole climbed in and rested against the cold door. Wynonna climbed in and began towards the redhead's flat. She looked over at her drunk worker and smiled pitifully, hoping things could just go back to the way they were before. Her sister and friend were getting too hurt in all of this. The older Earp helped Nicole out and up the stairs to her flat.
"See you later, Haught." She said hugging her. "Don't do anything stupid."
"Okay. Hey, can you pick me up tomorrow?"
"Of course."
Wynonna walked to the car, watching as Nicole closed the door behind herself, and drove off. She thought about the situation, caring enough to get into it, but not knowing how to help. Her sister was hurting so badly and all she wanted to do was blame Nicole until she saw how hurt the other woman was. She hated this kind of drama. She liked it when one side was to blame. Wynonna pulled up in the driveway, turning off the truck and hopping out. Waverly was outside the barn, watching her older sister. The other girl smiled and waved at the younger woman. She walked over, shoving her hands into her pockets.
"Hey." Wynonna greeted.
"Hi. Have you seen Nicole?"
"Oh yeah. I got her drunk. She's just gonna sleep it off." She explained. "She is such a cute drunk."
"I know right?" She smiled chuckling. "Anyway, will she be back tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Well we're leaving for her grandma's funeral this Saturday."
"Really, so soon?"
"Yeah. We were gonna stay down there until Sunday then drive back up Monday night."
"Great. Great."
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm just thinking about how I only drank a sip of beer and a soft shot. Christmas shot." She reflected.
"What? Is the world ending?" Waverly sarcastically over acted.
Wynonna smiled. "Maybe."
Waverly smiled and waved at her sister, escaping back to the old barn. She huffed as she walked to the goats then brushed a hand through their winter coats, reveling in the beauty of the mixed and swirling colours of their hair. She smiled as the male teens practiced fighting with their short horns. Waverly sat down on bench outside of the pen, watching the livestock rest and call to each other. She smiled, when Jeremiah, the young goat looked at her through the pen door. He bleated to her, calling for her attention. Waverly went to him and picked him up out of the pen. When the younger Earp sat on the bench, the speckled goat cuddled into her abdomen, soon sleeping in her embrace. Waverly took a moment. Her heart sank when she thought of this young goat as the woman she loved. Fucking ridiculous, but then again, Jeremiah was so alone, he didn't play with the others. He was more connected to them rather than his own mother or father. Waverly stroked his sleek fur and smiled at his small form. She sat there, mindlessly caring for him as the day ticked away slowly. She felt bad for acting so horrifically towards Nicole. Though, she also did want to know exactly what would happen to her. What would happen. Would Nicole stay or will she just be another memory? Waverly clenched her jaw, the depressing thoughts forcing her to hold back this sadeness even more.
"Why is this happening, Jeremiah?" She asked the sleeping goat.
