I get to the phone on the fourth ring, "What took you so long? You're not playing with yourself are you?"

I laugh, "I save it all for you."

"You better." I hear her laughing on the other end of the phone, "You have a surprise coming. It will be there in less than 5 minutes. Put a shirt on. Be nice. Don't worry about money it's been taken care of."

"Vic, what…"

I hear the dial tone. I look at the phone, smirk and do as I'm told. I make my way to the bedroom and put on my grey Broncos t-shirt, sit on the porch, and wait. A tan Subaru pulls up and a young drop dead gorgeous brunette gets out of the driver's side. She holds her hand to her eyes blocking the afternoon sun.

"Hi Sheriff."

I look closer, "Peggy?"

"I'm your surprise gift."

Peggy pops the hatchback and starts unloading her gear.

"Here let me help you."

"Oh, no. Get back up there. I got it. I'm used to it and it's not that heavy"

She won't hear of it. "I heard about what happened. Well the whole county has heard about what happened. Real glad you are ok."

"You wanna do it out here? It's a beautiful afternoon and the view is real nice."

"Sure. I ah never had one of these before."

"Even better. You will love it. Vic told me you are all knotted up and it will help you in your recovery."

"ok. I gotta trust ya Peggy."

"Martha loved coming in when she was going through treatment."

"Yup" I remember taking Martha to see Peggy between her chemo treatments. Her spa days she called them. We would have a light lunch on those days. She is still with me but the pain doesn't cut as deep.

Peggy sets up her table and puts on a fresh sheet.

"Sheriff, if you like some music go ahead and put something on that relaxes you if you don't I have a nice CD."

I throw my hand up acknowledging her and put on a jazz compilation CD that Cady bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago.

"Are you ok to lay on your stomach?"

"I think so"

"You ok with taking your shirt off? You don't have too."

"No, that's fine. Just be careful around that new scar."

"Oh, don't worry, no deep tissue today. Just need to relax you and help push out the toxins"

Peggy does her best work and the kinks dissipate like water off of a ducks back.

"Sheriff, Sheriff." Peggy gently wakes me up. "You fell asleep. That's pretty common but it means you were able to relax. Vic, told me she put a pitcher of water in your fridge with sliced lemon and oranges and I suggest you drink a few glasses. It will help flush the toxins out."

"Thank you, Peggy. Let me get my wallet."

"Nope, it's all been taken care of. I will see you in two days."

"Huh?"

"Didn't she tell you?"

I shake my head, standing there looking stupid on my front porch with the new stairs and the new rain gutters and the new roof.

"Well, Sheriff you get to see me twice a week for the next two months. In the words of Deputy Moretti and I quote here, tell him it's for his own fuckin' good and don't take any shit from him."

We both laugh out loud. "Who am I to argue. Ok, Peggy see you in a couple of days. When I get back to work next week I will just come by the shop, ok?"

"Perfect"

"Hey, let's keep this between us, I don't want this getting' all over town."

"Sheriff, half my clients are cowboys. Men that take care of themselves are sexy. Didn't anyone ever tell you that?" She laughs but not at me just at the revelation of the truth I suppose. "I guess you're now officially a modern cowboy."

I wave good-bye and drink two glasses of water, take a hot shower, shave, and put on a fresh pair of jeans. I pull out a fresh tee and notice a few pair Vic's pretty panties shoved in the corner of the drawer along with a couple of tank tops. What kind of ass am I? Ask her to bring some things over but don't make room. I feel even stupider than before and very out of practice. I go through the drawer and clear it out for her and then look in the closet. That's pretty easy, I don't have many clothes but I make room just the same. I guess I must be in a general love kind of mood because I drink two more glasses of H two O.

I sit on the bed and feel like a teenager again because I want to call my girl.

She picks it up on the fourth ring, "What took you so long? You better not be playing with yourself in uniform." She lets out a howl. "I save it all for you."

"Thank you for my gift."

"Shows how much I fuckin' trust you. Leave you alone half-naked with a beautiful brunette."

"You're the only one for me. You know that don't you?"

"It's nice to fuckin hear."

"I'll remember that."

"Remember to drink your water."

"I did and I will."

"See you tonight"

"k"

I hang up and make another pitcher of water because that would make her happy. I guess this is what modern cowboys do when they are in love.

Henry comes by and brings me dinner. A vegetable concoction that was light on my stomach and some French bread.

"So, how is your recovery coming along?"

"Good. I will be back at work on Monday. I promised I would not rush it and risk a relapse. I never want to be in the hospital again."

"That is nice to hear."

"How you doin', Henry?"

"I am good. Enjoying my freedom as much as possible."

I look down at my glass of water not acknowledging the pain that has passed between us the last couple of years.

"I offered her a key but she didn't take it."

Henry and I are accustomed to dropping bombs like they were just nouns and verbs strung together with no relationship to each other.

He sipped his coffee. "Do you know why not?"

"I have a notion"

"Which is?"

"She is scared out of her mind."

"Nothing will take that away except time"

"Yup, it's just we are in two different time zones and no matter what I do I can't get our clocks in sync"

"Stop trying"

I look at him and frown because the answer is so obvious and I'm so daft at not seeing it

"Got any ice cream?"

"No, Vic's bringing some tonight"

His eyebrows raise, "Well that is promising"