Lonesome

Vic parked her truck in front of the cabin and slid from the driver's seat. She shouldered her laptop bag and sorted through her keys for the one to Walt's cabin. Inside, she set her back down and toed off her boots. Pulling her shirt loose from her pants where it was messily tucked, she unbuttoned it as she walked into the kitchen.

There wasn't much of anything to eat in the fridge. No surprise there. Neither of them were great at shopping and keeping food stocked. She pulled a Ranier out and drank it while standing in the kitchen contemplating her meal options. When the can was empty, she decided to forego eating. She wasn't all that hungry anyway.

Dumping the can in the trash, she pulled her phone from her back pocket and checked it even though she would have known if someone had called her. Or texted. She wasn't really expecting anyone. When she talked to Walt the night before, it was a brief call that was full of static and he said he thought he would be home day after tomorrow.

Tomorrow now.

She looked forward to it. She had missed him. Since he went on his trip, she had been staying at the cabin. It was Walt's idea. Not that she put up a fight. She had privacy here. Some peace. She needed that these days. She needed room and space to think. As did Walt.

He called it a treasure hunt. And, he did venture out equipped with maps and notes. But, she suspected this was more about all the changes that were taking place. His retirement. Them. There was no shortage of things to process. He'd been gone a little over two weeks now. It gave them both time to themselves. Time she thought they both needed to take before they could truly move forward.

Aside from all that, she simply missed him. Based on the way he sounded the few times they talked, she was pretty sure Walt felt the same way. Vic thought about grabbing another beer, but opted against it. She would take a shower and relax. Maybe she would go out and sit on the porch to watch the sunset.

Boy, if her brothers could see her now.

She would take a good amount of teasing. She knew that.

People changed, though. Both she and Walt were proof of that.

Vic started for the bedroom, but stopped halfway there. She heard…an engine?

Vic changed course and pulled open the cabin door. Sure enough, she could just see a vehicle coming down the road. A cloud of dust was rising up in its wake. Vic squinted and peered out.

The Bronco.

She huffed out a breath.

Vic shoved her feet into her boots and walked out onto the porch, closing the door behind her. The Bronco bumped along, horse trailer in tow, until it rolled to a stop.

Vic ambled out. She could see Walt get out and wipe a hand across his brow. He saw her coming and leaned on the Bronco. Waiting. As she approached, she noticed the smile on his face. He looked satisfied with himself.

Vic stopped a couple of feet from him and placed her hands on her hips.

"Thought you weren't gonna be here until tomorrow."

She tossed the words out almost like they were a challenge.

"I might've not been truthful about that."

"No shit."

His smile widened. Vic dropped her hands and closed the distance between them. She walked directly into him without any hesitation. Pushing up on her toes, she kissed him. Her arms wound around his neck as his hands found her hips. She felt the brim of his hat bump her, but paid no attention. Walt bent into the contact and deepened it. After a minute, the contact between their lips broke and Vic pushed her face into his neck. Walt's hands rubbed over her back as they stood in the embrace.

Bringing her hands up between them, Vic pushed him away slightly and wrinkled up her nose.

"You smell."

Walt nodded.

"I could use a shower."

"Or two."

He vibrated with a laugh. Walt reached up and removed his hat. Reaching over, he placed it on her head. The brim dipped down and Vic pushed it up with one finger and flashed him a smile.

"I need to see to the horse."

Vic tagged along as he freed the horse from the trailer and gave it fresh water and some food. Turning him loose in the pasture, Walt patted the animal's rump and joined her in watching the horse trot around.

"I think he's glad to be home."

Vic turned to him.

"Are you?"

She had no idea why she asked him that. He gave her a long look before he answered.

"Yep."

It was such a Walt-like answer all she could do was push out a breath of humor.

"Sounds like it."

Walt reached over and retrieved his hat from her head. He slapped it against his thigh.

"C'mon."

With his free hand, he reached out and took her arm at the wrist. He gave it a gentle tug. Vic walked along beside him to the cabin. Inside, Walt hung up his hat and turned to her. Without words or warning, he advanced on her. Predictably, Vic held her ground. Her eyes stayed on his even as he stepped right up to her and kissed her hard on the mouth. Walt's hands came up and took Vic by her upper arms. Not breaking the contact between their mouths, he began to steer her towards the bedroom.

As they crossed the threshold, Vic dipped her face away from his.

"You still smell."

He smiled slightly.

"You don't look like you've showered either."

"I just got off work."

He nodded knowingly.

"Then, we both need one."

He guided her backwards into the bathroom and kicked the door closed behind them.

xxx

"Do you believe me now?"

"Hmm?"

Her voice was barely more than a vibration.

"That I'm glad to be home."

Vic rolled her head in his direction.

"Definitely."

She smiled and he smiled in return.

"Good."

Vic turned onto her side and propped her head up in her hand so that she could look at him.

"So, how was your trip?"

"Good."

Her brow furrowed. She clearly didn't like his answer.

"You obviously don't know how annoying it is when you do that."

Walt's expression stayed neutral.

"I've been told."

"Not enough apparently. Did you find any treasure?"

"I did not."

She continued to look directly into his face.

"Did you find…anything?"

Walt's eyes held hers.

"I found…some peace of mind."

"What's that like?"

She was only halfway kidding. He could tell that much.

"How are you?"

He flipped the conversation around on her, his expression turning serious.

"I'm…still here."

The conversation, like many that passed between them these days, was layered.

"I'm grateful for that."

Vic sighed and moved her arm, lowering head so that it rested partially on his chest. Walt's arm slid around her and his palm landed on the upper part of her bare back.

"Me too."

The words came out whispered and tickled his skin.

"Find anything else?"

It was an attempt to lighten the mood.

"A place for Lucian."

So much for that idea.

"Are you okay?"

Turnabout was fair play.

"Yes."

Vic wished she could answer with the same level of confidence that she heard from Walt.

"It was…cathartic. The trip, I mean. Not just Lucian."

"That's good."

"Yeah. Maybe…that's what you need?"

"What? To take a really long camping trip to clear my head?"

He shrugged one shoulder.

"Not necessarily that. But…maybe you should take some time off work now that things are settling down. I know…you've been working more than anyone else. I think you should give yourself a break."

"Do you? And do what?"

"Rest."

She huffed out a breath.

"Right."

"I know you're not good at it, Vic. I'm not either. But…I think it would be good for you. You don't have to go anywhere. You can just…stay here if you want. Or, we could go somewhere. I know…camping isn't your thing, but being away from everything bothering you is not a bad thing. If you want to be alone, I understand. You could always drive the RV somewhere and park it for a few days."

She didn't comment on that. The idea of being alone was not one that she relished. That was when she tended to get too in her head and border on self-destruction.

"You're right about one thing. Camping's not my thing. Although, the idea of not having to deal with life is…appealing."

One side of his mouth quirked up.

"Think about it."

"Okay."

He seemed to be surprised that she conceded so quickly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll think about it. You're right about one thing, I could use break. With you leaving and Cady coming in…it's been a lot."

"I know."

"You may be on to something. But…"

She paused, unsure of how deep she wanted to dive just then.

"But what?"

Walt prompted her when she didn't say anything else.

"I think I've been alone enough."

Walt was quiet for a stretch before he spoke.

"Me too."