Ch. 31: I can see clearly now
"I like it."
Vic rocked back on her heels and surveyed the now finished bathroom.
True to his word, Walt spent the majority of the weekend putting up sheetrock over the framing and painting the bathroom. He added a simple storage cabinet, one small enough to not take over the relatively small space of the bathroom and also put in a shelf. The odor of paint still hung heavily in the air. It lent a newness to the entire room, one that literally reeked of change.
Once he actually committed himself, completing the bathroom hadn't taken long. He knew that it wouldn't. He just hadn't been able to find his motivation before. Now, motivation wasn't an issue as much as time. That would also change soon.
The bathroom was a good starting point for him mentally and physically. It was a defined space with no overflow into other areas of the cabin. It wasn't a very big bathroom, but it suited the size of the cabin. The difficult tasks of plumbing and setting up the electrical were long finished and the room had been functional for him. It just didn't seem right to expect Vic to live in a place that was only partially finished.
It made him realize he'd been selling himself short as well.
Vic helped him some when she wasn't going through her clothes and personal belongings out in the RV, deciding what needed to come into the cabin and what could either be gotten rid of or go into storage. There hadn't been time to go to her storage unit in town, but there was no rush in the moment. She had paid up through the end of the month and another payment wasn't due for a couple of weeks. That would be the next task on his list. To help her move whatever was stored there to his barn for safekeeping.
Walt ran his eyes over the bathroom. It seemed brighter and more inviting with a fresh coat of paint on the walls and a new light fixture that added better light that was desperately needed. He liked it as well. It felt as though he accomplished something. He wanted to ride that momentum and continue the work. But, it would have to wait. It was Sunday afternoon and they would be back at work the next day.
His mind was set on making the kitchen his next task. It was obviously a bigger job than the bathroom, but didn't really need very much work. He needed cabinet doors installed. Work he attempted to hire Bob Barnes to do before the man went to prison to serve out his sentence for his role as Cowboy Bill. He thought of Bob from time to time. Bob wasn't a bad man. Far from it. Unfortunately, life dealt him a poor hand and his inability to quit drinking only compounded already existing problems and affected his ability to make sound decisions.
Now, he would simply do it himself.
"Looks good."
He admitted as she flipped off the light and they wandered into the living room. Walt lowered his frame onto the couch and Vic flopped down beside him. He could feel the vague tightness in his back and shoulders from his work that weekend. The unfamiliar, repetitive movements left him with some minor aches. Nothing that he would be willing to complain about. He was slightly envious of Vic and how unaffected she seemed.
Walt reached up and ran his hand along his jaw.
"Think I'll do the kitchen next."
Vic looked at him from her end of the couch.
"Cabinets?"
"Yep?"
"You know…you could buy doors that are ready in Sheridan. Be quicker."
Walt shrugged. He hadn't considered that option.
"I can do it myself. It'll just take some time."
He would need to measure, cut, sand, and paint them.
Vic studied him for a long moment. Walt's brow went up in a question he didn't vocalize.
"I know. You can do it yourself. As a matter of fact, you prefer it."
Her mouth quirked up into a half smile. She shrugged.
"Whatever floats your boat."
Walt smiled in return.
"I don't have a boat. But…I do prefer to do things myself. Built this place. No reason not to finish it."
"Right."
Vic let her head fall back against the softness of the couch.
"I think I did more this weekend than I have in the last month."
"Yep."
She eyed him.
"You talking about me or you?"
"Um…both."
It seemed like a safe answer.
He decided to shift gears.
"What do you want for dinner?"
"Hmm…I don't care. It's days like this I wish this place had some decent pizza."
"There's decent pizza. Want me to go and pick some up?"
Vic shook her head.
"No, it'll just be a disappointment. Your idea of decent pizza is different than mine. That tells me that you've never really had good pizza. We'll change that one of these days."
The comment was vague, but he picked up on the undertones of what she was saying. It was a subject that gave him mixed feelings and he was too satisfied with this moment to pursue a topic that might veer into something unpleasant. There would be plenty of time for that later on.
"So…what do you want?"
Another shrug. She didn't really seem committed to any idea in particular.
"Do you want to go out?"
Vic's eyes moved to the watch he always wore on his wrist.
"What time is it?"
He checked.
"Almost six."
She made a face.
"Too late. It's Sunday. Everything will be closed."
Walt knew that was an adjustment for her. Coming from a city where there was always something open to a small town that closed down earlier than she was accustomed to on a Sunday.
He didn't let that dampen his good mood. The air between them was too light right now. There was no reason to ruin that. Tomorrow would be Monday and they would be tossed back into the middle of things. Luckily for them both, Ferg and Zach covered the weekend. And, nothing that required his attention came up. That was a rarity. But, he knew it was a sign of what was to come after his retirement.
His time would be his own.
Walt pushed up from the couch and tossed her a lazy smile.
Well, let's see what we can find."
xxx
"Do you need some help with that?"
Vic glanced up from the bags that she was juggling along with a full drink tray to find Henry watching her with a mildly amused look. She stepped towards him and away from the door of the Busy Bee.
"I've got it."
He smiled and reached out to take the drink tray.
"I can see that. Lunch for the office?"
Vic nodded, not bothering to try and get the drinks back. From here, it was a short walk to the office. Henry didn't seem to be in any hurry.
"Yeah."
"Busy day?"
"Not really."
It wasn't busy. Not in the sense of working on a case. It was a mundane day. She wasn't complaining. There was certainly enough bullshit to go around lately. As much as she hated paperwork, she didn't so much mind it today.
"How is the…Gilbert case going?"
She knew that he was hesitant to bring up the name in her presence.
"Quiet. Nothing else has happened."
"Maybe that is a good thing."
Henry didn't sound anymore convinced of that than she was. He was simply making conversation. A beat of quiet passed between them when Vic didn't answer.
"Vic, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Has Walt said anything about dinner the other night?"
She peered over at Henry.
"In what way?"
"I tried talking to him about it and he…was Walt."
She knew exactly what he meant.
"Um…so you came to me?"
It seemed incredulous and maybe out of character. She got along with Henry. She didn't know if he really considered her a friend.
He smiled.
"That was not my intention. I saw you and you appeared to need a hand."
He held up the drink tray slightly.
"Right. You wanna know if he likes your girlfriend?"
Henry gave her a sour look.
"I do not like the term girlfriend. I had one of those when I was a teenager."
"Just one?"
He smiled again.
"More than one."
They reached the door marked Sheriff's Department and Vic stopped.
"He hasn't said much other than Joy seems nice. He's…he's got a lot on his mind. So…I wouldn't let it bother me."
"I know that he is busy right now. Once he is retired, we have some catching up to do."
Vic shifted the bags so that one hand was free and extended it.
"I can manage from here."
He passed her the drink tray and opened the door for her.
"Sure."
Vic flashed him a smile.
"Thank you, Henry. See you later."
She heard the door close behind her as she walked carefully up the stairs. She managed to get the door open and was relieved by Ruby who took one of the bags from her.
"Goodness, Vic."
Vic set the rest of her load down with a thump and glanced around. Walt's door was open.
"Lunch."
He didn't respond verbally, but she heard his chair creak as she stood up and the sound of his boots over the floor. A second later, he appeared in the doorway. Vic shifted through the takeout plates and pulled one free. She offered it to Walt along with a cup. He took one in each hand and dipped his chin.
"Thanks."
"Sure."
The rest of lunch was distributed. Vic took her own lunch and trailed him into his office. Walt was already settling back down at his desk when she walked through the door. Setting her lunch on his desk, she pulled one of his guest chairs closer and sat down, stretching her legs out. Vic placed her plate on her lunch and flipped off the lid to reveal a wrapped sandwich. The paper rattled as she unwrapped it and took a bite.
She shifted around in the less than comfortable chair, adjusting her position.
"I saw Henry on the street."
Walt looked up.
"At the Busy Bee?"
"Yeah, he walked over with me."
Walt's interest was piqued.
"Any particular reason?"
She sipped her iced tea.
"He was helping me carry the food. But…he was also asking me questions about you."
Now she had his full attention.
"Me?"
She nodded.
"He wanted to know if you like his new lady."
Walt made a face.
"Why?"
She could tell from his tone that he genuinely didn't know. For a smart man, he could be dense when it came to personal matters. Even when it came to his oldest friend.
"Because…your opinion is important to him. Just like his opinion is important to you. Tells me that he's serious about this woman. He told me that he's tried talking to you since we had dinner with them. But…"
She left the comment open ended, but she could tell that knew what she was implying.
"Things have been crazy."
"Yes, they have. But…you can't…ignore the people in your life."
"I haven't ignored him."
"Whatever. Walt, he's your best friend. Your oldest friend. Don't be stupid."
He took the reprimand in stride, being accustomed to Vic's brand of honesty.
"You want me to talk to him?"
Vic shook her head and lifted her sandwich in preparation for taking another bite.
"He wants you to talk to him."
"Okay."
He sounded begrudging, but that was Walt. It was common knowledge with anyone who knew him well that he struggled with communication. Even with those who were close to him.
"You should go fishing or something."
She took a bite of her lunch.
Walt swallowed.
"Trying to get rid of me?"
Vic rolled her eyes at the deflection.
"Right. No. I just think it would do you both some good."
"Be plenty of time for that after I retire."
Vic released a sigh.
"We all know you will always have some reason. After you retire, you'll be gone for…at least a couple of weeks. After that, you're talking about working on the cabin. The bathroom and the kitchen…those are small things. But…you'll get all involved in some project and say you can't leave it unfinished. Before you know it, you'll be a year deep in retirement."
He looked slightly entertained by her sudden flood of words.
"Trading in your law enforcement career for being a fortune teller?"
Vic huffed out a breath.
"Why not? You're gonna be a treasure hunter."
He vibrated with a laugh.
"Fair enough."
Vic set the second half of her sandwich into the wrapper in her laugh and took a sip of her iced tea.
"Seriously. Talk to Henry. Make some plans to go do…guy stuff."
He raised an eyebrow at her.
"Do you want to be included in those plans?"
Vic made a face.
"God no. That's why they call it guy stuff. If you're worried about leaving me alone while this shit with Gilbert is going on…don't be."
She nailed it and she knew it. She saw the unvoiced protest on his face.
"Remember what we talked about."
He didn't respond.
Vic started to wrap up the remainder of her sandwich, her appetite vanishing in a manner that was too predictable. Slowly, she stood up.
"I mean it, Walt."
He nodded up at her.
"I know."
She held his gaze before she gathered up her trash and left his office.
xxx
She was right.
He knew that.
It was the exact kind of thing that Martha would have told him years ago. Cady, too. Even Henry himself. Walt lifted his hands and rubbed them over his face. At least, she was right about his needing to talk to Henry. He didn't necessarily agree with her about the current timeline of events. He knew that she could take care of herself. That didn't lessen his concern for her. That concern had eased up now that she was at the cabin. It hadn't been erased entirely, though.
Going off on a fishing trip didn't seem like the best idea. Not right now.
At some point, it was an appealing idea. He couldn't remember the last time he and Henry indulged themselves in such an activity. He missed the kinship that came along with sitting on the riverbank with a fishing pole.
Both of their lives had taken such a turn over the past couple of years. Were he being fully honest, for a while, their friendship had been stretched almost to the point of snapping. Probably more than at any other time during their long, enduring friendship. At this point, he could admit a good bit of that was his own fault. Most of it.
Thankfully, in the same manner as his relationship with Cady, their friendship was on the upswing in more recent times. He knew, and could accept, that he and Henry would never fully agree on certain topics.
Asymptote.
Cowboys and Indians.
However you wanted to categorize it.
That small gap would always exist. What they needed to do was ensure that the gap stayed narrow and wasn't allowed to widen. It was a cycle that continued to play out from the time that they met all the way up until today.
Forty plus years of friendship.
He wondered how many people could claim that kind of a feat. Not all that many.
There was a tap on the door and he looked up, his ruminations interrupted.
He half expected to see Vic standing there. Instead, it was Cady.
She gave him a quizzical look.
"You okay?"
Walt cleared his throat.
"Yep. Did you need something?"
Cady's sharp blue eyes stayed on him and she didn't answer him. Not at first. In that moment, she reminded him of the young girl that she once was with her big, curious eyes and more questions that he could ever answer no matter how many books he read. He'd known early on that she was smart, that she would only grow smarter over time as she grew and read.
He blinked and forced himself back into the present. Cady was still watching him with a mix of curiosity and concern. Whatever reason brought her to his door seemed to have been abandoned.
"I'm fine. Really."
He could tell that she didn't believe him. For a span of seconds, he wondered if she would push the issue while they were here in the office. To his relief, she didn't. Once the moment passed, her expression shifted to one that was a little more professional.
Cady came all the way into his office and closed the door behind her. The move told him that whatever she wanted to talk about was something she didn't want anyone else to overhear.
"I wanted your opinion on something."
She paused.
"Sheriff related."
Walt sat up straighter in his chair giving his daughter his full attention.
"Okay."
Cady took a seat in the guest chair that Vic occupied recently while eating her lunch. Silence sprawled out around them as Cady shifted around trying to get comfortable in much the same way that Cady did. He briefly wondered how much she would change the office when she was officially elected as the next Sheriff of Absaroka. During his time here, he did little to nothing as far as changes. What pieces of furniture did appear or get replaced was the handiwork of Ruby. His own office remained relatively unchanged in spite of the number of years he occupied the space.
Cady leaned forward slightly, her gaze moving around the room before returning to him.
"I was thinking about…"
She paused as though she was trying to come up with the right words.
"…restructuring the office."
Walt didn't quite catch on to what she was saying. His expression was quizzical.
"Restructure?"
The question in the single word was clear. Cady's head bobbed.
"Yes, I've been doing some research online…"
That was where she lost him. Walt didn't do 'online'.
"…and there's usually some…hierarchy within an office."
Walt settled back into his chair and folded his hands together.
"There's only a Sheriff and three deputies here."
"I know. But…still…"
Her voice trailed off slightly.
"What did you have in mind?"
"A second in command. An…Undersheriff. You know…a lead deputy. Someone who can take over when the Sheriff is absent. Delegation."
"I understand."
"Also…this county could use another deputy. At the very least."
He certainly didn't disagree with that. He could have told her they were understaffed.
"That is something that you'll need to take up with the Mayor and the County Commission."
She nodded with an eye roll that reminded him of Vic.
"I know. It's all about the budget and the bottom line. It might take some time, but I'll convince them."
Knowing his daughter as he did, he didn't doubt that.
"Good luck."
She gave him a fake smile after hearing the tone in his voice.
"Thanks."
Cady didn't look done. She gave him a long look that told him as much.
"What else?"
"About the…Undersheriff thing. Do you think Vic would be interested?"
H assumed that was what Cady had in mind when she brought up the topic. What he wouldn't make assumptions about was Vic's response. He honestly didn't know how she might respond to that.
"You would have to ask her."
"Well, I plan to. I was just curious what you thought."
"Can't say."
Cady sighed at his lack of help in that department.
"I'll talk to her about it after the election is over. One step at a time."
Walt nodded his agreement with that assessment.
"Good idea."
Cady rose from her seat slowly.
"Don't say anything to her. Please."
"I won't."
"I mean it."
"I can see that."
He leaned forward.
"You'll be a good Sheriff, Cady. Better than me."
She gave him a doubtful look.
"I doubt that."
Walt gave his daughter a small smile.
"Don't."
xxx
The sun was just about to set, the sinking light casting shadows across the land. The sky was colored with red, orange, and yellow hues that were all melding into one impossible to name shade. The air was cool with the arrival of fall. She would miss summer. She always missed it even when she complained about the heat. Fall, of course, had its own brand of beauty. The landscape would turn from green to colors that were similar to what she was looking at right now in the sky.
Reds. Oranges. Hues of dark yellow. Various shades of brown.
The deeper into fall they reached, the more unpredictable the weather would become. Winter was aggressive here and did not like to share the stage with any other season. The weather could easily convince you that even though the calendar may say it was autumn or spring, nature went by her own schedule and winter was the longest season here.
Vic sat on the steps of the cabin with her feet resting on the step below her.
She heard the door open and close behind her, but didn't turn. She knew it was Walt. There wasn't anyone else it could be. The screen door hit the frame with a familiar sound and he stopped where he was. She heard him scuffle one boot over the porch.
After that initial hesitation, he moved again, coming up beside her and taking a seat there.
She finally turned her eyes away from the sky and to Walt.
"What're you doing?"
She shrugged and turned her gaze back to the setting sun.
"Just sitting. Thinking."
"Thinking about something specific?"
Vic halfway smiled.
"Does that worry you?"
She glanced his way.
"No. Maybe."
She laughed on an exhaled breath.
"Are you ready for your trip? It's coming up soon."
She knew he noticed the change of topic. He didn't mention it. Walt rubbed his palms together slowly and a mild frown settled over his weathered features.
"Not sure about it now?"
"Why?"
He raised his eyes from his hands.
"If this mess with Derek Gilbert isn't resolved…"
"Then you will still go like you planned."
He started to reply, but Vic shook her head.
"No, Walt. It's been quiet. Hell, maybe they don't care all that much."
"I'm not sure I believe that."
"Doesn't matter."
"I definitely don't believe that."
"You don't have to. You can't put your life on hold because of these people. I think if they really wanted to come after me, they would have done it already."
"Maybe."
Vic shrugged off the thoughts.
"I don't want to talk about that anyway. Are you ready for your trip?"
It was an attempt to his reset. Walt sighed.
"Pretty much. Got the notes and maps I need. Not much else to do until I get out there."
"Still thinking two weeks?"
"More or less."
Vic leaned back and placed her palms on the porch, bracing herself.
"It'll be good for you. To have some time. You're…making a big change."
He made a sound in his throat.
"We've made lots of changes lately."
Vic smiled wryly.
"I know. But…that was…I don't know. This feels different."
Walt didn't respond immediately. He had to know this would create a major shift in his identity in a way that was different than changes in romantic relationships. She was hesitant when he first brought up the idea of the treasure hunting. She misinterpreted it in the beginning. But, the more she thought about it, the more she understood what it was that he was seeking.
Some form of peace.
Some type of solace that may have been unattainable while he was Sheriff.
"Yep."
That was all that he said.
He moved slightly beside her. Vic looked over at him. It was darker now, the varying hues of light darkening into what would be the night sky.
Before she could say anything, her phone buzzed. Vic sighed and sat up, hoisting herself up and sliding her phone from her back pocket. Her eyes landed on the screen and she sighed again.
"Damn. It's my mother."
Walt watched her answer the call wordlessly.
"Isn't it late there?"
She heard her mother exhale at the way she answered the phone.
"Would you rather I call you at work?"
"Fair enough."
She waited. Her mother never called her without a reason. They didn't exactly chat about things that didn't really matter. Hell, they rarely talked about subjects that were important.
"Your father is coming to see you."
Leave it to her mother to get right to it. She supposed that was where she inherited that particular trait. The statement jarred her and she look at Walt. His brow went up in response to her reaction.
"Why?"
"He wants to talk to you face to face."
"Shit."
Vic muttered the word.
"Don't be dramatic, Vic. He wanted me to come. But, I have too many commitments to reschedule."
No surprise there.
"When?"
"He's flying out in the morning?"
"In the morning?"
The words were sharp. She knew that her mother would frown at the tone and volume.
"Yes. He says not to worry about meeting him. He's renting a car."
Vic closed her eyes. That was unexpected and somewhat unwelcome. She knew what her father wanted to talk to her about. But, her father didn't know that she wasn't at the trailer park anymore.
"This will be fun. Is there a reason you didn't call me sooner?"
"He didn't want me to call you at all."
Vic shook her head slightly.
"Guess I should thank you then."
Her father certainly had a penchant for showing up unannounced.
Walt was still watching her with questions on his face. Her eyes collided with his and she made a face.
"Well, that's all I wanted. So…"
"Right."
"Good night, Victoria."
"Night, mom."
Vic ended the call and set her phone in her lap. Walt cocked his head.
"What was that all about?"
Vic lifted her eyes from the dark screen of her phone.
"Apparently my father is flying out in the morning to visit."
"Visit? Here?"
Vic released a heavy breath.
"Yep. This should be fun."