Ch. 2: Ignition
3 Weeks Earlier
"What're you doing?"
Vic found him on the porch, bent slightly at the waist, his arms resting on the wooden rail. He turned his head a little to see her under the soft glow of the porch light.
"Thinking."
Vic joined him at the rail, tracing her hand over his back lightly.
"You can't think inside where it's not two degrees?"
She could see the smile on his face.
"It's actually eight, I think."
Vic rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, cause that makes it better."
She crossed her arms in front of her, pulling into herself in the frigid night air.
"What're you thinking about?"
Walt shrugged.
"Life."
He heard a huff of laughter escape her.
"Well, that narrows it right down. That's some heavy thinking for a Thursday night."
She stepped closer to him and bumped his arm with her elbow.
"Everything okay?"
Walt stood up and nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go in."
Vic trailed him inside, welcoming the warmth from the fire. Walt closed the door. He turned in her direction. Vic smiled.
"Going back out?"
Walt shook his head.
"No."
"Then, you forgot to lock it."
Walt turned back around and locked the door while Vic toed off her boots. Vic sat down on the couch and pulled her legs up. Walt sat and removed his boots, setting them aside near Vic's.
"There was a time I never locked my door."
Vic gave him an amused look.
"There was also a time someone busted in here and shot you."
Walt grimaced at the memory.
"The door was kicked open. Don't think a lock would've made a difference."
Vic shrugged.
"Guess you'll never know."
Leaning back, he propped his feet up on the coffee table.
"At home, we always had three locks. Knob, deadbolt, chain."
"Well, this isn't Philadelphia."
She raised her brows.
"Right, but the murder rate here isn't great. So…I wouldn't be tossing stones if I were you."
He smiled at her. Vic leaned into his side.
"Why were on the porch thinking so hard in this cold?"
His face grew pensive, a sure sign there was something on his mind.
"Cady called me earlier and told me she and Zach ended things."
He could tell by Vic's expression that she already knew. That came as no surprise to him since she worked with both of them every day.
"Yeah, I heard about that."
Walt glanced over at her closely.
"How does she seem?"
Vic was quiet for several seconds.
"She's okay. I…think it was a mutual thing."
He shifted a little against her.
"Any idea what happened?"
The question earned him a shrug.
"I don't know. Haven't asked."
He eyed her curiously.
"Would you?"
Vic shook her head at him.
"Nope. Why didn't you ask her yourself?"
He looked over at the flames flickering away.
"I did. She was vague."
Vic smiled at him.
"Um…then why do you want me to? Clearly, she doesn't want to tell you."
Walt sighed.
"I worry about her."
Vic's expression softened a little.
"I know that. But…you still need to respect her privacy. She's a grown woman, Walt. If it makes you feel any better, she seems good. I think…maybe working together and dating was more than they were prepared for. Especially with Cady being his boss."
Walt listened, processing her words. That had been a concern of his since finding out that Cady was seeing Zach. By then, she had already decided to run for Sheriff. He liked Zach, but he knew the challenges both personal and professional that being Sheriff could bring. Adding onto that the fact that she would be his direct superior only increased his worry that the two of them could make it work. To his credit, Zach had been nothing but supportive of her decision. And, he had turned into a capable and dependable deputy that she could rely on. What he lacked in experience, he made up for in a willingness to learn.
He had been hopeful that it would work out. Zach treated Cady well and it was hard to find fault with him. Up until this point, they seemed happy and steady. Walt knew they had been seeing each other for a while before telling him. But, considering some of his past transgressions, Walt didn't blame her for keeping the relationship quiet. He hadn't always been willing to listen to her without reacting badly. It was hard when you were a parent. To sit by and watch your child navigate life without you.
"That's what I was worried about."
"I know."
Vic stifled a yawn and Walt looked over at her.
"Sleepy?"
She nodded, yawing again.
"Yeah, some of us work for a living"
He chuckled quietly.
"I work."
Vic gave him a look.
"You're retired. Different. Also, you don't have to deal with dumbasses anymore."
He conceded her point.
"Fair enough."
Vic pushed up from the couch.
"I'm going to bed."
Walt stood, his eyes shifting back to the fire.
"Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes. Gonna add some logs to the fire."
Vic nodded and disappeared into the bedroom. She was in bed before he came through the doorway, having changed and brushed her teeth. Vic was stretched out in the bed, her head propped up on her pillow. Her eyes tracked him as he came in. Stopping beside the bed, he started the same routine he did every night. If there was anything she had learned about Walt, it's that he was a creature of habit. In day to day tasks, he rarely varied from his norm. There was something reassuring about it to Vic. Something steady.
He set about unbuttoning his shirt. Vic watched him quietly. Discarding his shirt, Walt unbuckled his belt and pulled it loose from the loops with a strong pull. His hands were on his pants when he realized she was watching him. When his eyes met hers, Vic smiled. Walt gave her a questioning look as he slowly undid his pants.
"What?"
She shrugged.
"Do you realize you undress the same way every night? Well…unless I undress you."
She was grinning at him now with a look in her eyes that never failed to get him going.
"I guess I never thought about it."
Vic nodded her chin at him.
"Well, go ahead and finish."
She could tell he felt self-conscious now. There was something she found boyishly adorable in his natural shyness. It was oddly endearing about seeing a man who could possess such confidence also show a less unsure side. Vic sat up and motioned for him.
"Let me help you."
Walt stepped closer to the bed as Vic scooted across it, rising up on her knees. She completed the task of unbuttoning them and then pushed them down a little off his hips. Her bare palms came to rest on the skin she found there just above his underwear. Looking up, she could see that his pupils were dilated and the previous amusement was gone. He looked serious. Vic swiped her thumb across his skin and Walt inhaled involuntarily. Vic let her hands fall away and started back to her side of the bed.
"C'mon."
Her voice was low now. Husky. Walt pushed his pants off and joined her.
xxx
One thing he never missed about Wyoming were the winters. He knew it wasn't just Wyoming. This whole part of the country was prone to long, harsh winters that seemed like never ending storms dumping fresh snow before the current even melted. Will Cain could convince himself that he might miss the scenery and the sense of freedom to be found here where it was easy to find an unpopulated space. But the weather was hellish and moving to warmer climates had been a welcome change.
Now, as he rolled his truck slowly down the main strip through Durant, he felt a lot of things. He hadn't left here on good terms. As a matter of fact, he left here when he was shipped off to prison in Rawlins. That was the last time he set foot in this county or this town. He swore he would never come back, but things had changed. Life had not been kind to him at all. He had spent most of his adult life in and out of prisons and jails scattered across the country. It was hard, even for him to believe, that once he'd had a promising future.
And now, here he was. Back in this place. A washed up older version of the young man who once scored the winning touchdown for the high school and sent them to the championship. His intention was to keep a low profile. He doubted it was completely necessary. So many years removed from his existence here, there weren't many people who would recognize him. If she were she alive, he wondered if his own mother would know his weathered face from the smooth, handsome one he possessed in his youth.
But, all of his family was either dead or refused to have anything to do with him. His parents were both gone. His one brother had not spoken to him for the better part of fifteen years. Not since an argument between them erupted into a full blown physical altercation. Now, he moved from one meaningless existence to the next. He mostly stuck to small towns where people didn't bother him and the living was cheap. Thanks to his upbringing here, he always fit in seamlessly
In all the years that passed between his being taken out of Absaroka County in handcuffs and the last hick jail that released him after a drunk and disorderly, one thing remained the same. His hatred for the man who sent him on this downward spiral. A man he once considered a friend who turned on him and turned out to be the exact opposite. For years, the hate percolated inside of him, at times nearly boiling over. But, his attention span was short and he would move on to something different.
He couldn't say what changed recently. Maybe it was his age. Could be the knowledge that he wouldn't live forever and scores needed to be settled. What it was that pushed him to turn his beat up old Ford in the direction of Wyoming, he felt something he hadn't felt in years.
Excitement.
It came to him when he crossed the state line and his eyes took in the familiar sign welcoming him. It was time to dole out a little retribution of his own. Before heading in this direction, he had used the computers at a local library to pull up anything he could find on the object of his hatred. To be fair, the Durant Courier didn't have much of an online presence. But, in this modern era of instant communication, news traveled. Many of the larger towns around Durant carried the kind of news he was looking for.
News about Walt Longmire.
xxx
Vic inhaled deeply as sleep lost its grip on her and her mind began to become aware of the smells and sounds around her. Rolling onto her side, she pushed her face into the pillow. Even without opening her eyes, she could tell morning was here. Even through the closed curtains, the bedroom was filling up with light from the morning sun.
Cracking one eye, she could see that the opposite side of the bed was empty. That wasn't unusual. Walt was an early riser by nature and habit. On her days off, he tended to slip quietly from the bed and take his coffee out on the porch or in the living room in an attempt to not wake her. This morning seemed to be no exception, despite the fact that the temperatures had been plunging all week. More than once, she headed for work in below zero weather.
The air in the bedroom was pleasantly warm, which told her that he had already tended to the fire in order to get it going. She lay still, the only sound coming to her was the wind blowing around the cabin. They were due for another winter storm in the next couple of days. Lying there, Vic considered her options. She could easily close her eyes and fall back to sleep. Finally, she let out a sigh and rolled onto her back.
Reaching for her cell phone, she checked the time. It was already close to ten. Vic lay her phone back down on the bedside table and decided to get up. Reluctantly. With a huff, she pushed the heavy layer of blankets off and sat up, her feet coming to rest on the floor. Shaking off the tiredness that still plagued her, Vic stood up and grabbed her clothes as she went.
Padding into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and pulled on jeans, a thermal shirt, and a simple pullover sweater. She pulled her hair back and slid her feet into warm wool socks. By the time she finished dressing, she heard the front door of the cabin open and close. Walt's familiar tread crossed the room before stopping, more than likely in front of the fire.
Sure enough, that's where he was standing when she emerged from the bedroom. Walt looked over at her as she approached him slowly. His hair was tousled by the wind and his face looked reddish from the cold. Vic stepped up beside him, her eyes on the flames.
"Morning."
The single word rumbled from his chest.
"Good morning."
Walt gave her a teasing smile.
"You should've gotten up earlier. You missed quite a sunrise."
Vic made a face at the thought of getting up that early on her day off.
"I see the sunrise frequently on my way to work."
He nudged her with his elbow.
"Yeah, but you don't have time to enjoy it."
Vic regarded him with clear humor.
"You have to be the only person who sits out in this cold to watch the sunrise."
He shrugged.
"It's not so bad if you layer."
Vic rolled her eyes.
"No so bad? Right."
She shook her head as he lifted his wrist and looked at his watch.
"Want some breakfast?"
On cue, her stomach rumbled.
"As a matter of fact."
Vic smiled at him and tugged at his arm. In the kitchen, Walt started a batch of pancakes, while Vic started fresh coffee for the two of them. Soon, the smell in the cabin was making her stomach louder and her mouth all but water. Walt finished up and set the pancakes on the table.
Sitting down, Vic sipped her coffee as she forked some of the food onto her plate. Walt looked over the table at her.
"Have any plans today?"
Vic shook her head, her concentration on pouring just the right amount of syrup.
"No."
"I'm riding out to the Barrett Ranch later in the morning. Interested?"
Vic eyed him.
"For what exactly?"
Walt cut off a piece of pancake and stabbed his fork through it.
"Mrs. Barrett needs some wood cut before this next storm arrives. And she asked me to have a look at one of her horses' hooves."
Despite his retirement, Walt was not a man to stay idle. It simply wasn't the way he had been raised. He still worked, only the job and the hours had changed. The first few months after he retired as Sheriff were spent around the cabin completing all the tasks he had been putting off for years. Day after day he tackled one job after another. Finishing the kitchen and bathroom were the biggest jobs. Once he was satisfied, his focus turned to cleaning up the outside.
When Vic was off, she was always willing to get her hands dirty and help. It made Walt feel like she was putting something of herself into the cabin and they were building a foundation together. As the days passed into weeks, the cabin looked less like a half done bachelor pad and more like the home it was originally intended to be.
Once the cabin was finished, he began to take on odd jobs around the county in order to help those who were unable physically or financially. Walt possessed a breadth of knowledge that came from life experience. He quickly became a favorite amongst the older ladies and widows who trusted him enough to come to their homes to repair things or simply chop firewood. It wasn't a steady income by any means, but it gave him a sense of satisfaction and kept his mind busy. The second was vital for a man who never really stopped processing the world around him.
Vic considered his offer.
"Barrett. Isn't she the one that's always flirting with you?"
Walt blushed a little with a sheepish look.
"I don't see where it's flirting to be nice to someone."
Vic rolled her eyes. He would never learn.
"You are the most oblivious man on earth. When a woman goes out of her way to do nice things for you, she's generally flirting. Especially when she's available and has a ranch that needs running. You would be quite the prize for a woman like that."
Despite his protests, he knew what Vic was talking about. It had actually occurred to him that Alice Barrett was flirting with him around the third time she called him. Vic had been telling him that all along. From the woman following him around while he worked to bringing him fresh lemonade and lunch, she never seemed to be far away when he was at her place.
Walt only felt pity for the woman. Her husband had been killed a few years earlier in an accident, leaving her to run their ranch alone. Most women would have sold out and moved into town, but Alice Barrett had dug her heels in and continued to run their horse ranch. She was only able to hire two men and their ranching jobs kept them busy. So, she turned to Walt or neighbors to assist her in home repairs or other menial jobs.
"Okay."
She said it out of the blue and Walt paused.
"Okay?"
Vic nodded.
"Sure. I'll come. She hates me, so why not."
Walt frowned.
"She doesn't hate you, Vic."
Vic finished off her breakfast and downed the last of her coffee.
"Yeah, she does. In her eyes, I am what's keeping you from her. So…she hates me."
In reality, he knew Vic wasn't far off. Although he disagreed with the motives behind the discord. Admittedly, Vic could be a lot to take. She was outspoken by nature and did little to filter her language. Added to the fact that she didn't care what others thought, and she was good at ruffling feathers. Some of the key things Walt loved about her were the very characteristics other didn't like. Especially in a town like Durant.
She stood up and Walt followed her to the sink, where they started washing dishes in a choreographed, natural manner honed by habit.
"It shouldn't take long. I'll buy you lunch."
Vic laughed.
"That sounds like a bribe."
He smiled.
"Could be."
"You know…there are laws against bribing the police."
Walt laughed to himself.
"Are there?"
"Yep."
He shrugged.
"Fine. I won't buy you lunch then."
Vic grinned at him.
"Sure you will."
Finishing up, Vic dried her hands on a dish towel.
"I need to change."
Walt nodded.
"No hurry."
xxx
"Good morning, Walt."
Alice Barrett smiled at Walt. Walt tipped his hat to her and tucked his hands into his pockets.
"Alice."
Her eyes moved over Vic and she nodded politely, but there was nothing friendly in the gesture.
"Deputy."
Vic offered a smile that lack any genuineness. Alice always called her Deputy and with a tone that gave Vic a strong urge to roll her eyes. The woman really did have a thing for Walt and it was more than just flirtations. The widow was a few years older than Walt, but that hardly mattered.
"I'll get the wood split and put it up on the porch for you."
She turned her attention back to Walt and smiled again.
"Thank you so much, Walt. I don't know what I would do without your help."
Walt pulled his hands from his coat as he turned towards the woodpile with a wave.
"It's no problem."
Vic trailed behind him, her exhales creating smoky looking puffs in the air. Snow crunched under her boots. She had been here with Walt twice before, always on a day like today when she was off. She knew Walt would make quick work of the wood that need to be split. At home, she always enjoyed watching him cut wood. Especially on warmer days when all he wore was a t-shirt with his jeans and the muscles in his back were visible as he lifted the ax and brought it down over and over again.
A few years ago, it seemed ludicrous to think she would find a man chopping wood sexy. God, how times had changed. She had changed. It was hard to believe she was the same person who rolled into Durant with Sean, hating every minute of it.
"You're quiet."
Vic turned to see Walt watching her. Several split logs were already scattered on the ground around him and he held the ax in his right hand. Vic reached up and pulled her hat down over her ears, brushing hair out of her face as she did so. She hadn't realized how deep in thought she had gotten.
"Just thinking about when I first moved here."
Walt cocked his head.
"Any particular reason why?"
Vic shook her head.
"No."
She gestured at the wood.
"Want me to start taking that to the porch for you?"
He nodded.
"Sure."
Vic started to gather up the wood and stack it. Walt started chopping again, the axe hitting wood creating an echo around them in the quiet. Vic carried an armload up the porch steps and started to stack it by the door, where a few pieces already were. Wiping the stray bits of bark and dirt from her jacket, she turned. Walt was still chopping wood at a pace that would make a lot of men envious. She knew it was from years of practice and work. He made it look easy and she knew it wasn't. She once tried her own hand at it and her attempt was laughable.
A couple of firewood loads later and there was a respectable stack by the door. Walt removed his hat and brushed a hand across his forehead. He glanced towards the barn as he placed his hat back on his head.
"C'mon. Let's go check out the horse."
Vic nodded and walked beside him to the barn where the horse was stabled. Inside their noses were invaded by the sharp smell of livestock, hay, and manure. But, they were out of the wind and the snow. Walt paused in front of a stall.
"This one."
He carefully stepped inside. The horse stomped and swung its head in their direction as Walt lightly ran a hand over her side. After staring at him, she returned to munching hay. Vic leaned on a wooden beam and watched him as he coaxed the mare's front right hoof up and looked it over, running his hands around the lower portion of her leg.
Vic heard footsteps behind her and turned to see Alice Barrett come into the barn. She paused beside Vic. Walt glanced up as she spoke.
"What do you think?"
Walt straightened up and sighed.
"Looks like it could be laminitis. She needs a vet."
Alice shook her head with a look of dismay.
"Can't afford a vet right now. Good chance it wouldn't do any good. One of my ranch hands might just have to put her down."
Walt frowned.
"It can be treated, Alice."
The woman looked unconvinced.
"Yeah, with a lot of time and money. I don't have either."
She shook her head.
"Thanks for looking at her anyway. I remember your father taking care of our horses when I was younger. He was good with them. You are, too."
With that, she turned and left the barn. Vic turned to Walt.
"What's laminitis?"
He looked at the horse and patted her side.
"Simply put, it's inflammation."
Vic scowled.
"And for that, she'll be put down?"
Walt left the stall and wiped his hands off on his jeans.
"It's a long, expensive condition to treat. And there's no guarantee she'll make it. A lame horse isn't useful on a ranch."
Vic looked at the animal.
"Still…seems…barbaric. Just because she's a little beat up doesn't mean her life is worthless."
Walt looked at her for a long moment and wondered if Vic was still talking about the horse. He smiled.
"You're right."
Vic tilted her head at him, detecting something in his tone.
"What…are you thinking?"
He turned back to the horse.
"That everything's life is worth something. Come on."
xxx
Will didn't recognize anyone inside the bar. This place hadn't been here when he left Durant. The Red Pony. He ordered a beer and sat at the bar, keeping his cap low on his head. He had no desire to talk to anyone. The bartender seemed to know this and left him to his thoughts. Will's understanding was that this place was owned by Henry Standing Bear. He knew Henry. Of, at least, he did once. The Cheyenne had been Walt's best friend in high school. The two of them made quite a pair. The tall, broad shouldered white boy and the often stoic Cheyenne kid. Will hadn't understood why Standing Bear hadn't gone to school on the reservation with his own kind.
The saloon style doors swung open and Will glanced that way. His blood immediately ran cold. For some reason, it hadn't crossed his mind that Walt Longmire might actually come in here at the same time as himself. He turned his face away and then laughed at himself. There was only a slim chance the man would know him after so many years. And the beard he was growing only added to his anonymity.
He watched Walt enter the bar, removing the hat he wore. He was with a woman. Will's attention was drawn to her. He knew Walt's wife had died some time ago. He hadn't found any mention of remarriage, but that didn't mean he didn't have a new woman in his life. But, he hadn't expected this.
She was a looker. Younger than Walt by some years. She pulled on his arm as they walked to a table over near the far wall. He wanted to watch them. He wanted to be close enough to hear their conversation. But, that was too big of a risk. For his plan to work, he would need some time. He couldn't have Walt being aware of his presence just yet. The man was a lot of things. But, stupid had never been one of them.
Will continued to drink his beer, not doing anything that would draw attention to himself. Every so often, he would turn his head and glance at them without fully committing. Even if he had been sitting at a table beside them, he doubted he would be able to hear their conversation. The two of them were leaned in, talking low. All he could really see was their mouths moving in some hushed conversation.
Will was curious as to who this woman was and what drew her to Walt Longmire. He finished his beer and pushed the glass away. Swiping his sleeve across his mouth, he gave them one last look and left the bar.
xxx
"You're crazy. You know that?"
Walt smiled as the waitress brought them both a beer and took their lunch order.
"It was your idea."
She huffed out a quiet laugh.
"No…buying the horse was actually your idea."
Walt shrugged.
"Well, you gave me the idea."
Vic grew serious.
"You really think she can be saved?"
Walt nodded.
"I think there's a decent chance. I'll have a vet out tomorrow to look at her and start treatment. It takes weeks for them to recover. And…they're never fully over it. But…she seems like a good girl and she deserves a chance."
Vic sipped her beer and smiled at him.
"Walt Longmire, patron saint of lost causes."
He responded with a soft smile of his own.
"At some point, haven't we all seemed like lost causes?"
His words were soft. His eyes met hers and Vic nodded slowly.
"Some more than others. So…what's your big plan?"
"To eat lunch and then go get my horse trailer and pick her up. I need to get her settled in and comfortable before dark. It's supposed to snow tonight. She'll need a lot of attention and a lot of care."
Vic nodded as their food was brought.
"Well…you're good at taking care of things so…she's in good hands."
His eyes lingered on her for a moment over their lunch. The layered conversation wasn't uncommon between them. Their personal talks were often multifaceted and mixed with deeper meanings.
"To be fair, the subject has to want to be cared for. If there's not strength in the individual, no amount of caretaking will save it."
Vic swallowed the bite she was chewing and took a sip of her beer.
"And do you think she has strength? The horse?"
Walt nodded.
"I do. I saw something in her eyes. She's an older girl. But…I think she has some good years left."
Vic's mind flashed back to the barn fire from years before. When Walt had tried so hard to save one of the burned horses, paying for its medical treatment. He never gave up easily. Not on animals and not on people.
She knew that from personal experience. And, she was grateful for it every day.
xxx
Walt led the old mare carefully into his barn and released her into a stall with fresh hay, feed, and water. Closing the door, he leaned on it and watched as she sniffed the air and took in her new surroundings. He had loved horses since he was a boy, following his father around and watching him care for horses on ranch after ranch. It was one of his favorite childhood memories. To this day, he still had a strong affection for the animals.
Vic joined him, her shoulder brushing against him. The animal swung its head around to study the two of them before seemingly accepting this new turn of events. Vic smiled.
"I think she likes it here."
Walt nodded.
"I imagine so. The condition she has can be painful. It's quiet here. Calm. I called the vet. He said he can be out here in the morning and have a look at her hoof. The sooner we get started on treatment, the better off she'll be. It'll be a lot of work."
Vic leaned in a little.
"Yeah…but she's worth it."
Walt turned his head and looked at her with a smile.
"Yeah, she is."
He pushed back from the stall door and felt Vic move into step beside him as they left the barn. Walt secured the doors and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his coat. They slowly started the walk up to the cabin. Halfway there, Walt paused and looked up. The moon and stars were obscured by clouds and the air was icy.
"Snow will be here soon."
He heard Vic sighed beside him.
"I'm tired of snow."
Walt chuckled to himself.
"Then you shouldn't be in Wyoming over the winter."
She cut her eyes at him.
"Would you prefer that I be somewhere else?"
He smiled.
"Nope. I think you'll be just fine. Like you have every other winter you've been here."
They started again on the chilly trek to the cabin. They stopped on the porch, stomping snow off of their boots before going inside. As soon as they stepped through the doorway, they were met with a welcome warmth from the fire that was already going. They shed theirs coats and boots. Vic made it to the fire before Walt, rubbing her hands together and standing there, bathed in the orange glow. Walt paused to watch her. The flames reflected in her eyes, giving them a gold color.
"What?"
Walt shook his head. He joined her at the fire and inhaled deeply. Vic elbowed him.
"What're you thinking?"
He looked down at his socked feet before turning to look at her.
"You have beautiful eyes. It…was one of the first things I noticed about you."
She gave him a surprised look.
"Really?"
Walt nodded slowly, his eyes shifting to the fire.
"Yep. The day you came into my office for your job interview, I noticed two things immediately. Your eyes and your attitude."
Vic laughed at his comment.
"Guess that was a mixed bag, huh?"
Walt shrugged.
"Mmm…a little attitude isn't a bad thing in our line of work."
"A little?"
He smiled.
"In your case…a lot. But…I wouldn't change anything, Vic. Everything about you is…just like it should be."
Vic stared at him, her eyes widening a little. It was moments like that with him that left her speechless. He didn't say it as some grand declaration. Just in his matter of fact Walt way. And that made it much more impactful. Vic swallowed and cleared her throat.
"You never told me that."
He nodded.
"It just came to me when I saw you standing there."
Vic leaned her head onto his arm. Slowly, he slid his arm around her shoulders and drew her in. He smelled like the wind, horse, and something that was solidly Walt.
"You'll call me or text me tomorrow after the vet comes?"
"Yep."
Vic pressed her face into his chest and inhaled deeply.
"Good."
She pulled back from him and lifted her face to his.
"I'm gonna get a shower."
Walt traced his hand across hers with an affirmative nod.
"Okay. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Vic left him standing in front of the fire, staring into the flames and looking as thoughtful as ever. She made quick work of a shower and pulled on pajama pants and one of Walt's t-shirts. It would be colder tonight than the previous one.
It was something she never pictured for herself in years past. Living in a cabin in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. If someone had even suggested it just a few years ago, she would have laughed, rolled her eyes, and dismissed the idea. But here she was. She had found something here she hadn't had before. Freedom. Acceptance. Real friends. The kind who stuck by you no matter what.
And Walt.
He fell into a category that was all his own. Of course he wasn't perfect. He had his flaws. God knows, they both did. But he was perfect for her. And exactly what she needed. Exactly what she never knew she needed and never saw coming. Even when she first sensed her feelings for him growing beyond professional, she never imagined it would lead to this. Their life wasn't perfect either. They argued. That was one thing between them that hadn't changed. They had fights on occasion. But, none of that was unusual. They were both strong minded people and butting heads seemed to come naturally to them. Still, both knew loss and knew better than to be petty.
Walt had told her more than once that he hadn't always been the best husband to Martha. She knew that he had a lot of regrets from days past. He worked a lot and missed out on just as much. But, from Vic's view, everything he did for those he loved was motivated by a need to take care of those around him. Those few he cared the most about. She was guilty of the same infractions with Sean. Both of them had been during the course of their marriage. It was one of things that brought it crashing down around them.
With such things as loss and divorce came something invaluable. Experience. Lessons learned the hard way, but lessons learned nonetheless. And they had been gifted with a second chance and both were determined to make the most out of it. To not repeat past transgressions.
"Where are you?"
Vic snapped out of her thoughts to see Walt standing by the bed, looking down at her with a curious expression. She had been so lost in her own mind, she hadn't even heard him come in. Vic breathed deeply and smiled up at him.
"Just thinking."
"About."
"Nothing."
Vic patted the spot beside her on the bed.
"Here. Come to bed."