Ch. 8: Fully Involved
Vic stepped into Cady's office with a slight feeling of unease. Once upon a time, they weren't friends. They were acquaintances with only Walt in common. That changed when Walt went to Cady about letting Vic stay with her after being evicted. What was meant to be a night or two turned into longer and the two women found they had more in common than it seemed. What resulted was an actual friendship. The change in their relationship helped ease some of the awkwardness when Cady found out about Vic's new involvement with Walt. It was also helpful when Cady decided to run for Sheriff. Vic was someone Cady could turn to personally and professionally, being a few years older and having much more experience under her belt.
But, it was a fine line they walked. The shared relationship with Walt still made the balancing act a bit tricky at times. There was the personal relationship, where they were friends and sometimes something resembling family. Then, there was the professional relationship with Cady being the boss and Vic the employee. Although, if Cady were being honest, sometimes the roles seemed reversed thanks to her own inexperience and Vic's natural tendency to question authority. Cady did a good job of not taking it personally. She had borne witness to Vic having similar issues with Walt on occasion, so she knew it wasn't directed at her alone. Cady recognized that Vic was good at her job, more experienced, and needed a certain amount of leeway in order to function in a way that was best for them all. It's simply the way it was. In her time as Sheriff, Cady found a balance between letting Vic be herself and asserting herself. It was a learning curve, but they were all astute students.
Still, when then were clashes, it still felt all kinds of awkward. The brief confrontation in Cady's office over Will Cain was creating waves that neither of them really wanted. There was a time when Vic wouldn't have cared. But, time and maturity had a way of changing people. The past couple of years sent all of them through a metamorphosis or sorts, Vic included.
Now, she stood in Cady's office and offered the other woman a tentative smile in greeting.
"You got a minute?"
Cady nodded as Vic closed the door behind her.
"Sure."
Vic stood behind the chair opposite Cady's desk, opting not to sit.
"About the other day, I'm sorry if I seemed…"
She seemed to struggle to find the right word, but Cady smiled at her and flapped a hand in her direction.
"I'm over it."
Vic raised her eyebrows.
"Really?"
Cady's posture was relaxed and open.
"Yeah. I get it, Vic. I do. But…you understand…I had to respond to his complaint. It can't look like the Sheriff is playing favorites."
"Yeah, I know. But…what I said is true. He is dangerous. And he is up to something."
Cady seemed to accept that as fact.
"I trust your instincts. And, I trust dad. I just…I wish you had come to me."
Vic shrugged.
"He hasn't broken any laws. There's nothing we can do legally. It's…tricky."
Cady smiled.
"I understand. Let me know if you need anything."
Vic nodded.
"I will."
Vic felt like a weight lifted off of her with Cady's unspoken acceptance of her not quite apology. She turned to leave when Cady spoke again.
"Vic."
Vic turned to see Cady's blue eyes on her.
"Thank you for the way you back up my dad."
Vic's chin dipped a little in acknowledgement.
"It's nothing he wouldn't do for me."
xxx
"Hey, Henry."
Henry looked up, more than a little surprised to see Vic standing in his office door at the casino. He removed his glasses and stood up.
"Vic. What brings you here?"
She looked around, clearly uncomfortable.
"You got a minute?"
"Of course. Have a seat."
Vic sat down in a chair near his desk. Henry sat back down in his own chair and turned his focus to her.
"Is this about Walt?"
Vic smiled a little at his perceptive question.
"Yes. What's up with him and this Will Cain guy?"
The question created a cloud in Henry's eyes.
"What has he told you?"
Vic leaned back in her chair.
"That he played football with him. That they were friends but had a falling out…because of you. Walt told me he arrested him and sent him to the state police."
Henry nodded, something unreadable on his face.
"That is accurate."
Vic honed in on his manner.
"There's something else, though. Something he's not saying. But you know."
Henry smiled.
"This is something you should talk to Walt about."
Vic sighed.
I've tried. Believe me. He's…you know how he is. He thinks he protects people by not telling them certain things. It's…frustrating."
A knowing look crossed Henry's face.
"In his mind, he is keeping you safe."
"I know. But, I don't need him to keep me safe. I need him to tell me the truth. All of it."
She tapped one hand on her leg and waited for something that didn't seem to be coming. She could see Henry debating in his mind. Finally, his dark eyes settled on her.
"This is Walt's story to tell. But, you are right. He should tell you. Ask him about Maggie Sullivan."
Vic turned the name over in her mind. Nothing about it was familiar. She nodded slowly.
"Maggie Sullivan."
Henry nodded.
"Yes, that should get you what you need from him."
Vic stood up, causing Henry to do the same.
"Okay. Thank you."
He smiled.
"Give him time, Vic. He will get there."
xxx
Vic came in from the bedroom, showered and changed. Flopping on the couch beside Walt, she landed just to the side of him. The movement jostled him. He looked at her with a curious expression. It was clear from the way her arm bumped his that she wanted his attention. Her face was serious when their eyes met.
"We need to talk."
He turned more fully in her direction. Vic pulled both legs up and sat cross legged on the couch.
"Okay."
It was obvious there was something on her mind. Ever since she came in the door, she had been quiet. That wasn't characteristic for her. Even through dinner, she hadn't said much other than answering his direct questions about her day. It was reminiscent of the way she had been that morning, quiet and thoughtful. She seemed lost in her own mind.
"I need you to tell me why Will Cain hates you so much."
Walt's face didn't betray anything.
"I told you."
Vic shook her head.
"No, you told me a sanitized version. I want the whole story. I don't believe it's just that you arrested him and sent him to prison. That doesn't really make sense. No one holds a grudge like that. Not someone who has spent the better part of their adult life locked up. Besides, Henry sort of confirmed there was something else. He just wouldn't tell me what it was. He told me to ask you about Maggie Sullivan. So…I'm asking you to be honest with me."
The words came out slow and measured. He could tell she had been thinking about what to say to him. But, while there was no anger and nothing that sounded like an accusation, he could also hear the resolve that she was going to get to the bottom of the story one way or another. Walt shifted in his seat, his eyes moving away from hers.
"There is more."
She nodded a little at the acknowledgement.
"Tell me."
Her voice was quiet and imploring. Walt inhaled and let the breath out in a sigh. A few moments of silence stretched out between them and she could see his mind reeling through the past, his eyes growing a little distant in the process.
"I told you we went to school together."
"Yeah."
"Will was…always an aggressive guy. I guess aggressive is the word. He approached everything with the same attitude. Like it was a foregone conclusion. He played football that way and he treated people that way. For some…it made him unpopular. Others liked it. He had a decent number of friends. And girlfriends."
He paused and his eyes dropped to his lap.
"There was one girl who was in our grade. The one Henry mentioned. Maggie. She was well liked. All around good girl, you know? Good grades, never got into any trouble. But, she was also a quiet girl. Kind of shy. For all the friends she had, there weren't many boys in her circle and she never dated that I was aware of."
Vic tilted her head.
"You have a thing for her?"
Walt shook his head.
"No. We were friendly, but never like that. Her family was religious. Maybe that had something to do with it. I don't know. Will took an interest in her. I know he asked her out a couple of times, flirted with her. And, he always came on so strong. It didn't work with a girl like her. She turned him down. He wasn't the kind of guy who handled that very well."
Vic was watching him with an intense look, almost like she might know where his story was going.
"One night, we were at the school late for practice. Afterwards, everyone went home. But…I went back into the school for some reason. Can't even remember now. It's not important. As I was walking by the girl's bathroom, I heard a noise…almost like a cry, but not loud. I knew no one should be there, so I went in and he had her pinned to the floor on the far side of the room."
"He was raping her?"
Walt paused and cleared his throat.
"No. He was trying, but she was fighting back. I pulled him off of her and he turned on me. We fought. She ran off. Afterwards, he begged me not to tell anyone. We were close to graduation and he was in line for some scholarships. His family was poor. Really poor and he knew that was his only chance of getting anywhere. Of getting out of Durant. But, our football coach was still on the field, and I told him. He kicked Will off the team. All of his scholarships went away."
Walt stopped again. Vic was frowning now.
"But he didn't go to the police?"
"I don't know that for sure. I know Maggie never came back to school and her family moved from Durant the next week. So, he never faced any legal consequences. As far as I know, Maggie never told anyone outside of her parents. I never saw or spoke to her again. No one at school seemed to know anything about it. It was just this thing between me and Will."
"He blamed you. For telling."
Walt nodded.
"Yep. Had I not told, he would have taken a scholarship and been gone out of town. But, he lost all of that because of me."
"Because of himself."
Walt met her eyes.
"Yeah. He hated me after that. I guess he sees me at the person who ruined his life more than once. Several years later, I arrested him. You know that story. It only added to it."
Vic was quiet after his story ended. Walt stood up and crossed the floor to the fire, his eyes on the flames. Vic unfolded her legs and stretched them out.
"He has a history of violence against women."
"Yes, he does."
Vic pushed up off the couch and approached him from behind, stopping at his back. Her hand traced a path along his lower back as she moved around to his side.
"Why didn't you tell me this to begin with?"
His jaw twitched.
"I've thought about that night a lot over the years. I could've gone to the police myself."
Vic exhaled audibly beside him.
"Walt, you told what you thought was a responsible adult. That's on him, not you. And, if the girl or her parents were unwilling to talk to the police, it wouldn't have done any good anyway. Jesus, you kept her from being raped."
"I know."
Her hand slid through his arm.
"So, when he threatens you…I can't let it go. I won't. I meant what I said. If he touches you, he will have to deal with me."
Vic gave his arm a light tug.
"I get it. I do. But, I'm not some high school girl who can't defend herself. Don't forget that."
Walt turned his face to her with a small smile.
"How could I?"
She smiled softly in return. His own smiled faded, his mood shifting.
"Martha asked me to come to Denver with her. But, I worked instead. She called me to let me know she got there safe. Then, I get a call from the police telling me about the attack. If I had been there…"
Vic cut him off.
"Walt, how many times have you gone over this in your head? That guy…was targeting her. He still could have found a way to get to her. You can't be with someone all the time. You can't save everyone."
He was looking at the fire again.
"Still. It might have made a difference. I made a choice and I have to live with that."
Her hand tightened on his arm.
"I understand."
He knew she did. Better than most.
"But, this is an entirely different situation."
"I know. But…I won't drop my guard, Vic. I can't afford to."
Vic leaned against him, her lips pressing against the fabric of his faded shirt.
"I know. I just…need you to keep your head right. Thank you. For telling me."
Walt tilted his head and pressed his mouth to her forehead.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."
He felt her smile. As if a thought occurred to her, she pulled away slightly.
"You got a yearbook?"
Walt's brow furrowed.
"A yearbook?"
"Yeah. From school."
He nodded slowly.
"Somewhere."
Vic trailed him through the bedroom where he sifted through his bookcase. He finally came up with what she asked for and held it out. Vic took it and sat on the bed. Opening the book, Vic turned the pages with the quiet whisper of paper on paper. Stopping, she ran her finger down the page.
"This him?"
Walt sat beside her on the bed.
"Yep."
Vic held it up and studied it.
"Wow, he looks different."
She flipped a couple more pages and stopped again and a smile crossed her face.
"You were cute."
Walt half smiled at her.
"Right."
She looked up with a teasing expression.
"No…really. I would say you had a lot of girlfriends. But knowing you…let me guess…too shy."
"I was quiet."
Vic shrugged.
"Shy. I bet you drove them crazy. Nothing worse than a cute guy who seems oblivious."
Walt shook his head.
"I doubt I drove anyone crazy."
Vic bumped his arm with hers.
"Trust me, Walt. Speaking as a woman whom you frequently drive crazy, you drove them crazy."
She closed the book and offered it back to him. Walt stood and replaced it on his shelf. He walked slowly back over to the bed, pausing in front of her. Vic looked up. Almost absent mindedly, she reached out and ran her index finger over the metal of his belt buckle, tracing the pattern.
"Cute, honorable, football player. Yeah, you could've had any girl you wanted."
Walt looked at her with curiosity.
"What were you like in high school?"
Vic smiled up at him with smile that bordered on dangerous.
"No one you would've associated with."
Her hand stilled on his belt, but she continued to hold his eyes.
"I was…a hellion. And I had a strict policy of only dating guys who would drive my parents crazy."
Slowly and with intention, her other hand joined the one already lingering on his belt and began to undo the buckle. Walt's body started reacting to the action almost immediately. Her eyes dropped to the buckle as she worked it loose.
"I guess some things never change."
With that, he felt his belt loosen and she shifted her attention to the button on his pants. She lifted her eyes back to his and he saw the smile was gone. It was replaced with an expression that was far more serious and intense. Feeling his pants loosen, Vic paused again, her hands moving to either side of his hips.
She pulled at his hips.
"Come here."
xxx
"You never really answered my question?"
Vic propped her head up on her hand and looked down at him.
"What question?"
"What were you like?"
She smiled.
"I did answer. I told you."
Walt's eyes stayed on her in a way that made her feel exposed, like he could see all the way through her.
"What were you really like?"
Vic sighed.
"I was a hellion. And, I did only date guys who my parents hated. Especially my father."
"Why?"
She moved one shoulder in a shrug.
"Why does any kid rebel? Expectation. Human nature."
She could see he was still waiting for an actual answer. Vic eased her head back onto her pillow and rolled onto her side, so that she could see him.
"I was the only girl with four brothers. My father…had a different set of expectations and I thought it wasn't fair. He was…harder on me. Stricter. So…I did everything in my power to drive him crazy. Boys were the best way to do that."
Walt's eyes were soft on her.
"What kind of student were you?"
"The kind teachers hated. A smartass. I did okay with my grades. I could've done better."
Walt reached out and traced the line of her jaw.
"Always the rebel, huh?"
She gave him a thoughtful look.
"My parents were at a loss as to what to do with a girl. My father's reaction was to overreact to everything. My brothers were given a lot more freedom. I felt like I had to take mine."
"Girls are different."
She nodded.
"I know. I just…it wasn't fair to punish me because I was a girl. It could've been handled better. He was harder on me, but he treated me like I was one of the boys. A double standard, you know. It's not…it was hard."
Walt considered her words.
"I can only speak for myself. But, I can't imagine I would treat a son the same way I treated Cady. Whether you like it or not, most men feel like they need to protect the women in their lives."
She laughed quietly.
"I know. But, teenage girls don't understand that. Hell, sometimes I still don't. And…my father's method of protection has always been control. In case you haven't noticed, I don't like to be controlled."
"I have. Believe me."
He leaned over and pressed his mouth to hers before pulling back an inch or so. Vic smiled a barely there smile, her hand coming up to touch his lips. Walt moved slowly over her, his palms running up her arms until his hands covered hers.
"Sometimes…a little loss of control is a good thing."
Vic's brow went up.
"Is it.?"
She pushed against his hands, but he held her firmly in place as he kissed her again.
"Yep. The secret…"
He kissed her again. And again.
"Is to know when to let go."
With that, he released his hold on her hands and slid his hands back down to pull him to her. Vic closed her eyes as he buried is face in the crook of her neck. Her arms encircled him, her fingers threading though his hair.
Without warning, Walt's head jerked up.
"Did you hear that?"
Vic looked around.
"Hear what?"
Walt pushed off the bed and grabbed his discarded jeans. Pulling them on, Vic sat up with a frown.
"What did you hear?"
He pulled a t-shirt over his head as Vic got up and pulled on her own jeans and her crumpled tank top. Walt stuffed his feet into his boots.
"It came from outside."
Vic followed him from the bedroom, still adjusting her clothes.
"Walt…"
He grabbed his rifle and unlocked the door. Vic came around his side.
"Walt."
He stopped.
"What?"
The word came out impatient.
"What did you hear?"
"I'm not sure."
He pulled the door open and stepped out. Vic sighed.
"Jesus."
Pulling her own gun from its holster on the table, she trailed behind him. A brief inspection of the immediate yard around the house turned up nothing amiss. Walt's eyes scanned the snow looking for any sign of disturbances. Vic came up beside him.
"I don't see anything."
Walt exhaled.
"I know what I heard."
"No, you don't. You heard something. It could've been anything. C'mon."
She grasped his arm and pulled. Walt stood unmoving.
"Walt, it's freezing. Come inside."
He relented and followed her into the cabin. Setting his rifle aside, Walt ran both hands over his face. Vic slid her Glock back into the holster. She rubbed her bare arms briskly. Walt locked the door back and stood staring at it. Vic sighed.
"Walt."
He turned to face her.
"It was probably just…an animal or something. There was no one there. No tracks. Don't…let him make you paranoid in your own home."
It had been her once. Showering alone at home to find the soap bitten into. The memory rushed into the front of her mind and Vic pushed it down. Walt was watching her almost like he could read her mind.
"I'm…I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to scare you."
"You didn't scare me. You startled me. What did you hear?"
Walt rubbed his face with one palm.
"Nothing, I guess. Let's go to bed."
Vic nodded and walked into the bedroom. Walt glanced once more at the lock on the cabin door and carried the rifle into the bedroom with him.
xxx
Vic looked up at the sound of the door opening. All movement ceased when she saw Will Cain standing in the office, his eyes on her. Vic stood up instantly.
"What do you want?"
He held up his hands like he was surrendering.
"Is the Sheriff here?"
Vic folded her arms over her chest.
"No."
He looked around, finding the office completely empty except for the two of them.
"Do you know when she'll be back?"
"No."
Something resembling a smile pulled at one side of his mouth.
"You're not very chatty. Something wrong?"
"No."
He smiled then. Really smiled.
"You seem tense. Like maybe you didn't get enough sleep. Did something keep you up?"
Vic stared at him, jaw set tightly. At his comment, she narrowed her eyes, realization dawning across her features.
"You were there."
The words came out almost as a whisper. Cain gave her an innocent look.
"I haven't been anywhere."
She shook her head.
"You were at our house last night."
Again, Cain's face gave away nothing.
"I…don't know what you're talking about, Deputy. You're getting paranoid."
Vic opened her mouth to respond when the door opened again and Cady walked in. She stopped in her tracks when she saw the two of them in what seemed to be a faceoff. Cady's eyes moved between them.
"Mr. Cain, is something wrong?"
He maintained eye contact with Vic and shook his head.
"No, Sheriff. Everything is fine. I just wanted to know if you had a chance to talk to your father since out last conversation."
Cady's expression stayed neutral.
"I did."
His smile widened.
"I'm happy to hear that. It's nice to know that someone in this small minded town can show some common sense. Thank you for hearing me out. I hope this resolves our little issue."
Even as he spoke, he still looked at Vic, their eyes locked. Finally, he broke his eyes away and glanced at Cady.
"Have a nice day."
He left the office, leaving Vic standing with Cady as he pulled the door closed behind him. Cady gave her a careful look.
"What's wrong?"
Vic turned and looked at the closed door before seeming to snap out whatever thoughts she was having with a shake of her head.
"Nothing."
Cady frowned.
"Did he say something?"
Vic turned and met Cady's eyes.
"No."
Cady didn't seem convinced at her single word denial.
"You sure everything's okay?"
Vic nodded and looked away.
"Yeah, everything is fine."
Cady lingered for another moment before she continued into her office. Vic walked over to the window and looked out through the partially open blinds. Will Cain stood on the sidewalk below looking up at the window. Even from this distance, it felt like he was looking right at her. Vic reached up and pulled the cord on the blinds, closing them and shutting out his view with a sharp tug.
xxx
"You looked everywhere?"
Walt nodded as Vic walked beside him to the barn. Wall pulled the door open and trailed her inside. Out of the wind, the barn was more tolerable with the pleasant smell of hay mingling with the sharp odor of horse.
"Yep. But, with the snow…any tracks from last night would've been covered."
Vic's boots scraped over the barn floor as she stopped in front of the horse stall. Walt stepped inside and patted the side of the horse. She swung her head in his direction, giving him a brief nuzzle on the arm. Vic smiled as he ran his hands over her side and down her leg.
"She likes you."
He pulled up the horse's foot and began to examine her leg.
"I try not to take it personally. She seems to like everyone. Too bad she can't be ridden. She would be a good horse for you. Gentle and calm."
The horse moved her head in Vic's direction, earing a stroke down her nose. She blew air into Vic's palm searching for food. Vic held up her hands.
"Sorry, don't have anything."
The horse snorted loudly again as Walt lowered her leg carefully. He straightened up and rubbed the horse's side.
"How's it look?"
"Good. It's looking really good. Vet came by earlier and said she's responding well to the treatment. Looks like she's gonna make a pretty good recovery."
He gave Lady one last pat and left the stall. Vic watched as he gave the horse fresh food and checked her water. Joining Vic in watching the horse munch on her food, he took a deep breath.
"I went all the way around the cabin. There was nothing that would prove he was here."
Vic kept her eyes on the horse, but they seemed distant and distracted.
"I'm saying that you were right, Walt. The way he commented on me not getting sleep…it was like he was bragging about it. There was just something about the look on his face. You know?"
Walt nodded
"I believe you."
"He's planning something."
"Seems like it."
Vic turned away from the horse and focused her attention on Walt.
"There's not much we can do about it."
She could see Walt thinking. He led the way out of the barn and back into the chilly air Securing the bar door, he looked up in the direction of the cabin.
"Did you say anything to Cady?"
Vic shook her head.
"No. It feels like we're just playing right into his hands. I hate feeling like this."
Walt's palm found her back and stroked up and down over the layers of her clothes.
"I know. I don't like it either."
They walked slowly up the cabin steps. Walt's hand fell away from her and he turned to look out across the yard. Vic paused in her steps and watched him.
"What?"
Walt's eyes stayed in the distance.
"Just thinking."
"Yeah, what else is new. Come on. It's freezing out here."
She tapped his arm and his gaze broke free from the landscape as he followed her inside. Shedding their coats, Walt removed his hat as well and hung it up. Turning back to the door, he locked it and stared at it for a minute. Vic's attention was on him when he spoke, his back to her.
"I don't think he would break in."
Vic's brow furrowed.
"Not while we're here. He's gotta know we're armed. He's a lot of things. But, he's not stupid. But at some point, he's gonna get tired of playing games."
Walt sighed and moved to the fire. Vic joined him, her face cast down at the floor.
"Vic, I'm sorry you're caught up in this. I know it brings up bad memories."
She looked up.
"It's not your fault. You're not the crazy one who can't let shit go. It just seems like all this shit never ends. This is one of the reasons I left Philadelphia. There's just…no escaping it. I guess a little peace is just too much to ask."
Vic moved over to the sit on the couch. Instead of sitting back like Walt expected, she leaned forward and rested her forearms on her thighs, clasping her hands together. Walt took a seat beside her.
"I think it would be a good idea for you to be armed. Even when you're not working. He's proven he's not shy about coming up to you in a public place. And, maybe don't go places by yourself."
Vic turned her head and gave Walt a sharp look.
"I don't need an escort."
He shook his head, his expression hard.
"We don't know what his next move might be. I don't…I don't want you to expose yourself any more than is necessary."
His words were firm and resolute.
"I won't be…that man. I know you can defend yourself. But…he's dangerous. If something happened to you, I couldn't live with myself. Not knowing I didn't do everything possible to keep you safe."
He expected another argument. But some of the defiance in her face dissipated. In that moment, she simply looked tired. After a beat of quiet, she responded.
"When I realized what was going on with Bobby…back in Philly…I went back and forth. For days. It wasn't an easy decision. I had been a cop long enough to know there would be push back. Especially from his friends. Cops are supposed to have each other's backs and look out for each other. But…he was becoming dangerous. I couldn't…take the chance that he would completely snap and hurt someone. So…I went to IA. That is the worst thing you can do. But…I never expected it to be as bad as it was. It's like…no one cared what he was doing. They only cared that I ratted him out."
She bit her lip and looked down at her hands.
"Even my oldest brother was pissed at me for a while. I told you that. We…had some rounds about that. I don't know…maybe I thought my family name would offer some…measure of protection. But…no one gave a shit about that either. Not only did it screw me over, but my brothers and my dad took some flack, too. Then, here with Branch. It was like the same situation all over again. And…I didn't know if I should tell you or try and talk to Branch myself. But…he hated me at that point. And Ed showed up here with all his bullshit threats. God, it's just…a never ending parade of crap. I thought it was over, but it just keeps coming."
Walt reached out and placed his hand on her thigh.
"This isn't the same. He's not gonna run us out. You're not alone. Vic, you did the right thing in both of those situations. Sometimes, the most important choices we make are the hardest with the strongest consequences. But you were right in Philadelphia. And you were right to tell me about Branch. You swore to protect people…and sometimes that means from bad cops."
She nodded a little and looked up.
"Do you think I should've told Cady about Cain?"
Walt's hand tightened on her leg.
"I don't think it would have done any good. We have no proof anyone was here. And his comment wasn't really a clear threat."
She bit her bottom lip, pulling it between her teeth.
"You think he was here, too."
It wasn't a question, but Walt confirmed her thought.
"Yes, I do. I believe you. I told you that. I…I won't let him hurt you, Vic."
She offered him a somber smile.
"I know. But, someone's gotta look after you."
She looked at the coffee table where her holstered 9mm lay along with her badge and cuffs.
"We should…be ready."
She stood up and reached out, her hand closing over her holster. There was something sad in her tone and her posture. It lit a fire in Walt. An angry one. She shouldn't have to live with this fear anymore. Neither of then should. He stood up and gave the fire one final look before following her into the bedroom to check his Colt and the rifle.
xxx
Will drained the bottle of beer as he lay stretched out on his motel bed. He hated this place. This cheap dump he was currently paying money for. Durant. Absaroka County. The state of Wyoming. When he was a young man, barely more than a kid, he dreamed about getting out of this place. His parents were good people and seemed content with their simple life. But, he wanted more. He wanted to see parts of the world no one in his family had seen before. He wanted to be somewhere with plenty of jobs and an economy that provided the comforts in life.
He wasn't overly concerned with education, but he excelled at football. He was aggressive and strong both on the field and off. He knew that football was his ticket out of town. His ticket to a college that was anywhere but here. A decent sized town with something more to do that drive around on dirt roads at night trying to find some fun.
He had options. There were a handful of schools that were interested in him. No big name, fancy schools. But, still a chance to get out of Wyoming. To find his place in the world. To live his life on his terms. All he had to do was finish up his senior year and he would be out of this hell hole.
Then, along came Walt Longmire and it all went down the drain. Everything he wanted, all of his opportunities vanished like a morning fog, giving way to the sun. Nothing was left. It was all taken away. All because Longmire couldn't mind his own business. Couldn't do him one solid favor. That one incident sent his life swerving into oblivion. A careening car on an icy road.
Will rolled off the bed and tossed his bottle in the trash can. It clinked loudly against the other bottles. He took a chance today going to the Sheriff's Department again. He knew that. But, life was all about taking chances. No guts, no glory was his motto. Had been for most of his life. It was a pleasant surprise to see her alone there. With no witnesses. The way she looked at him, the way she looked into his eyes. She knew. She knew that he was coming. She put up a good front, but he hoped that she was scared. He hoped that he was the reason she looked tired and stressed. He knew the best way to get to Walt was by taking away those things he cared about the most.
Will pulled on his dirty jacket and zipped it up. Pulling on his cap, he pulled it down so that the brim shadowed his face. He was done playing games. They knew he was here. They knew he meant business. It was time to make his next real move. No more mind games. Tonight, was the night he would take things up a notch and kick this entire situation in high gear.
xxx
"Can't sleep?"
Vic jumped at the sound of Walt's voice. He moved and the sheets rustled against his skin. She turned her head in his direction, although she couldn't see more than his outline in the darkness of the bedroom.
"No. My brain won't shut up."
Walt smiled, familiar with the feeling.
"C'mere."
She felt his hand on her arm pulling gently. Vic rolled onto her side and backed into the curve of his body. Walt gave her time to settle in against him before he placed his chin on her shoulder, his breath tickling her ear with each warm exhale.
"It's gonna be okay, Vic."
He felt her inhale and exhale deeply, but she didn't say anything. Walt tilted his face and pressed his cheek to the skin of her shoulder around the strap of her tank top. She pushed more against him, leaving space for nothing between them. Walt slid his arm around her waist and let his hand come to rest on her stomach. He could feel her taking deep breaths in an attempt to release some of the tension he could feel built up in her. His thumb made slow strokes across her abdomen.
Vic moved her hand and placed it over his.
"Can I tell you something, Walt?"
"Of course."
For a minute, there was only the sound of their breathing.
"You make me feel safe."
He kissed her shoulder, something tugging at his heart. He knew it was difficult for her to show weakness. In the public eye, she tried not to. When she first came to work for him, he could see her defenses. But little by little, she gave him glimpses of what lay beneath the tough exterior. It drew him in and held him in a way nothing else did. He knew it was hard for her to let people in. It was also hard for him. In that way, they were very similar.
But, now she was open to him most of the time. It reminded him of getting deeper into a book to find the best parts hidden in the middle of the pages. The softness intermingled with the strength she possessed into the best version of her that he knew.
"I try."
The reply was somewhat humorous, but also serious. She smiled. He couldn't see it, but he knew it was there all the same. Her fingers moved over his hand in light wisps of touch. Her chest rose and fell with another deep breath. Vic exhaled slowly. Walt could finally feel her relax a bit up against him. He pressed another kiss to her skin and continued to move his hand over her stomach, his fingers burning a path to the hem of her shirt. He could just feel the soft skin there.
She yawned and he smiled.
"Go to sleep."
He spoke the words quietly into her ear. A few minutes later, he could feel her body relaxing into the grasp of sleep.