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Chapter 5

The anger that's simmering begins to come to the forefront of Vic's emotions again as she fights the hurt and disappointment that threaten to come over her. She contemplates where to go as she drives, only knowing she doesn't want to be around Sean anymore tonight. The Sherriff's office has been her safe haven since she moved to Wyoming, but she doesn't want to spend another night there and doesn't know what she would say if someone found her there. She could call someone… anyone she works with would likely be open to listening, but she just can't bring herself to imagine talking to them yet.

The lights of the Red Pony draw Vic's attention and she slows down on impulse. It's as good a place as any other, she figures, especially when she has nowhere else to go. Upon entering, her eyes dart immediately to the bar where she's most accustomed to sitting and the familiar outline of Branch's shoulders is instantly recognized even with his back to her and his head slightly bent.

Vic is definitely not in the mood for conversation, but a pang in her stomach at the sight and smell of food reminds her that though nausea and nerves has reduced her appetite most of the day, she is hungry now. Her mind made up, Vic considers that even with their evolving friendship, perhaps Branch will leave her to stew in peace. She should have known her night would not be so simple.

Branch turns slightly to look at her almost as soon as she's slid into her seat, but takes a pull of his beer and turns his gaze forward again before speaking to her.

"I didn't expect to see you out tonight." He's surprised and lazily curious in his inebriated state, though he doesn't think it's showing yet.

"Yeah, why's that?" She mutters, reaching for a napkin and beginning to shred it repeatedly.

"I guess I just figured you'd be home celebrating with Sean." He shrugs his shoulders. What does he know, though? Maybe the man who chooses his job over his wife more days out of the year than not also chooses not to be with her on the day he finds out he's going to be a father.

"Shut up, Branch." Vic snaps at him, though she isn't sure why. All she knows is that she's upset and she wants to lash out and he's a familiar, convenient target.

Branch raises an eyebrow, but before he can either prod further or think of attempting an apology, she's flagging Henry down to order her food and he doesn't think she would appreciate an audience to their conversation.

Once Henry has disappeared again, he thinks briefly about whether or not he should say something more or remain silent, but she beats him to it.

"And what do you know anyway? Maybe I'm waiting for him." She hisses defensively, going back for a second napkin to destroy.

"Right." He scoffs dubiously.

"What? I could be." She insists, but wonders why she's bothering. Maybe it's pride, or maybe she just wants to pick a fight, but she doesn't know how to tell him the truth. She doesn't know how to say out loud that her husband wants nothing to do with the child she carries and already cares for.

"Well, I don't know your husband very well, but if it was me and my woman had just told me she was carrying my baby, I'd probably want to keep her at home," he pauses, searching for something that won't earn him serious injury tonight. "…showing my appreciation,"

Vic nearly chokes on the water she'd been sipping.

He tips his head casually, "For lack of a better word, for as long as possible." He continues.

"Are you drunk?!" She exclaims exasperatedly, finally taking a good look at him. She takes in the slight flush and the eyes going glassy and realizes he must have been there a while.

"Little bit." He dips his head to the side and raises his hand, pushing thumb and index finger close together.

"How many of those have you had?" She questions, looking pointedly at the beer in his hand.

"Enough that Henry will take my keys if I try to drive myself home." He admits nonchalantly.

"Really?" She has to laugh, but isn't sure how amusing his state really is since he appears to have lost what little filter he normally has. Regardless, her anger and hurt are fading to the back of her mind as they speak.

"Well, please, do tell," she motions for him to continue. "I want to hear about someone else's problem tonight. What's driven you to drink?" She asks, grateful to have her mind distracted from Sean for the time being.

His blue eyes become just a little distant and he looks away, tracing the label on the bottle he holds.

"Cady's back in town." He finally says.

"Oh." She responds quietly, thinking of Walt's daughter and her recent absence from Absaroka. "I didn't know."

"Yeah, well, neither did I until this afternoon. I've been going by her place off and on, checking in, waiting for her to get back, I guess." He explains, wondering if he sounds as pathetic as he feels.

"I'm sorry. I guess it didn't go well since you're here." Vic doesn't really know what to say to him. She had thought his affair with Cady would end badly, but it really wasn't her business initially and Branch has been a friend to her lately.

He nods his head solemnly and waits for Henry to get back out of earshot after bringing Vic's order to her before finally answering.

"I must be an idiot, for not being able to just leave this be after she clearly wanted to be left alone." Branch continues, shaking his head.

It makes Vic feel bad for him, though she never would have thought it possible in the preceding months, and her voice softens a bit when she responds.

"You care about her; sometimes that isn't the easiest thing and a lot of the time it's not what's good for us, but that doesn't make you an idiot." She tells him, picking at her food and thinking sourly of her own idiotic tendencies.

"And it's not like I expected us to get back together, you know? I always knew when it came down to it she'd pick Walt over me, no questions asked; otherwise, we'd of at least talked about going public. I just thought our relationship would still mean something; we were friends before at least and now she wants us to stay away from each other, for a while anyway." He's rambling a bit, but she doesn't mind too much as it leaves little room for her to talk about herself, so she lets him continue with intermittent comments as she eats.

He talks a little more about Cady and some about how he doesn't know what to do about the race for Sherriff. He tells her that he only ran, because he didn't think Walt would and he thought he'd make a decent Sherriff. Does she? Vic tells him she's still reserving judgment.

There's talk of other things, too, but the conversation is mostly led by Branch's inebriated state, and when Vic thinks Sean has had a sufficient amount of time to get out of the house and Branch seems to be done for the night she tells him to mark off one of her debts, because she's taking him home.

Branch doesn't try to protest her offer, but Henry is quick to tell her Branch is welcome to sleep it off behind the bar after they close. When Vic refuses, however, he helps her get Branch into her truck and tells her to call if she needs any further assistance, though it isn't necessary.

The entire situation leaves Henry to wonder at the changing dynamic between the deputies and he resolves to pay close attention to them in the coming days.

So, I thought more would fit into this chapter, but it seemed like an okay place to end it. Thanks for reading and for everyone who is reviewing; I really appreciate it.

Please leave me a review and let me know what you're thinking. Thanks!