The highway is more desolate than usual and the blackness matches my mood.
"Walter, come in."
"Yeah, Ruby."
"You need to get to the station. There's someone here you need to talk to."
"Who is it Ruby?"
"Just come in."
I step it up, it's not like Ruby to be evasive but I'm evasive as I enter the station not quite sure who to expect with my long gun hanging along my side.
To my concern and surprise Drew Jackson is sitting on the bench just outside of the main office. Ruby walks out and hands him a cup of coffee while I take a seat next to him on the bench.
"Drew"
"I bet I'm the last person you expect to see." The ceramic coffee cup settles in his hand.
"Maybe not the last but you would be on the list."
"Walt, I think we have some talkin' to do where Vic is concerned."
I sit and wait because I'm wondering how he happened to be here at the station waiting for me.
"She told me."
"So you don't object to her lateralling to Rawlins?"
"It's not my preference that she leaves."
"You talking as the Sheriff or as a man?"
I lean forward, my elbows on my knees, my palms pressed together. I straighten my back and slap my thigh as I think of my response.
"Both"
"Well, Walt where does that leave us?"
"Vic is free to do as she pleases Drew. You should know that."
He smiles his beautiful smile.
"She is a pistol I will give you that but I don't think she wants to leave." His eyes squint like it's painful to say.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that Drew. She's packing now."
"How would you know that?"
"I just left her house and she made it clear."
"Interesting." His eyes look down toward his ropers then back up at me.
"What's interesting?"
"I was on my way up to see her, left late because we had a late arrest, and she called me said she didn't think she should leave because you didn't take it too well. So, I thought I would come and talk to you man-to-man."
My lips purse. I'm not sure I would do the same but it does tell me that he doesn't want to lose her. That is evident.
"There's nothing to talk about Drew. Like I told you she can go I don't have a hold on her."
"Except that you're in love with her."
My eyes study the bannister of the old library, "The same could be said of you, Drew."
"Yes, it could and it is."
"Then why are you here?"
"She doesn't love me back, Walt. I'm not crying about it I accepted it and honestly Walt I could live with it because Vic isn't the kind of woman you can so easily just let go. With time, I would hope she would love me. Shit, her deep like is better than a lot of other women's love but hell I'm cut from the same damn pain-in-the-ass cloth you're cut from and I finally asked her flat out if she was in love with you."
Our eyes meet.
"She didn't answer me, Walt."
"Drew listen…."
He raises his non-coffee hand, "Give me a second."
He takes a sip and says, "She didn't deny it either and I'm old enough to know that I can't hold her. I'll just make her resent me in the end and I've known you since we were kids I couldn't lose her to a better man."
"She's not a prize, Drew."
He smiles at me and it spreads because he knows the joke is on me.
"Like hell she's not."
Drew stands up, stretches his thin frame a little taller and I meet him inch for inch. His hand is open, fingers splayed, and I take it.
"Take care of her you sonofabitch cause if you don't I'll kick your ass."
"That will be the day."
He puts his Resistol back on square and he looks more like Sam Shepard than ever before.
"You should know that she will always have a safe place to land with me."
I nod and Drew turns and makes his way down the stairs his long legs capturing the steps with ease.
I sit back down on the bench trying to reconcile my thoughts and my feelings not prepared to go through the door of the office to face Ruby and provide explanations.
Just as I ready to go back in Vic rumbles in looking ready to fight clad in her tank, jeans and leather jacket.
"You just can't say something like that and walk out." She is determined.
"Now's not the time, Vic." I turn to go back into my office and her words echo in my spirit. I stop, knowing this is it, there's no going back. I pull her against the door, the frosted glass creating a shadow of her profile, trap her against the door.
Our bodies are close, the heat penetrating and intensified by the close space, my arms blocking her path and they spread on either side of her.
"You're right about a lot of things, Vic. I can be insufferable. I can be self-absorbed, its true but I never want those that I love to suffer because of me, never. I don't want you to suffer, ever, but right now that's exactly what I'm doing."
"Oh, Walt" The genuineness of her remorse is palpable.
I press my finger to her lips. "Shhh." Our eyes are connected, "Don't apologize. Just listen."
My finger falls to the hollow of her neck, "I want the fact that you are here to mean I have a chance and if that's true I need you to stay. Stay here by my side. Can you do that?"
Her eyes grow larger, her mood distinctively shifts, she moves from the wall and presses her body against mine. It's an affirmation not an advance.
"Yes."
My arms drop and I lean down and ever so slightly kiss her lips.
"Ok, then."
I feel her fingers brush the side of my face as she says, "ok."
"Why now, Vic?"
"What?"
"You asked me now I'm asking you, why now?"
"Because I love you, even when I don't want too."
"Even though I'm not the man you want."
"You aren't. You are the man I deserve"
My head turns to the side like a dog with a question.
"If you haven't noticed I gotta a shit load of hang-ups." She smiles and says, "and so do you."
My head straightens with understanding.
"I wanted plain vanilla without complications and that's sure as shit not you."
I nod
My fingers find the back of her neck and I hold her like I wanted to so long ago in the hospital after getting a set of stitches from Chance's gunshot wound. Our mouths find each other and what ensues is soft, sensual, and velvety.
I don't know where this will lead and I don't know if my heart will be in tact when it's all done but she's right, we deserve each other, and that makes me one lucky son-of-a-gun.
I had two free days from work and knocked this story out. I don't anticipate having this much freedom for the next couple of months so please don't expect an update or another story for a while. Just thought I would put it out there and I hope you enjoyed this fic. I cherish your feedback and as always...#LongLiveLongmire