Chapter 7

Vic and Cady went back to their shared house and ordered pizza and opened a bottle of white wine. They were both worried. The doctor's words had hit home and they were beginning to realise that it was going to be a rough road ahead for Walt. Things would have to change and they both knew how Walt disliked change.

"Do you think he'll be alright?" Vic asked as they conversed. "I mean, will he still be able to work for the county?"

"I'm not sure. He'll have to undergo a medical I would imagine. I guess it would depend on how that goes. I can't see him retiring though. I know that for sure," Cady stated as she took a large mouthful of red wine.

There was a pause as they each considered the what lay ahead.

"And it gets worse, Vic," Cady stated.

Vic looked at her with a bemused expression.

"What do you mean?"

"I haven't told him about my new job yet," Cady explained.

"You got a new job? Congratulations," Vic said, raising her glass in celebration.

Cady didn't raise hers and smiled awkwardly. Vic lowered her glass, sensing she was missing something.

"I took a job working for Jacob Nighthorse," Cady told her.

Vic's jaw dropped. She wasn't expecting to hear that.

"Seriously?"

"Well, not working for him directly, but he's asked me to open a legal advice center on the Rez which he and the casino will fund. It's a great opportunity, Vic. I never thought I'd get such a chance here in Absaroka," Cady told her.

Vic was stunned. She knew exactly why Cady hadn't mentioned it to Walt as yet.

"Well, now I see why you haven't told him," she said, taking another sip of wine.

Cady nodded, sighed as though she had the weight of the world on her shoulders, then reached for another slice of pizza.

"He's going to hate it, isn't he?" she eventually asked.

"I don't know. Maybe he'll be glad for you?" Vic said, trying to say the right thing, but knowing it would never be the case.

They finished the pizza and polished off the wine and eventually retired for the night. Cady found it difficult to sleep. She was worried about her dad, his health and about having to tell him of her decision to accept Jacob's offer. The next few days weren't going to be easy.

The next day was definitely a tough one for Walt. Doc Weston visited in the morning on his rounds and explained to Walt that he was recommending a pacemaker to regulate his heartbeat. Walt, needless to say, was apprehensive.

"I can't, Doc," he told him. "I can't be sheriff if I have heart problems."

"Walt, your heart suffered damage during the surgery and if you want to lead a normal, productive life again, you need this procedure," the doctor explained.

"And if I don't?"

"If you don't then there is no way I can sign off on your fitness for duty report for the county," Weston told him.

Walt sighed deeply and looked the doctor in the eye.

"I guess that's decided it for me then," Walt relented, knowing he would do anything to be able to stay working.

"Good. I can schedule you for the procedure for tomorrow first thing," Doc Weston told him.

In the silence of the hospital room, when the doctor had left, Walt felt a little scared. His life had been turned on its head. A week ago he thought he had a shot at happiness. Now Donna was gone, his career was in jeopardy and he needed this surgery. He suddenly felt like an old man. In his mind, only old men needed pacemakers.

He was forced to take stock and consider his future. Right now, all he could think about was the fact that he may not be able to continue working. The question invading his mind was if he couldn't be a law man, what would he do? What would be his reason for getting up in the morning?

He was contemplating all of this when Cady stopped by. She greeted him with a kiss on the cheek and he smiled back at her. She was, without a doubt, his main reason for going on. However, today he sensed she had something on her mind. She was being sheepish.

"I've told Doc Weston I'll do it," Walt said, thinking she was just worrying about him. "I'll get the pacemaker."

"You will? That's great," she said, pleased he had seen sense.

That was the end of her reaction which slightly bewildered Walt. She was obviously distracted. He had to ask.

"Is everything okay, Punk?"

Cady knew this was her opening. She would have to tell him eventually. Why not now?

"Yes, everything's fine. So much has happened in the last week, Dad, I didn't get to tell you that I got a new job," she told him.

"A job? That's great, Cady. Here in Absaroka?" Walt asked.

"Yes. Sort of," she replied, pausing momentarily. "I'll be working for Jacob Nighthorse. Well, not working for him exactly. He wants me to set up a legal advice practice on the Rez financed by the casino."

Walt blinked and glared at her. He wasn't sure if he had heard correctly. He shifted uncomfortably on the bed.

"Eh, sorry. Must be the stuff they have me on. I thought you said Jacob Nighthorse," he said, assuming he had misheard.

"I did, Dad. This is a great opportunity for me to make a difference," Cady tried to explain. "Be happy for me."

"You have to be joking," Walt said angrily. "How could you do this to me?"

"What? Do what to you? I did this for me. I need a job, Dad, I can't keep going on the way I am. I deserve a career. I deserve a life," she told him emotionally.

"But Nighthorse?" Walt growled at her, feeling his blood pressure rising. "After what he did to your mother?"

"Dad, he didn't do anything to Mom. It was Barlow, remember?" Cady reminded him. "Mom was against the idea of the casino, not Nighthorse, but the casino is here now and it's not going away. Surely, putting the profits to good use would be what she would want."

"I think what she would want would be for you to respect your father," Walt snapped. He heard the words only after he had spat them out and regretted their sharpness immediately.

He saw his daughter's expression change in an instant. His harshness had really cut her. She stood up to leave, not wanting the disagreement to escalate, conscious of her father's condition. Tears welled in her eyes, but she was damned if she would let him see her cry.

"Cady?" Walt said as she turned away. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

Cady didn't turn back. The door swung closed.

"Cady?"

Walt pinched the bridge of his nose before drawing his left hand down face. What had he done? What had she done? He didn't know what to think and hoped that she would calm down and allow him to apologize.

He felt helpless. He needed to get home, get back to his own surroundings. There he would be able to think clearly and then everything would be okay. He considered how much he could do with talking to Henry right now, but remembered that he had pushed him away too. He didn't really have anyone left.

He wallowed alone in his room for a couple of hours and then he received a visitor and boy was he glad to see her. Vic entered the room and then stood in front of him with her hands on her hips.

"What the hell did you say to her, Walt?" she demanded, obviously annoyed with him.

Walt was a little taken aback. He didn't respond, just hung his head. He knew what she was talking about.

"Well, just so you know, you've really done it this time. Cady just asked me if I'd look after you when you get out of here, because she can't bear to be around you at the moment," Vic informed him.

Walt's heart sank. He already knew he'd blown it with his daughter, that what he said was wrong, but there was still a part of him that felt like she had betrayed him.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Vic continued crossly.

"What am I going to do? I think the ball is in her court. She quits working for Nighthorse, then we don't have a problem," Walt replied stubbornly.

"Jeez, Walt. Grow up," Vic snapped. "I don't blame Cady to be honest. You still treat her like a child. She's a grown woman. For God's sake, let her live her life."

"It's my job to protect her," Walt replied. "Nighthorse is doing this to get back at me. Why can't she see that?"

"Christ, Walt. Did it ever cross your mind that he just wants Cady because she's the most qualified person in Absaroka?" Vic suggested.

"I don't trust him," Walt muttered.

"No shit," Vic retorted. "Well maybe, while you're in here, you should get them to treat your acute case of paranoia as well? Here, I brought you a paper," she said throwing it on the bed beside him. "I have to go to work. I'll leave you to think about it."

With that Vic disappeared as quickly as she arrived, like a whirlwind. Walt was a little stunned at her vehemence. But deep down he knew he deserved it. He spent the rest of the evening quite lonely. His only visitor later that evening was Ruby, who came by to wish him well before his procedure the next day.

The thing about Ruby was she could see right through him. He was never able to keep much from her.

"Walter, what's on your mind?"

Walt paused before telling her what had happened that morning.

"In your heart, Walter, do you really think Cady would deliberately set out to hurt you?" Ruby asked.

Walt shook his head.

"She's your only family, Walter, and family is precious. You have bridges to mend when you get out of here and if that means swallowing your pride, then that's what you have to do, do you hear me?" she asked.

Walt nodded again. As usual, Ruby's words were wise.

"Tonight, you rest so you are prepared for your operation," Ruby told him. "Okay?"

Again, Walt nodded and thanked her.

"I'll pop by once I know you're over the surgery," she promised as she reached for her handbag and left the room.

Walt found it difficult to sleep that night. His mind was buzzing with thoughts of his daughter, of Nighthorse, his own mortality and the losses he had suffered. It was a restless night.

Morning had broken by the time he eventually dozed off. He didn't get to sleep for long before the nurse and hospital porter woke him to prepare him for his procedure. His chest was shaved and he was placed on a gurney to take him to theater. He felt a little anxious, but he was given some pre-operative meds before entering the OR and he soon relaxed. He remembered the anesthetist placing a mask over his mouth and nose and not much else until he woke up in the recovery room a while later.

"It went very well, Sheriff," his nurse told him. "We'll move you back to your room shortly."

Walt closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep pretty quickly. He woke again as he was being lifted into his bed. He felt pretty spaced out and assumed it was the medication. He slept for most of the morning and into the early afternoon.

He woke to find Vic sitting reading a magazine in the chair beside him.

"Everything went well they tell me," she informed him. "How do you feel?"

Walt considered for a moment, his thoughts were a little slower.

"Fine," he replied. "A little groggy."

"Well, the doc also said you should be good to go home tomorrow. How do you feel about that?"

"Sounds fine," Walt replied.

"Good," Vic said. "I'll swing by tomorrow morning and take you home."

"Thanks."

Much to Walt's sadness, Cady did not visit that afternoon or evening. She must really be mad, he thought. And he was right, she was fuming. Once Vic told her that he was over the surgery, she felt a little better. Despite everything he was still her dad. She just couldn't be around him at the moment.

However, hearing that he was being released from hospital the next day, she realized that his house was still a crime scene so she hurried over to try clean up a little.

When she reached the cabin, she noticed Henry's truck outside. He greeted her from the veranda, screw driver in hand, as she drove up.

"What are you doing here?" she asked curiously.

"I was speaking to Ferg and he told me Walt was coming home so I thought I might fix the door, maybe clean up some of the blood," Henry told her. "I was shocked to see the amount of blood he lost. Some of the boards are heavily stained and may have to be replaced eventually. I will try sanding them down first."

"That's very thoughtful of you," Cady acknowledged.

"How is he?" Henry asked, feeling sad that he hadn't seen his best friend in days. Even sadder that he wasn't welcome.

"Vic said he is over his surgery and is ok," Cady replied. Henry frowned sensing there was something not being said.

"You did not see him?"

"Let's just say that his paranoia has managed to push me away too," she told him. "I told him about my new job and now he thinks I've chosen Jacob Nighthorse over him. He more or less gave me an ultimatum. For once, I chose me, so I won't be visiting with him at the hospital and I won't be here when he gets home."

"Okay," Henry said, nodding. "So what are you doing here now?"

"Same as you. I didn't want him coming home to a mess," she told him.

"Two hands are better than one," he said as she stepped through and into the living room.

She saw the stain on the floor and the smeared blood spatter on the wall and door frame into the bedroom. She could see where someone had tried to wipe it away.

"I got as much as I could with the mop and cloth. It is going to need bleach and eventually fresh paint," Henry told her.

"I'll get the bleach," Cady said, heading to the kitchen.

Together they spent the evening scrubbing and cleaning, leaving Walt's cabin in pristine condition for his homecoming.

Back at the hospital, Ruby was as dependable as ever. She called by and shared the local gossip with Walt. He listened courteously, but wasn't really listening. His mind was on his daughter and how he could fix things between them.

To be continued...