I look down at our hands and see that she isn't wearing her wedding ring. There is a pronounced white band where the ring blocked the sun from her tanned skin.

"Thank you, Vic." I release her hand and we get back to business. I can feel Martha's spirit moving about. I feel comforted and somewhat foolish standing here facing the wall with Vic. I feel foolish because I have had the love and support of true friends this entire time. The love and care of a brilliant daughter but instead of reaching out to them I bottled it all up inside. I stuff it down. I don't know why I'm like this. I just am. I am not particularly interested in changing it but I think I should pay more attention to how it affects those around me. My Martha was so smart and so brave. She knew how to draw it out of me much like Vic does.

"If Barlow is caught up in this somehow are you thinking Ridges shot Branch to get back at Barlow?"

Before I could answer, Vic says, "But why? Why get back at Barlow or is Branch involved?"

"I don't think Branch is involved but I wasn't convinced until he started down his own war path to seek revenge for Ridges. I think Branch is another victim in this whole thing."

Vic listens intently.

"After Branch was shot, I paid Barlow a visit, and told him that he may be the intended target. That Branch was shot…as you know…a way of getting back at him." Vic hangs on my every word. Her dark mahogany eyes are almost looking through me. "Vic, he wasn't fazed one bit. He made some cursory threat but he sure didn't act like a man that was surprised at the thought."

"Walt, have you considered that Barlow paid this Miller Beck freak to kill Martha because of her actions to stop the casino and all of the involvement with the Rez is well just coincidence?"

"I have."

"And"

I smack my teeth, again.

"I just don't know. Every time I get close someone gets dead."

I turn to Vic, "I haven't talked to anyone about all of this. Not even Henry knows my theory about Barlow. I sorta can't believe I'm talking to you about it."

She smiles and looks down. "But here's the deal. This is a powder keg. You have to be careful, Vic. I don't trust anyone with this information because I don't know who all is involved."

My voice doesn't project the rest of my thought, "because I nearly died when I lost Martha and I surely will if I lose you, too."

Vic turns back to the wall, her face flushes, as if she can hear the words in my head.

"Ok, let's talk this one out"

She starts, "Martha says hell no to the casino. She pisses powerful people off."

"Barlow, Malachi and Nighthorse all have something to lose namely money. But I arrest Malachi and he is in prison when Martha is murdered."

"Ok, but he has the long arm of the Brotherhood, so he can still be the power broker behind the whole thing."

"Yup"

"Why shoot Branch? What would they warn Barlow about by shooting him?"

"That's where I get stuck unless Barlow was going to spill the beans about what happened in Denver?"

"Why, why would he do that if he is so deeply involved?"

"Dunno"

"You think it has something to do with Branch?"

"Dunno"

"Where did Branch get all of his money for the campaign? He made a point of not taking his Dad's money."

The room is silent as we both think. Vic moves over to her customary position in the visitor's chair and I turn and take my chair once again scraping the tip of my ropers as I fold my long legs under the chair.

"Nighthorse. He sponsored Branch."

"Walt, sounds a bit crazy but you know what if Barlow didn't like Nighthorse getting his hooks into Branch. After all Branch is his only son and heir to the Connally name. All that macho aristocratic bullshit may have caused him to say something. Ok for Daddy to be corrupt but not his spawn. Something like that."

My hand comes up to my head and I smooth my hair down. I look over at Vic, thinking.

"Possible. Still, why shoot Branch?"

We sit in silence until I break it.

"Unless, Nighthorse went to Barlow and told him to contain Branch. Branch knew that Ridges was behind Cady's car accident. He figured it out on his own and only told me because Mathias caught him on the Rez investigating Ridges." I stand up and put my hand on the wall.

"In fact, Branch told Nighthorse about his suspicions."

Vic interjected, so "Nighthorse had Ridges fake his suicide and then have him shoot Branch as a warning to Barlow?"

"A warning to both."

"Branch goes on a psychedelic trip and Barlow shuts his face?"

"But I still don't get how the Rez is involved in Denver with Martha?"

"I think Barlow acted independently in Denver. When Nighthorse found out about it he contacted Malachi. Malachi has connections on the outside through the Brotherhood. Darius or Ridges went to Denver to clean up Barlow's mess with Miller Beck. Unbeknownst to them, I was there and later so was Henry, but one of them killed Miller Beck to cover for Barlow hiring him in the first place. Now, Barlow is in thick as thieves and has to play along with their game. Except, he wasn't expecting Nighthorse to cultivate Branch and that crossed the line. Barlow threatens to unravel the whole thing unless Nighthorse backs off and well that didn't go too well. They send a message to Barlow by shooting Branch."

"Shit, Walt. Where's Branch?"

"I asked Barlow to talk to him. To talk some sense into him."

"What the fuck? Why, after what you just said."

"First, because Branch needs to not be here. Second, because I am hoping that the pieces fall in place."

"Who the fuck knew?"

I look at her with a raised eyebrow that posed a silent question.

"Who the fuck knew, you skinny baggy jeans wearing Cary Cooper throwback motherfucker, were the baddest motherfucker in the county? Shit, Walt. I think you're right."

Just my fun theory. Enjoy the show tonight. I can't wait. I look forward to reading your feedback and back to more Longvic shipping after tonight's episode. Have a happy Monday!