EPILOGUE

The air coming through the vents was finally warm, and she rubbed her fingers together in front of them. She'd pulled into a spot a little while ago, but had stayed in her truck, unwilling to step out until she'd spotted someone she recognized. Standing alone in the cold did not sound appealing.

There had been frost lightly blanketing the grass when she'd awoken that morning, and with darkness settling in, the chill had returned. There was still a week left in October, but it was already cold, so she just knew they were in for a rough winter. At the rate it had taken for her truck to warm up on her drive over, she probably needed to have someone take a look at the heater, before the deep freeze began.

Pulling the zipper of her coat higher, she scanned the parking lot through her windshield. There were more cars than she'd expected, and more people concentrated in one area than she'd seen in a while. Maybe she'd have to get out of her truck to actually find someone she knew.

And then she saw two familiar faces. She watched as they moved in sync toward the entrance, wrapped up in their conversation. The taller one held her attention. She lingered on his easy gate, and his relaxed posture, and his occasional smile, savoring her uncensored view from a distance. It wasn't often that she got to watch him without him realizing, or the concern that prying eyes would catch on, but this week she'd racked up an unexpected number of opportunities. Last Friday she'd had a chance to briefly take him in as he waited for her in the high school's front office. She'd been able to read his tension, even from her position in the hallway. Monday night, when he'd taken her home, after she'd agreed to sit at the kitchen table while he made her dinner, she'd had another chance to watch him. He'd been focused on chopping, and stirring, and coordinating multiple pans on the stove, but he had looked over at her from time to time, his concern evident. Now, as she watched him, he looked more at ease than he had in a long while. For a moment she forgot the cold. For a moment she just enjoyed the view.

A short distance from the gate both men paused, their heads turning in the same direction. She leaned forward in her seat to see who they had encountered.

Henry.

She watched as Walt clapped Henry on the shoulder. She could only imagine how Lucian was greeting him, knowing the former sheriff's proclivity for intentionally mixing up Henry Standing Bear's name. But Henry seemed to bear it well, an unwavering smile on his face. And then all three men turned their heads as AJ joined the group and immediately shook each man's hand.

Her door creaked as she opened it, and after reluctantly pulling her fingers away from the heating vent, she turned off the engine, placed her booted left foot on the pavement and stepped out. She was momentarily thrown by the cold air hitting her lungs, and causing her eyes to smart. She cursed herself for forgetting her gloves at home. Closing the door, she jammed both hands into her pockets.

As she walked between the rows of cars, she looked off into the distance. The sky was clear, the last light fading on the horizon as the day's blue transitioned to black. It would only get colder throughout the night, with no cloud-cover to hold in the heat. She pulled her zipper all the way up with a shiver.

Still a little way out, she saw two more familiar faces approach the group. As they neared, Henry looked over his shoulder, and then stepped to the side to give them space to join them. More handshakes and hugs were distributed, and when they all stepped back, the six individuals formed a circle. She could sense the years of familiarity between them, and wondered what it would be like to have close friends for that long. She also felt a pang of discomfort at being an intruding outsider.

And then Walt's head turned in her direction, and a smile spread across his face. Cady, who stood to his right, turned as well, lifting her hand to wave. "Vic!" The two Longmires each took a step back and gestured for her to join them.

When she made it to their sides, she was greeted by smiles and welcoming words. She felt Walt's fingers lightly graze hers before he pulled them away, and when she looked up at him he smiled.

"Hey."

"Hey."

"How was your day—"

"Vic...". Cady's voice cut in, interrupting his question. Vic turned to her right. "I want to introduce you to—"

"Theresa. Yes. We've met."

Vic nodded at the woman standing to Cady's right. Theresa stepped forward and held out her hand. "But Walt never formerly introduced us. Hi, Vic. Sorry I was in such a rush to leave last time we saw each other."

"And I'm sorry I interrupted your time together."

"You didn't. Not at all." It was impossible not to respond to the warm smile Theresa directed her way.

Lucian stepped into the middle of the circle. "Alright, alright, enough of this yammering. I'm freezing my keester off. Let's go find some seats." And he turned and headed for the entrance.

As the group began to move toward the field, Henry stepped toward her. "I am glad you could join us, Vic."

She thought back to her interactions with Henry the previous week, and wondered how much he knew about her and Walt, and where things stood with them. He leaned in closer so that only she could hear. "I am also glad you two were able to work things out."

Well that answered that.

She bowed her head, her cheeks slightly flushing. "Did Walt say something?"

Henry's expression was unmistakable. Of course Walt hadn't. "He did not need to. Knowing he had invited you tonight, and that you had agreed to come, was evidence enough."

"Who do you think Jameson is going to start?" It was AJ, pulling Henry back into conversation. Henry gave Vic a nod, before turning away.

Cady was the next to saddle up to her side. "So...first game."

Vic smiled. "Yep. Do you go to a lot of games?"

"I've been going to Durant High games for as long as I can remember. Dad and Henry always seemed to fit in at least a game or two each year, and brought me along. It's been fun returning to that tradition now that I've moved back."

At the bottom of the bleacher steps, Vic looked over her shoulder and saw Walt and Theresa chatting a few feet behind them, before turning back to Cady. "Cady, I'm...I'm sorry about Sunday morning. I never meant for you to find out that way—"

"Vic, it's ok."

"And I hope you know Walt wasn't trying to keep anything from you."

"I know."

"And if you're not ok—"

"I'm ok, Vic." She glanced back at her father, before directing her gaze back at Vic. "I'm more than ok."

Up ahead, Lucian had selected the row they were going to sit in, and now waited for them to reach his side. When Cady was still two steps down he gave her a smile. "You going to sit beside me kiddo?" He pulled back one side of his coat. "I brought a flask of the good stuff to help keep us warm."

Reaching his side, Cady threw her arm around his shoulder with a laugh. "Of course."

Cady stepped into the row after Lucian, followed by Theresa, Henry and AJ.

As Vic moved into the row and then turned to face forward, she felt Walt step in beside her, his fingers lightly brushing hers. She looked over at him, and found his eyes scanning the field, a slight smile on his lips.

"I'm glad you could come."

Enjoying the warmth of him at her side, she followed his gaze. "Me too."

After a few moments, she felt the cold air against her hand, and realized Walt had moved to his left, putting a little more distance between them. She sat down and he followed suit. "How was Sheridan?"

"Tom says hello, and wanted to know how you were doing. I told him you finally listened to me and took a few days off."

"Did you tell him that I only agreed to it, because you agreed to take some time off as well?"

Walt grinned as he turned to face her. "How was your first day back?"

"Kind of a letdown with no active cases, and you up in Sheridan County for the day." She looked around, noticing the bleachers were filling up. "Did you get a chance to see the boys?"

"We did."

"And?"

"Walt?"

Walt turned to his left, and Vic looked up. She didn't recognize the man standing at the end of the aisle, but apparently Walt did. He stood up with a smile, extending his hand. "Steve."

Steve clapped Walt on the shoulder. "What have you been up to?"

"That's Steve Richardson."

Vic turned her head toward AJ. "Who is Steve Richardson?"

"We went to high school together. He was a year behind us. His son is a senior here, and plays left tackle for the team."

"Football bonds you guys together, forever, doesn't it?"

AJ nodded. "I guess it does."

Vic rotated even more so that she was facing him. "How's Tuck doing?"

"He's..." AJ paused. "He's taking it day-by-day. Doctors say he's out for the rest of the season, but with rehab, they're thinking he could return for his senior year. He heads back to school on Monday."

She gave him a comforting smile. "That's good to hear."

He placed his hand on her arm. "Walt told me how instrumental you were in solving the case." He squeezed lightly before letting go. "Thank you. I can sleep better at night knowing the boys who did this to Tuck and the others aren't still out there."

Vic blushed. "Thanks, but it wasn't all me." She glanced over at Walt, who was still wrapped up in his conversation. "Walt definitely did more than his fair share."

"Yeah, but he said you found some critical evidence and made some key connections that cracked the case wide open." He lifted a bag from the bleacher beside him. "I want to give you something. In appreciation for what you did for Tuck and me."

She looked at him in confusion. "What I did?"

"I didn't know what Tuck was going through. He hadn't opened up to me. Walt said you were the one who put the pieces together and figured out how Tuck and Evan were connected, and then the two of you got Tuck to open up about what had been going on since the accident."

"Oh...um..."

AJ held out the bag. "We want you to have this."

Vic hesitantly reached out and took the package from him. She then plunged her hand into the bag and pulled out a hooded sweatshirt, with the words 'Durant High School' on the front.

"It belonged to Olivia, my wife."

Vic immediately held the sweatshirt out to him. "Oh, I couldn't possibly—"

"Please. Tuck and I talked about it, and we want you to have it. We've been packing up Olivia's clothes this week. When we heard you were coming to your first game tonight, we thought it would be right to give it to you."

Moved by the gesture, Vic looked down at the sweatshirt.

"Plus, you're the only one not wearing any Durant gear yet, so you might as well put it on so you don't get confused as a Douglas High fan."

Vic looked up at AJ's smiling face, and then glanced over at Walt as he slid in next to her. "Walt doesn't seem to be wearing any fan gear."

Walt grinned. "I'm wearing Durant socks."

AJ adjusted the brim of his ball cap. "I hope they're not the socks you wore back when we went here."

Vic smiled. "It wouldn't surprise me if they were. And does it count as fan gear if no one can see it?"

The two men laughed.

She looked down at the sweatshirt again. "Thanks, AJ."

Walt reached out his hand. "I'll hold your coat while you put it on."

She removed her outer layer, and handed it over to him before slipping on the sweatshirt. As she was sliding her arms back into her coat sleeves, Walt's voice rumbled beside her. "Anyone want coffee or hot chocolate?"

The group called out their orders. Walt touched her elbow. "Care to join me? I could use an extra pair of hands."

"Sure."

He stood and stepped back to allow her to go first, and the two made their way down the steps. At the ground level she turned and waited for him to join her side, before heading between the bleachers, toward the concession stand.

As they walked, Walt received numerous head nods and greetings from others attending the game. She wondered if it was his stature as sheriff or esteemed former football player that elicited such attention, and came to the conclusion that it was likely both.

She felt his hand at her back, and looked up to find him leaning in. "I haven't given you a tour of the school yet, have I?"

She smiled and shook her head. "Nope."

His arm slid down to her waist as he started directing her to the right. "Well there's a place over here, just beyond the last set of bleachers, we might want to start with."

She laughed. "Are you trying to take me to the spot where the kids make out?"

He grinned, but said nothing.

"As sheriff, and an elected official, I don't think blatant PDA is such a good idea. I'd be concerned for your reputation if we got caught."

"The game's just about to start. I think we'd have the place to ourselves."

She stopped and held his eyes as he continued to grin. "What's gotten into you?"

His fingers skimmed over the back of her hand. "Nothing."

"I don't quite believe you."

His hand paused on hers. "Well—"

"Sheriff. Deputy."

Walt pulled his hand away, and they both turned, finding Vice Principal Whitcomb standing before them. Charlie stepped forward and shook Vic's hand.

"Evening, Vic."

"Same to you, Charlie."

He then turned with an outstretched hand toward Walt, giving him a huge smile. "I heard the good news, Walt."

"Yep."

"You just leave Jameson's office?"

"Just about."

"Starting right away or waiting until next season?"

"We still have a few more details to hash out, but soon would be my guess."

"Have you had the chance to share the big news with Vic yet?"

"I was just about to when you happened upon us."

Charlie then patted Walt on the shoulder. "Well I'll leave you to it. And I'm sure I'll see you around." He turned toward Vic. "Night, Vic." As he stepped back he pointed toward the front of her sweatshirt. "I like your school spirit."

Vic watched him walk away, and then turned and arched an eyebrow in Walt's direction. "So what's the big news?"

"Well...I, uh..." He shifted his weight, as he cupped the back of his neck. "Ever since we learned why Tyler, Dylan and Andy did what they did to the other boys, I've been thinking about...things. I've been thinking about what I said to Tyler. That I'm on his side. That I want to help him."

"That's why you went up to see the boys today. To see if they're ok, and hanging in there."

Walt looked over at a group of kids, laughing as they made their way toward the bleachers.

"Catching those three doesn't keep what happened that weekend from happening again. Next time it will just be some other kids who've been pushed too far. And helping Tyler, Dylan and Andy now, as they deal with the ramifications of what they've done and what has happened to them...it's only going to go so far."

Walt hands went to his hips.

"I don't want to just be involved when it's too late. When the payback has been inflicted. That's not going to help much. So I've been thinking about how to get involved...in a way that I might be able to have a bigger impact, before things go too far."

"Evenin' Sheriff."

Walt looked over at the couple passing by and nodded. He waited until they'd moved past them before continuing.

"After I went to see AJ, to update him on the case, and let him know we caught the perpetrators, the idea came to me."

"And what's that?"

"The three of us, AJ, Henry and I, are going to help coach the football team. We went to talk to Coach Jameson this afternoon."

Again her eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Really?!"

"Yep. I think it will be good for the boys to have some more adults engaged in their lives and in tune to what's going on."

Walt looked over at the bleachers. "I also think it will be good for AJ. It will give him something positive to focus on, with all he's been through these past months. And I can be present more in his life than I've been. Henry too. I want to be a better friend."

His eyes dropping back to her, she saw the concern in their depths.

"And AJ sees the need as well. To get more involved. To be a support system for these kids. He wasn't aware how much Tuck was still suffering after the accident. How much he needed help. There are other kids out there who need help, and might not have anyone at home they can turn to. He also wasn't aware of the level of hazing going on within the football team. How Tuck contributed to it, even if he wasn't an active participant. We had hazing back in our day but it's nothing like it is these days."

He shifted his stance. "So, I...uh...I don't know how big that news is, but that's the plan."

"Hi there, Sheriff."

Again he looked over to a passerby and nodded. Once the man had moved on, Walt reached out and grabbed her elbow, gently pulling her to the fence.

Glancing around, he brought his eyes back to her, and then took a step closer. "So, what do you think?"

The corners of her mouth lifted. "I think it's a really good idea."

He paused, his eyes softening. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I wanted to tell you before anyone else did. Before the game started. It all just came together late this afternoon. I'm sorry you were tipped off by Charlie first."

"That's ok."

Their breaths visibly mingled together in the air between them.

"You cold? Your nose is pink."

She shrugged. "I'm ok."

He broke eye contact, his hands going to the bottom of her coat and pulling up her zipper.

She looked down. "You're covering my team spirit."

"You're here at the game, that's more than enough team spirit." He looked down at her hands. "Where are your gloves?"

"I forgot them at home."

Walt reached into his pocket, pulling out his pair and handing them to her. "They'll be a little big."

She pushed his hand away. "No. You need them. It's only going to get colder as the game goes along."

He looked down at the gloves and then held out the right one. "You wear one, and I'll wear the other. We can trade off later."

She didn't raise her hand to accept his offering. "Walt."

"I'll be ok. I want you to have it." He lifted her hand and slipped the glove on. It hung loose on her fingers, but was definitely warm. She watched as he put the other glove on his left hand.

"Ok?"

"Ok." She looked up, silently scanning his face, the corners of her mouth lifting.

He took a step toward her. "Now what are you thinking?"

She inched closer. "I'm thinking about that spot you mentioned, just beyond the last set of bleachers."

This time it was his eyebrow that arched. "I though blatant PDA wasn't a good idea. That my reputation would be at risk."

"That was before I knew that the guy I'd be making out with was part of the football team. That's too hot to turn down."

"So my reputation be damned?"

"Pretty much."

He laughed, and then looked over at the bleachers. "I think they're going to be wondering what's taking so long with the drinks."

"See, your reputation is already at risk. Might as well be doing what they're guessing we're doing."

He brought his gaze back to her, and then she felt the palm of his hand slide against hers as he wove their fingers together. She looked down at their joined hands, her eyebrow arching as she lifted her head back up.

"I was worried about your hand being cold."

"You were, were you?"

He blinked, and then nodded. "I was."

He smiled, and then she smiled, and then he stepped forward, giving their still clasped hands a tug. "Let's get those drinks so we can get you back to your seat in time for the kick-off. Don't want you missing out on the whole Durant high school football game experience."

THE END

Wow! If you got this far, thanks for sticking with this story all the way to the end. I can't believe it took me a year-and-a-half to complete this. Actually I can! This was the most complex of all my stories so far (with the robbery details, and character backstories, and mapping out how Walt and Vic's relationship would develop while being woven together with the case they were trying to solve), and it took a lot of time to plan out and write. I never anticipated just how challenging and rewarding it would be to write this story when I first came up with the idea...I was just thinking that I wanted to try my hand at writing a robust relationship story intertwined with a robust mystery. You'll have to let me know if everything came together ok for you as the reader. :)

A special thanks to anyone who favorited and followed this story, and especially to those who submitted reviews and sent PMs along the way. There were times I was considering abandoning it, or at least going on an indefinite break, but your interest motivated me to keep writing. You might not have realized how your actions were positively impacting me, but believe me they were.

Many, many thanks.