Cady doesn't answer her phone. I think about what Dorothy said on her message and hang up as I hear Cady's recorded voice begin. I trust the read Dorothy had on my daughter and don't bother calling her home phone. If she turned off the ringer on her cell because she's asleep then she doesn't need me waking her up right now by calling her land line. Cady has had a rough couple of weeks working on Henry's case and it sounds like she may have stayed with Vic at the hospital overnight. I take a deep breath and call the hospital directly. The switchboard transfers me to ICU where I'm able to talk to Ruby. She says a lot of things but the only words I remember clearly from the conversation are brain swelling and medically induced coma. I tell Ruby to stay with Vic and that I will get there as soon as I can.

I don't want Nighthorse to see my mental state slowly unravel so I retreat to my office to think and find my boots wearing a path back and forth across the floor. I try to get Ferg on his cell phone and am only greeted with frustration when I hear ringing coming from his top desk drawer out near the reception area. Where the hell is he? I know I don't have a cell phone, but what is the point of having one if you don't carry it with you? I need him back at the station. I can't go to the hospital and leave Nighthorse locked up here alone. Branch's current status has left him unavailable and I can't make any exceptions on the suspension right now, especially since it sounds like he has hired a lawyer to fight it. My other option would be Vic and... well... I rub my hand across my head. I've got to get to Vic. I don't want to take the time to transport Jacob to another jail, nor do I want to wait for someone to come in from another county to help. I could call Matthias, but I'm not sure I would ever get Jacob back if I transferred custody to the Tribal Police. I can feel the desperation rising in my chest. I decide to call Henry. He's helped with Sheriff's Department matters before and considering the circumstances I think he's my best option.

I dial the Red Pony. Darla answers. I hear the jukebox playing in the background. She says she's only heard from Henry once today, early this morning. He called and asked her to come in and open for him. She can always use the extra money so it was no problem for her to help out. She said she asked when she should expect him and he told her he had something very important to attend to and he did not know when he would make it in. Thanking her for the help I hang up and try Henry's cell phone. I experience a brief glimpse of relief when he answers on the third ring.

Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, Henry picks up his phone from the seat beside him. He glances at the caller ID and recognizes the number. He pulls Rezdawg over to the side of the road before hitting the answer button with his thumb and bringing the phone to his ear.

"Henry."

He turns his head to look at Ferg sitting at the other end of the bench seat, "Walt."

"I need you to come to the station right away."

"What has happened?"

"I don't have time to explain, just get here, as soon as you can!"

Henry hears a click as the call is disconnected. He closes his eyes and lets a small sigh of relief escape his lungs, "He is at the station."

"Do you think he knows about Vic?"

"I am not sure."

"Does he have Nighthorse with him?"

"I do not know. He said that he needs me to get over to the Sheriff's Department. We can only hope that Jacob is alive and well, whether or not he is with Walt."

"What about going to Jacob's house?"

"I believe with the sheriff located, that may no longer be necessary."

There isn't any time to waste once Henry and Ferg arrive at the station. I don't even bother to ask where they've been. I hand my one remaining deputy a sheet of paper with a list of the charges I'm planning to file against Nighthorse in case his attorney shows up. I put on my hat and turn to leave without giving either of the men an opportunity to respond. I hear Ferg trying to get my attention, "Not now Ferg. You know what to do." We will have plenty of time to talk later.

As I head toward the stairs I hear Henry's voice, "I think he knows about Vic."

Vic doesn't have the best track record with staying out of the hospital since she's been my deputy. She had only worked for me six months when she got shot with the tranquilizer dart while helping Omar track a bear. It was the first time I got the idea that things weren't all that great between she and her husband. It had been easier to keep her at arms length before acquiring that knowledge and I've been fighting the urge to draw closer to her ever since. Shaun was out of town then too and Vic had asked me not to call him. This time she won't be able to ask me that, but even though I believe Shaun should know what's going on with his wife, I'm not sure I should be the one to do it. I don't think I could keep the concern out of my voice and I don't want to give away my true feelings. I'll ask Ruby to call him if she hasn't already. She has a soothing way about her and he's never accused her of having inappropriate feelings for Vic. Hell, Shaun may already be there. I pull over to the side of the road and put it in park. I rub the stubble on my chin with my hand. Damn, what if he's already there? I can't go charging in like a man worried about the woman he loves. I've got to calm down.

Okay, if Shaun were there, Ruby would have left and come back to work, right? Yeah, she would. He's working in Alaska right now. It's not like that's just a short trip from Wyoming. It would take some time for him to make it back. Whether he's there or not, you've got to get it together, Walt. I take a minute to breathe and center myself before easing the truck back onto the street.

For the rest of the drive I can't help but think about the last time I was at the hospital with Vic. It wasn't that long ago, but in some ways it feels like a lifetime. That day I finally accepted that my heart belongs to her. I knew then and know now that she belongs to someone else, but I can no longer deny what I feel. I just have to figure out what I'm going to do about it.