There is more duplicate action between these two chapters as the stories continue to move toward one another.

It's wrong to be so excited and I'm probably going to hell for it but I don't care. I haven't been this happy in a long time and I'm going to let myself enjoy it.

I decide to forego wearing anything different this morning and just opt for my regular work clothes. That way I won't have to change before I go on duty later today. It also sends a message to anyone who might be paying attention that all this is simply a formality. I slide into my usual spot and put my truck in park. Since I'm not here in an official capacity I lock my gun up in its case and have to fight to keep from skipping to the door. My obvious exuberance earns me a raised eyebrow from the eternally cheerful security guard stationed just inside the door.

"Good Morning, Vic."

"Hey, Chad."

"Didn't you get the message about Judge Conner being out of town? His daughter-in-law had the baby yesterday. He and his wife went to meet their new grandson so today's docket was moved to next week. Judith called Ruby to make sure you all knew. Didn't want you to waste your time coming over here when everything had been rescheduled.

"Yeah, I got the message. I'm here for Judge Simms today."

"Oh, okay. Well, family court is still in session. You need to testify for a CPS case?"

I ignore his question and start walking, "Have a good day, Chad!"

I expected to have to answer some questions about my presence here today but hadn't been able to come up with a suitable answer for them ahead of time. That's why I just ignored Chad and moved on. He'll find out soon enough if he hasn't heard it from someone else already. It's not anyone's business why I'm here or what's going on in my personal life. But, it is a small town and you know what that means. While I know I will have to deal with it coming out eventually, I'm hoping to avoid as much scrutiny as I can today so we can finish this up as quickly and smoothly as possible.

People are used to seeing me without Shaun around. That means it's not always apparent that we have split up and I have found myself growing weary of fielding the usual polite questions people ask about him when I am out and about: How is he doing? Where is he working this week? Taking off the wedding ring has done nothing to dissuade people either. I mean, I haven't exactly worn it regularly since coming to Wyoming. I've never really liked to wear it when I was working, even back in Philadelphia. I guess I always felt it was better if the assholes I worked with, both the perps and the other officers, didn't know too much about my personal life. It's hard enough being a cop and a woman. If you're someone's wife some men view you as even less capable and if you're someone's mother? Well hell, you are probably incompetent so why even bother showing up to work at all? It may be the 21st century but women's lib still has a long way to go if you ask me, especially in the field of law enforcement. That's one of the things I've always liked about Walt. He's never treated me as less than just because I have ovaries and a uterus.

I make my way up the stairs to Judge Simms' chambers. He seemed to understand why I was interested in keeping a low profile today. Coming to the courthouse to finalize my divorce somewhat qualifies as shitting where you eat but it's not like I had a choice of venue. The judge said he has finished up divorce proceedings in his chambers before and considering the circumstances, and the fact that Shaun and I are in agreement about everything, he was more than willing to meet us there at before he has to be in the courtroom for his regular docket. I glance around the hallway, wondering if Shaun's arrived yet. I haven't seen him since the night both he and my mother showed up unannounced at my home. I'm so glad I won't have to worry about that anymore. He has everything out of the house and his transfer to Alaska is complete. He flew in just for this occasion. In fact, today may very well be the last time I see him at all. It's not like we have a reason to stay in contact after this is finished up. I reach the judge's outer door and stop. Taking a deep breath, I grab the doorknob and turn the handle.

Walt wanders out of his office when he realizes that it's 10:00 and he has neither seen nor heard from his deputy today. It concerns him more than a little. They've developed somewhat of a routine over the last few weeks and as a result, he's pretty much known where she is most of the time even when they're not together. He walks over to Ruby's desk where she seems particularly engrossed in some paperwork. He clears his throat, "Where's Vic?"

Ruby keeps her eyes on her work, "She took half a day. Should be in by noon if not before."

"She didn't say anything about taking time off."

Ruby makes a note on the legal pad sitting on her desk, "She did to me. Besides, she couldn't have told you, you were gone yesterday."

Oh, that's right. Still, she didn't mention anything when he talked to her on the phone last night, "Is, uh, everything okay?"

Ruby stops what she's doing to look up at him, "Yes, Walter. She's fine."

Walt can tell by the tone of Ruby's voice and the look on her face that he'd better quit while he's ahead, "Okay then."

He walks back to his office and picks up the phone to call her but thinks better of it and hangs up without dialing. If Vic wanted him to know what she was doing this morning she would have told him. He tries to shake himself out of it but still wonders why. Why didn't she tell him? He tries to focus on the unfinished pile of work on his desk but isn't sure he'll be able to accomplish much. By the time his stomach tells him it's time to head to the Busy Bee Vic's still not back yet. Feeling a bit cantankerous he doesn't bother to tell Ruby he's leaving and steps out.

Out front, Ruby understands why Walt is all bunched up about Vic this morning. Though they stay professional at work she's seen the signs that things have changed between them. Walt's gotten used to knowing where Vic is pretty much all of the time. But, if Vic didn't tell him what was going on this morning she doesn't feel it's her place to spill the beans. Vic will tell him him when she's ready. Ruby just hopes everything went okay this morning.

"I thought she was supposed to be here by noon?" It came out as more of a growl than he had intended. He was more than a little agitated to find that Vic's truck was not parked out in front of the station by the time he made it back to the from lunch.

"She was, Walt. She came in, was here for about 20 minutes and then went out on a call."

"Oh."

"Do you want me to get her on the radio for you?"

"Uh, no. That's not necessary, Ruby. Thanks."

"Sure. All your post-its are on your desk. They're pretty self explanatory but let me know if you don't understand something. The top one's from late morning. When I brought it to your office you were already gone."

"Post-it's? I was only gone 45 minutes."

"Crime doesn't take a lunch break, Walt."

"Very funny."

Ruby watches Walt head into his office with a knowing smile. He's got it bad and she loves it. She could tell by the relaxed look and smile on Vic's face when she came in to work that the hearing went off without a hitch. Now she and Walt can both finally get on with their lives. Unfortunately, the look on Walt's face is anything but relaxed right now. Well, he needs to realize he can't be the one in control all the time. She knows he's going to have to give that notion up if he's going to have a future with Vic.

Back in his office Walt snatches the post-its and quickly counts them. Five. Damn. Well, maybe they'll be a good distraction from everything else running around in his head right now. He starts the one from this morning first. Ruby was right, it's pretty simple to resolve, though a little time consuming. He sticks his head out his door, "Ruby, I'm going out to the Bar 12 ranch."

"See you when you get back."

Walt is thankful for having somewhere else to focus his thoughts and by the time he makes it back to the station, he's stopped obsessing about Vic. He continues on his next tasks which thankfully just require phone calls and is pleased that he has actually been able to accomplish something. When he flips to the last post-it around 5:00 he freezes. This little yellow square doesn't hold Ruby's signature scrawl. This one was written by someone else entirely, but he still recognizes the handwriting. Walt reads it over several times:

Red Pony

6:00

That's it. There's no further explanation to find. He checks the clock. If he leaves soon he'll have time to run home, take a shower and make it back. Walt wonders if leaving him a note is Vic's way of snapping her fingers just to see if he'll come. He smiles when he realizes it doesn't matter. He'd go even if it is.

Once again, one chapter has been sitting patiently, already written while the other gave me fits but finally they have both come together, at least somewhat. Looking forward to seeing what's in store at the Red Pony tonight...