Longmire: Second Chances

Chapter 1: Decision

Vic simply couldn't take the drama any longer. Walt's obsession with Jacob Nighthorse was affecting his very sanity, at least Vic thought so. She respected him, she thought the world of him, she loved him.

He had threatened the top man of the Irish Mob in Boston; the running feud with Nighthorse; the fight with Henry and how he was treating Cady. She didn't think he would ever hurt her physically, but she had to worry about the life growing in her womb, and she didn't want to take the chance.

Moretti had actually toyed with the idea of asking Travis to go with her. There was a better than even chance he was the father but as sweet as he had been to her since finding out, she couldn't imagine a life with a man who had the emotional makeup of a ten-year-old, thanks in part to his mother. And with his penchant for petty cloak and dagger, that wasn't the life she wanted.

She had wanted a life with Walt. That was gone now.

Vic stopped at her trailer, grabbed a few essentials and started driving East. She had no plan, but needed to get out of Wyoming. She was an emotional wreck from the pregnancy and from the damage to her bruised, battered, and broken heart.

She wasn't sure what her future held, but she was sure it couldn't be in either Durant or Philly. As far as she was concerned, those bridges were burned.

Before she left she had gone back to the station, making sure Walt was gone. She put two letters on his desk, leaving her empty Sig Sauer and her badge on her desk in plain sight.

_____________________________________________________________

Ruby, as usual, was the first one to arrive the next morning. She liked to try and organize the day for the officers as best she could, knowing that events would probably throw it off schedule, but it got her mind going.

She unlocked the door, and went to her desk, then headed toward the coffee machine that was behind Vic's desk. Ruby got fresh water, a new filter, and turned on the old copy machine...

.....Then she noticed items on Vic's desk: her service revolver and her badge. Ruby's heart went cold. She had a key to Walt's office and opened the main door into it. Ruby's eyes were met by two envelopes sitting on Walt's desk. She recognized Vic's handwriting on both.

She knew Vic was gone.

She went back to the coffee machine, poured herself a cup, sat down...and began to cry.

___________________________________________________________

An hour later, Walt walked into his private office entrance to begin the day. He felt dejected. He had wanted he and Vic to go back to his cabin or her trailer, drink, and talk about their feelings for one another. He hadn't expected them to jump into bed-although he had hoped for that-but wanted them to get on the same page.

The door opened, and he saw the two envelopes on the desk, figuring Ruby had dropped them there. Like Ruby, when he was able to read the envelope, he recognized Victoria Moretti's handwriting.

He felt a cold ball of fear in his stomach. He was literally shaking as he picked the topmost envelope up and opened it:

Walt Longmire,

Absaroka County Sheriff

Sheriff Longmire;

This is to inform you that I have resigned my position as Deputy at the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department effective immediately.

Victoria Moretti

As he sat down at his chair, a sudden headache seized him, wondering if this nightmare were true. He didn't want to open the second letter, but he knew he had to.