Longmire: Second Chances

Chapter 10: Demons

She had never doubted that she would reconcile with Cady, Ferg, Henry, Eamonn and Zack. She had been sure of it. She thought Travis might have been tougher than it turned out to be, with the unique, painful bond they shared.

Now came the hard part.

Now came the time to try and reconcile with Walt Longmire.

She had called Walt to let him know on the fourth day of her visit, she was coming back over. She just didn't want to sit in his place and talk. She wanted to be outdoors for a while, breathing the pristine air and try to reconnect with this man who was rooted in this place.

Walt had prepared a picnic for them, and suggested they go riding his horses to an open area closer to the mountains. Vic had never become a great rider, but she gladly accepted, and they trotted the equine's across the road.

Walt had laid out a blanket for them to sit on, and had brought lunch from The Pony, and spread it out. They ate heartily and took in the breathtaking sight. Of course, a six pack of Rainier had accompanied them. It was pleasant and harkened back to better times.

They had finished most of their lunch and were each on their second Rainier, and Vic knew it was time.

"I appreciate you telling me about everything you went through just before and after I left, Walt." She meant every word. "I had been so focused on my own hurt and pain that I hadn't considered what might be happening to you."

"I wouldn't imagine you were thinking anything even remotely good about me at that time, Vic", he said evenly, no emotion in his voice. "I had become so self-centered by then. But you could have reached out before you left."

Vic's eyes flared a little. "I couldn't, Walt. The night before I wanted to reach out when you walked in the station. We were the only ones there, and you could have reached out then. But you closed yourself off behind your door, just as you had been closing me out for months."

Walt knew she was right, but he also knew unless they both let it all out and bare their souls, they would never get over this.

"The two letters weren't 'reaching out', Vic: that was simply a way for you to not face me and simply slip away."

Vic's anger was being held by a thread. "Walt, when you walked in that night and ignored me and never said a word, then closed that door, that was the last straw! That was your chance, and you fucking blew it!" She held up her hand as he started to speak. "I know, I know you told me you had come out of your office with that whiskey bottle, but goddammit Walt, it was like everything else-you simply waited to long. You could never simply do right by me. That's why I left."

"I never did right by you, huh", Walt said with biting sarcasm. "I only mentored you; I only was by your side each time you got injured; I only saved you and Sean from being killed by that nut Chance Gilbert, and comforted you afterward."

"And then you begged me to stay when you delivered the divorce papers to me, Walt", she said with exasperation. "Don't you get it? When you did that, after I had chosen you over my wounded husband that night, I thought you had chosen me and wanted me to stay because you wanted to start a relationship with me. What else was I supposed to think? It was written all over your face!"

"You were never ready!", she finally yelled. "Never! I felt humiliated that night Lizzie came by when I was there, but I thought she was right-that you were saving yourself for me, for God's sake!", she paused to take a breath. "Tell me that when we were in Arizona at that hotel that you didn't stare at the door, like I did, and wanted to rip it open, like I did, and want to share a night of making love, like I did!"