The day had been an absolute shit show. His boss, the Sheriff Walt Longmire, had only lost his wife six months ago. And Walt had called out of work again that day. Branch and the other deputies didn’t say anything or make a fuss over it. Everyone who knew the Sheriff’s late wife had loved her, and they knew how hard it was on Walt. But they still needed him to do their job. No they weren’t children, they didn’t need their hands to be held, but they needed their boss around.
It had been the most violent crime in a long stretch of time. It was the type of crime that didn’t fit quiet Absaroka County. A wealthy resident had been shot and several valuable items had been stolen from his home. And they had no leads whatsoever. A ghost very well may have committed the murder.
Branch was tired, and frustrated, and he needed a beer. It was only fitting that he go to the Red Pony bar. It was the early evening, and the Cheyenne bartender Henry gave Branch a minuscule smile in greeting before moving to the beer taps. Branch grinned back, his strides the leisurely steps of a simple cowboy now that Branch was in his civilian clothes. Not that his jeans and button up shirt were all that different from his uniform. Even his boots and hat were the same. Branch had initially planned on a couple of beers, dinner, and going home early.
But there was a new guy in town. Durant, Wyoming was small enough that everybody practically knew everybody. And Branch didn’t know this handsome fellow with the dark hair, sinfully long legs, and tattoos. He swallowed thickly, taking the beer Henry slid to him, his blue eyes avoiding Henry’s knowing stare. Henry always knew when Branch found a particular woman or man attractive, and it humiliated him to no end. But so what if there was a new good looking guy in town? Branch at least had to try!! Not only that, but he could always pass off the small talk as his duty as Deputy.
“Howdy,” he greeted smoothly, his drawl probably noticeable to the other man, but it didn’t overwhelm his speech, and took a seat. He deliberately left an empty stool between them in case this handsome stranger didn’t feel like talking. But he bit the bullet and continued his introduction to test the waters. “I’m Branch. You picked the best damn bar in all of Durant. If you’re hungry, try Henry’s burger. You won’t want to eat nothin’ else. You, uh, new to town?”
