Late-afternoon sunlight is filtering through the windows by the time Kate unbuckles her tool-belt. After treating herself to a much-deserved shower in the guest bathroom, she heads into town to run a couple of errands.
When she walks into Milliways, a brown paper bag in one hand and Bill's truck keys in the other, she's more than a little surprised to spot the sheriff himself.
She approaches his table, a teasing smile curving her lips.
Something she can't quite identify in Bill's voice almost gives her pause. He hasn't said all that much about Deputy Bradley, and while she's been curious, she hasn't wanted to push.
"For being so welcoming," she says, her eyes on his. "He said you've gone above and beyond to help him make the transition."
Bradley told Dave something similiar when he first showed up, and it's obvious the new deputy has made an impression on Kate.
Letting go of Bradley for now, he turns to her question.
"It was alright. Less bitchin' than usual, at least." He gives her a half smile, then takes another bite of peach. "He said the council feels better with another body in the department, an' we're 'makin' a good public presence'."
Bill shifts his voice to mock Kimbrell, then offers Kate a bite from the peach.
"An' then he gave me the phone. 'Said it's about time I moved into the next century."
Almost certain Bill is displacing frustration by focusing so intently on Deputy Bradley, Kate's relieved to hear this instead. Having braced for bad news - or, at least, the less-good variety - she relaxes by fractions.
She plucks the peach from his sticky fingers, breathing a chuckle.
"Like I said," she says, amusement lighting her eyes as she glances at the cell, "he's not wrong."
There's still a lot to do, Kimbrell is still on his back, and Bill is still bugged by Bradley, and bothered by the man showing up at his house.
"I won't be home late tonight, at least. An' I might even feel up to goin' with you in the mornin'."
As Kate's threatened promised in the past, she's been getting him up a couple times a week to join her excercising. She of course slows the pace, and Bill's actually been enjoying the early morning walks with her.
A slow, warm smile steals across her lips; she loves every morning he forsakes the snooze button to share a sunrise with her.
"You might be dragging me out of bed tomorrow," she says with a light laugh. She rolls one shoulder, stretching out the telltale stiffness lurking behind the blade. "I've been working on the bathroom all day."
His eyes flick to her shoulder, and concern touches the smile and teasing he gives her.
"Not overdoin' it, are you?"
He still doesn't feel quite right about her project, though he hasn't said anything against it.
He knows it gives her something to do, and she's enjoying the work, but it's a tough job and he can't help worrying some and feeling like he should be helping with it.
When she walks into Milliways, a brown paper bag in one hand and Bill's truck keys in the other, she's more than a little surprised to spot the sheriff himself.
She approaches his table, a teasing smile curving her lips.
"Hey, stranger."
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The sweet smell of ripe peach fills her nose; glancing up, she refocuses on Bill.
"He called it a thank you."
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"Thank you for what?"
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"For being so welcoming," she says, her eyes on his. "He said you've gone above and beyond to help him make the transition."
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"He said that?"
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Pulling his soda close again, he tilts his head at her.
"What else did he say?"
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"Did everything go okay today with your meeting?"
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Bradley told Dave something similiar when he first showed up, and it's obvious the new deputy has made an impression on Kate.
Letting go of Bradley for now, he turns to her question.
"It was alright. Less bitchin' than usual, at least." He gives her a half smile, then takes another bite of peach. "He said the council feels better with another body in the department, an' we're 'makin' a good public presence'."
Bill shifts his voice to mock Kimbrell, then offers Kate a bite from the peach.
"An' then he gave me the phone. 'Said it's about time I moved into the next century."
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She plucks the peach from his sticky fingers, breathing a chuckle.
"Like I said," she says, amusement lighting her eyes as she glances at the cell, "he's not wrong."
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"You're takin' his side?"
Shaking his head, he heaves a sigh.
"My own girlfriend... I want my peach back."
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As she swallows, her expression softens.
"Really, today went pretty well?"
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There's still a lot to do, Kimbrell is still on his back, and Bill is still bugged by Bradley, and bothered by the man showing up at his house.
"I won't be home late tonight, at least. An' I might even feel up to goin' with you in the mornin'."
As Kate's threatened promised in the past, she's been getting him up a couple times a week to join her excercising. She of course slows the pace, and Bill's actually been enjoying the early morning walks with her.
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"You might be dragging me out of bed tomorrow," she says with a light laugh. She rolls one shoulder, stretching out the telltale stiffness lurking behind the blade. "I've been working on the bathroom all day."
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"Not overdoin' it, are you?"
He still doesn't feel quite right about her project, though he hasn't said anything against it.
He knows it gives her something to do, and she's enjoying the work, but it's a tough job and he can't help worrying some and feeling like he should be helping with it.
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"I promised I wouldn't."
She leans forward, resting one elbow on the table.
"And I'm not, sheriff."
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