"Okay, thanks."
Emmett usually stuck to soda when he was driving, but...
"You'll be fine," Deacon assured him, throwing a bag of chips at him."Eat some of those if it makes you feel better."
Emmett smiled and opened the bag.
"You're eating those like a starving man.Didn't you have time for dinner before you came over?"Ace asked.
He laughed."It's not that—I've eaten.It's just that I never get a bag of chips all to myself.The girls always want to share, which means I get about three before the bag's gone."
"How are they doing?"Trip asked."I hate that I haven't had a chance to take my turn picking them up for the last couple of weeks.Things have been crazy at the hospital."
"They're doing great.They're loving getting to hang out with all of you guys.Although, Tanya was asking when they might see you again, Trip."
"I'll get myself back on the roster as soon as I can," said Trip.
Emmett held a hand up."Hey, I'm not giving you a hard time—just wanted you to know that they enjoy seeing you."He looked around at them all."None of you have to help out the way you do, you know.I know that, and I appreciate it."
Cash rolled his eyes at him."I think it's the other way around, bud.We appreciate you finally letting us hang out with them."
Emmett tensed.
"Shit—I didn't mean that the way it came out."Cash frowned."I mean—you finally accepting help.Is that any better or did I make it worse?Should I just quit while I'm behind?"
Travis laughed and threw a rolled up napkin at him."Yeah, you should zip it.Emmett knows what you mean, don't you?"
"I do.Thanks, guys."
He dropped his gaze and focused on eating the chips, waiting for the conversation to move on.He'd never enjoyed being the center of it.
"So, what's going on with the criminal element around here lately, Chief?"Cash asked.
"Not much," said Deacon."Things have been quiet lately, which suits me just fine."
"Are you ready to retire yet?"Ace asked.
Emmett was surprised to see Deacon look thoughtful—and even more so when he said, "I'm getting closer."
The thought of retirement hadn't even crossed Emmett's mind.They weren't that old.
Trip caught his gaze and smiled."If you're thinking what I think you're thinking, I'm the same.I don't know what I'd do with myself if I retired."
"Yeah, but as a doctor, you're useful to people," said Deacon.
"And as the sheriff, you're not?"Travis asked.
Deacon laughed."Not as useful as a doctor, no—and more likely to die in the line of duty.Now that I finally have a life I enjoy living, I want to stick around for it."
Emmett sat back and enjoyed the rest of the evening, mostly just listening to the others catch up on their lives and tease each other about getting old and settled.Deacon's words stayed with him.He might never have thought about retiring before, but he already had a life he enjoyed with the girls.He'd made decent money over the years.He didn't need to...
He looked up when Deacon's words cut through his thoughts."Did you hear about that one, Emmett?The break-in at the veterinary clinic over in Three Forks?"
Emmett sat up a little straighter."No—haven't heard anything about it.When was that?"
Ace winked at him."If you'd been listening, you would have heard it was last week."
"Oh—shit.And Parker Johnson up in Great Falls was hit a couple of weeks ago."
