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After Sandy's death, Lee couldn't stay in Knockemstiff, couldn't stay in Ross County as sheriff. All he ever saw was his little sister in every dead body he had to work. So he left. He quit being the sheriff in the middle of the election cycle which he was sure caused a headache but he couldn't do it anymore.
Lee went west. Not out to California but further west than Ohio. The first small town he arrived in, he looked at the job ads, didn't see anything that suited him, so he moved on. He did that until he found a place that was hiring for deputies. Would Sandy haunt him there too? Maybe. But he wouldn't pass where her body was found daily. He wouldn't have to see the gravestone at the cemetery. Wouldn't have to look at the house they had lived in.
The county he applied in jumped onto his application. He had been a sheriff? Would he really be okay being ordered around again? Lee was agreeable to it. He had been in the Army; he knew how to take orders. He quietly thought to himself that maybe he could be sheriff here too. This place felt a little like Ross County in that way.
10 years later, Lee had been right. He just as easily became sheriff again. He knew how to charm. He knew how to be a gentleman and still be a man’s man. That's really how to get the votes. Sure, he had made a few promises which he knew he couldn't fulfill, but he didn't talk airy. He knew the people. He became sheriff 6 years after he moved to the county. Sure, that was longer than back home, but he had to learn these people first.
And learn he did. There was some initial pushback from the people in his early days as deputy. They didn't like new blood coming in and telling folks what to do. Some folks tried to form him into what they wanted, and Lee wasn't having it. He learned who the local drunkards were; he knew how to talk to them and talk them down from doing something stupid. He learned who the local wife beaters were too, and that pissed him off more than anything. They'd spend a night or two in jail and go right back home, and the cycle would start all over again. Every town has a place where a man can be entertained, and this place was no different except it was a house instead of a commercial establishment. To each their own. He learned the workers there too, and made sure they didn't get roughed up beyond their limits. They learned that calling on him for safety didn't come with strings attached. They owed him no favors.
Over the years, he learned someone else: you. Yours was a complex situation. You gave all appearances of a happy home, but he knew below the surface it wasn't. Over the years, he saw the tiredness in your eyes, the light growing dimmer. He hated it, but there wasn't anything he could do. He couldn't arrest the fella you were living with; he hadn't done anything wrong in the eyes of the law. Being an awful boyfriend and being lazy weren't a crime. He thought you were sweet as could be and deserved better (he'd gladly volunteer). Lee enjoyed your interactions, as infrequent as they were. Maybe sweet as could be was bias, but you made him laugh; you were your genuine self, and he appreciated that. Your comments were always welcomed by him.
Lee had been sheriff for four years, and he was itching to go home. It was time. He knew he had to face facts at some point. He made the announcement that he wasn't going to run for sheriff again and was slowly planning his escape- no, his return- to Ross County. He didn't know if he'd pursue law enforcement again once home, but he'd cross that bridge when he came to it.
“Hey, Lee.” A voice broke him out of his reverie. You.
“Hey, darlin’, what's going on?” He had always been fairly liberal with pet names and hoped the fact he enjoyed your company more than normal wasn't too obvious. Despite being sheriff, he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings from where he was sitting in his cruiser.
“Rumor around town is that you're leaving,” you said, reaching his car and leaning against the side.
Lee glanced up at you. “Ain't a rumor. I'll stay until the new sheriff starts, and then I'm gone.”
“Where ya going?”
“Back home. You wanna go with?” Lee was 50/50 on if he was serious or not. He wouldn't hate it if you said yes.
You just rolled your eyes. “Funny, sheriff. Hope the next one is a class clown too. Can you give me a hand with a project at the house? I need something moved, and you-know-who isn't home.”
Lee nodded. “Sure thing; hop in.”
Lee knew you would be the hardest part about leaving.
Shortly after the election that year, you found Lee again. You had spoken with him numerous times, but this wasn't just “how ya doing” chat. The new sheriff would start in just a couple months, and Lee would be leaving in the middle of the cold as fuck winter.
You cornered him in his - for the time being - office. “Hey, Sheriff.”
Lee honestly wasn't doing a damn thing that morning, so he had holed up in his office with a cup of coffee and the newest edition of Popular Mechanics. “Hey. Come on in. Shut the door. Have a seat.”
You shut the door but didn't sit, opting to stand with your arms crossed.
Lee hadn't the foggiest idea why you'd be here.
“Earlier this year, you asked me if I wanted to go with you to Ohio. Were you serious?” You weren't going to waste time with niceties.
Lee's eyes widened as he nodded. “Yeah. You thinking about it?” Even if he wasn't serious at the time, he certainly was now.
You gave a short nod. “I need out. I need change. And…you're not so bad to look at.” You weren't awful at flirting, but maybe you were this time. “I know you're interested.” You weren't stupid, you had seen his lingering looks, the way his voice changed when he spoke to you.
Lee just lifted his hands in a surrendering gesture because he'd been caught. “I am, but I know you're,” he just waved his hand because he couldn't explain your relationship, “involved, I guess.”
“There hasn't been much involvement for months,” you said. “I just don't want to jump from the frying pan into the fire.”
Lee nodded. “If you want to just be friends, I respect that. I can't say I like it much, but it's understandable and I can respect your decision. I'll help you out as much as I can. I plan on leaving second weekend of January. It's gonna be cold, and Ohio is no different. I'm guessing this isn't going to be public knowledge?”
You shook your head. “I'd prefer you to keep your silence about that. I don't know how much I'll bring because a lot of it doesn't mean anything.”
“You can drop things off as needed; that way it's not a production. I've got a spare key and no neighbors who'll gawk at you.”
“Alright. Then we're doing this. What'll you tell the folks in Ohio?”
Lee shrugged. “I'll cross that bridge in time. Don't worry about it.”
“Thanks, Lee. For everything,” you said as you backed up to the door. You gave a wave as you left.
Lee gave a small wave back and got to thinking. He understood your situation to a degree. He knew you wouldn't want to go from one relationship to another, but damn if he wouldn't try his luck as time passed.
January dawned cold and fierce. The first week brought on a blizzard, and Lee feared his plans would have to be pushed back, but the next week proved kind. He was able to load up a box truck and said his goodbyes to the people who welcomed him ten years before.
You had been able to bring things to his house over the last couple of months and felt comfortable leaving things as they were. You didn't tell your partner goodbye. To hell with him. You weren't sure he noticed things leaving the house or even a change in your disposition. You had told your closest girlfriends goodbye. You all talked about coming to Ohio for a visit when the weather was nicer and you believed them. They knew you needed a change. They had seen the tears. Your job wasn't an issue because you worked for the husband of one of your girlfriends and was able to put in a two weeks notice without hassle. As for the rest of town, well, they'd find out eventually.
The truck was rumbling in the dark in Lee's driveway when you arrived. Lee wanted to get an early start. Lee met you at the back of the truck to take the last little bit of your belongings and tuck them in. You turned and waved to your friend who dropped you off and then she was gone. You turned to Lee and took a deep breath. “Ready?”
He gave a nod. “Cab should be warm by now if you want to get in. I'm gonna do one last walkthrough.”
You waited in the truck while Lee finished up. This was it. This was happening. You were leaving this town. You didn't know what Ohio had to offer or if the people would even like you. People could be funny about out-of-towners. Lee had tried to reassure you that things would be just fine. He had told you of his correspondence with a few people back in Knockemstiff. One of them was a high school friend who became a realtor some years ago. He had found a house for you and Lee. At one point it had been a duplex but then an owner had taken down walls to make it one whole house. Lee said they could put up walls to make it a duplex again if you wanted your own space. At the very least, you'd have your own room.
Another correspondence was concerning jobs. There were a few openings similar to what you had done and as of last week, were still available. Lee was still undecided about his path. A part of him still saw Sandy in that car even though she had been gone so long. The friend who gave job leads for you also gave him some as well. He'd figure things out when he got there.
Lee got in the truck and glanced over to you. “You ready?”
“As I'll ever be.”
Lee reached for your hand and gave it a squeeze. Next stop, Ohio.