CHAPTER ONE: Dick Pics

A police car in the distance was parked in front of Mr. Johnstone's house. This was a not the first time Waverly had seen this kind of display on her walk to work. Nearly every other month, teenagers would break into his shed; usually minors looking for a warm hiding place to drink the booze they stole from their parents' cabinets. If not trespassers, then hoodlums might be caught defacing the poor shed in graffiti. The fact that it was always repainted white continued to make it the perfect target.

As Waverly neared Mr. Johnstone's property, she spotted a uniformed police officer whose face was hidden by their Stetson. She picked up the pace to see if it might be the same officer whom she had met at the saloon earlier in the week. Recognizing her braided, auburn hair was the only confirmation she needed; without a doubt, it was Officer Nicole Haught.

Waverly could not quite explain her intrigue. There was something about this officer's assertiveness that drew her in and intimidated her all at once. Now that she was mere steps away, she dared to get her attention. "Looks like the artist strikes again!"

The officer looked up from her notepad and smiled. "Well, if it isn't Miss Waverly Earp!"

Waverly marvelled at her impossibly pronounced dimples.

Officer Haught looked back at the graffiti. Spray painted were impressive artist renderings of Richard Nixon, Ringo Starr and Richie Rich. "It is certainly a motley crew, anyway."

"I'd say." Waverly examined the three portraits a bit longer before their meaning became clear. "Oh my God… they're all Dicks!"

Officer Haught's eyes widened. "Pardon?"

"I mean, they're all named Richard, right?" Waverly began, "and the nickname for Richard is 'Dick,'" she clarified. "So, maybe, what the vandal was going for here were drawings of a bunch of, well… dicks." Pronouncing the word gently did not make it sound any less vulgar.

The officer looked back at the shed to consider Waverly's explanation. "Dick pics. Great," she said without enthusiasm as she flipped her notepad shut. She bit her cheeks as if to repress laughter.

"What can I say? It's a small town," Waverly rationalized. "When cow-tipping has lost its thrill, what else are you going to do, am I right?" she asked playfully.

"At least it's a thinker." Officer Haught tucked the notepad into her pocket.

"A taste of Purgatory charm," Waverly boasted. "What brings you here anyway? Was it the bustling economy, or the beautiful weather?" She wrapped her scarf tighter to exaggerate her sarcasm.

Officer Haught took in her surroundings. "I suppose I came for the job," she looked back at Waverly and smiled, "but, maybe I stayed for the view."

Waverly grinned as she looked away shyly. She instantly felt flush and could not quite explain why. She could only hope that it did not show.

"Have you been here all your life?" Officer Haught asked as she leaned against the cruiser.

"All my life," Waverly answered. "I'm a certified Purgatorian," she said a bit too eagerly. "I was supposed to head east after high school, but, with everything going on at the time, I decided to stay put. Instead, I got my degrees in ancient languages and history through online correspondence." At the fear of sounding arrogant, she bit her tongue from saying any more.

"Smart, cultured and cute!" Officer Haught sounded genuinely impressed.

Bashful, Waverly played with a strand of her hair. "It's just as well that I stayed. I mean, I had a boyfriend here anyway." She shook her head. "Have… have a boyfriend, that is."

The officer nodded.

Waverly realized she was oversharing, so, she pulled the proverbial chute. "I should probably get going or I'll be late for my shift," she said abruptly.

The officer adjusted her Stetson. "Can I give you a ride?"

For reasons beyond Waverly, the thought of being in close quarters with the officer gave her goosebumps. "Oh, no, it's okay. I'm just going down the street."

Officer Haught had already opened the passenger door. "No trouble at all. Hop in."

After only brief hesitation, Waverly willingly surrendered and stepped into the cruiser.

Officer Haught started the car. With the hot air blowing, the subtle, sweet fragrance of her perfume wafted over Waverly, leaving her feeling inexplicably flustered. Waverly made one last attempt to bail. "I really don't have that far to walk. I am just heading to Shorty's and it's only a few blocks –"

"No problem." Officer Haught assured as she put the car in gear. "I'll get you there in a few."

The drive was short. Three minutes, if that. Pulling up to the saloon, the rusty old sign for Shorty's was showing its age. It was an unsolicited reminder of just how many years Waverly has spent bartending. Her past in Purgatory suddenly felt suffocating.

Once in park, Waverly thanked the officer for the lift and tried opening the passenger door. She wiggled the handle but, could not get it to open.

"Oh, that handle sticks a bit." Officer Haught unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned right into Waverly, reaching across for the passenger door. "Sometimes you just have to give it a tug."

The unexpected proximity left Waverly studying the officer's features; her warm hazel eyes, her notable cheekbones and flawless complexion, the way she bit her lip as she concentrated... Waverly was so caught up in her fascination that she nearly missed her cue to exit the car.

"Until next time, Waverly Earp." The officer's smile was genuine; again with the dimples.

Waverly stepped out of the cruiser. "I hope to see you at Shorty's sometime, Officer Haught," she said more lasciviously than expected.

"Please, call me Nicole." She tipped her hat.

Waverly smiled as she closed the passenger door. She watched the cruiser pull away, passing the same old shops that had lined the street for as long as she could remember. Her life in this small town had long felt stagnant. Yet, Officer Haught's recent arrival to Purgatory filled her with a certain optimism that change was on the horizon. As she watched the cruiser shrink into the distance, Waverly just knew that Nicole would somehow be a part of that.