A/N Thanks for stopping by to check out my story. This fiction takes place in rural Georgia in 1922. I'm trying very hard to keep it historically accurate, and have people speak and act as they would have in rural Georgia in the 1920's. In this story Merle is 34 years old, Beth is 20 years old. I thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy.

While the rest of his family slept peacefully upstairs, Hershel sat at the dining room table studying his bible and praying for God's good guidance.

Here they are living in a country that's enjoying a huge economic boom, but in rural Georgia in 1922, the economy has been in decline for years.

The boll weevil had invaded the cotton crops, and times were tough for everyone in their area. Hershel considered his family blessed. Although there was no extra money available for luxuries like gasoline for the family's old jalopy, or fabric for his wife to sew clothing for them; they were still able to feed themselves.

His older daughter Maggie, and another local girl, Andrea, had moved to Atlanta to work as bank tellers. Although it worried Hershel to have his daughter so far from home, he did feel some comfort in knowing that she and Andrea were sharing a room in a good Christian Women's Boarding House. And truth be told, it was one less mouth to worry about feeding.

That left he and his wife Annette, their son Shawn, who was a good worker and the type of young man Hershel knew would always be able to find a way, and his youngest child Beth still on the farm.

Beth was the one he worried about. She was quiet, and delicate. Hershel was getting old and he worried about who would care for his younger daughter when he no longer could.

He had asked their longtime farm help, Otis and Patricia, to leave the small house they'd been living in on the Greene family farm, and move into Maggie's room. It was the only way he could think of he'd be able to keep them with his family.

He'd come up with a plan to try and rent the little house out for some desperately needed cash. After more than a month of the preacher announcing the availability of the house at church, and a 'for rent' notice being posted in the general store and at the post office, no one had come forth.

The family was nearly out of basic goods, such as flour and sugar, and as head of the family, he was duty bound to provide for them.

At supper earlier in the evening, Shawn had informed him he had renters lined up that could pay absolute top dollar to rent the house. That's where Hershel's dilemma came in. The potential renters were none other than the Dixon brothers, 34 year old Merle, and 24 year old Daryl.

Although Hershel had not had any run-ins with the Dixons, he was well versed on the Dixon family reputation, he knew good and well what the brothers did to earn a living. Hershel had been sober for a long time, and he believed in temperance, not to mention that prohibition was the law. How could he allow a pair of moonshiners to live on his family farm?

He had to believe that maybe God had provided him with the gift of renters who could pay good money, thus providing his family with the basics of life they needed.

He decided he would allow the young men to move in, providing they agreed to keep their "business operation" off his property, respect his family, and cause no problems on the farm.

The older brother, Merle, came to speak with him. He was dressed in a nice suit of clothes and gave a firm handshake, "Thank ya kindly for agreein' ta meet with me about rentin' yer place Mr. Greene. I know our kind surely wouldn't be yer first choice, but I'm here ta promise ya, this here would be our home, ain't none of our business gonna be conducted 'round here. I know yer a God-fearing sober man, I got respect for that. I'm looking for a nice place for my baby brother, don't like him livin' out there in the mountains full time. Been hopin' ta civilize the boy a bit."

"Merle, I'm going to give you a chance, but you have to promise there will be no moonshining here on the property, including storage. I'm not an unreasonable man, I don't mind if you keep a jar around for your own consumption, but I can't have any business conducted here on my farm. My other request is that you respect my family. You know Shawn, but I also have a daughter, Beth, she's a sweet girl, innocent to the ways of the world, and there's my wife and another woman, Mrs. Smith, living here, I wouldn't want these women exposed to anything unsavory. Are we in agreement?" Hershel looked him in the eye.

"Yes sir, I understand. I got no desire ta upset you or yer family. I promise ta respect all yer wishes and I'll make certain Daryl does too. I appreciate ya givin' me and little brother a chance," Merle gave the older man a sincere look.

Hershel slapped both palms flat on the table as he stood, "Okay then, it's done," and he held out his hand. Merle gave him a firm hand shake and handed the older man the cash.

xxxx

He got his first look at her the next day when he was out polishing his car. She was hangin' sheets on the line. She was so small, hardly anything to the girl, and she was dressed in an old fashioned kind of way. Her dress comin' nearly to her ankles, and instead of that loose no-waist style that was suddenly all the rage, hers was more traditional, fitted at the waist and bodice, and dang, it had to be 95 degrees out and humid as hell, but the neckline of her dress was all the way up to her chin, and the sleeves long and tight at her wrist. Her hair was in a modest bun, but strands of it had come undone and hung loosely at the sides of her face.

He was intrigued and he wanted a better look, but he wasn't quite ready to take a chance of upsetting the old farmer.

It was the second time she'd seen him. The first time she'd been peeking out her window when he was talking to her Daddy about renting the little house. Just the look of him made her heart beat faster. He seemed a little older, but that didn't bother her any. He was handsome in a rugged looking way, and there was something about him that made her feel like something was fluttering deep inside her. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off him.

Now, as she hung the freshly washed sheets on the line, she could see him wiping down his automobile with a cloth. She noticed him looking at her as well, and it made the blush come to her cheeks and she felt oddly excited by the fact that he noticed her.

She wished somehow she knew more about the man, she wanted to know him.

xxxx

They had their moonshine still back up in the mountains, remote, very remote, and surrounded by woods. It had once been run by their Uncle, the brothers took over when he passed.

Daryl was in charge of the actual distilling of the 'shine, and they kept it to whiskey and brandy. The brother's had a reputation for having the finest and purest 'shine, not just in the state of Georgia, but the whole region. So with prohibition as the law of the land, and folks still thirsting for a drink, business was excellent.

Merle was the salesman and he had the knack for it. Folks liked doing business with him because they knew they'd get their supply, and they knew he'd deliver on quality. He also did some of the deliveries, and all the payment collection.

He was friendly, with a broad smile and a ready joke, but Merle had a no-nonsense reputation, don't cross the big man. He seldom had to ask for payment twice.

The brothers supplied several secret drinking clubs in their county and beyond, plus other businessmen, and even individuals. They knew many of their deliveries then made their way out of state up North to fancy "private clubs". That didn't bother them none, as long as they got their money, they were satisfied.

Local farmers and even the authorities knew what they did but folks turned a blind eye. Why? They bought their grain from local farmers, and farmers were having tough times. They also bought peaches and apples for their flavored brandies. Ladies seemed to like that better than whiskey.

As for the authorities, they got a little cash from time to time, and most of them had rural relatives that benefited from what the brothers did. They had no desire to shut the brothers down.

It seemed to be a win for the whole county.

Unbeknownst to Hershel, Shawn helped Daryl out with the distilling, and occasionally did deliveries for the brothers as well. Merle understood, the boy didn't want to defy his Daddy, but a young man needs a little jingle in his pocket.

Merle had a brand new Model-T with closed cab. A very comfortable car. He made business calls in it, and used it for his "every day" transportation. For deliveries and visiting the still, he had a 1922 Chevrolet Panel Truck.

He and Daryl hadn't had much of anything growing up, they were ill cared for, each had a threadbare shirt, a worn pair of overalls and most of the time went without shoes. There were also the beatings and they had the scars to prove it.

Now that he was a success, it was important to Merle to always dress well. He was quite dapper, and took great pride in his appearance.

But little brother? Merle worried over him. He loved the boy, and had pretty much taken care of him since the day he was born, but little brother was as wild as the day is long. Hell, he hardly ever even spoke, just a lot of grunting, snarling and shoulder shrugging. Hell, Merle had to get after him to keep his hair cut. That's why he thought it would do Daryl good to get out of the mountains, at least part of the time. Maybe that would help civilize him.

Lately though, the boy had taken up with a young gal every bit as wild and uncivilized as him. Oh she was a pretty girl, in a wild way, but she wore dungaree pants and plaid shirts like a man would. Her blond hair went down her back in a plain long braid. She could shoot a gun, sling an arrow and handle a knife like a man. She was probably the perfect girl for Daryl. And Merle wanted the boy to be happy, but now he felt he had to look out for the both of them.

Here name was Billie-Jo Rouse. When Merle had asked what the hell kind of name Billie-Jo was for a girl, Daryl had gotten half snarly and grunted, "Name's Wilma Josephine, ya idiot."

Merle had to remind him, "Don't ya be sassin' yer big brother boy, I gotta look out for ya, it's my job. Now, how'd ya meet this wild little gal?"

"Was out huntin' squirrel and she was too, she asked if I'd come along with her. I liked her, so I did," Daryl never looked up when he spoke, he just shrugged his shoulders.

"Well if ya like her, and she treats ya nice, that's alright. Be sure she knows that she's ta keep quiet about the business and where we're at. And little brother, don't y'all be making no babies now. You talk ta me 'fore ya start gettin' that friendly. I'll 'splain to you how ya avoid that kinda trouble," Merle didn't think the boy knew anything about women, so things could go wrong in a hurry if the two a them got all heated up.

Daryl's neck and ears turned bright red and he was studying them damn boots real close, all he said was, "Shut up Merle."

Merle just shook his head, "I told ya boy, don't be backtalkin' me."

Not that he had a world of experience himself. Uncle Jesse had gotten him broke in young. Took him to some red light house and paid a gal to show Merle what it was all about. Merle was 16 years old so it seemed just right to him.

When Daryl was 16 and Merle tried to take him to the same place Daryl got real upset and wouldn't go in, said he didn't want ta mess with no women. Merle just guessed the boy was too shy and too nervous.

Billie-Jo might be a good thing in Daryl's life. He just wished they weren't so much like half-tamed animals.

And for himself, well there wasn't much for free lovin' around. Most gals expected a ring, and he wasn't inclined that way. He figured he wasn't really cut out for that married life. Sticking' with one gal, coming home on time for supper every night, and raisin' babies.

There was them party gals down at the little drinking spot just past the county line. They was loose, you just had ta buy 'em drinks and they'd show you a good time. That had been alright for a while, but lately it just left him cold.

xxxx

He wanted to get on the farmer's good side. He was a little worried that once old man Greene caught sight of Daryl and Billie-Jo he'd ask the Dixons to leave.

And then there was the young woman, try as he might he couldn't get her off his mind.

He'd see her pickin' flowers, talkin' to the farm animals, hangin' laundry, and every time he saw her all he could think about was he'd like ta get ta know her. Like ta maybe kiss her.

An idea came to him.

Saturday morning he saw the farmer mending one of the fences. He went up to him and said, "Hey there sir, I know you and your family go ta Sunday services and I'd like ta offer ta take ya in my automobile. That's a mighty long walk and I don't mind a bit."

The man stared at him for a minute, then replied, "That's a real kind offer, especially if you intend to stay for the service. Do you?"

Merle was wondering what he'd been thinking when he came up with this idea, but he said, "Yessir , I'm lookin' forward to it, yes indeed."

"Well then you'll take Sunday dinner with us after. We leave for service at 9:30 in the morning; we're usually back just before noon. My wife, Mrs. Smith and my daughter Beth will have dinner for us by 1:00. I'll expect you."

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, he'd get to spend a little time around her.

Hershel Greene was an observant man. He'd seen the way Merle Dixon looked at his daughter, and he'd seen the way his daughter looked at the man. Hershel wasn't going to let anything happen without his knowledge.

xxxx

Merle had the car at the farmhouse door at 9:20 Sunday Morning. He had on his good brown suit, a new tie and his shoes were spit shined.

She came out with her Mama and the woman named Patricia Smith, they were followed by Hershel and Otis Smith.

Merle removed his hat to greet the ladies, they helped Mrs. Annette, Mrs. Patricia and Miss Beth in the vehicle.

Otis and Shawn got in the very back, and Hershel rode up front with Merle. He was wishing it could have been her, but he really hadn't expected that.

He was a bit surprised when Hershel escorted her to the piano. A young man stood close, he looked to be about her age, and Merle disliked him instantly.

Once the congregation was seated, the young woman began to play the piano and sing "Shall We Gather At The River." Merle wasn't a religious man, but the way she sang that hymn he thought maybe she could convert him.

The young man sang the harmony, and although Merle didn't like to admit it to himself, they sang real nice together. He was relieved there didn't appear to be any spark between 'em.

He could not take his eyes from her, and he didn't miss the way she would try to discreetly glance at him, and when he did catch her looking, her cheeks blushed the prettiest shade of pink.

He was a little nervous about eating Sunday Dinner with the farmer and his family, he wasn't sure how he was going to fit in with the group, but everyone seemed friendly enough. He talked hunting and fishing with the men, while the women prepared the food to serve.

It being a Sunday, their day of rest, there would be no cooking. The food had all been prepared the day before. It was a modest meal, but it was delicious and he got to sit across from her.

For dessert there was apple pie and the farmer let it be known that Miss Beth had picked the apples and baked the pies.

All Merle knew was that was the best damn pie he ever ate.

xxxx

Merle was wracking his brain trying to figure how he was gonna get a chance to spend time alone with that pretty little farm gal.

He'd been working hard to make a good impression on her Daddy, hoping he'd see his way clear to let his young daughter keep company with a full grown man like Merle.

He took to attending church every Sunday. He didn't much mind sitting through Sunday services, seeing as how that little angel sang for the congregation every week. Oh it bothered him a bit that she sang with that young hayseed, Jimmy, but he still didn't think they was interested in one another.

And today, when she sang "In the Sweet Bye and Bye" he just didn't know how anything or anyone could be any better than that.

He decided he could wait no longer, he was gonna do this the proper way. He was gonna ask her Daddy if he could court her.

A/N Thank you so much for reading, please review xo