Redneck Takes a Wife

by JCS Writer

REPOST-move to new account. "Do you want her?" he asked his brother but he knew the answer. Beth meets Daryl & Merle as the ZA begins, Daryl shows interest, so Merle takes her with them. Most would see it as abduction, he saw it as keeping her safe, and keeping his brother happy. Begins before Epis1, then runs parallel to canon through the episodes. Beth/Daryl, Merle/Carol later.

2. Chapter 2

Redneck Takes a Wife 2 – Falling

Jen S – Who owns nothing related to The Walking Dead. I usually throw something in here about the creators and writers, but I'm still furious with them.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

In the first moment of waking, Beth forgot. She stretched, surprised to find herself on the sofa instead of in her bed. If she ever fell asleep down here, Shawn would carry her up. Then her eyes opened. And she remembered. All of it. The alarm of realizing her mom was too sick for her to handle. Then the terror of finding her dad gone. The shame of having to walk into a bar to see if he was there. Then the horrible fight inside. Those men… those creatures… those dead men. The insanely normal nervousness of sitting between two strange men. Then her mother getting shot on the porch. Hearing the shot that killed her brother. Panic began to rise up. Gasping, she pressed both hands against her mouth to try to keep the screams inside.

"Take it easy, Sunshine," Merle said from the chair. He was sitting in her father's chair smoking a cigarette. Daryl sat up right in front of her. He met her eyes silently. She managed to calm down and sit up. "That's a girl. I know shit is hittin' hard right now, but you gotta keep it together, OK?" Beth nodded. "Good," Merle nodded as he finished his cigarette and pinched it out. "Besides the cattle and horses, what else here needs tendin' to?"

"Chickens."

"Can you handle them while Daryl and I feed the rest?"

She nodded, "That's my job. We all got jobs to do. Mine is chickens."

"Well then, get dressed and do your job," Merle said as he kicked the foot of the chair down and stood up.

Beth went upstairs to her bedroom. So much had changed it seemed weird to be walking into the same room, with the same things in the same places. The book on her bed, opened half way that she'd been reading when she fell asleep yesterday. Just yesterday. She took a deep breath and gathered her things to go clean up and dress in the bathroom.

Outside in the bright sunshine, she had to stop again. The world was still going. Birds chirped, bees droned, the horses were whinnying to each other. Nothing cared that her mother and brother were lying dead in the cellar. That her father had abandoned her. The chickens fluttered around as she stood there, anxious for their feed. She made her mind go blank, and fell back automatically into her normal morning routine. She fed the chickens and gathered the eggs. She took the eggs inside and sat them onto the counter. Her next trip outside was to the fruit trees growing near the horse corral. Off in the fields she could see Merle and Daryl using their truck to distribute the feed to the cattle. She went back inside and started breakfast.

Merle and Daryl stomped up the back steps to the door off the kitchen. Beth nodded to them and gestured through to the dining room where a full breakfast was waiting. Bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and biscuits. She sat the tray of butter, syrup, and jams into the center of the table then went back to the kitchen for the coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice.

"Nothin' like Southern hospitality," Merle grinned. He dropped into the seat at the head of the table and poured a cup of coffee. As Daryl and Beth sat down, he bent his head, "Lord we thank you for survivin' the night to see this new day and for the substantial meal we are about to consume. Amen."

Beth and Daryl echoed, "Amen."

They ate in silence. Merle watched Daryl watching Beth. Or rather staring down at his plate with frequent peeks up at her. They finished, and the men helped clear the table.

Merle walked over to the phone and picked it up. Once the dial tone sounded, he dialed 911. When the recording came on, he hung up and dialed the number for the Sheriff's office posted next to the phone. He let it ring two dozen times before he hung it up. Merle sighed, "We're gonna bury the bodies."

"What?" Beth cried. "You can't!"

"Have to," Merle replied. "It's summer, we can't just leave them in the cellar. You pick a place and we'll dig the graves. If this thing blows over, they can be dug up for a funeral."

Beth pressed one hand to her mouth, the other to her stomach. She turned and ran outside to drop to her knees. Daryl followed, standing behind her as she gasped for air. She managed to calm down without puking.

"Things are different," Daryl said gently. "We gotta be different too."

"I don't want to. I want to wake up from this nightmare. I want to have Momma fussin' because I stayed up too late readin'. And have my brother tellin' me how to gather eggs like I ain't been doin' it since I was five. Daddy…" her voice broke.

Merle walked to stand in front of her, "Want to or not, this is how things are. Your Momma and your brother died from this infection last night. Your Daddy walked out leavin' you here with them. You got me. You got Daryl. And we will take care of you, but you gotta be strong now. You really ain't got no choice in the matter."

After a few shuddering breaths, Beth pushed to her feet, "My Daddy planted those trees there when my Momma moved in. So she could see them bloom when she was in the kitchen. Can you put them there?"

Merle smoothed her hair back, "Yeah, Sunshine, we can put them there. You go inside and clean up the kitchen. Daryl 'n me'll take care of them."

Beth watched them digging as she washed the dishes from the meal. Twice she walked over and picked up the phone, dialing 911 but still just getting the same recording. She left the dishes to drain and walked down into the cellar.

Her mother and brother lay side by side on the floor next to the stranger. She knelt down and unwrapped the sheets to stare into their faces, each marred by a single shot to the forehead. There was very little blood but there was some. Her mother was still in her nightgown, her brother in his t-shirt and boxers. Decisive, she grabbed a laundry basket and walked back upstairs. Outside, Merle was using her father's small backhoe to dig next to the trees. Daryl was nailing planks of wood together to make crosses.

Beth went up to the second floor. She retrieved her mother's favorite church dress and a set of underwear. Her wedding ring and cross necklace from the nightstand where she'd placed them when the pain set in so bad that the feel of them on her skin was unbearable. She gathered her mother's makeup, perfume, and hairbrush. Then she went to Shawn's room and got his favorite old suit. Momma fussed if he wore it to church, but he loved it because it was comfortable. She pulled towels and a fresh bar of soap from the linen closet. Finally she went into her sister's room and pulled a dress out of the closet.

Back in the cellar, she filled a basin with water. She sang softly as she gently bathed all three bodies, wiping away dirt, sweat, and blood. She dressed her mother and brother in their clothes, the stranger in her sister's dress. Brushed out their hair and carefully applied her mother's makeup to both women. Finally she slipped her mother's wedding band onto her finger and the cross around her neck.

"All done?" Daryl asked.

He'd walked down and sat at the base of the steps, just watching her. She nodded. He left, returning with Merle to begin carrying the bodies up. They laid them side by side in the long grave. Three crosses lay nearby.

"You wanna say somethin'?" Merle asked Beth.

Beth teared up, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that I couldn't take care of you enough to make you well. I'm sorry I fell asleep when you needed me. I'm sorry I ran. I'm sorry I wasn't good enough." She lowered her head and wept.

"Darlin' this ain't your fault," Merle said. "None of it. You didn't make them sick. And it don't look like you could do a thing to help once they caught it. And your Momma 'n brother would be happy that you ran. That you lived." He caught her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "They're not dead 'cause you're alive. It don't work that way. God don't work that way." He let her go and let her calm herself down. "Anythin' else to say?" She shook her head.

"I heard you singin' downstairs," Daryl said. "You could sing for them."

Beth nodded and wiped her face. She took a deep breath and began, "When the rain is blowin' in your face; And the whole world is on your case; I could offer you a warm embrace; To make you feel my love.**" She sang the song all the way through to the end as Daryl and Merle shoveled dirt into the grave.

"You a Dylan fan?" Merle asked as she finished.

"My Momma is… was," Beth replied softly. "She and Daddy danced to that song at their wedding. It's her favorite." The men planted the crosses side by side in the dirt. "I pulled clean clothes for you both. Stuff so you can take a shower. It's all in the bathroom at the top of the stairs."

"Thank you, Sunshine," Merle nodded. "You first, baby brother."

They sat down at the dining room table again. Showered and in fresh clothes, Daryl and Merle tucked into the takeout from Eden's. Merle had heated it up while Beth was showering and had the table set when she returned. Beth ate some of the green beans but poked listlessly at the rest.

"Somethin' wrong with Eden's cookin'?" Merle asked.

"I don't eat meat," Beth whispered.

Merle swore under his breath. He grabbed the plate of meat and potatoes and slammed it down in front of Daryl. Then he went into the kitchen and filled a plate with potatoes and beans and brought it back to her. "You gotta tell me that shit. I can't read your mind. Eat."

Beth ate slowly but managed to consume about half of what Merle served her. When it was obvious that she was done, Merle took the plate and split what was left with Daryl. The men cleared the table as Beth began to wash the dishes. She sat the last plate into the drainer and looked outside. Her gaze went to the three crosses next to the freshly filled graves.

Her vision tightened to a pinprick and she sank to the floor.

"MERLE!" Daryl shouted as he saw Beth fall. He ran to her, "Beth?" Her eyes were open but stared at nothing. Merle stooped and grabbed her wrist. "Merle what's happening? Is she sick?"

"She's goin' into shock," Merle replied. "Tryin' to deal with too much at once. Let's get her up to her room."

Daryl gently gathered her into his arms and carried her upstairs. Merle led him into her small room and pulled back the quilt covering her bed. Daryl laid her down. Merle walked out, returning a short time later with a medicine bottle and syringe. "What's that?"

"Sedative," Merle replied. "She needs to rest."

"Will she be OK?"

"Dunno," Merle admitted. "Depends on how strong she is, baby brother. You sit here and keep an eye on her. I'm gonna go check outside, be sure everythin's secure before nightfall. If you need me, yell." He walked outside and lit a cigarette. "Fuckin' hell." He walked over and closed the barn up before patrolling around the house. He stopped next to the horse corral where the three animals came over to greet him. Finally he walked over to the graves. "Could use a little help here if you're able. That girl seems to have some fire to her, but right now it's burnin' pretty low. Ain't much I can do if it goes out but put her next to y'all. Don't want to do that. So Momma, Big Brother, find a way to kick her in the ass, OK?" He finished his cigarette and dropped it to the dirt to grind it out.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth woke up in the middle of the night. The light on her nightstand was burning. She sat up and the quilt slid off of her. "Hello?" she whispered.

"You awake?" Merle asked, rising from the floor.

"Yeah."

"You hungry?"

"No. Thirsty though."

"Bottle of Gatorade next to yah."

Beth glanced over and took it to drink deeply. She glanced around the room.

"Daryl's sleepin' in the other room," Merle explained.

"I'm here," Daryl said from the doorway. "Heard you."

Beth flushed under their combined gaze, "I'm sorry I'm such a burden."

"You ain't a burden, girlie," Merle replied. "You just reached your limit. It happens." He glanced over to where Daryl hovered in the doorway. "I'm gonna go crash in the master. Daryl'll sit here for a bit." He clapped his brother on the back as he left. He stood in the hallway for a moment.

"You feelin' better?" Daryl asked.

"I guess," Beth replied. "Did you guys have supper?"

"Yeah. We ate sandwiches. You want somethin'?"

"No, I'm not hungry."

There was a long stretch of silence. "What were their names? Your Momma 'n brother. If you tell me their names I'll put 'em on the crosses."

"Annette and Shawn," Beth replied. "Thank you."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

The phone line was down when they checked it the next morning. By that afternoon, the TV screen showed a scrolling emergency message to 'Shelter in Place. Avoid the Infected.' across every channel. After an hour or so, Merle shut it off and told them not to turn it on. He did check it randomly, but the image never changed. The radio was left on in the kitchen, until it too began screaming the emergency signal that night. Two days later, the power went out after a brief strong storm. With the generator, they still had some power, but it was still a sign that things were getting worse when the power wasn't restored by the next morning. It had been five days since Merle woke Daryl up in their apartment. Five days since the attack on the bar. That morning when they fed the cattle, they found several out near the road that had been torn to shreds.

Merle sighed heavily. He didn't like it here. The place was too wide open. Too many angles of entry with too many places to hide. Too many buildings and barriers to block their view, even from the second floor. And now the infected seemed to be closing in.

He walked into the house. He could hear Beth and Daryl in the kitchen cleaning up from supper. Daryl said something and Beth laughed. Daryl was talking. His baby brother usually didn't say much. There were days that Merle could count the number of actual words Daryl spoke on two hands. But here, with her, he talked a lot. Merle tried not to eavesdrop but he heard enough to know that they talked about books and music. Beth talked about school and her family. Daryl talked about their mother and told stories about Merle.

His brother, for lack of a better term, was courting. In his quiet, subtle way. The first day after they buried her family, Daryl spent the day forming shapes out of scrap metal so that he could burn their names into the wooden crosses. The second, while they were feeding the cattle, Daryl gathered wildflowers together and left them in the kitchen room for her to find. The third he found a blueberry bush and picked enough to fill a bucket. She made muffins out of them that were delicious. Just before dinner tonight, he came in with a single Cherokee Rose that she put in a vase on the table.

Merle tried to give them space, frequently going outside to walk around and smoke. Crashing in the recliner with one of the many books in the house. But space had become the problem that now had to be dealt with. He sighed again and walked into the kitchen. Daryl was sitting on the counter as Beth was putting the dishes away. He saw his brother's stern expression and his thumb slipped in between his teeth.

"We're leavin' tomorrow," Merle said firmly.

Beth let the plates she was holding crash down on the shelf. "Why?"

"It's time. We're done here." Merle answered her.

There was silence for a long moment, then Beth said, "I'm gonna go take my shower." She fled from the kitchen and up the stairs.

"Merle," Daryl whispered.

"Don't start, baby brother. We can't stay here. It ain't safe no more. We're leavin'."

Daryl glared at him, then averted his eyes. He stomped out of the kitchen and went outside, lighting a cigarette as he left. Merle went into the living room and settled into the recliner.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth leaned against the shower wall sobbing as the water sluiced down over her. Panic and terror competed for dominance inside of her. She didn't want to think about it. She wanted to wake up. She stayed there long after the water ran cold.

She walked into her bedroom and found Daryl sitting in her window staring out into the night. He stood up and went to her. "You OK?"

She shook her head and had to blink rapidly to drive back the tears that returned. "You don't have'ta go."

"Merle says we do."

"So? Don't you ever make your own choices?"

Daryl sighed heavily then shook his head. He began to chew on his fingernail.

Beth stared at him, "Never? That's all part of bein' a grown up. Doin' what you want to do." She reached up and pulled his hand away from his mouth.

He stared down into her eyes. He reached up and gently cupped her face, stroking his thumbs across her cheeks. She stretched up and he bent down to kiss her. It started soft and tentative but quickly deepened. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight against him. Just as suddenly he pulled away, walking back over to the window.

"What? Did I do somethin' wrong?" she gasped.

Daryl shook his head, "I just can't."

"Why?"

"I'm thirty two, Beth," he replied. "You're what? Seventeen?"

"Sixteen," she admitted.

He huffed out a harsh laugh, "Jesus. I'm twice your age."

She walked up behind him, "Daryl. My Dad is almost twenty years older than my Momma."

Daryl snorted, "But I bet they didn't meet when she was sixteen!"

She sighed and rested her cheek against his arm. "I'm sorry I'm not older."

He looked down at the top of her head. He whispered, "I want to stay. With you. I want to be with you."

She looked up at him, "Then stay with me tonight. Be with me tonight."

He lowered his head to kiss her again. He pulled her around in front of him. The kiss deepened intensely. He pulled back as she gasped for air. "You ever done this before?"

She shook her head, "I had a boyfriend. He kept pushin' but I wasn't ready. I'm ready now."

"Ain't never been nobody's first before," he admitted.

"Me neither," she smiled.

He smiled. "I don't got a condom."

"I can get one."

"Where?"

"I've got an older brother and an older sister."

He stared at her for a moment. "Go find one."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

They were connected from head to toe. He rested above her, keeping his weight on his arms but pressing her into the mattress. "You OK?"

She nodded as a few tears slipped out.

"Did I hurt you?"

"No," she shook her head. "Well a little. But it went away. I just didn't know I'd feel so much." She took a shuddering breath that went all the way through him. "It feels weird to say thank you but… thank you."

He smiled, "Thank you." He pulled away to dispose of the condom. He sat on the edge of the bed for a moment wearing only his sleeveless t-shirt.

She sat up behind him and rubbed his back. "Did you leave this on because of the scars?"

He yanked away, whirling to scowl at her, "What do you know?"

"I felt them," she replied as she pulled her sheet up over her. "During. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

He sighed, hating the sight of her flinching from him. He reached down and tugged the shirt over his head then turned and sat back down. She slid closer and gently stroked his back. He flinched, "My Dad… used a belt when he got mad. I don't like 'em. Don't like the questions that come when people see 'em. So I don't show 'em."

"I'm sorry that happened to you," she kissed his shoulder, "I love the tattoos. Angels? Or demons?"

"Little of both," he replied, relaxing.

"I hate goodbyes," she whispered and he felt a tear drip onto his back, sliding down between his scarred flesh. "So promise me you won't say it. Just go. But wake me first. Don't leave while I'm sleepin'."

"I won't. OK if I stay here tonight?"

She nodded, "Please". He got up and pulled on his underwear and t-shirt. Then he went to her dresser opened drawers until he found a nightshirt for her to slip on. He slid back into the bed and pulled her to rest against him.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth woke up early. She was still curled against Daryl who was sound asleep, but as she stretched he woke up. He smiled at her, but his eyes were sad. She kissed his bicep then rolled over. There was a soreness that she wasn't expecting. It brought back the wondrous moments from the night before. He left the bed, yanked on his jeans, and walked out.

Immediately, she remembered. She blinked fiercely, forcing the panic and terror back. She set a smile on her face and got up to begin her day. She forcibly shut her mind down and fell into the routine. She cleaned up and got dressed in the bathroom. Downstairs and outside to deal with the chickens and gather the eggs. Then back in to begin breakfast. She pulled all of the breakfast meat out and cooked it. Thinking practically, they would eat what they wanted and she could pack the rest to send along with them. Eggs, potatoes, and biscuits. Fresh juice and coffee.

Merle stomped inside with Daryl trudging along behind him. They went into the dining room silently. Beth forced herself to go in and sit. She scooped a small quantity of eggs and potatoes onto her plate but ate very little. Her insides were shaking violently as the panic rose again. Daryl kept his head down as he ate methodically. Merle ate voraciously. Watching them all the while. Finally he wiped his plate clean with the end of a biscuit and swallowed the last of his coffee.

"Soon as you're done, start packin' your shit," Merle said.

Beth's head snapped up, "What?"

"Packin'. To leave, remember?"

She blinked at him, "I'm not goin'."

"Yeah, you are," Merle replied. "We ain't leavin' you here."

"But… my Dad…"

Merle sighed, "If your Dad was comin' back, he'd be here by now. Either he's dead too, or he's just gone. Either way you are comin' with us."

Beth stared at him wide eyed. Daryl shook his head, "We can't just take her."

"Who is gonna stop us?" Merle snapped. "Look. It ain't safe here! Sooner or later a dead one's gonna walk up that drive. Or a live one. Can you imagine what someone could do to her? You choose her. You wanted her, baby brother. Now you've had her. So you're keepin' her. She's yours now. That's just the way it is. She is goin' with us." He glared at Beth, "So pack your shit or you're goin' with just what you're wearin'."

"For…" her voice was hoarse. She swallowed hard. "For how long?"

"Pack… like you ain't never comin' back here."

Beth shivered and pushed away from the table to flee the room.

Daryl stared after her. Merle shoved him, "Go little brother. Get her to start packin'."

"Merle?"

"I mean it Daryl. She is yours now. Yours to take care of. Startin' now."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth stood in her room hugging herself tightly. Daryl stepped in behind her. "Beth?"

"Nothin' here means anythin' anymore," she whispered.

"If it means somethin' to you, it means somethin'," he replied softly. "Take what you want. We got room in the truck. He's right. You can't stay here."

She nodded, but let out a sob, "I was so scared of stayin' here alone. Now I'm scared of goin'." He wrapped his arms around her, holding tight. "What is he gonna want from me?"

"Not what you're thinkin'," Merle said from the doorway. "You're my brother's girl; I ain't gonna fuck you. Guess we'll leave the cookin' to you. Me and Daryl suck at it and you are damn good. Maybe cleanin' and laundry, shit like that. You keepin' my brother happy, Sunshine. That's all I really want. You're damn good at that too. So start packin' what you want and bring it downstairs. Daryl 'n me gotta few thin's to do." He turned and walked away.

"You OK?" Daryl asked. Beth nodded. "Start packin'." He followed Merle out.

Beth looked around the room for a moment. Then she took a deep breath and began to plan. Her thoughts straight, she began to pack 'her shit'.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

** To Make You Feel My Love

When the rain is blowin' in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love.

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love.

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I would never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong.

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawlin' down the avenue
No, there's nothin' that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love.

Though storms are raging on the rollin' sea
And on the highway of regrets
Though winds of change are throwing wild and free
You ain't seen nothin' like me yet.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love.

– lyrics by Bob Dylan