She spins around, along with Tyreese, both drawing their guns. There are three men standing on the tracks behind them, about thirty feet away, their own guns cocked. The guy front and center is about ten years older than her, with a long, horse-like, hardened face that might be handsome in different circumstances. The other two, younger men seem to fade into the background. The only guy that matters is this one. The others will follow his lead.
"Uh-huh," he shakes his head, grins at both of them. Carol feels something small and cold sink in her stomach. This is a very, very bad person. "Drop 'em, or I shoot the kid," he aims his gun at Judith, goggling around Tyreese's should. "And don't thinka movin', big guy, 'cept to drop that shooter of yours. I'll just shoot you, then the baby. And I won't shoot her in the head."
Okay, I see,Carol thinks, as the tiny, cold stone in her belly blooms and chills the rest of her. But she is focused now. On keeping herself alive. On keeping Tyreese alive. On keeping Judith safe, which might mean...not keeping her alive. She exchanges glances with Tyreese, who looks ready to fire.
"Tyreese, no," she whispers. "We need to listen to them." She turns her neck, gesturing with her eyes towards the knife she has in her boot.
"Yeah, alright," he replies, holding her gaze for a moment.
"Easy to see who wears the pants here," Horse Face chuckles. "Smart lady you got there, big guy." The hard sheen in his eyes belies his jocular manner. "Guns down, I won't say it again."
"Yeah, okay," she squats, along with Tyreese, starts to place her gun on the railroad tie in front of her. She keeps her eyes on Horse Face, all the nerves in her body strumming through the coldness that has fallen over her, looking for a way. Any way. Not to lose anything else, not today.
"Smart lady," Horse Face says again. "Smart, and you look like you can take care'a yerself, too. I think you'll be mighty useful, ma'am. Indeed. Don't you think, fellas?" The two lugs behind him nod and leer. Carol assesses Horse Face again. It always comes down to this, man and woman. He's the only one who matters here...and you know him. He's Ed, with bigger balls. He's Merle without Daryl. The Governor, without grief and madness. He's pure meanness, for meanness' sake. Heenjoys it. He's having a blast right now.
"Guess I am," she replies. She drops the gun carelessly rather than placing it on the ground, startling everyone a little. She uses the split second she has to tuck the small knife Daryl gave her a lifetime ago up her jacket sleeve. It waits there, like the ace of spades. "Guess I am, and guess I do." She flashes a big smile at Horse Face. She knows there's power in that smile, and she's rewarded: he grins back at her as she and Tyreese both stand slowly.
"You're a sassy one, ain't ya? No little girl, you, no ma'am," Horse Face looks positively glee. "What's your name, darlin'?"
"Carol," she smiles back at him without an ounce of sincerity. "And this is Tyreese. The little one is Judith." Her voice almost, almost catches on the baby's name. Anything to remind this creature in front of her that Judith is a human being, not a liability.
"Well, Carol," Horse Face rolls her name around his tongue. "I'm Joe." Horse Face suits you better, she thinks. He doesn't bother introducing the others. They don't matter. "Come on over here and say hi to old Joe, what say you?"
"Sure," she replies, keeping the smile pasted on her face. "But let him take the baby, okay? Let them keep goin'. I'll stay here with you all, no problem, but let Tyreese go along with Judith." She struggles to keep the pleading out of her voice. She presents their release as practical, as the most logical course of action. Joe's icy eyes jump from her to Tyreese and the baby, considering.
"Carol…" Tyreese looks at her, at Joe. "This isn't the way." He says, and his eyes hold hers.
"Forgiven, but not forgotten, right?" She gives this man, who was and could have again been her friend, maybe even something more, a lopsided grin. "Atonement," she murmurs so the other men don't hear. "No more dead little girls, if at all possible. I'm not a monster." She's not sure if she's trying to convince him or herself.
"Now why would I do somethin' like that?" Joe's voice cuts through her reverie. The real monster.
"Think about it," she turns back to him, takes a step or two closer. "You could kill them, yes. But…well, I would be pretty upset with y'all if you did." She keeps her voice low and rational, like with Lizzie in the field. Just look at the flowers. "You could take me, sure. I'll admit, I couldn't stop you." She shrugs casually, moves a few steps towards them, putting some distance between herself and Tyreese.
"Something else," Joe mutters, chuckling. She's confusing him, which is good. She's holding his attention, which is even better.
"How I see it," she's locked eyes with Joe now. She lets the others fall away, even Judith's little sighs and noises. "How I see it, you let them go, no harm done to you. I come with you freely. Like you said, I can handle myself. I know how to survive. I can be a unique asset…" she tapers off, raises her eyebrow suggestively.
Joe sucks thoughtfully on his mustache, his gun slightly lowered. One of the other guys murmurs, "Shit," elbows his friend. Carol's heart slows. She nearly won, she thinks. The only thing lost today will be her.
And then Joe does something that genuinely surprises her. He turns and begins talking to the tangle of forest on the left side of the train tracks.
"Whatcha think, boy?" Joe calls out. "You heard her offer, and these other morons couldn't find their asses with their own two hands."
Carol watches the leaves dance wildly as the brush is pushed aside and three more men step onto the tracks. She has eyes only for the one Joe directs his question towards. Her heart booms under her breastbone. She's grateful Joe's turned away, doesn't see the joyful shock and recognition in her face.
"So, whatcha think? You just lost yerself a woman, and yer the only one with brains 'round here, 'sides me," Joe sounds almost fatherly, like he's presenting a birthday gift to a favored son.
"I think ya should take her up on it," Daryl replies. "Let the oaf and the baby go. Otherwise, you got a hysterical woman to deal with, hear me?" His eyes flutter, land on Tyreese and Judith. The men nod at each other. That's all. Daryl catches her eye, and there's so much sorrow and relief there she's almost drowning in them. She rips her gaze away.
"Maybe so," Joe replies. "Yeah, alright, maybe so. You think she's up to the task? You think she can take care'a us all?"
"Oh yeah," Daryl answers, adjusting his crossbow. "I think she can handle all'a us, no problem."
He catches her gaze again. And it's all Carol can do to keep from laughing.