"Why did you want to come with me?"
"Because I'm the hunter."
"You're a slack ass hunter if you ask me. You ain't caught shit for us to eat in the past few days, so someone needs to give you a lesson in how it's done."
"Hey now!" The dried leaves crunched under their feet as they went further into the woods, trying to look in all directions at once. "Have you ever thought maybe I like you more than I let on?" Daryl asked as he followed her through the underbrush. "Have you ever thought maybe we would be good together?"
"Yea I thought about it," Beth replied as she pushed a tree branch away, "and then I thought how it would be like being with my brother if we got together and it grossed me out."
"All you think of me is your brother," he snorted. "I guess that means you think of Rick like a daddy figure then, doesn't that gross you out? I mean, he's older and got that grizzly adams look going for him like yer own daddy had at the end."
She came up short and turned to face him, blue eyes glazed over. "Listen to me you sawed-off redneck asshole, Rick means more to me than you could ever know! Just because I burst your bubble doesn't mean you can smart off at me. I like you okay, but I don't like you like that! I'm not in love with you but I am in love with Rick so mind your own damn business." She turned and stomped off through the underbrush.
"What the hell crawled up yer ass and died anyway?" Daryl asked as he caught up with her. "Ever since we left Grady, you are being a total bitch for no reason."
She stopped and whipped around on him, knife in hand. "Don't for one minute you assume to know what happened to me in there and don't for one minute assume you can fix what happened to me either. It's nothing that needs to be fixed because nothing is broken! Why is it that everyone else has found their own backbone and now that I found mine, y'all act like I've gone nuts or something! Well I haven't, I just decided to grow the fuck up and nobody likes it!" As he went to speak, her arm whipped around and stabbed a walker that had shambled up on them without his knowing. "And here I thought you were the great and powerful hunter and one snuck up on us!"
"You and yer damn mouth got me distracted honey," he snarled at her. "Fine you think Rick is all that, then go for it! He won't give you a second glance, you're nothing more than a glorified babysitter for him anyway!"
"Actually," Rick's voice startled them, "she's more than that. You two done arguing because I found some deer tracks."
"Which way?" Beth asked, pulling her knife from the skull and wiping it on her pants.
"Over that ridge there," Rick indicated with his machete.
"I'll go check it out," Beth spoke and walked up to him. "Sorry for getting distracted by Daryl and his mouth and for not hunting more." She leaned over and kissed his cheek before heading off into the woods.
"She's gonna get her fool self killed," Daryl snarled. "This new attitude is not what she needs. She's not the Beth we know."
"No, this new attitude is EXACTLY what she needs because it's given her a fire I've never seen before. She can hunt, she can track, she can shoot, she can do so many things we had no clue about because Hershel wanted to keep her safe. Look, I know you and Maggie think she needs to be protected but she is pulling her weight and I'm not gonna stop her." Holstering the machete, Rick headed off in the direction Beth had went.
He came up on her, crouched behind a log and eyes focused on something. He knelt beside her and followed her gaze to a large buck with broken antlers in the distance. Daryl came over and knelt with them, following their gazes to the buck. "He's gonna be tough to get down."
Sliding her hand over, Beth took the crossbow from him and eased up slowly. "Not if you know where to shoot properly." She lined the buck in the sight and shot the arrow. Rick and Daryl watched the arrow zip across the forest and impact the buck HARD in the neck, dropping it to the ground. "We need to hurry before walkers get wind of it."
"How the hell," Daryl whistled as they headed towards the buck.
They ran over and knelt, looking at the size of the creature. Unbuckling his gun belt, Rick handed it over to Beth and stared over the buck's carcass. "Give the bow to Beth, it's gonna take us both to pick it up and haul it back."
Handing the bow to her, Rick and Daryl dug in and lifted the creature between them. Slinging the crossbow onto her shoulder, Beth fastened the gun belt around her waist and took point ahead of them. She looked left then right, moving slowly until a rustling caught her ears. Holding her hand up, she looked around then let out a set of shrill whistles. They paused till a set of whistles came back to their ears. "It's Glenn and the others."
Glenn, Abraham and Noah stepped from the underbrush. "Damn, way to go Daryl," Glenn laughed as he looked at the buck.
"Beth shot it," Daryl admitted.
Walking over, Abraham hefted the creature over his shoulders and kissed Beth's cheek. "Little lady, remind me never to piss you off then."
"So noted Sergeant Ford," Beth chuckled as they headed back to camp.
"How much longer?" Carl asked, his mouth watering from the smell of cooking deer.
"Still gonna be a little while or so," Abraham mentioned and looked over his shoulder. "Beth, what again are you doing?"
"You'll see soon enough," Beth smiled as she pulled the razor slowly over the buckskin. She flipped the skin over the barely burning coals and began to scrape more off the under side. "Hey Sasha, are those sinew strips about dry?"
"Almost," Sasha spoke, "and Rosita was nice enough to make us some needles with the fish hooks she found."
"You do know this is gonna be kick ass when we're done right," Rosita chuckled.
"Oh don't I know it," Beth smiled. "By the way boys, I am a shank girl."
"Half or full?" Abraham asked.
"Full please."
"My kind of woman," Abraham laughed and turned the deer again.
"I thought you were a vegetarian," Carol questioned thoughtfully.
"When you're forced to eat guinea pig, your priorities shift a bit," Beth shivered. "I don't know what was worse … guinea pig or Daryl's mud snake jerky."
"That just sounds nasty," Michonne belched. "How is it the skin hasn't shrunk?"
"Because we tied it up first before we did anything. Once we got it off the buck, I remembered momma telling me to always tie the skin up first so it wouldn't shrink during the drying process. If you do it slow over barely lit coals, the hair will come off easier and it'll be more manageable."
"So what changed your priorities on being a vegetarian, something that happened in Grady or what?" Rosita asked, checking the sinew lines.
"Mainly Grady; that's why my arm cracked so easy … there's not enough muscle and fat to cover my bones. I am lean, but the wrong kind of lean," Beth admitted. "I haven't changed my mind about being vegetarian but I am open to more things."
"I thought you were an ovo-lacto vegetarian," Rick commented, stoking the coals under the roasting deer.
"Thank you and that's another reason too," Beth added. "I can't have dairy or eggs or chicken or any-thing like that without becoming violently ill. Sucks when you live on a working dairy farm and that's all that's around when the world goes to shit."
"I can see your point," Rosita spoke as she threaded a hook. "These are ready to go."
"I am almost done here too," Beth smiled and flipped it over.
"She's just that much sassy that I like," Abraham mentioned to Rick.
"I like the new Beth; she's not that much different, she's more open to people and willing to do more to help out. Hershel kept a tight rein on her."
"Who was that?" Abraham asked.
"Her daddy," Sasha put in.
"Nuff said. I know how daddies can be with their little girls," Abraham grinned. "Okay folks, chow is on! Shanks for the blonde I know, so who wants what!"
Beth took the threaded hook from Rosita and began to slowly stitch the skin of the buck. "Go grab you some food while you can, I'll get some in a bit."
Rosita nodded and headed to the fire as Rick winked at her. "You coming to eat?"
"Not at the moment," she spoke, maintaining her stitching.
Rick walked over with four shanks and sat down beside her. "I grabbed them up for you, got me a nice hunk of flank if you're interested."
"Sounds good," she smiled and kept slowly working. "Would you mind tearing a piece off and feeding me? I need to keep this stitch going so I don't lose my place." Ripping a piece of meat off, he sat the plate down and rose. Pressing into her, he brought the piece of meat around to her mouth. She took it into her mouth, sucking on his fingers as she savored the taste of him before letting go. "That's good."
"Me or the venison," he whispered into her ear.
"Both," she replied with a coy grin.
Reaching down, he pulled a piece of meat free and slid it between her lips. "I wouldn't mind being between your lips," he spoke, his voice a bit huskier.
"Which set," she asked, letting his thumb go with a wet pop.
"It doesn't matter because it's a hard thing to handle right now," he growled closer to her ear, "if you get my meaning."
"Don't worry, I can take it all the way down if you like," she purred softly as she kept stitching.
"Damn girl," he swore and sat down. "You're going to be the death of me, you know that right."
"And such a sweet pleasurable death it will be," she winked and waggled her ass at him.
"Damn just damn," Rick sighed as he watched her continue to work.
"Go back to eating with the others while I work, we'll deal with your issue tonight when everyone's asleep. You can leave my plate there if you want to."
"What if I want to watch and feed you?"
"Up to you but if you hang around too much I will make it so hard on you that you won't like me very much."
"Yea well, we'll wait and see." Leaning back, he ripped a piece of meat off and ate it. "Your ass is so perfectly round."
"I know, it's one of the few things I have going for me."
"Looks aren't everything," Rick mentioned, "I love you the way you are."
"I'm glad somebody does."
"Hey ease up, they'll come around eventually and if they don't then it's there loss," he spoke. Ripping a piece of meat off, he rose and moved to stand behind her. She rose and stretched her back, leaning into him as his fingers brought the meat around to her lips. She pulled it into her mouth and licked his fingers, savoring the flavor together till he pulled them free slowly. "If they can't handle the new you then screw them, you don't need them if they're going to hold you back."
"And what about you? Are you trying to hold me back?"
"No," he chuckled softly and nuzzled her ear and neck, "I'm just trying to hold on so I don't lose you again."
She turned in his arms and looped her arms around his neck. "Don't worry I'm not going anywhere for a long time."
"Deal," he smiled and kissed her deeply.
Running her fingers over the tanned buckskin, Beth smoothed the wrinkles out as she looked it over. "Perfect." Pulling it around her shoulders, she slid her arms in the sleeves and noticed the length of it. "Perfect still." Sliding her arms out, she grinned and walked over to the group. "Okay Rick, stand up and lose the jacket."
"Okay," he grinned and licked his fingers. Sliding his jacket off, he dropped it to the ground and walked over to her. "What is this?"
"The buckskin," she replied, "and it's finished."
"What did you wind up making?" Sasha asked as she slid it over Rick's arms. "Is that what I think it is?"
Pulling it around his chest, Rick turned back around for everyone to see. "Damn Beth, this is gorgeous. Thank you."
"I had no idea you were making him a jacket," Rosita chuckled. "I saw the other part, but not that. Was this from the coals?"
"Yea," Beth smiled.
"Wow," Carl mused. "So what happened to the rest of it?"
Stepping back over, she grabbed something up and came back. Kneeling beside him, she lifted Judith off her feet and pulled something over her. "Perfect fit too."
"You made Judith a bunting!" Tyreese chuckled and clapped his hands. "It's perfect!"
"I took the soft webbing from the broken down backpack and filled it to keep her warm," Beth smiled and handed something to Tyreese. "For you for saving Judith."
Reaching his hand out, Tyreese took the gift and looked at it. When he realized what she had made, a grin broke out over his face. Pulling his signature beanie off, he slid the buckskin cap over his head and smoothed it out. "Opinions?"
"I love it personally," Sasha grinned. "Beth, you are amazing!"
"Why thank you," she beamed as Rick winked at her.
"I know there had to be more than that left over," Sasha spoke as Beth handed her something. "What's this?" Taking it from Beth's hand, Sasha unrolled it and glanced at it. "Beth … I don't know what to say."
"What is it?" Tara asked as she chewed on her meat.
"It's a sling for my ammo and rifle," Sasha replied as she fixed it around the rifle. "Beth, how did you make this?"
"I made a bit more," she grinned. "It was a big buck."
"Judith's sound asleep in her bunting," Carl whispered and yawned. "I think I'm gonna go out too." He looked around and shivered slightly. "Is it me or is it getting colder?"
"It's colder since we're not moving as much," Abraham spoke and stood up. "I'll take watch, y'all stay warm." Picking up his rifle, he headed away from camp.
Reaching behind her, Beth pulled more buckskin out and snapped it out. She lowered it over Carl and Judith as Michonne slid under with them. "It's not much of a blanket, but it's enough to stay some warm tonight."
"Maybe you could make some more of those if we find more deer," Rosita mentioned as she gazed around. "Where did Glenn and the others go?"
"They left before dinner while everyone was talking," Eugene sighed. "All of them left … Glenn, Maggie, Noah, Carol, Daryl, Father Gabriel … they just took off."
"They wanted me to go but I said no," Tara brought up. "I'd rather be with you guys."
"Yea, they asked us to go too," Rosita spoke softly, "but we didn't want to."
"Yea, they wanted us to go but I told them we're all better off together," Abraham spoke as he came back over. "You're not gonna believe what I just saw over the ridge. Grab the chow and douse the fires, we got us a place to bunk for the night." Gathering their gear up, they followed Abraham through the woods; coming over the ridge, they stopped and stared down.
"It's perfect," Rick spoke as they looked over the abandoned motel. "Let's head down and see how much we need to clear."
His hands gripped her hips as he pushed her into the door, trying to fumble it open as her lips moved in sync with his. Reaching her hand back, she found the door knob and twisted it till it came open, dumping them into the room. Pushing it closed, they tripped their way to the bed with him landing atop her. She groaned at the feel of his erection rubbing her leg. She pulled her mouth from his and stared up into his eyes. "Can we please get rid of these clothes now?"
"Amen." They began ripping clothes from one another's bodies as they fell back onto the bed. Running her hands down his hips, she encircled his waist with her legs and pulled him to her. The tip of throbbing hard cock brushed over her wet pussy lips, eliciting groans from both. "You sure this is what you want?"
"What do you think?"
"We don't have a condom."
"Don't give a damn, please baby don't tease me." Shaking his head, he pushed hard into her as she groaned. "Damn you feel so good inside me."
"It feels amazing being in you," he murmured as he suckled her nipples.
Their bodies moved in unison as her hands dug into his shoulders and back. They moaned and groaned their ecstasy of being together. She felt the first wave of her orgasm building and pushed him onto his back as she sat up straight. Her hips ground down into his as she bucked. He yanked her down, pressing his mouth to hers as they continued their wild lovemaking. She gasped as she came undone with his hands gripping her hips. In a few short seconds, his mouth came from hers as he groaned his climax buried deep inside her.
She fell into his chest, gasping for air, as sweat covered their bodies. "Damn."
"Amen," he breathed, "and I'm glad we were alone too."
"Another amen," she sighed. "After we catch our breath … can we do it again?"
"Damn straight," he chuckled.
"My kind of man," she chuckled back as she laid there. "Damn, I didn't realize how horny I was till you were inside."
"Me either," he blew out, running his hand over his forehead. "It didn't bother you that we didn't use a condom?"
"Why do people worry about that shit for? Every time I've used one, I've always gotten the hives and tried to explain them away."
"Condoms give you the hives?"
"Yea, I'm allergic to latex, found that out the wrong way when I was 15."
"So … in other words … you're not the sweet innocent girl you pretended to be then?"
"No, that was all daddy's doing … not mine."
"Makes sense."
"You have no idea how many times he had to literally lock me in to keep me from confronting Lori about you and crawling on your lap. If he would've left me alone, we'd been doing this."
"Wait, hold on a sec, repeat that last bit for me." Pulling the pillows around, he propped up a bit to look down at her. "You've been wanting me since the farm and I'm just now finding out about this now why?"
"Daddy," she replied as she stared into his eyes.
"Was it that bad and we didn't know it?"
"You got to see him on his manners with Maggie; with me, it was something entirely different. The only people he would allow me to be around were Maggie, Patty, Glenn, Daryl and Jimmy. I hated Jimmy's guts, that's why I didn't stick too close to him. Daddy thought Daryl and I would make a good match so that's why he encouraged me to hang around him. Daddy never realized it was making me just hate him more, which in turn added to me not liking Daryl all that much. Over time, I quit associating Daryl that way and he became like a brother to me."
"And me?"
"Mine."
"Good girl," he sighed and patted her bare ass. "I need a nap before we have seconds."
"Okay, mind if I sleep right here."
"Be my guest, I love the feel of you against me."
"Same here. Love you."
"Love you too."
Placing a lazy kiss on the other's lips, they were both soon sound asleep.