As I sat by Lori and listened to the girls talk about how much the bald guy I've to know as Shane has seemed to change I couldn't help but, drift away to the dream I had. The site of walkers attacking my baby. It was horrible. All I could do was pray that my little girl was safe and ok.
I woke up to Clover screaming. She was sitting by the bathroom door with her legs pressed against her chest. I heard banging on the window and looked and there were walkers all around the van. I grabbed my step stool and a hand full of zappa balls. I grabbed my gun and climbed to the top of the van. I started throwing one zappa ball at a time. I had thrown about six down the road by the time all the walkers were away from the van. I climbed back down and buckled Clover up and I drove down the path opposite of where the walkers were. "I want my mommy' Clover said still siting by the bathroom door.
"Clover, I promise we'll find your mommy and Uncle Rick" I said hoping she would cheer up. I know it sounded like a big lie but, I fully believed my siblings were still alive. As I drove down a little gravel road I saw a farm. It looked to be in pretty good shape. She parked the van by the road that leaded to the house. I grabbed a handful of zappas and put them in my pocket and my gun. I took my nieces hand and we exited the van. We slowly walked up the gravel road. I kept my eyes open for walkers. As we made it to the steps a woman walked out with a gun pointed at us. "Whoa, take it easy" I said.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Serenity Walker and this is my niece Clover" I said.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"All ask if please show us shelter. It's no place for a child anymore out there" I said.
"How do I know you're safe?" She asked.
"I just want a safe place for my niece" I said.
"Daddy come out!" she yelled. An old man about in his sixties walked out.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"I'm Serenity Walker and this is my niece Clover" I said.
"They wanna stay here?" the girl said.
"Look" I started, " if you don't trust me fine but, please give my niece a safe place to live" I begged.
"I don't think they mean us any harm Maggie" he said helping her lower her gun, "I'm Hershel, this is my daughter Maggie"
"Nice to meet you' Clover said to them.
"Come on in" the old man said.
As we walked in there were more people in the house. "That's my daughter Beth, that's Patricia, Otis, and Jimmy" Hershel said as they all waved. Maggie sat us up in a spare room upstairs. "Thank you for letting us stay here" I said to Maggie.
"No problem and your niece is adorable" she said, "Wanna help with dinner?"
"Sure" I said as I followed her downstairs. When I got down there Clover was playing with a little boy around her age. He had dark hair and light blue eyes. "Who's little boy?" I asked as we walked into he kitchen. "His name is James Keyes. He was a neighborhood boy were took after his mother died" Maggie said taking some raw chicken out of the fridge, "see the little girl in the rocking chair?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah" I said.
"We found here in town running from a group of walkers. We saved her" She said grabbing a knife from the counter.
"It's horrible knowing children have to see a world like this" I said.
"Yeah it is" she said, "Can you grab a pan from the wall over there?" she asked.
"Yeah" I said.
"We found in another town hiding in a tree house" she said dumping some flour in a bowl. As we dipped the cut up chicken in the flour I watched the kids do a puzzle. "That piece goes in the middle" James said.
"I know but, you should always do the end pieces first so I'm separating them" Clover said. As Maggie started frying the chicken Patricia came in. I don't why but, she reminded me of my mother who thankfully passed before the horror we know now. "What veggie you want to night?" she asked Maggie.
"Hmm well since Serenity is new to our family she can pick" Maggie said.
"Well friend potatoes have always been my favorite" I said.
"Then potatoes it is. Can you cut them?" Patricia asked handing a potato in my hand. When dinner was done we all sat down at the table and ate. I had never seen Clover so happy to be eating a real meal for once. Hershel and his family seemed so heart warming and I actually felt safe. After I helped clean up I gave Clover a bath and Maggie gave her a pair of pajamas to wear. I read her to sleep and just before she drifted off she said I love you Mommy.
