Daryl and Merle were having a hard time finding jobs. Seeing that Merle's record was as thick as a book and Daryl's record mention the fact that he broke into a house and stole most of the owner's items. They sat in a booth in the local bar early in the afternoon looking at the classifies. Merle balled up his paper and threw it on the floor.
"God damn job hunting gets on my fucking nerves." Merle said.
"So what. Just keep looking or we're gonna go fucking hungry." Daryl circled a couple of jobs to call later.
"What are you guys doing?" Daryl looked up to the waitress the keeps flirting with him. He growled and looked back down at the newspaper.
"Just trying to find jobs to get cash." Merle said.
"Well we do have an opening here." She said in a sultry voice. Merle chuckled.
"Ya hear that she has an opening." Merle said. He kicked Daryl in the shin and Daryl glared at him.
"I ain't interested. Maybe Merle can take it." Daryl said. The waitress pouted and walked away. She walked back with a piece of paper.
"Here. Call this number and ask for Sal. He's the owner." She said. She left and gave Daryl one last look before walking away.
"Why don't you just hit it and quit it? Maybe then she'll leave you alone and you stop having blue balls. Kill two birds with one stone." Merle said.
"Cause I ain't a damn dog that's why." Daryl's stomach started to growl. He hasn't eaten since yesterday morning.
"Yo, ya got a dollar or something? I'm starving." Daryl asked.
"Why don't ya ask your girlfriend for some free food?" Merle laughed. Daryl looked at the waitress who was trying to flirt with some other guy to get Daryl's attention. Daryl scuffed and gave Merle a mean look.
"Fine! Here take the last of my change." Merle digging in his pocket and pulled out some change.
"Not sure that's enough." Daryl took it anyways and got up from the booth. He walked down the road to a gas station and went inside. His stomach was growling from all the food. He picked up a big bag of chips hoping he had enough change to buy it. He went to the register to pay.
"That'll be $1.50." The cashier said. Daryl looked at his change. He definitely didn't have enough.
"Look I only have .75 cents. Can you let this one slide?" Daryl asked.
"No can do man. I can get in trouble."
"Come on! It's just .75 cents." Daryl said. The cashier shrugged. Daryl went to snatch the chips until he felt a tap on his arm. He turned around to a girl wearing a cap.
"You're that broke huh?"
"Why is that any of your business?" Daryl said. The girl looked up at him from under her cap.
"Who do you think you're talking to like that, Dixon?" It was Kat. Daryl was surprised. He thought she hated his guts. Kat looked around him and saw his chump change.
"How about you save that change for a special occasion and I buy you, probably Merle too, some more food other than a bag of chips?" Kat asked.
"No. I don't- I mean we don't need no-" Just then his stomach growled loudly.
"Come on, Dixon." Kat walked back into the aisles.
Kat and Daryl walk out of the gas station with two big bags of food. Kat walked towards the family truck and Daryl behind her.
"You need a ride?" She asked.
"I'm just down the road at the bar." Daryl said.
"Alright then. See you around, Dixon." Kat climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door. Daryl walked away towards the bar. As he was walking, he heard a car drive near him.
"Hey Dixon! My dad needs a couple of guys on the ranch. You and Merle should come talk to him." Kat said out the car window.
"Thanks!" Daryl waved goodbye as she drove off. Daryl walked into the bar and sat at the booth. He dropped the bags in front of Merle.
"Woah there! Did you rob the place?" Merle laughed. He grabbed a box of cookies and opened it.
"Nah.. Kat paid for it." Daryl said taking a bag of chips.
"Aw ya little girlfriend isn't mad at you anymore." Merle said. Daryl kicked him under the table.
"Shut up." Daryl stuffed his mouth with chips. "She said Shaun was looking for a couple of people to work on the ranch."
"Damn. I say we finish this off and go over there."
Daryl and Merle drove over to the ranch. They spotted Shaun on the porch with Norma.
"Well, what a surprise. What brings you two here?" Norma asked as they got out of their car.
"Just stopping by." Merle smiled. The walked up to them and lend on the banister.
"Oh really now?" Norma said. She had a way with knowing when someone was bullshitting her.
"We came to ask Shaun about jobs here." Daryl said.
"Ah yeah. We need a couple of people just cleaning, taking care of the horses, making sure they're feed and groomed, and willing to do any errands I ask of you." Shaun said.
"We can do that easy." Merle said.
"You sure? It's a lot of work." Norma said.
"No problem. When can we start?"
"You two can start tomorrow. 7 am sharp." Shaun said holding out his hand. Merle groaned. Daryl shushed him and shook Shaun's hand.
The next morning, Daryl and a tired Merle drove up the trail towards the house. Daryl saw Kat and Haley walking down the house steps. Haley waved at Daryl making him smile. He parked the car and shook Merle awake. They got out of the car and walked towards Kat and Haley.
"Why are you two up so early?" Merle yawned.
"I walk Haley to the bus stop." Kat said.
"Yea she's always does!" Haley exclaimed.
"Obviously she's a morning person." Kat said. Daryl chuckled. Merle notice Kat blush as she walked away with Haley. He didn't have the energy to mess with Daryl.
As the day went by, Daryl and Merle worked their asses off on the ranch. Merle sat down on the pile of hay.
"Get off your ass man. It's the first day." Daryl kicked Merle's leg.
"Man it's hot out here." Daryl wiped the sweat off his forehead and sat next to Merle. Daryl and Merle heard someone coming towards them. They quickly got up.
"Calm down. It's just me." Kat said. She threw each a bottle of cold water.
"I figured you guys need some water. It hotter than a whore house on nickel night." Kat said. Daryl almost spit out his water. Merle chuckled.
"You guys need some help?" Kat asked.
"Why don't you have something better to do?" Daryl asked.
"I am a homeschool teenage girl who lives in the middle of nowhere. I'm pretty sure my schedule is free." Kat smiled as she grabbed a pitchfork. Merle oh'ed and nudged Daryl. All three of them got to work until it was dinner time. They all walked towards the house. Kat grabbed Daryl's wrist and pulled him back without a tired Merle walked ahead. Daryl and Kat looked at each other.
"I-I uh-" Daryl was going to talk before Kat hugged him. Daryl hugged her back
"I missed you, Daryl." Kat said.
"Yeah I know." They parted and Kat shoved him.
"Don't ever do something stupid like that again or I'm going to kick your ass." Kat said. Daryl laughed and ruffled her hair.
"Come on." Daryl said. "Let's go eat."