Chapter 10

FRIDAY

It was not Daryl's first trip to the free clinic, but it was his first time for himself. Normally he was here with Merle, so he knew the drill, he just didn't like it. But the idea of possibly passing on something from the last hooker he was with, even though it was several years ago now, did not sit well with him at all. He would have to wait two weeks for some of the results to come in, and he knew that if that blessed opportunity finally arose he would be happy to use a rubber; ecstatic even. 'Might even last a whole five minutes.' He ruminated darkly, heading back up the hill to his place before heading up to May's.

He pulled up to see that the piles of lumber had been delivered and were sitting in the front yard. He gave her a quick hello before turning to his work, pushing himself for the rest of the day to make up time. By the time six o'clock rolled around he felt like he had made some good progress on a fence. He walked into the house just in time to catch a plastic dinosaur that Hap had thrown at Alfie, both of them screaming.

"Hey! Settle down now! Look at ur' Mama. She looks like she's about ready to have a nervous breakdown or sumpthin'."

They gave her a quick glance, looking a little abashed. She kept cooking dinner, but gave them both the stink eye. They gave her a little chorus of 'sorry' and went back to their toys. He approached her, wiping his sweaty face on an old shop rag. "You sure you still wanna take them out tonight? Their kinda bein' little dicks."

She chuckled; "Yeah, I already gave them my word. They're just exited is all." She wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. "Sorry, dinner isn't for another thirty minutes or so."

He leaned against the counter, his arms wrapped around his chest. "I'ma run home and shower then, k?"

"Alright Sugar. You know, you can keep some clothes here if you want, it's no big deal." She was busy turning dough into biscuits on the far counter so he couldn't see her face. He cleared his throat, which suddenly felt very dry. He rubbed his hand over his beard and face several times and shifted his feet.

She addressed him without looking at him, still busy with the food. "I can feel you over thinking it from over here. You can say no, I'm a big girl, I can take it."

She could barely hear his voice he was so mumbled. "Alright."

"Alright what?"

"I'll bring a bag over." He mumbled, wrapping his hands around his chest. She finally turned to look at him, smiling. "But don' go diggin' though it, it's mine ya hear? Don' get all nosy on me now." He shook one grimy finger at her, his look stern.

She walked up to him, her hands covered in flour. "I wouldn't dream of it." She gave him a little peck on the lips, careful not to get flour on him. "Now hurry up, we have to get going."

He brought over a worn looking duffel bag, which he left in May's bedroom at her request. He tried not to think too much about going out with them all, but the thoughts always crept in. All through dinner the boys chatted, and May asked them about their day, but he was too pensive to even pay attention. Not that he was ever much for chatting, but tonight especially he was quiet and distracted. 'What will people say? When they see her with me? Half the town u'll probably be there; they ain't got nuthin' else to do. God, what if they laugh? Or what if...'

"Daryl! What wrong with you? Are you listening?" Hap was swinging one hand in front of Daryl's face, trying to get his attention.

"Hap, if you keep pestering Daryl you will not be going anywhere tonight. I WILL be getting a babysitter for you, and she will not be the fun one." May pulled Hap's hand out of Daryl's face and gave him a stern look. Normally he would gladly sit through the boy's antics, but today had been stressful, and was only going to become more so. Going out in public seemed like more of a punishment then a fun activity, but he knew it was something he had to do. Being part of a real family had expectations, and going out in public like normal people was one of them.

By the time they got to the fairgrounds that evening, he still hadn't pulled himself together enough to put together a full sentence. He drove his truck, with the kids in the jump seats behind the main bench. May seemed to understand that he didn't feel comfortable, and didn't try to start any conversation with him; just laid her hand on his thigh as he drove, and smiled when he glanced at her.

They reached the local fair grounds with little incident from the children, but once they were out of the car all bets were off. The boys drove them at a brutal pace through the rides, hitting several over and over again. When they walked, Daryl hung back, at least two steps behind at all times; his shoulders hunched and face low. He tried his best to ignore the screaming voices, smell of sweaty meat, and garish lights; choosing instead to linger back near bails of sweet smelling hay and dark shadows. And though it looked like his eyes were on her backside, his gaze was really held by the dark blue border of her sundress, like a beacon to him in the crowd. When the push and pull of the reckless people started to feel like too much, he would look at the solid blue striping, focusing on it like a light on a misty night. It would sooth him a little, to see it always there, just a few steps away. Every now and then May looked over her shoulder, making sure he was still back there; looking like a cat trapped in a dog pound. She knew she had to do something, anything, to pull him out of his own head. She steered the boys away from the roller coaster over to some games.

After watching them both fail miserably at darts a few times, she stood next to Daryl and asked him to give them a hand. That finally broke him out of his shell a little. As May suspected, Daryl was a wonder at carnival games. His patience and skill easily overcame most of the rigged ones, and once he was finally engaged in the conversation, he easily chatted with the children; correcting their aim and pointing out the flaws in each game. She played with them a little, but mostly stood back after noticing Daryl tended to relax a little more when just paying attention to the children. After almost fifteen minutes at the mini rifle range she took a bathroom break. When she returned, Daryl stood away from the boys, smoking a cigarette.

"Hey Mama." Hap was grinning ear to ear, hiding something behind his back.

"Go on Hap, give it to her. We ain't got all night." Alfie pushed Hap a few steps closer to her.

Hap pulled a knock off stuffed Eyore from behind his back and gave it to her. "Oh thank you baby, I love it."

"Daryl was really the one that got it for ya, but he said to say it was from me."

"Don't be such an ass Hap, Jesus." Alfie gave his brother a dirty look.

May crossed her arms, her lips tight. "Alfred Atwell! I don't know where you got that language, but I never want to hear it again, you understand me Mr.?"

Alfie looked down, avoiding the smug look on Hap's face. "Yes Mama."

She looked up to see Daryl approach. "Well hello. You see what Hap got me? Doesn't seem like the kind of thing he would remember; how much I love Eyore. Strange." She gave him a little side eye and he smiled, which he quickly covered with a hand.

And then the boys were off again. After forty-five minutes of yanking Daryl up and down the aisle, Hap and Alfie had their arms full of cheap carnival toys. When they could hold any more, May steered them towards the relative quiet of some food booths. The boys were sitting on a bench next to May, eating ice cream, when she noted that Daryl was no longer looking down at his boots. His hawkish eyes were looking into the crowd, taking in something she did not see.

Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulder, shaking it a little. "We need to go. Now." His voice was calm but insistent, in a way she did not recognize. When she turned to him, her face taunt with worry, he whispered in her ear; "There's a Savage Son headed this way." She hurried the boys along, doing her best not to let on that trouble was brewing. They made good time, only to be waylaid at the exit by her coworker Gladis and her grand-kids. They spoke for a moment before Daryl decided to take the kids back to the truck. The three of them had just walked away when May felt a hand on her shoulder pull her around.

"Mr. Alderwood?" Her tone betrayed her shock and annoyance.

He gave her a lavicious grin; all perfect white teeth with more than a hint of beer coming off of him. "Well, well, now what do we have here. You're lookin' real nice tonight Marion."

Her lips quivered a little in revulsion. "Its Ms. Atwell, if you please. I was just speaking with..."

"She was having a conversation Alderwood." Gladis had her hands on her ample hips, one foot tapping. "So why don't you just move along now, hum?"

He turned red, baring more teeth, and spat at Gladis. "Look here fatty..."

"Whoah, whoah, whoah." May stood in front of him, her hands waiving to get his attention. "Now you are out of line. I think you owe her an apology for..."

"Whoah yourself now honey, I think you're forgotten who you're talking to here. I'm the man who got your little redneck piece of trash his sweet little deal. And if you want him to keep it..."

May crossed her arms, her gaze intense. "And I think you are forgetting that we have a signed deal with the Sheriff's office that even a prosecutor cannot renege on."

"Ha! She got you by the balls now asshole!" May turned to see Gladis snickering, her older grandson now recording the proceedings on his phone.

She wasn't the only one to notice the recording. Alderwood grabbed her by the arm yanking her away, back into carnival grounds. "I think you've made enough of a little show their missy. Come on, let's go have some fun in private." His tone was throaty, flecks of spit hitting her ear and neck where he leaned into her to loudly whisper. She fought with him, yelling, and trying to break his grip. But despite his slight stature he was strong, easily dragging her behind him, her feet making ruts in the ground.

"What the fuck is goin' on here? And who the fuck are you?" It was Daryl, his voice still distant. She turned, shouting his name over the thunder of people. He rocketed into the crowd, pushing and shoving until he reached her. He grabbed Alderwood by the back of his shirt, jerking him back suddenly, his grip on May releasing as he swung around. Daryl quickly got in his face, spitting mad. "Who the fuck you think you are, grabbin another man's woman like that?"

Alderwood's scowl quickly turned into a smirk. "Your woman? I'm unclear why a pretty little thing like that would be... jesus christ!" His expression quickly changed as May's shoe made contact with his knee cap.

Daryl whipped around on her, his index finger in her face. "Stay back woman! Ain't you in enough trouble already?" Her arms crossed over her heaving chest, but she backed up; giving him the wooden response of 'Fine.' Alderwood took the moment to try and slink away, but Daryl caught his arm, whipping him back around. "Oh no you don't ya sissy bitch. We got business here we ain't done with. Kidnappin's illegal as hell an..." He didn't get a chance to finish speaking before Alderwood swung at him, grazing his jaw slightly as Daryl ducked.

"I don't have to take this from your kind! I did that little tease a favor and she owes me..." Whoosh, snap. Daryl's fist made contact with ribs, easily moving things around inside the man's body. He crumpled to the ground, spitting vomit.

"I don't care what you think you're owed. Nobody touches her like that. Least of all some Alpha Beta frat lookin' mother fucker." He turned to May, his eyes still blazing. "You know this asshole?"

Her eyes narrowed at the man on the ground. "He's the prosecutor who signed off on Merle's deal. He agreed to the conditions- I don't owe him shit."

Alderwood looked up at her. "You stupid cunt. I can't take back that deal, but I'll get you for this. Both of you. I know people. Important people. And you're going to be so fucking sorry."

"What I know," advised May, "is that my good friend over there has a tape of this whole thing. And if you ever want to run for public office, you really don't want it being common knowledge that you tried to abduct a woman. Not to mention a couple of dozen witnesses who are watching right now." His head whipped around, as if just now realizing how public the whole incident had been. "Come on Daryl" she placed a hand gently on his arm. "Let's go home." He grunted at her, before walking into the small crowd of bystanders and heading back to the truck. She had a quick word with Gladis, ensuring she would forward her the footage, before heading back to the vehicle herself.

The boys had been waiting by the truck watching from afar. She tried to settle them down on the ride back home, but they would not stop talking about the fight and how they had been so sure that Daryl would win the day. Daryl had gone back to being sullen while he drove, seemingly lost in thought, happy to let the boys fill the silence. When they pulled back up to the house, May sent the boys inside with the stuffed animals, and a directive to get ready for bed. Daryl leaned against the truck, smoking, watching her with careful eyes. She took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of wood smoke on the breeze before approaching him. He shifted back and forth on his feet, his hands jerky and awkward.

"Ya may want to steer clear of me for a while, I still feel like I'm itchin' for a fight." He looked down, flicking his cigarette several times in a row.

"Those boys think you're a hero."

"They're just boys. Boys like fights. Sides, it's my fault ya even had to deal with that SOB."

She grabbed his chin roughly, her fingers digging into the bone to fight his pulling away. He looked at her defiantly, and she could see the blood still boiling in his veins. "You listen to me goddamn it. That piece of shit nearly... well it wouldn't have been good would it?"

"No." His lips were almost nonexistent, his jaw clenched down so tight.

"Then whats the real problem here?" Her eyes flickered across his face, looking for some sign of what was going on in his head.

"What if I weren't there May? Huh? What if you and the boys was there alone and that happened? That old lady you friends with gunna help you next time?"

She sighed. "You're right. Damn it." She let go of his chin, her hand unconsciously running over the fresh bruise on her arm.

"Yeah. I am." He sounded a little unsure, the concept of correctness still too new to fully accept.

"I guess I'm not in the suburbs any more. Maybe I should get a gun?" She dropped her forehead to his chest. "Oh jesus, I don't know what to do with a fucking gun."

He let out a dry chuckle. "Could'a fooled me, the way you took that guy's knee cap out. That was sumpthin'."

She looked up at him, taking a drag off his cigarette, and she chuckled a little. "Well I wasn't gunna just let him talk to my man that way."

"I'm your man? Is that an official title?" He looked down, suddenly bashful.

"I suppose I could call you my old man, if you prefer. Or boyfriend."

He snorted. "Shit, I don't know."

"Well, I figure I better call you something, since you just declared to half the town that I'm 'your woman'."

He put his free hand over his face, groaning. "I did, didn't I?"

"Yep. I sure as hell ain't getting asked out by anybody else anytime soon." Daryl dropped the cigarette, crushing it under his boot. He wouldn't look at her, but a little grin teased at the corner of his mouth. "So you better pick a title. Because every busy body in town is going to be up my ass come Monday morning."

"Sorry." He crossed his arms across his chest, his eyes briefly darting up to her face. She reached up, cupping his cheek, running her thumb across the little bruise where he'd gotten punched.

"You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. Every woman in town is going to be beside themselves with jealousy."

He sneered, his tone indignant. "Why? Cuz some asshole tried to manhandle ya?"

"No, you beautiful, thick headed man. Because I had someone willing to fight for me. Not allot of men in that crowd seemed to care that I was getting hauled away. And I'm pretty sure you would have done that for pretty much any woman that he tried to drag off."

"Wasn't nuthin'."

"I'm telling you it was. Believe that I believe it, ok?" He grunted, looking up at her with a small glance. "I'm going to bed. I'm so tired I can't see straight." He nodded, and she went inside, the screen door squeaking closed behind her. Daryl didn't sleep well that night, spending most of it walking the woods with his bow, sifting through his thoughts like tangled fishing line in an over full tackle box.