16 And Pregnant
Chapter 14 - Trudy Hillard
Daryl Dixon

After I finished dinner I went outside with Hershel to help him with his truck. I left Beth inside with her mom and brother whilst Maggie went off to meet Glenn, Beth begged me with her eyes not to leave her as I walked outside but I could hardly tell Hershel I wasn't going to help him look over his truck. We walked out onto the drive way and parked under a tree in the shade was an old beaten up light blue truck, to be honest it looked older then me… it probably was older then me.

Hershel lifted the bonnet up as I started the engine and it didn't take long for me to find a problem. The engine was over heating to quickly which was then making the cooling system work in over time and because it was so old the truck couldn't take it which made it break down. I'm surprised it lasted this long but it's done well, there really wasn't much I could do for it that would be a long term solution. I think the best thing to do now is say goodbye and get rid of it because there is no way that truck can last a twenty minute drive without breaking down.

I felt bad having to tell Hershel that I wouldn't be able to fix his truck and he should send it to truck heaven but he needed to know. I didn't want some mechanic telling him he can fix it and getting loads of money out of him, I looked up at him and he knew by the look on my face what I was about to say "It's died hasn't it?" He asked me.

"Yeah, sorry. There's nothin I can do for a long time fix… the engine is over heatin to quick which makes the cooling system work over time. The truck is old and can't take it which makes the engine cut out and break down" I explained to him and he looked disappointed "If there was a way I could fix it then I would but I don't think there's anything I can for it" I told him.

"Well thanks for looking anyway" He replied.

"It's no problem" I said.

"Before you go to walk away Daryl, I want a word with you" He said to me. I knew this was coming but I was still shitting myself. This was Beth's dad and I've never really had a proper conversation with him about everything that's going on with Beth and everything, I know he's pissed because if I was him then I would be but I didn't know what he was going to say "Beth is my baby. She's 16 years old and I think you need to remember that, she's not ready to be a mother and wife" He explained.

"I understand what you're sayin and I'm sorry that this happened but I'm tryin my best to make this as easy for her as possible. I want her to finish school, go to college to study whatever she wants and I want her to do well… she knows that I told him.

"I have no doubt about that. Not many men in your situation would let the girl move in with him, I can see that you've stepped up and I can see how it's changing Beth. I just don't want her to think she has to become some sort of housewife… she's still a baby to me and I really wanted better for her" He said.

"Mr Greene I don't want praise for 'stepping up' because it's half my fault. I thought about walking away and cuttin her off but then… I realised that I couldn't because then I would become the man I always said I would never become. I don't want Beth to be a housewife, she's a smart girl who can do whatever she wants and I'll be there for her every step of the way" I explained.

"Well I respect you for that and I hope you make my little girl happy. I want you to know though that I have shotguns, lots of ammo and I'm a good shot… so is Shawn and Maggie. You hurt my little girl Daryl and I promise you it will be the last thing you do on this Earth" He told me.

"I understand" I stated.

"All right then. Go and find Beth, I'm sure she'll get worried that I killed you or something if you don't go back to her soon" He said.

I heard people talking and one of the people sounded like Beth so I followed the voices to just near the barn where I could hear Beth in a heated discussion with Shawn. She looked like she was getting upset and I didn't like it so I started walking over there but Shawn walked away and towards the house. As he passed me he shook his head and threw a nasty look before carrying on into the house, I heard him slam the door shut as entered the house.

I grabbed the rag out the back of my pants and started wiping my hands as Beth turned around to walk back into the house. She saw me and stopped walking so I walked towards her and stopped a little ways in front of her, I was about to ask her if she was ok but then a question came out of her mouth and I nearly fell over from shock "Who's Trudy Hillard?" She asked me and seemed really upset.

The last person I ever expected Beth to mention was Trudy Hillard, she was an ex girlfriend from about 10 years ago. The night she walked out on me we had called each other horrible names and we both made empty threats to each other but later that same night Trudy was found nearly beaten to death and dumped where she wouldn't be found.

She ended up having brain damage and because she had left me the same night I was the prime suspect but they let me go in the end because of 'lack of evidence'. I didn't do it of course. I loved the woman and I was planning to ask her to marry me, the last thing I would've wanted to do was kill her.

The police arrested me before they had any evidence at all and they never found any because I didn't do it. I would never lay my hands on any woman no matter what she says or does to me, I have no idea who beat her up and believed me I tried because I wanted to kill whoever had done it to her. I tried to go to the hospital to see if she remembered anything but the police nor her family would let me near anywhere her.

When Trudy was let out of hospital I tried going round to her place but her parents wouldn't let me in and eventually they got a restraining order on me. Her brother and three cousins come to my place one night and they beat the shit out of me, they punched me and kicked me then her brother stabbed me in the shoulder.

I never hurt her! I would never lay my hands on a woman, I would never turn into my dad… even Merle wouldn't stoop that low and he does stoop pretty low. Like I said, I wanted to marry the girl for crying out loud. I had brought a ring and I wanted us to have a real future together so why would I do that to her? I loved her with all my heart…. As much as it is wrong to say this I loved Trudy more then I love Beth right now.

"Well… who is she?" Beth asked getting impatient and angry.

"Can we talk at home. I don't want your family knowing my personal business" I told her.

"Fine" She stated and walked away from me and back into the house.

As soon as me and Beth walked into the house she stormed into the living room and slammed her bag down on the sofa. She was pissed. She stood there looking at me waiting for my explanation, I hadn't spoken to anyone about it really and I wasn't really sure where to begin. There was so much to tell and I just didn't know what sort of place to start… I needed to speak now though before she kicks my ass.

"Trudy was an ex partner of mine from ten years ago… I loved her and I wanted to propose to her, I even got her a ring" I said and she still stood there with the same expression on her face "We got in an argument one night, she told me it was over and she stormed out. I went out in my truck to look for her cause it was 2am and I wanted to know that she got home safe" I explained "I couldn't find her so I went back home and then I got an early morning wake up call from the cops. They arrested me for attempted murder but I was released" I said.

"You didn't have anything to do with it?" She asked me.

"Hell no!" I shouted.

"Do you know who did it?" She asked me.

"If I knew who did it, I'd be doing jail time for murder right now" I answered "If you think that I'm capable of somethin' like that then why are you here? Why are you with me? Why are you letting me be around a child? If you really think I'm capable of doing somethin' like that then leave… right now" I told her.

"I had to ask Daryl!" She shouted.

"Why? I would never do that! Hell even Merle wouldn't do that and he's a simple minded piece of shit!" I shouted back.

"Daryl stop! I had to ask!" She shouted.

"I don't get why! You should know that I wouldn't do somethin' as sick and twisted as that! Your stupid brother shouldn't be listenin' to no rumours. If he wants to know somethin' then he should be man enough to come and ask me!" I shouted and threw my keys across the room.

The keys missed her by a few inches and she started to cry. I obviously instantly felt bad about it but I was so angry that everyone thinks I'm some monster… I just can't believe that Beth would even have to question it.

"Don't you dare say stuff like that about my brother! He's just looking out for me and making sure that I was ok and safe! He's not trying to cause trouble!" She shouted at me "I'm going upstairs" She said and started making her way past me to get up the stairs "Don't follow me" She stated as her foot hit the first step.