Thanks again for all the feedback! Keep it coming. I'm really excited for everyone to see where this story is going!

Please Review!

Chapter 21

Lincoln and Andrew led Merle to two parrallel posts near the edge of town.

"Take your coat and shirts off..." Lincoln remarked.

Merle didn't say a word, he removed his coat, unbuttoned his shirt removing it including his black undershirt and threw his clothing to the ground. The chill of the air stung his bare chest. The cold air constricted his lungs as he tried to take a deep breath.

Lincoln grabbed Merle by the left wrist, held it above his head and shackled him to one of the posts. Andrew removed the bayonet from his right wrist guard and attempted to shackle his right wrist but quickly realized without his hand it wouldn't hold him but slide off.

"Uh...Linc...what do I ..." Andrew was at a loss and uncertain of how to even say it.

"I ain't goin' nowhere...one's enough..." Merle remarked. Merle reached his right arm up, resting his stump against the post.

"Fine...Come on Andrew...let's round up everybody..." Lincoln replied as he and Andrew left Merle alone standing between the posts.

Merle just stood there waiting for the punishment that awaited him. He knew exactly what was coming since he had seen it a few times himself. Hell he had been the one to shackle up other men. The difference with him was he wasn't going to cry and beg for lenience.

Merle heard the crowd begin to gather and they all begin to whisper. Finally The Governor arrived and stepped next to Merle, motioning to get everyone's attention.

"Anything you want to say before we begin?" The Governor whispered to him.

"Get on with it..." Merle remarked.

"Alright then...EVERYONE...PLEASE...IF I COULD HAVE YOUR ATTENTION...FIRST OF ALL I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME AWAY FROM YOUR CHORES AND DUTIES TO COME OUT HERE. THERE IS SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT I WOULD LIKE TO SAY...MANY OF YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT EARLIER TODAY MERLE BROUGHT A STRANGER INTO TOWN...AN INJURED WOMAN...SHE IS CURRENTLY AT THE CLINIC BEING TREATED BY BEATRICE...JUST TO PUT DOWN ANY RUMORS I WANT TO BE CLEAR SHE HAS NOT BEEN BIT. SHE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SICK IN ANY WAY. SHE DOES HOWEVER SEEM WEAKENED FROM BEING MALNOURISHED AND FROM BEING EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS..." The governor addressed the crowd.

Merle rolled his eyes, his back to the crowd, ready for the Governor to quit talking and start doing. He was about to suffer from the elements himself if the Governor didn't get a move on it as he did his best to fight his body's urge to shiver from the cold.

"I'VE DECIDED TO LET THIS WOMAN STAY AND BEFORE YOU JUDGE...LET ME EXPLAIN WHY...PLEASE...IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION...THIS IS A WOMAN THAT OUR TRUSTED MERLE KNEW FROM HIS PAST, SOMEONE HE CARED FOR...NOW I KNOW THAT MAY HARD TO BELIEVE FOR SOME OF YOU...I QUESTIONED IT AT FIRST MYSELF..." The Governor stated.

The crowd all snickered. The Governor smiled and waited for them to quiet down.

Merle couldn't help but get more angry from the laughter. Yeah...laugh it up...you brainless fucks. He thought to himself.

"NOW PLEASE...LISTEN...THIS IS A MIRACLE...HOW MANY OF YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE YOUR FAMILY OR LOVED ONES AGAIN? HOW MANY PEOPLE WISH THEY COULD REUNITE WITH THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE...WELL THIS IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO MERLE AND WE ALL NEED TO EMBRACE THAT...EMBRACE THE HOPE THAT THIS BRINGS US...EMBRACE THIS WOMAN...A NEW ADDITION TO OUR TOWN...I'VE HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT HER AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING EXACTLY WHAT SHE IS CAPABLE OF AND I IMPLORE YOU ALL TO DO THE SAME...WITH THAT SAID THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED...AS YOU ALL KNOW WE HAVE RULES IN THIS TOWN...THESE RULES ARE NOT MEANT TO PUNISH YOU...THEY ARE MEANT TO PROTECT YOU...EVEN THOUGH MERLE MAY HAVE HAD GOOD INTENTIONS...HE STILL BROKE THE RULES...HE STILL EXPOSED THE TOWN TO POSSIBLE DANGER AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY UNACCEPTABLE...ALL I DESIRE TO DO IS PROTECT YOU...MY GOAL IN LIFE IS TO PROTECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU...MY FAMILY IS GONE...MY FAMILY IS DEAD...THIS TOWN...YOU PEOPLE ARE ALL I HAVE...I WILL STOP AT NO COST TO PROTECT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU...SO BECAUSE OF THIS, MERLE HAS FORCED MY HAND...WHERE THERE ARE RULES...RULES WILL BE BROKEN...WHEN RULES ARE BROKEN...THERE WILL BE PUNISHMENT..." The Governor stood in silence for a moment with the full attention from the crowd.

He turned to face Merle. He reached into his back pocket and removed a large black whip. The cord dropped to the ground as The Governor took a deep breath. Gripping it tightly he swung the whip behind him then quickly snapped it forward as it struck Merle across the back...

Merle cringed with the sting and crackling sound from the first strike but he didn't utter a sound. He was bound and determined not to make a peep...not wanting the Governor to think he had broken him in any way. Again and Again Merle felt the sting of the whip across his back as he winced in pain, keeping his eyes closed the entire time. The whip cracked again against his back but this time a groan slightly escaped from his mouth no matter how hard he tried to suppress it. Again and again the whip cracked against his back. He could feel the flow of warm blood slowly running down his back as the cold air began to steal every last breath in his lungs, barely able to breath before another strike. The whip cracked against his back but this time Merle cried out, unable to control his own body any longer. Again and again he was struck until his legs began to buckle. Once The Governor thought he was at his limit, he wiped the sweat from his own brow and took in a deep breath. He struck him again as hard as he could and Merle's legs dropped from underneath him, the only thing keeping him upright was being chained by his left wrist. Merle gasped for air as his whole body shook from the pain. Groans escaping uncontrollably from his throat. Merle struggled to stay conscious.

The Governor walked up close behind him. Merle could hear The Governor's heavy breathing faintly above his own.

"I hope you understand this needed to be done...defiance is unacceptable at any cost here Merle...it's nothing personal..." the Governor told him.

Merle closed his eyes and tried to steady his breathing but pain radiated from his body and the cold was an additional cruelty added to the sting.

The Governor looked at Lincoln and Andrew. "Wait until the crowd is gone then take him to the clinic...

.

...about thirty minutes later, everyone had cleared the area and went about their business. Lincoln and Andrew dragged Merle, gripping under each arm, his body dangling limply between the men as they walked through the main street of the town until they made their way back to the clinic.

Beatrice was waiting at the door for them.

"Come on...bring him back here quickly..." Beatrice said as they followed her to one of the rooms. Roughly they flung Merle's limp body onto one of the beds. Gwen was in the bed next to it on the other side of the room.

"Sorry Merle...but you brought this on yourself..." Lincoln remarked but Merle remained silent.

Merle stared at Gwen...she was still unconscious.

After Lincoln and Andrew left the room, Beatrice began to tend to Merle's wounds.

"How is she?" Merle's voice was even more raspier than normal.

Beatrice looked over at Gwen then back at Merle. "Same as before...there's been no change...her vitals are strong...I think it's just a matter of time...no need for you to worry."

"I ain't worried...I know she's strong as an ox...just asking is all..." Merle barked back at her.

"Alright Merle...whatever you say..." Beatrice couldn't help but smile slightly.