WARNING-RACIALLY INSENSITIVE LANGUAGE-
It appeared that the birth of little Andy and the talk Daryl had with his brother was just what Merle needed to get his purpose in life back in order. It was a Thursday afternoon and Beth and Merle were completely head over heels in love with their newborn son. Currently Beth was taking a well deserved nap while Annette and Maggie were fussing over the small child. Alyssa had stopped by earlier in the morning to check over Beth and her son and assured Merle that both were strong and healthy.
Merle had come in from the farm to grab his lunch and Annette had him sit down so she could fuss over him since Maggie had decided to feed her new nephew a bottle. Beth had pumped as much milk as she possibly could so that someone besides her could feed the boy. It was a bit of a painful process, but if it allowed her an hour of extra sleep it would be worth it. Merle had watched her once, and only once go through the awkward process of pumping and vowed to himself he would never ever again think of women as the weaker sex. In the past week she had pushed a bowling ball out of her body and now was putting herself through a truly humbling process to make sure their son received the sustenance he needed to survive.
The previous day Hershel had come by and asked Merle to join him on the back porch. Merle knew what was coming, and he had been correct. Hershel had let Merle know in no uncertain terms that if he pulled another stunt like he had the other night, that he would make sure that Merle would be removed from the church as a deacon. Hershel also told Merle that he would definitely re-think allowing Merle to be around his daughter and his grandson. Even though Hershel really had no say in Merle and Beth's relationship, he had no doubt that the man could have a very convincing conversation with Beth now that there was a son involved. All things considered, Merle thought Hershel was fair with his words and Merle assured his father in law that he wouldn't need to worry about him slipping into his old habits again in the future. The two of them ended the conversation in a prayer of 'Thanks' and Hershel said he was content with how things stood at the moment. After their talk Merle had even more respect for Hershel than he had before.
Merle took a look at Maggie feeding his son and spoke "I heard from Beth you and Glenn finally set a date. Is there anything I can do to help y'all out?"
Maggie just smiled at her brother in law "Nope, not one thing Merle. Just make sure you show up at the farm with my sister and this little guy." She told him as she placed a gentle kiss on the baby's forehead. Andy was a beautiful child with a head full of blond hair. You could tell he had curls just like Beth and Merle and even though all babies had blue eyes, there wasn't one bit of doubt that Andy would be blue eyed like his mother and father.
"You keep looking at my boy like that and I'm gonna worry you're gonna steal him from us." Merle teased.
"Something tells me I wouldn't make it three feet without either you or Beth taking me down. He really is a cute boy Merle. Who would of thought an old man like you could make such a pretty baby." Maggie teased back.
"Hey, He's a Dixon, and Dixon's are all handsome men." Merle told Maggie.
"Yeah, well fortunately for you he looks even more like a Greene, and that not only makes him handsome, but smart too." She said as they both let out a loud laugh, startling the baby and causing him to whimper a little.
Maggie began to rock the infant and he instantly calmed down. "You're kind of a natural at that…are you and China…I mean Glenn planning on a big family?" Merle asked, catching himself from referring to Glenn by the nickname he knew everyone hated him using.
"Yes Merle, me and the 'China man' as you call him definitely want to have children. This little guy needs some playmates besides Dixons. It's not going to be long before Alyssa has her baby and Glenn and I will be married by then." She said, trying to sound annoyed, but knowing Merle meant no harm.
"You know Maggie, Glenn's a good man and I know y'all are going a round about way to get married, but I'm genuinely glad y'all have each other. I'll be proud to call him my brother." Merle told her in a serious tone.
Maggie almost teared up at Merle's sincerity. Yes, Merle was rough around the edges and could be a bit outspoken at times, but Merle was a good man. He had overcome so much in his life including an abusive childhood, being forced to take on adult responsibilities at much too young of an age, and now learning to live with a handicap. She was so happy that He and Beth had found each other and couldn't believe there was a time not that long ago that she was furious that Beth and Merle wanted to be together. It just went to prove to her that even with the best intentions people could make judgement calls on others that weren't always fair. She knew that unless things changed drastically, there would be people that would judge her for marrying Glenn just because he wasn't a white man. But she also knew those people were wrong, because Glenn was a good man and she truly loved him, just as much as he truly loved her.
"Merle Dixon, you never cease to amaze me." She said as she lifted the child up on her shoulder and gently began to burp him.
"Hell Maggie, sometimes I amaze myself." He said, half joking and half serious. Merle then finished up his lunch, gave both Maggie and Andy a soft kiss, and then thanked Annette for all her help. He then headed back out the door and towards the farm to work in the field for the rest of the blazing hot afternoon.
…
Merle traipsed out to the lower field where he found Daryl, Jess, Zach and Randall working on a clogged irrigation lines. The water levels were so low in the creek that the pumps were pulling in mud thus causing the clog. Merle raised an eyebrow at Daryl as he approached the group.
"Everything OK with Beth and the baby?" Daryl asked as Merle came over to assess the situation.
"Yeah, just fine. Still can't believe that little boy is mine." Merle told Daryl.
"That makes two of us, good thing it looks like Beth." Daryl teased.
"Damn pipes are clogged. Creeks running dry, and the ponds are as well. Might be time to dig some more wells. We can use the windmills to pump up the water. The water tables ain't as low as the creeks- we had plenty of rain last year and in the fall." Merle mentioned to his brother who was still concentrating on the clog he was trying to free.
"Even if we order the supplies today, it will still take a week to get here. I gotta go through Charlotte on my way to Galax, I can stop at a well supply company on the way back and maybe pick up what we need. We really could use one more hand around here. Wish like hell that Theodore hadn't run off." Daryl told his brother.
"I know. Something doesn't sit right with me about all that. We ain't never treated anyone unfairly, and everyone in town, black and white, are avoiding us like we got the plague. Why do you think that is?" Merle asked.
"Dunno. Maybe they think we had something to do with Noah and his family's death. I mean we were there when they were killed, and we had promised that we would keep them safe. Maybe they think we didn't try hard enough." Daryl said shrugging his shoulders. He was still bothered by what happened at the old cabin and was dreading the fact that both he and Merle had to testify in court in one week. It was hard enough for Daryl to speak one on one with someone, but the thought of having to speak in an open courtroom was downright terrifying for him. He just had to remember that he was doing this for Noah, and that the bastards that had killed the kid and his family, and almost killed him and Merle deserved to be punished.
Merle noticed Daryl zoning out "You thinking about next week?"
Daryl nodded "Yeah, not really looking forward to testifying."
"You'll be fine. Just answer the questions they ask you and ignore everyone else in the courtroom. Focus only on the lawyer and it won't be so bad." Merle offered Daryl, having previous experience of testifying in court. Maybe something good did come from Merle's dalliances with the wrong side of the law.
"I'll do my best. We are supposed to meet with the District Attorney on Tuesday. Don't you think it's strange they haven't asked to meet with us sooner?" Daryl asked Merle.
"I'm just assuming it's because this is an open and shut case. They have fingerprints, and two eyewitnesses who were also victims. This should be an easy win for the Plaintiff." Merle said letting out a laugh.
"Thank God, cause the last thing I want to do is see those three assholes strutting around Holly Springs like heroes. I was hoping that the State would push further to get them to turn on dad, but it appears they aren't going to go that route." Daryl said in a frustrated tone.
"He'll hang himself. Count on it. He's cozy with Blake right now, and you know what they say, the higher you are, the farther you fall. Blake is wealthy and charismatic, but he ain't the brightest man I've ever met. Both of them will screw up and that will lead to their downfall." Merle assured his younger brother.
"Hopefully. Now let's stop talking about this shit and try to get some water flowing to these plants. They already are behind in growth and the last thing I need is for the crops to mature right when Alyssa is about to have the baby." Daryl told Merle.
"Don't worry baby brother, if that happens we've got you covered. Your child is much more important than you helping with the harvest. Trust me, there ain't nothing more special. I never thought I'd feel like this, but my little boy has changed my mind." Merle said proudly.
"I'm happy for you Merle. I can't believe how much has changed in a year." Daryl said as he thought about the fact he didn't even know Alyssa a year ago.
"Things are only gonna get better." Merle promised Daryl. Their conversation ended when Jess walked over to them.
"Need y'all to come over to the house tonight, we've got to discuss business about the farm. Hannah is making dinner and she mentioned that she would love for y'all to bring Beth, Alyssa, and the baby. Is that alright with y'all?" Jess asked his nephews.
"Should be fine for us." Daryl told his uncle.
"Us too." Merle said as well.
…
It was about three in the afternoon and they had finally managed to get the irrigation pipes unclogged and water was flowing slowly to the fields. Daryl wouldn't admit it, but they may have bit off more than they could chew this year. After last years record crops, they had taken a portion of the profit and purchased the fifty acre farm next door. It had been abandoned long ago and the land and outbuildings doubled the amount of land the Dixon's owned. They wouldn't have to pay any profit sharing to Will on anything that they harvested from the new land , and the buildings could be used either to be fixed up and rented out, or for storage. Instead of planting the original fifty acres of cotton that the Dixon's normally planted, this year they added twenty more acres making it seventy acres in total to maintain and harvest. They had made some assumptions when they made the purchase, and the first of those assumptions was they would be able to hire people to help out, but that wasn't playing out the way they had hoped. The other issue was the land had gone so long without being worked that it wasn't producing as well as the Dixon's original land. As a result, they needed to invest in more fertilizer than they were used to purchasing in order to make the land more fertile. With the excessive heat and the lack of rain, the new land was turning into a financial black hole for the family.
Daryl decided to trudge down to the road to check the mail and was surprised to meet a younger man walking up the path towards his house.
"Can I help you?" Daryl asked in a somewhat terse voice.
"This is the Dixon farm? Correct?" The man asked.
"Yeah, who wants to know?" Daryl replied defensively.
"You must be Daryl." The man replied, reaching a hand out to shake Daryl's.
Daryl reluctantly reached his hand out and took the younger man's hand. "You still ain't told me who you are yet."
"I'm sorry, my name is Paul Rovia, but my friends call me Jesus." The man replied. Based on the mans long hair, beard and blue eyes, Daryl could see the resemblance.
"I've heard of you." Daryl said as he rubbed the stubble on his chin. "You've been working down in the East Side of town as a teacher. Now I'm really confused. Why are you here at the farm?"
"You are right, I was a teacher helping the less fortunate in Holly Springs. I also haven't had a single student in the past month. People are scared and the lynchings aren't helping." Jesus told Daryl.
"Not sure I'm putting this all together." Daryl admitted.
"Someone has most of the colored folks terrified to interact with anyone outside of their race. When Noah and his family were killed and then dragged back to town and put on display so brutally, that had an impact. I know what you and your brother did in trying to help out and that's why I'm here. I need a job. Theodore Douglas told me you were reasonable people, and he told me he reluctantly left his job here without much notice. Someone threatened to hurt his family if he continued to associate with the Dixons. But it's not just y'all that they are threatened by, it's any outsiders. They don't know who they can trust, so they are sticking to what, or should I say "who" they know, and I'm an outsider." Jesus informed Daryl.
"So why don't you back to teaching?" Daryl asked out of curiosity.
"With my reputation no white school will hire me, and most black schools are weary of white teachers. So, I'm falling back on what I grew up with and that is farming. Theodore said you had a poultry house-chickens to be exact, and that was specialty growing up." Jesus told Daryl and that peaked Daryl's interest. He would be the first to admit that he was still new and learning about raising chickens.
"Alright I could use the help, but if I do hire you, there will be other responsibilities as well, we are primarily a cotton farm, and that is where we put the bulk of our time and energy." Daryl informed Jesus.
"Hey, I grew up in South Carolina…believe me when I tell you I know about farming cotton." Jesus replied in a confident tone.
Daryl nodded and then led Jesus to the half full poultry house. The weather was sweltering and the smell inside the barn was almost overwhelming. Daryl noted there were at least five or six dead chickens that needed to be cleaned up and burned. With the heat it was to be expected.
Jesus looked at Daryl, also noticing the dead birds. "Already I can give you some advice on what to do about the heat and the dead birds. You need a better ventilation system in here."
"We've got the Main door an the three large windows for air to circulate through here." Daryl told him.
"You need to cut in additional windows on each side of the barn, and then enlarge the window at the back and add a large fan that will increase the air flow in here significantly. You also need to increase the area around the barn for the chickens to roam. You should also add more cubbies for the laying hens and separate the birds you are using for meat production. Based on the number of hens you should also purchase some additional roosters. One rooster for every eight birds. I notice that you don't have that many birds for the size of the building, so if you are considering purchasing additional birds I would purchase the Rhode Island Red chickens instead of the leghorn chickens. Overall they are better producers of meat and eggs. The leghorn's aren't bad, but the Rhode Island Red is better, and they don't really cost much more. They also have a better disposition." Jesus told Daryl.
"Shit, you really do know your stuff. Look, as you can see, I do need help. I was planning on taking a trip to Galax, Virginia tomorrow to be there for the livestock sale on Saturday morning. If I hire you, would you consider taking the trip with me? I need all the advice I can get." Daryl said, almost blown away by this little bit of luck that just fell into his lap.
"So you are willing to hire me?" Jesus asked.
"Yeah, fifty cents an hour and full room and board. We've got two other hands that you would share the bunk house with. It's actually pretty nice. We have electricity and running water. You don't have to share sleeping quarters because we have four separate rooms established for whoever stays there. There is a common kitchen area, and the bathroom has to be shared, but it's comfortable. My wife, Merle's wife, and my Uncle Jess's wife all take turns at fixing the meals and we will also provide regular food supplies so you can fix your own." Daryl told the younger man.
"Sounds perfect. I'll take the job and I'll gladly go with you to Galax." Jesus confirmed.
"So let me ask you something, this ventilation system, do you know about what one of those fans run cost wise?" Daryl asked.
"Usually around a hundred dollars new, but if you could find one used I am familiar with the mechanics of how they run, and I could make sure it's in good working order." Jesus told him.
"We can ask around when we get to Galax and see what we can find. I've got my truck and we will pull a trailer to bring back more birds. Not sure how many I can buy with finances as they are these days, but I'll have a better idea after a family meeting tonight." Daryl said to Jesus.
"I might know a few places we can check on our way up to Virginia." He told Daryl.
"Alright, let me introduce you to everyone." Daryl told him.
Daryl then took Jesus to the bunk house and showed him around, and then brought him out to introduce him to the rest of the men who were working the twenty acres on the new parcel of land. Maybe having someone as knowledgeable as Jesus around would help make up for the shortfall of losing Merle's cows and they could get this season back on track.
…
Alyssa and Daryl arrived at Jess and Hannah's house promptly at six in the evening, and Beth and Merle weren't far behind. Beth had Andy swaddled and Merle was fussing at her trying to convince her that the infant would be much happier if he wasn't smothered in blankets. It was nearly June and close to ninety degrees outside. Merle even tried to talk her into letting the little guy just wear his diaper and a bib and let the baby cool down. Of course, Beth certainly wasn't going to hear any of what Merle had to say.
Everyone ate a light and quick dinner that Hannah had prepared, and the men then retired to Jess's study while the women went to the parlor. Clarissa volunteered to clean up after dinner in exchange for getting to hold Andy when she was done. Of course, Beth was more than thrilled to let cousin Clarissa hold the baby.
While the men were handling business, Alyssa and Hannah began to quiz Beth about her life as a new mother.
"For now everything is wonderful. It's like being in a brand new relationship. I wake up and can't wait to hold him, and if I'm away from him, I just can't wait to get to him and just see him. I have never loved anything as much as I do my little boy. I think Merle feels the same way." Beth told them.
Alyssa began to rub her belly out of instinct "I can't wait until this baby is born. So far I've done really well with the pregnancy, other than the fact that I've gained thirty pounds in six months. Beth, how did you avoid gaining weight?" Alyssa asked.
"Don't forget, I was sick most of my pregnancy. I wouldn't worry too much about you gaining weight Alyssa, it looks good on you. You know most of it is baby weight anyhow and it will drop off right after the baby is born." Beth assured her, but Alyssa knew that wasn't entirely true.
"Well, we can go with that story, but I know for a fact that I have eaten more than I have ever eaten in my entire life. Everything tastes so good and I've used the pregnancy as an excuse to stuff myself." Alyssa confessed.
"At least you're gaining weight in the right places." Hannah said, pointing to Alyssa's chest and hips.
"Daryl hasn't complained, but that is because I think he believes everything will go back to how it was before I got pregnant." Alyssa told them.
"Trust me, Daryl won't complain." Beth added with a laugh.
"I'm feeling so self-conscious about my body that I don't want Daryl to see me without clothes on." She admitted to the other two women.
Hannah reached out and patted Alyssa on the arm "Alyssa, never let yourself think that. Daryl loves you as you are. I don't doubt one moment that he still adores you as you are right now. He loves you for what is inside of you, not your appearance. Now don't get me wrong, you are still stunning, both you and Beth are beautiful, but don't under estimate Daryl. He knows your body is going through changes, and he also knows that you are carrying his child. Daryl's body is going to change as he gets older too. Does that bother you?"
"Of course not, I'd love Daryl no matter what." Alyssa exclaimed emphatically.
"So why do you worry about how Daryl would feel about you gaining a few pounds? I've gained weight and aged since Jess and I were married, and he loves me more now than I think he did even back then and I feel the same about him. The best advice I can give you Alyssa is just don't worry about it. If he knew you were thinking like this I think he would worry that he himself was doing something wrong." Hannah explained.
"You are so right Hannah, I need to just get over the fact I won't have a twenty three inch waist again." Alyssa teased.
Then Hannah laughed "I need to accept the fact I never had a twenty three inch waist." After her comment all three girls burst into laughter.
…
While the women were discussing 'womanly' things as Daryl referred to female conversations, the Dixon men had serious business about the farm to discuss. Merle wanted to purchase four more additional cows and was willing to pay the premium price to purchase pregnant cows, but Jess said that they couldn't afford that right now. They decided that they would purchase two heifers and one calf. The one Bull that Merle owned was not in the pasture the night of the poisoning, so he didn't need another male. If they purchased the Heifer that was out of season but still had a calf, she would still produce milk, and they could breed the other heifer immediately. If they did that then they could just run with a smaller scale of milk production in the dairy for this season.
It had also been decided that they would let the cattle pasture in the rarely used upper field on the new property instead of the lower field close to the road. That would help eliminate the risk of someone dumping more poisonous weeds in an area that was both accessible to strangers as well as not easily visible to anyone on the farm. The new property was close enough to Merle's house that he could visibly see the plot of land from his back porch. Daryl even suggested they purchase a few cattle dogs that could roam the property and alert them if someone was trespassing on the land.
Daryl told his uncle and brother about the suggestion Jesus had made about the ventilation system for the poultry house and Merle and Jess agreed that it was worth the investment. They also agreed that adding two more wells on the property would help considerably with irrigation not only this season, but it would help out in the future seasons going forward. After an hour of crunching the numbers and cutting expenses as much as they could, they all came up with a revised budget they could agree upon.
Finally Jess brought up security on the farm again. It was obvious after the dumping of the poison hemlock on the farm that the Dixons were in someone's crosshairs. Most likely it had something to do with their father, but since the incident at the cabin, Will had avoided the family at all costs. They had heard rumors of him parading around town with a very pregnant Paula, but they had no idea if she had delivered the baby yet, or even when she was due. It was a sore spot since there would be a new sibling and the brother's doubted that there would be any chance of a relationship with the child. There was also the fear of the child being in a dangerous situation with Will. Hopefully Paula was stronger than Nellie in the sense that she would stand up to Will if the situation arose and the child's safety was being threatened.
It was finally decided that they would alternate nights with the hired hands and keep a watch on the property. Whoever worked the previous nights watch would then be allowed to start their work the next day after lunch, giving them time to get proper rest. It wasn't something any of them wanted to do, but with the tensions so high as of late, they had to do what they could to protect the farm, especially with the court trial coming in the next week. There were a lot of people in town that were sympathetic towards Mitch, Dave, and Tony and with it apparently looking like they would be convicted of Noah's murder, it could make the Dixon farm an even bigger target.
After meeting and discussing the future of the farm, all three men were exhausted. Finances were tight, and even Daryl who had a large amount of money saved at the end of the previous season was concerned about how long the funds he had remaining would last. As excited as he was to move he and Alyssa into the renovated farmhouse within the next month or so, a part of him was concerned that he had spread himself too thin financially when he purchased the home. After Alyssa had her accident Daryl spent lavishly to make up for the guilt he felt because of the fire, and now he wondered if he could have made better decisions financially. Then he remembered how happy Alyssa looked when he gave her the engagement ring, and the other gifts he had bought her while she was recuperating in the hospital. It was then he decided it didn't matter how much he spent, the look on her face and the joy in her heart were priceless. He wasn't destitute financially at the moment, and he knew that somehow he and Alyssa would make it through these tough financial times.
…
That night as Daryl and Alyssa lay in bed discussing their day, Daryl told her about the meeting with Merle and Jess.
"So things are really tough financially huh." She said.
"Afraid so. Alyssa I know this isn't what you signed up for when we got married. You were doing fine by yourself and you were making good money at your practice. I'm sorry about this." He said solemnly.
"What are you talking about Daryl? Do you think I married you for your money? Of course, I heard a few people say that after you got me this amazing engagement ring it was all about the money, but it's not true." She was giggling as she teased him. " I love you Daryl, and I don't care if we have to live in a box…as long as we are together that is all that matters." She assured him.
"Still don't know how I got so damn lucky finding you Alyssa. I love you so damn much." He confessed to her as he pulled her closer. Just as he wrapped his arms around her, the baby kicked and he felt the small movements against the palms of his hand as they were splayed across her belly.
"I think our little one senses his daddy is close by." She laughed.
"Can't wait to meet her or him. Seeing Merle and Beth as parents just has me more excited than ever. We've got three months and those months are gonna seem like eternity." He confessed.
"It's gonna be a busy three months for sure. I hate that you have to go to Galax tomorrow, but I feel better with Jesus going with you. I met him a few times when I was working in East Holly Springs and was impressed with his kindness. I'm really surprised that even he has been closed off from the families down there. I wonder if the trust has been irrevocably broken because of what has happened? Too many innocent people have been hurt." Alyssa said sadly.
"Not all of them were innocent, like Mike Giles, but he still deserved a fair trial. People like Jesus, and us just want to help out, but if they don't trust us or our help, what can we do?" Daryl asked his wife, wondering if anything could help build back the trust.
"Time helps, but for things to really heal then folks are gonna have to have legitimate opportunities to get out of the cycle of poverty that they are struggling with. Maybe with the quarry and the jobs that are going to be available it will offer an opportunity for people to start building a future for themselves. I heard a rumor that the man who owns the quarry will be at the Town Hall meeting next week so he can introduce himself. All I know is that he is name is Mr. King and that he is from Savannah." Alyssa informed Daryl.
"Well they said he was offering good wages and he was not concerned about race so I look at that as a step in the right direction." Daryl told her.
"Mmmm…"Alyssa replied as Daryl noticed she could barely hold her eyes open. He leaned in close and gave her a gentle kiss.
"Get some rest baby." He said softly as she nodded off with him following right behind her.
…
The same night that the Dixon's were having their discussion about the farm, Milton found himself with a rare night off from the hospital. He decided to go to one of the fine dining establishments in Canton and order a steak dinner. He was surprised when he walked into the restaurant to see Dr. Philip Blake seated at a large table with another physician he used to work with, Dr. Peter Anderson. When Dr. Blake saw Milton he immediately waved the man over to his table.
"Won't you join us Dr. Mahmet." Blake said in an extremely friendly voice.
"Well I don't want to bother you and Dr. Anderson's meal." Milton said a bit shyly.
"Oh, it's not bother at all. We were just discussing a few business affairs." Blake replied.
Milton looked at the two men "Are you thinking about returning to medicine?"
"Oh, heaven's no, I'll leave the practicing of medicine up to you and Dr. Anderson. I've got a few other ventures I'm focused on these days." Dr. Blake said practically beaming.
"Philip has political aspirations that we all think will be advantageous to our 'Cause'" Dr. Anderson replied as he slammed back the scotch he had ordered and waved at the waiter to bring him another.
"Cause?" Milton said, a bit interested in what it was Anderson had been mentioning.
"Yes, Dr. Anderson and I hold a few beliefs that we think all good Christian men of the South should believe . At least the civilized ones." Blake said as both he and Dr. Anderson let out a laugh.
"I believe I know what 'Cause' you are speaking of." Milton said, almost certain they were referencing the Klan. He knew several southern physicians who had either directly or indirectly involved themselves in the oppressive White Supremacy group. Milton hadn't really given the political organization a thought one way or the other, but being here tonight with the charismatic Blake had him intrigued.
"And what are your thoughts about that?" Dr. Anderson asked.
"Well, I am not a fan of reprobate, sadistic behavior, or the mixing of the races." Milton said honestly.
"Then I believe you would feel very comfortable working for the cause." Dr. Blake said enthusiastically as he gave Milton a friendly pat on the back.
Milton frowned a little and then spoke "I am not a fan of violence, especially when it involves one of my former colleagues and closest friends."
Blake and Anderson both looked at Milton confused. Milton then cleared his throat and spoke "Dr. Alyssa Cambridge, I mean Dixon now, anyhow, she is a very close and dear friend and she almost died as a result of the cause."
Blake then nodded solemnly "Yes, that was an unfortunate accident. Sometimes in war innocent people are caught up in the casualties. That night an error in judgment led to the fire that almost took Dr. Cambridge's life. I refuse to think of her as a Dixon as she has associated herself with the less tasteful side of the family."
"Why was she even targeted in the first place?" Milton asked.
"Her actions with the 'reprobate' as you called them were a direct threat to the good white Christians in Holly Springs. She was spouting off nonsense about equality, and to be honest, not many people in Holly Springs wanted to be treated by a doctor that treated Niggers." Anderson replied gaining a nod of approval from Blake.
Then Blake replied "Dr. Mahmet, do you have romantic feelings towards Dr. Cambridge?"
Milton turned red in embarrassment "No…well, I did, but she is no longer available for romantic consideration."
Blake let out a laugh that took the men by surprise "I think Dr. Cambridge has had a lapse in judgment. Perhaps the first few months of her marriage to the idiot Dixon man have proven that to her and she is just too proud to say anything. A little bird mentioned to me that her 'husband' and I use the term loosely, is going to be out of town over the weekend. Maybe you could stop by and pay her a social visit, and maybe show her the error of her ways. She is a beautiful woman, and a remarkable physician and she would be an excellent addition to the cause. She just needs to see her way clearly, and maybe you could be the one to show her. You said you are both very close friends, maybe she needs and ear to listen to her."
Milton looked a bit bewildered "I'm afraid I'm too late-she's expecting a child."
"Even more reason to talk some sense into her. She has to think about her child's future, and a segregated society is the best solution for all of us. Also, there is no shame in raising another man's child as your own, and teaching him to be a soldier for the cause. You may or may not know that the Dixon's father is an advocate for the 'cause' and he has proven to be a good and faithful leader for me. In fact, he has been the head of my security and I've never felt safer." Blake mentioned to Milton, knowing well he had touched on a subject that the younger doctor could relate too.
Finally Milton nodded "You are right, It may just be time to drop in and pay a visit to my dear friend."
…
That night when Blake returned home he was exhausted as he collapsed on the couch in his formal living room. Andrea and Penny came in and greeted him and told them about the events of their day. Blake adored his daughter, though his relationship with his wife had become complicated over the past year or so. As Andrea was getting older Blake found himself more and more attracted to younger women. He found himself less attracted to his wife and that lack of attraction had lead to intimacy problems for the couple. Andrea assumed it was a medical condition, and didn't push the issue, though Blake was pretty sure she was finding some sort of comfort elsewhere. It was a topic that they didn't discuss. Then when Andrea had been so brutally assaulted by Mike Giles, his physical attraction to his wife had become non existent. That was until Amy moved in with the family.
Amy was much younger than Andrea, and very passionate about the Cause as was he. Andrea of course, was passionate about Philip's beliefs and had become more involved in the movement after her brutal attack, but Amy was willing to do what was needed to forward the cause. Even if that meant using her body to recruit soldiers, or glean information from innocents who had no idea what her intentions were. She and Phillip had moved from a relationship of brother and sister in law to a physical and very intimate relationship two months earlier when Andrea and Penny had gone to Atlanta to visit some of Andrea's old friends. Philip wished he could feel guilty about betraying his wife, but the pleasure he received when he was fucking Amy was worth the guilt. The upside to the affair was that now when he saw Andrea, he visualized Amy, and that meant he and Andrea had become intimate again, though Andrea noted that Philips love making had taken a much darker turn. She didn't question it though because she was thrilled to have her husband back in her bed.
After Andrea and Penny had retired for the evening, Blake was enjoying a Cognac in his study. He was interrupted from his thoughts when Amy came into the room and angrily dropped into a leather chair beside his desk.
"I can't do this anymore. The guy is an absolute creep. I had to let him feel my tits tonight just to prove to him I still liked him. I swear he is a complete dumbass." Any said angrily.
"I assume you had a date with Randall?" Philip asked raising his eyebrows.
"If you want to call it that. The guy has no money and can't even take me on a proper date." She spouted out in a frustrated voice.
"I'll make sure you are financially compensated for your work with the cause. Maybe a shopping trip to Atlanta is in order?" He said offering an olive branch to the angry blonde. That seemed to calm her down a bit.
"Well that would be nice. It would be even nicer if you could join me." She said, hoping to entice him to get away with her from this hell hole of a town.
"You know Atlanta is out of the question, people might recognized us. However, Charleston might not be so bad. I have a conference coming up soon and maybe you can join me. Andrea and Penny are going to some Debutante event in Atlanta and they wouldn't miss either of us." He told her.
"Oh please Philip, that would be divine. I can't keep this up with Randall. The poor guy has no idea that I'm only using him for information about the Dixons, but I don't know how much longer I can act like I'm interested." She pleaded.
"Amy honey, you will do so as long as I need you too do so. Please don't question me again or it will anger me. Do you understand?" Philip said tersely.
Amy knew exactly what he meant. As much as she adored, and even loved Philip Blake, she had seen him angry, and that was something she didn't want to see again. "I understand completely darling. Would you like me to shut the door to the study so we can discuss things in further?" She said as she stood up and slipped her dress off her shoulders and letting it fall to the ground. Smiling to herself as she saw the lust in her brother in law's eyes.
…
The next day at lunch time Jesus and Daryl were loading up the truck and trailer getting ready for their trip to Galax. Alyssa had packed enough food for a week for the two men and Daryl and Jesus had both thrown in an overnight bag. The trip was going to be simple, drive to Galax and spend the night, get up early the next morning and purchase the poultry, and then leave and drive to Charlotte. Once in Charlotte Daryl was going to pick up the irrigation supplies for the new wells they were going to install and then the two would spend the night and then drive back Sunday morning. Daryl hoped to be back before Alyssa got home from church.
Alyssa gave Daryl a final kiss goodbye, and offered a warm hug to Jesus, and asked him to keep an eye out for Daryl. He nodded politely and offered her a smile that was kind and reassuring. She didn't know a lot about Jesus, but she wondered how someone as kind and handsome as him had not yet married. There would be plenty of females that would be attracted to him. Alyssa just assumed that he was too interested in doing good and helping others to be involved in a relationship. None of them had any idea at all that Jesus led a lifestyle that was considered taboo by all of modern society.
After the men left the farm they headed into town to fill up the truck with fuel. While the gas attendant took care of the windows as the truck was fueling Daryl and Jesus headed across the street to the diner to get a cup of coffee for the ride. When they entered the restaurant and placed their order Daryl took a look around and noticed Dr. Anderson entering the store with his wife and two sons. The wife smiled at Daryl and Jesus, but her smile looked forced. Not in disdain towards him, but like a smile of someone who was keeping something hidden. Daryl hated to see any woman look like they lived in fear, and this woman had a look similar to the look Daryl could remember his mother having on more than one occasion when his father was around. Daryl nodded a soft greeting and then he and Jesus picked up their coffee and left, but not before Daryl noticed Dr. Anderson's boots. There was something about the silver tips on those boots that brought back a memory. He then remembered the night of the Klan Rally when he and Alyssa had gone on their first date. The man who was speaking so violently and hateful that night was decked out in robes so you couldn't see his face, but Daryl had noticed the boots. Silver tipped boots, just like the ones that Dr. Anderson was wearing. No wonder Alyssa hated the guy, not only was he most likely abusing his wife, he was also a hate monger spieling out racism any chance he got while hiding behind a white sheet.
When Jesus and Daryl got back in the truck he turned to Jesus "Do you know anything about Dr. Anderson?"
Jesus gave Daryl a look that let him know he knew plenty "You mean about his involvement in the Klan?"
"Yeah, about that. You know who my father is as well…don't you?" Daryl asked out of curiosity.
"Will Dixon? Yeah, I know him, but I don't really associate you and your brother with that man. I know you are very different." Jesus assured Daryl.
"That we are. You seem to know a lot about the Klan, does that have anything to do with why you chose Holly Springs, more specifically East Holly Springs as the place you wanted to teach?" Daryl asked.
"Let's just say when I was in college I ran with a group of individuals that didn't believe in discriminating against anyone. Regardless of their race, religion, or other personal lifestyle choices." Jesus told Daryl, putting an emphasis on the last part of his statement, and hoping Daryl understood what he was saying. It wasn't a subject that Jesus liked to discuss and he wasn't sure if he should mention it to Daryl, but Daryl didn't seem like the type to judge.
Daryl thought about what Jesus said, and realized there was probably a much deeper meaning to part of the statement he had just made. It finally dawned on him that Jesus was talking about his self in that statement, and Daryl realized that there was a reason that Jesus wasn't married. He remembered Alyssa discussing that her uncle who had left her the inheritance had been a 'confirmed bachelor' and then she explained the true meaning behind that statement. It all now clicked with Daryl.
Daryl thought carefully about what he was going to say "Don't matter what someone does in their personal life…that's private and everyone is entitled to that privacy. What does matter is how folks treat others and as far as I'm concerned, you treat other folks a lot better than most."
There was such a look of relief on the face of Jesus that he looked like he might shed a few tears. "I appreciate that Daryl, not very many people know…about my lifestyle choices. I know there are a lot of preconceived notions about people like me, but just so you know, none of that makes me any less of a man. I am more than capable of carrying my share of responsibilities around the farm."
"Didn't say you couldn't. Like I said, your personal life is your business. I like you just fine and I don't think anything more needs to be said about it. Now tell me what you know about the Klan and my father. There ain't nothing I want more than to see that man rot in a jail cell somewhere. The problem is he seems to keep his hands clean." Daryl confessed.
"I don't know if this matters, but there were rumors that I heard before I was cut off from most people in East Holly Springs that there was someone who witnessed your father directly lynching Terry, Mike Giles best friend." Jesus told Daryl.
"A witness? And why would my father handle the lynching of a nobody like Terry on his own when he has a whole crew of people who do what he tells them?" Daryl asked, barely able to concentrate enough to keep the truck on the road.
"Terry supposedly had information on Will that he didn't want to get out. Essentially Terry was blackmailing your father, or at least that was what the rumor was. And before you ask, I have no idea what that information was." Jesus assured Daryl.
"If there is a witness we gotta find 'em. That's the only way we can be sure my father will get the punishment he deserves." Daryl said in an almost desperate tone.
"Then I suggest once we get back and get everything handled on the farm, we work together with the help of Rick Grimes to find out if there truly is a witness and do what is needed to get that witness to testify. You're father needs to be punished for what he has done and it isn't going to be easy to convince a witness from the East Side of town that they will be safe after they do testify." Jesus told him.
"Yep, and after what happened with Noah, and us trying to keep him and his family safe, I don't know that I even trust myself to be able to try again." Daryl said in an almost defeated tone.
"Don't worry Daryl, we'll figure it out." Jesus said trying to convince Daryl this wasn't a lost cause.
…
The Saturday after Daryl had left to go to Galax, Alyssa had busied herself around the house. She had cleaned all the windows, swept all the floors, washed all the linens, and basically scrubbed the house spotless. After she had finished up cleaning the house, she ventured up the path to the farmhouse to check on Tyreese and the progress he was making. She had brought a pitcher of sweet tea and served Tyreese and his crew as he took her around and showed her everything he had done.
"How soon do you think before we can move in?" She asked.
"Probably mid July Ms. Alyssa. Still got a lot of painting and finishing up on odds and ends. I know you want the baby nursery to be perfect and there were some bad spots in the walls we wanted to fix. That will still give you a good amount of time before the baby comes." Tyreese assured her.
"Yes it does Tyreese. I can't believe this is gonna be our home. It's beautiful." She said offering the man a bright smile.
"Thank ya Ma'am. Good place to raise a family. I see you've been doing some work in the flower garden out back?" He asked.
"I have, and I'm so glad you found it. Once I've got it all cleared out we will have a beautiful rose garden. It's going to be so nice to have something from Daryl's childhood still around for him to enjoy." She told him.
"I'm just happy you like all of it." He said as he finished up his tea and then excused himself to get back to work.
…
It was still mid afternoon and Alyssa still had energy she needed to burn. She guessed maybe she spent more time taking care of Daryl than she realized and laughed to herself at that thought. Therefore, she decided to go out and work in her vegetable garden to kill some more time before she finally made dinner and let herself relax for the evening. Since it was still hotter than Hades outside she opted to slip off her shoes and threw on an old cotton dress that still fit and she didn't mind getting dirty. Alyssa plopped down in the soil and began to pull weeds that had begun to take off around her cucumbers. A gentle breeze began to blow and she found herself humming a tune as she worked diligently in the dirt. A sound of a man's voice caught her off guard and nearly scared her to death. She looked up and noticed Milton was standing a few feet away watching her intently.
"Milton, Oh my goodness, what a pleasant surprise." She said trying to get herself up off the ground. Unfortunately her round belly was making getting up a little more difficult than normal. Milton quickly rushed to her and reached to help her get up. He relished the feel of her hand in his.
"Alyssa, I was in town and decided to stop by and check on you. How are you doing?" He asked. The sight of her in dirty feet and clothes broke his heart. His Alyssa deserved so much better than this. Daryl Dixon should hang his head in shame for letting his pregnant 'wife' live in these conditions.
"I must look a total mess Milton. Why don't you come into the house and let me make you a glass of iced tea so we can catch up on things." She said in a genuinely happy voice.
"Um, aren't you worried about what people might think? If Daryl comes in from the field and he sees me here he may not like it." He said, trying hard not to let her know that he knew Daryl wasn't home.
"Milton, you were my doctor, I don't think social conventions are at play here. Come on in and don't worry, Daryl's not here anyhow, he's gone to Galax on farm business." She volunteered happily.
Milton followed her into the small, but immaculate home. He noticed that all of the appliances were top of the line. At least Dixon did provide her with a proper way to cook and clean. If Alyssa was his to take care of, he would hire someone to take care of all of the household chores, just so he could spend more time with her. She would never know what it would be like to go without anything.
Alyssa prepared a glass of iced tea and motioned for Milton to sit down. "I'm going to wash up and change real quick, why don't you pick a radio show for us to listen too while we catch up. Can you stay for dinner?" She asked without thinking.
Milton couldn't believe his luck. Maybe this was the sign he was looking for. She was so enthusiastic and seemed so happy to see him it could only mean one thing, she was looking for him to get her out of the mess she had gotten into. "Alyssa, I don't want to be a bother."
"Oh, no bother at all. With Daryl gone I've got nothing but free time on my hands. I can't believe how much time I spend just taking care of him." She said laughing, not thinking anything about what her words sounded like to the desperate Milton.
"Ok, I will stay then." He replied, trying not to sound overly excited.
Alyssa quickly ran into her bedroom and pulled together some clean clothes and then went into the bathroom. She poured a small bath and quickly cleaned herself up, scrubbing her body clean. After she was cleaned up she put on a red maternity dress and then pinned her hair up into a neat bun. She looked and felt a lot better than she did just a little while earlier.
She emerged from the bathroom and turned on the fan so that it would cool the house down. The Oak trees that surrounded the little house did a good job of keeping the temperature down, but with the windows open and the fan circulating the air, the house actually felt quite pleasant, even in the months of July and August.
Milton could hardly blink when he saw the now clean and put together Alyssa emerge from her bathroom. She had found a few pounds, but it just accentuated her beauty. That should be his child she was carrying, not that beast of her husband's child. Alyssa began to prepare dinner while chatting away about the radio show that Milton had selected. It was a new "Soap Opera" called "When a Girl Marries" and it was about a young couple who had married and the tribulations of life as newly weds. The husband and wife came from varying and different backgrounds and Alyssa found the show to be quite interesting. Milton did too, but for different reasons. He was imagining himself as the husband in the story and Alyssa as the wife.
After a dinner of ham, macaroni and cheese, and green beans Alyssa attempted to clean up but Milton told her to sit down while he cleaned the kitchen. "You've been on your feet all day Alyssa, let me handle this." He told her.
She thought it was a bit strange, but didn't question her friend being helpful. After he was done he sat down on the couch beside Alyssa. Finally Alyssa asked him a question that had been on her mind for months.
"Milton, why didn't you want to be my doctor during the pregnancy?"
Milton was struggling for an answer, but decided now might be the best time to answer truthfully. "Just a moment" he said as he got up and nonchalantly locked the front door. That action had Alyssa now a little concerned.
"Alyssa, I've known you for years and I've wanted to tell you this, but I didn't know how." He said.
Now Alyssa was becoming alarmed at Milton's suddenly strange behavior. " I didn't want to take you on as a obstetric patient because it killed me to see you pregnant with His child."
"What? You mean Daryl? Milton, he's my husband. Who's child did you expect to see me with?" She asked innocently.
Milton didn't say a word, but his eyes conveyed his answer to him. Oh my God, Daryl had been right. Milton had feelings for her.
"Milton, I care about you deeply as a friend and as a colleague, but I love Daryl." She said trying to explain herself to him.
"No, you are trapped by him. He told you lies and fooled you into marrying him. You two have nothing in common, where as we have everything in common. Alyssa I have been in love with you for a very long time, and I think you just got tired of waiting for me to admit it. Daryl was just a way to distract you away from your feelings for me." He told her.
Alyssa suddenly felt a sense of panic. She was alone and locked in her house with a man who suddenly admitted he had been in love with her for years. She had made the stupid mistake of telling him that Daryl was out of the state and no one lived close enough that they would notice if anything happened to her. Damn, what had she done.
"You are incorrect Milton, I love Daryl and I think I've loved him since I first met him. I like the fact he is different than me. I like my life here on the farm and I wouldn't change a thing." She told him.
Milton saw the look in her eyes and he didn't like it "Alyssa, you are looking at me like you are afraid of me, but I love you. I would never hurt you." He replied desperately.
"Milton I think it is best you leave." She told him.
"No…not until I do this." He said as he grabbed her quickly and pulled her into a painful embrace and then kissed her. She struggled to get out of his arms, but for someone as small as Milton he seemed to be stronger than she would have believed.
"Let me GO!" She shouted as she shoved him hard enough for him to lose his balance and giving her a chance to pull away from him.
"Alyssa NO! Don't you see what I could give you and our child? We could live a life of privilege and get off this God Forsaken farm. We could travel and see the world together. And could you imagine what we could do together for the field of medicine? Our research would be groundbreaking." He shouted in a voice that Alyssa had never heard from Milton before.
"Please leave." Alyssa begged. Milton once again made a grab for her to pull her to him, afraid to let her go, but Alyssa was able to break away and ran to the door. Without thinking Milton grabbed her harder than he intended and the awkward movement flung her backwards and caused her to lose her balance. Alyssa crashed into the kitchen table and hit the floor, pulling one of the chairs on top of her. She let out a yelp as a wound opened up on her forehead. The sight of the blood pouring down her face seemed to snap Milton back into reality. Not knowing what to do he panicked and ran for the door, unlocking it.
Alyssa was breathing heavy and she was scared to death. Had she hurt the baby, how bad did she hit her head…was he coming back. Oh God, she needed Daryl.
Milton turned around one final time "If it takes me getting Daryl out of your life so we can raise our child together, I will do it Alyssa. Don't be scared anymore. You'll realize I'm the one who has always been there for you…and will always be there for you. Daryl is just an obstacle that can be eliminated."
"GET OUT!" She shouted as he left hastily and got in his car and left.
Alyssa didn't know what to do. Finally, she got herself up off the floor and made her way to the telephone. She placed a call to Beth and Merle. Merle answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Merle, help…I've been attacked…" was all she managed to get out before she fainted and hit the floor.
Merle dropped the phone and told Beth to lock the doors until he got back.
"Merle what's wrong?" She asked in a concerned tone.
"Alyssa's been attacked and I gotta go get her. Don't open the door for no one but me or Jess. Call Jess and let him know something has happened to Alyssa."
Merle wasn't sure who attacked Alyssa or why, but he was going to find out and he was going to make sure she and the baby were safe until Daryl got back. And once Daryl got back, there was going to be hell to pay.
…
OK- this is a novel- and I apologize if the racial slurs offend you- they offend me as well, but I know that what I'm writing is a toned down version of how it really was in the south in the 1930s.
So this is a long chapter…I feel like I'm back on track. I was trying very hard to convey that Jesus was gay…and basically coming out to Daryl-but in the 1930s it wasn't a subject that was really discussed.
Anyhow- Thank you so much for reading and I want to once again give a shout out to all that left me reviews- they mean the world and your feedback is what makes writing these stories worth it.
Thank you to:
Sharin Cole
.2017
DarylDixon'sLover
ArcheryLefty
Have a great week and Happy Thanksgiving to those in the States! I hope to have another update by next Sunday/Monday!
Missy
XXOO
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