Why would Rick insist on bringing a total stranger to our group? We didn't know him and he didn't know us. This was dangerous on too many levels. How did Rick not see that?
When Glenn spoke his name, shivers ran down my spine. Randall. It could either mean innocence or troublesome. The person behind this name was passed out in the back seat of the truck Rick and the others had just pulled up in. A red, dirt infested blindfold covered his tired face as sweat dripped down across his cheeks. There had to be a reason this kid looked beaten and it couldn't be a good one.
Without a word, the group separated. Everyone took different directions, except Daryl and me. He grabbed my hand and lead me to a spot where no one will hear the conversation that was about to take place.
Once he thought we were far enough away, Daryl looked down at me, directly into my eyes and spoke sternly. "You are not to associate with that kid. Not until we know his game." I knew Daryl meant every word. The authority in his voice both soothed me and terrified me.
I didn't want a fight. I was so tired of fighting. I didn't want to make this harder than it had to be. For once, I just listened to Daryl. "Okay." The word surprisingly came out without resistance.
He was shocked at my quick surrender. "I mean it, Rose. We don' know what this kid is capable of."
"All right. You're right," I agreed. "He could be dangerous. I won't talk to him. I won't even look at him if it makes you happy. I'm just as cautious as you on this."
Daryl hesitated, but nodded.
Before either of us could say another word, Rick's voice carried from the front of the house. Who knew how long the two of us had been standing there before this interruption. He was calling us in to discuss what we were going to do about this Randall.
"Ya go ahead. I'll be there in a few minutes." Daryl's eyes never left Rick as he waited for everyone to join him at the house.
"Aren't you coming in? Don't you want to hear about the situation?" This was unlike him. For something like this, he would be at my side, making sure that the two, or three, of us weren't affected in anyway.
"Yeah. I will. I'll catch up." He didn't move or go anywhere. Daryl just waited for me to start walking to the house.
Instead of waiting for Daryl to tell me why he wasn't coming along, I listened and walked over to Rick. Once I reached him, Rick nodded and told me to go right in and have a seat. I reached for the doorknob, but before turning it, I looked back to where Daryl and me were standing. He still waited there, probably making sure that I went inside.
I took my place with the group in the Greene's dinning room. I stood next to Maggie. I wanted to be close to the door for when Daryl decided to join us. I didn't like that he wasn't here with us, with me. This is terrifying. I knew his presence would erase most of the tension, at least from me.
Rick joined us only minutes later. He placed himself at the front of the room. Lori and Carl sat at the table next to Rick. Jimmy and Patricia sat at the other end while T-Dog leaned between them. Behind them, Andrea and Shane stood by the window. Shane's arms were crossed as he awaited Rick's explanation. His body language signaled his deep anger. Dale and Carol also sat at the table. Glenn placed himself next to Dale, his mentor, but also next to Rick. He knew that he was part of this. Hershel and Daryl were the only two who weren't with us.
He didn't waste any time. Rick jumped right in. "We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out, if he lived that long."
"It's gotten bad into town," Glenn added.
Andrea was the first to speak. "What do we do with him?"
Before Rick could answer, Hershel walked into the room and informed us of the boys condition. "I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week."
"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road, and send him on his way." That's it? That's Rick's big plan to get rid of this kid?
"Isn't that the same as leaving for the walkers?" Andrea was right. If that was the original decision, they should have just left him where he was instead of using our medical resources.
I felt a rough texture of a hand on my left shoulder. Daryl had finally come into the house to hear what was happening. I placed my hand on top of his, glad that he was there.
"He'll have a fighting chance."
"Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are." Shane was right. This is not going to work.
Scared at the whole situation, I squeezed Daryl's hand tightly. I was right, his presence did ease me. I guess that's a trick only Daryl could perform.
"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick sounded so convinced. If only he could convince us all as well.
"Not a threat. How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking for him?" Shane said three. Rick killed three people. I didn't think he had it in him. Taking not one, but three lives. I didn't know if I should feel safe or like I'm in even more danger.
"They left him for dead. No one is looking."
"We should still post a guard." T-Dog's suggestion was smart, but it still made me nervous. This guy could be nothing or extremely dangerous and there was no way for any of us to tell.
"He's out cold right now, will be for hours." Hershel supported Rick, but seemed to be the only one.
Shane didn't care about his condition. He was more upset about Rick's dumb mistake. He wasn't concerned with the well being of the boy's leg. Shane wanted to pick a fight for days and now was his chance. "I'm gonna go get some flowers and candy." He scoffed at the thought of this boy being here. "Look at this, folks. We back in Fantasyland." Shane walked past everyone, ready to kill this kid. He may not have said it, but I could tell. It wasn't in his nature to allow everyone to work this out. He needed to solve it himself.
However, Hershel wasn't having it. "You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet." The barn. Was that only a day or two ago? It felt like years have gone by since that brutal day. "Let me make this perfectly clear once and for all. This is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor, keep your mouth shut." Damn, Hershel. It was about time someone told him to shut up.
Embarrassed, Shane said nothing. He just made his way to the front door and exited. He should be out of everyone's hair for now.
"Look," Rick continued, "we're not going to do anything about it today. Let's just cool off."
Without being told twice, everyone left the room. Daryl's hand remained on my shoulder as he pushed me through the crowd to the outside. He released me once we were out in the open air once again.
He started walking away, but I stopped him. "Hey, where are you going?" I asked sweetly.
Daryl stopped and looked back at me. "Back to the camp."
I closed the small distance between us. "I'll walk with you."
He nodded and the two of us walked in silence until we were about half way to our home. "So, where were you? You know, when we were talking about the kid."
"I was making sure the barn was secure. I didn' want to risk him getting out." Daryl's head was hung as he answered.
"I'm sure they made sure that it was good before leaving it. You probably didn't even need to waste your time." I hit his arm in a joking manner.
Daryl wasn't joking around, though. This was very serious to him. "Needed to be sure."
I didn't respond this time. I was glad to have Daryl to double check the safety of our home. I appreciated his idea and I appreciated him.