A/N: Another split POV chapter. Enjoy! Also, much thanks to KaneCenaZombie12, BetaGirl09 and JCLProducitons88 for all the reviews. Thanks to all of you that are following and favorite this story, couldn't keep writing without you.

Preacher's Daughter

Chapter 37: Redneck Reckoning

Wading out into the water, I pick up her canvas sneaker. I hold the shoes, looking out over the water and hope I don't see her floating there. The sound of a twig snapping causes me to turn, the sound coming from the woods behind the cabin.

I see more blood; this time drops instead of smears. From the look of the foliage, someone had come this way and in a hurry.

Following the path, I come upon an old shed. The roof look like it was ready to cave in, the small shed built right into the side of the mountain. I push the door open with my free hand, holding tight to my hunting knife.

The smell of rotten, dead meat fills my nose. I jerk my head back, the smell so bad I want to hurl. Taking out my bandana, I tie it around my nose and mouth, going deeper into the shed.

On the walls are trophies, heads of mountain goats, deer and wild boar that had been stuffed and mounted. I hear the sound of something scrapping on the old wooden floor, my body instinctively going on the defense.

As I approach the dark corner, the door slams shut. I rush over to it, using all my strength to pull it open. I see more of the blood drops, a small pool of blood by the door. Looking up the mountain side, I see someone hauling ass up the hill.

I start to go after them when I hear someone call my name. "Daryl?"

Opening the shed door again, I see B.J. standing there, a blood butcher knife in her hand.

Walking towards her gently, I slide my knife back in my belt and lower my bandana. I place my hand over the hilt of her knife, lowering her hand. "Bobbi Jo … you're safe now. Give me the knife sweetheart."

Her blue eyes are wide and dilated, a wild look gazing back at me. She doesn't flinch as I lower her hand, her eyes locked on the door.

After taking the knife from her, I pull her in my arms. Her ridged nature loosens, her arms hanging at her side. She begins to sob, her entire body shaking.

"What happen gurl?" My hands got around her waist, holding her as tight as I can.

"He's still out there. Daryl … the baby!" She tries to bolt out of the shed as I pull her back.

"Who's out there?" My hands go to her face, looking her in the eyes.

She starts to cry again, her blue eyes causing my heart to break. I kiss her softly, hoping to calm her a bit. I watch as she closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. "It's Jeb … he's lost his mind. He's been livin up here, hiding his drugs. Daryl … he's not the same Jeb I remember. He … he grabbed me and shoved me to my knees. I watched as he unbuckled his pants … he was goin …"

A red hot rage, a frenzy that I hadn't felt in a long time takes me over. That asshole had tried to rape her once, and now he was going to force her to blow him. Every inch of my skin feels like it's on fire, my heart thumping against my chest.

"Did he?" I couldn't get the words out and I wasn't really sure I wanted to know.

She shakes her head, her red hair falling in her face. I brush the locks from her eyes, kissing her forehead. "He was gonna when I picked up the knife I dropped and stabbed him in the foot. That's how I got away."

My anger is still boiling over, but I was glad that son of a bitch was bleeding. Pulling her to my side, I walk out of the shed when I hear a shotgun blast. Gripping her hand, I pull her behind me and run full out back to the front of the cabin.

Eddie is firing the gun again when I round the corner, his head nodding towards the dock. I put B.J. in the truck, telling her to stay put.

When I get to the dock, I hear the sound of a boat motor starting up. I get to the end of the dock in time to see him driving off. I run back to the truck, B.J. cradling Beryl in her arms.

"Was that fuckin Jeb Johnson?" Eddie tosses me the shotgun, getting a handgun from the glove box.

"Yeah, he's been using your cabin as a drug den. I think he's the one that broke in and took yer boat too. He attacked Bobbi Jo … I think that asshole has been watchin her. I don't care if he is fuckin messed up, I'm gonna kill him. Nobody does that to my gurl and lives." I was sure of one thing; Jeb Johnson wouldn't live to see another day.

I climb back in the truck, Eddie knowing exactly where I want to go.

My wrists ache, I was sure my the left one is a sprain. Jeb didn't look like the man I knew, the man I become fond of at the farm. He had some teeth missing, his brown eyes dull and bloodshot, his once shiny black hair now greasy and long, but one thing hadn't changed his obsession for me.

I sit in the back of the truck, holding my baby girl and trying to erase what Jeb tried to do to me. The crazy look in his eyes when he spotted me was like a mad man seeing his tormentor. After he had chased me around the cabin, trashing it in the process I knew once he had me I was going to suffer at his hands. All I could do was take the butcher knife from the block, hoping I kill him before he kills me.

While he had me on my knees, he releases my hands long ever to unbuckle his pants. It's in that moment I see the knife I'd dropped in our struggle and plunge it through his cowboy boot.

I run till I feel him tackle me, my feet kicking him in the face. He grabs my foot, pulling my shoe free. With only one shoe on, I race towards the back of the cabin. I see an old shed and go in, the smell nearly knocking me down.

Jeb shouts my name as I crawl inside, pulling a rank-smelling pellet over me. Taking slow breaths, I try to calm myself, praying that Daryl and the baby are okay.

When the door swings open, I can hear the sound of footsteps and I being to shake. I try to move further back in the shed, the knife scrapping the floor. Just when I think I'm about to be discovered, the door slams shut. I move the pellet, seeing what looks like Daryl standing there.

I was never so glad to see my Daryl, to know even if Jeb is still out there he couldn't hurt me.

"Bobbie Jo." The sound of Daryl's voice brings me back, the baby starting to cry.

"Sorry, I must have zoned out." I grab the bottle in lying next to the carrier, trying to soothe my child.

"Don't be sorry sweetheart … just wonderin where ya went. You okay gurl?" His hand strokes my face, my chin trembling.

"Yeah … I guess." I knew Dixon could always tell when I was lying and now was no different. He looks at Beryl wiggling in my arms, noticing the fresh bruises on my wrists.

He turns around, pounding the dash of the truck hard. Eddie glances over at him, then back to me. "That bastard is dead."

When we pull up to the farm I feel a deep dread and uncertainty set over me. Dad's truck is gone so I knew he must be at Ann's place. Luke walks out on the porch as Eddie and Daryl jump out. I put Beryl in her carrier, standing by the truck.

"Hey Luke, where's Johnson?" Anger drips off of Daryl's ever word and from the look on Luke's face he knew something bad was about to happen.

Luke runs back in the house, Jack coming out with tears in his eyes. Daryl's anger eases, he and Eddie staring at each other. Eddie walks towards the steps, his hands resting on his hips.

"Jack, somethin wrong?" Jack looks at Daryl, the two of them sharing a moment.

Jack walks past Eddie, heading straight for Daryl. "Did he hurt her?"

Daryl steps back, a shocked look covering his face. "You know about Jeb?"

"My Aunt Sally called, my Uncle Burl is dead. Jeb wanted a fix and he tried to rob them. He shot my uncle and tied my aunt up. Before he left, he told my aunt he was going to go back home to get his girl. When the neighbor found her, she called me. She said he's been gettin worse, not himself. If you kill him don't tell me … just let me think he's gone." Daryl runs his hand over his face, Jack hanging his head.

"You know I have to, I ain't got a choice. He hurt her, try to force himself on her again. I promise when I do it, I'll make it quick." Without another word, Daryl turns back to me.

"Daryl, don't do this. Killin him want change what he did." His hand takes mine, holding up my arms.

"See this … this shit stops now. No man will ever lay a finger on you again." With a kiss my lips so gently, it's barely a kiss at all.

He kisses Beryl on the forehead, climbing back in the truck. I stand there knowing Daryl won't be back until Jeb is dead.

Diane comes out of the house, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "I've got some dinner made, come on in and eat."

Jack takes the baby, his broad shoulders showing his sadness. Joy tackles my legs, her little face reminding me that happiness is stronger that hate.

I ask Diane to watch Beryl, knowing exactly where Daryl would go. He'd go straight to Merle, get his brother to help him end this. I had to stop him from killing Jeb, had to stop him from taking a life in cold blood. I knew he had to kill Regan that night, he was protecting his family, but killing Jeb in his current state of mind is just wrong to me.

Walking out to Jack's truck Jack stops me. "You're not leavin here. I don't care what I have to do, but you're not. Daryl needs to do this … I need him to do this. Get back in that damn house and take care of your baby."

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. Jack actually said he wanted Daryl to kill Jeb, kill his little brother. I had no choice, I had to let things play out how they will and pray Daryl and Eddie come home safe.

Picking Beryl up, I go to sit in my mother's rocking chair. Diane sits down beside me, taking my hand. "Whatever happens, Jeb has it coming. Daryl's special brand of redneck justice will end this nightmare for all of us."

I curl my fingers up around her hand, looking down at my daughter. "Just as long as it doesn't cost me my family."