The Wolf You Feed

Chapter 40

** Big thanks to anyone that took the time to leave a review. I was a little disappointed with the way Hilltop looked on the show. For a farming community I didn't see much farming going on. So while I'm leaving the main area of the town the way it was, I will be embellishing and changing some of the details. **

Daryl nudged her awake. Rowan could feel the excitement in his voice when he whispered to her. Wake up and look. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, unsure if she had only been asleep for a few minutes or several hours. The first thing she noticed was that almost everyone inside the RV had their bodies turned so they could stare out the windows.

The last few rows of an immpressive corn field whipped past, some stalks so close that they brushed against the sides of the RV as Abraham angled it down the narrow gravel drive. The area around them opened up, revealing a large and carefully placed pasture. The massive cornfields were being used as natural camoflauge. Hidden inside them were several large herds of cattle. Rowan darted across the middle of the RV, stepping over Tank and squeezing in next to Deanna so she could get a better look.

"Look at all the baby cows," Deanna remarked, pointing out the window with the excitement of a child. Rowan giggled, not bothering to inform the woman that the smallish black cows she was pointing at were not babies at all. They were Dexter cattle, the same type that she used to help care for back in her community. Dexter cows were smaller than a normal cow but not quite minature. The breed was good for smaller scale farming because they ate less and took up less space than a standard cow but produced just as much milk. Rowan preferred them because they were more gentle and easy to handle than the big longhorns. Seeing them was comforting, like coming home again.

Mixed in with the Dexters, Rowan also saw a few more standard varieties of cattle. There were plenty of black and red angus cows that she guessed were being raised for meat. A large group of black and white holsteins hovered near the edge of a pasture. Those were milking cows. There were also some cattle scattered throughout the group with odd colorations. Rowan guessed they were either crossbreeds or random stragglers from other herds that had been scattered or destroyed.

"Over there," Rowan urged, pointing with her finger so Deanna knew where to look. A small group of horses was also grazing in the field. The patriarch of the little family was a large and impressive midnight black stallion. He snorted and tossed his head, pawing at the dirt when he saw the unfamiliar vehicle approaching. "We should bring Molly here," Rowan whispered. Despite the terror of the situation when it happened, Rowan had been hoping the time Molly had spent with the wild herd had gotten her with foal. But so far there had been no luck. As gas and oil became a thing of memory, horses were going to increase in value. Rowan knew that Deanna hoped to have a whole herd of them in Alexandria by that time.

"I don't see any goats," Deanna whispered, trying to keep what she was saying between her and Rowan until she was sure on what negotians she wanted to make, "do we have enough that we might be able to trade for some cows?" Rowan nodded. She would hate to see any of her animals go. They were all like family to her. Even the ones that liked to chase her around and try to headbutt her. But Alexandria's small herd of goats had almost tripled in size over the last year. They could afford to split the herd if it meant getting some milking cows.

"We should see if they want to trade seeds," Rowan whispered back, "we can give them anything they don't have and maybe get some new ones to grow back home." Deanna nodded again. She sat back and stared at the young woman that was waving out the window at the horses she had spotted. Rowan had her place in the community. She took care of the animals and helped in the gardens. More and more her home was starting to be viewed as an alternative to the medical center. But Deanna had never considered Rowan for a leadership role in the community. She intended to have Rick aid her in her negotiations with the leader of this community. Now Deanna was wondering if Rowan might be a better choice. The woman had a calming presence and she could be very persuasive when she wanted something. But most of all Rowan had just mentioned several things that Deanna wouldn't have thought to ask for.

Abraham slammed the brakes, letting out a string of curses so foul that Deanna cringed. People grabbed for anything they could to keep themselves from being tossed into the person next to them. The man cursed some more and began honking the horn of the RV. Rowan could hear Jesus laughing. As most people were doing, she leaned forward and tried to see what was blocking the path of the large vehicle. When she saw why they had stopped Rowan started to laugh. Several large black and white cows had wandered into the path of the RV. One of them had decided he liked the spot and settled in for a good nap.

"I guess we walk from here," Rick announced.

TWD

Rowan roamed around the large room, pretending to be more interested in the fancy useless collection of items that packed every available surface than she was in observing the man that Deanna was planning to start negotiations with. His name was Gregory. He reminded Rowan of a mallard duck during mating season, walking around with his chest puffed out. She could already tell that the man's confidence was just a show he was putting on for them. His aura slicked back from his head like the fur on a wet dog. He was afraid. So afraid that Rowan could almost smell it. The fear and false bravado rolled off Gregory in waves like the musk that skunks let off when they got angry or frightened. But that didn't stop the coward from ignoring Deanna's polite attempt to introduce herself in order to stare down the front of Rowan's red dress.

"Diane," he said, finally moving to shake Deanna's outstretched hand, "nice to have you here."

"It's Deanna," she corrected. Her tone was even and polite. But Rowan could tell from the other woman's body language that she didn't like the man she was dealing with. Not only was he being rude now, but he had already interrupted Rick and insinuated that everyone in their group was dirty and needed a bath. Rowan wished she hadn't agreed to leave Tank with Daryl. Because it would have given her an excuse to back away from the man when he stuck his hand out for her to shake.

"Rowan," she corrected before the man even had a chance to get her name wrong on purpose. She forced herself to place her slender hand in his meaty clammy paw. He held on longer than she would have liked, twisting her hand around in his so that he could look at her tattoos. His hands were soft. Not the sort of hands Rowan would have expected from the leader of a farming community. Even Deanna's hands were calloused from pulling weeds and shoveling compost. And she was older and much more frail than this pompous peacock of a man. Not only that but everything in his body language screamed out that he was being dishonest. The man was hiding something. Something serious. Rowan was sure of it.

"Rowan," the man repeated. Gregory finally loosened his grip enough that she was able to take her hand back. After touching him, Rowan felt like she actually needed the washing he had insisted upon before. "Beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

"Thank you," Rowan said, forcing the words out. The man gave her a weasley smile before waving her and Deanna over to a couch that he intended for them to sit on. As they moved towards the seating area, Gregory escorted Rowan towards the couch with his hand on her back. Her lower back. Rowan was sure she felt his hand graze the top of her ass when she turned to sit down and she was certain it wasn't by accident.

Deanna forced herself to keep her face neutral. This was harder than it normally would be since Rowan lacked any form of poker face at all and was now looking at the leader of the Hilltop like he was worse than a flea on one of her dogs. If this buffoon had any idea who Rowan's husband and father were, he would need a change of underpants. Both men were not only equally intimidating, they were both intensely protective over Rowan. Deanna was starting to wonder if leaving Rowan's father back in Alexandria had been a mistake. No doubt his negotiation style would be very different from her own. But maybe blatant intimidation was what would work best in this scenario. Deanna took a deep breath and reminded herself that she didn't have to like Gregory. They only had to work together for the mutual benefit of both their communities.

"I'd like to start..." Deanna only got the first few words out before Gregory cut her off like he had done to Rick out in the foyer of the grand house he claimed as his own.

"Jesus told me your people don't have enough food stored up to last the winter," he announced. Deanna didn't confirm or deny this. But now she knew why Gregory had insisted on having her 'wash up' before he spoke to her. He had wanted a chance to drill Jesus for information about them before he started.

"We have other resources," Deanna countered. She already knew these people were out of bullets. And had been for quite some time. They were also low enough on medication to send their only doctor out on a run without a proper weapon to get more. They might have more than enough food. But a full belly didn't do a person much good if they were dead.

"When people get hungry, things fall apart in a hurry," Gregory asserted, puffing his chest out like a bird again. "Let's not play games here," he added, "you and your people don't have shit or you wouldn't be here."

"Wendigo." Rowan hissed the slur under her breath, but Deanna was sitting close enough to the younger woman that she heard it. Whenever Rowan or any of her former pack started talking in Sioux, it was never a good sign. Deanna had heard the slur spoken before, but never from Rowan's lips. It shocked her. Rowan never had an unkind word for anyone. She was usually kind to others even when they didn't deserve it.

"We need each other," Deanna corrected. "No one can make it alone anymore. Not you. Not Hilltop. And not us either. I'm sure we can come to an agreement that would be beneficial for both our communities."

Rowan smiled. She was always impressed with Deanna. The woman was intelligent and kind. She cared about the people of Alexandria like they were her own children. But even Rowan was in awe of how calm and collected the woman was able to remain even after this man had insulted her. Rowan had been ready to spit in his wormy little face.

"Maybe it would be best if we left you to think it over a while," Deanna suggested. The woman stood. Rowan didn't need much encouragement. As soon as it looked like Deanna was ready to go, she couldn't get away from Gregory fast enough.

As they exited the room, Deanna grapsed Rowan's elbow and pulled the woman close enough that she could speak to her without being heard by anyone else. "It might be best not to mention to Daryl that Gregory was coming on to you," Deanna whispered, "or this will be over before it gets started." Rowan nodded. She wouldn't stay quiet forever. Secrets were never something she was good at keeping. But she could keep this one for now. Not for Deanna. But for Daryl. They were strangers in a strange land and she didn't want him getting into any trouble on her acount.

Rick listened closely to what Deanna told him, the expression on his face becoming more and more hostile as she continued to fill him in on her failed trade negotiation. Rowan sat on the floor at Daryl's feet, her arms wrapped around Tank. The big dog leaned into her. A few times during the discussion her eyes locked with Jesus's. She could sense his growing concern.

"We came all this way," Rick said, turning to face the man that had brought them there, "We aren't leaving with nothing."

The threat didn't need to be spoken aloud. It was obvious in Rick's tone. He was angry. Jesus didn't know Rick the way the rest of them did. If Gregory refused to negotiate with Deanna, Rick wouldn't hesitate to take what he felt they needed to survive. By force if that was what it came down to.

"Was it that bad?," Daryl whispered, leaning down and grasping Rowan under her arms. He pulled her up into his lap and hugged her against his chest. Then he shifted her so that she was sitting in the chair beside him.

"Give me some time," Jesus pleaded with Rick, "Let me talk to him." Rick reluctantly agreed. And he only did that because Deanna urged him to. Once Jesus left the room, Rick turned to Rowan.

"What did you think of him?," he asked. Rowan was silent for what seemed like forever. She hadn't expected Rick to ask her opinion. He never had before. Daryl kept a reassuring arm wrapped around her shoulders. Unlike her he didn't seem surprised that Rowan was being asked about what she thought they ought to do. Daryl had come to rely on her intuition. She was better at reading people than he was.

"I think...," Rowan started. She cleared her throat and closed her eyes, centering herself. Everyone was staring at her. It made her nervous. She reminded herself that these people were her friends and family. They were never going to laugh at her.

"I think Gregory is a coward. There's something he's not telling us. He's afraid of something. Or someone. He's wendigo. Selfish and greedy for more food than one man can eat. He lives alone in a house big enough for three families while pregnant women live outside in trailers." Rowan paused, immediately feeling guilty for saying such horrible things about a man she barely knew even if they were true. "I didn't like the way he was talking to Deanna," she added.

Deanna crossed the space between her and Rowan. She was touched by how much the man's mistreatment of her had affected Rowan. Gregory's huffing and puffing hadn't bothered Deanna much. As a congress woman, she had gotten used to dealing with men like him and their inflated egos. Rowan caught Deanna's hand and let the woman pull her to her feet. They wrapped their arms around each other, Rowan's long hair falling forward to cover Deanna's shorter frame like a blanket.

"Since we're here, we might as well make the best of it," Deanna suggested, "Would you mind if I come with you to your ultrasound?"