The large group seeing the rider had turned onto the long gravel road leading up to the hillside farm house. Going up the long road they pulled to a stop in front of the house coming to a stop when an older man in coveralls and a pair of girls with rifles and shotguns pointed at them seeing the three Humvees with machine guns pointed at them the older man lowered his shotgun motioning for the girls to follow reluctantly they did. Seeing the chance of them shooting lowered I opened the door and called out "ok everyone lets calm down."
The three gunners nodded swiveling their guns away. The older man cradling his shotgun came down the stairs and held out his hand.
"Well I hope you people are decent folk, im Hershel and these are my daughters Maggie and Beth." Looking over the convoy of vehicles and over a dozen heavily armed people "can I ask what brought you to my farm? We weren't sure there were anyone left."
Holding my hand out to shake his I introduce myself "We try sir, were decent as can be. It's a pleasure to see more living people as to why we're here we saw your daughter Maggie from the highway on horseback. We were just as surprised to see other people."
The next hour passes as everyone piles out of their cars and trucks eager to talk to new people. Carl and Sophia start playing tag as the adults talk about the fall and their lives since. As the sun starts to go down I ask Hershel the question we have all been putting off "Sir, it's getting dark and we all know how it is now when the sun goes down would you be open to allowing us to stay on your land for the night, Or possibly longer? Is beautiful here almost unbelievable how serine it is here."
Hershel looks at everyone even the kids who had stopped playing to look at him "You can stay" he said looking around before pointing to a lone hill about two hundred feet from the house "you can have that hill." His face got a serious expression "But please stay away from the barn over there. It's not safe the main beam was broke by a storm. We don't use it so im just going to let it fall."
Bullshit it's full of their neighbors and family turned walker Philip thinks but aloud I say "Yes sir, not a problem." Looking towards the group "ok guys let's set up camp it's been a long day."
As night falls a massive feast is prepared with help from Beth and Maggie when the last pot had been emptied even Otis a truly massive man that worked as a field hand on the farm commented that he hadn't ate that much since the fall.
As the group tells the new people about their time in Atlanta, the CDC and what they did before the outbreak and the fall of civilization Otis was a farm hand Hershel was a Vet Beth and Maggie both were farm hands but Beth was following in her father's footsteps becoming a town renowned vet herself.
Laying down in the tent next to Lori with Carl fast asleep. Lori already asleep with a full belly as well rolls over and holds on to me. Stroking her hair as she nuzzles closer I drift off to sleep.
Suddenly im standing in front of the burning CDC building. Looking around im not really surprised to see Rick again looking down at my body I see my jeans and T-shirt that I died in. Another dream
Rick- there you are last time I saw you, you just vanished
Me- yeah turns out I or your body was screaming in our sleep and Lori shook me awake so try and stay calm this time so I don't get yanked out this time eh?
Rick annoyed looking- fine since you left I don't know what you did but I suddenly see what you were talking about.
Suddenly the burning CDC disappears and we reappear in the Grimes home sitting in front of the TV
Looking around feeling like I had just bungie jumped I slump into the couch. The TV stars playing the walking dead show
Rick nods towards the TV- I can't tell you how….unnerving it is to see that
On the screen it shows Rick and the group returning from Atlanta mowing down zombies during the night attack before jumping to Sophia getting lost and rick desperately looking for her, to him running through the woods with Carl's limp and bloody body cradled in his arms. Everything I had changed so far.
Rick takes my hand in both of his gratitude breaking his voice- thank you for saving my boy from that no parent wants to see their child hurt like that
Me- hey I understand there is one thing though I want to apologize for dropping that whole its your fault and the whole taking over your body bomb before ive never been very good with these kinds of things in my old life I was a bit of the quiet kid in school
Rick lets go of my hands and holds his up as I stammer for a moment- hey no problem I couldn't imagine trying to find the way to break that kind of news to me either in your shoes and if it makes you feel better for saving my boy I still owe you one.
The room around us starts to go dark
Me- well I guess this is time for me to wake up
Rick- yes I guess it is p..please give carl a hug for me and tell him I love him
Me- of course in fact ill see if I can make it to where you can see what im do…
Sorry for the short episode chapter everyone but since I didn't have carl get shot must of the drama that happened with sending Shane and Otis into the FEMA camp for medical supplies never had to happen it cut a lot into my own chapter so just imagine some small scenes of everyone doing farm work and helping out around the green fields and rather than bore you all with a bunch of farm life in a ZA if you guys want I could go in and throw some in just to flush it out to the 1600 words I try for every chapter. Otherwise im going on to work on the next chapter hope you all enjoyed read and review
