A/N Thank you everyone! This chapter is busy! We'll pay a call on the farmer, Merle arrives with a big story, our couple have a little interaction and later in the chapter, some sweetness. phew! I hope you enjoy!
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He's instantly filled with regret. He should have said that in some nicer way, and there's no excuse for the sharp tone he used. He let his anger and disappointment get the best of him, and dammit, none of this is her fault.
He's glad to have a back breaker of a day ahead of him. Hopefully he'll be working too hard to think about her and the mistake he made. He's thankful to have somewhere he has to be after work too. At least he'll be busy, his mind will be occupied and he won't have time to stew over any of this mess. For now though his mind wanders to what she'll be doing tonight, serving up dinner while smiling and joking with those other fellas.
There's no winning.
Daryl and his crew work hard all morning and the work does help, there's not much time to think of other things. When lunch time comes he walks over to the shady side of the street, sits on the curb and uses his Swiss army knife to open a can of BeanNee WeeNee. It goes down in a hurry and is quickly followed by a peanut butter sandwich, half a canteen of water and an apple. It's not great but it does what he needs it to do. It fills the empty spot in his stomach.
He wishes it was that easy to soothe his heart.
When the workday is done he waits for his buddy and when the guy pulls up they exchange a few words before Daryl follows him out to the farm.
The man wasn't kidding. The farmer has every kind of equipment a fella could want. Some is damn near new but most of it is well-used. Either way all of it seems to be in good working order. What Daryl needs most is a good reliable mechanical pump for his well, and it so happens the farmer has one.
He's been trying to find a good used one for half a year, no luck. The farmer explains, "Yeah I bought this one two months ago with a mind ta change out the old one, it's been givin' me fits for a while. Then the bank got nasty and I knew I wasn't gonna leave a new one here for them."
Next the farmer fires up the generator and it is slick. It's a little noisy, but if a fella was to set it up the right way it wouldn't be a problem. And shoot, the darn thing would put out enough juice to power the house. Still, electricity isn't really something he has to have. It's just a convenience.
Then the farmer shows him the boiler. That's the ticket right there. With the boiler he could make steam to run the generator for electricity and the boiler would heat water for dishes and bathing. He's liking the idea of it all, the boiler, the generator and the mechanical pump. That would be a perfect setup, if he can pay the price.
That's not everything the farmer's got. There's some pipe Daryl could put to good use for his wastewater and sewer lines and there's a couple of rubber hoses he wouldn't mind having. There's some good straight lumber that would come in real handy for the storage shed he'd like to have. But like he tells the fella, "I ain't got the money ta buy everythin' I'd like ta have."
The fella shrugs and says, "I ain't expectin' ta get rich or come close ta breaking even. Truth is, if you got a little money then you got a lot more money than any a the folks around here. If I get anythin' at all that'll suit me fine."
The farmer takes in a deep breath and tells his tale, "I'ma need money ta get my family situated again, but that ain't all of it. I'm pissed off. That gotdamn bank. I paid them bastards right on time for ten years, then I missed one lousy payment and them greedy shits called in my note. Well, they might get my land but I swear they won't get nuthin' else. Whatever you don't take I'll take outta here myself, even if I gotta carry it out on my back."
Daryl understands the man's way of thinking. He never has trusted a bank either, his Dad and his brother are the same. Now that so many rich and poor folks alike have lost everything, the word "Bank" may very well be the dirtiest word in the English language.
Daryl nods and tells the man, "I don't blame ya, I'd feel the same. But I don't wanna cheat ya. I'd like ta pay ya a fair price. Other thing is I ain't sure how I'd get it all ta my place. I got no way ta haul the big stuff, it won't fit in that panel truck."
A smile crosses the farmer's face, "Look around ya, this here's a farm. I got me a big ol' flatbed farm truck. You just be here Saturday mornin' at 6:30 with your muscle." He looks at Daryl's buddy and adds, "You come help too brother."
In the end they make a deal Daryl feels kind of guilty about but the farmer is happy as a pig in shit. Daryl will take the generator, boiler and mechanical pump, two rubber hoses, copper and cast iron piping, a variety of hand tools and lumber, as well as household goods.
From the house he agrees to what looks to be a brand new easy chair, a kitchen table with four chairs and a big kitchen cabinet. But best of all is a large butcher's table he can put to good use butchering game.
He repeatedly questions the farmer's wife, "Are ya sure bout all this ma'am? You're gonna need this stuff when ya settle in a new place."
The woman is bitter, defeated and adamant, "No. I ain't ever gonna wanna see nuthin' from this house ever again. Ain't none of it good for nuthin' but a lotta bad memories." Daryl can't help thinking it won't be long from now and she'll regret getting rid of her things, but she tells him if he doesn't take the stuff it's going to the city dump.
Daryl and the farmer shake hands on the deal and that's that.
As they walk to their vehicles Daryl's buddy smiles at him and says, "Hey, you just made some people real happy. They're gonna have a little money for their fresh start and them kids are gonna have a new set a clothes and new shoes when school starts back up." Knowing the children will have things they need makes Daryl feel a little better.
As he watches his friend drive off Daryl makes a decision. He might as well head out to his place for the night. He's starving and there's a little food left there, but more important he wants to dig up his money and make sure he's covered. He can go back to the boarding house early in the morning, get washed up and have a decent breakfast.
The first thing he does when he gets to the place is open a can of Vienna sausages, a can of baked beans and a can of pears. That's everything he's got and he eats it all right from the cans it came in. He's still hungry but there's nothing left, he finds himself hoping Miss Beth will be serving up a hearty breakfast in the morning, and he can't help thinking how pretty her smile is when she brings coffee to the table.
Once he checks his money and is satisfied it's all there, he decides to leave it where it's buried and wait until he sees the stuff make it to his place on Saturday. He washes up with the water in the bucket, strips to his shorts and crawls in the bed. Sleep doesn't come right away.
He tosses and turns then lays on his back and throws his arm over his eyes. He lets out a loud sigh and does a lot of what he's been trying not to do all day. He thinks about her. He knows he should apologize but if he's not even supposed to talk to her how the hell can he tell her he's sorry? And what the hell is he so sorry about anyway? He's got a right to come and go as he pleases.
That's true, but it doesn't mean he has a right to be grouchy with her. He'll make it a point to smile at her in the morning, to actually greet her with a cheerful good morning and to remember his pleases and thank yous. Maybe she'll forget he's a jerk.
Then his mind wanders to all kinds of crazy things. He knew he wanted that big butcher's table the minute he saw it. When he's living out here for good he doesn't plan to ever buy meat or fish or even chicken from the store. He plans to either hunt, catch or raise his food. He hopes to God he'll never have to eat meat from a can again.
The first thought he had about that butcher table was to set it right in the center of the kitchen, that's handiest. But what would Beth think of a man carving up a deer right in the middle of her kitchen? When he realizes where his mind just went he practically jumps off the bed.
He's rubbing his hand over his head, pacing the floor and talking out loud, "Her kitchen? What the hell's wrong with you Dixon? Ya lost your damn mind?"
He opens his bureau drawer and gets out the jar of hooch, takes a hefty swallow, coughs, screws the lid back on and shakes his head. Shit. He crawls back into bed and thanks to a very long day, he's finally out.
The way he spoke so abruptly caught her by surprise, and it hurt. He's angry, maybe he thought she was being forward. Maybe he really does have a lady friend. He said he didn't, but maybe it's like Miss Erma said and he wasn't truthful? Maybe he's going to her home after work and she's preparing dinner for him, or perhaps he's taking her out for a bite.
Yes, that must be it. She tries not to think of it or him, she has a busy day and she makes herself concentrate on her work. After the dishes are done she gets right to her next chore of the day, she cleans the downstairs bathroom. It's never too dirty or messy and it doesn't take her long, but then the real work begins, the laundry.
She's grateful the Horvaths employ a commercial laundry service to wash, starch and iron the sheets for the house. She can't imagine running 10 sets of sheets through the wringer each week, or my goodness, having to iron all those sheets. Even without them though, there's still plenty of washing and ironing to be done.
Today she'll be doing the week's table lines, kitchen linens and bath towels from downstairs, and her personal things. Tomorrow she washes the towels from upstairs. Eight sets of towels is quite the chore but everything will be clean and fresh for the men on Friday. Then she'll iron the table linens.
While she's busy wringing out wash and hanging it on the line, she's also busy thinking. She's decided maybe she's going a little crazy, but she just can't get her mind off that man. It makes no sense.
When dinner time comes and she sets the big dish of beef-potato casserole at the center of the table she can't help glancing at his empty chair. She wonders what he's having for dinner tonight and with whom; and the thought of him eating and laughing and talking with a lady friend causes a heaviness in her heart.
After the dinner dishes she tries to drown her thoughts in a nice warm bath, after which she intends to get her gown on and go right to bed. Maybe then she can escape all this thinking. Sleep doesn't come easy though, not like she hoped it would. Instead she finds herself still thinking of him, and when she finally does fall asleep he visits her in her dreams.
It's four a.m. when a sound wakes her and she realizes it's the squeaky hinges on the old side door. She listens hard and although his footfalls are exceptionally light, in the quiet stillness of the sleeping household she can hear him ascend the stairs.
Tears sting her eyes as the worst of thoughts comes to her, oh my, he must have spent the night with his lady friend. She quickly shames herself for thinking such terrible thoughts, but she's not completely naïve. She knows not everyone stays chaste until marriage. My gosh, her very own sister Maggie and the northern man are proof of that.
He's being as quiet as he can but damn those hinges need some 3-In-One Oil, he may take care of that himself. He creeps up the stairs and once in his room the first thing he does is carefully tear a page from his work diary. He wants to get his feelings down on paper and it could take a while, he sometimes struggles for words.
When the note is done he heads to the bathroom, washes up good and brushes his teeth. As he's finishing he can hear the house starting to stir. Back in his room he gets a clean set of work clothes out of the laundry box and dresses for the day, and looking around he tells himself he'll get two things done after dinner tonight, straightening his room and writing in his work diary of yesterday's good fortune and the purchases he made.
The note he wrote is clutched in his hand as he steps out in the hall, nods and says "Good morning," to a couple of fellows waiting for their turn in the bathroom and moves along.
He's the first one down the stairs and the last one to sit at the table. That's because he's leaning against the wall in the sitting room, lying in wait for her. When she comes walking through from the kitchen with the coffee pot in hand he whispers, "Beth." She stops, a startled look on her face as she glances over at him.
He whispers again as he hands her a small folded paper, "Here." Then hurries ahead to sit at the table.
This day when she walks in with the coffee he's the first one to smile at her and say, "Good morning Miss Beth."
She smiles back and says, "Good morning gentlemen, enjoy your coffee. I'll be right back with your breakfast."
She sets the pot down in the center of the table and scurries off, only going as far as the sitting room before quickly glancing at the note, smiling as she reads his words,
"Dear Miss Beth, I'm real sorry I was short with you yesterday morning. I got no good excuse. Where I been is, I got a place I'm building just out of town and I work on it every weekend. Last night I got a chance to look at some equipment and that's where I went, then I spent the night at my place. I sure did miss your cooking. If you wanted, I'd like to try and figure it out so you and me can talk sometimes. Sincerely, Daryl Dixon."
As she pushes the breakfast cart into the room she glances right at him, gives him a shy smile and a slight nod of the head and he smiles back. Happy in knowing exactly what she's telling him.
That's all that had to happen to make his morning perfect, but the big fluffy biscuits with sausage gravy sure do add to his happiness. Finally, a pretty smile and a decent meal.
For the rest of the week it's just them making eyes at each other and exchanging shy smiles, there never seems to be a chance to talk. But after the evening meal on Friday he lingers at the table until she come to clear it, then quietly he whispers, "Sorry, I'ma miss breakfast in the mornin'. I got some things I gotta do at my place. I'll be back Sunday afternoon."
She's smiling but she looks sad when she whispers, "Okay. I'll miss seeing you."
He almost doesn't say it but he's needs to quit being such a chicken. He needs to let her know his heart, "I'll miss you too."
The next morning he leaves at five, but he's not heading straight to the farm. If that was the case he wouldn't leave until after six. Instead he's going out to his place first, taking a chance the old blowhard will be there.
Sure enough Merle's there. He's got a small campfire going and the old coffee pot is sitting in the hot coals doing its job. Merle's all smiles as he stands and takes a drink from his mug, "Hey little brother, just in time ta have ya a cup."
Daryl gets down from the truck and Merle's got a wide grin on his face as he claps him on the upper arm and smiles, "Missed ya kid."
Daryl replies, "Missed ya too brother, how ya doin'?"
"Well if by 'How ya doin?' you're really askin' if I'm smokin' the weed or tokin' on the pipe, the answer's no. I ain't done either a them things in more'n six months. Not since I got me a woman who won't tolerate that shit." He laughs that big laugh of his before adding, "I'm just glad she don't care if I nip at a little hooch now and then."
Daryl smiles and shakes his head when he teases, "Shit, you mean ta tell me Merle Dixon got hisself bit by the love bug?"
"It sure seems that way little brother and the strangest thing is, I ain't even complainin'."
Daryl nods, "Lemme get a cup ta take, you're goin' with me. We got work ta do brother."
Once at the farm the four men first get the hand tools and other smaller items loaded in the back of Daryl's truck, then manage to get all the larger items on the farmer's flatbed.
They arrive at his place and Daryl excuses himself, disappearing inside for a few minutes. When he returns he gives the farmer his payday and the man is happy and grateful. Daryl's all smiles himself. He's now got just about everything he needs to finish his place. All that's left is to get a few cans of paint, some kitchen items, a little more furniture and he'll be done.
The brothers work all afternoon getting the new purchases organized and where they need to be. They get the furniture in the house and place the boiler, generator and mechanical pump in the big cinderblock well house. Lastly, they get the lumber and piping neatly sorted and stacked.
It's a big job and Daryl knows if Merle wasn't around he'd have had to hire someone to help with all the heavy lifting. Hell, it was all the two of them could do to get the generator moved. Thank God there's one thing Merle's always had, a strong back. That's Daryl's thought when Merle turns to him and asks, "So little brother, do ya ever feed the help? Or do ya just work em til they die?"
Daryl manages to keep a straight face when he answers, "I work em til they die." Then he claps Merle on the back and says, "C'mon brother, I'm hungry as a bear myself. We'll get sumthin' at the café then I need ta get some food for around this joint, the cupboard's bare."
It's over Salisbury steaks at a small café that Merle suggests, "So brother, me n my gal plan ta move over this way. I got a line on a few jobs in Atlanta I'm tryin' for. I already been to a couple this past week and they told me I had a shot and ta check back this comin' week. Whaddya say ya lemme hang my hat here at your place for a week or so? I'll get that boiler and steam generator runnin' for ya while I'm here."
It's the kind of work his brother does, when he has a real job. Daryl knows Merle knows his stuff and would do it right. It's just that Merle's history has him feeling skittish.
Merle reads the two distinct looks in Daryl's eyes. On the one hand his brother is real interested. But he sees that worried look too. He understands why, Daryl knows the kind of trouble he can get in.
Merle tries to put his mind at ease, "Hey brother, I'm serious when I tell ya I turned over that new leaf. This gal I'm with means everythin' ta me and I been likin' livin' this life with her. I ain't gonna let her down and I damn sure ain't gonna let you down no more. I'll do like I said I would," He pauses and chuckles then adds, "and I ain't gonna be tearin' the place up lookin' for your stash a cash."
Daryl has to laugh out loud at that, "Brother, you wouldn't find nuthin'. That farmer got the last a my money."
"Well ya got some real good stuff kid."
Then Daryl nods, "Yeah, stay a week, then we'll see. It's just you, right?"
"Don't worry bout that, I got my gal and her little girl safely tucked away in Valdosta til I get situated here in Atlanta."
Daryl nods, "Okay then. Let's finish up here. We gotta get ta the grocery before it closes. I ain't got any food at my place."
As Daryl's picking out a variety of canned goods Merle can't help teasing, "I see ya still ain't learned ta cook little brother. Maybe it's you that needs a woman."
Daryl shakes his head and tells him, "I can cook meat and when I get my place done that's what I'll be havin', fresh meat every day."
Merle shrugs and smiles when he responds, "If ya had a woman you could have some biscuits with that meat."
It's dusk by the time they're back at the place, the end of a long day. They get a little campfire going and Daryl asks, "So ya say ya still enjoy a nip?"
"Yeah, I could force down a snort or two. You make it?"
"Yep n I done pretty good with this batch. Makin' hooch is the one handy thing I learned from our old man."
Daryl can't help wondering what's going on, Merle's never been serious about a woman before. He always seemed to have one around, but never the same one for long. Now that it seems he's all smitten Daryl's curiosity is piqued, and after a couple of nips he asks, "So, what makes this woman so special to ya?"
Merle shrugs and answers honestly, "I don't know that I could tell ya that brother. It's just a feelin' that came over me the first time I seen her and I still got it. I'd been livin' over near Columbus, gettin' in the usual trouble. But I did have a job and a little place. It was one a those big houses someone made into apartments. She lived in the one next door ta mine with her husband and daughter."
"Husband?"
"Yeah and a mean bastard he was. Not unlike our Daddy. Sumbitch would come home at night yellin' before he even walked in the door. You know how it is. Then one night he snapped completely. I guess you could say I snapped right along with him."
"I heard him over there, yellin', cussin', ugly name callin' and threats. It was when I started ta hear what sounded like furniture crashin' to the floor I decided I best go over there n put a stop to it. I opened my door and there's the little girl standin' there clutchin' her dolly. Tears were runnin' down her cheeks and she begged me, 'Please Mister, please don't let him hurt my Mama.'"
"That done it brother. I knew what I's gonna do. I told the little girl, 'get in my place and ya wait right there Missy,' and I stormed on over. He had her pinned to the floor, slappin' and chokin' her and punchin' her belly. I drug him off her, hollered at her ta get over ta my place with her girl, and then I proceeded ta beat him unconscious."
He takes another nip of the hooch, shrugs again and says, "I knew it was never gonna get no better brother. Only worse. You and me, we seen that. They never quit that shit. So I drug him out to my truck, drove him up in the hills and I put a stop to him for good."
Daryl's chewing his lip and nodding his head when he asks, "Then what?"
"When I got back ta my apartment the little girl was sound asleep on my sofa, her head on her Mama's lap. Her Mama's face was bruised and battered and the sight a that broke my heart. I told her, 'my name's Merle, yours?' She answered Carol. I said 'well Carol, you got a decision ta make, you can tell the cops I took your husband out, or you can wait a couple days and file a missin' person's report and tell the police ya think he left ya for another woman. When the rent comes due next week me, you and the little girl leave town. I'll take care a the two of ya."
"She looked at me for a long hard minute and said, 'I been wantin' ta move.' Shit brother, I fell in love right then."
Even Daryl can't help laughing over that, then he gets honest with his brother, "I ain't sayin' what ya done is right, but ya probably saved her and the girl. So now what?"
"There's a guy I know in Valdosta, he did some time in the slam but he turned it around and he's doin' real good. Him and his wife are lettin' Carol and the girl, her name's Sophia, stay with em while I find work and a place here."
He looks down a minute nods his head and looks back at Daryl, "It's a strange thing brother. I may not be the brightest man, but I'm a tough mutherfucker. She's a real tough little gal herself, but it seems that we need each other. And that little girl? She needs us both. I never had nuthin' like what I got with them, and I know I wanna keep it."
There's not a question in Daryl's mind, Merle's a whole lot different. Still he doesn't give in completely, there's too much history, "K, like I said, we'll see how it's goin' in a week." Then he side eyes his brother and asks, "How long have ya been stayin' here already?"
His brother laughs and says, "I've changed, but I ain't changed completely. Been stayin' here since Wednesday."
Merle insisted on buying the bacon and eggs and Daryl had no objection, "If you're cookin' em I'm eatin' em." So Sunday morning they share the breakfast and a pot of coffee, but no work. Daryl's decided to lay off the work for a day and go after a deer.
While he goes off hunting Merle heads to the pond, pole in hand.
Daryl's enjoying the cool morning air, walking the property and keeping a sharp eye out for game. He hasn't gone far when he spots a forked horn. The buck doesn't just represent good eating to him, it will also pay his rent for a week. He could really use it after all the money he just went through.
He quietly pulls an arrow from his quiver, nocks it and begins to pull the bowstring back. He focuses his gaze on the spot he wants to hit and lets the arrow fly, listening to the sound of the zing as it quickly soars through the air and the animal topples over.
Food is food and a man can't get all sentimental about shit like that, but still he walks to the deer, kneels next to the animal and softly rubs an open palm along its side saying, "Hey fella, sorry."
He's been hunting for his food since he was a kid and it's second nature as he methodically cares for his kill. He moves quickly because of the heat, using a rope to hang the animal from a fat tree limb. He dresses out the deer, skins it then slips a cheesecloth bag over it to discourage insects.
That's about the time Merle shows up with a fat stringer of fish and says, "Hey, lemme help ya brother." Daryl explains to him the deal he has with Horvaths and Merle nods, "Sounds good. There's a lotta good meat runnin' around this property."
"I'll leave the heart and liver for ya, that's some good eatin'."
"You bet, I appreciate it brother."
They carry the animal to his truck and Daryl hurries to wash the blood from his hands and arms, then tells Merle, "I gotta get this to em before it gets warm. I'll come over one night this week and check on ya."
"I wish you would, I always did need one a them babysitters."
The brothers shake hands and Daryl gets on the road. He's anxious to get the animal butchered and in a cool refrigerator.
He turns onto the street and just as he hoped he would, he sees her sitting on the front porch reading her book. He pulls up to the curb, steps out of the truck and they're both all smiles when he tells her, "Got a nice buck in the back. Be some good eatin' for the house."
She smiles at the sight of him, but she's not sure of the right thing to do, "That's wonderful. Why don't you drive around to the back porch entrance, I'll meet you there. Mister and Missus Horvath are in their sitting room and I should let them know."
He drives around to the back, hops out of his truck again and is just opening the baker doors when Beth and the Horvaths come out to see the animal.
Mrs. Horvath's hand is clutching her throat as she says, "It's a fine animal Mister Daryl but this is the Lord's Day. I don't think we should be butchering animals today."
He replies, "Well it's too hot ta leave the animal sit, the meat'll spoil. If we ain't gonna butcher it, I'll have ta hurry and take it back out ta my place and start saltin' it down."
Mister Horvath gently reminds his wife, "Dear Heart, you know that animal would make several meals for the house."
Beth is focused on the disappointment in Daryl's face when Miss Olivia's words come back to her. She spoke of the sin of wastefulness when Beth was reluctant to take the gift of shoes. What the young woman can't believe now is the way she opens her mouth and speaks similar words herself, "I don't mean to show you any disrespect Miss Erma, but I would venture to say that the Lord has given us the wonderful gift of food to feed hungry men. Which is the greater sin? To let all this meat be wasted? Or to take advantage of His gift and praise Him for his blessings?"
Everyone's looking at her a little stunned and she adds, "Of course you and Mister Horvath wouldn't have to lift a finger. I'm very familiar with butchering animals and I would be more than happy to assist Mister Daryl."
Miss Erma is about to object but Mister Dale is thinking about eating venison roast. He turns to his wife before she can speak and says, "I do believe Miss Beth has a point Dear Heart. You go back to the room now and return to your reading. I'll be there in just a moment."
As soon as his wife leaves the kitchen Mister Dale instructs, "You put the good scrap in the big white bowl that has a lid and store it in the outside refrigerator. In the morning I'll get some suet from the butcher and Miss Beth, you and I will make burger, maybe even some sausage."
Then he looks at Daryl and instructs, "Young man, I expect you to behave like a gentleman with Miss Beth or you'll answer to me. And don't let her work too hard, that's all the poor girl ever does around here is work."
Daryl's not certain what to say but he assures the man, "Yessir, I know she's a lady and I'll be doin' most all work, ya got my word."
Mister Horvath has returned to his room, the animal's laying on the big table top, Daryl's got his knives and he and Beth are standing side by side ready to begin the work. Daryl turns his gaze to her and says, "You sure do have a way of convincin' folks." Then he smiles and asks, "I wouldn't a thought it, but you've had a lotta experience butcherin meat, huh?"
She smiles and says, "Oh, no. None at all. I only said I'm familiar with it. I've never actually done it nor have I ever watched it being done. I was always afraid it might make me queasy." Then those beautiful blue eyes look right into his and she says, "I just wanted to spend some time with you."
He's smiling and he gets a little fresh, softly bumping his shoulder into hers when he says, "Sounds alright to me. I wanted your company a lot more than your help."
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A/N Well that's a lot to think about, and what's next? Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please check it out. I'll be back next Friday with a new chapter of The Stranger Upstairs and I hope you'll be here too! Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee