A Place Called Heavenly Chapter 6, a walking dead fanfic

A/N Thank you all so, so much. I appreciate everything and I love reading your comments! None of you seemed to feel bad for Spencer ;) We're going to hear a little more about that this chapter. We'll also have some sweet interaction between The School Marm and The Blacksmith. I hope you enjoy!

He hurriedly got the beans quick soaking and then got on about his day. Like Monday always seemed to be it was a busy one and the time passed quickly. Still, every chance he got he glanced over to the store, hoping to catch even just a glimpse of her.

He was busy forging axe blades when the sheriff showed up about 11. "Hey Rick, good ta see ya. I got that knife done for ya. Ya wanna check the balance of it, see how it feels in your hand?"

"I do, but that's not all I'm here for. I need to ask you a few questions Daryl. It's official stuff about an incident late Saturday night, or I s'pose you could call it Sunday morning."

Daryl handed him the knife, shrugged and muttered, "Yeah, alright." He had a feeling he knew what was coming but he was also sure Rick didn't suspect him of anything. That wasn't why he was here.

"I got the names from the bartender of everyone that was in the saloon this weekend. He tells me you were there for an hour or so Friday night."

"Yeah, had a couple a drinks."

"Uhhuh. Did you happen to see Spencer Monroe or Andrea Harrison there?"

"Yeah I seen em both."

"How did they seem, friendly or like there was trouble?"

Daryl shrugged and answered, "Well they was both laughin' and his hand was down the front a her dress so it seemed friendly, but then she gets paid ta tolerate that shit so who knows?"

The sheriff was smiling as he agreed, "Yep. So while you were there you didn't notice anything out of the ordinary? Everyone seemed to be getting along?"

"Yeah I mean there was the usual bullshit when people are drinkin' and gamblin'. Some fella accused her of cheatin' but she handled the situation easy enough."

The sheriff nodded, "Between you and me, I don't know about all this. It seems like Blake went a little too far beatin' on Monroe. I know it looks like a clear-cut case of the man reacting to another man hitting on his woman, but my gut tells me there's more. He damn near killed Monroe, but shit, who's going to blame him? What jury's going to convict him?"

On the rare occasion when Daryl offered his opinion he made no effort to soften his words, and he'd only ever offer it to a few select people. Rick Grimes was one of those people, "I don't have any good feelins about either one a those fellas myself. One is a worthless prick who'd beat on a woman, the other is a worthless prick who sells his woman to the highest bidder. Neither one of em is worth the powder ta send em ta hell. Seems ta me she's the one who paid the price for the both of em bein' assholes."

"I can't argue but I don't s'pose I can arrest Blake or Monroe either one for being an asshole. If I could arrest men for that half the territory would be in jail." They both laughed and nodded and Rick added, "The knife though, Daryl it's perfect. There isn't a smithy in the territory who can match your work. You got a bill for me?"

"Thanks Rick, and yeah, lemme just tear it outta the book."

While Beth was working that morning three different ladies stopped by to visit Merna in her home; and Beth had a feeling she knew what they'd come to talk about. Just after one o'clock, when things had slowed down a bit in the store, Beth went back to the living quarters to help Merna while Jim was minding the shop. As she got a stew in the cookpot the two women discussed the biggest story to hit Heavenly in years. The disturbing news of Spencer Monroe savagely battering a working woman, and then how the man who'd committed such a wrong had suffered the brutal wrath of Philip Blake.

Merna shook her head in disgust, "I feel very sorry for Andrea Harrison. I may not always approve of the life she leads but no one deserves the terrible things she endured. I feel almost as badly for Spencer's Mama, Deanna. She's a very nice and strong woman but all this may be too much. I can't imagine knowing your own son would behave in such a disturbing manner."

Then Merna said something that made Beth realize what might have been going on with Daryl Dixon that very morning. Why he'd taken her hand and told her he was glad she was alright. "I know Jim said he saw Spencer talking to you after work three days in a row. He would have intervened but he thought perhaps you were interested in the man's attentions. I assure you Beth, if Jim had known the terrible things Monroe was capable of he would have made certain the man was kept away from you."

Beth knew then. That had to be it. If Jim had seen her talking to Spencer Monroe and assumed she was interested in the man, that must have been what Daryl thought too. The first time Spencer stopped her to talk she'd seen Daryl look over at the two of them for just a minute and then turn away. Maybe he'd misunderstood the situation the same way Jim had. Perhaps that was why he hadn't come around for a few days. Maybe it was why he was so relieved she was alright.

She'd made up her mind it was the right thing to do because the last thing she wanted was for Daryl to think she had feelings for someone else. So at 3:15 after Beth had smiled and said her goodbye to Jim at the shop door, she took a deep breath and walked across the street to the blacksmith's shop.

He was nailing a shoe on a horse and she stood out of his way, waiting for him to notice her. His head came up and he smiled as he gently set the horse's hoof down and stood straight. He couldn't imagine why she might be there but he was happy that she was, "Beth, is there something I can help ya with?"

She smiled back but now that she was actually there with him her nerves were getting the best of her. All she could manage to say was, "Can I pet the horse?"

"Well I don't really know this one too good, not sure of his temperament. C'mon, mine's round back in the corral with the rental horses. He's big but he's real, real gentle."

She smiled to herself thinking it sounded like a description of Daryl himself. He asked her, "Ya know anythin' about horses?"

"Oh yes, I love them. I had a horse in Georgia, I miss her a lot." She smiled shyly noting, "It smells good in here, are you cooking?"

He seemed embarrassed when he answered with a shrug, "It's them beans I bought from ya this mornin', see the cookpot there on the back of the hearth?"

"Oh yes how clever, and you know how to cook. That's wonderful." She was getting more nervous by the moment and she felt the heat on her cheeks. She also noticed he looked just as nervous.

"I'd offer ya some but they ain't quite ready yet." Shit, he was sure he probably looked and sounded like a fool, he just didn't know quite what he should say or do.

He went to the open doors at the back of the shop that lead to the corral, turned and smiling her way said, "C'mon out here." He leaned up against the fence and began to whistle soft and low, the big dark horse walked right to him. He lay one hand on the horse's muzzle while his other hand cradled its chin groove. The horse brought its head down to his level and Beth watched as the blacksmith briefly touched his forehead to the horse's face. The big animal moved to nuzzle his neck and Daryl spoke quietly to him, "Hey Blackie, this here is Beth. She wants ta tell ya hello." If there had been any doubt in her mind Daryl Dixon could be a gentle man, that doubt was now gone for good.

He held loosely to the horse's mane as she reached up to pet Blackie and Daryl was amazed when, as soon as Beth rubbed her hand along Blackie's face the horse nuzzled her gently and then showed her the greatest affection a horse could, he nickered softly as his nose lightly rubbed on her neck. The big animal wasn't usually so affectionate with strangers and Daryl couldn't help smiling, "Look there. He's so smart he already likes you better'n he likes me."

He was rewarded when her cheeks pinked up and she had that sweet and shy tone to her voice when just above a whisper she responded, "You know that's not true Daryl Dixon."

She gave the horse a little more attention before telling the blacksmith, "I'm sorry I disturbed your work. I need to let you get back to it and I need to go pay a call on someone." She smiled that pretty smile and her cheeks were rosy and the words he wanted to say almost didn't come to him, but he managed to get them out, "You're welcome ta come by anytime ta say hello, to the horse and ta me."

And all she could answer was, "Thank you, Daryl."

He wasn't done though, he'd learned his lesson from the whole Spencer Monroe mess. From somewhere deep inside he got the gumption to mention it to her. His voice was now the one that seemed low and nervous, "When Karen asks ya ta come for dinner on Sunday it would be real nice if you was ta say yes."

"Oh." She was startled but so happy to hear these words from him, "Yes, if she does ask I promise to say yes."

She was so flustered then she almost didn't say what she'd come to say, instead she turned to go. She stopped herself, took a deep breath and screwed up her courage as she turned back around. She did her best to look him in the eye and she told him what she'd come to tell him, "Daryl, there's something I want you to know. I never wanted to talk to Spencer Monroe. He was rude and he frightened me. I came here to tell you I wasn't interested in him or his attentions in any way." She turned again and hurried off, leaving the blacksmith stunned, silent and so pleased to hear those things from her.

He stood watching her walk away and wondering, how did she know how worried he'd been? Not that it mattered. Nothing mattered now except Beth Greene had come to see him. They'd spoken and she'd let him know the man he'd had so much concern over was no one she cared to know. And why would she make certain he knew that? Unless maybe she cared for him. Maybe.

She didn't go straight home, she did have a call she needed to make. She'd gotten the directions to Amy Mitchell's house from Merna. Amy had been so thoughtful to come by and welcome her to Heavenly. She'd brought dinner and they'd had such a pleasant conversation, and now Amy's sister had been badly hurt and Beth felt obliged to extend her sympathy.

She was a little nervous when she knocked on the door, she wasn't used to paying social calls alone. She had always just gone along with one family member or another when these things were done. She supposed this was another part of her being a grown woman alone.

It took a bit of time for Amy to answer but when she did she smiled and looked genuinely happy to see her, "Beth you've come to visit me, what a sweet surprise, please, please come in."

"I'm sorry to have come empty handed. I've been working at the store all day or I would have taken the time to bake a little something."

"Don't be silly Beth, there's no need to ever bring a gift. I'm just happy you're here." While she was talking Amy had taken Beth's elbow and she lead her into the parlor. There, sitting in an occasional chair with her feet resting on a footstool was a woman Beth was certain was Amy's sister. She was dressed in sleep clothes but they were not at all the sort of sleep clothes a woman usually wore, at least not the women Beth knew. These were more something a woman who might frequent a saloon would wear. But that wasn't what gave away who she was. It was the terrible injuries that gave that away.

There were black and blue bruises and red and rashy looking marks on her face. Her upper lip had been split open and was badly swollen. One eye was so puffy it was nearly shut and there were marks on her neck where it looked as if someone had tried to choke her. Most shocking for Beth was how even the poor woman's breasts were covered in angry bruises.

Although she'd heard the story it wasn't the same as seeing the actual proof of what Spencer had done. She fought to keep her composure and to not let out a gasp or to cry, but the marks were evidence of such great cruelty it was difficult to remain calm. Amy was a good hostess and in spite of looking less than comfortable she was cordial, "Beth Greene, I'd like you to meet my sister Andrea Harrison. She's going to be staying with Zach and I for a few days."

Beth wasn't sure what to say to the woman so she left it at saying what she felt, "Hello Andrea, it's nice to meet you. I'm very sorry you're hurt and I'll be praying for your injuries to heal quickly."

The woman gave a small nod and a kind of humming sound came from her throat as she acknowledged Beth's words. She then looked to her sister and barely squeaked out, "Bed."

"Excuse me Beth I'm just going to help her, I'll be right back. Please, have a seat."

"Of course, take your time."

Beth took a seat on the settee and as she waited for her hostess her eyes wandered around the room. Although it was quite small it had such a nice cozy feel and she smiled when she noticed what hung above the mantel. It was a tin-type wedding photo of Amy and a handsome young man. They looked so happy and Beth found her thoughts wandering to Daryl, and she wondered what if. No, she told herself. She should not be thinking of such things.

After a few minutes Amy returned carrying two glasses of lemonade and sat down next to her, handing Beth a glass she apologized, "I'm so sorry to leave you sitting here alone, I hope you like lemonade."

"I do and please don't worry yourself. I caught you by surprise this afternoon and I probably shouldn't have just stopped by. I had no idea your sister was here. I only came to tell you how sorry I am to hear she's been hurt, and of course to ask if there's anything I can do to help."

Amy looked at her for a moment and Beth could see her eyes were misted over, "Thank you so much Beth, it's so kind of you. Please don't apologize for coming, I'm so happy you're here."

"I wish my sister would stay with us for good, but I know she'll go back to the saloon and that terrible man. He's no better than the man he beat. Can you imagine, he told her to get over here and stay until she looked presentable again. He said he couldn't have her scaring the customers off. I just…well I wish she'd just stay away from him forever."

Beth had many thoughts about the man who was supposed to be Andrea's beau, and none of them were good. But she knew it wasn't her place say those things. Instead she took Amy's hand, "I'm so sorry your family's going through this. As I said, if I can help you in any way please ask me. Please."

"You're doing so much for my spirits by just being here. I don't really have many friends and I'm so happy you would pay me a visit. Will you stay and have dinner with us? It's just a stew but there's fresh bread and an apple pie for dessert."

"That sounds so wonderful and it's so kind of you to ask, thank you Amy. I feel bad though, I should be the one doing nice things for you."

She heard what sounded like a back door open and close, water running, and then a man entered the room, his shoes were removed and he and his clothes both looked as if he'd been working all day. He smiled happily as he looked at Amy, "I'm finally home to you Dear."

Amy stood and went to him and Beth saw their hands brush together, then Amy introduced Beth to her husband, Zach Mitchell. He seemed very nice and the way he and Amy looked at each other Beth could see the affection in their eyes. He excused himself to change from his work clothes before dinner while Beth helped Amy get the table set and put the food out. Before they sat for their meal Amy excused herself one more time to take a bowl of chicken broth to her sister.

It was a pleasant dinner and a lovely visit and Beth was feeling happy about having made such nice friends. Amy and Zach insisted they would walk her home but as they all stepped outside the night air was so brisk Amy stopped, "Beth,oh dear you don't even have a wrap. Let me run in and get you something." She quickly returned with a warm wool shawl. "The weather is already starting to change. It happens early in this high mountain country, you should always try to have a coat with you."

Beth had been dreading walking in the chilly night air and thanked Amy adding, "It so different here and not just the weather. So many things are different, it's going to take me some time to learn this new way of life."

"I know it will, but I do hope you'll adapt to it and decide to stay. It took me time to get accustomed to life here too Beth. My first winter was difficult and I had begun to question why in the world anyone would choose to stay. But I've grown to love Heavenly and life in the mountains and I'm hoping you will too."

They had walked a short way when Amy unexpectedly stopped. She looked to her husband and Beth thought there might be a tear in her voice as she spoke, "Oh Zach, I wish someone could talk some sense into Andrea. My sister keeps saying she's going home to that man as soon as she's better and I feel so frightened. I'm sure it will just keep getting worse."

Zach took his wife's hands in his and did his best to sound comforting while at the same time he spoke plainly, "I know Dear and I'm truly sorry. I want her to leave him too. I told her myself she was welcome to stay with us for as long as need be. I promised to support her financially, but you know Dear, she's use to having fine things, things I could never provide on a miner's wage. All we can do now is pray she sees what is really of value in life and changes her mind."

The way they spoke had Beth feeling there was more to the story of what happened to Andrea than she'd heard, but it would be very rude to ask questions. Still, she was certain she was right when Zach added, "It's not good Amy and he's not a good man. Philip Blake doesn't belong in Heavenly, we've always known he'd bring some kind of trouble. I just keep telling myself that eventually he'll pay a price for the things he's done."

Every morning that week he found himself waiting for the pretty blonde school marm to come walking down the street to the general store. The minute he saw her he would look over to her in a casual manner as though he hadn't expected to see her there. He would nod his head and she would give him a small wave and by Thursday of that week something new had been added. He would give her the slightest of grins and she would smile back demurely.

She would arrive at the store and go back into the living quarters just long enough to ask Merna if she was in need of anything. Then she'd go back in the store, tie on her apron and keep herself busy with the dusting and the straightening. All the while her mind was on him and she would be unconsciously smoothing her skirt, or tucking loose curls back with nervous fingers. All the while she was sneaking glances out the window as she anticipated his arrival.

It just so happened that every morning for the rest of the week the blacksmith seemed in need of making a purchase at the general store. An order pad, pencils, a box of large kitchen matches, some penny nails. Of course he couldn't leave without ordering a nickels worth of candy. Lemon drops, orange slice candies, butterscotch chews and licorice buttons.

Every day he would dip in his pocket and draw out his money to pay for his purchases, and it seemed every day their hands would touch "accidentally." That brief touch would last just long enough for them to look in each-other's eyes and smile shyly.

On Friday morning he paid for his purchases and then handed her back the little bag of raspberry hard candy. She took it from him and with her cheeks rosy and her voice low she smiled that shy smile and told him, "I'm going to get chubby if I keep eating candy every day."

It wasn't at all like him to just say such a thing but he was thinking of her small frame filling out, the thought made him smile and the words just spilled out of him, "Might look kinda cute on ya," and his words made his neck turn red.

They thought only they were aware of this strong attraction developing between them, but they were wrong in their assumption. Jim had no reason to hurry in the back every time the blacksmith came into the shop, but Jim knew. He merely wanted to give them their few minutes of time alone each day. He understood that time was precious. He himself had once had an attraction to a school marm. One who like Beth had been shy and decorous, and who worried her job may be in jeopardy. Now that he was happily married to that marm he and Merna would smile and place teasing wagers on just how long it would take the blacksmith to make a far bolder move in his attempts to woo Beth Greene.

Beth was looking forward to the sewing circle and meeting the ladies on Saturday morning, and she was delighted to hear the circle would be held at Olivia's home. The parsonage was located just behind the church, a short walk from the schoolhouse.

She was happy to take herself there but Karen had insisted she and Merle would pick her up in the buckboard on their way. Beth smiled when she saw Mary Ellen was going to be coming along too. Karen shrugged, "It's never too early to learn." Then she smiled, "I almost forgot, before anyone else extends an invitation I was hoping you'd agree to have Sunday dinner with our family tomorrow."

Beth felt the color come to her cheeks and exactly why she wasn't sure. Or maybe she was. She'd had so many lovely dinner invitations since arriving in Heavenly, but none she'd been hoping for like she'd hoped for this one. She felt her tummy fluttering with excitement at the thought of sharing a meal with Daryl and his family.

There was that one little nagging thought in the back of her mind telling her that maybe she shouldn't go. After all, in just one more week she'd begin her job teaching the school children of Heavenly. The town had paid her way and she was obliged to hold up her end of the bargain, and she simply couldn't jeopardize her position.

She'd always been so cautious and so responsible and yet she shook all those thoughts away. As people tend to do when they want something so much, she managed to justify her decision to go. She told herself she wasn't doing anything wrong and that mean old Mrs. Neudermeyer couldn't say she was. She was only going to be having a meal in the home of fellow parishioners who also happened to be the parents of three of her students.

No one needed to know her secret, no one needed to know the reason for her excitement. No one needed to know there was a man who would also be attending Sunday dinner, a man with whom she'd very much like to become better acquainted.

A/N Our couple seem to be getting closer and finally, Sunday dinner is on the horizon. I'd love to read your comments / reviews :) The chapter photo is posted to my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. Thank you again for taking the time to read along and I hope to see you all back here next week for more of A Place Called Heavenly. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee