A/N Thank you all for the comments! Our couple seem to be getting closer and a little more open about their feelings. This chapter we'll learn why Andrea is at Daryl's shop, we'll hear news about Spencer, there's the church picnic and Daryl will leave for hunting - after getting a little more bold. A lot going on. I hope you enjoy!
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It took her a bit by surprise. She would not have expected to see Andrea Harrison at the blacksmith's shop, and she admitted something to herself. The fact the woman had called on Daryl wearing her saloon attire was unsettling to Beth. Still she tried very hard not to react with jealousy, she reminded herself that for Andrea it was simply her normal manner of dress.
She also reminded herself of the sort of man she knew Daryl Dixon to be. She was certain he would not have told her he had feelings if he wasn't sincere. Still there was something troubling to her and she began to doubt herself, she wondered if she'd made her position clear. The blacksmith had made his plain to her, he told her he had feelings and he also let her know his family knew of those feelings. The question that was worrying her mind now was, had she made it clear to the blacksmith just how interested she was in him?
She admonished herself for thinking it but still she could not stop her mind from touching on the idea that Andrea Harrison was a woman who'd had a terrible experience with a man. A very attractive woman. Daryl Dixon was a good man and a very handsome man. He was the sort of good and strong man that a woman might turn to for comfort and shelter, and Andrea would not be the first woman who sought those things from a man.
She made up her mind right then to make more effort, she needed to let him see her heart even if it might mean being more forward with him.
She entered the store where she was greeted by a very tired-looking but also very happy-looking new Daddy. "Hello Jim, I hope I'm not intruding. I heard the wonderful news this morning and I had to come and see how you, Merna and your new little man are doing."
"You're not intruding at all Beth, never. It's good to see you and Merna will be so happy to show off our son to you. You were such a help to her these past few weeks. Olivia is with her and our boy now. You go on back and say hello to the ladies and to little Jim."
"How wonderful that he's named for you! Thank you and I promise I won't stay long, I know Merna must be exhausted."
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The blacksmith didn't acknowledge the working woman's teasing remarks, mostly because he had no idea what to say. There was a truth that lay in her words but he was of no mind to admit that to her. The thought had come to him more than once, the thought that it may come to pass he would indeed be paying off Beth Greene's indebtedness. He'd worked hard at turning those thoughts away, finding he often had to remind himself that him and her were just getting to know each other.
Still he could not deny there was something serious there. He knew his feelings for her were already quite true and he hoped much more would come of their "friendship." But he would not reveal his feelings for Beth to the working woman. For now he simply shrugged off Andrea's remarks and got about business, "Alright then, what is it ya want me ta make ya?"
"I need to know I can count on your discretion. What I came for...I think it's best we keep that information between ourselves."
"I ain't a talker."
"That's why I came to you." She smiled and then got right to it, "I want a knife. A weapon made just for me, for my hand. One that can accomplish the task I may need to carry out. One that I can conceal until it's needed. I'm thinking to wear it in a sheath high up on my leg, hidden there in case a time would come when I might have to defend myself. I think you understand that time will be when some son of a bitch decides he has the right to hit me. Or when a certain man might think just because we share a bed it's his privilege to be cruel or forceful with me. I'm making a promise to myself and you're my witness smithy, no man will ever hit me or force himself on me again, not ever."
He chewed on the side of his thumb while he pondered her request, giving serious thought to her words and the things that had happened. He didn't believe it was his place to judge her plan or her motives, and he could find no fault with her for the things she said or what she had in mind. He felt it was right that he should speak to her plainly, in just the way she had spoken to him, "I don't usually tell my opinion but it wouldn't be right a me ta make the weapon for ya if I didn't at least tell ya my thinkin' on all a this."
"I don't wanna see ya get hurt Andrea and I understand ya wantin' to defend yourself. I don't want some guy ta do to ya what Monroe done either, or what ya seem ta be sayin' your bedmate does. This stuff here though? This knife and you tryin' ta stab some sumbitch when he gets outta line…well…ya know it's probably gonna turn out more dangerous for you than for him. A man can overpower a woman, even a woman with a knife. Maybe it ain't right but it's the way it is. I got no trouble seeing a sumbitch hurt or dead who'd strike a woman, or force her ta do them things she don't wanna do. It's just that it could turn out real bad for you. Ya ever just think maybe it's best you don't go back ta the saloon and that line a work?"
She smiled and she got so familiar with him as to touch her hand to his face, he nodded his head but wrapped his fingers around her wrist and gently moved her hand away. He didn't mean the gesture to be unkind but there was only one woman he wished to have touch him in a tender way. The working woman knew and she smiled, "You're a good man smithy and I appreciate what you're saying, but I happen to think I can fight a man on his terms. I have something else…" She reached in her small bag and took out a large red stone. He was no expert when it came to gemstones but he thought perhaps it was a ruby. "Can you put this is the handle?"
She handed the stone to him and he looked it over, shrugged his shoulders and answered, "Yeah, I can do that. If ya want I can even put a little fancy scrollwork on the handle for ya. Just don't get the idea that cuz ya got a showy knife you're safe."
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The deal had been struck and when Andrea left he started back at work, but only for a few minutes. He was too distracted. There was someone right across the street he felt the need to see, even if only for a moment.
He walked into the shop and when she wasn't there he immediately realized and mentally berated himself. Of course she wasn't in the store. She hadn't come there to work or to shop, she'd come to visit her friend and see the new baby boy.
Jim stood behind the counter looking tired and happy and Daryl was grateful to be able to think quickly. He needed a good excuse to be there. It wasn't appropriate that a man should visit a new Mother and her child. She would be in her bedclothes and in her bed, but that didn't mean it wasn't proper for him to extend best wishes to the family, "I just come by ta say congratulations on havin' a fine new son Jim. I hear ya gave him your name and I know this is a real happy day for all of ya. I hope Merna and the little fella are doin' well."
"Thank you for coming and for your good wishes. It is indeed a happy day smithy. My wife is well and my son is strong and he has a healthy set of lungs. I don't imagine we'll be gettin' much sleep around here but we sure are blessed." Then Jim smiled, "Could you wait here just a minute?"
"Yeah, sure." Daryl didn't catch on and so he was surprised when the woman he wished to see entered the store from the back, and they found themselves alone.
"Daryl, I didn't know you were here." Being so close to him always made her feel a kind of all-over warmth and that feeling made her flush with shy embarrassment.
He kept his voice low so as not to be overheard and he spoke honestly to her, "I seen ya come in earlier and I wanted ta say hello. I wanted to see ya Beth."
She was smiling and blushing and as he had done she kept her voice soft as she spoke. She was careful with what she said. She didn't want him to know about the feeling of jealousy she'd had, or that it bothered her still. "I'm glad you came, I was hoping to see you too. I was planning to visit your shop today and see Blackie, but then I saw you already had a visitor."
With those words he knew. It was the way she said that particular word, visitor, and it was the way she looked at him. The idea that she would think he had an interest in some other woman was upsetting to him. Hadn't he told her he had feelings for her? But he remembered, he remembered how green he himself had felt just watching her speak to Spencer Monroe. He wanted her to know there was no other woman of interest to him and his first response was simply, "Yeah she had some work for me."
Those words didn't seem like quite enough though, he drew in a breath and he made his position more clear, "Beth, I, well I ain't got no interest in Andrea other than ta do a job for her and get my pay." Then he made a statement that he hoped left her with no doubt. As he reached for her hand and gently held it in his own he whispered, "I only got one woman on my mind in that way."
Her cheeks went red and she barely got the words out, "Oh yes, I was sure of that." He squeezed her hand just a little more firmly and they shared a smile.
She wanted to stay there with him and she wanted to feel his hand wrapped around hers, but she had somewhere else she needed to be getting. Still, she'd made up her mind and she needed to show him a bit more of her heart, "I'm very happy to see you today Daryl and I wish I could stay with you a while longer, but I've been invited to Zach and Amy Mitchell's home and I really should be on my way."
He nodded his head and shrugged a shoulder, "I wish I was gonna be there with ya."
She was as honest as he, "I wish you were too. Maybe I'll come by and see Blackie tomorrow."
"I know he'd like it real well if ya would."
The knob on the door turned and at the sound he quickly dropped her hand. The sheriff's wife was all smiles as she greeted them, "Hello Beth, hello Daryl it's so nice to run into you both. It's such lovely news we have in Heavenly today, isn't it?"
They agreed and she went on, "Beth I have to share with you, Carl was so happy when he came home from school today. He said you played piano for the class this morning while they did their assignment." She smiled, continuing, "he said he was sure it helped him think more clearly. Then he said you were so pleased with the children's work you taught them a little tune and accompanied them on the piano as they sang. I think it's safe to say you have a serious admirer in my son. He hasn't stopped singing since he got home from school."
Maybe the only one of them smiling more broadly than Beth was Daryl. He wasn't at all surprised to hear the children were so fond of their new teacher but he worked hard to conceal his delight from Lori Grimes.
Then Lori asked her, "Have you visited with Merna and the baby?"
"Oh yes and they're both doing so well. I'm afraid I was just leaving but let me tell Jim you're here."
Daryl saw his chance to leave then and quickly added his goodbye, "Nice seein' you ladies, bye now."
Lori was always a good source of town news and was never one to keep the sheriff's business to herself. She turned to him, "No, wait Daryl. I almost forgot to tell you two, there's news to share."
Daryl's hand was almost on the door but he knew it would be rude to go now, and it turned out to be news worth waiting to hear. "Rick got word from the Monroe's." Daryl did indeed want to hear this particular news, but he responded as if only half-interested, "Oh yeah, what's that?"
"It seems Spencer will be a long time recovering, he'll likely spend the winter at the hospital in Billings. Even if he recovers most of his abilities the doctor still won't let him travel for a while. The way it looks to be he won't be home to stand trial until spring. In the meantime, as soon as he's well enough his folks have hired some sort of psychiatric doctor to try and figure just why he behaved in such a foul manner. They're determined to set him on a better path. His Mother and Dad are on their way home to the ranch now."
Beth didn't know his folks and she really didn't know Spencer at all, she simply responded, "I'll pray for his family, these are very trying times for them I'm sure."
Daryl kept his composure as he added, "Yeah that's gotta be hard on Deanna and Reg, but maybe the doc can help." He knew it was best not to give voice to any more of an opinion than that. He did a lot of farrier work for the Monroes.
The blacksmith and the marm shared one long last look before he left the store and just a few minutes later she was on her way to Amy and Zach's. She glanced across the street and they shared a sad smile before she went on her way.
Andrea was still staying with her sister and brother in law, apparently her male friend did not want her back yet. Beth noticed right away the difference in her appearance. It was the scarf she wore across her shoulders, pinned in the center with a broach and serving to keep her ample bosom concealed. Later Beth would learn that it was Zach who insisted. Amy's husband did not care to have his sister in law exposing herself in his home. Beth couldn't deny she was pleased Zach had made such a rule. She had nothing against Andrea but she did not care to look across the table and see the woman's breasts. She also couldn't help hoping if Andrea called on the blacksmith again she would keep the scarf over her.
Beth wondered if they would bring up Spencer Monroe at the dinner table. She prayed that they wouldn't, it seemed it would be an uncomfortable topic. Even though she was shy about being the center of attention she was relieved when the talk turned to her first day of teaching. Andrea did not speak a word, she just seemed to be taking in the conversation as she nibbled at her dinner while Beth shared the story of her day. Then she stunned Beth by stating, "I'm curious to see just how long the smithy will let you follow the rules and keep your new job."
Beth did stop by to see Blackie after school on Tuesday but she and the blacksmith had no time alone. He had a customer and that's when Beth met Reg Monroe. As she petted the big horse and fed him a handful of grain she couldn't help but overhear the conversation the men were having. Daryl and Mr. Monroe worked out an arrangement. The blacksmith would close shop early the next day, at 2:30. He'd ride out to the Monroe ranch and farrier all the horses. Beth's heart sank just a little knowing she would not have time alone with the blacksmith the next day either.
That was the way the week passed. They were lonely for each other and frustrated they could not have that bit of time together. It was not until Sunday Services that they finally had just a moment to greet one another as he prepared to enter the church with his family.
She'd been so excited for the picnic and filled with such hope they would finally spend time together. His thoughts were the same, that at last he would have a moment to take hold of her hand and to tell her how his mind had been on her.
After services the women laid the cloths on the ground and busily gathered the foods they'd brought, setting them on a long table. It was simply the way things were, it was what was expected. The women and the young girls did all the work to make ready for the end of summer get together; while the little children played happily and the men stood in groups discussing the things that men discuss; work and hunting and the preparations all were making for winter.
Merle Dixon joined the men, mostly, but he chose to help his wife by carrying the wooden box of food she had prepared, the box containing cold fried chicken, sweet corn muffins and berry jam. Even though he was sure it was not heavy, Daryl wished he could carry Beth's basket of cookies but he knew he couldn't. That action would leave no doubt in the minds of the others that the marm had his affections.
Still he thought they may finally find some time together while everyone was busy picnicking. He longed to take her hand in his and feel the soft skin and the delicate nature of it. He wanted so much to look in those pretty blue eyes and to smile when she smiled. He wanted to tell her how much he'd missed speaking to her and he wanted to hear from her lips that she was doing well and she was happy in her job.
She wanted him to take her hand. She wanted to feel the manly strength of it and the working man's skin against her own. She wanted him to tell her she'd been on his mind and she would tell him he had also been on hers. She wanted to ask him how his winter preparations were coming along and to tell him not to work himself so hard, even if she knew he wouldn't listen.
She wanted to tell him her week with the children had been good and that she's already grown to love them all. And she'd made up her mind to let him know the only thing bad about her employment was that she could not let her affection for the blacksmith be known.
They did not get to have those moments alone. The prying eyes of Mrs. Neudermeyer never seemed to leave them. All they were left with was to look longingly at one another.
He arrived back at his home feeling angry and out of sorts. He would not have attended the picnic had he not expected to have time with Beth Greene. Now those hours were wasted, hours he should have been spending making preparations for his hunting trip.
He changed from his Sunday suit and into his work clothes before unlocking the cabinet where he stored his guns. He smiled at the sight of his favorite, an old Henry-16 shot repeating rifle. He would not be taking it on this trip. It was a black powder gun and he was looking for something just a bit more modern in his quest to put meat on his family's table. He would not take the bow either. He had a special fondness for bow hunting but on this trip he would stick with firepower.
He went to his work shed taking with him the guns that would make the journey up the mountain. His Model 1873 Winchester Repeating Rifle he knew would serve him well for deer. He would also be taking the gun he hoped would put a moose on their table, his newest firearm a Winchester Model 1876. It had a heavier frame designed to chamber full-powered centerfire rifle cartridges. Those cartridges would be well-suited to taking down the bigger game he sought. Even with the rifle power he would have he'd still wear his sidearm at all times, a Colt .45 that he'd bought himself in Billings on his twentieth birthday.
He checked the action of each gun and then took advantage of the daylight that was left. He took the guns in turn, loaded the shells and took them outside to sight them in. When he was satisfied they were on target he took them back into his work shed, cleaned them, placed the rifles in their scabbards and the pistol in its holster. He made certain of his shells before carefully packing them in a set of leather panniers that Blackie would pack.
He took everything back in his house and lit his lamps. He retrieved his best knives from the gun safe drawer and sitting in his chair by the fire he carefully sharpened each of them.
The next morning he was up long before the sun made its appearance. He carried a lantern for light as he made his way back to the work shed and began a new task. The weather was already cold in the evenings and early mornings. He'd seen the first frost just the day before. It was a light frost and it was soon gone, but he'd be taking himself and his horses to a much higher elevation.
He gave as much thought to the comfort of his horses as he did to his own comfort. He carefully rolled a blanket to take for each of them. They were high country animals and seldom did it seem they even noticed the changes in the weather, but this was something he felt the need to do. Finally, he saw to his own bedroll. He had a wool blanket to lay under himself and a thicker one he covered himself with. He was certain he would be as warm as he needed to be in his dug out.
He went back in his home and gathered the few clothing items he would take with him. Mishaps occur and he knew better than to leave himself with only the clothes on his back. He would take an extra pair of thick wool socks, and a spare set of woolen long johns along with a thick wool shirt.
At 5:30 he was out throwing feed to the chickens before hurrying back in to fix himself a bit of breakfast. He was out of bacon and ham until such time as he acquired the hog. For this day he made himself a pot of mush and fried up three eggs. He smiled for the first time that morning when he took a bite of the cookie Beth had made, the cookie he'd slipped in the breast pocket of his suit coat.
He and Blackie took the long way to the shop, riding by the schoolhouse on their way. He could see the dim light through the windows and the little bit of smoke coming from the chimney and he wanted so badly to stop and visit with her. He damned the rules as he continued on to work.
He was not as early as usual but no one was waiting as he hurried to get his fire going and set up for his day's work. He had several orders to fill before he left for his hunting trip the next Saturday, including the one for Andrea.
Time passed quickly that busy Monday, and yet as busy as he was his eyes naturally glanced across the street about 3:15 that afternoon. He didn't expect to see her there, she was no longer in Jim and Merna's employ, but then he did see her. She was crossing the street, walking toward his shop.
Her eyes flitted about and he knew she was looking for eyes that may be watching her, and he found his eyes did the same. He did not like this sneakiness and he had a mind to tell that old biddy to stay out of his business. Maybe he would have if he didn't know in his heart, Beth Greene loved her work.
He couldn't help himself, as soon as she walked through the big doors he brushed the back of his hand against hers. "I wasn't expectin' ta see ya but I sure am glad ya came."
She was as honest with him as she could be, "Yesterday was terrible, awful. I wanted to have time with you, I hoped we'd talk and we hardly even got to say 'hello' and 'goodbye."
"I know, I felt the same. I don't know what I'm gonna do, I just know when I get back from this huntin' trip there's gonna be a change. I ain't sure how it's gonna come about, but I'll have a lotta time ta think up on that mountain."
They went to the back and she as rubbed an open hand along the big horse's face. Blackie affectionately nuzzled her neck and softly nickered and Daryl smiled to himself as his mind went to the thought, he'd like to be the one who was nuzzling her pretty neck. If he thought for one minute he could get away with it that would be exactly what he'd do.
"Are you ready for your trip?"
"Gettin' close. Tonight I'll get my camp cookware packed in the panniers and get my fishin' pole ready too. Fish should be bitin' good right now, gettin' themselves stocked up for winter. Friday I'll wrap up the coffee and the little bit a food I'm takin' with me. Mostly I'll depend on myself ta find game or catch fish ta cook and eat."
It was hard not to but she didn't want to tell him how worried she was. Instead her mind focused on a question she'd had for a while. Something she'd wondered about many times. "May I ask you something that's of a personal nature? I understand if you don't want to answer me."
His brow furrowed, shit, what could possibly have her looking so serious? "Go on and ask me, I don't aim ta keep secrets from ya."
She was embarrassed now, it wasn't her business and she shouldn't be asking, but she did. "I'm not questioning it or him, it's only a curiosity on my part. Why is it that your brother doesn't go hunting with you Daryl? He seems to know all about it, he seems anxious to help and I just wonder."
He was alternating biting his bottom lip and chewing the side of his thumb. Whatever the answer was she knew it was troubling to him and she told him again, "Never mind, you don't have to answer."
"Nah, it ain't that, it's just hard ta think about is all I guess. Last time Merle left his family ta go huntin' there was just Karen, me and one little boy, Caleb. He was the apple of their eye and like a baby brother ta me. Well, ya know, we all loved him." He looked down and took in a deep breath before going on, "He got sick while me and Merle was gone. Real sick. He passed just two days after we got back home. It was a real bad time for all of us and even though, even if my brother woulda been home there wasn't nuthin' he coulda done ta make things turn out different, it made it worse for him, hurt him more, that he wasn't there with his wife and his boy all along. It's just that he can't bring himself ta do it, he never will leave Karen and his children longer than the once a year overnight trip me and him take ta Billings for supplies."
The tears were in her eyes and she quickly wiped them away, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I didn't know about the little boy. Oh my I'm so sorry I asked. I, I don't know what else to say."
"Ain't nuthin' ta be said Beth. It ain't fair what happened but the rest of us, we just gotta go on, right? I'd like for Merle ta come but I ain't ever gonna mention it unless he does. My brother he's always been there for me and I'ma always be there for him. It's like that, we're family." He wanted to take her in his arms and the look on her face told him she might allow it, but they were interrupted when the Coach driver came in asking to bring his team in early the next morning to be shod.
They didn't get a chance to speak to each other again that week. It was Friday before school that Virgil knocked on her door and when she invited him in he told her, "Uncle Daryl wants you ta know he's leavin' in the morning Miss Greene. He said I should be sure ta tell ya that things are gonna change when he gets back and that's just that."
She smiled and she blushed and she wondered just what it was the blacksmith had in mind. "Alright, thank you Virgil."
"Yes ma'am and I'll be checkin' in on you making sure you're alright and if ya need anything you be sure and tell me."
She was fitful when she lay down that night thinking of him leaving the next morning. She was already missing him, she was worried for him and she was feeling angry they were not allowed to see each other or to speak openly. She finally fell asleep holding tightly to her pillow.
She was startled awake in the way early hours of the morning. There was a banging on her door and she was scared about who it might be and what might be wrong. She wrapped her bed cover around her shoulders, went to the door and called, "Who is it?"
She'd know the voice anywhere, "It's just me Beth, it's Daryl."
She opened the door and he quickly slipped inside, shutting it behind him. He was far overstepping the bounds of propriety. She knew and he knew and neither of them cared to think about that or mention it in the moment.
She waited for him to speak as he stood looking at her with the faintest of smiles on his lips. She looked so pretty, just like he'd imagined she would. Messy curls hung down nearly to her waist, her big blue eyes were warm and sleepy, and he could see the ruffled neck of her white cotton gown.
She watched him watch her and she knew what his look meant. She didn't mind, she thought maybe she might be looking at him the very same way. He was so handsome and manly looking all dressed for his trip to the mountains. She could see the white color of his long underwear peaking through the shirt he wore over it, and over that he wore another, a wool shirt. He wore heavy woolen pants and a type of laced up boot made for working outdoors.
She broke the silence asking him, "Is something wrong, is everyone okay?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't come ta scare ya. Everyone's fine. I just couldn't leave ya without sayin' goodbye. I just, well I had to."
"It's alright, I'm glad you did. I hate goodbyes but I wanted to see you too and tell you before you left to be safe, and that I wish you good luck. And something else too Daryl, I'm going to miss you."
He saw a tear fall and he reached up wiping it from her cheek with the pad of his thumb, telling her as he did, "I'ma miss you too, so much. Don't worry, Karen and Merle will be checkin' in with ya and Virgil he'll be here too." He took a deep breath, his lips were pursed and then he asked, "Can I hold ya for a minute before I go? Please Beth?"
"Yes."
They embraced and it was the first time their bodies had touched. He wasn't sure he could pull away, he wasn't sure he could ever let her go, but he had to. He had responsibilities. "I'll be back home before ya know it and we'll figure this all out, I promise."
He reluctantly stepped away from her, stirred the coals in the stove and added some wood, "It's too cold for you Beth in here, I don't want ya ta catch a chill."
He nodded his head, set a small brown bag on her table and then it seemed so sudden that he was gone. She already had tears in her eyes but they flowed more freely when she opened the little bag and saw the peppermint candies.
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A/N *sniff* Thank you all for reading along, I'd really appreciate you leaving a comment / review. That chapter photo of the Blacksmith and the Marm is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. I'll be back next Friday for more of A Place Called Heavenly and I hope you'll be back too! Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee