A Place Called Heavenly Chapter 15, a walking dead fanfic

A/N Thank you all so much, again!

It was near bedtime when Daryl got her back to Zach and Amy's place. It was a relief to Beth that the hour was late. It had been a long and emotion filled day and she didn't feel up to visiting with her hosts. She was anxious to simply close herself off in a quiet room and be alone with her thoughts, although she felt a little guilty about her desire to be alone. She was truly grateful to the couple for their hospitality but it simply wasn't at all a situation she was pleased to find herself in.

She didn't bother putting her clothes and personal items away in the space Amy had provided. She was holding onto hope that a solution to all that had happened would be found and she would only be at Zach and Amy's for a night or two.

No matter how tired her body was she found herself laying in bed unable to sleep. Her mind was going over so many things, most of those things involving Daryl. Now that she had this quiet time to reflect on all that had happened and the way it all had gone, she thought perhaps she had a better understanding of Daryl and his brother. She thought about the story of their growing years and the long trip out west. It made perfect sense that they would be vastly different from anyone she'd ever known. How could that not be the case?

She knew some truths about them too. She'd spent time with them, worked side by side with them butchering meat, she'd worshiped with them in church and shared meals at their family table. Through simple observation of the brothers and the way they lived their lives and in listening to the words they spoke, she'd come to understand things about the Dixon men. She knew that despite their very rough ways and their sometimes coarse language, they were at the heart of them good men who though perhaps a bit hot tempered, were also fiercely loving and protective of those they held dear.

She could not deny what was for herself the biggest truth, no matter what had happened that day her feelings for Daryl were true. He was in her heart and she couldn't imagine it would ever be any other way.

Like every morning of the week Karen Dixon was up long before five, cooking breakfast for her husband and children and packing lunches. This day Merle's was the only lunch pail to be filled. The family had their mornring meal and then her husband left for the mine promptly at 5:30, hugging his wife and each of his children before leaving. As soon as he mounted his horse and started riding away Karen had Cyrus and Mary Ellen doing dishes, and Virgil gathering eggs and feeding the chickens and remaining horse. Karen got herself busy quickly making two pans of bread pudding with the bread leftover from the past few days. One pan of the sweet dessert was for her family and one was her dish to share at the emergency meeting that noon.

It was still only six thirty when she sat her children at the table and explained to the younger ones, "Virgil is in charge of our home today. He's going to help you with schoolwork and you are to do your lessons as he instructs. On your break you can go right out front, only out front. You stay close to the house now, play horseshoes or jacks."

They knew what to do, they'd been told many times, but still their Mother directed them, "If you see any strangers coming this way you hurry right in this house and throw the bolt on the door. Mary Ellen and Cyrus, you get up in the loft and you hide yourselves and you keep real quiet. Virgil you get your Daddy's shotgun from under the bed and you do whatever you have to do to protect yourself and your brother and sister. If your gut tells you to fire Virgil Dixon don't hesitate, you fire."

"I will Mama."

"Alright children, I'll be back before lunch to collect my dish and fix you something to eat." She hugged them all tightly and hurried to town.

The blacksmith was up even earlier than was usual, he was anxious to get to the things he had in mind. He made his breakfast, took care of his chickens and his horses, saddled Blackie and got to town before six with Ginger following behind.

He was determined that he would do everything within his power to help Beth return to her teaching position. It wasn't that he wanted her to work, he would happily take care of her if needed, but he knew it was what she would want. She'd told him herself she loved the children and she loved teaching them. Knowing it was what she wanted made it what he wanted for her. The first order of business was to have a look at an old document and see just what the original guidelines were for the schoolmarm.

He got the fire in his hearth stoked up and burning good, then locked up his shop. He hung a sign on the door that said he had to take care of some business but he'd return directly. Then he took the short walk to the sheriff's office. It was still quite early and he didn't expect the sheriff to be there, that didn't matter, seeing the sheriff wasn't what he was after. The night deputy would be there to let him in and that's all he needed.

Back in the days it was first settled the population of the town consisted of only three or four families. It was those original settlers who gave it the name of Heavenly. With the westward movement the town began growing and flourishing, and then experienced a rather dramatic population surge with the passing of Montana's 1862 Homestead Act followed just two years later by the Gold Rush. That's when a group of local men got together one night at the saloon, and as they enjoyed their liquor they composed the official Heavenly Town Charter.

Included in that charter were provisions for a school, a place of worship and a sheriff's office. The buildings were already in existence having been funded a few years earlier by the town's longest standing family of settlers, the Monroe family.

The charter established what the laws of the town would be, how the town would collect funds and who the town would employ. Since Heavenly had only three public buildings it stood to reason that all town documents would be stored at the sheriff's office. There was even a small section in the back of the building with a sign hanging above it, the sign read, "Town Clerk." In reality there was no official town clerk. Jim acted in that capacity, filling out all official documents and the sheriff witnessed them.

In the small clerk area were two tall wooden file cabinets, a table and a chair. All the land, mineral rights and water rights claims, birth, death and marriage records were stored in the file cabinet, right along with the original town charter.

The charter was the document Daryl sought, particularly the section of it setting forth the guidelines for the hiring and firing of the schoolmarm, as well as the school board president. When he'd located the papers he sat at the table carefully reading them over. He almost smiled thinking he was mighty grateful to his brother for making him learn to read.

He was just coming to the part about the school when he was startled by the arrival of his sister in law. Together they read the document and Karen made notes in a small book she'd brought along. When they were done reading they looked at each other shaking there heads and wondering how it was no one seemed aware of those guidelines. Daryl asked her, "Why ya s'pose no one ever bothered ta look at this before? Why ya s'pose no one ever questioned what that old hen was up to?"

Karen shrugged, "Well I suppose most of the men and women who were affected by the firings didn't mind so much when the marm lost her job. Those men had already assumed when they started calling on the women they'd be getting caught eventually, then taking themselves a bride." She smiled at him and went on, "I know that's the way your brother thought."

It was then she told her brother in law about the secret emergency meeting of the sewing circle. "I didn't mention it to Beth, I didn't want to give her hope quite yet. The ladies plan to try getting this terrible situation resolved so she can keep her job. We're tired of losing good teachers and tired of that awful woman thinking she runs our lives and our town. We're standing up and we're going to be heard Brother. Beth is so wonderful with the children and they love her so, the ladies of Heavenly want her back in the schoolroom. Please, just go along with our secret for now. Let the ladies see if we can restore Beth to her position as schoolmarm."

He smiled and nodded at his sister, "I ain't so dumb I'ma argue with a roomful a angry women."

Karen couldn't leave the sheriff's station quite yet though, she had to stop at a certain jail cell and say her piece. Her brother in law stayed back and quietly watched while she did just that. "You're the worst kind of evil Shelly Neudermeyer. For years you've been living a lie and hiding behind a false veil of authority. You've been a tyrant and unnecessarily cruel to so many fine young women. Why you nearly ruined the lives of those two young women you fired who didn't have a man to marry them. You left them with no funds and nowhere to go. If the ladies of the circle hadn't stepped in to help Lord only knows what would have become of them. You're vile and you're heartless but your reign of terror has come to an end. I've got the goods on you now and I'm confident I'll find more proof of your misdeeds." Karen looked even more angry and determined when she continued, "The day you sealed your fate was the day you laid hands on my children. I won't rest until you have paid the price."

Shelly Neudermeyer still had that puffed up sense of authority though, she just had to try and get the last word in, "Well maybe if you raised your children properly they wouldn't be such disrespectful and foulmouthed ruffians. You should thank me for teaching them a lesson they needed to learn."

That was when, although it was neither a lady-like nor a Christian-like way to behave, Karen Dixon spit right in the woman's face. Her brother in law looked on proudly smiling when she did.

As they walked out Daryl teased her as much as he dared, "I sure am glad ya ain't mad at me Sister."

"You just mind yourself and I won't be."

And he smiled a, "Yes ma'am I will."

They said their goodbyes but Karen didn't go home. She had an idea about something she thought might be going on. Her first stop was the stagecoach office where she made her inquiry regarding fares. She asked if they had information on train fares as well and indeed they did.

She knew how much Merle had paid to satisfy her indebtedness when they married, but she wondered about the others. So from there she made her way to the store and asked her question of Merna and Jim, then she went to Lori's where she inquired about the same information. How much had they been required to pay to satisfy their travel expenses?

She was more and more certain she was onto something and so from Lori's she went to the bank to have a discussion with the town's banker, Milton Mamet. After they spoke not only was Karen certain her suspicions were correct, so was the banker.

She had to rush from there and get home to her children. She hurriedly fixed their lunch and then prepared a roast for the oven. "Virgil if I'm not home by 2:00 you add another piece of the stove wood to the fire box and put this in the oven. I don't want your Daddy coming home to no supper after working hard all day."

She apologized to her children for having to leave them again, "I'm sorry Dears but I think you'll be happy when you find out what your Mama is trying to bring about. You just mind what I told you and I promise tomorrow we'll have our time together."

The Mitchell family rose quite early and Beth helped Amy prepare breakfast and pack Zach's lunch pail. She was happy to be busy working with Amy in the kitchen, she loved to cook and it helped pass the time more quickly until she saw her Sweetheart for lunch.

When her husband had left for work Amy looked to Beth telling her, "I forgot to mention to you that I have to attend a meeting this noon hour but I'll try not to be gone too long. I'm happy you won't be sitting here alone and I'm sure you'll have a nice lunch with your Smithy."

She liked the words, 'her smithy', but she knew her cheeks were pink when she responded, "Please don't worry about me. I'm so grateful for your generous hospitality, you certainly are not expected to keep me entertained."

Amy smiled back, "Well far from entertaining you I thought I might put you to work. I have to bring a dish to share and I hoped you might want to help me prepare it."

"Of course."

"I've already got a start on it. I made my bread dough while you were out last night. We're going to roll out two loaves then fill and bake them. One for me to take and one for our dinner tonight."

"Fill it? With fruit?" Beth asked.

"No, it's something a bit different. Zach's Mama taught me how to make it. It's really quite simple and a nice way to use what is usually a very small amount of leftover meat. It makes it go a long way. We're going to shred the leftover roast from last night, cook some cabbage, carrots and onion, then mix it with the shredded meat. We'll roll out the dough, put the filling in the center and wrap the dough around it. When it's baked and sliced into serving pieces it looks so pretty and it tastes delicious. In fact, you should ask Daryl to join us for dinner this evening. I'm sure he'll find it to his liking, Zach certainly does."

Beth loved the idea of having Daryl there with her for dinner, but she replied, "Oh no that's too much Amy, another mouth to feed."

Amy smiled, "Don't be silly Beth, don't you think Zach might enjoy having another man at his table? He's always outnumbered by women." And then she surprised Beth. She lightly rubbed her tummy and said, "And if this little one is a girl he'll be even more outnumbered."

"Amy! Really? Oh my how exciting, I'm so happy for you and Zach." She hugged her friend adding, "I've always wanted to be a Mother."

"Well the way things are progressing with you and Smithy I think that day may come about."

Beth felt her face catch fire at her friend's remark, but she couldn't help her smile at the thought of having a child with Daryl.

He'd been anxious all morning, wanting the day to pass more quickly until noon arrived and Beth would be there with him. When it was nearly time he cleared a spot on his work bench and made sure the stool was clean for her to sit on. Then he lay down a clean bandana and he set out their lunch.

She walked in his shop and his urge was to go right to her and hold her in his arms, but he held himself back. Instead he simply smiled and took her hand, raising it to his lips and tenderly kissing the back of it. He was sincere when he told her, "I don't know how it's possible, it ain't been long at all since I seen ya, but I missed ya like it had been a year."

Her cheeks went pink but she was as honest and sincere as he, "I feel the same." She quickly changed the subject to, "Can we visit the horses, I miss them too."

"Yeah, a course," he smiled and added, "I think Ginger favors ya, I already knew Blackie did."

She laughed, "Blackie is a proud and beautiful animal and I will always be so grateful to him for how he helped save you from that bear, but Ginger is so sweet and gentle. I loved having the chance to ride her."

"We'll do it again real soon, promise." He took her hand as they walked to the fence. He whistled softly and Blackie came walking to them, and as soon as he did Ginger followed." The horses nuzzled them and they fed each a small handful of grain before Daryl said, "We should go in, I know you're probably hungry."

He seemed a bit nervous as he lead her to the bench then said, "I set this out for us an the stool's clean an all, I made sure."

"You don't have to fuss over me Daryl. I'm really not so delicate."

"Ya seem like ya are." He paused then, and she could tell he was thinking about something he wanted to share with her. He chewed on the side of his thumb a bit and then his words came, "A couple years ago, I ain't sure why, but I went way up the mountain. So high I didn't even take Blackie. I guess I just ta see how far I could make it an see what might be up there. If ya go far enough eventually ya reach the timber line where the trees don't even grow. And the air, it's so thin ya feel like ya can't breathe in enough ta stay alive. I felt sick in my stomach from no air, I was weak an my lungs ached an my head was poundin'. I knew I had ta get back down. But what I saw there was worth the trip. Even though there ain't trees there's sumthin' real special. There's all these tiny green plants everywhere with wildflowers growin' out of em in all kinds of colors. Ya ain't ever seen such a sight. If ya think about it, it don't seem ta make sense those pretty flowers could live there. It tells ya even though they look delicate they gotta be tough, strong, otherwise how could they survive when big ol trees can't? The thought of those flowers puts me in mind of you Beth Greene. I got a feelin' about ya that even as small and delicate lookin' as ya are you're every bit as strong and tough as an Alpine Aster. I don't think even you know how strong ya are. But I see it in ya."

She had not expected such a poetic recitation from this man who had her heart. She wondered if he even realized the romance that lay in his words. He didn't give the appearance of a fellow who would be impressed by the delicate look of a mountain flower, a flower which held the strength required to survive in such a harsh environment. And for him to have compared her to such a thing, to speak of her strength, it made her feel such emotion and she touched his hand and told him, "That is the most beautiful thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you, Daryl."

Now it was his neck that flushed and he looked down and then back up to her eyes. He shrugged his shoulders, took her hand and gave it a soft squeeze telling her, "It's true."

Neither one knew quite what to say next and so they said nothing at all, but it was an easy kind of silence. They enjoyed the lunch he'd brought of smoked meat, canned pears and a dark brown bread. She finally spoke when she smiled at him and said, "Thank you for lunch Daryl, everything is so tasty. I'm especially enjoying this bread."

He smiled that shy little smile that always made him seem far younger, "Yeah I do too, it's got a lotta molasses in it, that's what I like. It's kinda sweet." They ate their lunch and talked of this and that and she assured him everything at Zach and Amy's was just fine and he shouldn't worry.

She was nervous to ask him but she reminded herself the invitation was from Amy and she was merely a messenger of sorts. She thought her nerves were probably caused by her fear he would decline the offer. She took in a breath and said, "Amy wanted me to ask you to come for dinner this evening. They eat at five but she said for you to come earlier if you're done here."

He looked like maybe he'd say 'no' and she didn't want that, she quickly added, "We made something this morning, it's different than anything I've ever eaten and it seems like it might be quite good, I hope you'll come try it."

"I wanna spend the time with ya Beth, ya know I do. It's just I'm wearin' work clothes. I can't go ta someone's house like this."

"Zach works in the mine Daryl, they understand working men wear work clothes. Please?"

There was no way he could tell her no, not when she'd asked him please. "Alright, yeah I will. Only goin' cuz a you though."

"I think you might enjoy their company, and I know I'll be glad to have you there." They both smiled and blushed a little and then she told him, "I'd better go. I want to pick up some things at the store to make cookies for tonight. At least it will be a little bit of a contribution."

He quickly dug in his pocket, "Here, lemme pay for what ya need."

"Daryl."

"Nah, Beth. You're my Sweetheart an it wouldn't do for me ta allow you ta pay. It's my responsibility. Besides, I'ma eat my money's worth a them cookies." Then the look on his face changed and it told her he suddenly remembered something, "I almost forgot ta give ya sumthin'. I ain't been keepin' up with treats for ya, I got extra ta try an make up." He reached in his pocket and handed her the bag filled with candy.

She was a little embarrassed and for some reason feeling a little shy, but she smiled and told him her feelings, "You always let me know you're thinking of me."

They stood and she was surprised when his arms went around her. She would not have expected him to show that kind of affection in his place of business. She didn't mind though, she loved feeling the warmth and the tenderness of his caress. He drew his face back and looking in hers he asked, "I got some things I wanna talk to ya about. Private things. Do ya s'pose it would be rude if after we had dinner I asked ta be excused ta take ya for a walk?"

She couldn't believe how bold she was becoming with him when she immediately replied, "I think I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

By the time the clock struck noon Olivia's dining room table was laden with lovely foods prepared by the ladies of Heavenly. The women always looked forward to their monthly meeting, the sewing together and the sharing of stories and news and even a little complaining about a husband or a child wasn't uncommon. A recipe or a cleaning tip might be shared as well, and of course there was always talk of the weather.

Not this time. This meeting was different. The ladies were fed up and they were of a mind to take action. Olivia called the group to order and announced to those in attendance, "Ladies, please get yourself a plate, we can talk while we enjoy each other's lovely offerings." The ladies did just that, grace was said, and the eating and the discussing were set to begin.

As if it were a board meeting of some sort rather than the ladies sewing circle, Olivia declared, "I'm going to turn the floor over to Karen. She's been doing some very diligent investigating this morning and she has important information to share with us."

A/N Thank you all so much for reading and I'd appreciate you leaving me a comment or review. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick. In the next chap we'll see if the ladies accomplish their mission and Beth and Daryl will share some very special moments. I hope all who celebrate have a wonderful Thanksgiving and yes, I'll be posting on Black Friday :) Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee