A/N You guys are the best. I loved reading your comments on the wedding and wedding night. Thank you so much! I promised we would begin right where we left off and we will, but there's trouble coming to Heavenly.
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Her hand was on his cheek and she was all smiles when she said, "I had my heart set on you the first time I saw you Daryl Dixon."
With her words his lips were on hers and the way he was kissing her had her suspecting there may be more to come. When he drew back to look in her eyes, she asked, "Again?"
He had a hopeful look and a broad smile, "I's hopin' so."
"Oh. I think I'd better use the bathroom first. It seems…well, I think we made a mess."
"Yeah, I feel it too." He slipped out of bed and as he pulled the cover back and extended his hand to her, he saw it. "Shit, I mean damn, I mean Beth are ya okay?"
Her whole body seemed to be blushing when she told him, "Yes, it just…it happens when, well, um at first…Amy told me to expect the blood."
He looked down at himself and saw her blood on him, "I, shit I'm sorry an I'm sorry I keep sayin' shit."
She was embarrassed but couldn't help giggling, "Please don't be sorry Daryl. It does look scary but I'm told it's normal."
He chewed the side of his thumb and asked, "You're sure?"
"I'm sure."
"Okay well, I'll change the sheet while you're in there. I'll use it when you're done." A thought he'd had before came back to him, he shrugged and asked, "Unless ya wanted ta go together, maybe we could have a bath."
Her eyebrows went up and her eyes got big when she asked, "You mean a bath together?"
He shrugged again, not quite able to look in her eyes, "Well um, we done that other, a bath don't seem near as…well…ya wanna?"
"Oh. Um…" Her face felt like it was aflame and she wanted to say yes but wondered if she should say no, and finally she got the words out, "Well alright, but I'd…I don't think I should even get in the tub until I've washed a little."
"Yeah, I'll give ya some time." He couldn't quite believe she'd agreed and now that she had he worried she'd change her mind. "I'll just add some logs ta the fire ta get that water warmer an get a fresh sheet on the bed." Before she left their room he wrapped the quilt around her shoulders, "Here, it's cold." He kissed her cheek and his look turned shy when he promised, "I'll be in soon."
She kept the blanket around her as she ran water in the sink and washed away the blood, and the part of him that had spilled out of her. Seeing the evidence of what they had done, along with the vivid memory of how she had reacted to his touch, caused conflicting feelings. She was embarrassed by how freely she had welcomed his fondling and how much she enjoyed touching him in return, yet that was also the way she had hoped it could be. Recalling how they had lost all control of themselves and their bodies, and how good it felt, stirred in her a feeling of amazement that such a thing was even possible. Those thoughts also awakened a strong desire to again have that experience with her husband.
He added the logs to the already warm hearth before getting fresh bedding from the cupboard. As he removed the soiled sheet from their bed he felt a fresh pang of guilt. He'd hurt her, she must have been in more pain than she let on. But it occurred to him and he smiled, his sweet bride had lost herself just as he had, and he resolved he would make that happen for her again.
She was still wrapped in the quilt and nervously waiting for him when he softly knocked then opened the bathroom door, joining her there. He stood smiling at the sight of her cloaked in the blanket while he was just as naked as he'd been in their bed. She marveled at how he did not seem at all timid about showing her his body. She was also very keenly aware she was just as bold in her way, she did not divert her eyes. She found she simply could not, nor did she want to. She was drawn to the sight of her husband's masculine physique.
They only looked, neither speaking as he smiled and walked toward the sink, leaned in and kissed her cheek. As he proceeded to wash himself she thought she should look away, but again found she could not. She was curious and quite fascinated by him, by his body and by his actions. Her voice was soft and hesitant when she asked her question, "In some ways you are as shy as me, I find it surprising you would so freely display your body for me to see."
He smiled and shrugged, responding, "Only with you. You're my wife Beth, the words we said an what we done together, it seems we got no reason ta hide ourselves."
Her laugh was faint, shy, but she was smiling, "I think it will take me a bit longer to become so unashamed."
He turned the spigot on the tub, checked the warmth of the water, and as their bath filled he took her in his arms. "I shoulda been more careful about, well I shouldn't a taken a chance on gettin' ya in the family way so soon."
If not for Andrea's plain talk she may not have understood what he meant, but she was aware and she felt some concern, "You don't want children?"
His arms held her more tightly, "I do Beth. I want all the children ya wanna give me. It's just, I thought at first, ya know, I'd be more selfish. I's hopin' for a while it could just be the two of us."
"If it should happen that I am with child I would welcome the little one with so much love, but I can't disagree. It would be good for us to first build a strong foundation for our family." She smiled widely and added, "I think I would like to have three children, like Merle and Karen and like my parents. But if more were to come along I wouldn't mind."
His look was soft as his eyes locked on hers, his hand caressing her face, "Like I said, I'll feel blessed with however many ya wanna give me."
He got in the tub and leaning back he spread his legs. He held his hand out to her and although she felt self-conscious, she was far more enticed than embarrassed by what they were about to do. She let the quilt slide from her shoulders as she took his hand and he reached out to steady her with the other. She slipped into the warm water and nestled herself between his legs.
His arms went around her as he leaned forward nuzzling his face into the soft crook of her neck, his voice a husky whisper when he admitted to her, "I been thinkin' bout havin' this with ya for a while now." His words surprised her but what surprised her more was the way those words caused the warm feeling that spread through her. When he took her breast in his hand and began to gently tease her nipple she realized that was just what she'd hoped he would do.
The room was well-lit, there was no hiding themselves as they lay together naked in the warm water. Although at first she was quite shy, his touch, his whispered words and the sight of the man she had married aroused her, before long she began to feel more at ease. They touched and tasted as they explored each other's bodies and soon they were ready for something more.
The copper tub was a beautiful sight and it was lovely for bathing, but they quickly discovered the hard metal was not at all compatible with what they had planned. They were anxious as they climbed from the tub and she did not shy away from him when he dried her with the towel. He hurried then to dry himself, wrapped the quilt back over her shoulders and carried her to their bed.
Their warm bodies lay side by side as his fingers wove in her damp curls and he smoothed them back from her face. They shared the look that lovers do when each is aware of what will soon happen between them, "I never knew that this…I never knew lovin' a woman would feel so right an be so good. I never knew I could be so happy til I met ya. I love ya Beth Dixon."
"I love you more than you could ever know my Husband."
The way he kissed her so deeply and so tenderly immediately awakened the longing in her again, the need to touch him and to feel his body nearer her own. She snuggled herself as close to him as she could and his strong hand clutched her back as he gently rolled them over. She lay on her back and he smiled down at her before taking her breast fully into his mouth.
While his lips and his tongue tantalized her breast his hand slid slowly down her back to grasp the roundness of her bottom. As he sucked and nibbled he gently squeezed the warm skin of her bottom and her craving for him grew. It was then she amazed herself with her boldness as she dared to slip her hand between their bodies, cautiously touching his manhood. He drew his mouth from her breast, looked at her quizzically and then without speaking he wrapped his hand around hers, guiding and encouraging her to touch and rub him more.
Never in her life could she have imagined herself doing such a thing, and never would she do it for another, but in that moment the realization came to her fully, she would do anything with and for this man.
Before they married he had feared she would simply tolerate his overtures, while silently praying his desirous mood would pass quickly. Never would he have dreamed his shy and innocent bride would behave so daringly in their bed, but rather than be shocked he was pleased that she would want to explore as much as he.
His lips were on her neck kissing and softly licking the pale white skin and he whispered to her, "I'm never gonna tire a this with you." To her surprise his words made the warm wetness between her legs grow and when his hand skimmed slowly down her body and he touched her in that most personal of places, she spread her legs enough to let him know he was welcome there.
He didn't know what it might be called or even if it had a name, but he knew what it caused. He sought it out and quickly found the little bump that seemed to bring her so much pleasure. He rubbed and teased it with his finger as his mouth once again enveloped her breast and she felt as if her whole body was coming to life. He tenderly sucked the softness of her small breast as his fingers continued to excite her and his tongue trailed circles around the stiff nipple. He felt her low body reacting as it seemed to move ever closer to his, seeking more of his touch, and he dared to let another finger slip inside the warm wet place.
Her body began to writhe and she trembled and he knew what was happening to his bride. He encouraged her, his fingers moving a little deeper and pumping into her a little harder while his thumb now rubbed on the little bump. All the while his mouth, his lips and his tongue kept up their ministrations at her breasts. She moaned and whispered his name while her body suddenly shook and then tensed and her cries grew louder as her release came and she shuddered with satisfaction.
He smiled knowing he had been able to bring this pleasure to his bride, the knowledge causing his manhood to stiffen more. His bride though, she buried her face in his chest and he worried she may feel shame, "Ya alright?"
She didn't look in his eyes, she spoke into his chest as she answered him honestly, "I may be a little embarrassed about losing control of myself that way."
He pulled back from her and with a crooked finger he tilted her chin up so they looked in each other's eyes, "Don't ya feel that way Beth. I'm happy ta know I can bring ya that feelin', I want ya ta be happy too. It's right."
"I am happy Daryl, it's just that I still can't quite believe all of this."
He smiled as his hand moved to the back of her head where he gently grabbed a handful of her golden hair and his lips went to hers. There was an unmistakable passion in the kiss as his hand began to roam over her body once more. She could not quite believe that she would again become excited in this way so quickly after what had just happened, and yet it was true. She heeded her husband's words as she allowed herself to simply relish the enjoyment of his hands on her body and the excitement his touching brought to her.
When he was ready to have her he did not have to ask his wife to spread her legs, she was ready for him too. Her being so willing brought a smile to his face and he kissed her as he guided his manhood into her. Her hips rose to meet him as he began to pump into her, slowly at first and then with more power as he seemed to be moving so deeply into her.
His mouth was back on her breast and she had found herself quite partial to the way his tongue teased her nipple, and just when she thought it could not feel any better his fingers slipped between their bodies and once again he found the little bump.
Their bodies were moving together and he reveled in his wife's reaction to his touching, he also sensed her nearing another release and he wanted her to have that. He increased his attention to her breasts and he whispered, "Ya got the prettiest body, I can't seem ta get my fill a touchin' an tastin' of it."
His words and the feel of him had her nearly there as her hands began to grab at his bottom while her hips rose higher as she sought more of him. It was as if her desire had given him permission and he drove himself fully into her. He pumped harder while his fingers continued to tantalize the little bump and his mouth and tongue lingered at her breast. Once more she began to alternate between trembling and tensing. When she shuddered calling his name he called back to her, "Beth, Beth," and he started to let himself go. His body stiffened and then quaked and the sounds that came from him were deep and guttural, almost like those of an animal. Suddenly he pulled himself from her and she felt the warmth of his seed on her belly. For a moment they simply lay quietly as they savored the pleasure their lovemaking had brought.
He'd gone to the bathroom, washed up and gotten a cloth for her. Looking upon her he took in the flush still on her skin and the way her mussed hair spread across the pillow. They smiled at each other a bit bashfully as he cleaned what he'd left on her tummy. He made to slip in the bed with her then, but she told him, "I think I need to use the bathroom a moment."
He helped her from their bed and sat waiting for her there. For some reason it seemed already decided, she would sleep on the inside between him and the wall.
Once in the bathroom she made a vain attempt to run the comb through her hair, she splashed cool water on her face, and then got the jar of cream Andrea had given her from the back of the drawer. She'd enjoyed every moment with her husband but she felt sore and tender and she applied the cream as Andrea had instructed. She washed her hands and anxiously returned to their bed and her husband's waiting arms. They were wrapped up in each other when his stomach loudly growled. They laughed and she said, "I'm hungry too."
He got from the bed and now he slipped on the long johns and helped her with her nightie. They went to their kitchen where he lit the lamp and they heaped their plates full of food they'd brought from their wedding celebration.
They ate their fill and while she scrapped the dishes he took care of the leftover cooked meats and salads. He had a large metal box on the porch close to the door and he placed the foods inside. He'd fashioned the box just for this purpose with a lid that latched securely so that animals could not bother the foods, it was so cold outside the food would not spoil. As winter got colder it would function as a freezer.
They crawled back in their bed where he kissed her and told her he loved her and she told him the same. He held her in his arms and close to his body as they shared the warmth of their bed and each other. The newlyweds were sated in all ways and exhausted from their day. Within a moment or two they slept soundly.
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It was an otherwise peaceful Sunday when evil paid a visit to Heavenly.
Their leader had still not returned and they had begun to believe he had either been arrested or killed. Supplies were low, tempers were short and pent up aggression needed its release. It wasn't quite sunrise when the restless outlaws in the hills outside Heavenly made up their minds to wait no longer.
They mounted their horses and headed to the small mountain community, but without their leader's guidance they had no clear plan. The group of villainous men soon broke apart, each venturing out on their own and all in different directions.
The romance and the wedding, and the fact they hadn't slept alone together in nearly a week, left Merle and Karen anxious to spend intimate time with each other. They knew of an abandoned trapper's shack not far from home, they had visited there many times. They were of a mind to visit there again for an hour or two, right after they had Sunday dinner with their children. So as it was, rather than stay to visit with others after churches services, they quickly slipped away with their family.
His wife had been preoccupied and they'd had so many visitors and so, although Zach did not begrudge his wife her time with friends, he was anxious to be alone with her on this day of rest. His wife was likeminded and they also hurried home immediately after services.
Daryl and Beth did not come to services and no one really wondered why. There were simply smiles and winks as the parishioners murmured such silliness to one another as, "I wonder what's become of our young couple," and "My goodness I was certain they would be the first ones out of bed this morning and the first ones in the pew."
Jim was not at church that Sunday either. The baby had been colicky for three days and Merna was in desperate need of some time from home. Jim stayed with the baby while she attended services.
Rick Grimes did not attend services that morning nor did his son. Carl was suffering with a bellyache and Rick stayed with him while Lori attended church. She might have stayed home with her family, but the sheriff's wife was bursting with news she could not wait to share with the other ladies.
She was disappointed that Beth, Amy and Karen were not on hand, but after services she shared with those there she trusted, Merna and Olivia. "Yesterday after the wedding Carl and I accompanied Rick to his office and you can't imagine what we heard!"
News from the sheriff's office was always of interest and the ladies gave Lori their full attention. "When we got there that awful outlaw Joe wanted to talk to Rick. I'm not sure if you've heard, I didn't speak of it yesterday for fear of upsetting Beth on her wedding day. It was on Friday that this man Joe admitted to Rick, the fellow Smithy shot was indeed one of those claimers. Thank goodness, he also told Rick there are no more of them in these parts. It was just the two of them. Apparently the rest of their gang broke off on their own somewhere outside of Cheyenne."
The ladies nodded and expressed their relief, but Lori had more to tell. "Now comes the part you will have trouble believing. Yesterday, with Carl and I both right there, this man Joe pointed a finger at Mrs. Nuedermeyer and said, 'You. I've been lookin' at you for days thinkin' you're a familiar one, I just couldn't put my mind on where I'd seen ya. You've aged a bit Darlin', but I guess we all have.' Then he laughed and said, 'And I ain't ever seen ya with so many clothes on.'"
The ladies had their hands over their mouths as they gasped in disbelief, and Lori continued her story, "Then he said, 'Sinful Shelly, that was your workin' name, right?' Then he told Rick, 'She's the one ya oughta be lookin' into. She was running a cat house down in Rock Springs. The cat house mighta been legal, but the way she had them sportin' gals rollin' the gents wasn't. Those women were raking in the cash and it was all going straight into good ol' Sinful Shelly's pocketbook.' Then he looked at Shelly again and said, 'And man, ya cleaned that guy Gareth out real good, didn't ya? Drained his bank account down ta sand.' and he looked at Rick and said. 'That's why she had ta skip town, Gareth and the local lawman were both after her.'"
"He had a real evil little grin when he told Rick, 'there was never any Neudermeyer – that was all' – now excuse my language ladies but what he said was – 'that was all bullshit. A cover.' Shelly won't admit to anything, but Rick's got a wire out to the Territorial Governor's office to see what he can find out about her and also these claimer men. Ladies, Shelly Neudermyer, or whatever her name is, appears to be a bigger fraud than we could have guessed!"
Services had been over for nearly an hour when Merna and Lori finally started their walk home. Merna said her goodbyes in front of Lori and Rick's home and continued to the general store. The store was closed on Sunday and typically she would have walked around the back and entered the residence there. But she saw it right away and she sensed there was trouble, the entry door appeared to have been broken open.
She froze for a moment, wondering if it was best to hurry in or run back to Rick and Lori's. She couldn't go, she had to see her husband and her baby.
She ran in the door and she heard her baby crying from the back as she rushed that way calling out, "Jim! Jim!" There behind the counter lay her husband, bloody and beaten. She knelt beside him and touched her hand to his throat as now she spoke softly, "Jim, Jim." She could feel the pulse of his heartbeats on his neck but he did not appear to be conscious. She hurried to the back, took her baby from the cradle and ran to the Doc's house.
Dr. Carlson was having a Sunday nap in his chair when he was awakened by the banging on his door. He opened it to find a now crying Merna, her baby held in her arms. When she told him what had happened he grabbed his bag and hurried to the store with Merna and her baby right behind him. She saw a young man and called to him to get the sheriff and send him to the general store.
The sheriff arrived as the doc was attending to Jim while Merna hovered near holding her baby close and saying her prayers. Lori was not far behind her husband, knowing her friend would need the comfort of another woman. His wife had an arm wrapped around Merna's waist as she spoke soft words of encouragement, assuring it would all turn out alright as Rick helped the doctor move Jim to the bed.
While the doctor checked and cleansed each of Jim's wounds and tightly wrapped his ribs, the sheriff asked Merna what she knew about the incident. "I don't know anything sheriff. Jim stayed with the baby so I could go to church. After services I visited with Lori and Olivia for quite some time. I arrived home not long after Lori. I could see the store had been broken into and I hurried in. I found Jim, grabbed our baby from his bed and rushed to Doc Carlson's place."
Merna and the sheriff checked the inventory discovering the gun Jim kept under the counter and ammunition were missing, as well as all the cash from the drawer and the now broken cookie jar in the kitchen.
By then Jim had come to and although weak and barely able to speak, his mind seemed alert. The sheriff asked him if he had any idea who might have robbed and attacked him, and Jim replied, "All I remember is him sayin' 'I'm claimin' everythin' here.'"
The sheriff knew then who he was dealing with and he also knew Carl was home alone. He rushed to check on his son.
Tyrese was out at Monroe's ranch taking advantage of a sunny day to repair some shingles on the main house. Lozen was busy teaching her daughter an ongoing lesson, the art of beadwork. When their father got home he would take the boy out rabbit hunting and so, as her daughter practiced the beadwork, the woman showed her son the prayer and dance their people practiced before the hunt.
They were deep in their thoughts and their practicing when suddenly a white man burst into their lodge. He was filthy and he smelled putrid and when he laughed he showed yellowed teeth. He was waving his gun and he snarled at Lozen, "I'm claimin' the boy. I got me a preference for little boys, but don't ya feel bad, I'll get ta you an that little gal too."
Kuruk had not moved, he only looked to his mother. The very slight nod of her head and the look she returned told him to be calm, his Mother had a plan. Lozen acted very afraid as she feigned crying and she begged the man not to hurt her children as she clutched Sonsee-array close to her breast. She saw her act had worked and the man enjoyed seeing her afraid. He had no fear of her.
The repellant man got to his knees and he grabbed Kuruk's ankles, pulling the boy to him. He was so possessed by what he was about to do he never saw it coming. Lozen slowly and quietly reached for her skinning knife, and just as silently she moved behind where the man knelt. Kuruk again acted on her nod and quickly rolled to one side, while his mother grabbed the claimer's hair and took his scalp. It was just then Tyrese returned, saw the scalp in his wife's hand, a knife in the other, and a screaming man with a bloody face writhing on the floor. He directed his family, "Outta the way," and he shot the claimer where he lay.
His wife quietly told him what had happened. He and Lozen had been to war, they knew the evil that men were capable of, but their children were young innocents and he spoke to them as such. Then he added, "We are peaceful people an we try ta lead a peaceful life, but now ya seen it with your own eyes an ya understand, we will not hesitate ta protect our family."
He nodded to Lozen, "We're gonna hafta bring the dirty bastard an his hair ta the sheriff."
Rick stopped and checked on his son, and aside from the boy's stomachache and a slight fever all was well. He left them there, but not completely unprotected. Long ago he'd taught Lori how to use a pistol and he insisted she keep one tucked in her garter. "Lock the door behind me and don't open it to anyone. I'll be home as soon as I can."
He arrived to a commotion at the sheriff's office. Shelly Neudermeyer was screaming her head off and the deputy lay in a heap on the floor, still breathing but with a bullet in his side. The sheriff was certain a claimer was responsible because although the woman was still locked in her cell, the man named Joe was gone.
He stepped out in front to see who might be about and saw Milton Mamet walking down the street. He called to him telling him to get the doc and make it snappy, "He's down at the general store patching up Jim."
The Dixon children were under the strict orders of their parents. Virgil knew his responsibilities and he took those very seriously.
The children could play outside but they had to stay near the house, there was to be no venturing off. Although the temperatures were cold the wind was not blowing and the sun shone brightly, making the air feel much warmer. The children took advantage of the calm weather and the lack of snow on the ground in their yard.
Mary Ellen was playing jacks while Virgil and Cyrus played horseshoes. Virgil felt a cramp in his stomach and told his little brother, "I gotta get to the privy, don't ya go nowhere while I'm gone."
He was just finishing up when he heard the screams of his little sister, Cyrus yelling and there was the rough loud voice of a man. A voice he did not recognize. He knew something was terribly wrong and he knew he needed to get to the house. He needed his Daddy's shotgun from under the bed.
The shrieks of the little girl made her brother want to run to her, he needed to protect her from whoever was hurting her. But he knew he had to be sneaky and he needed a weapon. He was tough but not tough enough to win a fight with a grown man. He also didn't want to be seen, not yet. He moved slowly, quietly as he slipped from the privy.
He caught a glimpse of the man and he shuddered to see the stranger had his arm around Mary Ellen's waist, holding her to his side and off the ground. She was kicking her legs and looking at Cyrus as she screamed. But she knew what to do. She didn't ask for Virgil, she didn't call his name, she didn't let on there was anyone else around. She and Cyrus were making enough noise they knew their brother would know there was danger.
He quietly opened the door and hurried to his parent's bed. He grabbed the shotgun and checked to make sure it was loaded, then just as quietly he slipped back outside.
The man was playing with his sister's hair and kissing her cheek and Virgil wanted to kill him with his bare hands, but he was patient. He waited until he got the man in his sites and then called out, "Cyrus, ya get on Buck and ya ride for our Uncle, NOW!"
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A/N Indeed evil has arrived in Heavenly. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you'll leave a comment / review. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs, gneebee, bethylmethbrick and A Place Called Heavenly. I wish you a Very Happy New Year and I hope to see you all back here next week. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee