A/N Thank you guys so much, I appreciate you all! This chapter several citizens of Heavenly collect money, the sheriff gets devastating news, Beth gets a riding lesson and we prepare for another trial. I hope you enjoy!
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Tyrese, Lozen and their children went directly from the hanging to the sheriff's office, in fact they walked alongside Rick Grimes. As they did so the Indian woman saw her opportunity. She found herself stopping and inquiring of the sheriff, "Is it not a saying of your people that foxes don't belong with chickens?"
Rick smiled at her, "Yep, something like that. It's about leaving a fox in charge of the henhouse."
As was her way the woman spoke plainly as she simply stated, "I thought you were too smart to let the fox sleep in your henhouse."
Rick was still confused, "I'm not sure I get your meaning Lozen"
She shrugged as if they'd only been talking about the weather when again she spoke plainly, "You let a man who has desire for your woman spend time alone with her in your home, while you work for the money to feed him." She was done talking then, she'd said all she felt needed to be said. The sheriff looked to her husband but Tyrese simply raised one eyebrow and shrugged. The sheriff knew it would do no good to question either of them further.
They arrived at his office and Rick hurried to pay them their bounty money, then turned to Abraham telling the deputy, "I've got a quick errand to run, I'll be back in 15 minutes."
"No problem boss."
Folks were already lining up for their bounty money but this wouldn't keep. The sheriff needed to talk to someone he trusted. Someone who would keep the conversation to themselves. There was only one such person he knew. He walked to the blacksmith's shop.
The sheriff asked, "Yeah hey Daryl, I know you're making ready for the governor but I need ta ask ya something, just real quick-like. In private."
Virgil got the message, saying, "I best go double-check those harnesses."
Daryl felt it, something was coming he did not want to hear and surely didn't want to talk about. The blacksmith was chewing nervously on the side of his thumb while Rick told of his brief conversation with Lozen. He looked to the smithy and only asked, "Well?"
Daryl rolled his shoulders and kept his response non-committal, "I always did think Lozen was a real smart woman." Then he thought about Rick being a good friend to him and as much as he hated to involve himself in the business of other's he thought maybe he should say more.
He nodded his head a couple of times and added, "Ya know what I's thinkin' when I seen Shane at the hangin'? The deputy looks like he's gettin' along real good. Don't seem ta be sufferin' a bit. I'm bettin' he might feel better restin' at his own place. Some of the folks in town could check in on him while he finishes healin' up."
Rick got the message loud and clear. He had one more question. The sheriff's voice was low, a mix of both pain and anger when her asked, "How long?"
Daryl shrugged and replied honestly, "Dunno, can't even say for sure it's true."
The sheriff knew he had all the answers he was getting and it was far more than he wanted to know. His head was lowered and his lips pursed then he looked to Daryl and said, "Thanks brother."
Daryl nodded, "Yeah." The sheriff's shoulders were slumped and his head down when he turned to make his way back to the office. The blacksmith didn't like seeing his friend so miserable, but he also believed it was better the sheriff find out now what already seemed so clear to others. Maybe the attraction between Shane and Lori hadn't gone far yet.
His conversation with the sheriff was unsettling and he felt anxious to get home to his own wife, but the blacksmith had three things he needed to see about first.
He and Virgil helped get the governor, his party and their luggage loaded in the carriages and the coach. Virgil was given a five dollar tip that had him grinning from ear to ear. His uncle was paid for the job and given a fifteen dollar tip. They thanked the visitors and when they were gone Daryl reached in his pocket drawing out a five dollar bill. He handed the bill to his nephew and Virgil gave him a confused look. His uncle shrugged and told him, "They shoulda give us both the same, ya worked every bit as hard as me."
They locked the shop up tight and quickly headed to the bank. There they met up with Merle and Karen who'd been waiting patiently for their arrival. All the Dixons present, as well as Beth and Cyrus had been mentioned as recipients of the mining company's $250.00 reward money. They weren't taking a chance on waiting to get their share.
Milton Mamet counted the cash out carefully and when he handed Daryl his and Beth's shares the blacksmith told him, "Thanks, it's gonna come in real handy. I sure hope they thought ta give ya sumthin' too Milton, ya stood up ta them outlaws and took a helluva beatin'."
He smiled at Daryl and nodded, "They were quite generous and I owe you thanks for helping me out that night smithy."
The family was feeling excited and happy to have received the unexpected and very generous financial reward from the mining company. And more was coming to them. From the bank they made their way to the sheriff's office where they were to pick up their share of bounty monies. They arrived to find Rick was gone. Abraham was manning the desk and explained the sheriff had to go home to attend to an important family matter. Daryl was pretty certain he knew what that was.
The line to receive bounties had dwindled to the just the Dixons and Caesar. The bouncer had a signed note to also pick up both Andrea's and Dwight's bounty money. He smiled at the Dixon brothers as he explained, "We couldn't all come. This fresh money in town and a hanging too, it's got the saloon packed with folks anxious to spend their new-found fortunes." He turned to go and then paused and said to Daryl, "Hey, um thanks for including me and Andrea in that invitation. It meant a lot to her and me too."
Daryl nodded, "We'll do that as soon as Zach's healed up." He was too anxious to get in the wagon and get home to chat further. He waved to his family promising, "Beth and me will see ya in about an hour or so."
At last he was home. It had been a long day already and all he wanted to do was to hold her. As his arms circled around her and he pulled her in close, he whispered, "It's all over now Sweetheart. Now we move on, and we got extra money ta help pay for our dream."
While he pried the floorboard up and stashed the money in the metal box she poured him coffee. They sat by the fire and he told her of his day. He talked of the aristocratic Negro man in the long black coat, and the good news and rewards the man named Ezekiel brought to Heavenly. "Sweetheart, we got our reward money and our bounty money too, and a lot of it, just over a thousand dollars."
Happy tears filled her eyes as she told her husband, "It's the proof of what you always tell me Daryl, this dream of ours is meant to be."
But she seemed uneasy and he knew what was on her mind. He did his best to tell her something that she would find pleasing, "It wasn't all just some kind of barbaric thing Beth, Eastman was there. He read a passage from the bible and he prayed for the fella and we just gotta hope that helped him."
She couldn't help but smile, her husband was always so good. She knew he was trying to bring her comfort and she lay her hand on his thigh telling him such, "Thank you my husband. I do feel better knowing he had a final prayer."
They arrived at the home of his brother and the mood was joyous. Merle's family had never known such fortune. There were many things the money could purchase that would help make their lives easier. For the moment though the children were hungry and so, before any talk would begin the family would have dinner together. The blessing Merle gave that late afternoon included the gratitude they all felt for the riches and the blessings that had been provided to them.
It was after dinner and dishes that the adults all sat at the table to talk and Daryl reminded his brother, "Virgil needs ta be here. We agreed he's a man now, even got a birthday comin' this week, and this involves him too."
Virgil nodded his uncle's way in appreciation and joined them at the table. Mary Ellen stayed busy playing with her doll and a storybook on her bed, and Cyrus lay on the floor where he appeared to be drawing on a sheet of paper from school.
Daryl then shared the news of his and Beth's homesteading plans. He spoke of using the river for irrigation and the home they would build, and his idea that when he and his wife moved in their new home Virgil would be given their present home.
All had been listening quietly and without interruption. That changed when he got to the part about Beth putting in a claim on the 640 acre parcel adjacent to his, and them agreeing that Merle could build a home for his family there. That's when the older Dixon's look grew dark and he let his feelings be known. "I know your heart is in a good place but that don't make sense ta me. I got a home right here. I know it ain't big and it dang sure ain't fancy, but me and my family do just fine here where we're at."
"So now ya want me ta take on a project and spend my money so I can build a house on your land, prove it up. Just what does me and my family get outta that? A house we built? We still got no land. No stake in the land we're livin' on. I reckon I just don't see the point."
Daryl's mind was turning that over and he realized maybe him and his wife hadn't thought things through quite right. He nodded to his brother in agreement, "Yeah, I see what you're sayin'. We did mean well, but I guess we weren't lookin' at it from your side."
It was then the eleven-year-old voice of reason spoke up, "It seems to me like everyone could be happy if maybe ya tried this a different way. We all got some money right now and come Monday Mama will get a little more. Daddy, why don't you be the one to put in the claim on that land that Auntie was gonna claim? Then we can build the house and we all have a stake in the claims. When the three years is up you can join it with Uncle Daryl's, like Aunt Beth was gonna do. All ya gotta do then is give the whole thing a name, like Dixon Horse and Cattle Company."
Daryl looked to Beth and she was smiling and nodding her head, while Merle smiled at Karen and she smiled back. That's when Merle asked, "How come my kids are all smarter'n me?"
His brother felt the need to answer, "I guess they take after their Mama."
Merle laughed louder than Beth had ever heard a person laugh and he agreed, "Yeah and I thank the Good Lord every day for that."
They stayed longer than they had planned discussing everything all of it could mean for the Dixon family. They were in agreement that Daryl would take Beth to town with him Monday morning, they'd get a new form at the land office and she would fill it out. Merle would hurry there after his shift at the mine and he and Daryl would submit their claims.
There was more talk of houses and irrigation and where they'd plant the hay and where they'd pasture animals, and just how many head of cattle they hoped to raise and how many horses.
There was a little something else left hanging in the air though, Virgil couldn't believe his Uncle Daryl wanted to let him have his home. The young man felt the right thing was to tell him, "Nah Uncle, you and Auntie need ta keep that for your own children. I plan on savin' all my money and I got time, I can build me a little house in a couple years."
Daryl saw his own independent self in his nephew and he understood. "Alright, I tell ya, we'll hold off decidin' on all that and we'll see how we feel down the line. How's that?"
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The ride home was bitterly cold. He had the blanket wrapped tightly around her and they sat as close as they could get. "It's only a short way, I'll get ya there and get ya warm as fast as I can."
When they got home he hurried around the wagon, helped her down and they were quickly inside. He added wood to the fires and then held her close. "It's gettin' too cold for my wife ta be out in the evenin'." He kissed her hair saying, "I'm just gonna get Blackie in for the night then I'll be back ta warm ya up."
"That sounds good."
She was still standing in front of the big hearth when he returned. He added another log to the fire and his smile was a bit shy when he asked, "Ain't it bath night? A nice warm bath would warm ya, don't ya think?"
He was surprised to see her cheeks take on the bright pink color. She looked so pretty and he liked it just fine. Then she giggled when she answered. "As long as you're in there with me I know it's going to be warm."
They lay in the big copper tub, eyes closed and her nestled between his legs with her back resting against his broad chest. One arm lay on his thigh while her fingers grazed slowly over the skin. He was skimming his fingers along her shoulder and down her arm, and he leaned his face forward close enough to kiss her neck and suck on the lobe of her ear.
She was quite shameless when she warned him, "You keep doing that Mister Dixon and we won't be staying in this tub."
He softly laughed as he replied, "The way I'm feelin' right now we're gonna be finishin' up and gettin' ta bed real quick."
She sat up straight and turned her head to face him, "Oh no Daryl, I just thought of something."
He looked concerned, "What Beth? What's wrong?"
"What about this tub? If we build a new house what about our tub?"
He grasped the back of her hair and leaning in he kissed her hard before promising, "I plan ta move this tub with us wherever we go. I'll get a wooden one or cast iron ta put in here."
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Sunday morning came and they were in no hurry to get out of bed. They lay there quietly holding each other and enjoying the warmth of their love in the warmth of their bed. But they couldn't stay there all morning as they'd like. There were animals to tend to and church services and then something they both looked forward to, her riding lesson.
While she prepared their breakfast he hurried to do the outside chores, and then together they got a moose roast and vegetables in a big cast iron pan. The meal would be slow cooking all day while they were busy with other matters. "Looks like I'ma be havin' moose roast sandwiches at work this week." Then he patted her bottom and teased, "Unless I eat it all today."
She surprised and delighted him when she patted his bottom and teased right back, "Even you would not be able eat all of this in one sitting Daryl Dixon."
They helped each other dress for church and as she was tying his tie he leaned in and kissed her cheek and smiling he said, "Make sure it looks just right now. I'ma be sittin' with the prettiest woman in Montana and I gotta look nice."
"My husband, you should know you always look nice to me."
The air was frosty and besides the blanket on her lap, he'd wrapped a small blanket across her slim shoulders. He'd never seen the need for such a thing as an enclosed carriage, but now that he had a wife it was sounding like a better and better idea to him. Especially if they were to someday have a baby.
They got to the church and he hurried to help her down and get them both inside. Folks were gathered in the vestibule rather than outside on this chilly morning. She tried to tell him as they rushed in, "Daryl, I'm not going to freeze, I promise."
"I can't help but worry ya will."
She saw Carl with Merna, Jim and the baby, but did not see either Lori or Rick. She told her husband, "I want to say good morning to Lori but I don't see her. I'll just go ask Carl where his Mother is."
But her husband took her arm, "No. Don't. We'll talk about it later." His tone was emphatic and although her eyes questioned him, she did not speak her question aloud. She would wait until he explained.
He hadn't wanted to tell her about his conversation with Rick. The subject matter was unpleasant and he didn't know for certain what, if anything, may have gone on between the deputy and the sheriff's wife. Even though he may have some pretty strong suspicions that was all they were, suspicions.
Something else had kept him silent on the subject as well. They'd spent the previous evening talking of their own good fortune. The rewards, bounties and the staking of their claims. And there was one more reason he'd held back, he knew his bride would be hurt by even just the speculation. Lori was a good friend of hers and true or not, the news would be shocking to Beth.
His brother's family had just arrived and he held his wife's elbow as they all entered the church together. Beth was about to step up front to play the piano and sing when Eastman stopped her, "Just a moment please Beth, the deputy needs to address our group."
It was Abraham Ford still acting in the capacity of Deputy who stepped up to the pulpit. His voice was loud and commanding as he informed the congregation that the sheriff would be absent from his office for the next two days or so, "I'll be acting as the law until his return."
He fidgeted a moment as he glanced at a piece of paper and then continued, "Our sheriff's been busy with all this claimer business but now another piece of business is before us. Tomorrow is the trial of Shelly Neudermeyer and several of you need to be available as witnesses." He looked up and over toward the banker, "Milton we'll need you there, young Virgil we'll need you as well. Also the following ladies from the sewing circle, Karen, Olivia, Beth and let's see here, huh, the sheriff's wife, Lori. Well we'll see about that. Anyway Milton, Virgil, ladies, I think this one will be short and sweet. It starts promptly at eight in the morning so please be at the office by about ten til."
Unlike with the claimer, Beth did not feel nerves and apprehension about giving her testimony in this trial. The woman who would be tried had hurt her and so many other young women who had now become Beth's friends. Shelly Neudermeryer had committed many wrongs, it was time she atoned for those wrongs.
Daryl spoke to Abraham and requested that Beth and Virgil be the first to testify so he could be there with them. Abraham promised to speak to the judge and assured him they would get Beth and Virgil on and off the stand as quickly as they could. "There's just a couple of others that have to go first."
After services the congregation once again stood in the vestibule and chatted with family and friends. Daryl and Beth joined in until, after a few minutes he leaned in and whispered in her ear. "Ya got a ridin' lesson comin', ya ready?"
Her smile told of the mix of nerves and excitement she was feeling. "Yes Daryl, I'm ready for you to teach me."
It was still very cold out but the sun was bright and the manner in which it glistened off the snow gave the illusion of warmth. Still her husband bundled her up with the blankets before they made their way home. When they arrived he helped her down and smiled, "I'll be in soon. Just gonna get the harness off Blackie and the saddle on. Then we'll saddle up Ginger together. Will that be alright?"
"Yes of course. I want to learn it all Daryl and I know I couldn't have a better teacher." He thought he might be blushing. The way she talked like that, always building him up that way, he wasn't used to it. He hadn't had that in his life. Although it was embarrassing it also made him happy to know his wife had these high opinions of him.
While he was in the barn he checked on the cow who seemed to be weathering the cold just fine, and since the sun was out big and bright he decided to let her and the horses get some fresh air. He turned them all loose to roam the property.
When all was well he headed back to their home and as he opened the front door he was taken completely by surprise. There stood his pretty wife dressed in the clothes he'd bought her. He didn't think about it, the words just rolled right off his tongue, "Shit if you ain't the prettiest thing I ever seen wearin' boy's clothes. Damn." Then he caught himself, "I meant shoot and darn."
"Yes husband, I know what you meant." She managed to hold in her laugh when she added, "It's not as if I plan to wash your mouth out with soap. Although it probably wouldn't be such a bad idea."
He was laughing then as his strong arms encircled her small frame, "Yeah? Ya gonna put me in my place? Teach me a lesson? We might could have a little fun with that idea."
Her cheeks were the color of cherries when she whispered under her breath, "Never did I think I was marrying a man so shameless."
"Is that so? Cuz ya know my sweet wife, you've caught me by surprise with your bold behavior more'n one time." She turned an even deeper shade of red and he leaned in and gently sucked the delicate skin of her neck, "I been enjoyin' that side of ya quite a bit."
"Daryl, please. Now is not the time for such talk, and I feel so awkward and unattractive dressed in this manner."
He was serious when he said to her, "Well I told ya before, ya always look real pretty ta me. Prettiest woman I ever seen in my life and that's the truth." He smiled more broadly, slapped her lightly on the bottom and said, "C'mon now Missus Dixon, let's turn ya into a cowgirl."
He took a knit scarf and covered her ears with it and then wrapped it around her neck, remarking, "I need ta get ya a proper wool hat with ear flaps. If your ears or your feet are cold ya never get ta feelin' warm."
"I put on two pair of socks just like you do."
"That's good. Here now, lemme help ya in the coat." He held it while she slipped her arms in the sleeves and then he buttoned it up. The last thing he did was put the wool gloves on her small hands. "You should stay warm for a quite a while. We'll only ride about an hour or so. I don't want ya gettin' sore. Alright?"
"Yes. Now that the time is here I'm even more excited than I was."
He was right about the clothing. Except for the air stinging her cheeks a little she felt so much better, warmer. She understood clearly then, maybe to survive in this territory a person couldn't just dress for style and grace. There were times one had to be practical in their attire. She accepted it but she was also certain she would never enjoy it.
As the couple walked in the barn Ginger and Blackie neighed in greeting and both seemed to sense something. Daryl went to Blackie and Beth to Ginger and they petted and showed affection to the big animals. The horses returned that affection.
"Alright, ya ready ta see how ta saddle up a horse."
"I am."
"I'm just gonna show ya step by step this time, next time you'll get your hand in it. Alright?"
"Yes alright."
When Ginger was saddled they lead her and Blackie from the barn. He knew no one could mount a side saddle without assistance so just the method of getting on the horse would be something new to her. Her husband asked, "Ya think ya can reach your leg up there high enough ta get your foot in the stirrup?"
"I'd like to try."
He showed her how to hold the reigns while hanging onto the saddle horn for balance. She reached her leg up as high as she could, barely managing to slip it in the stirrup. He was standing right with her, ready to catch her or help her or whatever she may need him for, but first he'd let her try it on her own. She sort of bounced then jumped and he couldn't help reaching out to steady her as she swung one leg across the saddle. "Damn Beth, I mean darn Beth, it's like you're born to it, like ya been gettin' up in the saddle your whole life."
The look on her face was so happy and proud and he was sure his was the same as he mounted Blackie and said, "Alright cowgirl, let's start with just a little walkin'."
As the horses began walking she commented, "It seems so strange to sit astride this way. Yet you were right when you said I'd feel more balance and the horse would be easier to control. It does seem safer even if, like the clothes I'm wearing, it's just not very ladylike."
"Seems ta me whether sumthin' is ladylike or not depends on whose doin' it Beth. Ain't no one more ladylike than my wife."
It was as they rode she ventured to ask, "Daryl, what happened with Rick and Lori?"
He hadn't wanted to tell her, but then she had as much right to know as he did. He told her what Lozen had said to the sheriff, and then he told her about Rick paying a call on him. "I ain't the kind ta get myself involved in such things Beth, but Rick's like a brother ta me and he asked. I had ta tell him." And he told her of their conversation.
She felt the tears in her eyes but she managed to keep them from falling. She couldn't believe Lori would lay with another man, but she was not so naïve as to be unaware that sort of thing did happen.
Neither wanted to think of these things or discuss them further, and so they concentrated on the ride they were taking and enjoying their time together.
She'd never taken in the entire 11 acres of the land she now shared with her husband, and so that was exactly what they did. They rode slowly along the perimeter and then he took her onto part of the land they would claim the very next day.
They rode to the edge of the river and she spoke of its beauty. Her husband then told her, "She's beautiful now, almost kinda peaceful, but come spring and the runoff she'll be ragin' and muddy and in a generally angry mood. She'll calm down again by early summer."
"That sounds like something I might like to see."
"You'll see it Sweetheart and it will be beautiful. As long as we remember how dangerous it is and respect the power of it, we ain't gotta worry. When we build our house we won't build too close. If we had a heavy snow year the spring runoff could flood us out."
They'd ended up riding for far longer than planned but it had been such a good day. The sun stayed out and the wind stayed calm and they'd enjoyed the time they spent together, just the two of them taking in the beauty of the land.
He removed the saddles and set them on the saddle stands and they groomed the big animals. Before he brought the other's in from the corral he treated Blackie and Ginger each to a handful of grain. He got all the animals in and they were all given hay and then he remarked, "I think this cow needs milkin' again."
Beth smiled, "You got us a good cow Daryl, she produces so much milk."
"She does and I been enjoyin' that fact in my meals. Ya go on in and I'll take care of her."
"No, you milk her every time. It's about time I did."
"Alright." He wasn't going anywhere, it was a sight he wanted to see. He learned she hadn't been bluffing him. She knew exactly how to keep the cow calm and get the milk. He asked it in a teasing voice, "Ya got a name yet?"
"Oh yes, she has a name. Did I forget to tell you? Her name is Sally."
"Sally. I'll try'n remember."
He carried in the bucket and they washed up together, then he lifted the heavy cast iron pan from the cookstove. "That smells good and I'm hungry enough ta eat it all Beth."
"I'm sure you can. If you could be patient for just a few more minutes, I've got biscuit dough made and I could make gravy from the drippings while the biscuits are baking."
He was grinning from ear to ear, "Really?" Then his brow furrowed and he told her, "Nah, that's too much work."
"It's not work at all and I certainly don't mind doing it. Daryl, I feel like you do all the real work, not just here but at the shop, it's the very least I can do."
He clasped his hands around her upper arms and he looked hard in her eyes when he said, "Nah, it ain't that way at all. Ya do so much. Ya got any idea what my life was before ya married me? I still worked all day at the shop, I still did the chores here. I come home at night to a house that was dark and cold. There was no dinner waitin', no pretty wife waitin' with a kind word and lovin' arms. I cooked my own food and I sat at the table and I ate it alone. No one ta share with or talk with. It ain't just that ya make my life easier Beth, ya make it so much better, happier. I never been so anxious ta get home at night as I am now that I know I got ya waitin' here for me."
Her husband was a man who always spoke so simply and what he said made her tear up. The beauty and the love in his words went to her heart, and she told him what was in that heart of hers, "Daryl…I…I don't know what to say, but you must know that everything I do for you brings me joy. Thank you and I love you so much."
He drew her to him and they shared a tender and loving kiss and then she teased, "Now if you want those biscuits and gravy you better get out of my way."
"Yes ma'am."
Over dinner they discussed their plans for the next day. Her husband told her, "I don't think the trial will be long. The judge told me he wants ta be outta town no later that noon. I'ma be right there in the court with you and Virgil. When you're done I'll take ya ta the land office then home here. If ya think you can get the paper filled out, Virg will come back for ya in time ta meet Merle and me back at the land office this afternoon."
By the time they were in bed she was feeling the effects of the ride. Her bottom was sore, her legs felt sore and she knew then why he'd told her they'd take it easy at first. He could see she was feeling it and he offered, "Here, let me rub them muscles for ya, loosen em up."
His hand was inside her gown and he was rubbing her bottom and then the insides of her thighs and it wasn't long before they both forgot the reason he'd started that in the first place. She rolled over in his arms and he took the nightie off of her, and now he began to kiss her everywhere she'd told him she was sore.
She felt the shyness come over her, even a bit of embarrassment, but she didn't try to stop him. What he was doing felt too good to ask him to stop. She heard herself moaning and then she heard herself actually speak the words to him, "Oh Daryl, yes, what you're doing feels so good. I…I…don't stop. Please."
He'd had no plan to stop, he drew his mouth from her warm, wet and most personal place only long enough to tell her, "I ain't stoppin' til ya tell me I gotta."
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A/N Thanks so much for reading along. Please leave a comment or review. In next week's chapter we'll have a trial, stake a claim, meet the new marm and more. I hope to see you back here then for more of Heavenly. As always, the chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs, please check that out. I love ya large and appreciate you greatly! xo gneebee