A/N I'm a day early! Hub and I have to hit the road VERY early Friday morning so I thought I'd better do this now.
No one felt one tiny bit sorry for Mrs. Neudermeyer getting seven years, and then a bonus year for getting out of line with the judge. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Many of you are curious as to what will happen / what was discussed between the sheriff and Lori. We learn some things as the story moves along.
For now we take care of some business, check out an auction, go to a birthday dinner and share some interesting and loving time with our couple. Oh yes, and there's a letter.
Thank you all again and I hope you enjoy!
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It was early, not even quite dawn as they rode to town in the wagon. The air was cold and just as he always did he worried about her. He had the blanket on her lap and another around her shoulders and they sat as close to each other as they could.
He helped her from the wagon and walked her in the classroom to find the new marm and her daughter already there. He tipped his hat and said hello to Carol and Sophia, checked the fires in the stoves and then he was off. He was disappointed he couldn't kiss his wife before he left, instead he settled for taking her hand and rubbing his thumb softly along the back of it as he said his goodbye.
From the schoolhouse he made his way directly to the sheriff's office. With all that had occurred in the past few days he wasn't even certain there would still be an auction that morning. He didn't know if his friend would be at work. When he walked in to find the sheriff at his desk he felt both happy to see him and a little nervous. The sheriff's face looked tired and strained and Daryl didn't know what, if anything, was the right thing to say so he simply said, "Hey Rick, mornin'."
"Yeah, hey Smithy. To what do I owe this early mornin' call?"
"I's just wonderin' if you're still gonna have that auction today?"
He was glad to see at least a slight grin on the sheriff's face when he answered, "Yeah but it won't be everything in the house like I first thought. Now that the new marm and her girl will be livin' there it's only gonna be the items her, or I suppose any marms in the future, wouldn't necessarily need for furnishings. Neudermeyer had a lot of linens and bric a brac, and for some reason several sets of those fine China dishes and a whole lot of fancy silverware and kitchen things. I got no idea who in Heavenly would want that stuff or have any use for it."
Rick knew what his friend was waiting to hear and he didn't make him suffer any longer. "The piano is still gonna be sold. Carol said she doesn't play and neither does her daughter. Olivia's giving me a hand with it all and we're still gettin' organized. I'll see ya over there about ten."
The news was good, Daryl had been praying he could get her that piano. But he also found himself feeling uncomfortable standing there with his friend. It was mostly that he just wasn't sure what the hell he was supposed to do. Should he simply act like nothing had ever happened? Should he express some sort of condolence? The blacksmith wanted to be a good friend. He wanted to let Rick know he was sorry for what happened and that he hoped everything would turn out alright.
The fact of the matter was he just wasn't the kind of man who could easily say those sorts of things. He couldn't recall when he ever had. He also feared he'd overstep his bounds or embarrass his friend. He thought too, it just didn't seem right to talk about the man's business in such a public place.
Yet Daryl had a way, maybe it was something he wasn't even aware of. It was just the nature of the man that sometimes everything he needed to say could be expressed in a look. There was often no need for words for him to make his feelings known. It was the way his eyes could show what was in his heart and on his mind. He pursed his lips and looked at the sheriff, nodding his head as he reached out to shake his friend's hand, "Good ta see ya here today Rick."
The sheriff knew him, he knew what the his friend was thinking and feeling. He simply pursed his own lips and nodded back, "Thank you Daryl. I'm happy to be back."
Rick wanted to tell him so many things but he was a lot like his friend, it wasn't really his way. So he said what he could. Just as the blacksmith turned to go the sheriff spoke up, "Oh yeah, and Daryl, just so ya know. Deputy Walsh will be leaving Heavenly on the afternoon coach. I've found him a new position over in Butte. I also had a talk with Abraham. He seems to think he can handle both the pig farming and being deputy. So that's how it's gonna be from now on."
Daryl was working that bottom lip when he answered, "Sounds real good Rick. Abraham is more'n capable."
Both men knew that was likely all they would ever discuss about the matter. It was enough.
Virgil was at the shop and had a good fire going in the hearth when the blacksmith arrived. He smiled at his nephew when he said, "It don't quite seem fair ya gotta come in and get the fire goin' on your birthday, does it?" He walked over, gave the boy a one arm hug and told him, "Happy Birthday Virgil Dixon. You're a good man and I'm proud ta call ya family."
"Thanks Uncle Daryl. It's gonna be a good one, Mama's makin' our favorite cake today, angel food. She said she's even gonna whip up some of that cream you gave her with a little sugar, oh, and she has one jar of canned raspberries she saved just for my birthday. I can't wait."
"Well now that ya told me I can't wait either." He clapped his nephew on the back and lined out for him what they'd be working on that day. He had the four sleds to make for Reg and that was his priority, but it was the boy's birthday and there was something else they'd make time for. "One more job is, I think it's time ya learned ta make a knife, and the first one ya make is yours ta keep."
Virgil's smile was ear to ear, "Yessir I'm ready. Thank you, Uncle Daryl. I'ma work real hard on those sleds, you'll see."
The blacksmith smiled, "Yeah I already know ya will."
He told Virgil he'd be gone to an auction for just a little while but he didn't tell him what he hoped to buy there, "If it works out I'll tell ya all about it."
When he arrived there was no big crowd of folks anxious to buy Mrs. Neudermeyer's things. Winter was nearly upon them and even with the money some had received a person had to watch their dollars. Mostly folks were only interested in household necessities. The majority of the people in Heavenly lived in small homes like Merle and Karen, they had no room for fancy extras.
That's how it came to be that on that day Daryl Dixon was able to purchase a very fine upright piano for $25.00. He was sure he was right to think that his wife and their future children would make that money back a hundredfold. It would come in the way they'd enjoy playing the instrument and he'd enjoy listening to them. He would never tell Beth he was pretty sure that piano once sat in a brothel somewhere in Colorado.
The piano was all he'd intended to buy but something else came up he felt the need to bid on. It was brand new, still in the box or he wouldn't have even considered it. He'd never get her something so personal that had been used by another. Especially not the likes of Shelly Neudermeyer. But it was plain to see it had never been touched, the pieces never even taken from the box.
No doubt some long ago suitor had presented it to Shelly Neudermeyer and she'd simply packed it away, never giving it a second thought. It was too pretty for the likes of her anyway, but it was just right for Beth. Christmas wasn't all that far off and that's when he planned to give it to her.
As he was thinking all of that he realized, he'd never bought a gift for a woman. He'd made things for Karen over the years, kitchen knives and pots, even a small wooden chest for her sewing things, thread, thimbles and the like. But Beth was the only woman he'd ever thought to purchase a gift for. Then he thought maybe he ought to make her something too, and he had a little something in mind.
He asked Olivia if she'd be good enough to get a message to the new marm for him. "I want the piano ta be a surprise for Beth. I'd like ta bring it to her when she's at home and not expectin' anythin'." He chewed his bottom lip and went on, "She's workin' this week so I's thinkin' maybe wait til next Wednesday. If the marm don't mind me leavin' it I can arrange ta get some help and get it outta here first thing that mornin. I'll only be in the house long enough ta pick it up."
"I'm sure that will be just fine Daryl, it's not taking up any room that she's going to need. I can arrange to be here when you come for it next week, that should ease her mind. I can't imagine she'll object."
"Thanks Olivia but if she don't wanna do it that way tell her I'll get it sooner."
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That evening at dinner the mood was spirited. The family was together, the claims were made and Virgil had a birthday. The Dixons were enjoying themselves. It wasn't their way to give birthday gifts. A favorite dinner and a special cake were how they celebrated. This year was a little different though. Virgil was 12 now, he was working a man's job and making everyone even more proud of him than they had been.
Mary Ellen presented her brother with a drawing of her and him and he smiled, "Thanks for giving me them big muscles Sister. I look a lot like Daddy." Cyrus gave his brother his favorite marble. It was clear blue glass with bits of agate and flecks of yellow and red, and Virgil told him, "This is your best one Cyrus, ya can't be givin' it away. How about if we share it?"
His Mama and Daddy gave him a new winter hat, not a boy's cap such as he had, but a hat in the style his Daddy and Uncle wore.
His Aunt Beth had some rock candy she'd made him and Daryl seemed to forget there were others listening when he teased, "Ya didn't tell me you was makin' your own candy too. No wonder you're so sweet."
Her cheeks were flushed but she smiled back patting his arm and noting, "All you had to do was look on the kitchen shelf. It's been sitting there in a jar making itself for a week."
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Finally the weekend came and Saturday morning over breakfast he told his wife. "Gonna have this afternoon ta do what we want. It's cold out but if the wind stays down maybe we'll do some ridin', I mean if ya like."
"Oh yes I would like that very much," She smiled back.
She hadn't started feeling poorly yet.
He was happy about how the work was going. He and Virgil had one of Reg's sleds done and a second one all rebuilt, they just needed to make the skis for it. "We're gettin' faster at this Virg. That's how it goes. Ya learned that with the horsehoein', didn't ya? The more ya do sumthin' the easier and faster the work goes. I bet ya by next winter we'll be buildin' a lotta these for folks, and not just here in Heavenly. We're gonna have people comin' from other places and wantin' em too, that's what I think."
They had just three quick interruptions that morning. Carol came by early with her daughter. She was pleasant as she smiled and told him, "Olivia gave me your message. Of course I don't mind if you pick the piano up on Wednesday. What a nice gift it will make for Beth, she plays beautifully."
"Thanks, I appreciate it a lot. I'm hopin' ta surprise her." The blacksmith found himself a bit distracted as he spoke with the new marm. He just couldn't help glancing over at his nephew and the schoolmarm's daughter. Although the young ones had never spoken it seemed their eyes were locked on each other. It was real sweet and all, but Daryl hoped Virgil meant what he said. He was mighty young to be calling on girls.
He thought maybe Carol noticed too because she didn't stay long. She hurried the girl out of there saying, "Come on Sophia. We have errands to run and a house to clean." And again Daryl watched as Virgil's eyes stayed focused on the young girl walking away from him.
This time he didn't comment except to say, "We almost got this ski done, let's keep our minds on that if we can." He couldn't really say too much more, his own mind always seemed to be on Beth.
It was just a half hour or so before closing when Jim came walking over. The store owner was getting along much better. He still had a limp and his right arm bothered him but Doc Carlson said he'd be his old self in no time.
Jim smiled and said, "Hello" to Virgil and he and Daryl chatted for a moment before the man chuckled and said, "Shoot, I almost forgot why I came over here, I mean besides to say hello and shoot the breeze a little." He reached deep in the pocket of his coat and said, "A letter came for Beth on this mornin's coach."
He held the envelope out and Daryl took it from his hand. He noticed the fancy scrolling handwriting in the corner and right away he saw who it came from. Shawn Greene it said. "Thanks Jim, we're gettin' ready ta close up here in just few minutes. I'll get it home to her." Then he thought, what if the news wasn't good? "I need ta get some candies. I'll see ya over there real quick."
He made his purchase and was just on his way back to the shop to saddle Blackie when the photographer came running toward him. The man had a large, and judging by the way he was straining, heavy package. Daryl stopped in his tracks and waited.
The man handed him the package with a smile as he said, "All done. I say it's my best work, both the photography and the frame."
The blacksmith did not open the packaging, it was padded and tied with string and he didn't wish to take a chance on marring what was inside. "Thank you, my wife will be pleased."
"You're very welcome. The Monroe's must think quite highly of you to present you with such a nice wedding gift."
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Daryl got the saddle off Blackie, brushed him, gave him a treat and headed for the house. He pulled off his boots, picked them up in his hand and opened the front door, setting the boots just inside on the mat and the package next to them.
She didn't greet him as she usually did and he might have been more worried if he hadn't felt sure she was close by. He spotted the big wash pot and also the teakettle steaming away on the hearth.
On his way to investigate those he passed by their bedroom and looking that way he saw her. She lay on their bed covered in the quilt and looking to be sound asleep. He walked to the hearth and looked in the pot and when he saw the pieces of cloth he was pretty sure he knew what might be going on. When he walked in the bathroom to wash up he knew for sure. There, neatly folded and in a box next to the toilet were the clean rags.
For just a moment he felt a little stab of disappointment. Even though he had been the one to say they should wait to have a baby, a part of him would not have minded having a child right away. It was not meant to be though, he knew that now.
He was a bit troubled. His wife was not one to nap and he worried she might be in pain. He'd lived with his brother and Karen in a small house for a few years. He knew of these monthly visits. When they'd all first moved in together Merle explained to him what it was and why it happens, and that it can be a painful time for a woman. The thought of Beth in pain did not sit well with the blacksmith.
He didn't want to disturb her, he only meant to check on her. He had to see if she needed anything or if there was something he could do for her. He was anxiously chewing the side of his thumb as he walked in the room, keeping his steps as quiet as he could. When he went to her he was careful as he lifted the corner of the quilt to cover her shoulder.
She startled awake, quickly propping herself on one elbow, "Daryl you're home. I'm so sorry. Here, let me get up." She threw back the cover and he saw it there. The belly warmer. She must have been holding it on her tummy.
"Nah, ya stay where ya are. Ain't no reason ya need ta be gettin' up." He reached for the brass warmer and said, "Here, lemme empty this and fill it with hot water from the kettle."
She wondered, she'd thought she might have to explain, "Do you know?"
"Know?"
"Know about this?" She looked down at her stomach and then back at him, "About what it is?"
"Yeah, I know. It's the monthly thing. I lived with a woman, Karen. I don't know everythin' but I probably know enough. Now lemme get that hot water for ya. I hear it helps."
He returned with the brass warmer wrapped in a towel, "Careful now, ya don't wanna burn yourself."
"Thank you husband but I feel guilty laying about while you take care of me."
"Why? Ain't takin' care a you my job?" He smiled while at the same time he was removing his socks, trousers and work shirt. "Lemme just slip in here with ya for a while."
"You don't think I'm a little…um, disgusting right now?"
He was already under the cover when he looked at her confused and asked, "Why? Whaddya mean?"
She was embarrassed but she thought if they were going to be together a lifetime she needed to understand things about him, just as he needed to understand things about her, "Well it's just what I've always heard was that, well that men find it quite repulsive."
He was gently moving the curls back from her face and feeling the softness of the blonde hair. His forehead creased and his brow furrowed and he appeared to be thinking over what she said. Then he simply stated, "Huh. Is that right? Well I thought it's just sumthin' natural. Nature is nature and it does what needs done. It's how life…how people keep goin' on, right? How can that be repulsive?"
He crooked his arm and lay his head down, resting on it. Looking at his wife with a smile as he lightly ran a finger along the curve of her face, he told her, "Beth Dixon I can't even imagine what the hell, what the heck, would hafta happen for me ta ever think you're repulsive. I don't think there is such a thing as that." He leaned in, pressed a kiss on her forehead and smiled, "I'll lay here with ya for a while and ya rest. Then I think I got a hankerin' ta chicken fry us up some elk steak."
"Daryl just because, well this, I can still do things you know. I can cook our dinner."
"I never said ya couldn't but that don't change the fact that I'ma be the one cookin' tonight." He smiled and touched his finger to the end of her nose adding, "Then I'ma draw up a plan for our new house. Ya might even wanna sit with me and tell me what it is ya want your new home ta be. I want ya ta be happy there Beth."
He drew her close and with her head resting on his chest she admitted, "I was kind of sad. I thought maybe, well you know that first time and all, when you didn't, well, you know. I was a little late and I thought we might be having a baby."
He kissed the top of her head assuring her, "We will Sweetheart, we will. A house full of em if that's what ya want."
They kissed and he rubbed her low back, asking, "Ya okay though? Not hurtin' too bad?"
She didn't look right at him, she looked down when she answered, "I always have pretty bad tummy aches the first day or two. After that it's just the mess of it all."
"I hear when ya do have a baby it gets easier. At least that's how Merle said it was with Karen, but hell, heck I don't know. I guess we'll wait and see. If ya need sumthin' ya ask me."
She looked in his eyes then as she smiled and said, "What I needed was my husband and he's here now. Thank you, Daryl."
He didn't sleep but he rested for a while. It felt good after being on his feet all week, but he wasn't a man to rest during the day. When she drifted back off he got up as quietly as he could, slipped into his trousers and silently retrieved his shirt and his socks as he left the room, quietly pulling the door closed behind him.
He went to the front door, pulled on his boots and his coat and hurried to his shop. He got the hammer and he got the fat wood nail and went back to their home. He didn't use the cloth tape to measure, he had a good eye for these things. He figured where the center was above the mantle and hammered the nail in as quietly as he could. Then he got the photograph.
He cut the string and carefully peeled off the paper and what he saw nearly brought a tear. There it was in black and white, the forever memory of the day she became his wife. He proudly hung the portrait and he stood back to admire it. He smiled so broadly he swore he could feel his face stretch. He knew then, their new home would have a special spot just for this picture.
Next he went to his desk and took out a paper and pencil. He began to sketch the irrigation plans for their ranch. That would probably come first, they could start on it in early spring. Besides, he didn't want to get busy on house plans until she sat with him. Together they would lay out what he hoped would be the last house they ever lived and loved in.
He thought he had a pretty good plan drawn up. Based on what he knew and what he'd seen on some of the nearby ranches, and with the knowledge Eugene shared with him he felt confident the irrigation system would work well. It shouldn't be too expensive to build either, they could afford the materials. He thought it was quite possible that he, Merle and Virgil would be able to get the system put in place over the spring and summer months. That would give him two springs, two summers and two early falls to build their home.
He stood and his back hurt a little, he wasn't use to sitting at a desk. He raised his arms in the air, stretching and trying to loosen up, smiling as he looked toward the portrait above the mantle. He walked to the kitchen and began to get out the things he would need to prepare their dinner. He felt glad to be doing it. This was the first time he'd cooked in while. He wanted to do it for her.
He was peeling the spuds when he heard her scream, but it was not a scream of terror. It sounded like pure joy. "Daryl! Oh my Daryl! It's so beautiful! I love it! Do you like it?"
He was at her side by then and he slipped his arm around her waist when he said, "Sweetheart, ya know I do. Best day a my life right there." He bent down and kissed her lips and said, "Thanks for marryin' me Beth."
"Thank you for marrying me Daryl."
Although her skin had a happy glow now, she'd looked so pale earlier. He asked, "Ya doin' alright Beth?"
"Yes, you shouldn't worry about me so much. Like you said, it's natural and I have no business laying in bed like an invalid."
He laughed softly, "Ya usin' what I say against me now? Ya know what I was talkin' about. Ya also know I don't mind cookin' and doin' for ya. As a matter a fact I like it. After we eat I'ma show ya my irrigation plan and then we can start talkin' 'bout a house. Whaddya think?"
"I think that sounds good."
He was back to his work with the spuds and she began to get the things to set the table. He turned his head her way and his look was hopeful when he said, "I do got one thing in mind I'd like ya ta make for dinner."
She was pretty sure she knew just what it was he had in mind and she smiled brightly when she asked him, "What would that be Mister Dixon?"
He smiled back, "Ya know ya make the best gravy in the world. I could eat a bucket of it."
She wrapped her arms around his waist and said, "It's the least I can do for you."
As they did before every meal they stood side by side, holding hands while he said the blessing. As he was thanking God for their many blessings and the health of their family, he remembered, "Shit, the letter. I mean darn, the letter."
"The letter?"
"Yeah, sit down I'll get it. Jim brought it over ta me just before I's gonna close up today." He took the letter from his coat pocket, stopped at the desk for the letter opener and brought both to her.
He dished up their food while she opened it and he silently prayed the letter would not be unkind. He would not fault her brother if the man was upset and angry. His young sister had married a man of humble background and education, he had a right to be disgruntled. But her husband hoped the letter would not be too harsh and upset his wife.
The letter was not long, just one page, but she was only halfway through it when her husband said, "Why don't ya eat sumthin' 'fore ya finish that? Your food's gonna get cold."
She understood he was nervous, she was too and she didn't argue. "Yes Husband." She picked up the fork and took a bite of the potatoes and gravy to appease him. She paused once more and took a bite of carrots before she finished reading.
He couldn't take another minute of waiting to hear, "What? What does he say?"
"He says he's going to travel here to see us. He wants to meet his new brother and he wants to meet your family. He wants to see where I live and see for himself that I am well cared for."
She looked down at the letter again and then back at her husband, "He says he looks to arrive in late July when the weather is warm." Her face took on a sadness when she added, "He won't be bringing my sister in law or the children. They'll stay with her parents while he's away. He worries the journey would be too difficult for her and the little ones."
Daryl simply nodded, he should have expected this. Why wouldn't a good man come to check on his sister? And then his head started reeling with thoughts that hurt him. What if Shawn Greene did not approve of him? What if he tried insisting Beth go back to Georgia? Back to what he very well might see as her rightful home. What would she choose?
She could read the distress in her husband's face and she was fairly certain she may know the cause. She reached her hand over to cover his, "Daryl, my brother is not a cruel or unfair man. He's really quite the gentleman and he believes strongly in the sanctity of marriage. He would never try to take me away from you, only if he thought I was in serious danger."
He looked in her eyes and she smiled again as she gave his hand a loving squeeze. "I won't leave you Daryl."
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A/N Thank you all again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and that you'll leave a comment / review. The chapter photo is posted to my tumblr blogs, gneebee, bethymethbrick and the story blog A Place Called Heavenly. I'll be back to my usual posting day, Friday, next week. We'll see more of Lori - she'll have a visitor she didn't expect - and there's that piano and a whole lot more :) I hope to see you all back in Heavenly then. In the meantime remember, I love ya large and appreciate you greatly! xo gneebee