5

When the gunshots stopped Beth had run towards her mother's corpse and cried, I almost had a heart attack when the thing grabbed her and some of the ones that were close had to grab the girl back and killed the walker. That was awful to see, awful to live even awful to think about it again.

Hershel was taking her away the barn and the Greenes walked down to the house. I stood there for a couple of seconds, Maggie looked back at me and I followed them reaching them, and taking Beth's hand trying to comforting her. The little blonde glanced at me with tears on her eyes and I felt my own eyes burning too.

- You knew the barn was full of walkers and didn't tell us! — It was Shane; this guy was unbelievable and was out of his mind.

- Don't you think you did enough?! — Maggie spat and when he stepped forward into the porch she slapped him. He stopped for a moment Rick tried to grab him but Shane was giving another step. I wouldn't let him. Aiming my shotgun at his face he finally stopped.

- You get any closer and I swear to God that I'll blow your brains out — Shane scoffed and I smirked — Wanna bet?

I knew everyone's eyes were glued to me, but I just didn't care, Hershel might be wrong but he and his family been but good with me and my sister, even with the group in many kinds of ways.

Shane wasn't afraid. He was defiant in fact. But I meant when I said I'll shoot. He threw his hands up and walked backwards getting away. I lowered my gun and felt a hand grabbing my shoulder. It was Hershel giving me a warning look, I just nodded and Maggie grabbed me by the hand.

- I want you all out of my land! Today! - Hershel shouted at them, Rick was standing a few feet away and looked nothing but concerned.

Beth passed out while washing the dishes. She had her eyes wide open but was unconscious, which means she was in a catatonic state. And honestly I wasn't surprised by that.

We took her to her bedroom and called for Hershel, Patricia didn't really knew what to do. Turns out that Hershel was nowhere to be found, perfect moment to disappear step-dad. Nice one.

I was relieved that Effy was keeping the kids busy, reading to them and not letting them got out of the house. While outside, the men were cleaning the barn massacre done by Shane. It wasn't a pretty sight, watching them carrying the walkers in a truck to burn them, but it had to be done. They were going to bury Hershel's wife and his stepson, giving them respect and letting the family mourn their lost.

While Maggie and Patricia were looking after Beth I walked out to get some water in the kitchen and after doing that, I went outside finding Glenn and Rick talking, they glanced at me.

- How's your sister? - Rick asked with a worried look.

- She's not getting better; Patricia said she'll be dehydrating if we don't wake her up soon.

- Maggie told us about it, we're going to the town, we suspect where he is — Glenn said and squeezed my shoulder gently.

- You suspect?

- There was an empty flask is his room, Maggie said he used to drink before in the town bar, betting there's where I'll find him.

- Thank you — Smiling at him, they made their way to the truck.

- We'll bring your dad back, okay? — Rick muttered at me and I couldn't keep lying anymore, he was a good man, they were good people, well except for Shane.

- Rick — they turned around to me — Hershel's not my dad, Effy and I, we're not part of this family we're survivors just like all of you. The Greenes just took us in and kept us safe.

The police man just grinned and made his way again to the truck getting on the driver seat. And they left to the town.

I walked around for a while trying to calm myself, the day had been a completely disaster and I couldn't keep my thoughts on track. First Shane and the barn, then Beth being catatonic and now Hershel was out when we needed him here. This day could not be worse.

The sun was shining over me and I kept walking on the field feeling the cool air of almost autumn. The calendar on the fridge door said it was late August, so soon the cold weather was going to be all around us.

I did not realize how much I walked until I heard people arguing. I stopped and looked forward and stepped closer to a tree finding an angry Daryl shouting at Lori.

- Don't you tell me 'bout me getting my hands dirty! — He had an wooden stick on his hand, apparently he was sharping it. — You want those two idiots? Have a nice ride! I'm done looking for people.

He sat on the trunk and continued sharping it the stick. Lori just walked away.

I was walking backwards getting myself away when Daryl spoke again.

- Enjoying the show, sunshine? - I couldn't help but blush when he looked at me with and annoyed expression. I walked closer and stood there.

- Sorry, but you were too loud.

- Huh - he grunted without looking at me.

- Why did you say you were done looking for people? — I asked him after a moment. He stopped his work and glanced at the field.

- Ya spend most of yer time with the kids and ya don't know?

- Well, most of that time I'm trying to make them feel like they're still in a normal world. — Daryl snorted still not looking at me.

- That world is gone.

I saw something in his eyes when he said that, like a small spark of honesty and worry, all mixed together. He was good hearted but had a rough mask covering his goodness.

- You did not answer my question.

- We were on the highway when a herd of walkers came up to us. We hide behind cars — He paused taking another stick and started sharping it. — The lil' girl, she got scared and ran out the road, got lost for a while.

- No one told me about that, nor even Carol, or Sophia herself— Daryl glanced at me and didn't look away for a moment; I tried hard to not blush.

- When Carl was shot by yer sister and they wanted to com'ere I spent the whole night looking for the girl, almost got my ass eaten in the process, till I found her and we head to this place.

- They all should be grateful then — I said almost in a whisper.

- Grateful?

- Yes, for having you around.

Daryl didn't look to me not even when I excused myself and left to the house. But I'm sure like the skies exists that I saw him curving the corner of his mouth almost smiling.

Maggie stood sitting right beside Beth the rest of the day. And when the sun fell and the night was covering the sky I started getting anxious. Why they hadn't come back already? And on the other hand Lori was nowhere to be found and Maggie's car was missing too. That wasn't difficult to figure out, she had gone to town to get them back. That was a stupid decision; she was just putting herself in danger by leaving the farm alone. So when Shane went after her and bring her back, she had scratches and bruises.

- Where's Rick? — Lori asked. — You said that Rick was here.

- I needed to get you here — Shane said

- You lied?

- Now look, first things first. I gotta… I gotta look after you. I gotta make sure the baby's all right, okay? - Shane was saying that to her, and I realized right there that something was or had happened between them.

We were outside and we all stared at Lori in shock.

She was pregnant.

- You're having a baby? Why didn't you tell me? — Carl was walking to her mom with confusion all over his face.

- Listen, Carl...

- We need to check those wounds, you can talk inside — I said walking out the porch. After me, Andrea and Dale helped Lori getting in the house.

The sun was rising. I didn't sleep the whole night; Maggie was with Beth and I didn't felt right by leaving her there alone watching over he sister. It wasn't right, it wasn't me, and so I stood there, sitting on the floor with a blanket on my feet while Maggie was sitting next to her sister and at one moment in the night she fell asleep, tiredness winning over her.

I was falling asleep too, letting myself be taken by the slumber. And then someone opened the door. It was Andrea.

- Hey, Lori made coffee – She handed me a cup and I thanked her. Maggie was waking up and looked at Beth before anything. She walked and sat beside her sister on the bed.

- In my first summer back from college I drove home and dumped my stuff off, I went straight to the stable for a ride – She paused – My family, comes back from church and Beth grabs my things and starts unpacking my stuff.

- That is sweet – Said Andrea. Maggie looked at her and then at me, I gave Maggie a small smile.

- Yeah – Maggie teared – Until this one here starts rifling through my backpack and she finds this little container with pink and green candies inside.

- Oh Maggie – I couldn't help but grin.

- She didn't know I was on the pill and she was so freaked out by the idea of me, boys and sex, that she runs outside and chucks them in the pond. And I ride up, I see this and I'm screaming and then Shawn runs outside thinking one of us is drowning. Soon as he figures out what is going on, the jerk busts out laughing so loud that my horse rears up and gets mud all over of us. – She wiped some tears – My dad comes out, "what the heck's going on here?" And she turns around, bats her eyelids and says "we're just swimming, daddy" Wearing her Sunday dress, all covered in snot and mud.

I didn't knew when I start but I was tearing too, my sight blurred by the salty water in my eyes.

- Rick and Glenn will bring your dad back – Andrea looked at Maggie and then at me – They will.

- Glenn is a good guy – Said Maggie containing the tears.

- He is.

It was first hour in the morning when they came back. Effy and I were with Beth, Patricia had used an intravenous serum on the little blonde, and she was still wide eye open when we heard the unmistakable sound of a truck outside. I left the room and felt the relieve filling me when I saw Hershel walking towards the house.

- Who the hell is that? – Someone asked.

I knew something was wrong. Nothing's ever perfect.

Rick and Glenn were getting out of the car and a young guy was sitting behind with his eyes covered. They all looked like they just had fought a bunch of walkers. Glenn walked toward us and spoke.

- This is Randall.

Hello, me again :D So, I'll be posting every monday and thursday.

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