Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead or any of its characters. If a character has the same name or likeness, it is purely coincidental. If you want to know what characters look like, feel free to message me or go to historyofmyself . weebly . com

Note from the Myself: I can't believe that after an hour of the first chapter being posted I got 3 story alerts and 1 favourite story. Hopefully I can keep this going. So far it seems people like the idea I have for this story.

Chapter 2:

Following the trail back to the edge of Esmeralda's property was much quicker than it was going to find the man. The man who had kept silent for most of the ride had finally passed out from the pain, or sheer exhaustion. Esmeralda didn't know which. Making sure to keep by his side in case he started to lean and fall, she led the way back to the ranch, only pausing to dismount and open the gates to each respective paddock that would get her closer and closer to the ranch house.

Once up to the house she quickly dismounted and hitched the horses to a post before going over to the man and easing his body toward her, positioning her body to be able to catch and hold his body weight. Dragging his muscular but starved frame into the ranch house and towards the guest bedroom where she managed to get him onto the bed. She fully removed his shirt along with his boots and pants, shocked to find that he forwent any form of under garments. She pulled a blanket over his lower body. Turning around, Esmeralda went to the kitchen and grabbed two bowls then went to the bathroom filling both bowls with warm water and adding some soap to one bowl and grabbed a face cloth and a bigger first aid kit.

Returning to the guest bedroom she soaked the cloth in the bowl with soap and started to wash the dirt and grime from his face, neck, arms and down his chest. Paying special attention to his wounds, hoping to keep the man from getting any kind of infection from catching hold of him. Using the bowl of clear water she rinsed the parts of him she had washed before dabbing some peroxide on the cut on his forehead and then again around the arrow wound, noting that there was minimal bleeding from the area.

Once Esmeralda finished cleaning up the man and then cleaning up her supplies she got up to put them all away, she took his clothes and soaked them in her kitchen sink with some of the laundry soap she had hoarded away. After a couple minutes of scrubbing away as his jeans and ripped shirt, she felt that they were clean enough, she wrung them out then walked outside to hang them on the line before heading back inside and taking a quick shower.

With the water pouring down onto her, she felt the stress and worry of the current state of the world wash away. As the suds from her body wash ran down and into the drain, things felt normal, like she could drive into town and grab some supplies or drive to Hershel's and see the girls without fear of running into one of those things. Esmeralda finished up in the shower, climbing out to dry off, get dressed and then start cooking some dinner for herself and the man.

Dancing around in the kitchen to some music that she had on her iPod, she prepared a simple dinner of steak and a small salad. Once everything was prepared, cooked and served, she washed her hands and quickly walked over to the ranch hand building to see if any of the boys had left some clothes. The light from the sun lit up the room making it very easy for Esmeralda to see the bunk beds and trunks that once were temporary housing for the men that would come up the mountain to work on the ranch. Opening a few of the trunks she managed to grab a pair of jeans and a grey t-shirt for the man.

Walking back into the ranch house she bee lined for the guest bedroom, hoping she could wake the man for some food. When she entered the room the man was awake and turned away from her.

"Hi" Esmeralda said softly "There is some steak and salad on the table if you're hungry."

The man just rolled over to shoot her an icy glare.

"I brought you some clothes too. The ones you were wearing were dirty and bloody, so I washed them. They are just drying now."

"Why are ya helpin' me?" He asked as he sat up in the bed.

"Why wouldn't I. And if you're going to act like that...why do you have Hershel's horse Nelly?"

"None of yer damn business!"

"Listen here Jed Clampett! I saved your ass in that river bed, killed one of those things, dragged your ass back to MY HOME and am now offering you MY food." Esmeralda hollered at him. "Now pull the arrow out of your ass, get dressed, eat some food and we will talk about how you know Hershel and why you're up my mountain."

He sat there and glared at her.

"Fine, or not. Up to you, I don't care. Guess I have steak again for dinner tomorrow." Esmeralda just tossed the clothes at him, turned on her heel and walked out of the room.

"Fucking men. Lord knew I loved living on this mountain away from them for months at a time."

Esmeralda sat down and started to eat the dinner she had prepared. She was on her second bite when the man walked into the kitchen rubbing his neck and looking at the floor.

"Look, I uh...I'm sorry fer snappin at ya. Thanks fer helpin' me and fer the clothes. And thanks fer what I assume is a delicious meal."

Esmeralda offered him a soft smile.

"Sit down and tuck in. You look hungry. And you're welcome. I hope you enjoy it."

He gave a small half smile.

"So Jed Clampett, got a name or should I keep up with the Beverly Hillbillies theme?"

The man gave a small snort in laughter.

"I don't know who the Beverly Hillbillies are or Jed Clampett. Am I supposed ta be insulted? And mah name is Daryl."

Esmeralda gave a full toothy smile then.

"Well Daryl, if you were here when TV was working, then I would give you a lesson on the Beverly Hillbillies. Bat alas, it does not. My name is Esmeralda. It's nice to meet you."

Daryl sat there with the fork halfway to his mouth and just stared.

"Esmeralda? What the hell are ya? A freakin' gypsy?"

Esmeralda glared.

"No asshole. Gypsy's are in Europe. The gypsy's we have in North America are called Carney's. And uh...I'm definitely not one of them. So what are you? Some sort of cousin lovin' red neck? A Larry the Cable Guy School of etiquette graduate?"

Daryl sat there and looked at her in shock.

"Hey, buck up there Daryl. I was raised by men, I can give back just as good as you give. So I suggest you either knock it off or step up your game."

Daryl gave a little laugh.

"Alright darlin'. I'll see what I can do."

Esmeralda just rolled her eyes and kept eating.

"The group of people I'm with are stayin' at Hershel's place. That's how I got his horse." Daryl said softly.

"I'm sure you didn't tell Hershel you were taking a horse otherwise he would have advised against Nelly. Then again, he might not like you so he would have given you Nelly. Which one is it?"

"I didn't tell him. I just took the horse. We've been looking fer a girl. Sophia. A walker chased her, Rick went after, hid her and then killed the walkers. When he went back for her she was gone. It's been about 3 days now."

"Little blonde girl? About 12 years old. Wearing a blue shirt with a design on the chest?"

Daryl's head snapped up so fast Esmeralda could have sworn he got whiplash.

"You know where she is?"

Esmeralda softly nodded.

"She's been hiding in my hayloft for the last 2 days. If I go up there to talk to her she hides. I leave her a plate of food. She's smart for being cautious."

Daryl was immediately on his feet and rushing out the door hollering Sophia's name.

The blonde haired girl flew out of the barn at break neck speed.

"DARYL!" Cried Sophia as she leapt into his arms.