Chapter 28 - Decisions Pt. II
FOUR MONTHS LATER...
Emma, Carl, and Todd all weeded together in the beautiful, spring weather. They were clearing the unwanted vegetation growing around the graves of Jackie, Trish, Mary, and Luanne. They lost Luanne to illness only a couple of months after Emma had gotten sick. It had taken the men the better part of a day to dig Luanne's grave in the frozen ground, but it was important to the group that she have a proper resting place like Jackie, Trish, and Mary. With the warmer weather here to stay, Carl and Todd both expressed an interest in making the graves look nice. Sophia wanted to help, too, but Carol was still unwilling to let Emma spend any time around her daughter.
Judith started to fuss from the blanket Emma had laid out for her. Even though she was walking, she was pretty good about staying put when told not to wander.
"What is it, Judith?" Emma asked, rubbing her dirty hands on the grass before crawling over to where Judith was sitting. "Are you bored?"
"She wants to help us." Carl said as he worked in the dirt beside Todd.
"She does, huh?" Emma asked, pulling Judith off of the blanket and into the grass.
Emma dug up a little dirt, then put Judith's hands into it. Judith explored the dirt with her fingers and laughed.
"Jude, watch this."
Carl got his sister's attention by digging up a handful of dirt. He playfully tossed it in Todd's direction. Judith giggled as Carl and Todd threw dirt back and forth at each other.
"You boys are going to teach her bad habits." Emma scolded Carl and Todd halfheartedly.
As if she understood Emma's statement, Judith suddenly decided to pick up her own tiny handful of dirt to hurl as far as she could in Emma's direction. The boys burst into a fit of laughter. Emma tried to keep a straight face, but failed miserably as Judith smiled proudly at her.
"I told you." Emma laughed.
Suddenly, the bell rang. Emma had been waiting for hours to hear that sound.
"Boys, watch Judith." Emma told Carl and Todd as she dusted herself off and stood.
After several minutes, Rick, Shane, and Daryl rode into view. Emma tried to gauge how well everything had gone by their expressions, but they were doing a good job of masking any emotions they might have been feeling. Emma met Daryl halfway as he brought Jim to a halt.
"Are you all right?" Emma asked quietly as Daryl dismounted.
Daryl gave Emma a nod.
"Rick is having a meeting tonight, after the kids are in bed, while I'm on watch." Daryl said.
Emma was about to ask Daryl a few more questions, but he ran his hand over the strap keeping his crossbow to his back.
"I'm gonna hunt while there's still some light."
"Okay." Emma replied.
Emma watched Daryl go, and as she did, her eyes fell on Rick and Shane. She could only guess that they were discussing their trip into town, but whatever it pertained to, it was clear that Rick and Shane were in disagreement over the matter. Suddenly, their conversation ended when Shane stormed off on his own, leaving Rick behind. Rick took a step forward as though he was going to go after Shane, but then he changed his mind. Instead, he headed into Merle's house. Emma wanted to know what was going on, and she didn't want to wait for the meeting that night. So, she decided to go after Shane.
Emma returned to where the boys had stopped weeding to watch the scene between Rick and Shane unfold. Judith had a handful of dirt in her mouth.
"Boys," Emma sighed as she pulled Judith's hand out of her mouth, "I told you to watch her."
"We were..." Carl started to defend himself, but saw Emma raise an eyebrow. "Sorry."
"I'm going to need you boys to actually watch Judith for a while." Emma told Carl and Todd as she used the edge of her skirt to wipe off Judith's mouth. "I have something to take care of-"
"Does it have something to do with what happened in town?" Carl asked.
"Carl, you know how it works." Emma replied. "Your dad holds a meeting for the adults first, then sits down with you kids later."
Emma didn't necessarily agree with that decision, but she was trying to be more respectful of Rick's leadership and the rules he and Shane put in place. Rick and Shane had even asked Daryl to become more active in their decision making process.
"So, can you watch Judith, or are you going to let her eat more dirt?" Emma asked.
"We'll watch her." Carl muttered, pouting when Emma didn't give him the answers he wanted.
Emma gave Carl's hair a ruffle as she walked past him to go after Shane. She saw him heading towards the back of the property and called out his name to get his attention. Shane turned when he heard his name, and stopped to wait for Emma to catch up to him.
"What's going on?" Emma asked as she stood alongside Shane.
"We're having a meeting tonight to discuss everything." Shane replied simply.
Shane started walking again, but Emma followed him.
"I saw you and Rick arguing-"
"We weren't arguing, we were just..." Shane sighed. "We were just having a disagreement."
"About what?" Emma asked.
Shane paused and put his hand out to Emma, his other hand on his hip.
"Look, if I tell you all of this, you have to keep it to yourself."
"That won't be a problem." Emma replied.
"When we met up with Blake and his people," Shane spoke as he and Emma walked side by side, "he told us that anyone who wanted to leave the farm to join their group was more than welcome."
Shane was referring to Philip Blake, the man responsible for walling off a small part of town, including what was once Rick's property, during the winter. Apparently, he had come from Astoria, which had also been ravaged by the undead. Along the way, he formed a massive group of over forty people. When they came across Scarlet Town, they worked together to wall off the part of town that was least occupied by biters. It took them all winter. By the time the pass opened up, and the group from the farm made their first trip into town since November, Philip's people had already claimed the town and Rick's property as their own. It was a tumultuous first meeting. Philip and his people were very protective of their new home, while Rick and the group from the farm argued that they had lived in that town long before Philip and his group showed up. Things were said. Threats were made. Even a few blows were exchanged. Philip and Rick agreed to talk things over once everyone had a chance to cool off. That was where Rick, Shane, and Daryl had just returned from.
"Rick thinks the others have a right to know about Blake's offer, but..."
"You're not so sure?" Emma asked.
"The thing is, we don't know those people down there." Shane said as he stopped in his tracks once again, pointing to the ground. "They could be honest and good...or..."
Shane looked out at the willows lining the stream.
"I've seen what happens to people when bad shit, like this sickness, goes down." Shane murmured, his mind far away. "I remember the fire in Burnham Town-"
"Me too." Emma interrupted with a nod. "I was living there when it happened."
"People swarmed into Scarlet from Burnham, wanting help and jobs and money..." Shane shook his head with a sigh. "Then, when we couldn't offer them all they wanted, they started trouble in town. There were fights in the bars, shootouts in the streets, stabbings in alleways..."
Shane looked back at Emma.
"The last straw was when one of our local women was..." Shane shook his head.
"What happened with all those people from Burnham Town?" Emma asked.
"Rick gave them so many chances to get out of town, but after what happened with Cora Shelton, enough was enough." Shane answered. "We did what needed to be done."
"So, you're afraid that Philip and his people might be bad news, just like those people from Burnham Town?"
"Let's just say, I'm not going to lower my defenses just yet." Shane replied. "Which is why when Blake asked how many we had up here, we told him we had half the town up here."
"You're worried that if anyone leaves, they might spill the beans that there aren't that many of us?"
"That, and I'm worried about what could happen to them if Blake and his people don't turn out to be as good and as honest as they claim to be." Shane explained. "You see, Blake is pretty interested in our setup on this farm. They might have part of town walled off from the biters, but we still have more safety and better security up here in the mountains."
"I get it." Emma murmured, putting the pieces together. "You lied about our numbers so that Philip won't get any ideas about taking this farm by force."
"Exactly." Shane nodded.
"What does your gut tell you about him?" Emma asked. "Is he capable of something like that."
Shane told Emma he wasn't sure, but the fear in his eyes told her what she needed to know.
0o0o0
After the kids were in bed, and with Daryl on watch, Rick held the meeting everyone had been waiting for all day. Carol, Ellen, and Kate all sat in a row on the sofa. The doctor sat in one of the armchairs, while the reverend sat in the other. Benjamin, Andrea, Sam, and Emma sat somewhat staggered on the floor. Rick and Shane stood, as usual, in front of all of them.
"As you know, Shane, Daryl, and myself met with Philip and a handful of his people today." Rick started off the meeting. "We discussed the issues we had the last time we met, and today, we were able to resolve them."
"Thank goodness." The reverend said.
"I gave Philip a list of the supplies we go to town to gather, in turn, he gave me a list of things he thought we could provide for him and his people. That list was mostly made up of livestock, eggs, and lumber. We discussed numbers until we settled on amounts we all felt comfortable with."
"What sort of livestock?" Sam asked.
"We're going to meet with Philip and his people once every couple of months for an exchange." Rick explained. "At that exchange, we're going to hand over either a pig, a goat, or a cow. It's our choice."
"It seems like we're giving them a lot more than they're giving us." Sam grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest with a frown.
"We're helping each other out." Rick corrected him.
"I just don't see why we don't merge groups." Andrea spoke up. "We would have safety in numbers, but more importantly, we would get to return home. It would almost be normal again."
Rick and Shane exchanged a look, and Emma knew it had something to do with what Shane had revealed to her previously.
"That actually brings up the next topic of discussion." Rick replied. "At our meeting, Philip expressed to us that...all who wanted to join up with his group were more than welcome."
The women on the sofa immediately began whispering and murmuring amongst themselves.
"That's great news." Andrea beamed and clapped her hands once.
"Well, sure..."
"It is if you want it to be." Shane finally spoke up as Rick hesitated to express any feelings he might have about the subject. "Daryl also let us know today that anyone who wanted to remain on this farm could continue living here as long as they wanted."
"That's very gracious." The reverend nodded from his chair.
"Yes, it is, but," Andrea turned to look at her father, "don't you want to go back home?"
"This place has been our home for nearly a year." The reverend replied.
"But-"
"Andrea, you wouldn't be able to go home." Shane cut her off harshly.
Andrea whipped her head back around to glare at Shane, but Rick intervened.
"What Shane means is that your father's home, and your own for that matter, aren't within the walls that Philip and his people built." Rick explained.
"What about my house?" Ellen piped up.
"The inn?" Carol asked.
"My parents' house?" Kate joined in.
"Kate, I'm not sure about your parents' house." Rick replied, pointing at each woman as he answered their many questions. "Carol, the inn isn't within the walls, but Ellen, I believe your home is."
"Even so," Shane spoke up again, "you probably wouldn't be able to just move back in."
"What do you mean?" Ellen asked.
"What I mean is that there's probably somebody already living there." Shane said, coming away from the wall. "What all of you have to understand is that these people claimed town as theirs. Philip and many of his members are living on Rick's property. They say it doesn't belong to him anymore-"
"It sounds like you're trying to talk us out of leaving." Andrea interrupted coolly.
"Nobody is trying to do that." Rick reassured Andrea quickly. "We just want all of you to be informed when you make your decision."
"So, we do have a choice?"
"Of course." Rick replied. "We just ask that you make your decision quickly."
"How quickly?" Ellen asked.
"We want your answers by this time tomorrow evening." Rick put his hands on his hips. "Anyone who wants to stay is more than welcome to. Anyone who wants to leave...you'll be free to go."
"How?" Carol asked.
"I was going to ask Emma's permission to allow those who want to leave to take her small carriage." Rick spoke as he looked over at Emma for an answer. "I'm willing to let Apple go."
Emma gave Rick a nod.
"So, it's settled." Rick said. "You have until tomorrow night to make your decision."
0o0o0
Ever since Luanne's death, Emma had taken over as primary cook. She woke the following morning before the sun just as she had been, but moments after she was out of bed, there was a knock at the door. Daryl roused from his slumber and sat up with a yawn.
"You want me to get it?" Daryl asked drowsily, rubbing one eye with his fist.
Emma chuckled quietly at Daryl's appearance as she shook her head.
"No." Emma waved her hand at Daryl as she wrapped a shawl around her shoulders. "I got it."
Emma opened the door to Shane standing on the other side.
"What are you doing here?" Emma asked in a whisper. "You're supposed to be going on watch-"
"I know, but I wanted to talk to you." Shane replied just as quietly.
Emma looked over her shoulder at Daryl, who had already fallen back asleep.
"Give me five minutes to get dressed." Emma whispered, reaching out for the doorknob. "I'll meet you at the barn."
Emma shut the door and quickly washed up and dressed for the day. Then, she headed over to the barn to speak with Shane. She knew it had something to do with the meeting the night before.
"What is it?" Emma asked as she approached Shane.
"I wanted to ask a favor of you."
"You aren't going to ask me to try and convince people to stay, are you?" Emma asked.
"Emma, it's important that we keep everyone here." Shane said, taking a step forward. "We can't have people leaving and telling Blake and anyone else who will listen about how few our numbers are."
"We'll ask them not to reveal that information in exchange for the horse and carriage."
"It isn't just that." Shane replied, looking away from Emma. "Remember what I said yesterday? What if Blake and his people aren't good people? Think of what could happen to Ellen and little Anna, or Carol and Sophia, or Andrea..."
"Shane, what makes you think anyone will listen to me?" Emma asked. "Even though Carol and I are on some sort of speaking terms, she still won't let me near Sophia. Ellen took Carol's side. Kate is still afraid of me after everything happened with Trish. Benjamin barely talks to anyone-"
"You just have a way about you." Shane interrupted. "You were able to get through to Rick and Carl when nobody else could. You were able to make friends with the Dixon brothers when nobody else from town wanted anything to do with them. You just...get things done."
Emma sighed. Daryl had expressed to her in private that he shared Shane's hesitancy to trust Philip and his people. Between the two of them, they had convinced Emma that they should feel cautious. She knew keeping as many people on the farm was in everyone's best interest, but she didn't think she would be able to sway anyone if they had their minds made up.
"Fine." Emma conceded to Shane's request. "I'll try, but don't get your hopes up."
"After my turn on guard duty, I'm going to talk to Andrea." Shane said. "Why don't I talk to Ellen and Kate, too?"
"So that leaves me with Carol and Benjamin." Emma said aloud, mostly to herself.
Shane set his hand on Emma's shoulder.
"Thanks for doing this."
"Like I said, don't get your hopes up."
Shane and Emma parted ways so that she could make breakfast. Emma knew that Carol and the kids, along with Shane before he went on watch, would eat first. Emma would take that as her opportunity to speak with Carol. She pondered whether or not to pull her aside before or after breakfast. As she was finishing up with everything, she decided to speak with Carol while the kids ate. Hopefully, if needed, Shane could offer some interference.
The kids shuffled into the kitchen first. Carol was right behind them with Judith on her hip.
"Good morning." Emma greeted everyone as she finished setting the table.
The children all repeated Emma's greeting back to her as they sat down.
"Good morning." Carol replied as Shane stepped into the kitchen.
"Shane, do you think you could keep an eye on things here?" Emma asked as Shane took a seat at the table. "I wanted a chance to talk to Carol."
Carol looked up as Shane nodded.
"Sure." Shane agreed.
"Is that okay, Carol?" Emma asked.
Carol looked at Judith, who she had just wrestled into the highchair, and then back at her daughter.
"I'll make sure the kids get fed." Shane reassured Carol.
"Well," Carol hesitated, but stepped back from the highchair, "all right."
Emma led Carol upstairs to Sam's old bedroom, the one Carol currently shared with Sophia. Rick was still asleep across the hall, so Emma shut the door behind them.
"What is this about?" Carol asked warily as she made the bed.
Emma went to the opposite side of the bed to help Carol.
"I wanted to see where you stood with Philip Blake's offer." Emma answered.
Carol smiled to herself as she fluffed the pillows.
"I guess I should have known."
"So, where do you stand?" Emma asked.
"I don't really see why it's any of your business, Emma." Carol replied, lifting her eyes from the bed.
"I'm going to find out at the meeting tonight anyways." Emma shrugged her shoulders. "What's the harm in telling me now?"
Carol sighed as she stepped away from the bed.
"I'm very seriously considering Philip's offer." Carol admitted, keeping her eyes down.
Emma wasn't surprised.
"Why?" Emma asked.
"I think it would be best for my daughter to return to her normal life."
"No offense, Carol, but she wouldn't be getting back to her normal life." Emma spoke as Carol started folding clean laundry on the chest at the end of the bed. "There are still biters in town. The inn is still in that part of town. Her daddy is-"
"What do you want with us?" Carol asked abruptly, throwing down a blouse. "Why do you care what we do? Where we go?"
"We've been a group for nine months." Emma replied. "Though we've had our ups and downs, though we've lost people, we've stuck together through everything. That has to count for something."
Carol continued folding.
"I think you made it pretty clear last year that things were better for you before we got here."
Emma wanted to tell Carol she was absolutely right, but she couldn't. Selfishly, she wanted as many people to stay as possible so that Philip didn't learn that there were much fewer people up in the mountains than he thought. Emma needed to convince Carol to stay.
"The truth is...there are concerns about Philip and his people." Emma finally said.
Carol looked up from the clothes she was folding.
"Concerns?"
"I don't mean to worry you, but I just want you to know that there are some of us that think it's best that we be cautious when it comes to the group in town."
"Why?" Carol asked, almost frantically. "What's happened?"
Emma didn't want to be responsible for causing panic. She couldn't share any details that Shane had shared with her in confidence.
"Nothing has happened." Emma reassured Carol. "We just don't know these people, and given everything that we've been through over the past year, we think it's wise to be careful."
Carol's expression relaxed as she picked up the stack of folded clothes.
"Well, how will we know what to expect from them if we don't give them a chance?" Carol asked as she carried the folded clothes to the bureau.
"We will give them a chance, but it will take time."
Emma watched Carol put the clothes away in their proper drawers.
"What's the harm in giving us a few more weeks, maybe a couple of months, to get to know these people better before we make any decisions regarding a move?" Emma asked when Carol stayed silent.
Carol turned around when she was finished.
"I'll think about it."
0o0o0
Emma spoke to Benjamin while he took watch, but had the same results as with Carol. Emma walked away from the conversation not knowing where Benjamin stood on the matter. So, the meeting that night would prove to be a mystery.
Sam was on watch during the meeting as everyone else gathered together in Merle's living room for the next evening in a row to discuss their decisions about Philip's offer. Daryl and Emma sat side by side on the floor. They weren't going anywhere. Neither was Sam. No matter what happened, or who left, the three of them would remain on the farm. Daryl laid his hand on Emma's knee as the meeting began.
"I'm not going to beat around the bush. You all know why we're here again." Rick started the meeting off right away. "We would like everyone to give us their decision, one at a time. I'll go first."
Rick cleared his throat.
"My decision is to stay here with my children. I am happy here. They are happy here, but more importantly, we are safe here." Rick looked around the room. "I believe that we are all safe here, and while I'd like it if everyone stayed, you are free to go if that's what you want to do."
"I agree with Rick." Shane spoke up and took a step forward. "Before we came here, we were fighting for our lives in town. There were days when I thought we wouldn't make it. There were nights when I could hear biters moaning and groaning outside...and I knew we wouldn't make it."
Emma knew Shane was making one last attempt to persuade people to stay.
"...but we did." Shane continued. "We made it because of the Dixon brothers, and Sam, and Emma. We've made it this long because of this place.
I know some of you might be thinking that it would be nice to return to town, to get back to your normal lives, to go back home...but the truth is, that place isn't home anymore. This farm is home. It's where we've survived together, depended on each other for comfort and support...it's where we banded together as one big family.
So, I choose to stay here. I choose to stay home."
It was quiet. Everybody looked around at each other, waiting for someone to speak. Nobody did. Emma wondered if maybe Shane's plan had worked. Had they really been able to talk everybody into staying put on the farm?
"...as touching as all of that is," Ellen finally spoke up, "I still believe that the best thing for my daughter, and for Todd, is to accept Philip Blake's offer."
"Todd?" Rick asked, quirking an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Ellen appeared just as confused as Rick.
"I'm taking Todd with me." Ellen replied slowly.
"What makes you think that?" Rick asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Mary was one of my closest friends."
"So that means Todd doesn't get a say in where he ends up?" Shane asked.
"Todd is a child." Ellen retorted, her tone shifting. "He isn't old enough to make such a big decision for himself. If his mother was here, she would be making the decision for him. Since she isn't, I'm stepping in to make that decision on her behalf-"
"That isn't your call." Rick interrupted.
"Well, whose is it?" Ellen asked. "You? Shane?"
"Why-"
"How often did you speak to Mary while she was alive?" Ellen asked. "Were you close to her? Did you shed any tears when she died? Mary-"
"Ellen, that's enough." Shane cut her off before she could finish.
"I think that if anyone has a right to make a decision concerning Todd, it's Ellen." Andrea suddenly tossed her opinion into the ring. "Ellen was closer to Mary than anyone else here."
"Mary always promised that if anything happened to me, she would take care of Anna." Ellen continued her statement from earlier. "I made the same promise to her that I would take care of Todd in the event that she passed away. So, you better believe that when I leave, I'm taking Todd with me."
Rick opened his mouth to speak, but then stopped. His shoulders sank.
"Fine." Rick finally replied. "It sounds like you've made your decision."
"I have."
"What about you, Carol?" Shane asked. "Do you feel the same way as Ellen?"
All eyes were on Carol as she cleared her throat before answering the question.
"To some degree, I do agree with Ellen." Carol replied in a calm, quiet voice. "I want Sophia to return back to her normal life as soon as possible. I want us to have a house of our very own. I want her to have lots of friends to play with and go to school with. I don't want her to have to worry..."
Carol cleared her throat as her voice thickened with emotion.
"On the other hand, with a few exceptions, this farm has offered Sophia and I the most normal life we could have under the circumstances." Carol continued, working through the emotions flowing through her as she spoke. "I'm willing to stay here with my daughter until the entirety of the town is taken back from the biters."
"You want to stay?" Rick asked, finding it difficult to mask the look of surprise on his face.
"For now." Carol replied with a nod.
"Andrea?" Shane asked, turning his head to look at her.
"I can't believe that more of you don't want to seize this opportunity to join forces with Philip and his people." Andrea said, shaking her head. "I-"
"Andrea, how very ungrateful." The reverend interrupted his daughter.
Andrea looked over at Daryl and Emma.
"I don't mean to sound ungrateful." Andrea told them apologetically. "I truly don't...I just don't understand why so many of you are unwilling to give this new life a chance."
"Everyone is entitled to make their own decisions." Rick pointed out.
"I know, but what it sounds like you all believe we can't go back to our lives." Andrea looked around at everyone. "What if we could? What if, together with Philip and his people, we fought off the remaining biters and took control of our town again? We could rebuild it...and this past year would just be a dark chapter in our town's history."
"We aren't saying it isn't possible-"
"If Blake and forty people can't fight off all those biters, what are twelve of us going to do?" Shane asked, interrupting Rick. "Besides-"
"I wish you would quit trying to talk my father and I out of leaving." Andrea cut Shane off angrily.
"Me?" The reverend asked suddenly.
Andrea turned her head to look at her father.
"We talked about this earlier." Andrea hissed at the reverend. "We said-"
"No, dear, you said." The reverend corrected his daughter. "I understand why you want to return to town, and though I love and care for you, I can't say that I'm as ready as you are to leave this place."
"Dad..." Andrea's voice quivered when she spoke, but she maintained her angry tone. "You can't be serious. You would stay behind...even if I left?"
"Andrea, you are a grown woman. You can make your own choices. I am a grown man. I can make my own decisions. Just because I'm your father, and you're my daughter...it doesn't mean we always have to agree."
Andrea suddenly got up from where she was sitting as her tears finally started to show. Before anyone could say anything to her, she left the house, slamming the door behind her.
"I'll go after her-"
"Let me." The reverend softly interrupted Shane as he stood.
While the reverend went after Andrea, the rest of the group continued discussing the decisions they had made. Kate was ready to leave after everything that had happened with Trish. She wanted to see if her parents house was within the walls Philip and his people had built. Benjamin was going to remain on the farm, but he was staying because of Trish. There was nothing for him in town, but his wife and unborn baby were buried on the farm. The doctor made it clear that his decision for leaving wasn't personal. He just figured he could do more good in a larger group of people.
So, it was settled. The following morning, the doctor, Kate, Ellen, Todd, and Anna would leave. It was still up in the air what Andrea and the reverend were going to do.