deanandjo4ever1, I think you can read my thoughts! ha! thank you so much for your amazing review and I'm terribly sorry you thought I had posted the new chapter but this time it's forreal!
FuchsiaGrasshopper, I know it seemed kinda cheesy, but I had to! and I had a lovely/stressful Christmas as usual aha!
***OK everyone, Rose is finally back after missing a few days:( I hope y'all enjoy the new chapter, remember to leave LOTS of reviews:D***
I open my eyes to see the barn loft lit only by a small lantern. I hear crickets chirping their nightly melody just outside, and feel the warmth of the blanket wrapped around me along with the soft padding of the cot underneath me.
-Wait, what the hell?
I sit up stiffly on the squeaky cot, rubbing the sleep away from eyes so I can better take in my surroundings.
-How did fall you asleep talking to Daryl?! Did he move me onto the cot?
Just the thought of him carrying me to the cot from where we had sat and talked for hours sent a wave of chills racing through my body, followed by the burning of embarrassment. I look around, seeing no sign of Daryl whatsoever.
-Great. As if having to be carried to bed wasn't bad enough, he leaves me too.
I toss the old blanket to the side and stand up, stretching the tired out of my muscles. I peer up at the skylight, seeing the blackness dotted with millions of stars. With a sigh, I make my way down the steps to hear the heavy hooves of Chenoa walk into the barn.
"How are we ever gonna get out of this mess?" I say when I meet her, running my fingers through her grayish mane.
She responds with a little snicker, tossing her head up and down. I scratch behind her ears for a second and climbing back on the steps again, I jump up on her big back. We walk out into the starlit paddock, and I look over to the house to see light illuminating only one window.
-What time is it? How long was I asleep?
My mind muses tiredly as my body feels the rhythm of Chenoa's footsteps around the grassy pen. I search for movement on top of the RV and only see a dark figure sitting in the chair, relentlessly scanning the pastures. I wonder on for few seconds more about whose shift it is and finally decide to go find out myself since I have nothing better to do.
I open the gate, still riding the big mare, and cross the short distance to the old camper. A quick whistle up and flashlight is on me,
"What are you doing?" I hear the scratchy voice, but barely can recognize who it belongs to.
"Who's up there?" I ask, as they take the flashlight off of me, allowing my night vision to return.
"It's Rick.. Where have you been?" He asks, concern in his voice.
-He sounds kind of sick, or maybe just tired. It had been one hell of day for all us.
"Fell asleep in the barn.. Talkin' to Daryl I guess.." I reply slowly, not wanting to beat around the bush too much. "What time is it?" I ask, looking back up to his silhouette.
"2:30." He answers, turning his head toward the horizon.
"I'm gonna ride out a little ways, the moon is getting bright, but give me a signal if you see anything." I say, nudging Chenoa around toward the big pasture.
"Don't go too far and be careful." He calls to my back.
Riding through the moonlit night, all my senses become overly active. I'm aware of the sound Chenoa's hooves make on the still soggy earth, how rhythmic her breathing is. I can smell the rain dampened grasses and trees, feel the moist dew settling over my skin. I see the lights and contrasts in everything illuminated in the white moon.
Without realizing where I had ended up at first, I recognize the mended fence. It's still holding strong, and so are the memories it brings with it. Seeing it for the first time and all the worry and fear that came with it, but how it now brought me joy that this group had found their way here. My thoughts then wander to the memory of,only a few short days ago, when Carl and I had been found by two walkers outside the fence.
-This spot holds so many emotions, I guess that's why I'm drawn to it. Hopelessly attached to what memories it holds. I think to myself, letting those emotions overcome me after what seemed like so long.
I lay my upper body over Chenoa's wide back, inhaling her scent deeply. A single tear rolls down my cheek, hitting her white fur. That's all it takes, and before I know it I have my face burrowed into her mane, quietly sobbing, relieving all the pent-up sadness, anger, and frustration until not another tear can purge itself from eyes.
I lift my head up, feeling the dull ache starting to pound its way through my skull and look around with blurred, damp eyes. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I quickly square myself away as best I can, and nudge Chenoa onward to wherever she takes me. I yawn, feeling stiff and exhausted.
-Jake. He would know what to do. He surely wouldn't cry. Tears brim in my eyes at his memories, but I blink them away, forcing myself to stay strong like he would want.
We're almost at the barn now, I gently pet the big mare, leaning forward to give her a scratch in her favorite spot. I hop off, and grab her halter, finally locking her into her stall. I then go out into the paddock to find Raven, when a dark statuesque figure catches my attention. It's not moving, just posted up on the fence, but clearly human. I see Raven to the left of the silhouette, eating a bit of grass.
-That's not like her to be so calm around someone she doesn't know. My thoughts wander back to my bow sitting idly on the floor of the loft, and how my hands long for its safety now.
-That's enough of being so scared, it's time to stand up for yourself Rosa. You're a Montgomery, act like one. My brother's voice ringing through my head motivates me enough to call out to whoever was standing there.
"Hey! Who is that?" I call out just loud enough for him or her to hear me.
Raven's head jerks up from her patch of grass as she finally notices my presence. She snorts, tossing her head around as she trots over to me. I'm still paying attention to the now moving shadow.
-At least it's alive. I think.
As he steps into a sliver of moonlight, I see the crossbow slung over his broad back, how his messy hair seems to be glistening with sweat, and when I finally catch a glimpse of his face, fear catches fire in me. I step back in the shadows of the barn, keeping my eyes locked onto the human form pushing Daryl along.
Raven steps in front of me for an instant, giving me the chance to flee into the barn. I climb the stairs two and three at a time, making it to loft and searching frantically for the black bow hidden in the shadows.
"Where'd ya go lil' girl? I hear a husky voice ask. Definitely not Daryl's. I cringe for a moment at the thought of who this person is, and if they can get the jump on Daryl, they're no one to mess around with.
I finally spot the faint outline of my bow, sitting not far from the cot. I creep over the weary old wooden planks, and pick it up with lithe fingers.
"Don't be scared now, just wanna have a chat with you and you're little boy toy here." The unknown man speaks again, menace in his voice as he adds, "that little strip was ours. And y'all stole from us. We wanted it back, but now that I see your sweet little set up, I might have to take it for myself." He says, amusement playing through his deep voice.
Anger flashes through me at his insinuation and how I had been so careless. I step slowly down the stairs now, hearing his voice moving farther back in the barn. Chenoa snorts loudly, and stamps her hooves, sensing this was no friendly visitor. My prayer of the noise distracting him is answered and I step off the last stair unseen and silently raise my bow. Hiding myself in the recesses of the barn and its shadows, I see his back is to me.
"Now, girly. You listen good, I'm gonna give you to the count of three to show yourself or this piece of trash will be the first to go." He practically spits the words.
With anger and adrenaline still pumping throughout my system, my blood starts to boil. Yet, everything seems to stop cold when I hear a pistol being cocked back, ready to fire. He turns now, Daryl shielding him. My heart pounds even harder as I see his badly bruised face, the blood trickling down his chin from his busted lip.
"One.." He takes a step closer to the patch of moon light coming through the open skylight.
-Just a little closer to the light you dumb bastard, come on.
About 20 seconds go by before I hear him again,
"That's two lil' girl, ya gonna save your man here or not?" He calls out, taking another step and this time they're close enough, his surly face illuminated by the milky light.
My mind shuts down, going completely void of thoughts and emotions. I draw the arrow back, and with the string cammed over, I rest the fetching just in the corner of my mouth. I line the sights up with the mans head, the only part of him not obstructed by Daryl's body and exhale deeply and slowly.
"Three." I whisper in unison with his bellowing voice as they finally step into the patch of light.