Come Calling
Carol saw Ashton waiting on her front porch as she finished her morning workout the next morning. Emma and Arya had joined the group this morning for the first time, and Ashton teased, "Emma, do you need me go get the four wheeler or can you walk home?"
Emma laughed back, "I can make it back just fine, but I am not sure I can make it out of bed tomorrow". Michonne protested, "I took it easy on you this morning".
Ashton said, "Carol, I would like to talk with you this morning if you aren't too busy". Carol replied, "Let me get a glass of water and I'll be right back". Ashton watched as Carl walked over from the barn and met Emma and Arya as they walked back to their house. He continued down the road with them. Carol came back and sat down on a rocker watching Carl, "He's making sure that they get back home safe. He went down this morning and walked them up the hill," she said. Ashton frowned. "Arya is glad to have someone near her age to talk to, but Carl is not a kid, he's a soldier". Carol tried to resist the flicker of anger at his words; Ashton had no idea the terrible things Carl had seen or had to do to survive. Her voice was without rancor when she spoke, "He is a soldier, but she is safer right now because he is not just hanging out with her, Carl is protecting her. He protects people that he cares about."
Ashton decided it was time to get on track, "Carol, I would like it if you would visit some people with me today. I try to call on every family on the mountain every week or so to see if they need anything. Most people stay close to their home and gardens, but they are lonesome for company. Will you come? We're kin to most of them some way or other. It's time for you to come calling on your kin". He laughed as he said "come calling on your kin". That's what Grandma Nancy had said every morning when he showed up to play with Carol. He knew Carol remembered it too from her wistful smile.
Carol kept the conversation on track, "I don't know what good I could be, I would just be in the way". Ashton wasn't so easily dissuaded, "Carol, just come with me, I think you'll do fine. Now go take a shower and I'll be back in 30 minutes. Carol still hesitated, "What do I wear?" He laughed, "Don't worry about that, just wear a smile, and bring your weapons. They'll soon learn that Carl isn't the only soldier in the outfit".
Carol was ready when Ashton drove up in his jeep. She had decided on a pair of blue jeans with a blue and white striped top that Maggie had grabbed on a run for her. She carried Zak, her knife, her pistol, and her rifle. She had looked for Daryl but he must be out hunting because no one had seen him for a while.
Ashton said that he wanted to visit some people who lived farther away first in case they ran out of time. He explained when the ZA hit the people who lived on the mountain and in the valley farms had isolated themselves from one another. They survived because they had weapons and could use them. Little by little the walkers were killed and there were less danger, but the families were afraid to venture back into the community.
Carol enjoyed the drive; she remembered riding around these hills with her grandparents and visiting as a child. She was nervous however when Ashton drove up to a farmhouse and parked in the road. He beeped his horn, stepped out of the jeep, and waited. A man came out onto the porch with a shotgun, stood for a second, and called out, "Ashton, who you got with you? Ashton called back, "She's my first cousin, Carol Ann McAllister. She and her people just got here from Georgia. She lives in our Grandmother Nancy McAllister's place."
The man turned slightly toward the house for a moment. "The wife wants some company, Come on up". Ashton opened Carol's door, and she stepped out with Zak sheathed on her back and her knife sheathed at her side. She noticed that there were children's toys in the fenced in yard and on the porch. She figured that the children had been taught to get in the house when anyone came to the house.
She waited on the porch while Ashton introduced her to Jared Campbell. Carol thought he might be 30 or so, fairly clean and healthy looking. He opened the door and his wife came out holding a baby and with two little boys peeking out behind her. The wife's name was Marissa and she grabbed Carol's hand like it was a lifeline. The porch had a swing and Marissa and Carol sat down on one side of the porch while Ashton and Jared sat on rockers at the other end. Marissa told their story; they had been living in a town close to Charlotte and Jared got a telephone call from a guy he had been in Afghanistan with warning him that this was the real deal and to get to a safe place. Jared always kept the truck gas tank filled and extra in the garage. He helped her pack everything they could get in the truck and they had taken off for his parent's farm. It was the middle of the night, she had two small children, and she thought he might be overreacting. They didn't make a stop until they got here. His parents welcomed them with open arms, helping them unload the truck and get set up in the house. Marissa's eyes filled with tears as she told Carol that Jared's parents had left to check on an elderly aunt the next day and never came back. Jared had blocked off the road then and they had taken turns standing guard. The first few months were the hardest but they had survived on the food stored in the house. In the spring they started growing their own food and her husband had helped her deliver her baby when the time came.
Jared and Ashton moved their chairs closer; Ashton had been telling Jared about the prison battle and about how difficult life had been for Carol's group. Jared eyed Carol a little suspiciously; she didn't look like a warrior to him. He wanted to see her sword and he noticed that she handled like a weapon and not a toy. She explained that they had learned not to waste ammo and that noise attracted walkers so that they had learned to use weapons that were quiet. Jared listened to her; she might look like she should be teaching kindergarten but she knew about fighting walkers. He decided that he wouldn't underestimate Carol; she was the kind of woman that you wanted to be at your back when the shit hit the fan.
Ashton unloaded a box from the jeep. The box had some books, magazines, clothes, and some toiletries. There were some small toys for the boys and a rattle for the baby. Ashton reminded them that the town had a doctor if they got sick. They also had new neighbors; some new people had taken over the Samples's place. The couple had made it in from Atlanta, lived in town for a while, and then just this spring had moved out here. They were just kids; the girl was going to have a baby and could use some company. The boy was a little overwhelmed trying to learn how to take care of a farm. Ashton kept his tone light; he didn't want to get Jared's back up. They had survived out here by keeping everyone else out and they would have to decide for themselves if they wanted to change things.
Jared and Marissa sat in the swing after their company left. The baby was asleep in her mother's arms and their boys were playing on the porch with some toys. Jared knew that his family was safe, but he kept seeing how happy Marissa had been to sit and talk with another woman. His voice was gentle when he spoke to his wife, "I think I will ride the horse over to the Sample's farm. Maybe you could pack up a little something for me to take over there. I'll talk to those kids and see if they need some help. I want to check them out, and maybe we could have them over for dinner?" Marissa stood up, "I'll get a basket together. It would be good to have some neighbors close."
Carol and Ashton called on people most of the day. He was good with talking to the men when he visited and Carol drew out the women. They made a good team. Most people were curious about life outside the mountains, and Carol talked to them about what she knew. Between being a McAllister and a Coulter Carol and Ashton could claim kin to half the people they met. One elderly cousin had thought Carol was Nancy McAllister when she came into the house to meet him.
Ashton and Carol talked on the way home about the people that they had visited. They were strong resilient people, but they needed basic supplies to survive. They both knew the answer was to scavenge from the cities overrun with walkers.
TWDTWD
Andrea had had a good afternoon with Joaquin. He showed her the town which must have been a sweet touristy town at one time. It was now basically empty. There was a small hospital and it was a hub of activity. Joaquin's group occupied a small armory. They protected the town and they helped to keep basic utilities functioning. Newcomers were housed here until they could find homes outside the town.
Andrea enjoyed being with Joaquin. He was genuinely concerned with the welfare of the people of this place; he was everything that she had thought the Governor had been. She was taking it slow, but she was feeling more relaxed and confident with him.
TWDTWD
Daryl had went hunting that morning, and had enjoyed being back in the fields and forests. He had followed a graveled road from the house. He soon found himself at Sam and Dave's distillery. They met him in the yard and gave him the grand tour. Daryl figured Merle was turning in his grave to see his baby brother being escorted around by two gay men. Daryl didn't care about that; it wasn't his business what other people did. Sam and Dave were happy to show off their distillery and their home. The distillery was used to make scotch whiskey, but they were also experimenting with creating biofuels and creating energy. They had solar panels and a generator running on homemade alcohol.
Daryl was impressed with their house; they had made a comfortable home here in the mountains. He invited them to the wedding and reception. They were happy about the wedding and promised to be there. Daryl asked them about any empty dwellings close by. He wanted to have a place to take Carol for a brief honeymoon. It needed to be safe and close by. Sam mentioned an abandoned cabin that was not far from her, Dave said it was pretty primitive but they were willing to show it to him.
The cabin was on the other side of the mountain but very close to the top. There was a trail from the distillery to the cabin and they followed it up. The one room log cabin was dusty, the windows were broken, but it had been built to last and it was still a sturdy structure. The roof needed fixing and the floors were weak, but Daryl saw the potential. The windows could be fixed; he could put new subflooring down in a few hours. The cabin had a cistern and that could be cleaned. He could bring drinking water in. There was an outhouse but they had survived a winter on the run.
The two other men caught Daryl enthusiasm; they had lots of materials stored in some outbuildings. There were steps to the sleeping loft and the fireplace seemed secure. They walked around the house and began to organize what needed to be done. Daryl could fix the floor with some plywood. They could use the four wheeler to haul the materials up the hill. They spent the rest of the day working on the cabin. Dave had brought up lunch in the early afternoon and Daryl thanked them for all that they done today and since the prison group had come to the mountain. Dave told the story about meeting Nancy McAllister in town when he and Sam had lived there years ago. She had not judged them; she told them that there was some land for sale up on the mountain. They had followed her home and she showed them the empty pasture land that was now their home. She sold them the pasture and they lived in a tent up on the mountain while they built their house, and then the distillery. They had loved Nancy and owed their lives to her. They were happy to do anything to help and they were having fun. They loved a good project and would love to help with the barn house.
Daryl worked until late afternoon; he left them still hard at work on the windows. They were going to add wooden shutters and were deep in discussion if they wanted to add a design to the shutters. Daryl promised to the be back in the morning, but left wondering how he was going to explain his lack of success in hunting. Fortunately, he was able to get three rabbits on the way back.
Daryl was excited about the cabin. He wanted to bring Carol to a safe place where they could actually be alone. He wanted it to be special and these two good men were going to help him. He was going to keep it a secret for now.
TWDTWD
That night at dinner everyone exchanged stories of their day. Daryl mentioned that he had visited with Sam and Dave and that they could help with the barn project. Andrea had invited Joaquin for dinner and they all shared rabbit stew and cornbread. It was good to be home and back with the group. They walked over to Ashton's to visit with Hershel. Beth and Jonathan sang together in the courtyard. Then, they walked back up to their house with Canary. They sat on the front porch and watched the fireflies dance in the darkness. It had been a good day.
