Chapter 27
The creep and the brute
"Is this seat taken?" Emma asked Gordie, the newcomer standing guard outside the guest quarters.
"Whatever." He said dismissively, propping up the shotgun on his shoulder.
Emma sat down and plunked her leather cleaning beside her. As she started working, she thought about the events that had happened earlier that day. Gordie and Roger had wandered up to the fortress at dawn. Given that they were only two, Costas had decided to let them in for the one week trial.
Roger was about Daryl's size with a slightly stockier build. His blond hair and tanned skin made him look like the star of a surfing movie. He spoke with the confidence of someone who knew he was a looker and played on it.
Gordie, on the other hand, was a clear foot taller than Daryl. He looked like a linebacker.
Emma didn't trust either of them.
Even though he was the stronger looking one, she was relieved to find Gordie on first watch. Roger made her nervous. Archer couldn't quite pin down why, but she was uneasy with him around. He'd held her hand too long when they shook and she'd felt his eyes on her more than once.
Before she could share her concerns with Daryl, he caught her looking at Roger across the square. "You don't like him." It was a statement, not a question.
"He makes my skin crawl." She shuddered. "He's been nothing but polite, but.."
Daryl nodded. "Too nice. Yeah. Seen that type 'fore."
"I've got first watch on them tonight."
"I'll take it." Daryl said. "Safer that way."
She sighed "No, Cap wants me to sit it. We need to know how they're going to be around the women."
"So yer bait?" His voice was gruff.
"Who else? Svetlana and Maggie are off o a run. Sara's scared out of her skull, Sheila's got the boys to worry about…"
"Michonne."
"She's too intimidating." Archer shook her head. "There's a reason Cap asks me to sit watch. I just don't look like any kind of threat."
"Fine. I'll sit watch on ya both from the second floor. He won't see me. You just make sure I c'n see you."
As Emma sat next to Gord, she hazarded a quick glance up to the second floor where she knew Daryl was watching. She couldn't see him in the shadows, but felt better knowing he was there.
"So how long have you known Roger?" She kept her eyes on her riding boots as she polished them.
"Dunno, six months maybe." Gordie shifted from one foot to the other.
"Do you want a chair or something?" Emma asked him.
"I'm fine." He leaned back against the building.
"Where do you come from?"
"Look, I'm not interested in playing fifty questions." He snapped. "Can you just shut up already?"
"Suit yourself." She said, keeping her face expressionless. It's going to be a long watch.
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"Would you be so kind as to pass the jam?" Roger had taken Michael's usual spot at lunch. He was sitting awfully close too.
She reached over and passed the jar to him. Sliding his fingers over Archer's when he took it from her.
"Hey." Daryl plunked himself down on her other side. Under the table he put a reassuring hand on her thigh.
"Can we get more food down here?" Gordie growled from across the table. He looked back at Roger. "We should've sat closer to the kitchen."
"But the company is better over here." Roger said smoothly, flashing Emma a smile. "So where do you come from, Emma?"
"I lived south of here, near the University. What about you?"
"I came from Montreal, had a pretty successful online business. What did you do?"
"I worked for a logistics company."
"Were you a secretary?" He asked.
Emma rankled at bit at that. "Yes, I worked for the VP of finance." She lied. I was a lot higher than a secretary, you jackass.
"What about you Daryl? What did you do?" His eyes twinkled.
Daryl shrugged. "Plumber."
"A good trade to have." Roger said dismissively.
Emma held Daryl's hand under the table. She wanted to ensure he didn't deck Roger. If anyone was going to deck him, she really wanted the first shot. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm on dish duty. Enjoy the rest of your breakfast."
As she stood to leave Roger grabbed her hand. "Come on, stay just a little bit longer."
"Duty calls." She slipped out of his hold and headed back into the kitchen with her plate. She cast a pleading glance at Rick as she walked by. He nodded and moved his plate down to sit between Roger and Daryl.
Two days down, five more to go.