"How is he?" Dale asked staring at Rick and Lori.
"He'll pull through." Lori said her voice shaky she nodded to the Greenes. "Thanks to Hershel and his people."
"And Shane." Rick added. "We would have lost Carl if not for him.
Shane looked around the group his eyes holding guilt. "I'm so sorry Rick." Rose said quietly wrapping her arms around the cop. "I know I barley know him but I still care."
He nodded and dug his face into her shoulder still trying to coup with his injured son. "You apart of the group just as I am Rose. Don't feel less important." He whispered to her and pulled away.
"How'd it happen?" Dale asked.
Rick looked around. "Huntin' accident. Just a stupid accident."
"We'll grid the whole area, start searchin' in teams." Rick looked at Maggie's map.
"Not you, not today." Hershel butted in to Rick. "You gave three units of blood. You wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out." he looked at Shane. "And you're ankle- push it now, you'll be laid up a month, no good to anyone."
"Guess it's just me." Daryl said sighing. "I'm gonna head back to the creek, work my way from there."
"I can still be useful." Shane said looking at the map. "I'll drive up the interstate see if Sophia wandered back."
"All right, tomorrow then." Rick sighed. "We'll start doing this right."
"That means we can't have our people out there with knives." Shane pointed out. "They need the gun training we've been promising."
"I'd prefer you not carrying guns on my property." Hershel polite wording held such authority in the statement. "We've managed so far without turning this into an armed camp."
Shane stood up straight. "With all due respect, you get a crowd of those things wandering in here…"
"Look we're guest here.' Rick stepped between the little feud. "This is your property and we will respect that." He dug into his pocket and pulled out his gun placing it on the hood of the car. Reluctantly Shane pulled out his and placed it next to Rick's. "First things first: Set camp, find Sophia."
"I hate to be the one to ask but somebody's got to. What happens if we find her and she's bit?" Shane asked. "I think we should all be clear on how to handle that."
"You do what has to be done." Rick said and looked down at his feet.
"And her mother? What do you tell her?" Maggie questioned.
Andre eyed Maggie. "The truth."
"I'll gather up the weapons. Make sure no one's carrying till we're at a practice range off site." Shane said picked up his gun. "I do request one rifleman on lookout. Dale's got experience."
"Our people would feel safer, less inclined to carry a gun." Rick stated. Hershel look at him before slowly nodding. "Thank you."
Rose had shimmied her way between Rick and Maggie. "Can I help?" she asked.
"Why don't you just go sit down and look pretty." Shane spat at her. "You ain't much as use as me."
"I'm tryin' to earn my keep." She trailed off looking away from Shane. Keeping eye contact with he man was something she found a dislike to.
"Why don't you go and help the others get water?" Rick smiled at her placing a hand on her shoulder.
Rose looked at him then back at Shane. "Can I help look for Sophia?"
Daryl positioned his crossbow. "Until you know how to defend yourself you ain't comin' with me." He chuckled walking passed her. "See you later little missy."
"She could come into town with me." Maggie said looking at the girl.
Rick shook her head. "It's best she stays here until she knows how to work with a weapon. Why don't you take Glenn with?"
"I'm sorry Rick." Rose frowned. "I'm being more a hassle than a help."
"You're doin' just fine." He smiled down at her.
"That's one ugly walker." Rose said staring down at the fat walker in the well.
Dale cringed at the sight. "Looks like we've got us a swimmer."
"How long you think he's been down there?" Glenn asked.
"Long enough to grow gills." Andrea added.
"We can't leave it down there. Who's knows what its doin' to the water." Lori stated matter-of-factly.
"We got to get it out." Shane said.
"Easy. Put a bullet in its head." T-Dog said. "I'll get a rope."
"Whoa, whoa guys. No." Maggie protested.
Glenn squinted at her. "Why not? It's a good plan."
"It's a stupid plan." Andrea glared at Glen. "If that thing hasn't contaminated the water yet, blowing its brains out will finish the job."
"She's right." Shane nodded. "Can't risk it."
"So it has to come out alive." T-Dog said.
Shane shrugged. "So to speak."
"How do we do that?" Glen asked.
Shane smiled at Rose. "Why don't you contribute to the group darlin'."
"We could send a piece of meat down there and see if goes for it." Rose stroked her chin looking down at the scene. "Then wrap a rope around its neck and yank it up."
The group shrugged in agreement and Shane tied a piece of ham to a fishing line casting it down the well with a nosed rope. "He's not going for it." Dale pointed out.
"Maybe cause a canned ham don't kick and scream when you try to eat it." T-Dog spat.
"He's right." Lori looked at the group. "There's a reason the dead didn't come back to life and start raiding our cupboards."
"We need live bait." Andrea stated.
Everyone's eyes turned to Glenn except for Shane who was staring at Rose with sarcasm. "Come on Rose do your part to earn you keep eh?"
"No it's fine Shane I can do it." Glen said defending the new girl.
"Nah man let her go down in that well. Kick and scream for a while maybe that walker will get a bite out of your skank ass." He shot at her.
Rose glared at him. "Fine. I'll go down there." Shane chuckled grabbing the rope and wrapping it around her waist tightly. She sat down on the edge of the well looking down at the gagging walker. "Have I mentioned I like your new haircut." She said her fear quickly replacing her adrenaline. "You have a nice shaped head."
"Don't worry about it girly." Shane stepped away. "Maybe you'll taste good as walker food." He gave her a small pat on the back.
"Don't let me die." She pleaded with Maggie as they began to lower her into the well.
"We got ya'." Maggie gave her a smile. "You people are crazy."
"You want to get it out of your well or not?' Shane hollered.
Dale motioned to the well. "Give an eye there, Maggie."
She grabbed the rope tightly as the thing's face came into her view. "Oh dear." She whispered to herself feeling the rising vomit in her throat. A deep breath was released from her mouth as the walker gargled at her as she was lowered lower.
"Doin' okay?" Maggie asked from above her.
"Just fine thank." She smiled sarcastically up at her. "Livin' the dream.' She said to herself shining her flashlight on the walker. She grabbed the noosed rope and lowered it from her as she was lowered herself.
"Little lower. Little more." She heard Maggie's voice say but it was masked by the growls of the walker. She heard a large creaking noise from above then suddenly felt herself drop completely. Rose grabbed the rope flinging her legs as far away from the snarling walker, she let out a scream only making the walker want to grab her more. She pressed her legs to the side of the well hoping to climb up, but her hands were slippery from anxiousness making her slip.
"Get it! Get it!" The group shouted but the pipe flung completely off making Rose fall closer to the hungry walker.
"Get me out of here!" She shouted tears pooling out of her eyes.
The group strained to pull the rope back. "Pull! Pull! Pull!" they exclaimed tugging at the rope yanking it backwards. She grabbed the top of the well and struggled to pull herself out.
Shane grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out. "Are you okay?" he hollered as she collapsed onto the dusty ground.
Lori grabbed her hand helping her up. "Are you okay?"
Rose gave a cry and stood up untangling herself from the ropes. "I hate you!" she shouted at Shane pushing him away and stumbling back to the farm house.
"Back to the drawing board." Dale added as they watch her run away tripping over her own feet.
Shane picked up the rope Rose had just thrown on the ground. "Says you." He said in disbelief tugging on the rope that was wrapped around the walker's neck.
Rick looked behind him then back to Hershel. "You need to reconsider."
"I beg your pardon?" Hershel questioned.
"Askin' us to leave." Rick turned to face him. "You need to reconsider. If you saw of it is out there you wouldn't ask. You're a man of belief. If you believe anything believe that."
"You're puttin' me on the spot." Hershel said eyeing Rick.
"Well, I mean to." Rick stepped closer. "Those people look to me for answers. I wish they didn't, but they do. But I'm not askin' for them or myself. I'm askin' for my boy. After the price your friend Otis paid, the least you can do is give it some thought."
"You're a plainspoken man." Hershel squinted at him.
"I'm a father." Rick pointed out. "He's the one thing I don't want to fail." He said walking over to the porch steps and taking a seat. "I feel like I do every day. I lied to him this morning. It wasn't a big lie, but it was enough."
Hershel placed a foot on the porch step. "My father didn't bother with comforting lies. He used his fist. He was a loveless, violent drunk and no good to anybody. He drove me from home when I was 15. Didn't lay eyes on this place again for many years. I was not at his deathbed, Rick. I would not grant him that and to this day do not regret it. Some men do not earn the love of their sons." He took a seat next to Rick on the porch. "I don't see you having that problem."
"Will you consider my request?" Rick look at him.
"There are aspects to this, things I can't and won't discuss. But if you and your people respect my rules, no promises, but I will consider it. You have my word." Hershel said.
Rick stood up and held out his hand for Hershel to shake. "You have mine."
"Rick!" he heard a voice shouting and suddenly Rose came sprinting at him tears streaming down her face. "Rick." She said quieter jumping into his arms.
Hershel nodded. "I'll leave you be." And then he walked back into his house.
Rick pulled away from the frightened girl. "What happened Rose? Why you all shook up?"
She shook her head. "I thought I was going to die. They found a walker in there and were trying to get it out so it wouldn't contaminate the water, but it wasn't going for the ham so Shane suggested I go down there as live bait." She took a deep breath. "They wrapped me in rope and lowered me down but when I was halfway the rope gave way and I plummeted towards the walker. It was so scary Rick."
Rick gave her a small smile. "Next time don't go in a well."
"I just wanted to prove I was helpful." She stared up at him.
He swiped his thumb across her cheek wiping away the tear. "You don't have to prove anything you're already helpful." He stepped away. "I'm going to go have a word to Shane okay?" she nodded watching him walk away.
"Hey!" she heard a voice and turned around seeing Daryl trudging towards her. "You alright?"
"Yes," she looked down not wanting to show the fear in her eyes.
Daryl was lifting up her chin in an instant catching the slight redness in her swollen eyes. "You've been crying."
"Because I freaked out..." she trailed off. Her wants to been seen as brave in his eyes were failing, but she guessed Daryl already knew she could not survive on her own. "It's embarrassing." she eyed his crossbow seeing a chance to get off the topic of her near death experience. She did not care if Rick knew it was hard for her not to be frightened, but Daryl, Daryl was different. She felt a need to be seen as brave in his eyes although he allowed her to hide behind him most of he time Rose was ashamed of ever crying in front of him because of her jumpy attitude. "Isn't that heavy?"
Daryl swung in his arms. "Nothing I can't manage." He smiled placing it on the ground by his feet. "I got this for you." He held out his hand inside was a white flower. "It's a Cherokee Rose. The story is that when American soldiers were moving Indians off their land on the trail of tears the Cherokee mothers were grieving and crying so much 'cause they were losing their little ones along the way from exposer and disease and starvation. A lot of them just disappeared. So the elders, the said a prayer; asked for a sign to uplift the mothers sprits, give them strength and hope. The next day this rose started to grow right where the mother's tears fell."
Rose furrowed her eyebrows. "I didn't lose a child though. You should be givin' this to Carol."
"I know." He shuffled his feet, "but I thought since your name was Rose you'd like it more."
Rose moved closer to him placing her petite hand under his closing his fingers around the rose. "I love it Daryl, but I think Carol needs it more than me right now." She leaned up on her tippy toes and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Made my day better."
"You did look awfully shook up." he eyed her.
"Yeah." She trailed off.
Daryl sheepishly grinned at her. "A couple more weeks with us and you'll be kickin' walker ass."
"Hopefully." She nodded and walked away towards the rest of their group.
Tell me what you guys are thinking so far?
Is there anything you want to see in the next chapters? Anything I can fix? Tell me and I am glad to change so I may please you all.
Lots of Love xoxo -kate