Chapter Seven

Beth's eyes opened when the sunlight started filtering into her room through her curtains and she brought her hand up to her mouth, touching her lips tenderly with her fingertips.

"Last night...was that a dream...?" She sat up and looked down at her soft pink shorts, picking a piece of hay off of them. She grabbed her jacket from the end of the bed, bundling it up and bringing it to her face. It smelled of his body wash and she closed her eyes, last night flooding back into her memories. She wanted to rewind, to be pulled back up against him and feel his mouth crushing down against hers.

She slid out of her bed and walked to her dresser, grabbing a pair of faded capris and a plain soft purple shirt. By the time she finished dressing she heard her mother calling her from the stairs. She ran a brush through her hair and was braiding it on the way down to the kitchen. She was greeted by a hug and a kiss on the cheek from her mother, and a good morning from Maggie who was already cracking eggs into a large mixing bowl.

Beth walked over to a bag of potatoes, washing and peeling as her mind continued to wander. He opened up to her, told her things she was sure he didn't confess to anyone else.

"Oh Daryl...I'm so sorry about your childhood..." The more she thought about the sad look in his eyes, the more she wanted to go find him and pull him into another hug. She glanced up to look out of the window over the sink and saw her father and Daryl walking out of the barn leading the horses to the pasture. She watched the two converse between peeling potatoes, watched Hershel pat Daryl's shoulder after they closed the pasture gate.

Annette looked over at Maggie and raised an eyebrow as she nodded towards Beth, Maggie shrugging with a small smile as she watched her staring out the window.

"Beth, hunny, you gonna shred those into hashbrowns before they turn black?" Annette asked, Beth jumping and apologizing. She grabbed the food processor from under the counter and began running peeled potatoes to it, Maggie laughing softly as she poured the eggs into a hot frying pan.

"You feelin' okay this morning, Bethy?" Maggie asked as her younger sister brought over the bowl of shredded potatoes, pouring some bacon grease into a large cast iron skillet and flipping the burner on.

"Yeah, just a little more tired than usual. I didn't sleep too well, I was up a little late last night." Beth answered as she started to sprinkle salt, pepper and a little oil on the hashbrowns, tossing them with her hands before dumping them into the hot bacon grease.

"Hunny if ya don' feel good you can go lie down until breakfast is ready." Annette offered as she started slicing fresh fruit and tossing it into a large wooden bowl.

"I'm fine, momma, I promise." Beth answered and reassured her with a big smile before they heard heavy footsteps on the back porch.

"Well, it looks like the rain let up earlier than we thought. We should be able to get quite a bit caught up today, so tomorrow should be much easier on us." Hershel said to Daryl as they walked in through the back door, sliding their boots off and walking through the kitchen. Beth looked up from the hashbrowns to meet Daryl's gaze as he walked past her, reaching out and letting his fingertips brush against her hip ever so softly as he passed her on the way to the diningroom. Beth felt her cheeks start to burn and turned back to the skillet, picking up her spatula and flipping the hashbrowns over.

"Alright, girls, we ready?" Annette asked as she and Maggie started grabbing bowls and plates of food.

"I'll be out there in a few more minutes, these are almost done. Go ahead and get the table set, I'll be quick." Beth said and the two walked out. She heard the conversation start in the dining room, the groaning of chairs being pulled across the hardwood floors. She heard her mother exclaim that she forgot the drinks, then sweetly ask Daryl if he minded grabbing them out of the fridge for her. Beth slid the hashbrowns out of the skillet and into a serving bowl just as Daryl rounded the corner into the kitchen.

"Mornin'." she said softly as she set the skillet down and wiped her hands off on a towel.

"Mornin'." he answered and opened the fridge, pulling the milk and orange juice pitchers out of the fridge, "You, ah, you okay after we...after what happened last night? I didn' mean ta get so worked up, didn' mean to dump all that crap about me in your lap."

"Daryl I meant what I said last night." she answered softly and he set the pitchers on the counter, "But I'm fine. Lips are a lil' tender, you got a firm kiss there, Dixon. But are you okay? You told me a lot last night."

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Sorry 'bout your mouth." he said and she giggled softly, moving to her tiptoes and placing a soft kiss on his cheek by the corner of his mouth.

"Don't worry 'bout it. But you could make it up to me by goin' swimmin' with us this evenin' since the storm passed earlier than expected. Glenn's off work today so he's comin' over for swimmin' and dinner. I'll help ya today to so we can go." she said with a wink before grabbing the bowl and walking towards the diningroom.

"You found us!" Maggie shouted as Glenn stepped out of his car, running up to him and hugging his neck.

"Where is everyone? I'd like to say hi." Glenn said with a smile as he hugged her back before shutting and locking his car.

"Dad's at the clinic, Mom's cleanin' house, and Beth and Daryl are layin' fresh straw in the horse stalls." Maggie answered as they started back towards the farmhouse, "Did you bring your swimmin' trunks?" Glenn held up a plastic shopping bag with a bundle of clothes in it and Maggie smiled. They walked inside, Annette looking up from where she sat on the couch polishing her good silver.

"Well hello, there. You must be Glenn." Annette said as she stood, Glenn walking towards her and nodding.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm Glenn Rhee, your daughter saved my skin when I met her." he said and Annette laughed, giving him a gentle hug.

"Oh please, you make me feel old callin' me ma'am. Be a dear and call me Annette. You hungry? I'll fix ya somethin' to eat if you'd like."

"Oh, no ma'am, er, Annette. I just ate not too long ago but thank you. You have a really beautiful home."

"You're sweet. Maggie, show him around, love." she said and went to sit back down at the couch. After a tour of the house they stopped in the kitchen, and grabbed a couple glasses of sweet tea before heading out onto the porch. She pointed out the garden to him, the pastures and was explaining to him where their property line was. Glenn watched her with a smile on his face he was sure looked goofy as hell but he didn't care. She was so passionate about her home, and it was obvious she loved it. After a few moments they saw Daryl and Beth make their way out of the barn wiping sweat from their face with bandanas, Beth sliding her boots off and walking with Daryl towards the house barefooted.

"You smell gross." they heard Beth tease as they got closer, Daryl nudging her with his elbow.

"You don't smell like a damn rose yourself." he said and cracked a smile at her, Beth laughing and nudging him back. As they got closer to the house Daryl nodded and waved, heading towards the side yard, Beth standing in front of the porch.

"Glad you could make it!" she said as she wiped her forehead again with her bandana, Annette walking out of the house with her car keys and a lunch box in hand, "You takin' daddy his lunch?"

"Yes, ya'll behave now. I'll be back afterwhile!" she called as she walked to her car, Beth hearing the water spicket turn on and seeing Daryl lean over and let the cold water run over his head.

"I'm glad I could come! Maggie's been talking up this swimming hole for a few days now." Glenn said and Beth smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, we'll have to take the horses though, it's too long a walk. The path starts way out there at the end of the pasture." she said as she turned to point, Maggie seeing Daryl creeping around the corner of the porch with the hose kinked in his hands. She smiled and nodded, a smirk creeping across Daryl's face as Beth kept explaining to Glenn how they'd get there.

"There's a huge rock we jump off of, and luckily it's rained so much the water will be high enough for us to jump and swim. I can't wait to GO!" she screamed as the cold water hit her, Beth whirling around to see Daryl armed with the waterhose.

"You smell better now?" he asked and she laughed through her screams, trying to block the water with her hands.

"Daryl! Stop!" she shouted, laughing and trying to walk towards him. He kinked the hose and walked over to Beth, smiling and laughing softly as he pushed her hair out of her face, "Thanks for the impromptu shower."

"You were complainin' about us stinkin, I'd figure I'd help you out." he said and she placed her hands on her hips.

"You play dirty." she said softly, "Now come on, let's go finish up so we can go swimmin'." He nodded in agreement and as he turned to walk back towards the spicket but Beth reached forward and snatched the hose from him, placing her thumb over the end and started spraying Daryl down.

"Beth!" he shouted and reached for her, spitting water out and trying to shield his face. He couldn't help but laugh though and heard her squeal as he got too close.

"Payback, Dixon!" she shouted, Glenn and Maggie laughing from the rocking chairs and hearing her scream as he grabbed the hose. She refused to let go and kept trying to aim the hose at him and soon, Daryl had her wrestled to the ground and both were rolling around trying to grab the hose from each other.

"You two are gonna be covered in mud!" Maggie called and shook her head as she laughed, "I'm gonna go ahead and go get changed into my bathing suit. There's a downstairs bathroom underneath the stairs if you wanna go ahead and change." Maggie said as she stood.

"Give up, Beth!"

"You first!" she said through fits of laughter as he rolled on top of her and tried to get the hose back.

"You sure Maggie don't mind us goin' ahead?" Daryl asked as Beth laid their towels on a rock, unbuckling the belt to her riding pants and sliding it off.

"She'll be here soon." Beth answered and turned her back, sliding her tank top off to expose a black bikini top and her creamy pale skin that built an urge for him to reach out and caress it. She slid her jeans off and revealed short black bikini shorts with a wide white belt around the top hem. She pulled a can of sunscreen out of her bag and sprayed herself down, turning around and tossing the can to Daryl.

"Will you get my back?" she asked as she walked up to him, Daryl swallowing hard and nodding in reply, "You okay?"

"Yeah, turn around and hold your hair up." After spraying her down he sprayed his arms and legs down, Beth getting the back of his neck after he refused to take of his black tank top. Beth could see the hint of a tattoo sticking out near his shoulder blade and she had the temptation to push his shirt back a little and see, but knew it may anger him.

"Come on." she said and slid her hand into his as she walked towards the water and glanced back, seeing him looking down at their interlocked fingers, "The water will feel great." She gave him a tender smile when he looked back at her and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He gave her a nod and a grin, walking up to her and sweeping her up off her feet like a new bride as he started walking into the water. When he let her go she dove under the surface, coming back up and wiping the water from her eyes. Her hair pooled around her shoulders and fanned out at the ends on the surface of the river. Daryl took a breath and disappeared under the surface and she looked around to see if she could see him in the water. She felt something brush her leg, then in between her calfs and suddenly she was lifted into the air.

"Well hello there." she said with a giggle as she sat upon Daryl's broad shoulders, his hands gripping her thighs firmly and looking up at her. She brushed his hair out of his face but he sank back under the water, sliding out from underneath her and popping back up behind her.

"Daryl?"

"Yeah?"

"Before I get ahead of myelf, what did last night mean?" she asked and saw his gaze fall to look at the water.

"I'm not really sure if I know that answer." Daryl mumbled and let his gaze move back to her face slowly. God she was cute, her eyes big and questioning, intoxicating, drawing him in. Her lips were parted just slightly and he suddenly remembered the feel and taste of them from the previous night. He could almost smell the hay and feel the way her body pressed up against his own. He rubbed his face with his hands as he sghed in frustration with himself.

"That's okay." she said and placed her hands gently over his, moving them away from his face, "I was jus' curious is all."

"I wanna do it again." She felt her heart hammer against her chest, wondering if she had heard him right as she looked into his eyes. They were narrowed with what seemed to be a hunger and she felt a small lump in her throat.

"You wanna do what?"

"Last night. I want to...fuck, Beth, I want to kiss you again." he spat out and she giggled softly.

"I've never had anyone demand one from me." she teased softly and felt his arms grab her sides and pull her with ease through the water and up against him. She slipped her hands around to the back of his neck and she could sense his caution. She pulled his head down and met his lips softly which were cold from the water. He slid his arms under her bottom and hiked her up his body, feeling her legs wrap around his waist as she kept the kiss soft and gentle.

Daryl's head felt like it was spinning, his mind clouding once her lips met his. What was she doing to him? What was she doing to him to make him feel so vulnerable and open, and yet so safe with her? Whatever it was Beth was doing, he didn't mind it a bit. He kept his arms hooked under her, not letting his hands wander even though it was tempting to do so. He felt a wildfire burning inside him and wanted to move her to the shore, lay her out on one of the blankets and give in to his need and desire for her but something about her slowed him down.

"What's wrong with me?" Daryl murmured against her lips and she smiled and laughed softly.

"It may be me. I'm not too experienced with this." she answered and he shook his head slightly with an amused laugh.

"No, Beth, no it's not you. I mean it is you, but in a good way. You're good at smoothing my rough edges." he said and let her lips brush against his.

"We're almost there, hold on!" they heard Maggie laugh and Daryl let out a soft groan, his forehead resting on her collar bone before she slid her legs from around him and parted from him but not without a quick kiss.

"Sorry we're late! Maggie called as she tied her horse up to the same tree as Beth's, stripping her pants and crop top off before jumping into the river with Glenn shortly behind her, "God this is Heaven! Come on, Beth let's go jump off the rock!" As the day wore on the four were busy swimming, splashing, and competing in an occasional game of Chicken.

Daryl looked over from the large rock he sat on with Glenn, drinking his bottle water and watching Beth as she lay out on her towel in the sun, one arm draped over her eyes. He had the urge to steal her away, sneak off and hide behind a large tree so he could have a taste of her again but decided against it, knowing she was enjoying her day with her sister and friends.

Friends.

What were they now?