Chapter Nine
"Glad you could make it out." Hershel said as he opened the front door, Rick shaking his hand and holding up a grocery bags of chips and sodas.
"Thank you for inviting us." Rick said and let his very pregnant wife, Lori in first, followed by his young son, Carl.
"You're welcome, thank you for comin'! Oh Lori, look at you! You look radiant!" Annette said as she walked into the parlor, pulling Lori into a gentle hug before looking down at Carl, "Hello, Mr. Grimes, and how are you today?"
"Really hungry, Mrs. Greene." the thirteen year-old answered with a grin, "Where's Beth at?"
"She's helpin' Daryl set up outside, she'll be back inside in a minute." Annette said before Rick handed Carl the bags and asked him to take them into the kitchen.
"How's Daryl been doin' since he started?" Rick asked as they made their way into the kitchen.
"He's been doin' real good, Rick. He's been an awful good help. I've been able to be at the clinic more, and Annette has been able to help her friends out and be at all her club meetings." Hershel said as he helped Annette pull the pitchers of drinks out of the fridge.
"He's he good around your girls?" Lori asked and Hershel nodded as he stacked glasses on the counter.
"Maggie's still not too fond of him, but she's slowly coming around." Annette answered as they started towards the back door.
"And Beth?" Rick asked and Hershel smiled, pointing towards the backyard.
"See for yourself." They peeked out the screen door, seeing Daryl and Beth outside trying to set up the picnic tables under the tree. Daryl reached into one of the drink coolers, grabbing a piece of ice and tossing it at Beth.
"Daryl!" she squealed after the ice hit her, Daryl laughing and popping a piece in his mouth.
"They seem to be doing well together." Lori said with a smile as she rubbed her swollen belly, watching the two in the yard.
"They've been side by side for weeks." Annette said, "They're such good friends, Beth really opened Daryl up. Well, if ya'll are hungry let's head on out. Beth! Daryl! You guys got a handle on things?" The two looked up from the picnic table as they pulled the checkered table cloth over it, Beth smiling and hurrying up their guests.
"Lori! Rick! Hi guys!" she called as Lori took her into her arms in a big hug, "Where's Carl?"
"He should be headed out here. Probably stopped to go to the restroom. Annette is there anything I can help you with?"
"Not at all, Lori, now you sit down and rest your feet. Trust me once that little 'un is here you ain't gonna have two seconds to yourself. Beth, sweetie, grab Lori somethin' to drink, will ya?" Annette said and Lori smiled, patting Beth's hand and grabbing a Pepsi out of the cooler.
"Daryl, it's good to see you again." Rick said as he walked up to Daryl, holding his hand out for him.
"You too, Officer."
"Just call me Rick. How's Hershel been treatin' ya?"
"He's a slave driver." Daryl said with a smirk, hearing Hershel chuckle from the barbeque and Rick laugh as well, "Nah, man, he's been real good to me."
"I'm glad to hear that. I like seeing you here and not behind my prison bars." Rick said with a smile as he walked to the coolers, grabbing a waterbottle and offering one to Daryl, who turned it down so he could have a glass of Beth's strawberry lemonade.
"Beth!" Carl shouted as he came out of the house, Beth setting the bowl of chips down and waving.
"Hey, Carl! I was wonderin' when I was gonna see you 'gain!" she shouted as she shielded the sun from her eyes.
"When do we get to go fishin' again?" Carl asked as he walked up to her and gave her a one armed hug.
"Soon as your mama and daddy give me the okay to come get you early one mornin' and take you. Goodness, you're growin' like a weed." she said, seeing that he was almost her height.
"Soon I'm gonna be taller than you." he said with a grin as he puffed his chest out proudly.
"Food's ready!" Hershel called over his shoulder, Rick walking over to help him collect it off of the grill.
"Meet me in the hayloft tonight." Beth heard Daryl whisper in her ear as he walked past her to go help with the food. She turned her head to look at him and smiled, blushing when he gave her a wink.
"So...do you only want to be a photographer?" Daryl asked as he opened the hayloft doors, letting the moonlight fill the space and wash over their two bodies.
"Well, not just a photographer." Beth said as she kicked her cowboy boots off, her socks following and wiggling her now free toes, "Ah, much better. I hate wearin' shoes."
"What else do you wanna be?" he asked as he took out his pack of cigarettes and placed one between his lips, lighting it and inhaling deeply, "Much better." he said, smirking at Beth who only chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"I wanna be a wife." she answered and leaned against the doorframe, watching the soft rain fall and heard the low rumble of distant thunder, "I wanna be a good wife too who makes her husband happy. And I wanna be a mother. I wanna have two or three babies, and I wanna sit with my husband on our front porch holding hands and rocking as we watch our children run and play in the front yard. I want a farm just like this one and I wanna drink sweet tea out of mason jars and watch the sunsets."
"Sunsets and sweet tea, huh?" Daryl asked and she smiled with a nod, "You sound like you want quite a bit."
"I'm a dreamer, Mr. Dixon." she said softly as she smiled, playing with the hem of her shirt, "What do you want?"
"I don' really want nothin'." he mumbled and took another drag from his cigarette, blowing the smoke out and flicking the ashes out of the barn.
"Everybody wants somethin'." she replied and he looked over, seeing her watching him and waiting for an answer, "You ever thought 'bout getting' married or having babies?"
"It crossed my mind every once in a while, but the thought never stayed. I don' think I'd be a good dad." he said and looked out across the farm to avoid her questioning gaze, puffing on his cigarette to ease his nerves.
"I think you would be. I know you would be."
"Nah, I'm too afraid I'll end up like my pa, and I'd rather walk this Earth alone for forever than turn out like him." Daryl said as he finished his cigarette, dropping the butt into his water bottle that was still partially full.
"Daryl." she said softly and he looked back over at her, "You'd make a great father."
"How do ya know?" he asked and she smiled, shrugging her shoulders.
"I just know."
"C'mere." Daryl said and held out his hand to her, Beth crawling across the quilt and Daryl pulling her to him, "This is the first time we've gotten to spend some time alone together all week." She settled down between his legs, laying back against him and smiled when his arms wrapped around her shoulders.
"I have a question to ask you." she murmured.
"Hmm?"
"My birthday is in two weeks, an' it's on a Friday."
"I know when your birthday is." he said and ran a hand through her hair slowly, feeling the silky locks slide between his fingers.
"Well, we're goin' to Savannah for the weekend, and I was wonderin' if you wanted to go with us."
"I don' want to intrude." he said softly and she tilted her head back to look up at him.
"You're not intrudin'. I went to ask daddy today if you could go and he asked me if you were goin' before I had a chance to get the question out."
"You sure you want my ass goin'?" he asked and she nodded without hesitation, "Alright, I'll go with ya."
"One more question." she said with a grin and he laughed softly, "Will you go to church with us on Sunday? I'm singin' and I wanted-."
"Church? Girl I ain't been to a church once." he said and sighed when he looked into her big blue eyes, "I ain't got nothin' nice to wear."
"I'll look and see what Shawn's got in his closet." she said and saw the half hearted smile as he he pulled her back against him as the rain started to pick back up again.
"This is nice." she said softly and felt him rest his chin on top of her head. She closed her eyes as she listened to the rain fall outside, the fat drops hitting the roof of the barn.
"Quiet up here." he muttered, "I like it."
"I do too. I loved sneakin' out here to spend some time alone many many nights. But now I have a whole new reason to love sneakin' out here."
"What's that?" Daryl asked and she turned her head to look at him.
"I get to spend alone time with you." Her voice was soft and soothing and when he breathed in deep he could smell her shampoo; peaches and vanilla. He lowered his head, kissing her quickly and softly and as he went to pull away he stopped, his eyes searching hers. He saw the small smirk pull at the corner of her mouth and he brought his head back down, this time letting his lips linger a bit longer. Her hand moved to rest at the nape of his neck, tangling her fingers in his shaggy hair and holding him to her. She turned around to face him and he placed his hands on her hips, pulling her body against his. He grabbed her legs and moved them so she was straddling his lap.
Beth cupped his face in her hands and felt his rough beard and stubble against her palms, moving her hands to run her fingers through his hair and hold him firmly to her as he moved his mouth with hers in a passionate kiss. She parted her lips and let her tongue run along his bottom lip, Daryl sliding his tongue along hers before gaining access into her mouth. Her kiss was sweet as milk and honey, her soft moans sending a shiver down his spine and fueling a small flame inside him that was quickly turning into a raging wildfire. A loud clap of thunder made her jump and she pressed herself hard against him, clinging to him and Daryl groaning in desire as her hips shoved hard against him.
"Did I hurt you?" she asked as he placed his forehead against her collarbone and shook it.
"The opposite." he said and she giggled softly, tilting his head back up and placing a soft kiss against his lips. She bit her bottom lip and he brought his head up, nipping her chin playfully and she laughed.
He wanted her. Fucking hell he wanted her bad but he wasn't sure if he should make the move. For one, she was a virgin, and he knew that from the way she was raised her virginity was something special and she wasn't going to give it to just anyone. Second of all, what girl like Beth wanted to roll around and lose her virginity to some redneck, especially in a hayloft in a barn? And third? What would Hershel do if he ever found out his farmhand was hooking up with his youngest daughter? He pulled her as close as he could to his body and buried his face in her neck, letting his lips and teeth kiss and bite the tender flesh of her neck.
Beth wanted to say it. The words were right on the tip of her tongue but she held them in, afraid that she would mess up their time alone if she said anything. And she definitely didn't want to make things awkward between them if he didn't feel the same about her. Those three words threatened to break free from between her lips and she had to bite the inside of her cheek. His hands moved to underneath her shirt and held her waist. Her skin felt like it was on fire and she blushed at the growing ache and need for him at the apex of her thighs.
After the next clap of thunder that shook the barn Beth heard a small noise from below the hayloft window and placed her hand on Daryl's shoulder to stop him.
"What?" he whispered and she placed her finger to her lips, straining her ears to hear. Then she heard it, the whimpering of a dog. A very small dog. She leaned out the window and gasped as she saw a small black figure pawing at the barn door, hurrying to grab her cowboy boots and slide them on.
"Where ya goin'?" Daryl asked, almost pleading as he felt himself straining painfully against his jeans.
"There's a dog." she said and hurried to the ladder, starting to descend it quickly.
"Fucking dog." he muttered under his breath and was quick to follow her. Beth slid the barn door open slowly and saw the little black dog starting to run away but she squatted down and whisteled softly. It stopped and she strained to see it in the dark, Daryl standing by the ladder and watching her.
"C'mere, sweetie." she coaxed and held out a hand. The little dog moved forward cautiously until it was in the barn and finally out of the rain, "Daryl, flip on the lights." she said as it finally reached her hand. He moved slowly until he reached the switch and saw her sliding her jacket off before reaching for the small dog.
"It ain't very old, still a pup." he said and walked over to her as she picked up the shivering ball of fur, wrapping it in her jacket.
"Poor thing is soaked to the bone, bless your lil' heart." she said before it gave her a loving lick to the face, "Looks like a long haired black lab."
"Ain't got a collar." Daryl said, "Hey lil' fella." He reached his hand out and saw the jacket moving where it's tail was wagging, the small dog whimpering and trying to reach his hand.
"It likes you, Daryl." she said and moved closer to him, Daryl watching her talk to and pet the dog as she tried to dry it off.
"Ain't got no collar either." She looked up at him, then back down at the dog, "Shit, Beth, you gonna keep it?"
"Daryl how can you say no to this face?" she asked and touched the tip of her nose to the dog's. It was her face he was having trouble saying no to, and the dog was pretty cute too, "I can take it to daddy's clinic in the morning, see if anyone reported any missin' dogs. If not we'll get you a full check up and see if my daddy will let me bring you home. But first I gotta figure out where you're stayin' the rest of the night."
"I'll take it." he offered and scratched behind it's ear, "I have a spare blanket it can sleep in tonight, and you can come get it in the mornin'."
"Thank you." she said with a smile and moved to her tiptoes to steal a kiss, "C'mon you lil' cutie. Let's get you inside and put you to bed." With that Daryl followed her out, rushing with her through the rain and cursing in his mind that the dog had interrupted them, even though it was pretty cute.