Red River Blue

Chapter 29

Rick slowed his horse down when he saw the bodies hanging near the roadside. He breathed a small sigh of relief when the closest one shifted on the long rope it was hanging from, giving him a good enough look at the corpse's face to know that these were not his people. Rick guessed they were part of the group that had been causing problems on the trade routes for years. He and the Dixons attempted to track them down several times. But the small group of former saviors always managed to evade them. Now, it appeared that their luck had finally run out. The man's body was brutally slashed through before it was displayed for all to see. From the look of the corpse, it was obvious to Rick who committed this gruesome act. There was only one person he knew that liked to display her kills like trophies. And that was Harley Dixon.

Though none of his people were hanging on the roadside, Rick still picked up his pace. It was still possible that members of his group had been hurt or killed and then taken home to Alexandria. Rick made the ride back home from Hilltop in half the time it usually took. Gabriel was on guard duty. He glanced up from the well worn paperback book he was reading, smiling at Rick before he hopped down to unlock the gate. From his nonchalant attitude, Rick guessed that all his worrying had been for nothing.

"Everything okay here?," Rick asked. Gabriel nodded.

"Carl and Wren went to the Kingdom. Mika and that Kingdom kid went to Oceanside. To warn them about the walker people. But no one else has come or gone except to check the traps or fish. It's been quiet." Rick nodded, grateful for the information. He was starting to feel a little silly. For rushing home like he was about to save Harley from some unknown danger. It was clear she didn't need his assistance.

Rick walked his tired horse back to the stables. He rubbed the animal down with a towel, putting some extra food in her stall before he tucked the animal away for the night. He fought the urge to check on Harley immediately, heading home to shower and change his clothes instead. Once he was smelling less like sweat and walker and horse, he climbed Harley's front porch stairs and knocked on the door. Since he was hoping his arrival would be a pleasant surprise, Rick had a small bouquet of wildflowers he picked near the horse pasture in his hands.

The door swung open. And Rick instinctively cringed back. He knew it was possible that Beth or one of the kids might answer the door. Instead of Harley herself. But he sure the hell wasn't expecting to see Negan standing there.

"We don't need a new vacuum," the man quipped, insinuating that Rick was no more than a door to door salesman. "Try next door, I heard the guy that lives there is a real dumbass," Negan suggested, laughing before he slammed the door shut in Rick's face. Rick just stood there in shock for a moment. Then he stepped forward, grabbing the doorknob and twisting. But it appeared that Negan had not only shut the door in his face, but locked him out as well. Rick lifted his hand, pouding on the door and yelling to be let in. After what felt like an excessive wait, the door swung open again.

"I was comin'," Harley griped, giving him an irritated glance. "Ya didn't need ta pound on my door like a damn cop!"

Now that the door was open, Harley dismissed him, turning on her heel as she hurried back through the house towards the kitchen. Rick looked down at the flowers in his hand, feeling stupider by the second. All the kids were on the floor, gathered around a board game that was set up on the coffee table. Negan and Luke were playing with them. And he could hear Beth and Harley talking to each other in the kitchen.

"Hi daddy!," Judith exclaimed, hopping up from her spot to wrap her arms around him. Well, he thought, at least someone is happy to see me. "Are those for me?," Judith asked, gesturing towards the flowers in his hand. Rick shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

"They sure are," he said, ignoring Negan's laughter at his obvious lie. Rick narrowed his eyes at the man.

"What are you doing here?," Rick asked.

"He's teaching us how to play Risk!," Monroe announced, only looking up from the game for a moment before she turned back and rolled the dice.

"Yeah!," Axel added. "It's the game of world domination!"

Though the humor and irony of Negan teaching the kids how to play this particular game wasn't totally lost on Rick, he still wasn't impressed with the situation as a whole. Especially since his daughter was involved. But he also knew better than to start throwing his weight around in Harley's house. After giving Negan one more dirty look, he took Judith's flowers into the kitchen and stuck them in a mason jar.

"What's he doing here?," Rick asked, gesturing towards the family room where a known killer was playing board games with his daughter.

"Oh, it's okay," Beth said. "Luke's watching him."

"He tipped us off about those assholes that were blockin' the road back home," Harley explained. "So we let him come back with us." Rick nodded, smiling a little at the fact that Harley was the only person who immediately understood that he wanted to know what Negan was doing in Alexandria, not what he was doing in the living room at the moment.

"He's refusin' ta go back to Hilltop," Harley added with a laugh. "...I reckoned if he's stayin' here, then I betta at least keep an eye on his sneaky ass."

Harley was dredging a large bowl of fish filets in a mixture of cornmeal and spices as she spoke, stacking them up on a plate near the stove. Beth was frying them up a few at a time in a large cast iron skillet. Harley finished with the last of the fish, washing her hands in the sink as she asked what happened with the walker skin people after she left and if everything at Hilltop was okay. Since she appeared to be in a better mood than she was when she unlocked the front door for him, Rick moved in, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her into his side as he regaled her with his most recent deadly adventure. She allowed the contact for a moment before she elbowed him away from her and went back to her dinner preparations, grabbing a potato peeler and taking the bumpy skin off a few large yellow summer squash.

"Sam took off after that girl so we had to go after him. There was a fight, but no one got hurt. No one from our group at least. Everyone else is comin' home tomorrow."

"That girl too?," Beth asked. Rick nodded, interested to see if Harley had an opinion on Sam's new love interest. Rick wasn't able to get much of a read on her himself. Lydia seemed sincere about wanting to get away from her group. But she could have any number of reasons for that. As skinny as she was, she might just be hungry. And no matter the reason, Sam was going to sponsor her and Carol was going to second him. So Lydia was one of them now.

"She's gonna be nothin' but trouble," Harley said, sounding more sad than irritated. "I understand why that girl didn't wanna stay there. We saw their dump nasty camp. But her mom's the leader of that group. They're not gonna just let this go. When we get to the fair, we outta call in the treaty for Glenn and Maggie. Everyone can send some fighters to Hilltop to help out until we figure out how ta get rid of those skin jobs."

"That's a good idea, babe," Rick said. Beth's head popped up first, she eyeballed Rick for a moment before quickly turning back towards the stove. Harley stopped what she was doing to give him a dirty look. One that distinctly said do not call me babe. But despite her obvious irritation, she wasn't cursing at him or jamming her foot up his ass, that could only mean one thing. She wanted something.

"How'd you like to do me a favor, babe?," Harley asked, repeating his term of endearment like it was an insult. Rick smiled. Harley didn't ask for help. Not even when she needed it. He was curious and slightly nervous to find out what she wanted. From the wicked little smile on her face, Rick guessed that whatever it was, he wasn't going to like it. He raised an eyebrow at her, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"You have an extra bedroom at your house, right?," Harley asked, glancing towards the living room. Rick was already shaking his head. No way in hell was this happening. "Come on," she coaxed. "...ya know he can't stay here. My dad'll have a danggone cow."

Rick huffed, scrubbing his face with his hands. He would prefer a rabid racoon as a houseguest over Negan. Aside from all the horrible things the man did to them during the battle between their groups, he was just also plain obnoxious. But like Harley said before, if Negan was here then it was better if they at least kept an eye on him.

"I'll let him stay with me," Rick agreed, "...if you stay too and help me watch him."
Beth let out a high pitched giggle as she turned to gauge Harley's response to Rick's conditional offer of help. She looked angry. But that was also just how her face looked pretty much all the time. Harley snorted, making a noise like a horse. Then she shrugged her shoulders.

"Fine," she finally said, cringing back when Rick rushed at her. He grabbed her, lifting Harley feet off the floor and kissing her cheeks as she whacked at him and hollered for him to let her go.

Despite Negan's unwelcome presence at the table, Rick enjoyed his dinner. Tyreese came over with Connie, Kelly, and a big pan of fresh cornbread. Kelly and Luke taught the kids a few basic phrases in sign language. Connie held Axel's new kitten on her lap, laughing as it eagerly wolfed down the tiny bits of fish she held out for it. The kids gobbled up the food on their plates in their usual way, taking off outside to play with the long double dutch jump ropes Tyreese brought over while there was still some fading sunlight left in the sky. The slap of the ropes on the pavement echoed in through the open windows along with the warm summer breeze.

When the squeals of childish laughter turned into screams, Rick leaped from his seat, leaving the rest of his dinner behind on the table as he rushed out the front door. Harley and Beth were close behind him, weapons already in hand. He heard the soft tinkle of Beth's laughter first. There was no real danger. Just a loose billy goat that must have climbed or broken his way out of his stall in the barn. The animal had one long sparkly jump rope tangled in his long curled horns. And he was charging at the kids as they attempted to retrieve their toy and untangle him. As Judith and Monroe were trying to edge closer to the disgruntled animal, Axel grabbed the lid off the large metal trash can they kept their chicken feed in. He waved it around, enticing the angry beast. As when the goat charged, the boy darted to the side, letting it slam its head directly into the metal can lid. Rick started laughing, unable to decide which was funnier, the loud clanging noise the goat made when it hit, or the confused look on the animal's face. Either way, Axel took advantage of the momentary stun, snatching the goat by the horns and holding it steady while the girls untangled their jump rope.

"Alright Grover," Tyreese said, getting a firm hold on the goat before it could shake the kids off. "Time to go back to the barn." Connie signaled to him, the meaning of her gestures fairly obvious. She said she and Kelly would meet him at home. He nodded, waving to her as he hauled the goat down the road towards the back of town. Judith wrapped up the jump ropes, following Monroe and Axel up onto the porch.

"Mom!," Monroe hollered, "...can we all get in the big bathtub together and use the bubble soap?" Harley eyed the girl, unsure of what the right answer was. There was no parenting handbook that said whether or not it was okay for two seven year olds and an almost nine year old to take a bath together. It seemed harmless enough. But they also seemed a little old for such behavior. Harley just wasn't sure how to tell her daughter that without making their innocent fun sound like something weird and perverted. Harley liked it best when her mom was around to navigate situations like this. Or her Aunt Carol. Carol always knew what to do. She was like a professional mom.

"If y'all put yer bathing suits on then you can get in the tub together," Rick said, glancing at Harley and hoping he wasn't going to get chewed out for taking control of the situation. But Harley just smiled softly, a look of relief in her eyes.

While the kids turned the master bathroom into seaworld with all their wild Shamu style splashing, everyone else finished up dinner and cleaned up the dishes. Connie and Kelly hugged Luke before they headed home. Negan flopped down on the long couch in the living room with a paperback book in his hands. Beth and Luke headed to the basement bedroom. And Rick followed Harley up the stairs. Harley mopped up the small lake in the bathroom while Rick drug Axel's mattress into Monroe's room so the kids could have a sleepover. Monroe's room was the room that Harley and Beth used to share. The one with two twin beds inside. Harley's room was across the hall. Rick had never been in her room before. And he looked around curiously as he stepped inside.

The walls were painted a creamy pale blue. And there was a dresser against the wall that was painted the same color. The frame of the queen sized bed was coated white metal. And a large homemade patchwork quilt was stretched across it. One of Carol's winter projects. She took old clothes and sewed them into quilts. There was a large trunk at the foot of the bed. Rick smiled when he peeked inside, noting that it was full of weapons. He'd expect nothing less from Harley. On the wall opposite the door there were several large wooden cubes stacked up. They were filled with old records. And there was a record player sitting on top of one with a receiver under it and cords snaking out that were hooked into a large ancient looking speaker. There was also a large pair of headphones nearby. And a desk that held more modern looking equipment. Several MP3 players and an old laptop with a CD burner and a stack of blank CDs. Plus several huge towers of CDs that looked like mostly classic rock and country but with a few other eclectic music genres mixed in. A few of Harley's well loved cowboy hats were hanging on the wall above her desk. On her bedside table, there was a worn paperback book. It was open and facing down onto the tabletop to hold the place she stopped reading. Rick picked it up, chuckling a little when he saw the shirtless man in a cowboy hat on the front cover. The title of the book was Back in the Saddle. Since it appeared that all the good parts of the book were dog eared, Rick knew the book was part of River's extensive collection of romance novels.

Harley always seemed so serious. He found it amusing that she was reading her mother's trash romance novels. And the thought of what she might be doing after she got done reading made him need to adjust the crotch of his pants. For someone that wasn't comfortable with outward displays of physical affection, Harley wasn't shy or reserved in bed. On the contrary, she was quite possibly the most intensely passionate woman he'd ever been with.

"Reading something you like?," Harley teased, giggling when she saw Rick with her trashy cowboy romance novel in his hands. It wasn't as strange as she expected, having Rick in her personal space. The only man she'd ever had in her room before this was Monroe's father. Years ago. And Spencer really only stayed over at her house once. They slept at his house after that. Because he had a bigger bed and parents that weren't going to chase him out the window naked.

"What's funny," Rick asked. Harley was smiling. And since there was a soft faraway look in her blue eyes, he guessed it was more than him holding her silly book that was making her smile.

"Nothing really," she said with a soft laugh. "...Maybe my dad'll come home early and chase ya out the window."

"I"m not afraid of yer dad," Rick teased back. "If he gives me any trouble I'll just cuff him to the roof." Harley burst into laughter. Which made Rick laugh. Because, while her normal speaking voice was low toned and deep for a girl, Harley had River's high pitched girlish laugh.

Rick pulled Harley into his arms, kissing her while the smile was still on her face. She pressed her body against his, nipping at his bottom lip with her teeth. Before he could deepen the kiss, Harley pulled away. Rick was immediately worried that he'd done something wrong. But she was only stepping away from him to lock her bedroom door.

"Axel doesn't knock," she explained with another soft chuckle.

With the door locked, Harley crossed the small space between them. Just before her body made physical contact with his, she stopped and began stripping off her clothes. There was never any pretense or teasing with Harley. If she wanted him, Rick knew it. And when she was angry with him, he certainly knew it. And he knew the reason for her anger, since she usually screamed that directly into his face. Though Harley had the temperament of a honey badger, he greatly preferred her wild snaps of temper to that way Lori used to pout and cold shoulder him for days and even weeks at a time, refusing to tell him what he'd even done to upset or offend her.

Rick began to remove his own clothes, his eyes lingering on the curve of her hips and the area below her stomach where the skin was covered in faded stretch marks from her pregnancy. When Harley turned around, she bent forward and lit a small scented candle on her bedside table. Rick stepped forward, resting one hand on the curve of her hip. He placed the other hand over the large X shaped scar that marred the skin on the right side of her lower back, softly stroking over the raised skin with his thumb. He could remember when the mark was still fresh and covered with a clean bandage. Because the cuts were deep and made with a dirty knife, Denise made them both stay in the medical center overnight on antibiotic drips. Since the outbreak, they had more terrifying ordeals than Rick could count. But nearly losing her daughter was the one that put Harley over the edge. She came to him that night, sliding onto the narrow infirmary cot next to him and crying silent tears into his chest. Her body was still shaking when she slid her hand down his pants and wrapped it around his dick.

Harley reached behind her, catching Rick by his wrist and pulling his hand away from her scar. She guided his hand to her breast instead. Lifting his other hand off her hip, he cupped both her breasts. Her head lolled back against his shoulder as he massaged her full round globes, feeling the weight of them in his hands before he began to tease and pull her soft pink nipples into hard little points. Her hand snaked between their bodies, fondling his balls before she grabbed the base of his dick and tugged.

Harley was arching her back as she rose onto her tiptoes, trying to angle her body in a way that would let her get his hard dick between her legs. Rick pulled her with him as he shifted his body, stepping backwards so he could sit down on the edge of the bed. He grabbed his own dick, lining it up with her heated core before he pulled her down onto his lap. She let out a low moan, arching her back as she spread her legs apart. Taking this as an invitation, Rick slid his hand between her legs. He rubbed her clit as she ground her hips against him. His other hand returned to her breasts, pinching and tugging at her nipples as she sped up the rhythm of her hips. She came with a loud satisfied moan, her insides flooding with heat as they convulsed around him.

Rick lifted her as he rose from the bed, turning them both around so she could lean forward over the mattress. He grabbed her shoulder to brace her body as he began to pound into her. The sound of his flesh hitting hers filled the room. And when she came again he came with her, jerking out and splashing her ass and lower back with white ropes of his ejaculate. The sight of her marred flesh covered in his seed filled him with another surge of arousal. His dick hardened slightly before it slowly began to go limp in his hand.

"I sorta made a mess of ya," Rick admitted, trying to hide his smile.

"S'okay," Harley replied. "It's better than the alternative," she added with a shrug. She would much rather wash jizz off her back than be pregnant again. That was for sure.

"I need a shower anyway, my hair smells like lake water," Harley said, gripping a chunk of her hair and bringing it to her face for a sniff. She cringed back rather dramatically, making Rick laugh. She smelled just fine to him. Harley grabbed her dirty shirt off the floor, swiping at her back with it before she pulled her robe on for the walk to the bathroom. Rick watched her as she paused with her hand on the doorknob, looking at him expectantly. He gave her a questioning glance, unsure of what she was waiting for.

"Aren'tcha comin'?," she asked. Since Rick still looked confused she added, "...to shower with me?" She laughed at the speed with which Rick propelled himself off the bed and towards her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her roughly on the side of her mouth.

"You bet yer ass I am."