Red River Blue

Chapter 46

Lydia woke up feeling the same way she'd felt ever since she escaped out from under her mother's oppressive domination, blissfully happy and eager to see what the day had in store for her. Sam's arms were around her. And when she felt the soft press of his skin against hers, Lydia realized she'd fallen asleep naked. Something she'd never done before. At her old camp, the only way she was able to sleep was fully clothed with a knife in her hand. She could already smell food being cooked. And she knew she'd be allowed to eat as much as she wanted. Which was another luxury that she'd never been allowed before.

"I've got guard duty today," Sam said with a groan, reminding Lydia for at least the tenth time that he would not be able to spend the day with her. He seemed much more worried about it than she was. His Aunt River already told Lydia she could help her out at the bakery booth. And Lydia found herself looking forward to it. She loved the smell of fresh bread. And she was excited to see what the trade fair was all about. Watching the people in this place smile and greet each other in passing was one of her favorite things to do. They were so open and friendly. And she was slowly learning to smile back, even if she didn't know them.

"I'll be fine," Lydia assured him, letting out a soft moan when his hand moved up to cup her breast. His hands were warm and his touch was gentle and teasing as he pulled her nipple into a hard little point. They were lying like two spoons on edge, with him behind her. And she arched her hips, pressing the slight round of her bottom into his morning erection.

"Do you want to?," he asked, his breath ghosting over the sensitive spot behind her ear. Though she was clearly displaying that she was as into what they were doing as he was, Sam never took her without asking her permission first. And for whatever reason, this simple act of respect drove her crazy with lust for him.

"Yes," she told him, "...I want to."

Sam growled in response, nipping at the back of her neck and making her giggle. He nipped at her one more time before he rolled her onto her back and settled down between her thighs. The morning sun was streaming in through the fabric of their tent, turning his blonde hair into a halo around his head. Lydia stared up at him, running her hands over his arms and feeling the defined muscles there. She knew the proper word for a good looking man was handsome. But in her opinion, he was really something closer to beautiful. Sam's blue eyes were flashing with desire. Leaning down, he pressed soft little kisses onto the parts of her face that were bruised from the fight with Rachel. Lifting his head, he looked into her eyes and told her he loved her before he entered her. Lydia held on, telling him she loved him too as she let him rock both their bodies with the rhythm of his hips. When they were done, he usually liked to hold her for a while. But Lydia knew Sam had other obligations to attend to. He reluctantly released his hold on her, forcing himself out of bed with a distempered groan. Lydia leaned back on her pillow, enjoying the view as he pulled his clothes on over his naked body.

"I'll meet you outside the theater," he promised. "...before the movie starts."

"I know," Lydia replied with a smile. He told her all this at least three times already. Sam hesitated near the zipped flap of the tent, looking back at her.

"Are you sure you'll be okay all day, by yourself?," he asked. "I could try and get someone else to take my shift." Lydia smiled again. She was pretty sure she could watch after herself for one day. After all, she'd made it a lot of years without Sam's constant vigilance. His concern for her was unnecessary, but it still made her feel warm and tingly inside.

"I promise I'll be fine," she said.

Sam nodded, turning to unzip the tent. He stopped halfway up, darting back towards her. Leaning down over the cot, he gave her a gentle lingering kiss.

"I can't believe I almost left without kissing you goodbye," he gushed. One more quick peck on the lips and he was off, darting out of the tent and zipping the flap up behind him.

Lydia relaxed in their bed a little longer, luxuriating in the fact that she was not only comfortable, but she could stay in bed as long as she wanted. The grumble in her stomach eventually drove her up and off the cot. Lydia enjoyed eating breakfast with Sam's family. She sat with his cousin Wren, who was able to keep up an animated conversation without much input from her.

All the women were wearing matching pink tank tops. Lydia balked slightly when one was produced for her to wear. But Wren found her a white men's dress shirt to wear over it. She left it unbuttoned, tying it in front so the pink shirt was still visible but the scars on her forearms were covered. Lydia felt less self conscious about her extra garment when she saw that Sam's mom was dressed similarly, with a lightweight sweater over her tank top for a little more coverage. The only man in the group was Wren's husband Carl. And he was wearing a large pink t-shirt with the same symbols on the front as the girl's tank tops had. Lydia tried her best not to smile when she looked at him.

Lydia expected them to head directly to the bakery booth they'd set up the night before. But when the small group veered off in another direction, she followed along. She wasn't concerned about where they were going until she saw the group of girls that had attacked her heading towards them. As they got closer, Harley shouldered up next to her and glared at the other group of women as they passed by. The nervous glances they cast at the tall blonde woman made Lydia grin. Once they were gone, Harley fell back to walk with her daughter.

They got in line behind another group of people. Lydia wasn't sure what they were waiting for. And she was confused when her only reward for her patience was a handful of small disks with colored symbols in the centers. Everyone else seemed excited about them. So Lydia shoved hers into her pants pocket, being careful not to drop any of them onto the ground. Later, when the booth was set up and people began to approach, Lydia noticed they were handing over the small cork disks in exchange for the items they asked for. She felt the disks in her pocket with new appreciation. She was old enough when the outbreak began that she could remember what money was. And she was beginning to understand that's what she had in her pocket. The little disks were worthless in and of themselves. She couldn't eat them. Or hunt with them. Or kill a walker with them. But she could trade them for food or maybe even a weapon. Or anything else she might want.

"Olivia, me and Wren have got this fer now if you and Alice wanna take a break," River offered. The women all set up the booth together, but Lydia noticed they didn't all stay there. Only River stayed the whole time. The rest of the girls were taking turns staying there and helping or walking around the fair to shop and socialize.

"I told Frankie we'd wait for her," Olivia replied. With a little note of concern to her voice she added, "...I thought she'd be here by now."

"Right?," River said, lowering her voice so that Frankie's adopted daughter Alice wouldn't hear her before she added, "...how long does it take to get freakin' pregnant? 'Cause I know it never took me half a damn day." Olivia and River both burst into laughter. River suddenly straightened up her back, her giggles quickly turning to a look of concern. Lydia followed her gaze. Rick was approaching with Negan in tow. But it wasn't until he indicated that Negan should take a seat near the bakery booth that River started making a fuss.

"I've got stuff to do," Rick tried to explain, "...I can't watch him all day."

"That don't mean you can just ditch 'im here," River countered. "This ain't a danggone holdin' cell. I'm tryin' ta run a business here, Rick!"

Rick glanced around, hoping to spot Harley so he could leave her in charge of the man. But the young woman was nowhere to be seen. Negan looked on in amusement as River gave Rick the business. Rising from his chair, he skirted around her and snagged a cupcake off one of the tables, returning to his seat as he peeled off the wrapper and took a big bite.

"Just look at what he's doin' already?," River squawked, gesturing towards Negan and the way he was stuffing his face.

"Ezekiel gave him fair tokens just like everyone else. Just charge him for it," Rick suggested. Knowing that arguing with River was only going to piss her off more, Rick quickly changed tactics. "I'd owe ya big if you can just help me out for a minute," Rick asked, using his sweetest tone of voice. "I won't be long, I swear." River groaned.

"Fine," she huffed. Rick blew her a kiss, grabbing a chocolate chip cookie before he took off back the way he came. "Hey!," River hollered, "Ya owe me a token fer that!"

Cocking her hand up on her hip, she turned her attention to her unwanted guest. But Negan was ready for her. He pulled one of the small wooden disks out of his pocket, handing it over before River could demand it.

"If yer gonna hang around my booth like yer workin' here," she huffed. "Then yer gonna hafta actually work. Not just stuff yer face."

Negan quickly agreed to this. And Lydia stifled a laugh when River turned her back on him and the first thing he did was ease open the small cooler nearest to him and grab another snack. Whether or not his forbidden snacking continued, Lydia wasn't sure. Because when the next group returned to help out in the booth, Wren talked Lydia into coming shopping with her.

Wren threaded her arm through Lydia's as they walked. Carl trailed along behind them, glancing into the booths he hadn't looked through yet. Lydia suspected he already had his fill of shopping and was just along to keep an eye on his wife. Because anytime another man moved even remotely close to her, Carl suddenly appeared by her side.

Wren stopped at a booth where the woman was selling clothing. There were piles of jeans and jackets and other more practical style clothing. But towards the back, the woman had a long rack full of fancy dresses. Lydia began carefully looking through the rack, feeling the silky soft fabrics. The dresses were like something from a fairy tale.

"Do people wear dresses to movies?," Lydia asked, glancing at Wren. Wren shrugged. She wasn't really sure what people wore on movie dates. She was too young to have ever gone on one before the outbreak. And she couldn't remember her mom or sister ever going either.

"I don't see why not," Wren said. Pawing through the rack, Wren pulled out a short black dress and held it up for Lydia's inspection. "This one has sleeves," she pointed out. Lydia reached forward, running her hands over the fabric of the dress.

"How much?," Wren asked. The woman answered. And Lydia held the garment carefully in her arms as Wren fished two tokens out of her pocket and handed them over.

The rest of the afternoon felt like it flew by. Lydia went out shopping again. She was going to go with Sam's mom. But the woman got called away from the booth. Someone always seemed to need Carol for something. Lydia supposed that just came with the territory when a person chose to lead a group so large. Olivia got tired of waiting for her friend to arrive. So she let Lydia come out with her and the younger girls. Lydia didn't buy anything else. But she had fun watching the girls shop. Between them they purchased some art supplies, a funny looking musical instrument that sounded like a dozen geese honking at once when they took turns blowing into it, and a large paper cone full of fresh fried potato chips that they happily shared between them.

After they closed the bakery booth down and headed back to their campsite, Lydia let Wren and River fix her hair for her before she put her dress on. She wasn't sure what they were doing to her. But she was happy with her reflection when she looked in the small mirror Wren handed her.

"Are you sure you don't want us to wait with you until Sam shows up?," Carl asked. Lydia shook her head.

"I'm fine," Lydia assured him. Sam told her where he would meet her. She was sure he'd turn up soon. She didn't want Wren and Carl to miss out on the music because they were babysitting her. Wren leaned in, giving Lydia a hug before she wrapped her arm around her husband's waist and strolled away with him. Lydia glanced at a nearby picnic table, nervous that something might get on her new dress if she sat down on the wooden bench. She moved under a tree instead, enjoying the but of shade as she watched people file into the building where the movie was being shown.

"Hey Lydia!"

Lydia turned towards the voice, relaxing when she saw it was someone she knew. Henry wasn't as familiar to her as Sam's immediate family members. But Lydia knew he was going to marry Sam's sister. Which made him almost like family. And she'd spent enough time with the young man to know he was someone she didn't need to be nervous around.

"You look great," he told her with a big smile. "I didn't even recognize you at first."

"Thanks," Lydia said, glancing down at her feet. The complement made her feel self conscious. Like everyone was going to stare at her.

"Are you waiting for Sam?," he asked. Lydia nodded.

"Are you waiting for Mika?," Lydia asked. Henry nodded, the color rising in his cheeks at the mere mention of the young woman's name. He offered her a sheepish grin and Lydia smiled back. She wasn't very good at making small talk. The whisperers never talked unless it was absolutely necessary. But Lydia did her best, answering Henry's questions about how busy River's booth was and what she saw at the fair that interested her.

"I think the movie is gonna start soon," Henry said. "Maybe we should just go in and get seats?" If he'd learned anything about his new fiance it was that Mika ran on Mika time not on anyone else's clock. She would turn up eventually. Looking like an angel. She was always worth the wait. Until then, Henry was ready to sit down and stuff some buttered popcorn in his face.

"I don't know," Lydia said, toying with the hem of her dress sleeve. "Sam said to meet him here."

"We can sit towards the back and keep a look out for them," Henry offered, holding his elbow out for her to take. Lydia hesitated another moment before threading her arm through his and letting him lead her towards the open door.

Henry found them a spot towards the back as promised. Once he got Lydia seated he dashed off, returning a few minutes later with a box of popcorn and a drink for them to share. There were a lot of kids in the theater. And they were wildly excited for the show to start. There was popcorn and little bits of candy flying everywhere. Lydia was the youngest member of her previous group. Aside from the few babies that were born and didn't make it. She wasn't used to being around children. And she was slowly discovering that she enjoyed their presence. They were funny and silly and loud. Lydia couldn't remember being that happy as a child. Even before the turn. But she had fun sharing in their joy at what seemed to be the simplest things.

There was a cartoon playing on the large screen in front of them. Lydia guessed someone put it on to try and settle the kids down before the movie started. It didn't really seem to be helping. But when the image began to flicker and dim, Henry quickly rose from his seat.

"I better run and help my dad before he breaks something," Henry said, handing Lydia the popcorn and drink. She nodded, pinning the box of corn between her knees as she sipped on the overly sweet beverage.

A moment later, a woman in a green dress slid into the seat next to Lydia. She didn't think anything of it at first, assuming the woman was just another movie enthusiast. But suddenly a strange chill snaked up Lydia's spine despite how warm the crowded room was. The woman reached over, plucking a small piece of popcorn from her box and sticking it into her mouth. Then she turned towards Lydia with a sickening smile on her face.

"Are ya havin' a good time with your new friends?"