One more step

The kill

It was almost night fall as all the hunters gathered back at the diner. The processor was next door, Alice's husband owned it and everyone would be dropping of their kills. Merle stood there looking among the kills and gloating. His was the biggest so far and he was annoyingly boisterous about it. A few veterans of the area waved at Rick as he stepped out of Shane's truck. Daryl and Merle watched as the girl climbed out of the truck and stood confidently, she immediately locked eyes with Merle with a devious smile, "ready to buy me some pie old man?" Merle laughed, "ain't no way you pulled in one bigger than mine!" She shrugged and walked to the back of the truck as her father dropped the tail gate. Merle, Daryl and some of the other men followed in curiosity. Shane helped Rick grab the antlers and heave it back. Merle's eyes went wide, "that ain't no God damn deer that's a 12 point elephant!" The processor looked pleased at the gloating girl and elbowed Shane, "she knows what bringing in the biggest kill means right?" She abruptly turned annoyed "oh hell no, blooding is for your first kill! Y'all did that to me when I was 4!" Shane laughed "Nah for the biggest kill we skin it and make you wear it head and all!" She glared at him "no y'all don't!" Rick took the knife and made the first cut as soon as they hung it running his hand in the deer "no but your getting blooded!" She squealed and tried to dodge Shane but he was too quick as Rick reached forward and painted four streaks diagonally down her face. She scrunched up her nose, admitting defeat "Y'all happy now?" The gathered men laughed in satisfaction as she turned on her heels towards Merle "I want apple cobbler! A big slice!" Merle held up his hands in surrender "yes mamm!"

Alice climbed up the step stool Polaroid in hand, she held it up push pin ready "what you think Rick? Right here a good spot?" Rick smiled and nodded at the picture of Elli bloody faced next to her buck. His arms hugging her shoulders tight as she held onto his forearms grinning ear to ear. Alice hung it next to Elli's first kill picture. She only had a smudge of blood on her nose in that one. Her little freckled face grinning sitting in her fathers lap the small doe laid out in front of them. Where had that time gone? He looked down the bar at her taking a bite of her apple pie and laughing with the veterans as they swapped stories about their hunts. Shane had headed back to King county a few hours ago. He and Elli were going to stay for a few more days. Lori was at home with Carl. She had begged him to take Elli out for a while. She was losing her mind with worry about her and she could feel herself getting angrier by the day. He didn't understand her attitude with Elli, Lori never got that fed up with Carl. But Lori and Elli had always had tension. He chopped it up to there still being mistrust between the two. But here Elli was all smiles. She was always like that when it was the two of them. He smiled at her thinking it was late and they should probably head out and get some sleep. She suddenly turned to him, "Dad can we go?" He shook his head "what? Go where?" Alice smiled "them boys asked her if y'all were going to the bonfire." Rick nodded "Elli, I don't know, it's late.." She smirked, "you getting old dad? Can't keep up?" He laughed, "Oh you going to pull that card so soon in the trip?" The room erupted in laughter as one of the veterans chimed in "Oh come on Rick let the girl have some fun." Rick smiled and shook his head. He had to start letting go. He partially wondered if her indecisiveness was because he was too protective of her. "I really need to run back home and check on your mom and brother. I'll be back by midnight or so, will you stay out of trouble?" She smirked "Of course!" He laughed grabbing his coat, "you are a terrible liar. Listen in all seriousness. I expect you back at the cabin before I get there. I know you'll sneak a beer but you limit yourself to two or three no more." She nodded as he kissed her forehead, "Any trouble and you go to Alice's." She nodded again, they had known Alice and her family for years. He made it to the door, he turned back to her with a stern look "Midnight Elli, no later." she notes his seriousness then turned back to her pie and finished the last bite.