The Mini Badass

Chapter 20

"Maggie said she loves me." Glenn tells us breaking the silence of the car. "Really?" I say, practically jumping out of my seat and pushing my head in between the front seats.

"She doesn't mean it." Glenn says turning to face me. "I mean she can't."

"She's just upset or confused or-"

"Maggie's smart enough to know how she feels." Rick tells the younger boy, cutting off his rambling.

"No, nope." Glenn says shaking his head making me want to smack him. "You know what? She wants to be in love so she needs something to like- hold on to."

"Glenn you're so stupid." I tell him making Rick snort. "It's clear to everyone Maggie loves you."

"It's sad the eight year old is smarter than you." Rick says and my head snaps to him. "I'm eleven thank you."

"Glenn you love her too." I say turning my attention back to him after Rick mutters a weak apology. "So what's your issue?"

"I didn't say it back."

This time I do smack him, right upside the head. "Ow I've just- I've never had a woman say that to me before." Glenn tells us rubbing the back of his head. "Except my mom of course and my sisters."

"But with Maggie it's different."

"I mean we barely know each other." He tries defending himself.

"So? I barely know you guys but I love y'all." I say and both men turn to look at me. "You love us Ains?" Rick asks still driving.

"Yeah. You're all my family now of course I love you."

The conversation dies out as we reach town. Glenn telling Rick where to turn and we eventually arrive at the bar.

The three of us hop out and pull our guns out. Rick opens the bar's door leading the way inside.

Thankfully Hershel is sitting at the bar, a drink in his hands. "Hershel."

"Who's with you?" The grey haired man asks, not even turning around. "Glenn and Ainsley."

"Maggie sent him?" Hershel asks clearly not caring bout my presence. "They both volunteered." Rick tells the man, putting his gun away. "They're good like that." 

Rick walks up the Hershel, Glenn and I quickly following behind him. "How many have you had?" Rick asks, noticing the half empty bottle.

"Not enough." Hershel tells him, staring down at his drink. 

"Let's finish this up back at home-"

"Beth collapsed." I cut Rick off. "Lori thinks she's in shock." I tell the man, walking closer to him. 

"Maggie's with her?" Hershel asks me and I nod. "Yeah but Beth needs you."

"What could I do?" Hershel asks as if he isn't a doctor. "She needs her mother, or rather to mourn like she should've done weeks ago."

"I robbed her of that." He tells me before looking back to his drink. "I see that now."

"You thought your family could get better, you had hope." I say hopping up to sit on the bar. "You can't blame yourself for that."

"Hope?" Hershel says, looking up and staring at the wall in front of him. "When I first saw you, running across my field." He says turning back to me. "Then you with your little boy in your arms." He turns to Rick. "I had little hope he'd survive." I lower my head at the thought.

"But he did." Rick tells the man. "He did." Hershel nods along. "Even though we lost Otis, your man Shane made it back and we saved your boy."

"That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist." He tells us, pouring more liquor into his cup. "Only it was a sham, a bait and switch." He explains putting the bottle down. "I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that."