Deadly Match『Daryl Dixon』

『11』

Katherine had stepped outside Hershel's house the next morning, looking out for any signs of Hope. The little girl was out of the house before anyone was up, and Katherine had promised Patricia to help look for her daughter.

"She just lost her daddy. I wouldn't blame her for wanting to be alone and away from everybody else." Katherine thought to herself as she heard vehicles approaching. Turning towards where the others were gathering rocks, Katherine watched as the rest of the group pulled up. Rick, Lori, and everyone else who was inside had walked out to greet the others.

"How is he?" Dale asked, being the one to break the silence. The woman couldn't help but grab hold of Lori's hands as she showed gratitude for Hershel for saving Carl's life.

"And Shane. We would have lost Carl if it wasn't for him."Katherine also announced as she gave Shane a small smile before watching the group embrace each other.

Just before Otis' funeral, Katherine had gone towards the small pond that the Greenes' had. Maggie had claimed it was Hope's favorite spot on the farm and the only one that they could keep an eye on her from the house. With her grip on Teddy's leg, she had walked towards the pond. Seeing the little girl giving a brown and white Shetland pony a good wash.

Katherine couldn't help but sniffle a laugh as she got close and looked at how much bigger the horse was compared to the little girl. But there was no doubt that the woman also picture how many *please, daddy can we keep it* did it take for Otis to give in and give the animal a permanent home on the farm. "What's his name?" Katherine called out to the little girl cause Hope to look over her shoulders.

Hope had flared her nose at the woman as she got closure."Her name is Brownie." Hope announced as she brushed her horse's mane.

"Sorry Brownie. Thought you were a dude." Katherine apologized for the horse, the horse let out a tiny little neigh, and if Katherine didn't know any better, she would say she had annoyed the animal.

"What are you doing here? Did my mom send you?" Hope questioned. "You can tell her I've already done my morning chores." She added with a bit of a snappy attitude.

"No, your mom didn't send me." Katherine at first lied to the little girl, but the look on Hope's face made her rethink her decision. "Perhaps she did, but I also thought you might want Teddy back?" Katherine held up the bear the girl had given her the night before.

"The boy, alright?" Hope had asked after squeezing Teddy in her arms.

"Thanks to Hershel." claimed Katherine. "He saved my nephew's life." The woman told the girl in which Katherine was ever more grateful. There was a moment of awkward silence before Hope had taken her teddy bear back and gave it a big squeeze.

"You know your mama needs you back at the house. We're about to get ready for your Pa's funeral. " Katherine told the girl softly, and before she knew it, the water works began.

"I don't wanna go! He promised me he would be back and he lied!" Hope sobbed into Katherine's shirt, making Katherine do her best not to let her own tears fall.

"Oh sweetie. I'm sure there would have been anything in the world that your pa would have done to still be here to be with you. I know he loved you very much." Katherine told her softly as she did her best to comfort the little girl.

"Then why did he have to go!?" Hope whined. "He promised to always protect me!" She added in between tears, Katherine couldn't help but wipe the snot that was dropping down her nose.

"He was protecting you and always will. He was protecting you from the monsters that are out there. He was also protecting everyone on the farm by doing something he thought was right. He died a hero." Katherine told her softly.