A Redneck's Wicked Game (A Daryl Dixon Story)

Blood

Chapter 19—Blood

Daryl's POV

As I work in the hot Georgia heat my mind wanders back to early this morning. I can't stop thinking about what Rowan said in the kitchen. I could have sworn she was going to say "Ya know ya love me" but she stopped herself and finished with "Ya like me" instead. Did she stop because she's scared to hint at it or because she doesn't feel that way about me? We've gotten closer than I ever thought I'd be with a woman, hell closer than I ever thought I'd be with anyone. I'm pretty good at reading her but when it comes to stuff like this she puts up so many barriers that I can't figure her out. My own feelings are all over the place and I'm not sure how I feel. I don't know why but when she changed her sentence it actually hurt a little. I never thought I'd care if someone loved me but lately I've been hoping she could. If not I won't let her get to me, I won't be weak and I sure as hell ain't letting her hurt me.

Rowan's POV

I glance over to Daryl as I take a drink of water, noticing he's lost deep in his thoughts. He body is tense and his stance is defensive, which is not a good sign. He must be battling something internally; those demons pop up when you least expect it. He looks over at me and I give him a small smile but he just glares at me and turns back to re-enforcing the fences. I sigh as I realize whatever he's thinking about, I'm the one who's going to suffer the brunt of it. I guess I better figure out what's eating at him, so I brace myself for the worst as I approach him. He looks up at me and I offer him the water, "Want some?" He nods as he takes the bottle from me. I watch him drink and ask, "You okay?" He shrugs, "I'm fine." I nod and quietly ask, "Are we okay?" He looks at me for a moment before admitting, "Not sure." I give him a long look before I calmly say, "Well I haven't done nothing to deserve an attitude from you so until you figure out what's going on in yer head, just stay away from me." He looks surprised, "Why?" I start to walk away but answer, "I don't deserve the abuse Dare and I won't stand fer it. I don't have a problem arguing with ya if I've done something but I ain't gonna deal with an attitude and git yelled at for something that's clearly all in yer head." He snorts and turns away from me, refusing to give me a real answer. I just sigh and walk back over to where I was working.

Rosita's been watching us and asks, "What's going on with you two?" I shrug, "Damn if I know, he's pissed off about something though." She looks back over at a glaring Daryl and says to me, "Sure you didn't do anything?" I chew on my bottom lip, "I don't think so." We resume our work and I try to pretend I don't notice the multiple stares coming from Daryl.

After a couple of hours we stop for the day and walk back to the mill. Everyone congregates inside the main room, talking about the progress made today. I look over at Daryl who's leaning against the wall distancing himself from the others. I make eye contact with him, our eyes locking for a brief moment before he turns away. I sigh and pick up my bow from where it's leaning on the wall before walking to the door. Rick looks over at me, "Where are ya going Rowan?" I glance over at Daryl before answering him, "I'm going hunting; I need some air." I walk out the door and head straight to the woods.

As I walk deeper into the trees my mind turns, trying to figure out why Daryl is acting the way he is. I have no idea what I've done but obviously he's upset about something. As I walk through the woods I notice some rabbit tracks and follow them into the under bush. I faintly hear something behind him and I'm pretty sure it's Daryl. He's very quietly but my experienced ears don't miss much. I ignore him and focus on the tracks in front of me. If he wants to talk he can find me, if not he can keep his distance and I'll keep hunting.

I approach a small clearing between a stand of trees and see a couple of rabbits eating some wild clover. I raise my bow and nock back an arrow as I relax to steady myself. The rabbits are sitting side by side within inches of each other and if I'm lucky I can take down both of them with one arrow. I concentrate on my prey and take aim, slowly releasing a deep breath as I let go of my bow string. I bite my bottom lip as I wait to see how true my aim is. The arrow finds its target and easily pierces into the second rabbit. I walk towards my kill, smiling as I notice I hit both rabbits. I approach the rabbits and realize that I've only wounded the second rabbit. I sigh as I pull out my hunting knife to end the rabbit's suffering. As I slit its throat I mumble, "Sorry little guy." I wipe my knife off on my jeans as I hear a familiar voice, "That was a damn good shot Rowan." I look up at Daryl who's standing at the edge of the tree line watching me, "Thanks, it could have been better though, I only wounded the second one." He grunts and gives me a little smirk, "Still a good shot, girl." I string up the two rabbits, tying them to my waist before standing back up, "So ya following me today?" He shrugs, "Maybe." I walk closer to him but still keeping my distance a little, "Maybe?" He looks down at the ground before answering me, "I'm deciding if we should talk." I sigh, "What did I do Daryl?" He shrugs, "Nothing really, it's more of what ya didn't say." I give him a long look as I replay the day in my head, finally guessing that not saying "ya love me" is what he's getting at, "All this attitude for somthin' I didn't say this morning?" He gives me a uncomfortable look, "It just got me thinking 'bout things." I nod, "So what ya thinking in that head of yers." He shrugs, "Just trying to figure out why saying it would have bugged ya so much." I sigh, "It's complicated and painful Daryl." He looks at me surprised and I ask, "What? Ya think it's cause I don't have those feelings for ya?" He nods and I shake my head and sigh loudly, "Trust me that ain't it at all Dare; it ain't you, it's me." He snorts at my classic answer and gruffly states, "That's the best explanation ya got girl?" I shift my eyes a little to the ground before sucking it up and answering him, "No, but sometimes it's hard letting anyone in; even you." He sighs, "Same here." I look around, "Are we having this conversation here?" He nods, "Good a place as any, least we won't be interrupted by anybody." He walks over to a large tree in the shade and sits down at its mossy base, gesturing to me, "Come here princess."