Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 38

Melinda's POV

"W-where are they?" I stumble forward as I take in all the lone cars. Nothing in sight moved as I stare out at the everlasting graveyard. "You said they'd be here. Where are they Daryl?" I quickly start to panic as my hands move to my greasy roots and roughly tug. I pace the asphalt in front of me.

"Where are they?" I scream. My chest moved quickly as air passed my lungs. Thick white clouds passed out of my body and surrounded me the faster I breathed.

"If ye calm-"

"No! Don't you dare tell me to calm down! Don't you dare!" I turn and point a finger at him. "I have every right to act like this. Our family is missing and you're not going to tell me how to act on that."

"Mel." He calmly says. He still sat atop his motorcycle. He was calm, collected, and aware. He pulls a pack of cigarets out of his jacket pocket, a lighter following close behind. "If ye calm down we can think of a plan. They couldn't have gone far. Ain't got no gas. They're hungry. We can find them."

One of the tobacco filled sticks now lightly dangle from his parted lips. His face lights to a soft orange as the lighter emits it's flame. Smoke rolls around his cupped hands and floats effortlessly away into the distance.

"Then tell me what we are going to do. I'm scared! They're probably scared!" I fling my hand in the opposite direction to indicate our lost group members. "What about my baby." I look to the ground and shove my cold hands into my coat pockets.

"I just want to find my family" I sigh. I sit along one of the car bumpers. The cold metal could be felt between my jeans as I wiggle uncomfortably.

"Ye think I don't? Merle's the only thing I got left. I just got him back too." He throws his leg over the bike and strides my way. He lets out a last puff of smoke and drops the bud on the ground, stepping on it with his boot. He joins me on the bumper and just looks forward. His body was stiff as he leans into his elbows.

"We'll find them." I say just loud enough for him to hear. I was half hearted about the statement. I was scared on so many levels. What if we stumbled onto their corpse? Or came face to face with a bullet that was embedded in their skull? What if The Governor had taken them captive?

There were so many possibilities that racked my brain. There were so many options for them. There were so many fatal things waiting for them. All of it was in my head, and none of it was going to stop until I had evidence proving those theories wrong.

"We planned on going to Fort Benning." Daryl spoke up.

"You think they might go there?" I argue. Truth is I don't see why Rick would lead everyone to a safety brigade when not everyone was with him. They haven't even looked for us.

"That's our best bet." He mumbled. "But first we need to get whatever supplies we can. And find a working vehicle." He slid off the bumper and turned to all the cars. I followed instinctively.

"A working vehicle?" I ask. He opens a near by car room and rummages through the belongs.

"Can't carry it all on the bike." He answers simply. He opens a small bag that was located in the floor and reaches in. He held up a half empty water bottle and handed it to me. "Drink some of that, then get to looking. We don't got all day."

I didn't argue with his demand. Instead I twisted off the cap and let the hot liquid hit my chapped lips. I put the cap back on after a few gulps and handed the even smaller amount of water back to Daryl. He nodded and went around to the next car out of my sight.

I lightly smiled as I thought of the man. Just that small act told me he cared slightly. He cared enough to not let me thirst to death. And that small ray of kindness was enough for the time being.