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

Something New

Chapter 45—Something New

*Adult stuff!!

Daryl's POV

It's been a week since Carol took my stitches out and I'm finally starting to use my arm without pain. It's still a little stiff and sore at the end of the day but I've been able to use my crossbow effectively. Rowan and I have been hunting a couple times in the last few days; it felt good to get back to my normal routine. Rowan has been keeping a close eye on me when we've been out but she hasn't hovered over me too much. I appreciate the fact that she's not a nag and lets me test my own limits. I know she's got my back if I'm unable to protect myself; thank god it hasn't come to that.

Mid-afternoon

I spent most the late morning out on the property with Rick and Abraham, walking the fence line to check on its strength while discussing the plans for going to D.C. We all agree that if there is any sort of solution to the infection, there should be something going on in D.C. Rowan told me that we still have a few weeks to go before we are completely out of danger from a spring snowstorm or a hard frost; we want to make sure it's warm enough to survive if we don't have shelter. We've been pretty safe and sheltered here at the Mill and leaving here won't be easy but this place was only meant to be a resting place for the winter before heading north.

It's about mid-March and we will be leaving here by mid to late May. We have a lot to do before then and one of the main priorities on our "To Do" list is to find a better mode of transportation. We have a pick-up truck that we took from Eagle Mountain but we need to find something bigger. We've been discussing where we can look for a large passenger van or a school bus. Trey has some ideas and we'll sit down with him tonight to look at the map, so we can figure out if a run out there is worth the trouble. I know Rowan will be joining the discussion because she is in charge of all runs out of here. Most people would think I wouldn't like Rowan being in charge but it doesn't bother me in the least. She is smart and will listen to the rest of us if there are concerns. That girl has always done right by me and my group. She has saved my ass plenty of times and as long as I'm by her side, I have no problems with her heading up our runs.

I walk into the kitchen to find Rowan feeding Judith lunch. I lean on the door jam as I watch her help Judith use a spoon to feed herself applesauce. Judith looks up at Rowan and shakes the spoon, getting applesauce all over the two of them. Judith laughs at Rowan's reaction of surprise and I can't help but smirk at them. Rowan giggles, "Okay little girl enough with the games, ya need to eat that not wear it!" Rowan sticks her tongue out at Judith and places the spoon into her small chubby hand again, "Okay Judith, try it again." Judith grasps the small spoon and digs into the bowl of applesauce before flicking it at Rowan's face again. I let out a hearty laugh, "Seems like you've met your match princess, she's as sassy as you." Rowan sighs as she wipes the applesauce off her face with a rag, "Yeah, I think yer right Dare." Judith bounces around in her seat as Rowan wipes up her hands and face mumbling, "I think your done lunch little girl."

I lean against the doorframe a little longer as I watch her with Judith; she looks so damn cute with her. I push the sad thoughts out of my mind and go get myself a cup of coffee. I pour a cup and ask, "How fresh is this coffee Rowan?" She smiles over at me as Judith tugs on her long red braid, "Umm, about an hour or so; I made it before I put together her lunch." I nod as I take a sip and walk over to the table to sit down. I lean down and kiss the top of Judith's head before taking a seat next to her, "Did she at least eat some of that?" Rowan nods, "Yup, she ate some of the scrambled eggs and the canned peaches. I was just teaching her to use a spoon, which didn't go as well as I hoped." I try to hold back my grin as I take another sip of the hot coffee but she sees it and grumbles, "Keep laughing redneck, I dare ya." I swallow my coffee and smirk at her, "Sorry princess, I loved every moment I saw." She sighs and is about to comment when Rick walks into the kitchen, "Hey Rowan, thanks for watching Judith. Did she eat lunch?" Rowan nods, "Yeah she ate most of it, I'm wearing the rest." He smiles at her and reaches down to wipe some applesauce off Rowan's forehead, "Yeah, I can see that. Did ya let her feed herself?" I hold back a laugh and Rick looks over at me, "I'll take that as a yes. Judith loves to fling the food, drives me nuts every time; Carl used to do the same thing at that age." Rowan shrugs, "It's fine, she'll get the hang of it with practice." Rick scoop Judith up out of the chair, "Well I'm going to put her down for a nap, thanks for watching her. We'll have a meeting with Trey in a couple of hours, be around for that; both of you." We both nod as Rick walks out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.