Wildfire || A Modern Bethyl AU.

The Woods || Chapter 3

The Woods || Chapter 3

With The Gang around, the farm is lively. Tonight Rick and Daryl are cooking chicken on a spit over the fire pit. Till night fall Daryl busies himself with chopping fire wood. Every so often Daryl scans the yard for Beth. Sometimes he sees her with Maggie or walking around handing out cold drinks, humming a little tune. Beth smiles as she catches Daryl staring. Her hair flies as the wind picks up. She walks toward the fire pit, and the fire ignites in his stomach again.
"Water?" She asks. He nods and she hands him a bottle. Even though the waters cold and the breeze is carrying the heat away, he breaks into a sweat. She just stands watching, as he takes a drink. Hershel calls from the barn and Beth smiles.
"Wanna help?" She says putting her hand out. Daryl doesn't question and grabs her hand and gets up.
He's taken care of horses before. Beth watches as he takes the bridal and saddle off and brushes Nelly down.
"You're a natural." She teases. With his back to her he smiles.
"You know we can go for a ride." She says from the other stall, brushing down her horse.
"Oh yeah?" He says. He puts the brush in caddy on the wall.
"Yeah. Just down the road or on the trails." She says resting her arms on the stall window. Her smile just made him want to stay in that moment. The light coming in from the stall doors, the pieces of stray hay in her hair and on her clothes, her dirty hands.
"Okay."

Beth leads Nelly and Jack out into the field. She holds onto Jack as Daryl mounts.
She mounts Nelly and grips the reigns loosely in her hand.
"Ready?" Daryl nods. She gives Nelly a little squeeze and they're start slowly through the gate.

"Is that all you got, Dixon?!" Beth yells behind her as they both speed through the open field,

It was easy with Beth. He didn't have to have his tough facade up. He could relax, somewhat.
"Slow it down, Greene!" Daryl yells trying to keep control of Jack.
Ahead Beth vanishes into the woods. Jack finally slows and stops at the entrance of the tunneled wood.
"Beth!" He doesn't hear her or Nelly.
"Come on, Greene!" He yells and there's a laugh from inside. He smiles a little bit and slowly moves in on the woods. The trees are dense but some light filters through.

'Oh, it was certain then. And we were trying to stop winter, killing all it could.'

Beth's voice sounds from deeper in the woods. Daryl kept to the trail. Jack cautiously treads on.

'We are what we are. Don't need excuses for the scars, from our mothers.'
'And we know what we know, cause we're made of all the little bones of our fathers.'

Beth's voice drew closer and the trail started to lighten. Jack picks up the pace toward the edge of the woods. Beth and Nelly waiting at the exit.
"Took you long enough." She says.
"Just admiring the sounds of nature." Daryl says coming to stop next to Beth. He holds her gaze for a few seconds. Her smile sets the fires in his stomachs off again.
"Better get going. I gotta cook tonight." Daryl says looking down and petting Jack's neck.
Beth turns herself around and they set off back toward the farm through the wheat fields.

"Here turn around." Beth says checking Daryl's back. He stiffens his posture as she skims his arms and shoulders.
"What are you doin'?" He asks.
"Looking for ticks." She says lifting his shirt up a bit at the hem. Daryl's heart lifts and he almost gasp out loud.
"Clear. Mind checking my back?" Beth asks with a small smile. Daryl turns as she turns her back to him.
He carefully skims her shoulders and notes the music note heart tattoo on her shoulder. He moves her hair and checks the span of her shoulders. His fingers linger on the hem of her shirt. He gulps as he lifts her shirt and finds nothing but smooth skin.
"Clear." He says pulling her shirt back down and stepping away.
She turns and a new smile is on her lips.
"Thanks. Let's get a move on, gotta start the chicken." She says locking Jack and Nelly's stalls and walking to the barn door.
Does she not know what she does to him? Is she not aware of the fires in his body? The heat that trailed with her fingers that checked his scarred back?

"So you own your own garge?" Hershel asks Rick.
"Yeah, Daryl, Dale, and I work on bikes and some cars." He answers.
Shane rolls his eyes. He wasn't a pleasant man, Beth decided.
"Hey, I help!" Carl says mouth full of what used to be chicken.
"Carl helps after school and after his homework." Rick adds and messes his son's hair up, earning a side glare from him.
Daryl watches Beth almost the whole time. Ever so often they share a smile.
Hershel's got dale talking about tractors and farm tools and the group breaks into smaller groups of conversation. Daryl watches as Beth carelessly throws her hair over her shoulder and smiles as she talks to Michonne and Carol.
She'd briefly look over and he'd hold her gaze and he feels the want rise up from his stomach.
She'd smile and return a look that made Daryl crave.

After snuffing out the fire, Daryl made his way to his tent. Beth had gone inside an hour ago. He had watched her light turn on and then turn off again.

He was craving the touch and feel of her hands on him; as his hands roam her.