Rick's Ruby

Chapter 11

"Loosen your arm up." Daryl stood beside Ruby in the backyard, and bumped her arm firmly with his palm. "You hold so hard it's gonna jerk and you'll miss."

It was the third time he'd told her that, and she frowned, trying hard to follow his directions. She shook her arm a little, gripping the crossbow in her hand, finger on the trigger. It was heavier than she anticipated, and she missed the first two times, arrows digging into the ground beyond harmlessly.

She fired again, grazing the bottom of the target and making the arrow tumble to the ground. "Better." He said, surprising her a little. He was actually a very patient teacher. "Try again."

The sun above was glaring down on her, making it hard to really aim for the stuffed shirt he'd set up to hang from a tree several yards away. When she hesitated and didn't fire he looked down at her. "Here, try this." He said, leaning down and grabbing a handful of dirt from the ground. He smushed it between his palms, and came around in front of her as she lowered the bow. She almost chuckled when he smeared his thumb underneath both her eyes, on the top of her cheeks, and she wondered for a moment if she was supposed to tackle the target now instead of shoot it.

She did laugh a little at the thought, and he shrugged. "It works. Now go again. Aim for the middle."

Rick and Carol sat side by side on the steps of the back porch, watching the two of them work.

"I still can't believe it." Rick shook his head in wonder and Carol smiled.

"He's temperamental, but he's a good man."

"I know he is." Rick said quickly. He'd long ago learned to trust the man with his own, and Carl's, lives. T-Dog came to the door quietly.

"He snap yet?" He asked, only half joking. Maggie and Glen were behind them, even Carl had been released from his mother's grasp into Maggie's capable hands for a while. They all stared out as Daryl moved around Ruby, occasionally putting his hand on her shoulder to guide her, or jogging out to retrieve the arrows she'd fired.

"He hasn't even raised his voice." Carol responded, a small but secretly, proud smile on her face.

Ruby fired again and this time she landed the arrow in the middle of the target and she grinned widely. With the dark streaks of dirt across her cheeks and the rosy glow of satisfaction she wore, she looked absolutely adorable. Daryl looked pleased, but he was well aware of their audience and didn't show it too much as he went and retrieved the arrows again. Still, when he got back to her side and said 'Again', he bumped her with his elbow proudly.

She kept the streak going. Sometimes her arrow would go a little left, sometimes a little right, but she got a feel for the weapon and her aim was true, hitting the target several times in a row. With her snug jeans, black tank, and pulled back hair, she looked like a natural, deadly even.

"I think you got it, girl." Daryl stood back finally and put his hands on his hips. Ruby walked out to help him gather the last of the arrows and take down the target, and when she turned around toward the house, she caught a glimpse of Lori in the window above. The woman left the glass quickly and Ruby brushed it off as simple curiosity, the same as the gaggle of people who had gathered at the back door to watch.

"She's not bad. But I'd like to see her with that Glock she carries." Daryl said to Rick as they got back to the house.

"What about that arrow I broke?" Ruby reminded him as she returned Rick's smile of approval.

Daryl nodded. "In a bit. Get some water." He walked off toward the trees, a little uncomfortable being at least part of the center of attention.

T-Dog shook his head at her, chuckling a little. "You got some kinda way, Ruby." Maggie flashed a bright smile at her and she, Glen and T-Dog passed them, going out into the yard.