Rick's Ruby

Chapter 25

They pulled into the gravel roadway and parked next to the other cars. Getting out, they loaded up their arms as Daryl hopped up the hill and got to them.

"Looks like it went alright." He said, eying the almost full truck bed.

"You're not going to believe what we found. How was it here?" Rick asked, handing him a basket.

"We need to talk." Daryl said grimly and the three of them froze, turning toward him. "Didn't see any walkers in town, did you?"

"No. Why?" Rick asked warily.

"Doesn't look like we're alone out here, that's why. After you left we spotted a truck driving on the other side of the lake. Got everybody inside but me and Glenn, couldn't stop them from noticing the cars up there." Daryl shouldered his crossbow and Rick paled a little.

"What happened?"

"Two guys, said they had a place nearby they been holed up in a while. Invited us to come back, but they don't know about anybody but us two and you and the big guy. Got a whole group of 'em, from what he was sayin'. Some women, couple kids. Hell, said they had a church. Guess we looked like we needed preachin' to."

"How did they seem?" Ruby stepped forward and crossed her arms over her chest.

Daryl shrugged. "Offered us food, said to talk to you and they'd be back tomorrow to see if we wanted to come back."

"We can leave tonight." Rick said, his tone suddenly authoritative and serious. "Be gone before they get back."

"Well, wait now." Paul said. "Don't you think we should talk to everyone? These guys didn't try to disarm them, offered food. Maybe this is what we were looking for."

"You want to take that chance? After seeing the survivors we've seen so far?" Rick put his hands on his hips and looked at Paul with wide eyes. "They're probably watching us right now, for all we know. No, we pack up and leave, tonight."

"They ain't." Daryl shook his head. "I been around that water twice since, I'd have seen if they were."

"Come on, let's get this stuff down there, what we need at least. We can talk about it." Ruby said, eager to break up the small circle. Rick was getting worked up, and she didn't like it. Paul made a good point, and she wanted to talk to him about it.

Storing what they didn't need right away in the trunks and safely away from probing strangers, they got back down to the cave and saw Carol cooking up a small deer. Daryl must have been busier than they thought while they were gone. After they ate and Rick was aside talking to Carol and Carl, Ruby went to sit near Paul and Daryl.

"So, what are you two really thinking about the strangers?" She asked, and Daryl went thin lipped while he worked on tightening his bow.

"Don't like new people. Doesn't end well."

"I still don't think we should discount them this quickly. You said there were only two, right?" Paul said, and Daryl nodded. "I think we should hide everyone and wait for them to come back. We don't like what they say, we say no. And we outnumber them."

"What if they bring more?" Ruby asked.

"We just restocked on ammo. Daryl gets into a point of defense, Glenn in the cave waiting... I don't see how it should be a problem to take them down."

Ruby nodded, biting her lip. Rick came up behind her then, and she looked back up at him. "You ready to pack it up? We can be far down the road before it gets too dark."

"And go where?" Paul asked. "It's already late, and we've been talking."

Rick squatted, his eyes narrowed. "And making decisions, it sounds like." Even Daryl looked up at that one, but Rick continued. "Well, go on. What were you talking about?"