Rick's Ruby

Chapter 30- End

"Hey Carl." Ruby said brightly when she got back to the house, another bag slung over her shoulder. He was out front of the main house, sitting on the steps and watching Sally and Jeb play together in a little circle in the yard.

"Hey Ruby." Carl said, looking up from the little piece of wood he was whittling with a pocket knife. Ruby looked around, and saw Carol hanging some laundry from a line on the side yard. No wonder the kids were out here, she was keeping an eye on them. Grabbing a spot next to Carl on the steps, Ruby looked over to see what he was carving.

"Where'd you learn to do that?" She asked.

"Dad taught me, long time ago." He said. "See? It's a crow. There's so many of them in the yard, I thought I'd try it out."

"It's good." She nodded, and looked at the two little ones nearby. "Hey, how are they doin? They seem ok?"

He looked at them, thinking for a moment, then nodded and turned his eyes back to her. Damn, he looked so much like his dad, she thought. "Yeah, Sally's pretty shy, though. I think she'll be ok. Jeb said they lived close, and Bob and Margie found them on the highway after they lost their mom."

"Wow." Ruby's eyebrows went up. "Are they brother and sister?"

"Yeah." Carl nodded, going back to his whittling.

"How about you? You doing ok?" She asked, watching him closely.

"Mm-hmm." He said, his eyes not meeting hers. "Gotta be, right? Gotta be strong. For the group."

She shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. But not always, you know? You can be not ok sometimes and it's alright. We're only human."

He didn't say anything to that, and she pushed a frown down deep. Since Lori had died, the playful kid that had been so happy to get the toys at the farmhouse had been replaced by a more jaded, grown up little man. It made her sad, but she knew it was only about survival.

"I found something you might want." She said, reaching for the bag for had brought from the barn. "It's just some clothes, but they aren't worn out. I think they'll fit you."

"Thanks." He said, looking over interestedly at the bag. "I needed them."

She smiled. "And if anything doesn't fit you, maybe they will work for Jeb."

"Did you find anything for Sally? All she has are those long skirts. It can't be comfortable."

"You know what? I think I have a couple things, but I'm going to have to look a little more. You wanna go back to the barn next time I go, give me a hand?" After the bodies were gone, she thought to herself.

"Sure."

"Ok. Well, I'll go put these in your room. You pick one yet?"

"Yeah, I'm sharing with Jeb. Second door on the right on the second floor." He nodded, a smile playing around his serious little face.

"Very cool. Good talking to you, man. You need anything just yell for me, ok?" She stood up, stretching.

"Thanks, Ruby." He watched her go, and she skipped up the stairs to the room he had directed her to, and let herself in. It was a lot like hers. Same wooden floors and blank walls. The prerequisite crosses over the door and the two twin beds, and she sighed. This wouldn't do, not for two little boys. Going to the bureau, she looked in and saw he hadn't put any of his stuff away yet. She quickly filled the empty drawers and closets with the clothes both from her bag and the bags Rick had been carrying around for his son. Once that was done, she removed all the crosses from the walls, and stood there, looking around the room thoughtfully. Her brain ticked away, and with a smile, she swiftly left the room in search of Jimmy.