A/N: Another new story! Y'all can thank gneebee for this story, it was all her idea and I ran with it. It's definitely a change from my usual stories because this one will be nothing but happiness for Daryl and Beth. For now, this is a one-shot but there's a very, very good chance that I could add more. ;)

Please, please review!

DISCLAIMER: I almost forgot to put this but here it is. I do not own the Walking Dead or it's characters, nor do I own any songs, places, etc. that are mentioned in this story except my original characters. Also, I completely made up the name of the rodeo, however, I did not make up the name of the town it is in. And, I tried putting this in terms that everyone could understand so you don't have to know anything about rodeos to read this.

Enjoy!

Riding For A Fall

"Ladies and Gentleman, Cowboys and Cowgirls, Welcome to the 58th running of the Brazos River Round-Up. It's a beautiful day here in Navasota, Texas and we have a big day planned for you folks who enjoy seein' some of the toughest men and women on dirt. Please stand as our Cowboys and Cowgirls enter the arena and Beth Greene, one of the young ladies competing tonight in the barrel racing event, sings our National Anthem."

Beth rode in last and stopped her horse between the other two contestants who were proudly carrying the American flag and the Texas flag.

Keeping a tight hold on her reins, she waited until the crowd had grown silent and the men in the arena removed their hats, placing them over their hearts, before she began.

"Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn's early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro' the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof thro' the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that Star - Spangled Banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

The crowd cheered loudly as she hit the last note and two by two, they all exited the arena.

Beth smiled to herself, trotting Nellie down the alleyway and into the warm-up pen.

She had to admit to herself that she was too wound up to even think about getting off her horse, even though there were three events ahead of the one she was running in.

She took a deep breath and made a couple of laps around the pen before stopping and climbing off.

"Maggie!" she called out, leading Nellie out of the warm-up pen and over to her trailer. "Margaret Grace!" she shouted and banged her fist against the door to the sleeper.

"What?!" Maggie called out, swinging the door open and trying to pull her shirt on.

Beth groaned at the sight and made a gagging sound when Maggie stepped out of the sleeper and cowboy followed her.

"Ryan," Maggie held on to his arm. "This is my little sister Beth. Beth, this is Ryan Traveller. He…."

"I know who he is, Maggie," Beth mumbled sarcastically.

Maggie rolled her eyes but smiled up at Ryan as he kissed her cheek and walked off. She put her hands on her hips and turned to her sister and said, "Now listen here, Missy, don't be rude and don't act like you're some kind of big shot especially when someone like Ryan is around."

"I wasn't actin' like some kind of big shot, Maggie. You're supposed to be here to help me, not sleep with every buckle that doesn't have a ring. Which by the way, doesn't mean a damn thing. You know they all take off their rings when they compete, especially ropers like Ryan!"

Maggie rolled her eyes again. "You know, Bethie, it may do you some good to hook up with a buckle. There's been a few interested in you."

"No Maggie," Beth said while tying Nellie to the trailer, "They were not buckles, they were bull riders."

Maggie shrugged. "What's the difference?"

Beth turned on her sister. "Bull riders are some of the most arrogant, selfish guys out there. If, and that's a big if, I were to date a guy who is involved in rodeos, I would rather date one of the stock contractors but they're all married so that's not goin' to happen."

"I didn't say anythin' about datin' one of them. I said you should hook up with them. There's a big difference between the two and besides, you'll both move on to a new town, another rodeo and even if you see each other again, it won't be for very long."

"You are the world's worst big sister. You know that, right?"

Maggie just grinned as she walked away.

Beth had taken Nellie to the warm-up pen a couple of times, careful not to over work her before her run.

After she had tied Nellie back up to the trailer, she went to find Maggie in the stands.

She sighed and shook her head, not the least bit surprised to see Maggie sitting with a group of cowboys. They weren't just the boots, jeans, and cowboy hat wearin' guys that came to watch the rodeo, these were the guys that made the rodeo. They were who everyone came here to see.

"Beth! Bethie!" Maggie called out when she spotted her sister and waved her over. She grabbed Beth's hand tightly so she would stay by her side. "Boys, this is my little sister Beth. She's runnin' barrels and someday she'll be runnin' 'em at the NFR instead of here."

One of the guys stood up and tipped his hat, causing Maggie to wink at her. "Ma'am, I'm Royce Elliot and these boys are Jennings Warren and Colton Berry," he said pointing to two guys sitting next to where he had sat. "And those two there," he pointed behind them, "That's Lane Woodson and Daryl Dixon."

"So, Royce," Maggie said, taking a seat and smiling at him. "What is it you boys do?"

Beth rolled her eyes this time. Could her sister be any more obvious?

"Well," he grinned. "Me, Jennings and Colton are bull riders and Lane and Dixon just ride bareback so they don't matter much."

"I think you all matter," Maggie tried to flirt.

Beth noticed that the three bull riders were watching her sister closely, hanging on every lash she batted and the other two, while watching and listening to her sister, didn't seem that interested in her. She smirked to herself at the thought of some of these guys not wanting Maggie. Her sister would have a fit if she knew they weren't interested in her.

She was only half listening, too caught up in watching the tie down event going on in the arena, when she heard her name being mentioned. She quickly turned her head to see her sister smiling.

"Beth, Colton is free tonight after the rodeo," Maggie said in almost a whisper. "Go have a drink with him."

Colton raised an eyebrow and smiled. "We don't have to go to a bar or anythin', I'm sure we can find somethin' to drink around here somewhere."

Beth furrowed her brow and pursed her lips together, fighting the urge to yell at her sister in front of this crowd.

"No thank you," she said as politely as she could then turned to Maggie. "Barrels are next so I'm goin' to get Nellie ready. Don't forget to video my ride like you did last time."

Beth and Nellie were both calm as they waited their turn, when the rider ahead of her looped around the last barrel Beth held her breath and gave Nellie a little tap, readying her for the run.

"That was Abigail Storm with a time of 14.7 seconds, putting her in the lead over Josie Porter and Scarlett Ryman," the announcer said. "For the rest of you ladies, that is the new time to beat."

There was a pause, "Our next rider is Beth Greene from Senoia, Georgia."

Beth's heart sped up and the crowd's cheers drowning out as she took off.

Straight out of the alley, she made the turn to right and looped around the barrel. Heading to the left barrel, Nellie lost her footing but Beth quickly corrected her as they made the turn.

She headed straight for the last barrel, catching it with her knee but not knocking it over as she made the turn. She gave a slight pull on the reins and Nellie took off.

She could hear the crowd again as they murmured, waiting for her time to be announced.

"That was Beth Greene with a 17.1, putting her in fourth place."

Beth chocked back her tears and slowly walked Nellie to the trailer.

She was better than this. She knew she was, so why didn't she do well?

She stepped into the sleeper, closed the door behind her and leaned against it, letting a few tears slip from her eyes.

"Bethie," Maggie spoke softly from the other side of the door, not even bothering to knock. "Open the door so we can talk."

Beth wiped her eyes and stood up, jerking the door open she stared down at her sister. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Your ride, of course. Just because you didn't win this one doesn't mean you won't win the next. You learn from your mistakes and…."

"Learn from my mistakes? Did you video my run so I'll know what my mistakes were?"

Maggie's eyes widened.

"I didn't think so," Beth snapped and slammed the door in her sister's face.

Maggie turned when she hear a chuckle behind her. She narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips, staring at an older looking man who was leaning against a truck and sipping on a beer. From the way he was dressed, he was definitely one of the riders or maybe one of the contractors.

"And just what the hell do you find so funny?" she asked.

He snickered and took a sip. "I'm guessin' she's tha baby of tha family," he said.

Maggie nodded and he took a step towards her.

"That figures. Tha younger ones always take it too damn personal when they don't get their way."

He grinned at her but she didn't budge. "Name's Merle Dixon," he said, holding out his hand.

Maggie stared at his hand then at him. "Are you related to Daryl?"

"Yep," he nodded, letting his hand drop to his side. "He's my baby brotha an' he's damn good at what he does but he lets it get to 'im when he fucks somethin' up, even when it ain't his fault."

Maggie nodded her head in agreement. "Yeah, that sounds like Beth. I'm Maggie by the way."

"Sure is nice ta meet ya," Merle grinned. "You jus' 'ere for support or are you runnin' too?"

"No, I'm just here for support and because our parents seem to think Beth needs a chaperone at all times. What about you? Are you just here to support your brother?"

"Naw," he shook his head. "I'm one a tha bull fighters. Most tha time we ain't even in tha same state but when were are, we try ta get together." Merle looked her over then looked to the door behind her. "How old's your sister anyway?"

"She's twenty-four."

"She don't look it," Merle muttered to himself.

"That's why I'm here," Maggie smile. "She's twenty-four but looks sixteen and most of the time she acts like she's eighty."

"Ah," Merle took a sip of his beer. "You're tha fun one, jus' tryin' ta show 'er a good time."

"I'm not tryin' to show her a good time. I just want her to loosen up and have a little fun. She's so serious all of the time and doesn't understand that she's not gettin' any younger."

"After some a tha guys get done talkin' ta some reporters, we're all headin' over ta Joe's Tavern. Y'all should come," Merle gave her another grin as he tipped his hat and walked away.

Beth had changed into a pair of shorts and an oversized t-shirt and was propped up on the bed watching videos of some of her previous runs.

If Maggie had just been paying attention to her and not to the guys around her, she'd be able to watch her run from earlier tonight and maybe she could see what she did wrong so she wouldn't make that mistake again.

Right now, she could honestly say that she hated her sister. Maggie would never understand that this was something she loved, this was her dream but to her sister, it was nothing more than a rodeo, it was all fun and games for her and she thought it should be that way for Beth too.

So when Maggie finally unlocked the door and came inside, Beth turned away from her and tried to go to sleep.

Daryl had a tight grip on his rigging as he leaned back, positioning his spurs in just the right spot and raising his free hand above his head.

He gave a nod and the gate swung open. The first jump out of the chute almost startling him but he held on for every jump and turn for the horse made.

He heard the buzzer sound and brought his free hand down to grip the rigging.

Above all of the cheering, he could hear his brother's voice whooping and hollering, cheering him on as always.

He smiled to himself. His brother may be a lot of things but he was always proud of him.

He waited for the judges to announce his score and when they called out an 86, he could once again hear Merle shouting, cussing at the score.

"Aw shit," he mumbled when he looked up to see Merle going up the stairs to the announcer's booth.

Thankfully, he made it up the stairs just as Merle grabbed up one of the judge's.

"Merle," he put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "Don't do this or they'll pull your card again."

He could almost hear Merle smirk as he let go of the judge. "You're damn lucky I like what I do an' don't want ta lose my job or I'd stomp yer ass through this floor," Merle told the man.

Daryl shook his head and pulled on his brother's arm. "C'mon. Let's go get a drink."

"I'll be damned," Merle muttered when he looked up from his beer. Daryl looked up from his own and looked to where Merle was looking, a big ol' grin on his face and a look in his eyes Daryl knew all too well.

"Don't even think 'bout it," Daryl said to him without taking his own eyes off the girls who had just walked in.

"What's there ta think 'bout, baby brotha? Blondie is down on 'er luck after losin' tonight an' 'er sister is jus' lookin' for a buckle ta ride."

Daryl shook his head and both men took a drink.

"'Sides, I invited 'em," Merle said, shocking the shit right out of Daryl.

His brother never invited women to have a drink with them unless he knew it was a sure thing or he was paying them.

Merle stood, whistled and waved the girls over.

Daryl was quick to notice the blond seemed like she would rather be anywhere but there and the other girl, he remembered her name was Maggie, didn't seem all that interested in Merle but she played along and flirted back.

"Hey darlin'," Merle said to the blond, "What'd ya want ta drink?"

"I don't want…."

"She'll have a beer," Maggie interrupted and answered for her.

Merle ordered them all a round of beers though he and Daryl weren't even finished with the ones they had.

Maggie leaned over to her sister and Daryl heard her whisper, "I practically had to drag your ass out of that trailer so the least you could do is have a drink. Just one drink and then we'll go."

"So darlin'," Merle inched a little closer to Maggie, "What's her deal?"

Maggie shook her head, "She's just a little shy and uptight and like I told you earlier, she's upset about not placin' tonight."

Merle looked his way and took a big gulp of his beer then stood up. "C'mon," he held his hand out to the blond. "Let's have us a dance."

"N…no thanks," she stuttered. "I don't dance."

"Yes you do!" Maggie screeched. "Here, take a drink and then go dance with Merle."

"C'mon, it's jus' one dance," Merle said. "I won't bite ya."

Beth stared at her sister, looking like she was ready to kill her.

Maggie grinned, "See, it's just one dance, Bethie."

Beth looked up at Merle, then to Daryl and then back to her sister. She sighed and took a sip of her beer then stood up and followed.

Daryl watched his brother place his hand on the small of the girls' back and take her other hand in his. He wasn't sure why but he felt the need to watch out for her.

He shrugged to himself, maybe it was because he knew his brother too well and that girl was too good for him. Why couldn't he go after her sister instead? She seemed more than willing but maybe they both liked the chase of it.

Whatever it was though, he was going to make sure nothing happened that wasn't wanted.

Beth nervously looked over to her sister and the guy at the table as the song started and Merle spun her around before she was ready.

"I can see you got your eye on this old cowboy,
and I can tell you've never had one for your own,
Or you've never been around one,
now you're thinkin' that you've found one,
Well it might be kinda fun to take him home.

You giggle every time that I say "yes ma'am"
and I get this feelin' if I held you tight,
You'd be seein' his and hers,
buckles, boots and spurs,
But that's a feelin' you'll get over overnight."

She groaned as Merle led her around the dancefloor and she listened to the lyrics of the song. It wasn't a bad song, she actually quite enjoyed it and was a huge fan of Chris LeDoux's but whenever she looked up at Merle, he always seemed to be grinning down at her and leaned down close to her ear to whisper along with the song.

"'Cause whatcha gonna do with a cowboy
when that old rooster crows at dawn,
When he's lyin' there instead,
of getttin' out of bed
and puttin' on his boots and getting' gone,
What you gonna do when he says honey
I've got half a mind to stay,
What you gonna do with a cowboy,
when he don't saddle up and ride away."

As much as Daryl tried to watch his brother and that girl, he also tried his best to ignore her sister who had been talking non-stop since Merle and Beth had left the table.

She was going on and on about how well her sister usually did and how she always tagged along but never really felt like she belonged on the road with Beth and then, what Daryl enjoyed the most, she started asking him questions.

He silently cursed his brother and prayed this girl would get the hint and leave him alone but it didn't look like she would.

"Where are y'all from?" she asked after taking a short break from asking questions.

"Georgia," Daryl muttered.

"Oh my God! So are we! Where in Georgia are y'all from?"

"Pinehurst," Daryl answered.

"Really?" she seemed way too happy about that.

"We're from just a few towns over, Senoia to be exact," she smiled. "I guess it's a small world after all."

"Ain't a small world," Daryl mumbled. "jus' a small circuit."

Maggie opened her mouth to speak but she stopped when she saw her sister walking towards their table, Merle following her.

"I'm ready to go," Beth said angrily.

"Awe, c'mon. Y'all jus' got 'ere an' we only had one dance," Merle said from behind her.

"Yeah," she spun around to face Merle and putting both hands on his chest, she shoved him as hard as she could. "Well one dance is all you get. I didn't come here for you to grab my ass!"

Merle chuckled and Maggie glared at her.

"Let's go, Margaret!" Beth gritted out.

Maggie crossed her arms over her chest. "You can go but I'm not goin' anywhere. I came here to have a good time and that's just what I'm goin' to do."

With her hands on her hips, Beth tapped her foot on the hardwood floor and then sighed. "Fine but if he tries to grab my ass again, we're leavin'."

"Deal," Maggie said and walked off towards the pool tables with Merle.

Beth eyed Daryl carefully before sitting down.

"I'm sorry 'bout Merle," he muttered after they had sat there in silence for a few minutes.

"It's not your place to be sorry," she said softly. "But you should let him know that one day he's goin' to lose a hand if he's not careful."

Daryl smirked at how serious she sounded and from that and the look on her face, there was no doubt in his mind that she wouldn't think twice before cutting his hand off.

"I'll let him know," he said, still smirking.

They sat there, watching Maggie and Merle dance and play pool for a while before they were both leaning their head on the table and cursing their siblings for dragging them out with them.

Beth took a sip of the warm beer and grimaced. She wasn't a drinker and even if she was, she wouldn't be drinking that.

Daryl, now a few beers in, almost wanted to laugh at the girl next to him but he hadn't had so much that he had lost himself and his manners, what few he did have. Just about that time, his stomach growled and Beth jerked her head up towards him and he could see her trying not to laugh.

"Ya want ta grab a bite ta eat?" Daryl asked boldly.

Beth looked back at her sister, then turned back to Daryl and nodded. "Yeah. I saw a Whataburger up the street."

Daryl smiled. "I like the way you think. I always eat there when I can find one."

They stood and started towards the door before Beth stopped and once again looked back at her sister.

"She'll be fine," Daryl assured her. "I'm sure she'll knock Merle on 'is ass if he tries anythin'."

She looked back at him and nodded. "I know she will."

Daryl pulled into a parking spot at the Whataburger and they both climbed out of the truck.

She was surprised when they got to the door and he held it open for her.

Once inside, they placed their orders, Daryl paying for both despite Beth protesting, and took a seat at a corner booth.

They both sat there without saying a word to the other, Daryl nervously chewing on his thumb nail and Beth humming along to the song that was playing over the speakers, until their food arrived.

They both unwrapped their hamburgers and let out groan as they each took a bite.

"These are the best burgers," Beth mumbled around the food in her mouth.

Daryl nodded in agreement.

After they had each taken a few bites, Daryl found himself asking, "Do ya like chasin' those tin cans?"

Beth smiled and nodded as she swallowed her bite. "I don't just like chasin' 'em, I love it. I hope someday I can make it to the NFR."

"You will," Daryl nodded and took a bite of his fries. "I've seen ya out there an' you're jus' as good as Fallon Taylor or Sherry Cervi. You'll make it ta Vegas one a these years."

Beth's smile grew. "You've been watchin' me?"

He glanced up at her then back down to his food and shrugged. ""Course I have. I like watchin' ya ride. Most a them girls act like they're scared a their damn horses or those barrels an' tha others are cocky as fuck about their ridin' but you seem at ease on your horse an' ya don't let a win go ta yer head."

"Well obviously you've never seen me win," she chuckled.

"Yeah, I have. Out in Albuquerque, 'bout a month ago. You won then but ya still talked ta all those people an' talked ta those lil' girls when tha others wouldn't give 'em tha time a day."

Beth looked down at her food as she felt her face and neck turning red. "I'm sorry to say but I've never paid much attention to you when you ride. I never can watch someone ridin' a bronc or bull. It's so scary to me."

"Ain't that scary," Daryl mumbled as he finished off his burger and fries.

"It is to me. Have you ever gotten hurt?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I've been hurt a few times but it wasn't nothin' too serious. Ain't you ever got hurt ridin' your horse?"

'Well, yeah. Who hasn't? But I've never been thrown off and I've also never gotten on a horse whose intentions was to buck me off."

He shook his head. "How long you been ridin'?"

She pursed her lips and thought on it for a minute. "Well, my daddy had horses before I was born and I've just kind of always rode. I mean, I didn't start competing until I was four but those were mostly lead-line rodeos until I got old enough to run 'em on my own. How long have you been ridin'?"

He shrugged. "I started out ridin' calves when I was 'bout five or six. In high school I got too big ta ride bulls so I started ridin' broncs. I did saddle bronc ridin' for a while but I was better at bareback so that's what I stuck to."

"Where's your next run goin' to be?" Daryl asked as he pulled his truck up next to Beth's.

"I have a run up in Tyler, then it's on to Lufkin and then out to Austin," she answered as she unbuckled her seat belt. "Where's your next ride?"

"Gotta be up in Fort Worth then Lubbock and Austin after that. Austin should be tha same time as you. Maybe we can meet up there if we both got time and find a place ta eat?"

"I'd like that," she said with a smile as she got out of the truck and he pulled away.

Beth tried her best to ease the door to the sleeper open without waking Maggie up, if she were inside but that didn't work.

Before she could get the door unlocked, Maggie opened it with a huge smile on her face.

"So?" she asked.

"What?"

"How was he?"

"Maggie, all we did was go get somethin' to eat. We didn't do anythin' else."

"Really? I'm not buyin' that, Bethie. It's five in the mornin' and you were tryin' to sneak in. I know somethin' happened."

Beth blushed. "I swear nothin' happened, Maggie."

"But?

"There's no but," Beth said, turning away from her sister.

"Oh yes there is. There is always a 'but'."

"Well," Beth busied herself with putting away some of the clothes Maggie had thrown everywhere. "He asked where I was runnin' next and I told him and it turns out he's goin' to be in Austin for the same rodeo so we may meet up then."

"Ooooh," Maggie teased. "So you do like cowboys."

"It's not like that, Maggie."

"It's not? Then how is it? Y'all are just hookin' up?"

"No. Now quit sayin' that!"

Maggie laughed. "Did you at least give him your number?"

Beth's eyes widened and Maggie laughed again.

"It's a good thing I'm smarter than you," she said, picking up a shirt and folding it. "I knew you wouldn't give out your number and even if you wanted to, you'd be too shy to do it, so I left it with Merle and told him to give it to Daryl."

Beth was so embarrassed she could have cried but she didn't.

Merle whistled and gave Daryl a big grin when he opened the door to their motel room.

"Well, well, well," Merle said not moving from his spot on the bed. "How was blondie? She's a lil' firecracker ain't she."

"Shut up, Merle," Daryl mumbled as he sat down and started to pull his boots off.

"Naw, now, baby brotha. Ya know I want ta know how she was. All them buckle bunnies are tha same but when ya get a sweet one like her…."

Merle groaned then went silent as one of Daryl's boots connected with his stomach.

"Ain't gotta throw shit at me," he mumbled and reached for his phone on the nightstand.

"Told ya ta shut up," Daryl mumbled back.

Merle sat up and tossed his phone to his brother.

"Put that number in your phone an' text tha girl."

"What?" Daryl looked up at his brother.

"Her sister gave me her number an' said fer me ta give it to ya. You was out this late with 'er, don't see why ya cain't jus' call or text 'er."

Daryl shook his head as Merle got up, grabbed his cigarettes and walked out of the room.

He stood there for a minute, staring at his brother's phone before putting the number in his and heading to the bathroom to get a shower.

He closed the door behind him and pressed send then sat his phone down on the back of the toilet.

Just as he was climbing into the shower, his phone went off and he immediately opened the message.

'See you in Austin.'