A/N This is a Merle and Beth fic, so if the idea of Merle and Beth being together puts you in a rage, best not read. I'm intrigued by the pairing. Please keep in mind, we're in 1947-48, morals and behavior are very different, and men's and women's roles are clearly defined. We sure don't have much in the way of women's rights, the double standard is in full force. Prices seem cheap, but then, $100 in 1947 would be equivalent to just under $1,100 today.

In this story Merle is 30, and Beth? We're not sure yet… Trigger warnings for physical abuse and sexual assault.

Merle Dixon wasn't a fan of war but World War II had given him a future.

Back in '39 the judge had given him a choice, do six months in county lock-up for drunk and disorderly, or join the Army. Merle had wisely chosen the Army.

Now two years after the end of the war and his mustering out, and at the age of 30, he felt like a success. That was something he never thought he'd feel.

He had a knack for all things mechanical, and the Army had built on that ability and given him formal training. He could fix any vehicle that came his way.

He'd saved most of his Army pay, and after his discharge he'd supplemented that savings with a small loan and bought an auto repair garage in Summit, GA.

With the G.I. Bill backing him, he was able to purchase a nice little house with close to an acre of ground, and he was taking two adult night courses at the High School, Basic English to improve his reading and writing skills, and Basic Bookkeeping for his business.

He did miss his baby brother Daryl, his only kin. Daryl was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Lejeune, he was in some kind of special unit that he wasn't even allowed to talk about. Daryl had skills and Merle knew that. No one could track like Daryl; he could find that needle in the haystack. And Daryl was a deadeye aim, with any weapon. Daryl had joined the Marines at 17. He'd opted to stay in the Marines when the war ended and make it a career, and they apparently liked him because he had achieved rank at an accelerated pace.

Merle was proud of them both for breaking the "Dixon Cycle" rising out of poverty and becoming respectable citizens.

Merle's house was simple and nice. It had three bedrooms, a big bathroom with both a bathtub and a shower, a real good size kitchen and a big front room. A nice cozy fireplace for winter; and a huge front porch with a porch swing. It was a lot of house for a single man, but the deal was just too good to pass up. The previous owners had an itch to move out to that California sun after the war, like a million other returning G.I.s, and they'd sold the house completely furnished, even a piano in the front room. Merle had no idea what he'd ever do with that, but he liked the way it looked. There'd been a small building at the back of his property and he'd spent his free time the last several months turning it into a rental apartment. It had a nice kitchen and eating area, cozy living room, and a small bedroom and bathroom.

Merle figured some bachelor would rent the place and he'd pocket a cool $30 a month in rent. Easy money, hell the place had been there anyway and he'd done 90% of the work on it himself.

Early that Saturday morning he posted a notice at the laundromat, the grocery store and the post office saying he had a small apartment for rent and listing his address.

He'd finished his house and yard work and just gotten out of the shower, and gotten an undershirt and some khaki pants on when there was a knock at the door. "Damn, that was fast," he smiled to himself.

When he opened the door he was surprised, to say the least. There stood one a the prettiest dang women he'd ever seen, not his usual type, he liked 'em big and curvy, but damn, she was a natural beauty. She was wearin' a plain yellow cotton dress, white socks and simple brown lace up shoes. He could tell her blond hair was long, but it was all up in some kind of messy haphazard bun that managed to look damn sexy on her, and she had the biggest blue eyes he'd ever seen. She wasn't even wearing any make-up, he kinda liked those painted on faces, especially the big red lips, but this gal could change his mind. She was wearing a sweater, even though it was hotter than hell, and she kept pulling the left sleeve down to her fingers. And she was holding the hand of a little fella who didn't look to be quite three, he had her eyes, but darker hair and plenty of freckles.

"Can I help ya Miss?" Merle looked her in the eyes, and he could tell she was nervous, "Um yes, I saw a sign at the post office that you have an apartment for rent. I'd be interested in looking at it if I could," she quietly responded. "Well now, I'll show it to ya, but I don't think it's gonna be big enough for a family," Merle shrugged. "Oh, there's just my little boy and me," she looked downright scared now.

He didn't ask, assuming her husband had been killed in the war. "Alright let me just get my shirt and shoes on, we can go right down the driveway to it." He met her at the driveway and cocked his head toward the apartment.

"C'mon and have a look, oh and by the way, I'm Merle Dixon," he lead her out back to the apartment.. "I'm Beth Greene and this is my son, Tommy," she gave a very small shy smile. Merle nodded to her and rubbed a hand on the boys head.

The apartment was much better than she could have imagined, certainly better than anything she and Tommy had ever lived in. Everything seemed fresh and new. There was a kitchen that would work perfectly for her baking, a small living room, and a cute little bedroom with a double bed. The bath had a tub rather than a shower, which made her very happy. "I'd be interested in renting this place Mister Dixon, but I probably can't afford it" she spoke softly, almost tentatively.

He wasn't gonna worry 'bout the money right yet, if she was a war widow maybe they could work out a pay agreement, "I s'pose ya know I gotta ask ya a few questions, not tryin' to pry, but you understand my position," she seemed mighty fragile and he didn't want to get her shook up. "Yes, of course," she replied. "Well then I'll just cut ta the chase. How ya gonna pay the rent, ya got a job?"

Now he could swear she was shaking. "Well, I don't have a regular job, because of Tommy bein' so little and all and I can't really afford to hire anyone to keep him, but I get by. I take in ironing and sewing, mending, I do alterations, and I make custom ladies dresses for a few women in town. I clean a house for an older couple who don't mind that I bring Tommy, and I bake homemade bread and have regular customers who buy that," she looked down the whole time, never quite meeting his eyes, and damn if she still didn't seem ta be trembling.

"Well girl seems yer a hard worker. I haven't seen ya around and just wondering where ya been livin' and why ya gotta move?" Merle questioned. Merle didn't think he'd ever seen anyone turn so red and if he thought she was shakin' before he was mistaken because now she was shaking so bad he was afraid she'd come apart. "Well, um I've been living in a small place across town over on Pine Grove Street but um, well," and shit, he saw a tear roll down her cheek, "when the owner found out I've never been married he said he couldn't have a woman like me living near his kids. He told me I have to be out by tonight. I promise me and Tommy won't be no trouble," and he saw more tears that she was trying to quickly wipe away.

Okay, now Merle felt like the world's biggest sonofabitchin' asshole, and he wanted to kill the sonofabitchin' asshole that would kick a woman and a kid out, but more than anything he wanted to kill the sonofabitchin' asshole who got her in the family way and didn't do the right thing by her and the kid.

"Alright, well I ain't worried 'bout shit like that Miss, how much ya think you can pay?" fuck. "Well, I'm paying $20 now, maybe I can pay $25," she looked like she might pass out. "Nah, 20's what I'm askin'," he just cut himself outta $10 a month, and who knew if she could ever even come up with the $20, but ga'dammit it, he'd let her and the little one stay free if she couldn't. Chrissake Dixon, yer gettin'soft.

She pulled a small handkerchief out of her pocket and untied the knot in it. She had $10 in one dollar bills she handed him, and a quarter. "Well, I could give you $10 right now, if you don't mind I'd like to keep the 25 cents to buy some milk for Tommy," she said just above a whisper. "Yeah, that's perfect, sounds good, ya just pay me the rest when ya got it," Dixon you are one big dumb sucker, and what the fuck, does she only have a quarter for her and the kid? Ah, damn, what had he gotten into? But shit, he wasn't gonna send 'em out on the street.

"Well as you can see the place is furnished, but I s'pose ya got some belongings you'll be needin' ta bring over. Ya got a car?" damn, was he gonna do everythin' for this woman? Yeah, he s'posed he would.

"Thank you Mister Dixon, I don't have too much and I have a little wagon, I could just walk the things over a few at time, I don't want to put you out any more than I have already," she seemed so damn scared, embarrassed and kinda lost. And didn't this pretty little gal have a family who might help her? Well, it wasn't any of his business, he just found himself saying, "well I got a pick-up truck, we can bring everythin' at once, ain't no trouble."

Beth was so relieved. She hadn't known what she and Tommy would do. She felt so alone, and so guilty for not being able to take better care of her little boy, to not be able to provide better for him. Thank God she had seen the ad in the post office when she checked to see if she had any general delivery mail. And thank God Merle Dixon seemed to be such a nice man. Maybe she and Tommy would be able to make this work out for a good long while. If only she could manage to keep the rent paid, and buy enough food for Tommy.

He came back to the apartment spinning his keys around his finger, "ready to go Miss?" "Yes, thank you Mister Dixon," she replied. "Ya know, ya don't gotta call me that, just call me Merle," he half smiled at her. "Thank you Merle, and you can just call me Beth," she gave him that sweet shy smile. Oh yeah, this was trouble alright.

He held the door for her and helped her and Tommy up in the pick-up. She thought it was a very beautiful vehicle, they'd never had anything this nice on the farm. But she didn't really want to think about the farm.

She held Tommy close when the vehicle started, and the little boy giggled with excitement. That made Merle grin, "Ain't never been in a pick-up sonny?" he said to the little boy. The little guy just shook his head "no" and smiled. "Mostly we walk wherever we go," Beth said softly.

It only took about 10 minutes to drive to Beth's old place. He went in with her to help her pack up and get the stuff to the pick-up. The place was a dump, just one small room with a makeshift kitchenette. You could see where the roof leaked, and the carpet was stained and torn. He couldn't believe anyone could have the balls ta charge someone to live here.

Merle was an observant man, he tracked, hunted, fished, he paid attention to his surroundings and he noticed everything, he noticed there was only one other dress besides what she had on, and a threadbare coat. The little boy didn't fare much better. There was a couple of worn out towels, one blanket and two old pillows. Kitchen stuff was all she had much of, not fancy dishes, just a couple plates and bowls and a couple jars to drink from, but there were several bread pans, cookie sheets and some canning equipment.

He also noticed there was a big lack of food, a small pot with a little bit a beans left in it, one piece of cornbread wrapped in a dish towel, a small box of dry milk and a box of oatmeal. She had an old wood milk crate with a bag of flour, some yeast and sugar he s'posed was for the bread she made to sell. Jesus, this woman was destitute. No wonder she was so damn skinny and frail looking.

They got everything loaded in the pick-up in less than half an hour. Just before he helped her in a man came out and said to her, "Sorry for the way this has to be Miss Greene, but I can't be having your sort around here, we're respectable folks, I suggest you mend your ways in a hurry." Merle stepped in between him and Beth, "Ya got no call ta talk ta her like that ya self-righteous prick. You just worry 'bout saving yer own soul cuz ya don't sound like a good Christian ta me."

He took Beth by the hand and got her and Tommy in the truck. Merle felt like he had steam coming out of his ears he was so pissed. Beth was fighting back tears, but she was also looking at Merle. He had helped her in so many ways today, and now he had defended her honor as well. He was so handsome and strong, it was hard not to be attracted to him, but after the things that had happened to her, Beth was afraid of men. Terribly afraid.

After moving her few things into the apartment Merle said, "How 'bout we all go down to the diner an eat after while? It's meatloaf special day." "Thank you Merle, it's very nice of you to ask, but I can't afford to eat out," she replied. "Well I'm treatin'" he grinned. "Oh no I couldn't accept that, not after all you've done already," her cheeks were bright pink. "Well how 'bout you pay me back for dinner by catching up my ironing an housecleaning for me?" he suggested. He was desperate to figure a way to feed this woman and her boy. Merle knew what painful hunger felt like, and he also knew what pride was. "Well, okay if you're sure. I'm a hard worker and I'll make sure everthin' is done nice," she was starving she hadn't eaten in two days because she didn't want Tommy to go without.

Merle was a very clean and tidy guy, and he'd just done his weekly big cleaning that morning, and he took his shirts and pants to the Chinese laundry, he was gonna have to mess up the house and wrinkle up his clothes. But he'd been determined to get some food into them, Merle wasn't gonna just stand back and watch this woman and her boy go without.

He told her he had some things to do, and they'd leave in an hour or so. She was happy to have the time to put her few things away and try to make the place as comfortable as possible.

Merle was planning on doing a little hunting the next morning, his usual Sunday routine, so he wanted to get his things organized and ready to go. He liked to be able to just get up in the morning, start his coffee perking, get dressed and head out with his Thermos and his gear.

Just as he was heading out the door to collect her and the little fella he remembered, fuck, Carlotta would be workin' tonight.

A/N Next up, we meet Carlotta!