B.L. Davenport

Daisy stretched beside her husband in the small bed in Darcy’s travel trailer out at the Hazzard airport, “Mrs. Daisy Kincaid” she mused while looking at the golden rings on hers and Darcy Kinkaid’s left hands, they had bought the rings from the little jewelry store in Tennessee, just before it closed then it was on to the justice of the peace. Now it was time to let her Uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke know what was going on. Darcy opened his eyes to see Daisy watching him, “Good morning Mrs. Kinkaid.” “Good morning Mr. Kinkaid,” Daisy replied with a smile and a kiss then asking, “are you ready to go have a talk with Uncle Jesse and probably Bo and Luke and likely their wives?” “Sure, but all of them? I thought we’d just tell your Uncle for now,” Darcy replied. “Uncle Jesse fixes breakfast for all of us on weekends, sometimes Dixie and BL don’t come and the fellas take the leftovers home to them,” Daisy said. In town the Duke family members being discussed were up and getting ready to head out to the farm. Jeb looked over at Debbie as she slept. He knew it was time to wake her before work but he knew she was tired. It had been late when they got to her apartment and even later when they went to sleep. Time had gotten away from them at the bonfire so Jeb had parked his bike beside Cooter’s garage and driven them back to Debbie's in her car. He planned to drop her off at work, drive back to Hazzard for the day and pick her up after work so they could spend the evening with the others. An hour later, Jeb was driving toward Hazzard to park the car at Cooter’s and take his bike to the farm to help with chores. Jeb had decided to go cross country to the farm once he was on the dirt roads so the four town dwelling Dukes hadn’t seen him yet. At the farm Jesse was putting the coffee on unknowingly that his peaceful morning was about to be anything but peaceful. Jeb came up from the back of the barn as Bo, Luke, Dixie and BL turned in the driveway. All five of them met met up in the backyard. “Hey, where you coming from this early? Figured you stayed here last night,” Luke said. “I had some business to attend to at the tri counties jail,” Jeb replied. “Did you go and get yourself arrested?” Bo asked. Before Jeb could reply, they heard a vehicle approaching. Darcy and Daisy turned into the driveway and saw the others gathered in the yard under one of the big shade trees. Darcy could almost feel a noose around his neck. “I hadn’t wanted to die today,” Darcy said to Daisy. Daisy nuzzled in tight, "Don't be silly. You aren't going to die." Luke let go of Dixie's hand and his entire demeanor changed. Dixie tried to suggest reason. "Luke. Hear them out." Luke was already walking toward Darcy's car. Bo and Jeb had already fallen in on both sides. “Something tells me this ain’t gonna be good,” BL said, moving to stand by Dixie. Dixie said a bit louder, "Luke!" By now, Luke was unbuttoning his shirt sleeve cuffs and rolling them up. Bo and Jeb were following his lead as the three Duke men approached Darcy’s car. “Bo!” BL said, trying to get Bo’s attention before things got ugly which seemed about to happen. Jeb opened the driver’s door on Darcy’s car. “Darcy buddy, you ain’t just bringing Daisy home from the festival are ya?” Bo asked, sounding friendlier than he or the other two Duke men looked as they crowded around Darcy who was now backed against the car. Daisy glared at her three male cousins over the car’s roof, “Bo, Luke, Jeb, ya’ll just back off! Jesse heard several vehicles pull up but so far no one had come inside. He glanced out the window. He noticed Bo, Luke and Jeb in a very tense stance at the driver's door of Darcy's car as Daisy was getting out of the passenger side of the car. He checked the time. The sun was just coming up full. Jesse had figured that Daisy had stayed in town last night when he hadn’t heard her come in but apparently he’d been wrong. Stepping out the back door he said in a warning tone “Bo, Luke, Jeb Stuart, what’s going on?” Bo’s temper showed as he answered, “Darcy is just now bringing Daisy home from the festival.” “Is that so?’ Jesse asked. “Yes sir,” Darcy replied respectfully, looking the older man in the eyes. Jesse had joined the group of young adults now. “Uncle Jesse we will explain if you’ll all go in the house,” Daisy said. "Daisy Mae, ... I'm not real sure there is any explaining that's gonna change the fellas or my mind, but we will go inside and listen. Boys, .... I'm warning all four of you, if this needs settling, it will not happen under my roof." Jesse warned. Darcy almost felt relief. Then, Jesse added very seriously, "There is a barn and plenty of outside." Everybody went into the house, Jesse sat down at the table where all the Duke family’s important things were discussed. Darcy was nobody’s fool and took a seat at the other end of the table for a quick getaway and judging by the looks he was getting from the Duke men he just might need it. Bo, Luke and Jeb all sat eyeing Darcy like prey. Daisy sat next to Darcy, close to the door. Dixie and BL didn’t want to seem clingy but all the chairs were taken, so they perched on one of their husbands knees. Normally this action would get a raised eyebrow from Jesse and the girls would find extra chairs but today wasn’t normal and not a thought was given from anyone there. “Well let’s hear it,” Jesse said gruffly. Daisy started, "Well, ya see..." She stopped mid sentence when Darcy patted her hand. "You see, Mr. Duke, fellas," Darcy took over since he knew to be respected by this family he needed to take charge of the conversation. "I love Daisy and I reckon she loves me. So last night after the festival we drove up to Tennessee and were married." “Married?” Jesse asked. “Yes, married,” Daisy replied, holding out her left hand with a gold band on her ring finger. The Duke men sat in shock for a full minute then recovered, shaking Darcy’s hand and hugging Daisy. “Welcome to the family!” Jesse said. “Congratulations ya’ll,” Dixie and BL said together. BL said, "Dixie we gotta get busy planning a reception.” Dixie agreed and the girls went into planning mode, chores and breakfast forgotten. Once everybody’s excitement and surprise settled they had a hearty breakfast. Luke swallowed the last of his coffee, standing he said,“c’mon Bo, Jeb the chores ain’t gonna do themselves.” Darcy was about to go with the young Duke men but stopped when he heard Daisy ask, “Uncle Jesse can me and Darcy talk to you out on the front porch?” “Me and BL will do the dishes,” Dixie said. “Thank ya girls,” Jesse replied, getting more coffee then joining the newlyweds on the porch. Daisy started, “we got to ask ya something.” Jesse replied, ”I’m listening.” “Darcy’s trailer out at the airport ain’t very big and we’d like to live here where there’s room to start a family someday,” Daisy replied. Darcy cut in before Jesse could answer, “I’ll earn our keep. Help out on the farm that way Bo and Luke can spend time with their wives and soon their babies too, instead of coming all the way out here everyday to help with the chores. “ Jesse considered his words a long minute before answering. So long in fact, that Daisy and Darcy were beginning to sweat. "This old farm ain't near as big as it once was but it don't like not being full. I appreciate you wanting to pull your weight around here Darcy and I'm sure the boys will appreciate a little less on their shoulders." Daisy wrapped her arms around her uncle, "Thank you Uncle Jesse!" Darcy shook hands with Jesse, "I'll go see what I can do to help the fellas and learn my way around a bit." Darcy went down the steps, disappearing around the house. Daisy headed back inside to tell Dixie and BL that her and Darcy were going to live on the farm with Uncle Jesse, so she wouldn’t be needing the usual things given at wedding showers or housewarmings but she was sure her two best friends would want to have some sort of celebration. Jesse stayed where he was, his ‘kids’ were all grown and married now. After church all the Dukes went to the farm to cook a big dinner to celebrate their growing family. Jeb left in time to pick Debbie up at work. She had a couple days off and Jeb talked her into going back to Hazzard with him. They made a quick stop at her place to grab a few days of clothes and were pulling in just as the girls were setting the table. “I hear that there’s a new member to the family,” Debbie said after all the hellos were said. Daisy almost had a vapor lock thinking Debbie was talking about her being pregnant. Daisy sighed with relief when she realized Debbie was talking about her and Darcy getting married. "Thank you, we went up to Tennessee after the festival,” Daisy replied. “Bo, Luke, Jeb, think ya’ll could give me a hand bringing some stuff from my trailer over?” Darcy asked. “Sure thing Darcy,” Bo answered for all three Duke boys. After they had all finished eating the four young men took Jesse’s pickup to the Hazzard airport to get some of Darcy’s things. Meanwhile back at the farm the girls cleaned up the kitchen and washed the dishes. When the guys got back and unloaded the pickup, everyone visited for a while but when Jesse went to bed, Bo and Luke took their wives home and the newlyweds went to Daisy’s room for some privacy. Jeb took Debbie’s hand and they went out to the barn for some privacy of their own.

All too early, Luke’s clock went off. He could hear Bo's clock going off from across the hall. As Luke sat up on the bed, Dixie pulled his pillow closer and snuggled back into the covers. Scrapie and Trixie were up and ready to start their day. Luke went out the bedroom door, banged twice on Bo and BL's door. "Bo, if you'd get up when your clock goes off, I wouldn't have to wake the house up." As Luke banged, Sadie bounded from the chair to the bed landing on top of Bo. She knew once he was out of the bed that she could get back into her bed. “You bang on doors like that once there are sleeping babies in the house, Luke Duke and you are liable to become the second most disliked man in Hazzard,” BL called back. “Oooff. Hey, what's the big idea!” Bo complained as Sadie now lay between him and BL doing her best to scrouge Bo out of the bed. BL giggled as Bo fought for his share of the bed, “she’s trying to get you out of her spot.” “Bathroom’s yours Bo,” Luke called as he passed going back into his and Dixie’s bedroom. Bo gave up on keeping his side of the bed a few more minutes and headed for the bathroom. Sadie wasted no time stretching out on her side with a satisfied groan the minute Bo got up, making BL giggle again. Dixie had heard the commotion outside their door, which was pretty much the normal when Luke was going with Bo to the farm. Luke came into the room, grabbed his clothes and sat on the bed. "She's right, you know." Dixie said sleepily. Luke grumbled just a bit, "Then BL needs to learn how to kick him out of bed quietly." He leaned over and kissed Dixie letting her know that he really wasn't being a grouch. Bo came back into the room and shook his head a little as he stepped into his jeans, “spoiled rotten.” Sadie raised her head up to look at Bo, as if she knew he was talking about her, then layed back down. After Bo put his shirt on,he sat in the chair to put his socks and boots on. “What time are we going over to the square to set up?” Festival starts at 11 o’clock, so we need to have some food ready to start selling, so about 10 maybe,” BL replied. “Ok we’ll try to be back,” Bo said, giving BL a kiss before leaving. “Don’t forget wood for the bonfire,” BL reminded him. “10-4,” Bo replied. Dixie snuggled back into the covers and said sleepily, "Tell Uncle Jesse and Daisy that we will see them in town." Luke looked up to reply and saw that there was no point since Dixie was already back asleep. Meanwhile, at the Duke Farm, Jesse was up and had already poured his first cup of coffee while glancing at yesterday's paper that he had already read. Bo and Luke headed out to the farm in Luke’s truck so they could haul the wood back. When Jesse’s cup was empty he put down the paper and went to start breakfast, he knew the boys would likely be hungry and their wives too if the girls came. He wished Daisy would get up before Bo and Luke arrived; he still didn’t know what Doc Applby had said, it had been very late when Jesse had heard Daisy come in. Luke and Bo pulled into the farm. As they got out of the truck, so did all three pups and the game of tag ensued. All three ran around the truck and their masters, then made about three trips around the farmhouse yapping as they ran and chased each other, then all three sprinted toward the barn. Luke looked at Bo as the pups disappeared into the barn, "I'm glad they are more awake than you." “I’m awake, it just takes me a bit to get going,” Bo defended himself then added “a cup of Uncle Jesse’s coffee will help too.” As Bo and Luke headed in the farmhouse door the three dogs raced out of the barn. “Morning Uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke said as they came in, got a coffee cup and poured themselves a cup of coffee. “Morning boys, are the girls with ya?” “No sir, they're back at the house,” Bo replied. Jesse nodded. "I'll fix them a bite of breakfast for ya'll to take with you for them." Luke took a drink of coffee and said, " You are spoiling them." Jesse looked from the frying bacon in the skillet for the boys breakfast to his oldest, "I'm spoiling them? It seems that I'm still cooking breakfast for you two, too." “Point taken,” Luke replied, it was too early to rile Jesse into a full blown lecture. Out on Cedar Tree lane, LB was just beginning to stir on Lori Mae’s couch, they must have fallen asleep talking. Lori Mae must have woken up at some point and gone to her bedroom. Slipping on his boots then writing a quick note that he’d pick her up for the festival later LB went to his truck, hoping to get home before Clyde missed him. Clyde was up with coffee in his cup and yesterday's paper. The house was still quiet, too quiet. He stood up and looked into the front yard. LB's truck was not home. LB pulled his truck into his usual parking place and headed inside to what he figured would be the third degree about where he’d been. Clyde was at the stove frying eggs and called to LB as he came in the front door, “where’d you go so early? The hardware store ain’t even open this early.” LB stepped into the kitchen replying, “I didn’t go to town, had to take care of something though. Clyde remarked, "It's gonna be a busy day. Breakfast is nearly done and coffee is ready." LB sighed and took a seat at the table. At the Duke farm,Luke finished his coffee. "Let's get at it Bo." He was already in motion, heading out to get the morning chores done. “Right behind ya,” Bo replied, sitting his empty cup down, following Luke out the door. Back at Clyde Davenport’s, Clyde set two plates with eggs, bacon and toast on the table with 2 glasses of orange juice. “What was so all fired important that it couldn’t hold for a bit?” Clyde asked. LB wasn’t ready to tell that particular news yet, so he concentrated on his breakfast and eating it as quickly as possible to get out from under Clyde’s scrutiny. “Slow down son, I know I said it was gonna be a busy day but there’s time to eat,” Clyde said. LB swallowed the food in his mouth then drank the rest of his orange juice, “sorry Pop, I just want to get to town early and the chores won’t do themselves, better get at it,” LB replied, heading for the door, while Clyde cleaned up the kitchen and washed dishes. Daisy heard the dogs yapping as they played chase. She had gotten in late. Really late. She sat up easily, hoping that this would not be a bad morning and that she could use the festival as a reason to not get into a long conversation. She really wished she could get Bo on her side as a distraction. Lord knew she had done it for him many times in the past. Just as Daisy got out of bed, she looked out the window and saw Bo, well behind Luke heading toward the barn. She raised the window. "Bo .... Bo!" Bo heard her the second time she called to him and turned back toward the house. "Good morning Daisy." Bo said. Daisy was sure it was morning but certain it would not be a good morning if she ended up in a conversation with her Uncle. “Morning Bo, I need a favor,” Daisy replied. “Anything for you darlin’,” Bo replied. "Remember all those times you came in really late and didn't want to face Uncle Jesse alone and needed a diversion?" Daisy reminded. Bo got a goofy grin, "Yeah." "Today is payback time." Daisy said in a no nonsense tone. "Don't leave me alone or let me get cornered. I'll be dressed by the time ya'll get chores done. And Bo, don't tell Luke either!" She closed the window to get dressed. Daisy took her time getting dressed just coming out of her room as Bo and Luke came in the back door. “Morning Uncle Jesse, morning Bo, Luke,” Daisy said sitting down at the table. “Morning Daisy,” the 3 Duke men replied. After a hardy breakfast, Luke finished his coffee and slid his chair back, "I guess we'd better round up the pups and get into town. Is there anything Bo and me can help you with or take to town for ya'll?" Jesse reached for the wrap to start wrapping the rest of breakfast for Dixie and BL. "Yes, there is about a hundred pounds of chili in that there freezer and two coolers on the porch. Divide it equally, between the girls and the fire department" Jesse warned sternly and began wrapping the leftovers up for Dixie and BL. Daisy added, "If you stack the dishes I'll wash them tonight. I need to get to town with ya’ll." Luke frowned, "It's still early Daisy." "The girls have got the decorations I need. Besides, I haven't seen them just to talk in days." Daisy said, giving Bo a pleading look. Bo said, "I'll make sure the chili is divided equally. Luke you go pack it up and I'll help Daisy get her stuff and help you pack the chili in the truck." Daisy went to her room and set out four big boxes of cookies “help me carry those boxes to my car, please Bo.” “Sure darlin,” Bo replied, picking up three of the boxes leaving one for Daisy. “Thanks Sugar,” Daisy said. The boxes were put in the backseat of Daisy’s yellow roadrunner. “I’ll take the leftovers to Dixie and BL, meet you at the house fellas. Bye Uncle Jesse,” Daisy said,picking up the plates of food going to her car. Bo and Luke put the freezer boxes of the frozen chili in the coolers to take back to town, putting them in the truck bed. “Well I think that’s everything, right Bo?” Luke said. “The wood for the bonfire.” Bo said. “Shoot I forgot!” Luke exclaimed, moving the coolers to the backseat, so he and Bo could load the wood they had rounded up all month, into the truck’s bed. Luke whistled and three dogs came tearing toward the truck like there was a bobcat on their tails. Luke had his back truck door open. Scrapie and Trixie jumped into the back seat. Sadie jumped onto the back floor board but there was no room for her in the seat, so she did the only thing she knew to do. She jumped up front into Bo's seat. Bo put the last piece of firewood in the bed of the truck then walked around to the passenger front door to get in but found Sadie sitting in his seat waiting to go. “That’s my seat, move over,” Bo said, and Sadie responded with a ‘woof’. “Don’t you back talk to me missy,” Bo said then realizing how he must sound added,”what am I doing?” "Talking to Sadie like she is a two year old." Luke gave Bo an innocent look. “Look who’s talking, I seem to recall you reasoning with the two in the backseat when they made it snow in the livingroom with toilet paper,” Bo retorted. “Funny,” Luke said, then patted the seat beside him,”come on Sadie, come sit with me.” Sadie went across the seat and into Luke’s lap so she could look out the window, instead of sitting beside him like he had intended. Bo got in the truck and they headed to drop off the wood for the bonfire then home. Dixie heard Daisy’s Roadrunner pull into the driveway way before she wanted to get up. She hoped BL was more awake and receptive to early morning family than she was. Dixie turned over and covered her head with the comforter hoping to get to drift back off and not have to get up right now. BL heard Daisy’s roadrunner pull into the driveway as she came out of the bathroom. Daisy wouldn’t usually come this early on Dixie’s day off when she could sleep in, unless it was really important. BL knew Daisy would be by to pick up the decorations she needed but it was still several hours before the festival started, plenty of time left to decorate. Daisy knocked and waited until BL opened it but instead of a smiling Daisy the brunette said “where’s Dixie? I need to talk to ya’ll now!.” “She’s still in bed, I’ll get her” BL replied.Going upstairs BL opened Dixie’s bedroom door saying, “Daisy’s downstairs and needs to talk to us. Something’s up Dix, she’s as jumpy as a sore tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.” Dixie poked her head out from under the covers. "I'm coming." BL turned to go back downstairs. Dixie grabbed a robe, went to the bathroom and headed for the couch where she pulled the afghan off the back of the couch, pulled her feet up and covered up. “What’s up Daisy? You’re not here just to tell us the latest gossip you heard at the Boar’s Nest,” BL said, sitting on the edge of the couch after pushing Dixie’s feet out of the way. “No,” Daisy shook her head then continued, “I need advice, I got something big to tell Uncle Jesse and he ain’t gonna like it.” “I’m sure this won’t be the first time he’s not liked what you told him, it can’t be that bad,” BL replied. “I’m pregnant!” Daisy said, bursting into tears. Dixie sat up quickly, now fully awake, "You are WHAT? I know I'm half asleep and all but I thought you said that you are pregnant." Daisy closed her eyes and nodded 'yes', "Yeah, that is exactly what I said." Dixie frowned in thought, "But, Daisy, you have been on birth control pills since before I left Hazzard years ago. I mean with BL, she had just started taking them so I figured they weren't in her system. I was taking mine regularly, but as for anything else or being real careful, we certainly were not, but I know you have been on them for years." “It’ll be ok Daisy, Uncle Jesse might be a little upset when you tell him but then he’ll think about the next generation of Duke cousins growing up together and lookin’ out for each other like you, Bo and Luke will make him pleased as punch,” BL said. Daisy replied, "You think so?" Then, she thought about what BL said and bolted up out of the chair like the house was on fire. "Oh, Lord. I just don't know how Bo and Luke will take this either. I really don't want to be a single parent and Dar...." She let her voice trail off. Dixie was now awake and caught Daisy's slip, "Darcy? Darcy is gonna be a daddy?" BL leaned forward, “Wow you and Darcy are gonna be parents. Daisy he did not do this TO you, it takes two and it’s obvious you love each other.” “Yeah we do,” Daisy replied. “I’m gonna let you in on a little secret, me and Bo was keeping the weekend of Dixie’s reception/party and all your cousins was here and so were your Uncles Elbert and John and your aunts Bessie and Pauline. Me and Bo had us a scare, my period was late and we just knew we were in trouble because our protection broke.” BL confessed, adding “so Bo ain’t got much room to talk, he did the same as Darcy, we just got lucky.” Dixie saw BL look over at her as if she were waiting for Dixie to tell her own secret. "What are we doing, .... playing truth or dare?" Dixie said but continued before anyone could answer her or change her mind, "Since we are telling and KEEPING secrets this morning." Dixie stressed 'keeping' before she paused a long minute to get her words just right, "Daisy you shouldn't be real surprised if I don't make my due date." “Is there a history of early births in your family?” Daisy asked, the keeping secrets not clicking. “Not that I know, “ Dixie replied and saw Daisy had no clue what she meant. "Daisy, Luke and I knew I was pregnant before we got married. The dates may be close but they won't add up." You were?” Daisy looked a little relieved. “See, Luke can’t say nothing, it'd be the pot calling the kettle black. Don’t let those hot headed cousin’s of yours spoil what should be a happy time for you and Darcy,” BL said. “Right. Won’t it be fun, having our babies so close together?” Dixie was trying to put a positive spin on Daisy’s situation.’ “When are you due?” BL asked. “I don’t know, I don’t remember Doc Applby saying,” Daisy replied. Dixie asked, "You saw Doc Applby?" "I always go to him, besides I wasn't expecting this at all." Daisy replied. Dixie grimaced a bit, "Ya’ll may want to figure something out really quickly. Remember Bo's ex-girlfriend, Jane. She works for Doc some and I hear she keeps the Hazzard phone lines hopping." Hazzard square was beginning to buzz with activity as some like Daisy didn’t have their booths decorated yet and were in town to get it done before the festival started at 11 o’ clock. Down the street leading out of the square Doc Applby’s Ruthie Mae was getting ready for business as usual. Sickness didn’t take the day off just because it was the annual Fall festival. Picking up a couple chart folders to put away, Ruthie Mae stumbled and dropped the charts, spilling their contents on the floor. “Shoot what a mess,” Ruthie Mae sighed as she knelt opening the folders beside her, not thinking much of it when she read Daisy Duke on one, that is until she picked up a lab report from the day before and three words jumped out at her ‘pregnancy test:positive’. Ruthie Mae couldn’t wait to tell Jane when she came in, the nurse had been out the day before for personal reasons. Rute Mae quickly put the chart files in the filing cabinet before the day’s first patient came in and saw her and accused her of snooping. About ten minutes later Jane went into the reception office to leave her purse as usual. “Good morning Ruthie Mae. How are you?” Jane said. “Jane! You are NOT going to believe this,” Ruthie Mae said. “What?’ Jane asked. One of the perks of working for Doc Applby, in her opinion, was knowing news or gossip, whichever the case might be first. “I wasn’t snooping, I dropped some files I was putting away and some papers just fell out,” Ruthie Mae clarified then continued, “Daisy Duke is pregnant.” Jane's eyes went a bit wide with surprise, "Really? Well, you don't say." She couldn't hide the giggle that followed. Ruthie Mae asked, "Wonder who the lucky fellow is?" “I’ve seen her at the Boar’s Nest being real nice to a couple fellas, one being Darcy Kincaid,” Jane replied. Ruthie Mae asked with a gleam in her eye, “who’s the other one?” “Cletus Hogg,” Jane replied. “ No way, Cletus? Are you sure?” Ruthie Mae asked. "I heard her call him 'Sugar' the other night and he was waiting for her to close and lock up before he left on patrol." Jane said. After dropping off the wood for the bonfire Bo and Luke headed home. As they were driving along just enjoying the peaceful fall morning a yellow motorbike came out of a side road nearly hitting them, “Luke lookout!” Bo said. Jeb Stuart Duke about laid his bike down trying to miss the truck he nearly collided with,“road hog!” Luke was that who I think it was?” Bo asked. “One way to find out,” Luke replied, picking up the CB mic. “This here’s the lost sheep calling out to the yellow bike we just almost ran over. “This is Black sheep. Where ya’ll headed in such a rush?” Jeb spoke into his helmet radio. Bo took the mic from Luke and replied. “Home to our wives, the festival starts in a little while. Did you forget living in Placid so long?” “No sir I didn’t forget, the festival is why I’m in Hazzard,” Jeb replied. Luke took the mic back, "Uncle Jesse will be along in a bit. Daisy is already in town somewhere. Turn that thing around and let's head to the house." Jeb replied, "I'm right behind ya'll." It was then that Dixie, Daisy and BL heard Luke's truck. Luke pointed to the Road Runner in his parking spot and parked on the street, "Looks like we see where Daisy is at." Daisy questioned, "Our secret? For now." Dixie and BL nodded 'yes' as they all heard the motorcycle pull into the driveway and around to the back yard. Dixie said aloud, "Who in the world?" “There’s only one person that rides a motorcycle and would park in the backyard," BL said as both the front and back doors opened. “Jeb Stuart!” Daisy flung herself into Jeb’s arms for a hug. Jeb dropped his duffel bag to catch her. ”What are you doing in Hazzard so early? Daisy asked. “I decided to come early and visit a spell before the festival and enter in the Hazzard Derby, if Cooter will loan me a car,” Jeb said adding “and I ran into these two ruffians…” “Almost literally,” Bo cut in. “Me and Bo was on our way home with the chili Uncle Jesse made for the festival so Jeb followed us home.” After all the pertinent information was exchanged the guys went out to load Daisy’s decorations for her and to unload Luke’s truck. Jeb took the few minutes without the girls in ear shot to ask something he knew better than to ask in front of them, “Luke is it just because I haven’t seen her since Bo’s wedding or has Dixie gained a few pounds?” "I know Uncle Jesse and Aunt Pauline too well to know that you don’t know that she's pregnant." Luke said. Jeb replied, "I do and I know it's too early for her to be showing but she's gotten wider." Luke pretended to be offended, "Just why are you checking out my wife so close?" Jeb for half a second took the bait, " Now, Luke you know it ain't like that...." Before he could say anymore, Luke cracked a smile and put his arm around Jeb's shoulder, "As for Dixie getting wider, don't leave your dessert and even think it will be there later." “I wouldn’t mention that you noticed either,” Bo added. “Right, let’s get some coffee and sit with the girls so we can all visit a spell before things get busy,” Luke said and they went back in the house. Luke got 3 more coffee cups and the coffee pot and brought it all over to the table. After everybody had a cup they all sat chatting about what was going on in each county, “Did ya’ll know Cooter is leading a secret life over in Placid ?” Jeb asked. The group gathered around the table gave him questioning looks of confusion so Jeb elaborated. “I seen him yesterday walking down the sidewalk with a woman and a little girl, he was holding the kid’s hand like they was kin or something.” “Cooter Davenport?” Daisy asked skeptically, she thought Jeb was mistaken. She’d heard people say that everybody had a ‘twin’ somewhere. Dixie added, "Cooter? As in my brother, Cooter? Tall guy, ball cap, usually greasy?" Jeb nodded ‘yes’ saying “I’d know Cooter anywhere.” Dixie then asked, "What did the girl look like?" Jeb's description fit Crystal. Dixie looked at BL, "Crystal?" “Sounds like her but I didn’t know she had a kid.Did you Daisy?” “Nuh uh, me neither” Daisy replied, taking her cup to the sink, “I best be going and get those decorations up. See ya’ll later.” Jeb retrieved his duffel bag saying “I’ll see ya’ll later at the festival,” then went out back, his motorcycle roaring to life and peeling out headed toward the Duke farm. The young married Dukes did a few things then got themselves ready and over to the square, Bo and Luke firing up the grills while Dixie and BL started some popcorn in the big street vendor popcorn maker and got Uncle Jesse’s chili heating in a couple of big pots. BALLADEER: The smell of Uncle Jesse's chili and the grilling hotdogs filled the Hazzard morning air. Cletus was the first to stop by the Hazzard Volunteer Fire Department's booth, "What do ya’ll have smelling so good?" Bo replied, "Uncle Jesse's secret chili and polish dogs." "I'll take two with everything." Cletus said. Luke burst his bubble, "The chili is still cold and the polish dogs are just starting Cletus. Give us a half hour." "Well, alright." Cletus said as he moved over to the Orphanage booth. "What are ya'll selling over here?" Dixie replied, "Hotdogs, popcorn and cotton candy." Cletus felt his stomach growl from the delicious smells. "What's ready now?" Dixie replied, "Popcorn. Chili is heating and hotdogs are on, but it's gonna be a bit yet." “Flapjacks on a ferris wheel, give me some popcorn then and I’ll come back in a little bit when it’s ready,” Cletus said. BL bagged up a paper baggie of the buttery popcorn and gave it to Cletus, “that’ll be 50 cents Cletus.” Cletus reached into his pocket and handed BL 2 quarters “Thanks, I’ll be back later.” Cletus then headed over to where Daisy and her Junior Patrol troop were selling cookies. “Hi deputy Cletus, wanna buy some cookies?” a freckle faced little girl with red hair and blue eyes asked, smiling up at him. “Sure Mary Jo. Um I’ll take 2 boxes each of the snickerdoodles, chocolate butter pecan and peanut brittle,” Cletus replied. Mary Jo bagged up the cookies while Daisy tallied up the cost. “Let’s see, that's 4 dollars a box for the snickerdoodles and the chocolate butter pecan cookies and 5 dollars each for the peanut brittle, that comes to a total of 14 dollars,” Daisy said, then put the money in the money box. All the booths were open and ready for business by the time Uncle Jesse made it to town. He and Jeb had left the farm together but of course Jeb had quickly pulled away from the old pick up. By the time Jesse parked there was no sign of Jeb or his bike. Jesse knew that like the older boys, Jeb was sure to turn up somewhere. Jesse crossed the street and entered the square filled with tables and booths of all sorts. It had been a busy day so Dixie, BL, Bo and Luke were finally getting time to eat some lunch thanks to Luke’s fire jumper teammates Randy and Bugs taking over the grills at the firehouse and the concession stand. The two couples were strolling around looking at the other booths while they ate. “Look Dixie Ms. Webster has some baby stuff she knitted,” BL pointed to the booth on the left that read ‘hand knitted baby things, scarves, mittens and hats’. “Let’s go see what she’s got,” Dixie replied. At the same time that the Dukes walked up, so did David and Jennie Ann Doolin each carrying a baby carrier with their twin boys Dalton and Dawson. “Hey long time no see,” Luke said. “These two have kept us pretty busy the last two months,” David replied. BL and Dixie each now holding a baby while they were talking to Jeannie Ann and the men were talking. Jesse walked up about the time that Cooter did, to the boys talking with David Doolin. Jesse nudged Luke, "Well, it looks like baby fever has hit." Cooter nearly choked at Jesse's comment. "I think it hit a few months ago, Uncle Jesse." Luke reminded a bit puzzled by Jesse's statement. In the wise words of the older man, he disagreed. "No. That baby was made back then but since then Dixie's been sick, you both have been getting used to the idea of a little one, but now..." He pointed to Dixie and BL gently loving and playing with the infants, "the fun begins. They are holding those little ones but they are trying to figure out what those little Dukes will look like." Bo was patting Cooter on the back, "You alright?" "Peachy." Cooter replied, while trying to get his breath back. “We best be getting back to our stands, c’mon give’em up little mama’s,” Luke said. “I better get back too, the drawin’s on the chances is about to get underway,”Cooter said, heading for the gazebo where the drawings for each organization that sold chances on a prize was being done. “We don’t want to keep the twins out too long so we’re gonna head home,” Jeannie Ann said. Getting the infants back in their carriers the group said their goodbyes and went their separate ways. First drawing was Cooter’s boy scout troop, the winner was Billy Bob Wilkes. After the voucher was collected Cooter sent the boys off to their parents and went in search of Crystal and Kathy Mae. Finding them just leaving the corn hole game he walked over and gave Crystal a peck on the lips. “Hey! Are ya’ll having fun?” Cooter asked. “Look what I got!” Kathy Mae proudly presented her prize from the corn hole game. “Good job baby,” Cooter replied. Cooter could tell Kathy Mae was getting tired so he picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. Jeb was turning to leave the arm wrestling when he spotted the three, this time he was positive Cooter was not only with a woman but they had a little girl with them. Jeb made his way through the booths and crowd and caught up with Bo, Luke and the girls just as they were getting back to their booths. "ya'll almost had me second guessing my eyesight earlier but come here. Look across the square at the Lady's Aid booth and tell me who you see!" They all looked in the direction Jeb said. “That’s Cooter with his girlfriend Crystal,” Luke said, then his next words trailed off in disbelief, “Cooter’s carrying a kid…” “Possum on a gumbush,” Bo said. Dixie hadn't really been interested until then. She exclaimed, "He's carrying 'what?!” “I see it but I don’t believe it. Reckon there’s something he forgot to tell us? Like he has a kid,” BL said, making the assumption the others were probably making too. BALLADEER: Ya’ll reckon she can spell assume? While the group was still looking Cooter’s way and trying to figure out what they were seeing,Randy, Luke’s smokejumper team’s second in command called to Luke, “Hey Luke, we got a large, to go order and I could use some help over here.” “Little help here too would be nice,” Bugs said. People were lining up at the concession stand to get what would be supper for many before the hayride. Luke went back over to the Hazzard Volunteer Fire department’s booth and Bo and the girls went back behind the concession stand. None of them gave Cooter, Crystal and the mystery kid another thought. Noone was paying attention either when Daisy and Darcy headed to Darcy’s car. The last of the orders were filled and the hayride would be starting soon. Luke and his crew fixed 'dinner' for all his workers as did Dixie and BL . After a quick bite, the grill and other equipment was slid into the fire station and the trucks parked back inside as everyone headed to the courthouse for the hayride. At the courthouse, farmer Perkins and Burl Tolliver held the reins of a team of horses hitched to 2 wagon loads of hay. Dixie’s coworker Debbie had been unable to get off work for the festival but she couldn’t wait for the hayride to start. She and Jeb had been dating since Dixie and Luke’s wedding reception weekend. Coy and Vance had planned to come from Tennessee for the festivities and to see Casey and Lisa, the two female smokejumpers on Luke’s crew but something came up and they didn’t make it. “Hey you made it!,” Jeb gave Debbie a bear hug, picking her up off the ground. “I have to work again tomorrow though,” Debbie replied. Everybody was soon on the wagons, young couples either dating or newly married on one and families with kids too young to date on the other. As they took their seats, Jeb asked Debbie, "Do you like hayrides?" "I'm not sure. I've never been before." Debbie answered honestly. Jeb said, "Well I'm sure you will have fun." As he leaned over for a deep kiss. Cooter and Crystal had been about to board that wagon, but seeing Jeb’s long kiss, Cooter guided Crystal to switch to the other wagon. Kathy Mae asked, "Why not wide dat wagon?" Cooter answered as Crystal looked at him for the same answer, "This one has more kids your age honey. You will have a better time.” At Jeb's touch and kiss, Debbie couldn't believe her body's reaction. She could use a very cold shower right now. The hayride had started in town and was about four miles through backroads of beautiful colors as the leaves took on shades of red, orange and yellows. Then it was back to town where everybody got their vehicles and either headed home or to the Hobson farm for the bonfire. Jesse’s old ridgerunner buddy Amos Petersdorf had brought out his old fire truck to douse the flames when everybody went home, he liked to keep the truck in working condition and this way Boss Hogg couldn’t charge for use of the town’s fire truck. The bonfire in Hazzard wasn’t the only big event going on, just over the Tennessee state line, Daisy and Darcy were pulling up in front of the justice of the peace’s house. Darcy looked at Daisy saying, ‘I know this ain’t the wedding you have probably been planning since you were a little girl or even the ideal elopement but I promise you’ll get your ‘real’ wedding, one day. “I love you Darcy and marrying you is a dream come true, no matter how or where,” Daisy replied. Back in Georgia LB and Lori Mae were headed back to Hazzard from their own elopement to Greenville. Dixie went with Luke as he led his Smokejumpers over to see Amos's old fire engine. Amos was tickled pink to show off his 'old girl', especially to some of the younger whipper snappers on Luke's crew. When Luke and the other smokejumpers got back to the others he noticed he had a missing cousin. Jeb and Debbie's more or less long distance relationship had Jeb wanting more than just holding hands at the bonfire. Debbie had indicated that she was more than ready to move into a more physical relationship. Debbie had never been the sort to just jump into bed with a fellow, but tonight when Jeb touched her hand there was a feeling that went through her and she was more hot and bothered than she had ever been. Jeb had moved Debbie's car away from the crowd. It was October, but tonight was warm. He led her down to a quiet place under the stars down by the creek. LB and Lori Mae made it to Hobson farm and parked at the end of a row of cars next to Cooter’s truck that now had a carseat in it and it hadn’t been there yesterday, “Jumping Jehoshaphat! Where did that come from?” LB exclaimed. ”What?” Lori Mae asked. “That carseat…C’mon let’s go find Cooter,” LB said, holding Lori Mae’s hand as they weaved through the crowd, stopping occasionally to talk with folks. As they were parting company with Brody, LB saw Cooter up ahead going in another direction but what he didn’t see was the tiny tot in Cooter’s arms. LB tried to catch up but got stopped again by a couple friends. At the end of the night Luke took a couple of his younger crew over to put the hose back on the old engine for Amos. Amos told Luke as he watched the younger people readily climb on top of his ‘old girl’ and lay the hose back neatly, "I can't thank you enough Luke for bringing those youngins over to lay that there hose for me. They are doing a fine job much quicker than these old bones could do it." "It wasn't any trouble at all. Besides, they don't get a chance to lay hose much." Luke said as he and his crew bid Amos goodnight, then went back to their vehicles. "Ya'll be careful on the way home. I'll see ya Monday. Thanks again for coming over. Maybe next time ya'll can stay longer." Randy shook Luke's hand and replied, "Maybe next time it won't be fire season or whoever makes the schedule gives us the next day off." Knowing full well it was Luke who made their schedules. Luke replied, "Well next time, just remind me and I'll have a talk with that fellow about the schedule." With a good laugh the remaining few headed off the farm.

Friday morning Lori Mae felt no better than the night before so she got up, got dressed and figured on being at Doc Applby’s when he opened hoping he could work her in sooner if she got there early, since she didn’t have an appointment. At the Duke farm, Daisy was feeling worse than she had the day before. As she got out of bed feeling like she’d been run over by a truck. Getting dressed, she opened her bedroom door and was assaulted by the smells of breakfast which sent her running to the bathroom with a hand over her mouth. Jesse put down the spatula in his hand and made his way to the bathroom. ”Daisy are you alright?” Jesse called through the door. “Just a mite queasy. I think I’m coming down with the flu, be out in a minute.” Daisy replied. “Ok, your breakfast is about ready,” Jesse said, then went back to the kitchen. Daisy waited a few more minutes then came to the kitchen, “I think I’ll skip breakfast Uncle Jesse. I think I’ll run and see Doc Applby, get a jump on this flu,” Daisy replied. Dixie and Luke had taken Friday off to help get the booths set up. Luke had gone with Bo to do chores so Dixie took full advantage of a bit more sleep now that Scrapie and Trixie decided that Luke and Bo needed help at the farm. BL worked out with Ellen Sue to take the afternoon off after delivering the mail that Ellen Sue would handle the post office by herself so BL could help Dixie get the concession booth fixed up. Showering and getting dressed, BL crept by Dixie’s closed bedroom door on her way downstairs heading to work. At the Duke farm, Jesse looked at Daisy and she did look peaked. “Why don’t you go rest a bit more, it’s still a while before Doc Applby opens, unless you want me to call him to come out here now? Jesse offered. “No it’s ok I can wait until he opens,I’ll go rest a while longer,” Daisy replied. Bo and Luke came in from doing the chores as usual, they planned an early morning breakfast with Uncle Jesse and Daisy. After washing up and getting coffee, Luke sat down at the table and asked, "Where's Daisy?" “She’s feeling a mite under the weather and is resting a while until Doc Applby opens up,” Jesse replied. Bo washed up and sat down, soon the Duke men were discussing some things that needed doing around the farm and planned a work day. At the cabinet shop LB was helpIng load up a delivery, he planned to make a slight detour by Lori Mae's to check on her instead of just calling. After getting home from the farm, Bo headed out to make a couple quick deliveries at work to be off early to help set up. Luke headed upstairs to wake Dixie to get started. Once upstairs he had other ideas and decided that he didn't need to be in such a rush today. He dropped his clothes in a heap and crawled back into bed with his wife and with the house empty they may or may not nap. BL had just finished sorting the mail when LB stopped by the post office on his way to make the delivery he had loaded on the flatbed truck. Sadie bounded over the minute she saw her ‘uncle’ LB. going down on one knee chuckling when Sadie lay down and rolled over for a belly rub. “Am I the only one that ever rubs your belly?” LB asked. “No but apparently you give the best belly rubs in the county, just look at her,” BL said, Sadie now had all 4 feet in the air and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. LB looked over his shoulder to make sure noone was coming then turned back to his sister, replying with a grin, “I do, ask Lori Mae. Speaking of Lori Mae, let me have her mail, this delivery is close to her and I thought I’d take her mail to her, since she’s not feeling well.” “Sorry brother, I can’t do that without her permission. At the risk of sounding like Miz Tisdale, it’s against regulations,” BL replied. “It’s ok, I was kinda using it as an excuse to drop by, I told her I’d call and check on her this morning but thought a visit was better. I better get going,” LB said, standing up and leaving. By the time Bo pulled General Lee back into the driveway, Luke and Dixie had enjoyed their early morning home together and both had cuddled and dozed back off to sleep. The sound of the General's engine awakened Luke, who swore under his breath as he almost automatically jumped up to get dressed as if he were about to get caught doing something wrong, then he looked at how comfy Dixie looked sleeping in his arms and decided he didn't care if Bo knew they were still in bed. Besides, this wasn't the farm and Jesse's rules 'about laying in bed all day ' didn't apply here unless he wanted them to and right now he didn't. Luke did know that they needed to get up but he didn't think jumping right up was needed. Instead he brushed Dixie's hair back from her face and kissed her gently. Dixie snuggled closer. Luke kissed her again and said, "We need to get started on the booths." "You said you were gonna wait on Bo to get back." She sleepily protested. Luke replied with another kiss, "He is back." Downstairs, Bo came into the kitchen and was greeted by Scrapie and Trixie who jumped around excitedly trying to tell him how abused they had been being shut out of the bedroom and all. He let the crazies outside and stepped in the living room where he figured to find Luke and Dixie but the house was silent. LB was headed to Lori Mae’s to check on her but she wasn’t home. LB figured she felt better so was at work making up the time she’d missed the day before but as he passed Doc Applby’s he saw Lori Mae’s car parked in front of the clinic and Lori Mae going in the door. Daisy hoped she wouldn’t have to sit and wait half a day at Doc Applby’s to be worked in so when she turned into the parking lot she was glad to see only a few other cars. Turning in Daisy recognized Lori Mae’s car. Inside Daisy signed in and sat down beside Lori Mae. “Hey Lori Mae, not feeling any better?” Daisy asked, adding “Bessie Lou said you called her to come in and finish your shift yesterday, because you weren’t feeling well.” “Hey Daisy, no, no better I feel a bit worse. What are you here for?” Lori Mae replied. “I think I’m coming down with the flu,” Daisy answered. Bo heard the bedroom door open and close upstairs with booted footsteps going toward the bathroom before coming downstairs. He greeted Luke with a look that spoke volumes. "Don't start with me Bo. Are you ready to load the truck up with the stuff in the building? The booths should be in place by now." Luke said. Bo replied, "Town is in full swing. Decorations are up and the booths are being put in place. I think I'm the only one in town that worked today." "You haven't even begun to work today." Luke said. Bo replied, "That's what I was afraid you would say." At Doc Applby’s office it was almost 11 o’clock before Daisy and Lori Mae were called back to get their vitals, weight and such, then they were put into exam rooms to wait for Doc Applby. At the post office BL was glad she was leaving early, with so many in town getting ready for Saturday’s festival the post office was a lot busier than usual. “See you tomorrow Mrs. Hodge,” BL said as Hazzard High School’s retired Home Economics teacher left. BL had to remember to tell Dixie they needed to be sure to go by the Ladies Auxiliary booth. Mrs. Hodge was going to have some of her knitted things to sell anything from baby clothes to scarves and gloves. When BL got to the house, things were in full swing. Bo, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie were loading Luke’s truck. They were now joined by Sadie. In the house, Dixie had a box with two crock pots, dish towels, dish soap, knives, and large spoons. A couple of box fans were in the floor. The decorations, poster boards and such were on the kitchen table. "Other than the food that will go tomorrow, am I forgetting anything?" Dixie asked as if they were moving to the next state instead of setting up booths across the square. “Dixie were not moving to the next state or even the next county, we’ll just be across the square so if we do need something one of us can run home and get it. Let me change real quick and I’ll help you take stuff out to the truck,” BL said. Going upstairs BL swapped her lightweight sweater and jeans for a regular long sleeve shirt and joggers and tennis shoes. On the way back to the kitchen BL grabbed all three dog leashes, so the pups didn’t run into the street. Over at Doc Applby’s he was looking over Daisy’s chart as he came into the exam room. “Sorry you’ve been waiting so long Daisy, I had an emergency over at Tri-Counties Hospital,” Doc apologized. “It’s alright Doc, I expected a wait because I didn’t have an appointment but hoped it wouldn’t be as long if I was here by opening time,” Daisy replied. After some questions about her symptoms and an exam Doc handed her a cup saying, “I need a sample, it’ll help me know what to prescribe.” When Daisy returned with her sample, she saw that Doc's nurse had set up to draw blood. "What's that for?" Nurse Hazel replied, "Since you aren't running a fever, Doc wants to run a few tests. Some infections will show in urine while others show in your blood." Daisy sighed in defeat, "Alright, but I don't have to like it." Once nurse Hazel was done she collected the samples and headed out of the room to see what the patient in the other room would need to have done. The nurse with her caddy of blood drawing supplies knocked on Lori Mae’s exam room door then came in as Doc was about to go see his next patient. “Hazel I’ll be needing a blood sample from Lori Mae also,” Doc Applby said, adding “Lori Mae, I need you to take this and give me a sample,” giving Lori Mae a cup Doc left to see his next patient. “What’s Doc need samples of both for?” Lori Mae asked. Hazel gave her the same explanation she’d given Daisy then collected the samples, put them in her caddy and headed to the lab. From an undisclosed location, Hughie Hogg waited excitedly as he watched the two young women heading into Doc's office. His interest was all the more peaked since one was Daisy Duke. He had so hoped to catch the Dukes in his little scheme but he just wasn't at all certain that they would play into his hand. He moved closer to the camera monitor and waited. When Doc saw Daisy’s initial urine sample report he frowned thinking that surely it was wrong. So, he waited for the blood samples to be done and saw the same result. He closed her file folder and headed back to the exam room. "Daisy, it seems all your tests are negative." He paused. "Negative? Then why have I felt so sick and run down?" Daisy asked in confusion. Doc replied, "I hadn't finished. I said all your tests were negative except one. At first I thought there might be a mistake but the blood samples confirmed the results. Daisy, you are pregnant." “Pregnant? But how?” Daisy asked although the second question was rhetorical. “Yes my dear, pregnant. The urine test can give a false positive but the blood test is never wrong.” Doc Applby replied. Daisy sat there in shock wondering what to tell Uncle Jesse when she got home, he was sure to ask what Doc had said was wrong. After the normal do's and don’ts, a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and a monthly appointment, Daisy had already tucked the vitamins in her purse and was tucking the appointment card in her purse as she exited the doctor’s office more than a little rattled. Once in her car, Daisy couldn't hold her emotions together any longer and broke down crying. Hughie noted Daisy tucking something into her purse as she exited Doc's office. Now that she was in her car, he tried to zoom the picture in but just could not catch what was going on inside the yellow hot rod. Daisy finally pulled herself together, Uncle Jesse would be wondering what was taking so long so she headed back to the farm when what she really wanted was to be alone and think for a bit. After Doc Applby finished with Daisy he went to the lab to get the results from Lori Mae’s blood and urine samples. Reading the results and seeing they were the same as Daisy’s he thought there was a mix up but the results were the same on a second testing. Gathering Lori Mae’s chart he went to the exam room, “well Lori Mae the good news is you do not have the flu,” Doc said. “Well if it’s not the flu, why do I feel so tired lately and sick?” Lori Mae asked. “You’re pregnant,” Doc replied. Lori Mae was obviously blind sided, "I'm what?! I can't be. I'm on birth control. I take it everyday at the same time." Doc noted her shocked reaction, "There is only one sure fire way not to get pregnant. No birth control methods are a hundred percent." After repeating the do’s and don’t and a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and an appointment, Doc Appleby moved on to his next patient. Still in shock Lori Mae went out to her car, stuffing her appointment card in her purse. She wanted to get out of town before she ran into anymore of the Duke family or LB. “How does it look?” BL asked. She and Dixie had just finished decorating one of the concession tables. Dixie stood back a little saying with a nod, “looks good.” Bo and Luke were setting up the grill and tables over at the firehouse. Cooter had his scouts in town early to set up their tent and tables to sell their crafts and such they made to earn badges to win the free oil change and lube job at the garage. Then, he sent them out to help others that may need help setting up their tents. Cooter had been a little preoccupied since his and Crystal's talk but he enjoyed the scouts and teaching them the importance of always being prepared and ready to offer their assistance especially to some of the older women who may not know how to set up their tents. Luke was busy making sure everything was ready to pull out of the firestation tomorrow and into the tent that he planned to set up later when he heard a little voice behind him. "Do you need any help here, Mister Luke?" Joey asked. Luke didn't need any help and didn't really have time to play with a child right now, until he turned around and saw the shy young boy. Luke knew that it must have taken him time to decide to come to the fire station and work up courage to ask him to let him help. Luke took a deep breath and let it out purposely slowing down his list of things to do. "Sure, Joey. How about you stand right there and I'll pull this old beast out and you can help me clean up the driveway in front of the station?" Joey seemed a bit disappointed as he asked, "We are gonna sweep all that?" Luke gave him a smile. "I have an easier way. Hang on just a minute." He pulled the fire engine out and onto the street and turned on the red lights. After scotching the tires he went to the side of the truck and got a short section of fire hose and a hydrant wrench. "Come on Joey. Let's hook this up at the hydrant." Luke then hooked the hose to the fire engine and showed Joey where to safely stand at the hydrant and after turning the wrench a couple times, Luke let Joey turn the wrench the last few turns until the water filled the hose. Now, Luke went to the side of the engine and pulled off fifty feet of inch and a half hose and connected it to a discharge. He adjusted the engine and nozzle to where the pressure was very low but enough to rinse the driveway’s dust off. "Come here, Joey. Now you hold the hose like this and we will move it back and forth to clean up the driveway." Joey's eyes were as bright as snowflakes on Christmas morning. "Me? Really??" Luke smiled again. He had just created a monster and he knew it. "Yes. Really. You can hold the nozzle and I'll back you up like we do on fires." After the driveway was clean and drying and the engine put away. Luke asked, "How are you with setting up tents?" Joey looked at the ground. "Not very good. I can't get my knots right." "Well come on. Let's see if I can help with that." Luke said. "You can tie knots?" Joey asked in disbelief. Luke replied with a smile. "I sure do. Of course I was sort of a slow learner." "Really?" Joey asked. "Really. I never got it in the scouts. Then, in the Marines I got it some but it was the firefighting and Smokejumping that really showed me how to remember them." Luke said. They stood the tent up and now it was time to pull the ropes tight and tie them off. Luke said, "I'm going to use a bowline knot here. You make a loop like this. Then, you take the free end and it's your rabbit. The rabbit comes up out of the hole, runs around the tree, then back down the hole. Now, you just pull it tight." "Hey! That is cool! I think I can do that." Joey said. Luke said, "Well, there are five more ropes to tie down. I'll pull the rope tight and you tie the knots." BL noticed that Luke had a helper. "Did you see that Luke has a helper?" Dixie smiled. "Yeah, I've been watching them for a while now. Luke even let him on the fire hose a bit ago. “You don’t think someone’s practicing to have a son, do ya? BL asked, grinning. Dixie laughed. "Maybe, but Luke's team loves to see kids get interested in firefighting early. He says they recruit young." “I see but shouldn’t their recruits weigh enough to hold a hose with more water pressure than their backyard water hose?” BL asked, still grinning, it was good to see Luke teaching a kid the way a father might. Nobody really thought either of the Duke boys was capable of raising children. Dixie replied, "I don't think it's so much about the amount of work they can do but the interest that it sparks in them."' “And maybe it’ll keep them from being juvenile delinquents or adult delinquents, having an interest in something noble,” BL said then asked “have you seen Daisy or any of her Junior Patrol?” "No, but they should be around somewhere." Dixie said. Just after Dixie said this a dark haired girl in a Junior Patrol shirt walked up asking “Miss BL, Miss Dixie do you know where Miss Daisy’s at? The troop was supposed to meet her, so we could set up our tent and tables to sell cookies tomorrow. The troop that sells the most wins a trip to six flags.” “She probably just got tied up Minnie Mae and is just running a little late,” BL replied. Daisy pulled into her usual spot at the farm with a sigh of relief it looked like Uncle Jesse wasn’t home and she didn’t have to have the talk with him she was dreading. Going in the back door, Daisy made herself a sandwich to eat on the way back to town to meet her Junior Patrol troop to set up for tomorrow’s festival. Daisy washed her face then wrote Uncle Jesse a note, ‘Doc said not contagious. In town helping my Junior Patrol troop setup for festival, Love Daisy’ Dixie looked up to see Daisy pulling up in front of the square where the girls were going to set up the tent, "See? There's Daisy now." Minnie Mae said excitedly, "OK! Great! Thanks Miss Dixie, Miss BL." She scurried off toward Daisy. "Watch for traffic." Dixie called. BL shook her head grinning as she watched the girl making excited hand gestures, telling Daisy something. About ten minutes later Darcy arrived, pulling up behind Daisy’s car making his way over to where she was and asking,”need some help?” Daisy hadn’t seen him and nearly jumped out of her skin hearing Darcy’s voice so close. “No but we need to talk." Daisy replied. “Ok shoot,” Darcy said. “Not now, too many little ears listening. The girls will have to go home in a few hours, maybe we can get a bite to eat and talk then,” Daisy said. “Sure sweetheart,” Darcy replied, a little worried; Daisy sounded so serious, not her usual bubbly self. A bit later, Luke was finished with everything he planned to do and walked over to Dixie to see if she needed any help. Just then they heard Joey tell Cooter. "I know how to tie my knots now." "Have you created a monster?" Dixie asked. Luke replied, "Maybe." BL had gone over to the bakery to get doughnuts, she had left Bo setting up a second tent but in the short time she was gone the tent was up and Bo was nowhere in sight. Going over to Luke and Dixie asking, “where’d Bo go, I went to get some doughnuts while he put up another tent now he’s disappeared,” Dixie replied, "I haven’t seen him since he walked off.” Luke replied, "I haven't seen him since we got here." “He better not be back home taking a nap while the rest of us are out here working our tails off,” BL said, opening one of the doughnut boxes. She had gotten enough for herself, Bo, Luke, Dixie, Daisy, Cooter and both scout groups to have one each, “doughnut?” she offered. Over at the cabinet shop Bo had been recruited to help build booths out of scrap wood that was too much to throw away but not big enough for much of anything. “Hey Bo hold this, so I can get the first nail in so’s it don’t slip,” LB said. Bo lined the wood up straight and held it for LB. LB swung the hammer and hit more of Bo's thumb than he did the nail. "Ow!" Bo exclaimed. LB then started laughing like a hyena. Clyde looked up from his project "What in the world?" Dixie asked from their location in the Square, "Was that Bo yelling?" Luke was already moving toward the sound. “Yes, c’mon!” BL headed in the same direction as Luke, that yell hadn’t been mad or frustrated, it was pain and BL wondered what Bo had done to himself. Dixie followed her husband and cousin. Bo shook his hand trying not to swear in front of Clyde, “it ain’t funny LB” "What's wrong?" Luke asked. Bo was still shaking his hand. "Other than only having nine fingers left?" “Nine fingers left?” Luke asked, confused, he didn’t see any blood. LB gasped out, “Bo was holding a nail for me, I missed and hit Bo’s thumb.” “We thought you were dying, you’ll live,” BL said, unsympathetically. Luke added, "I thought you had broke your fool neck or something." Clyde came over taking a look at Bo’s thumb, “I can poke a hole in the nail where it got hit and let the blood under the nail drain out and it won’t even look hurt” Clyde said. “That’s ok,” Bo replied, not fond of the idea. Luke stayed at the cabinet shop to help finish making booths since he had everything set up at the fire station. Dixie and BL went back to the square to finish decorating booths for the fire department and the concessions. By one o’clock everything was done and Cooter was getting cleaned up and changing shirts before heading over to Placid to pick up Crystal and Kathy Mae and by 1:45 he was parking behind the Placid hardware store where Crystal and her daughter lived in an apartment above the store. Dixie and the others got home and let the dogs out. In the kitchen Dixie opened the fridge trying to find something for a quick easy lunch. "I'm starving." BL asked, "What do you want?" Dixie honestly replied, "A couple of the fire department's polish dogs with fried onions and peppers and a little mustard." "That's tomorrow." BL replied. Dixie sighed, "I know, but you asked me what I wanted." BL replied, “I did but what do you want that you CAN have?” Waiting for Dixie’s answer, BL looked in the freezer, there wasn’t alot in there but she was hungry too but didn’t know what she wanted. Luke came in the back door about then. Dixie turned around and gave him the sweetest puppy dog eyes, "Isn't Uncle Jesse fixing hotdog chili today?" Luke replied. "Umm, yeah, I think so." Dixie tilted her head and smiled innocently. "Do you think if we showed up with the hotdogs we could maybe talk him out of a sample for lunch?" Luke replied, "Me, Bo or Daisy, there is no way. You and baby Duke, just might be able to." “Dixie we need the hotdogs tomorrow too,” BL reminded Dixie. "I got some for the house too, but ya'll are right. So, do ya'll want frozen pizza or sandwiches?" Dixie asked. “I vote pizza,” BL said, she really hadn’t known what she wanted before but now that Dixie brought it up, pizza did sound good. Bo had come in the back door just in time to hear Dixie’s question. Both men said simultaneously, “pizza’s fine.” “BL will you hand me one of those pizzas?” Dixie asked. In Placid, Cooter knocked on Crystal’s door. Crystal took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She had been through this before but most men hadn't even bothered to meet her daughter. As soon as they found out about her, they were gone faster than her own father had left when he found out about her. She opened the door to find Cooter standing there with two bunches of flowers. One much smaller than the other. Cooter handed Crystal the larger bunch of flowers as he looked behind her for her daughter who was playing in her room. At the sight of the two groups of flowers, Crystal choked up. "Thank you." Cooter checked behind her once more before kissing her cheek. "Kathy Mae.... come here." Crystal called. "Come meet a friend of mine." From a side door behind Crystal a toddler ran to her mother and held on to her leg. Cooter squatted down to her level. "Hello Kathy Mae. It is nice to meet you. Do you like flowers?" Kathy Mae reached out to touch a flower timidly. "They are for you Sweetheart." Cooter said gently as he handed the flowers to the small girl. "Just don't eat them." “What do you say Kathy Mae?” Crystal said to her little girl. “Fank you,” Kathy Mae replied. "You are very welcome." Cooter said. "Do you like ice cream?" Kathy Mae nodded her head 'yes'. "Would you and Mommy like to go get some ice cream with Ole Cooter?" He asked. Kathy Mae turned loose of Crystal's leg and walked over to take Cooter's big hand into her tiny one. “Just a second let me put these flowers in water first,” Crystal said. “Alrighty we’ll wait right here for ya. Right Kathy Mae?” Cooter replied. Kathy Mae nodded her head ‘yes’ and Crystal took the flowers into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later after putting Kathy Mae’s in her bedroom. Shortly the trio headed down the sidewalk to the ice cream parlor. Kathy Mae walked between the adults, her tiny hand still holding Cooter’s big one. Heading out of town and coming from the other direction, Jeb Duke was in his father's pickup truck when he was sure he'd seen Hazzard's best grease monkey all cleaned up and walking up the street with a small child and a pretty lady. Jeb had to go to the end of the street to turn the truck around. He wished he had his bike. Jeb had been unseen by Cooter as he, Crystal and Kathy Mae stepped inside the ice cream parlor and took a table. Cooter got Kathy Mae a booster seat and helped her up into it so she could sit at the table like a big girl. Jeb drove back through town, turned and came back not seeing the people he had seen before. They could have walked into any number of places. Jeb just couldn't get the picture out of his mind. It was one he'd never think he'd see their buddy in. Back in Hazzard, LB and Clyde had closed up shop a little early and LB had gone home, got cleaned up and headed to Lori Mae’s. Lori Mae had come home from the doctor and put on joggers and a comfy oversized shirt and pulled her hair up into a messy bun then took root on her couch and this was the way LB found her when he let himself in when she didn’t answer his knock. “Lori Mae, you asleep?” LB called out. Lori Mae looked over at her door, she had hoped LB would leave thinking she was asleep if she didn’t answer the door. She wasn’t ready to face him but he was there so she might as well. Lori Mae cleared her throat “LB do you want kids?” “Yeah someday,” LB replied, not sure where this was going. The ice cream arrived and from habit, Crystal took the spoon and began to give Kathy Mae a bite of ice cream. "No." Kathy Mae said. Crystal asked, "No? You love ice cream." Kathy Mae pushed the spoon away gently and said, "Him." Crystal was a bit embarrassed at Kathy Mae's actions. Cooter had already picked up another spoon. "I'm sorry.... I don't..." Crystal began. Kathy Mae took the offered bite of ice cream from Cooter and smiled. Cooter tried to hide his own grin. With the second bite Kathy Mae clapped “YUM!!" BALLADEER: Looks like Cooter’s already under that pretty little thing’s spell Lori Mae got a look of relief on face, hearing LB’s answer. LB saw the look and asked, “is something wrong Lori Mae?” Lori Mae looked down at her hands in her lap as she spoke. “I still didn’t feel good this morning so I went to see Doc Applby, he ran some tests,” Lori Mae paused, taking in a deep breath. “Well what did he say?” LB asked, his brows drawn together with worry. “LB you’re gonna be a father,” Lori Mae said. LB wasn’t sure he heard right, it sounded like Lori Mae had said he was going to be a father, “say that again Lori Mae.” “You’re going to be a father,” Lori Mae repeated. At the Placid Ice Cream Parlor Kathy Mae finished as much of her ice cream as she could. The adults saw it was time to go. Kathy Mae was up past her regular nap time. Walking back to Crystal's apartment, Kathy Mae stopped and held her arms up to Cooter to be picked up. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and let Crystal have his elbow. At the apartment, Cooter followed Crystal into Kathy Mae's room where he laid the nearly sleeping child down on her bed. He took off her shoes and covered her with a light blanket. Crystal handed him Kathy Mae's favorite bear. Cooter tucked the bear in with Kathy Mae. Once they were in the living room, Crystal said, "It looks like you've done that a time or three." Cooter shook his head, 'no'. "I've seen Uncle Mister Jesse Duke tucking in Daisy when she was a youngin and my parents with Dixie but that's about it." Back in Hazzard, LB had recovered from his initial shock and asked, “why’d you ask if I wanted kids before telling me you’re pregnant?” ”Because I didn’t want my child to ever feel unwanted,” Lori Mae replied. “Unwanted?” LB repeated, a question in his voice. “Don’t get me wrong Papa and Grandmama loved me and took care of me. They were the best grandparents a kid could have but I just didn’t understand why my parents didn’t want me. My father ran off after my mother told him about me, then she dropped me off at my grandparents house when I was 2 weeks old and never came back,” Lori Mae told LB the story that not many knew. LB pulled Lori Mae into a hug, he didn’t know what to say. Lori Mae pulled back after a few minutes asking, “you’re not upset, are you? I don’t want you to think I’m trying to trap you.” Lori Mae was worried though, she didn’t want LB to think she was trying to trap him, granted he wasn’t as popular with the girls as the Duke boys but that didn’t mean LB wouldn’t think he was being trapped. LB wasn’t having any thoughts of the sort, he was thinking about how Clyde would react to the news he was going to be a grandfather twice, the babies being a few months apart. LB now realized Lori Mae hadn’t said when the baby was due to arrive. “When’s the baby due?” Lori Mae shrugged her shoulders, “I was so stunned, I didn’t even ask.” With the pizzas ready, Dixie got her a glass of soda, two beers for the guys and asked BL, "What are you drinking tonight?" "Tea." BL replied, getting out a glass as Dixie handed her the tea pitcher. "The pizza is ready." Dixie said. She looked up to see six eyes and three wagging tails. "You three will get some, but I was talking to your masters." Luke said from the living room, "Do you care if we eat in here? There's a big fire they Friday morning Lori Mae felt no better than the night before so she got up, got dressed and figured on being at Doc Applby’s when he opened hoping he could work her in sooner if she got there early, since she didn’t have an appointment. At the Duke farm, Daisy was feeling worse than she had the day before. As she got out of bed feeling like she’d been run over by a truck. Getting dressed, she opened her bedroom door and was assaulted by the smells of breakfast which sent her running to the bathroom with a hand over her mouth. Jesse put down the spatula in his hand and made his way to the bathroom. ”Daisy are you alright?” Jesse called through the door. “Just a mite queasy. I think I’m coming down with the flu, be out in a minute.” Daisy replied. “Ok, your breakfast is about ready,” Jesse said, then went back to the kitchen. Daisy waited a few more minutes then came to the kitchen, “I think I’ll skip breakfast Uncle Jesse. I think I’ll run and see Doc Applby, get a jump on this flu,” Daisy replied. Dixie and Luke had taken Friday off to help get the booths set up. Luke had gone with Bo to do chores so Dixie took full advantage of a bit more sleep now that Scrapie and Trixie decided that Luke and Bo needed help at the farm. BL worked out with Ellen Sue to take the afternoon off after delivering the mail that Ellen Sue would handle the post office by herself so BL could help Dixie get the concession booth fixed up. Showering and getting dressed, BL crept by Dixie’s closed bedroom door on her way downstairs heading to work. At the Duke farm, Jesse looked at Daisy and she did look peaked. “Why don’t you go rest a bit more, it’s still a while before Doc Applby opens, unless you want me to call him to come out here now? Jesse offered. “No it’s ok I can wait until he opens,I’ll go rest a while longer,” Daisy replied. Bo and Luke came in from doing the chores as usual, they planned an early morning breakfast with Uncle Jesse and Daisy. After washing up and getting coffee, Luke sat down at the table and asked, "Where's Daisy?" “She’s feeling a mite under the weather and is resting a while until Doc Applby opens up,” Jesse replied. Bo washed up and sat down, soon the Duke men were discussing some things that needed doing around the farm and planned a work day. At the cabinet shop LB was helpIng load up a delivery, he planned to make a slight detour by Lori Mae's to check on her instead of just calling. After getting home from the farm, Bo headed out to make a couple quick deliveries at work to be off early to help set up. Luke headed upstairs to wake Dixie to get started. Once upstairs he had other ideas and decided that he didn't need to be in such a rush today. He dropped his clothes in a heap and crawled back into bed with his wife and with the house empty they may or may not nap. BL had just finished sorting the mail when LB stopped by the post office on his way to make the delivery he had loaded on the flatbed truck. Sadie bounded over the minute she saw her ‘uncle’ LB. going down on one knee chuckling when Sadie lay down and rolled over for a belly rub. “Am I the only one that ever rubs your belly?” LB asked. “No but apparently you give the best belly rubs in the county, just look at her,” BL said, Sadie now had all 4 feet in the air and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. LB looked over his shoulder to make sure noone was coming then turned back to his sister, replying with a grin, “I do, ask Lori Mae. Speaking of Lori Mae, let me have her mail, this delivery is close to her and I thought I’d take her mail to her, since she’s not feeling well.” “Sorry brother, I can’t do that without her permission. At the risk of sounding like Miz Tisdale, it’s against regulations,” BL replied. “It’s ok, I was kinda using it as an excuse to drop by, I told her I’d call and check on her this morning but thought a visit was better. I better get going,” LB said, standing up and leaving. By the time Bo pulled General Lee back into the driveway, Luke and Dixie had enjoyed their early morning home together and both had cuddled and dozed back off to sleep. The sound of the General's engine awakened Luke, who swore under his breath as he almost automatically jumped up to get dressed as if he were about to get caught doing something wrong, then he looked at how comfy Dixie looked sleeping in his arms and decided he didn't care if Bo knew they were still in bed. Besides, this wasn't the farm and Jesse's rules 'about laying in bed all day ' didn't apply here unless he wanted them to and right now he didn't. Luke did know that they needed to get up but he didn't think jumping right up was needed. Instead he brushed Dixie's hair back from her face and kissed her gently. Dixie snuggled closer. Luke kissed her again and said, "We need to get started on the booths." "You said you were gonna wait on Bo to get back." She sleepily protested. Luke replied with another kiss, "He is back." Downstairs, Bo came into the kitchen and was greeted by Scrapie and Trixie who jumped around excitedly trying to tell him how abused they had been being shut out of the bedroom and all. He let the crazies outside and stepped in the living room where he figured to find Luke and Dixie but the house was silent. LB was headed to Lori Mae’s to check on her but she wasn’t home. LB figured she felt better so was at work making up the time she’d missed the day before but as he passed Doc Applby’s he saw Lori Mae’s car parked in front of the clinic and Lori Mae going in the door. Daisy hoped she wouldn’t have to sit and wait half a day at Doc Applby’s to be worked in so when she turned into the parking lot she was glad to see only a few other cars. Turning in Daisy recognized Lori Mae’s car. Inside Daisy signed in and sat down beside Lori Mae. “Hey Lori Mae, not feeling any better?” Daisy asked, adding “Bessie Lou said you called her to come in and finish your shift yesterday, because you weren’t feeling well.” “Hey Daisy, no, no better I feel a bit worse. What are you here for?” Lori Mae replied. “I think I’m coming down with the flu,” Daisy answered. Bo heard the bedroom door open and close upstairs with booted footsteps going toward the bathroom before coming downstairs. He greeted Luke with a look that spoke volumes. "Don't start with me Bo. Are you ready to load the truck up with the stuff in the building? The booths should be in place by now." Luke said. Bo replied, "Town is in full swing. Decorations are up and the booths are being put in place. I think I'm the only one in town that worked today." "You haven't even begun to work today." Luke said. Bo replied, "That's what I was afraid you would say." At Doc Applby’s office it was almost 11 o’clock before Daisy and Lori Mae were called back to get their vitals, weight and such, then they were put into exam rooms to wait for Doc Applby. At the post office BL was glad she was leaving early, with so many in town getting ready for Saturday’s festival the post office was a lot busier than usual. “See you tomorrow Mrs. Hodge,” BL said as Hazzard High School’s retired Home Economics teacher left. BL had to remember to tell Dixie they needed to be sure to go by the Ladies Auxiliary booth. Mrs. Hodge was going to have some of her knitted things to sell anything from baby clothes to scarves and gloves. When BL got to the house, things were in full swing. Bo, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie were loading Luke’s truck. They were now joined by Sadie. In the house, Dixie had a box with two crock pots, dish towels, dish soap, knives, and large spoons. A couple of box fans were in the floor. The decorations, poster boards and such were on the kitchen table. "Other than the food that will go tomorrow, am I forgetting anything?" Dixie asked as if they were moving to the next state instead of setting up booths across the square. “Dixie were not moving to the next state or even the next county, we’ll just be across the square so if we do need something one of us can run home and get it. Let me change real quick and I’ll help you take stuff out to the truck,” BL said. Going upstairs BL swapped her lightweight sweater and jeans for a regular long sleeve shirt and joggers and tennis shoes. On the way back to the kitchen BL grabbed all three dog leashes, so the pups didn’t run into the street. Over at Doc Applby’s he was looking over Daisy’s chart as he came into the exam room. “Sorry you’ve been waiting so long Daisy, I had an emergency over at Tri-Counties Hospital,” Doc apologized. “It’s alright Doc, I expected a wait because I didn’t have an appointment but hoped it wouldn’t be as long if I was here by opening time,” Daisy replied. After some questions about her symptoms and an exam Doc handed her a cup saying, “I need a sample, it’ll help me know what to prescribe.” When Daisy returned with her sample, she saw that Doc's nurse had set up to draw blood. "What's that for?" Nurse Hazel replied, "Since you aren't running a fever, Doc wants to run a few tests. Some infections will show in urine while others show in your blood." Daisy sighed in defeat, "Alright, but I don't have to like it." Once nurse Hazel was done she collected the samples and headed out of the room to see what the patient in the other room would need to have done. The nurse with her caddy of blood drawing supplies knocked on Lori Mae’s exam room door then came in as Doc was about to go see his next patient. “Hazel I’ll be needing a blood sample from Lori Mae also,” Doc Applby said, adding “Lori Mae, I need you to take this and give me a sample,” giving Lori Mae a cup Doc left to see his next patient. “What’s Doc need samples of both for?” Lori Mae asked. Hazel gave her the same explanation she’d given Daisy then collected the samples, put them in her caddy and headed to the lab. From an undisclosed location, Hughie Hogg waited excitedly as he watched the two young women heading into Doc's office. His interest was all the more peaked since one was Daisy Duke. He had so hoped to catch the Dukes in his little scheme but he just wasn't at all certain that they would play into his hand. He moved closer to the camera monitor and waited. When Doc saw Daisy’s initial urine sample report he frowned thinking that surely it was wrong. So, he waited for the blood samples to be done and saw the same result. He closed her file folder and headed back to the exam room. "Daisy, it seems all your tests are negative." He paused. "Negative? Then why have I felt so sick and run down?" Daisy asked in confusion. Doc replied, "I hadn't finished. I said all your tests were negative except one. At first I thought there might be a mistake but the blood samples confirmed the results. Daisy, you are pregnant." “Pregnant? But how?” Daisy asked although the second question was rhetorical. “Yes my dear, pregnant. The urine test can give a false positive but the blood test is never wrong.” Doc Applby replied. Daisy sat there in shock wondering what to tell Uncle Jesse when she got home, he was sure to ask what Doc had said was wrong. After the normal do's and don’ts, a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and a monthly appointment, Daisy had already tucked the vitamins in her purse and was tucking the appointment card in her purse as she exited the doctor’s office more than a little rattled. Once in her car, Daisy couldn't hold her emotions together any longer and broke down crying. Hughie noted Daisy tucking something into her purse as she exited Doc's office. Now that she was in her car, he tried to zoom the picture in but just could not catch what was going on inside the yellow hot rod. Daisy finally pulled herself together, Uncle Jesse would be wondering what was taking so long so she headed back to the farm when what she really wanted was to be alone and think for a bit. After Doc Applby finished with Daisy he went to the lab to get the results from Lori Mae’s blood and urine samples. Reading the results and seeing they were the same as Daisy’s he thought there was a mix up but the results were the same on a second testing. Gathering Lori Mae’s chart he went to the exam room, “well Lori Mae the good news is you do not have the flu,” Doc said. “Well if it’s not the flu, why do I feel so tired lately and sick?” Lori Mae asked. “You’re pregnant,” Doc replied. Lori Mae was obviously blind sided, "I'm what?! I can't be. I'm on birth control. I take it everyday at the same time." Doc noted her shocked reaction, "There is only one sure fire way not to get pregnant. No birth control methods are a hundred percent." After repeating the do’s and don’t and a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and an appointment, Doc Appleby moved on to his next patient. Still in shock Lori Mae went out to her car, stuffing her appointment card in her purse. She wanted to get out of town before she ran into anymore of the Duke family or LB. “How does it look?” BL asked. She and Dixie had just finished decorating one of the concession tables. Dixie stood back a little saying with a nod, “looks good.” Bo and Luke were setting up the grill and tables over at the firehouse. Cooter had his scouts in town early to set up their tent and tables to sell their crafts and such they made to earn badges to win the free oil change and lube job at the garage. Then, he sent them out to help others that may need help setting up their tents. Cooter had been a little preoccupied since his and Crystal's talk but he enjoyed the scouts and teaching them the importance of always being prepared and ready to offer their assistance especially to some of the older women who may not know how to set up their tents. Luke was busy making sure everything was ready to pull out of the firestation tomorrow and into the tent that he planned to set up later when he heard a little voice behind him. "Do you need any help here, Mister Luke?" Joey asked. Luke didn't need any help and didn't really have time to play with a child right now, until he turned around and saw the shy young boy. Luke knew that it must have taken him time to decide to come to the fire station and work up courage to ask him to let him help. Luke took a deep breath and let it out purposely slowing down his list of things to do. "Sure, Joey. How about you stand right there and I'll pull this old beast out and you can help me clean up the driveway in front of the station?" Joey seemed a bit disappointed as he asked, "We are gonna sweep all that?" Luke gave him a smile. "I have an easier way. Hang on just a minute." He pulled the fire engine out and onto the street and turned on the red lights. After scotching the tires he went to the side of the truck and got a short section of fire hose and a hydrant wrench. "Come on Joey. Let's hook this up at the hydrant." Luke then hooked the hose to the fire engine and showed Joey where to safely stand at the hydrant and after turning the wrench a couple times, Luke let Joey turn the wrench the last few turns until the water filled the hose. Now, Luke went to the side of the engine and pulled off fifty feet of inch and a half hose and connected it to a discharge. He adjusted the engine and nozzle to where the pressure was very low but enough to rinse the driveway’s dust off. "Come here, Joey. Now you hold the hose like this and we will move it back and forth to clean up the driveway." Joey's eyes were as bright as snowflakes on Christmas morning. "Me? Really??" Luke smiled again. He had just created a monster and he knew it. "Yes. Really. You can hold the nozzle and I'll back you up like we do on fires." After the driveway was clean and drying and the engine put away. Luke asked, "How are you with setting up tents?" Joey looked at the ground. "Not very good. I can't get my knots right." "Well come on. Let's see if I can help with that." Luke said. "You can tie knots?" Joey asked in disbelief. Luke replied with a smile. "I sure do. Of course I was sort of a slow learner." "Really?" Joey asked. "Really. I never got it in the scouts. Then, in the Marines I got it some but it was the firefighting and Smokejumping that really showed me how to remember them." Luke said. They stood the tent up and now it was time to pull the ropes tight and tie them off. Luke said, "I'm going to use a bowline knot here. You make a loop like this. Then, you take the free end and it's your rabbit. The rabbit comes up out of the hole, runs around the tree, then back down the hole. Now, you just pull it tight." "Hey! That is cool! I think I can do that." Joey said. Luke said, "Well, there are five more ropes to tie down. I'll pull the rope tight and you tie the knots." BL noticed that Luke had a helper. "Did you see that Luke has a helper?" Dixie smiled. "Yeah, I've been watching them for a while now. Luke even let him on the fire hose a bit ago. “You don’t think someone’s practicing to have a son, do ya? BL asked, grinning. Dixie laughed. "Maybe, but Luke's team loves to see kids get interested in firefighting early. He says they recruit young." “I see but shouldn’t their recruits weigh enough to hold a hose with more water pressure than their backyard water hose?” BL asked, still grinning, it was good to see Luke teaching a kid the way a father might. Nobody really thought either of the Duke boys was capable of raising children. Dixie replied, "I don't think it's so much about the amount of work they can do but the interest that it sparks in them."' “And maybe it’ll keep them from being juvenile delinquents or adult delinquents, having an interest in something noble,” BL said then asked “have you seen Daisy or any of her Junior Patrol?” "No, but they should be around somewhere." Dixie said. Just after Dixie said this a dark haired girl in a Junior Patrol shirt walked up asking “Miss BL, Miss Dixie do you know where Miss Daisy’s at? The troop was supposed to meet her, so we could set up our tent and tables to sell cookies tomorrow. The troop that sells the most wins a trip to six flags.” “She probably just got tied up Minnie Mae and is just running a little late,” BL replied. Daisy pulled into her usual spot at the farm with a sigh of relief it looked like Uncle Jesse wasn’t home and she didn’t have to have the talk with him she was dreading. Going in the back door, Daisy made herself a sandwich to eat on the way back to town to meet her Junior Patrol troop to set up for tomorrow’s festival. Daisy washed her face then wrote Uncle Jesse a note, ‘Doc said not contagious. In town helping my Junior Patrol troop setup for festival, Love Daisy’ Dixie looked up to see Daisy pulling up in front of the square where the girls were going to set up the tent, "See? There's Daisy now." Minnie Mae said excitedly, "OK! Great! Thanks Miss Dixie, Miss BL." She scurried off toward Daisy. "Watch for traffic." Dixie called. BL shook her head grinning as she watched the girl making excited hand gestures, telling Daisy something. About ten minutes later Darcy arrived, pulling up behind Daisy’s car making his way over to where she was and asking,”need some help?” Daisy hadn’t seen him and nearly jumped out of her skin hearing Darcy’s voice so close. “No but we need to talk." Daisy replied. “Ok shoot,” Darcy said. “Not now, too many little ears listening. The girls will have to go home in a few hours, maybe we can get a bite to eat and talk then,” Daisy said. “Sure sweetheart,” Darcy replied, a little worried; Daisy sounded so serious, not her usual bubbly self. A bit later, Luke was finished with everything he planned to do and walked over to Dixie to see if she needed any help. Just then they heard Joey tell Cooter. "I know how to tie my knots now." "Have you created a monster?" Dixie asked. Luke replied, "Maybe." BL had gone over to the bakery to get doughnuts, she had left Bo setting up a second tent but in the short time she was gone the tent was up and Bo was nowhere in sight. Going over to Luke and Dixie asking, “where’d Bo go, I went to get some doughnuts while he put up another tent now he’s disappeared,” Dixie replied, "I haven’t seen him since he walked off.” Luke replied, "I haven't seen him since we got here." “He better not be back home taking a nap while the rest of us are out here working our tails off,” BL said, opening one of the doughnut boxes. She had gotten enough for herself, Bo, Luke, Dixie, Daisy, Cooter and both scout groups to have one each, “doughnut?” she offered. Over at the cabinet shop Bo had been recruited to help build booths out of scrap wood that was too much to throw away but not big enough for much of anything. “Hey Bo hold this, so I can get the first nail in so’s it don’t slip,” LB said. Bo lined the wood up straight and held it for LB. LB swung the hammer and hit more of Bo's thumb than he did the nail. "Ow!" Bo exclaimed. LB then started laughing like a hyena. Clyde looked up from his project "What in the world?" Dixie asked from their location in the Square, "Was that Bo yelling?" Luke was already moving toward the sound. “Yes, c’mon!” BL headed in the same direction as Luke, that yell hadn’t been mad or frustrated, it was pain and BL wondered what Bo had done to himself. Dixie followed her husband and cousin. Bo shook his hand trying not to swear in front of Clyde, “it ain’t funny LB” "What's wrong?" Luke asked. Bo was still shaking his hand. "Other than only having nine fingers left?" “Nine fingers left?” Luke asked, confused, he didn’t see any blood. LB gasped out, “Bo was holding a nail for me, I missed and hit Bo’s thumb.” “We thought you were dying, you’ll live,” BL said, unsympathetically. Luke added, "I thought you had broke your fool neck or something." Clyde came over taking a look at Bo’s thumb, “I can poke a hole in the nail where it got hit and let the blood under the nail drain out and it won’t even look hurt” Clyde said. “That’s ok,” Bo replied, not fond of the idea. Luke stayed at the cabinet shop to help finish making booths since he had everything set up at the fire station. Dixie and BL went back to the square to finish decorating booths for the fire department and the concessions. By one o’clock everything was done and Cooter was getting cleaned up and changing shirts before heading over to Placid to pick up Crystal and Kathy Mae and by 1:45 he was parking behind the Placid hardware store where Crystal and her daughter lived in an apartment above the store. Dixie and the others got home and let the dogs out. In the kitchen Dixie opened the fridge trying to find something for a quick easy lunch. "I'm starving." BL asked, "What do you want?" Dixie honestly replied, "A couple of the fire department's polish dogs with fried onions and peppers and a little mustard." "That's tomorrow." BL replied. Dixie sighed, "I know, but you asked me what I wanted." BL replied, “I did but what do you want that you CAN have?” Waiting for Dixie’s answer, BL looked in the freezer, there wasn’t alot in there but she was hungry too but didn’t know what she wanted. Luke came in the back door about then. Dixie turned around and gave him the sweetest puppy dog eyes, "Isn't Uncle Jesse fixing hotdog chili today?" Luke replied. "Umm, yeah, I think so." Dixie tilted her head and smiled innocently. "Do you think if we showed up with the hotdogs we could maybe talk him out of a sample for lunch?" Luke replied, "Me, Bo or Daisy, there is no way. You and baby Duke, just might be able to." “Dixie we need the hotdogs tomorrow too,” BL reminded Dixie. "I got some for the house too, but ya'll are right. So, do ya'll want frozen pizza or sandwiches?" Dixie asked. “I vote pizza,” BL said, she really hadn’t known what she wanted before but now that Dixie brought it up, pizza did sound good. Bo had come in the back door just in time to hear Dixie’s question. Both men said simultaneously, “pizza’s fine.” “BL will you hand me one of those pizzas?” Dixie asked. In Placid, Cooter knocked on Crystal’s door. Crystal took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She had been through this before but most men hadn't even bothered to meet her daughter. As soon as they found out about her, they were gone faster than her own father had left when he found out about her. She opened the door to find Cooter standing there with two bunches of flowers. One much smaller than the other. Cooter handed Crystal the larger bunch of flowers as he looked behind her for her daughter who was playing in her room. At the sight of the two groups of flowers, Crystal choked up. "Thank you." Cooter checked behind her once more before kissing her cheek. "Kathy Mae.... come here." Crystal called. "Come meet a friend of mine." From a side door behind Crystal a toddler ran to her mother and held on to her leg. Cooter squatted down to her level. "Hello Kathy Mae. It is nice to meet you. Do you like flowers?" Kathy Mae reached out to touch a flower timidly. "They are for you Sweetheart." Cooter said gently as he handed the flowers to the small girl. "Just don't eat them." “What do you say Kathy Mae?” Crystal said to her little girl. “Fank you,” Kathy Mae replied. "You are very welcome." Cooter said. "Do you like ice cream?" Kathy Mae nodded her head 'yes'. "Would you and Mommy like to go get some ice cream with Ole Cooter?" He asked. Kathy Mae turned loose of Crystal's leg and walked over to take Cooter's big hand into her tiny one. “Just a second let me put these flowers in water first,” Crystal said. “Alrighty we’ll wait right here for ya. Right Kathy Mae?” Cooter replied. Kathy Mae nodded her head ‘yes’ and Crystal took the flowers into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later after putting Kathy Mae’s in her bedroom. Shortly the trio headed down the sidewalk to the ice cream parlor. Kathy Mae walked between the adults, her tiny hand still holding Cooter’s big one. Heading out of town and coming from the other direction, Jeb Duke was in his father's pickup truck when he was sure he'd seen Hazzard's best grease monkey all cleaned up and walking up the street with a small child and a pretty lady. Jeb had to go to the end of the street to turn the truck around. He wished he had his bike. Jeb had been unseen by Cooter as he, Crystal and Kathy Mae stepped inside the ice cream parlor and took a table. Cooter got Kathy Mae a booster seat and helped her up into it so she could sit at the table like a big girl. Jeb drove back through town, turned and came back not seeing the people he had seen before. They could have walked into any number of places. Jeb just couldn't get the picture out of his mind. It was one he'd never think he'd see their buddy in. Back in Hazzard, LB and Clyde had closed up shop a little early and LB had gone home, got cleaned up and headed to Lori Mae’s. Lori Mae had come home from the doctor and put on joggers and a comfy oversized shirt and pulled her hair up into a messy bun then took root on her couch and this was the way LB found her when he let himself in when she didn’t answer his knock. “Lori Mae, you asleep?” LB called out. Lori Mae looked over at her door, she had hoped LB would leave thinking she was asleep if she didn’t answer the door. She wasn’t ready to face him but he was there so she might as well. Lori Mae cleared her throat “LB do you want kids?” “Yeah someday,” LB replied, not sure where this was going. The ice cream arrived and from habit, Crystal took the spoon and began to give Kathy Mae a bite of ice cream. "No." Kathy Mae said. Crystal asked, "No? You love ice cream." Kathy Mae pushed the spoon away gently and said, "Him." Crystal was a bit embarrassed at Kathy Mae's actions. Cooter had already picked up another spoon. "I'm sorry.... I don't..." Crystal began. Kathy Mae took the offered bite of ice cream from Cooter and smiled. Cooter tried to hide his own grin. With the second bite Kathy Mae clapped “YUM!!" BALLADEER: Looks like Cooter’s already under that pretty little thing’s spell Lori Mae got a look of relief on face, hearing LB’s answer. LB saw the look and asked, “is something wrong Lori Mae?” Lori Mae looked down at her hands in her lap as she spoke. “I still didn’t feel good this morning so I went to see Doc Applby, he ran some tests,” Lori Mae paused, taking in a deep breath. “Well what did he say?” LB asked, his brows drawn together with worry. “LB you’re gonna be a father,” Lori Mae said. LB wasn’t sure he heard right, it sounded like Lori Mae had said he was going to be a father, “say that again Lori Mae.” “You’re going to be a father,” Lori Mae repeated. At the Placid Ice Cream Parlor Kathy Mae finished as much of her ice cream as she could. The adults saw it was time to go. Kathy Mae was up past her regular nap time. Walking back to Crystal's apartment, Kathy Mae stopped and held her arms up to Cooter to be picked up. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and let Crystal have his elbow. At the apartment, Cooter followed Crystal into Kathy Mae's room where he laid the nearly sleeping child down on her bed. He took off her shoes and covered her with a light blanket. Crystal handed him Kathy Mae's favorite bear. Cooter tucked the bear in with Kathy Mae. Once they were in the living room, Crystal said, "It looks like you've done that a time or three." Cooter shook his head, 'no'. "I've seen Uncle Mister Jesse Duke tucking in Daisy when she was a youngin and my parents with Dixie but that's about it." Back in Hazzard, LB had recovered from his initial shock and asked, “why’d you ask if I wanted kids before telling me you’re pregnant?” ”Because I didn’t want my child to ever feel unwanted,” Lori Mae replied. “Unwanted?” LB repeated, a question in his voice. “Don’t get me wrong Papa and Grandmama loved me and took care of me. They were the best grandparents a kid could have but I just didn’t understand why my parents didn’t want me. My father ran off after my mother told him about me, then she dropped me off at my grandparents house when I was 2 weeks old and never came back,” Lori Mae told LB the story that not many knew. LB pulled Lori Mae into a hug, he didn’t know what to say. Lori Mae pulled back after a few minutes asking, “you’re not upset, are you? I don’t want you to think I’m trying to trap you.” Lori Mae was worried though, she didn’t want LB to think she was trying to trap him, granted he wasn’t as popular with the girls as the Duke boys but that didn’t mean LB wouldn’t think he was being trapped. LB wasn’t having any thoughts of the sort, he was thinking about how Clyde would react to the news he was going to be a grandfather twice, the babies being a few months apart. LB now realized Lori Mae hadn’t said when the baby was due to arrive. “When’s the baby due?” Lori Mae shrugged her shoulders, “I was so stunned, I didn’t even ask.” With the pizzas ready, Dixie got her a glass of soda, two beers for the guys and asked BL, "What are you drinking tonight?" "Tea." BL replied, getting out a glass as Dixie handed her the tea pitcher. "The pizza is ready." Dixie said. She looked up to see six eyes and three wagging tails. "You three will get some, but I was talking to your masters." Luke said from the living room, "Do you care if we eat in here? There's a big fire they are about to show on the news." "Sure." Dixie said loud enough to be heard in the other room, but added a lot lower, "I hate forest fires." She said with a bit of a grin. BL grinned, pouring herself some tea then cutting the pizza, “how many pieces do you want?” “Two for now,” Dixie replied. “How many slices do you fellas want?” BL asked. “Three, setting up booths and cleaning up the fire truck bay is hard work,” Luke replied. “Three for me too darlin, building them booths worked up an appetite. I could eat a horse,” Bo said. BL and Dixie fixed the plates then took their husbands to them along with a beer each then went back for their own. The couples ate, watched the news and chatted. Dixie got up to take out the plates, "BL if you go get the yarn we bought I'll show you the first step of crocheting." Bo said with a bit of a frown, "I thought we were gonna watch tv?" Dixie replied, "Trust me. I'm gonna put another pizza in for later while the oven is hot." Once everyone was settled in a few minutes before the movie started, Dixie took the wrapper off the yarn, took out the end from the center of the yarn and threw the rest to Bo. "Hey!" Bo exclaimed in surprise. "Just hold that for BL." Dixie said. Bo frowned. He now knew his job in the crocheting. "Tie a knot in the end here BL, then start wrapping it around the paper a few times, turn it, wrap a few more times until you run out of yarn and have a ball of yarn." Dixie said making this sound easy. Luke was already reaching for the next skein of yarn, "It sounds easy until you find the knots in these skeins." Dixie grinned, "That's why you always start by rolling the yarn. A ball of yarn is much easier than taking a big afghan in and out of a small loop." Luke grinned, "You could always just cut the knot out." He said playfully knowing what her comeback would be. "No!" Dixie said. "Then you have to make extra knots in your work and work twice as hard to hide them." The couples watched their movie and managed to get all the yarn rolled into balls. As the movie went off Dixie turned to look at the clock. The stores in town were closed. She sighed. "What?" Luke asked. She shrugged, "It's nothing. I'll get some tomorrow." "Get what tomorrow." Luke asked. "Ice cream." Dixie said. “Mmm ice cream sounds good,Why wait? There’s the all night supermarket or did ya’ll forget about that?” BL said. Luke had showered and was in jogging pants and slippers. "Honey tomorrow there is gonna be homemade ice cream along with every other dessert and food you can think of." Dixie replied, "You are right. I'll just grab something that is here." She started toward the kitchen. Daisy and Darcy had gone to the Dixie Diner for an early supper after all of Daisy’s Junior Patrol scouts had been picked up, now they sat in Darcy’s car watching the sun go down. “Daisy honey, what’s wrong? You ain’t hardly said a word since the girls in your scout troop was all picked up, did I do something to make you mad at me?” Darcy asked. “No sugar I ain’t mad at you. I just been preoccupied,” Daisy replied. “Want to talk about it?” Darcy offered. “Darcy I’m pregnant,” Daisy blurted before she could lose her nerve. “You’re pregnant?!” Darcy exclaimed, more than he asked for clarification. “How am I gonna tell Uncle Jesse?” Daisy asked, worry in her voice. “You’ll find a way, just be honest, he won’t judge you anymore than he would Bo and Luke if they had gotten a girl pregnant tom catting around,” Darcy replied. Daisy had heard those conversations between Uncle Jesse and the boys since they were young teens. "You aren't helping with that line of thought Darcy Kincaid." Daisy said. “Sorry, it will be ok,” Darcy replied, hoping he was right. Meanwhile, Darcy was now thinking about just how much hot water he would be in with Bo and Luke and thinking he'd better come up with some sort of solution pretty quick. "Let's just think on this a bit Daisy before we go telling everyone." “We can try but Uncle Jesse always knew we were up to something or what we’d done even though we thought he didn’t know,” Daisy replied. Daisy sat quietly with Darcy holding her for a long time. Darcy knew what he wanted to do, needed to do but the thoughts of his small mobile house trailer at the airfield wasn't ideal but it was a roof. "Daisy, when is your next night off?" Daisy replied, "Next week." "Can you trade with someone, get tomorrow?" Darcy asked. "Maybe. Why?" Daisy asked. "I figured we could drive up to Tennessee, get married and spend the night up there before coming back home." Darcy suggested. “Elope?” Daisy asked, it wasn’t how she had planned for a wedding but considering their predicament they could wait a bit after getting married then she could reveal her pregnancy. “Yes, if we tell anyone they will try to talk us into waiting and not rush into anything. I can’t give you a big house but we can save up if that’s what you want. All I know is I love you and want to marry you, Daisy,” Darcy replied. Daisy and Darcy continued to talk until very late. Meanwhile, in town, Dixie and BL had rolled their yarn while watching TV with Luke and Bo. The news was going off when Luke nudged Bo's foot with his and said quietly, "Bo are ya'll gonna sleep down here or go up to bed?" Dixie answered first, "Here's fine." Luke moved his shoulder that Dixie had her head on, "Alright, but your pillow is going upstairs." "Aww. That's not fair. I was comfortable." Dixie said. "Fair or not we have a busy day tomorrow. Come on ya’ll." Luke stood up as Dixie was acting like she was pouting. As Luke stood up, all three pups jumped up and began to dance around looking at the kitchen. "Alright come on. Bo, I'm putting the dogs out. Let them back in before you come up and don't sit there and go back to sleep." “I won’t,” Bo replied but it was a drowsy monotone. “Cmon pups I’ll let you out,” Luke headed toward the kitchen but the dogs beat him there and were dancing around impatiently, dashing out as soon as he opened the door. Dixie stood up and headed for the stairs when Luke came back to the livingroom after letting the dogs out, “night ya’ll”. “Nigh Dixie, night Luke,” Bo and BL said together. BL slowly sat up, rubbing the back of her aching neck, “I must have had my neck twisted funny when I fell asleep.” “Go on upstairs, after I let the pups back in, I’ll come rub it for ya,” Bo replied. Soon the house was locked up for the night and dark.

Early the next morning, Cooter decided to slip out for coffee and maybe a bit of breakfast. He dressed, eased open the door and slowly and quietly shut the room door. He saw movement to his right, looked up and saw LB gently shutting a room door about three rooms down. “LB!” Cooter said, surprised to see his cousin there and just three rooms away. LB turned equally surprised, “Cooter!” Neither asked what the other was doing there, there was only one reason people came. BALLADEER: Folks that one reason is why it’s called the no tell motel Cooter and LB got in their pickups and headed out in search of breakfast and coffee at one of the all night places, nowhere else was open this early on Sunday morning. Cooter grabbed the bag with breakfast in it, then the coffees. He was just unlocking the room door when he saw LB also pulling back in. Cooter shook his head and continued inside. He sat the food on the tiny table and sat down on the bed, "Crystal, honey. It's time we start moving so we are back home and ready for church." Cooter looked up heavenward even as he processed his previous statement. Crystal slowly woke up and sat up. Cooter handed her coffee, "I got coffee and a bit of breakfast for us." Crystal took the hot coffee. It smelled wonderful. She took a drink, swallowed and found that it nearly headed right back up. After a couple seconds, she handed Cooter the coffee back. "That is not gonna work this morning. It smelled wonderful, but that one drink was enough." LB came back to find Lori Mae was somewhere deep under the covers, he sat everything on the room’s small table then went over and sat on the bed, peeling back the covers to reveal Lori Mae’s face. Leaning over he kissed her lips saying, “Lori Mae, time to get moving so we won’t be late for church.” Lori Mae’s eyes fluttered; she wasn’t ready to get up but she’d told LB she’d go to church with him. Sitting up, eyes still blurry with sleep, her stomach rumbled. “I got us some breakfast and coffee,” LB said, handing her a bacon and egg biscuit. “Thanks, I feel like I could eat a horse,” Lori Mae said, taking a bite. The biscuit lost its appeal though when her stomach threatened to rebel. Normally Dixie would have got to see Dr. Quinn on an off day, but with the festival coming up she had used a sick day for her appointment on Thursday and took Friday off as well. She had checked over Luke's list with him before he left for work. She had showered and was trying to decide on something to wear. She put on a loose pair of black pants and grabbed a light weight long sleeve shirt from the closet. Once on the shirt came right back off. It looked as if it had shrunk the way it rode up. It looked like a belly shirt. She had been wearing newer larger shirts but had not realized that the increased size of her breast and just general weight she had picked up would make that much difference in a shirt from last year. She then put on a short sleeve t-shirt and found a flannel shirt of Luke's as an over shirt. She rolled the sleeves up a bit and rolled the tail up to tie the ends around her waist. From habit she had brushed her hair and put it in a ponytail. Yelling across the hallway, "BL are you about ready?" Across the hall BL was having her own wardrobe issues, kicking off another pair of jeans that wouldn’t quite button, BL went across the hall wearing only her bra and panties saying as she came into Dixie’s bedroom. “Help!! Not a single pair of my good jeans want to button! I need a pair of the pants I gave you that were big on me, bet they fit now.” Dixie looked at BL, "Alright, but you don't look like you have gained an ounce." She went to a box by her dresser with pants that no longer fit and tossed them to BL. "Try those. We can move this box to your room anytime." BL offered, "Just have Luke put it in the hallway so we can both get to it." "Good idea. Who is Sadie staying with while we are gone?" Dixie asked. “The farm I reckon if it’s ok with Uncle Jesse, so she can play outside. If she stays with Daddy and LB at the cabinet shop, they hafta stop work and take her out to potty,” BL said, trying on a pair of pants that buttoned easily. “Sounds good, I’ll call Uncle Jesse while you finish getting ready,” Dixie replied. “Be right down,” BL said, going back to her and Bo’s bedroom putting on a long sleeve button up shirt, then brushing her hair, pulling the sides and top back into a flat barret. Once Sadie was playing fetch with Uncle Jesse, the girls were headed off to their appointments and then to shop for the festival. Dixie said to BL as they were heading out of Hazzard, "Remind me to get some table and booth decorations for us and the fire department. You know those guys will never think of decorations." “Soft crochet yarn and booth decorations for us and Luke, got it” BL said, remembering Dixie said something about crocheting yarn the other day. As they crossed the county line BL asked with a sweet look, “are you gonna crochet double of whatever baby stuff you make?” "I just might. Or maybe I teach you how to crochet?" Dixie gave BL a bit of a grin. “You can try. Grandmother taught me a little but I couldn’t get the hang of it,” BL replied. Dixie replied with a giggle, "Yeah, I remember but maybe you were more interested in chasing Bo than learning. Now, you have a reason to learn." "I reckon I do but I caught him didn’t I!" BL grinned. "When grandmother made me stay in and learn such things, I could have thought of a hundred different things I'd rather be doing, but I've got to admit that knowing it has come in handy at times. I've made a couple baby blankets for people I've worked with and I've made some stuffed bears for people I've known kids. Now, I can do it for my baby." Dixie said. At the farm, Jesse figured he had better start the chili for the hotdogs and nachos. He got out his large pot and put the seasoned hamburger on to start to cook slowly while he diced the onions, canned banana peppers and the fresh garlic. In no time at all the house smelled of the cooking concoction. Daisy was in her room getting ready to be picked up by Darcy. They planned to spend the afternoon together. Daisy heard Darcy's car coming up the driveway. She gave her hair another brushing, checked her outfit, makeup and slid on her high heels. Darcy knocked on the backdoor of the Duke home. Jesse wiped his hands and called, "Come on in, Darcy. What brings you all the way out here in the middle of the day? Darcy came into the kitchen, "Afternoon Mr. Duke. Daisy and me was..." He was cut off by Daisy entering the room. Daisy opened her bedroom door and bounced down the hall, through the living room. As she entered the kitchen she began to talk, "Hey Darcy, Sugar. Uncle Jesse, Darcy and me was just going to ...." Suddenly she stopped talking, stopped smiling, stopped in her tracks all together. Her eyes went wide. Her entire being turned green and she bolted back out of the room racing toward the bathroom. The door closed with a bang! “I’ll be right back Darcy,” Jesse said, following his niece. Knocking on the bathroom door, Jesse called,” Daisy, baby are you alright?” Daisy splashed some cold water on her face and took a few deep breaths before opening the door, “yes I think so, tell Darcy I’ll be right there, I need to fix my makeup.” Dixie made the last turn that took them by the tri counties jail. “You may have learned all the ‘ladylike’ hobbies such as crochet but I learned the practical stuff like sewing on buttons, patching holes and making clothes from a pattern,” BL said. "Oh, I did that too, but the only thing I ever made from a pattern was a wrap around skirt. Well, I mostly made it. Everything else usually got taken back away from me before I could mess it up too badly." Dixie admitted. “You teach me to crochet and I’ll ‘hold your hand’,” BL made air quotes then continued “and we’ll make baby things. Mistakes will be made by both of us no doubt but neither of us is giving up or correcting and taking over each other's project, we goof, we fix it ourselves…deal?” “Deal,” Dixie replied. Daisy fixed her makeup then went back to the kitchen saying, “see ya Uncle Jesse, we won’t be late. Come on Darcy honey let’s go,” Daisy made a beeline to the back door before whatever it was that had made her queasy could do it again. Darcy said once they were in the car, "Are you alright?" The fresh air had helped a lot, "I'm fine now." As Darcy pulled out he said, "Whatever your Uncle was cooking sure smelled wonderful." That was it. It was the smell of something cooking. Just the memory made Daisy retch. She put her hand over her mouth and barely got out, "Pull over." Darcy had barely hit the main road off Duke property but pulled into a wide spot. Daisy threw the car door open and quickly got out trying once again not to toss her cookies. Breathing in deeply she tried to remember the smell of flowers, perfume, anything but whatever that smell in the house had been. At the Tri Counties Medical building, Dixie parked in front of the building. Going inside Dixie and BL signed in and told the receptionist Sara Jane one room together would be fine, so that there was room for other patients besides they had been undressing in front of each other all their lives so there was no need for privacy. They were told to sit down and wait to be called back. ”You think Luke will ever want to come with you to one of these appointments or is it going to be just us?” BL asked then chuckled adding “or do you think he’d hyperventilate like Bo did?” "You know Luke. He's trying to be practical, sort of like me. If there weren't other reasons to be off today, I would have just met you here when I got off. If there is something going on or the important ones like hearing the heartbeat he'll be here but he wants to save his time for around closer to the birth or afterwards." Dixie said, then added, "Yes, I know. He has a ton of vacation saved up." “Practical with Bo went out the window when the doctor said ‘you’re pregnant.” BL giggled then added “makes sense, he can take off afterwards and just be Daddy not Luke Duke Sr. Smokejumper.” The nurse Ellie opened the waiting room door and called them back to get their weight and vitals, then put them in an exam room. “I may not look like I’ve gained weight to you but that scale was in agreement with my jeans that wouldn’t button,” BL said when they were alone. Daisy once again willed herself not to throw up. Darcy had joined her outside the car, "Daisy, Honey are you sure you are alright? I mean we don't have to go out if you are feeling badly." Daisy gathered her composure, "I feel great, well felt great until .... look let's not talk about it right now. Just the memory of it almost ruined our plans. Let's just go have a good time today." Darcy walked her back to the car, "Alright, if you say so. I just hope you aren't coming down with the flu. They say we are gonna have an early flu season." Doctor Quinn came into Dixie and BL's exam room, their charts in her hands. “Hello ladies, I’ve looked over both your charts and everything looks good. Dixie you are a little bit heavier than I’d like but I’m not overly worried, you’ll probably be showing by your next appointment" Dixie said with a grin, "At least then everyone will know why I'm eating like a horse." Dr. Quinn suggested, "Healthy snacks often and small meals tend to keep you more balanced. Dixie reminded, "You know where I work. Some days are boring and I could snack all day long, others are so busy that I'm lucky to snack on the go." Doc nodded, "Try." "Alright." Dixie replied. "Your next visit will be an exciting one, you’ll get to hear your little one’s heartbeat so bring your husband,” Doc said. As Darcy and Daisy drove through town, men with ladders were putting up banners and decorations for the upcoming festival. In the mix of putting up decorations, none other than Huey Hogg had sent a couple of his own men to get themselves hired to put up the decorations. Not that Huey especially wanted the town to look good for the festival but he also had cameras being installed all over Hazzard where he could sit back and watch all the upcoming fun and never have to be anywhere near Hazzard. He checked the lists of ordered medications from the Hazzard pharmacy. There it was another order for more birth control pills. He smiled wickedly as he reboxed all the discount birth control pills up for the next shipment into Hazzard. Cameras were going up in the most strategic places for Huey’s viewing pleasure such as the courthouse across the street from the garage, there was one catching action at the post office and the comings and goings at the drugstore.Huey even wanted cameras inside the drugstore but they might have to wait until tonight. Last but certainly not least, Huey’s cohorts were instructed to somehow get ‘eyes’ on the Duke house in town even though it had nothing to do with the festival’s location in town square. Cooter had been watching the decorations and banners going up all day when he pumped gas or took a break. Everything looked on schedule and nothing amiss as far as he could see. Elmo reminded Jack, "Make sure you get those things where they won't be seen once all these decorations come down. The boss wants them to stay up." Jack remarked, "It's a good thing that they are so tiny." Elmo added, "The smallest, best quality money can buy." "Why does he want to record the goings on in this hick town anyhow?" Jack asked. Elmo explained, "We get paid good money to do as we are asked. I don't know or care why.” After leaving the Tri County medical clinic, BL and Dixie went over to K-Mart to get a few things before going to Winn-Dixie to get the food for the Fire Department and the concessions booth. “Ok you're the expert, what do I need to start crocheting with? Yarn and a hook I know but what size hook?” BL asked, there were big fat hooks all the way down to tiny ones. Back in Hazzard, Lori Mae was getting ready for her shift at the Boar’s Nest, she could hardly wait for the festival. Boss Hogg closed the Boar’s Nest because most everybody that normally would be there on a Saturday night, would be on the hayride. Dixie grinned, "I am no expert, but a "H" hook is pretty much in the middle. Are you wanting to try a blanket first? It's the same steps over and over with a blanket." BL replied, "Whatever you say." "Alright here's the hook, get a couple of skeins of a color you like or two that go together." Once the yarn and decorations were bought it was time for the girls to find something to eat. Crystal was dressed and about to head into the Bluebird cafe for the lunch rush. She was working a double shift today to be able to trade off her shift the day of the festival in Hazzard. She took her birth control pill and headed out to the diner. She really wasn't as up for such a long day as she should be but she had to work it to get the whole day off later for the festival in Hazzard. Once at the diner, she poured herself a coffee and set into work. About half way through the second cup of coffee with nothing to eat yet a sudden wave of nausea came over her. A couple breaths later it was gone but she thought out loud, "What was that all about?" She grabbed a bag of plain chips and ate a few. The feeling was gone. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, she knew that feeling. 'Oh, God. No, no, no, no. It couldn't be. It just couldn’t be that!' She thought to herself. The last time she felt that way was when she was pregnant with Kathy Mae. “No, it couldn't be that I've taken birth control regularly for months now. Even before I started seeing Cooter. Oh, no. I haven't even told him about Kathy Mae yet. Please, no.” She said trying to will herself not to be pregnant. "Hey? Are you alright? You look pale as a ghost." The other waitress Ruby Mae said. "I'm fine." Crystal said. Dixie asked BL, "So where are we eating?" “How about the Bluebird Cafe,” BL replied. “Ok with me,” Dixie said. At the Bluebird Cafe they took a seat in a booth about halfway from the front. Crystal gathered a couple menus and some silverware, taking it over, a bit surprised at seeing Cooter’s sister and cousin at this time of day on a weekday. “Well hi there, wasn’t expecting to see the two of you here,” Crystal smiled and hoped the other two women couldn’t see her worry/fear that she might be pregnant. “Hi, we had doctor’s appointments and things to get for the festival but decided to get lunch before we went food shopping for the festival,” BL replied. “What can I get ya’ll to drink?” Crystal asked, giving them each a menu. “Tea, please.” BL replied. “I’ll have tea too,” Dixie said. Crystal left to get the drinks while BL and Dixie looked at the menu. "You know, I think I'll have breakfast." Dixie said to BL. Crystal returned with their drinks, "Here we go. I hope ya'll ain't sick or anything." Dixie patted her stomach, "No. We ain't sick. It was just the prenatal check ups." Crystal’s heart pounded hard in her chest at the words prenatal visits, taking a couple of calming breaths, Crystal asked, “what can I get for ya’ll?” “I’ll have the breakfast platter,” Dixie said. “I’ll have the meatloaf plate with fried potatoes and butter beans,” BL replied. Dixie stopped Crystal, "That comes with biscuits and gravy, but can I get toast for the eggs and leave off the biscuits and I'll take some fried potatoes to eat with the gravy." Crystal replied, "I got you. Leave off biscuits, add toast and a side of fried potatoes." "Thanks. Normally, I like to eat later but the past few months, after the morning sickness went away, if I go past 11 am for lunch I am just starved." Dixie explained, while being social with her brother's girlfriend. "Well, I'll get your orders in so they can get started." Crystal said. After putting the ticket in, she turned to the other waitress Ruby Mae, "After we get cleaned up from lunch can you cover me for ten minutes before the dinner crowd comes in?" "Sure, Honey." Ruby Mae replied. Crystal brought the food a few minutes later, “hope ya’ll enjoy, if you need anything else just let me know,” Crystal said before going to another table. BL took a bite of her meatloaf, closing her eyes and smiling,”this is great.” Dixie nodded agreement while chewing, the food was great. When they were done BL said to Dixie, “lunch is on me, you still got to pay for food for the fire department. I know you’ll get reimbursed but I got this, why don’t you leave Crystal a tip.” “Alright Dixie replied, putting a $5 bill under her plate, then went to the restroom while BL paid the bill. After everyone had cleared out, Crystal and the other waitress set about cleaning up. “I’ll be back in ten minutes,” Crystal said, putting on her jacket. The drugstore wasn’t far, afraid she might lose her parking place Crystal walked to the drugstore to get a pregnancy test. Back in Hazzard LB was helping at the cabinet shop to get the stuff done for Saturday. But across town, Lori Mae just was not feeling anywhere near like working today but with Daisy off until later, she really didn't have much choice. Lori Mae felt like she was going to throw up if she had to stay much longer, the smell of the popcorn she usually liked but today not so much. Lori Mae suddenly remembered she could call the other part time waitress Bessie Lou Perkins. Going over to the payphone, putting in a quarter she said, “Mabel will you get me Bessie Lou Perkins please?” Mabel put the call through to Bessie Lou’s trailer at the Hazzard Mobile home park. Lori Mae explained she wasn’t feeling well but Daisy wasn’t due in until later. Within ten minutes Lori Mae found herself in her car headed home. A bit later, LB had to run an errand that took him by the Boar's Nest, so LB decided to stop just long enough to say 'Hi.' to Lori Mae and get a cold beer to cut the dust in his throat. As he parked and went inside he was a bit surprised when Bessie Lou was the only waitress he saw. "Afternoon, Bessie Lou." Bessie Lou drooled, "Hey there, LB, Sugar. What can I get you?" LB moved his chair just a bit further back, "A beer and do you happen to know where Lori Mae is? I thought that she would be working." “She called me to come finish her shift, said she wasn’t feeling good, Something I can do for ya?” Bessie Lou cooed. “No, I’m good,” LB replied, finishing half his beer in one swallow. Paying for his drink, LB headed out back on his errand, maybe he’d have time to check in on Lori Mae after. In Placid County Crystal was trying to serve the early dinner crowd with a smile and not to be too distracted by thinking about the pregnancy test in her purse. Dixie and BL picked up Sadie and dropped off the stuff they’d got for Uncle Jesse now they were at home putting up the food and booth decorations they had got for the festival. “I’m gonna take this crocheting stuff upstairs,” BL said. "Leave 2 of the yarns and the hooks down here." Dixie said as she poured a glass of tea and headed for the couch, kicked off her shoes and pulled her feet up to get comfy. After a drink of tea she sat the glass down and waited for BL to return. At least that's what she had planned but a couch pillow under her head and reaching back for the afghan on the back of the couch was all Dixie remembered as she promptly fell very sound asleep. Once Lori Mae was home and changed into house clothes she was still feeling nauseous and very very weak and tired. She figured to lay across her bed to see if that helped any. Normally, she heard LB's truck coming before he ever parked. Not today. LB went to Lori Mae's door. Usually she opened the door just as he was about to knock but that didn't happen, so he knocked. Knocked again. Finally knocking a bit too hard to just be an unexpected visit. BL decided to get comfy while she was upstairs so changed into some track pants and a baggy pullover lightweight long sleeve. Taking 2 crochet hooks and 2 skeins of yarn from the shopping bag and leaving the rest on Dixie’s bed BL went back downstairs to find Dixie sound asleep, “I reckon lesson one is postponed until after naptime. A nap don’t sound half bad,” BL said, curling up on the loveseat. Stroking Sadie’s head was the last thing she remembered doing. Lori Mae awoke with a start when LB knocked harder, “Hold your horses I’m coming!” Lori Mae grumbled on her way to the door. “LB what are you doing here?” Lori Mae was surprised to find LB at her door this early in the afternoon. LB had been getting really concerned before Lori Mae opened the door, "Are you alright? I went by the Boar's Nest expecting to see you. Bessie Lou said you called her in to finish your shift, so I came by to check on you and when I knocked a couple times, you didn't answer. I was getting really worried about you. “I’m ok must be getting the flu. I was feeling a bit nauseous and when I got home I layed down across the bed and fell asleep and didn’t hear you knocking. I’m sorry I worried you,” Loti Mae smiled. Some girls said LB was almost as bad as Bo and Luke but she thought it was sweet that he’d been concerned enough to come check on her when he found out she’d left work early. Lori Mae said, "I'd invite you in but I don't want you to get sick." LB bragged, "It's been said the plague would curl up and die on us Davenports, so the flu wouldn't stand a chance, but I've got to get back to work. How about I come check on you about 7? If you are up to it, maybe we can go for a drive and if not, I'll just come visit for a spell?" Lori Mae smiled, "That sounds good to me." After LB left, she set a clock for 5 and laid back down. Bo turned in the Boar’s Nest parking lot, expecting to see that BL and Dixie had got there first since they’d had the day off but he didn’t see either the thunderbird or the GTO. Parking he headed inside to their usual table figuring the girls were just running a mite late. Luke saw General Lee as he was passing, taking the road just past the bar, Luke circled round and came in from behind, driving around front he didn’t see the girls cars or the wrecker but Cooter was usually last to arrive. “I’ll be back soon, ya’ll take a nap. It was a busy day,” Luke told Scrapie and Trixie before going inside. “Where are the girls?” Luke asked, sitting down. “I don’t know, thought they’d be here by now,” Bo replied. Bessie Lou came to get their orders and Bo asked, “Bessie Lou have you seen Dixie and BL today?” “No Bo honey I ain’t but I only been here a couple hours. Lori Mae had to go home, she wasn’t feeling good, maybe she seen them,” Bessie Lou replied. Crystal opened the door to her small two bedroom apartment over the hardware store. She stepped inside and closed the door. She was home finally. She let out a sigh of relief at being home alone even if it would be short lived. She headed to the bathroom, took off her waitress clothes and wasn't certain what to change into at the moment her night shirt worked. She dug around in her purse for the test. She read the directions maybe three times. Sat down and held the test to get the needed sample. Now she looked at her watch and began to pray, beg and bargain with the powers that were that the test be negative. The more her mind raced, the more she wanted to throw up. She checked her watch again and swore the hand ticked backwards. Crystal checked her watch again and held her breath without realizing it as the second hand seemed to be moving at a crawl but finally time was up. Crystal looked at the test and this time she did throw up, the test was positive. Getting her stomach under control, Crystal wiped tears from her cheeks, “what now, Cooter don’t even know about Kathy Mae,” Crystal said aloud to the empty bathroom. Before she chickened out Crystal picked up the phone and dialed the garage, nearly losing her nerve and about to hang up when Cooter answered, “Hazzard Garage.” “Cooter we need to talk, can you pick me up in front of the hardware store, in about 45 minutes,” Crystal said. “Sure, are you alright Crystal?” Cooter asked, a little worried because Crystal sounded strange. “Not exactly, I’ll explain after you pick me up,” Crystal replied, hanging up before Cooter asked more questions. Cooter put his tools up quickly. Washed his hands and face and changed shirts before heading toward Placid. Luke finished his beer as Bo was about to order them another. Luke shook his head 'no'. "I'm heading out." Bo really wanted a second beer, but Luke was right, "Never mind Bessie Lou." He said following Luke outside. Luke cut Scrapie and Trixie loose in the back yard. As he opened the back door he found Sadie waiting to go out, "Well, hello Miss Sadie. You wasn’t exactly who I expected to be met by, but you can go play." Luke said as he opened the screen door. Sadie ran out with her tail wagging. Luke came into the kitchen, the house was quiet. In the living room he saw part of the reason for the quiet. He saw Dixie asleep on the couch. He quietly went back to the kitchen, grabbed a couple beers and sat on the back steps watching the pups play as Bo came around the house. "What are you doing out here?" Bo asked. Luke extended a beer to Bo, "Drinking a beer and watching the pups play. Dixie's asleep on the couch. The house is quiet so I figure BL is asleep upstairs." Bo took the beer Luke offered and sat on the steps beside him, “why don’t we eat supper out at the farm and bring the girls back a plate when we go do chores, that way the girls don’t have to cook,“ Bo suggested. “Ok sounds good to me,” Luke replied. Cooter was getting closer to the Placid County line but he could almost swear it had moved since the last time he was in Placid, two days ago. Darcy dropped Daisy off at the Boar's Nest with a kiss and promised to be back way before closing so that he could drive her home. Inside, Daisy asked Charlie and Bessie Lou, "Where is everyone?" It sure don’t look like most Thursdays after work.” Charlie replied, "Bo and Luke stopped in for a beer, then headed right out." Bessie Lou replied, "Lori Mae wasn't feeling well. She said she thought she may be getting the flu." Cooter pulled up in front of the Placid hardware store and Crystal wasted no time getting in the old beat up pickup he was driving. “Hey sugar what’s wrong, you sounded upset on the phone,” Cooter asked as he pulled away from the curb. “Can we go somewhere private we need to talk?” Crystal replied. “Sure ok, I know just the spot,” Cooter said, heading back toward Hazzard. Crystal didn’t say one word the whole ride, she was trying not to cry or throw up as she imagined Cooter’s reaction to what she had to tell him. Cooter didn’t have much to say anyway, he was thinking his relationship record was about to continue the same as before Crystal. “Here we are Johnson's Hollow,” Cooter turned down a side road and off into a secluded hollow hidden by dense woods. Cooter let the tailgate down as he went around to help Crystal out. “Come on back here and let’s have a seat and you tell me what’s on your mind,” Cooter and Crystal sat on the tailgate, Crystal summoning all her courage. "Cooter." Crystal's voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes. 'Well, at least she's acting like this is a hard thing to do.' Cooter thought. It had to be an act. If breaking up with him was so hard for her and she didn't want to do it, .... then why was she? His thoughts continued down the wrong trail. Crystal looked at the sky to try to contain her tears as she tried again, "Cooter, I got something real hard to tell you." “It can’t be that bad, so just tell me,” Cooter may have said, tell him but his mind wasn’t sure it agreed with his mouth. Crystal swallowed hard, clearing her clogged throat to try again, Cooter I...,” Crystal stalled out again. “You what?” Cooter asked, patient and gentle. He didn’t get why Crystal was dragging it out. Was she enjoying watching him squirm? “Cooter please don’t hate me…I’m pregnant. I swear I’m not trying to trap you, I’m on birth control, it just failed.” Crystal couldn’t hold it in any longer, she burst into tears. Cooter heard her words. Words that he certainly wasn't expecting to hear. He had expected Crystal to be breaking up with him. Her words hit him with such surprise it was as if he heard them but didn't understand them almost as if someone told him something in a foreign language. He tried really hard to wrap his mind around the words but he wasn't having any luck at all. "You ain’t breaking up with me?" Crystal said, shaking her head, “I am pregnant with your baby. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to trap you into marriage, I can raise the baby by myself. I’ve already been raising one for two and a half years.” "Pregnant? My baby?" Cooter managed to get out still in surprise or maybe even shock. Cooter took a minute to pull himself together, something else Crystal had said stuck out in the front of his mind, “You have another kid? Cooter asked. Crystal nodded ‘yes’ “Yes, a two and a half year old little girl named Kathy Mae,” drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly Crystal continued, “her father was a slick tongued devil. Split as soon as I told him I was pregnant and I ain’t heard from him since,” Crystal replied. Cooter felt bad for Crystal and her daughter but at least his Mom hadn’t completely abandoned him, she’d just taken Dixie and moved to the city but his parents still remained married. “I’m sorry Crystal, I’d never do that to a kid of mine. I know what it’s like to have an absent parent, well mostly absent my mom had issues with some of my Dad’s business dealings so she took Dixie and moved to the city but even though her and Dad couldn’t live together, they stayed married and Dixie visited me and Dad and when she got a little older she spent her summers in Hazzard. Moved here for a while when she was a teenager,” Cooter said, then asked, “What about you? I just told you about me but I hardly know anything about you.” “I don’t know my father, he left as soon as found out about me. Mama had to work 3 jobs just to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table, Mama still raised me right at least she tried,” Crystal replied. Cooter wrapped his arms around Crystal. As she snuggled in closer he felt her relax a bit. Both sat quietly and held each other deep in thought for a long while. LB hurriedly cleaned up after work and headed out to Lori Mae's. He knocked more gently than he had earlier. Lori Mae had washed her face and pulled herself together a bit ago but she still felt horrible as she answered the door. "LB come in if you dare but I'm warning you that I'm likely coming down with the flu." "The flu don't scare me none, Darlin." LB said. Lori Mae nodded as she let LB inside. They took seats on the couch before LB asked, "Can I get you anything?" Lori Mae replied, "If you don't mind, can you get my comforter off the bed?" "Sure thing. Do you need anything to drink or eat?" He offered. The thought of food sent her stomach into flip flops. She shook her head, "Not now. Just the blanket." LB got the blanket and tucked Lori Mae in beside him as he sat back down with her. “I don’t think you have a fever,” LB said, feeling Lori Mae’s forehead. “I’m still cold,” Lori Mae replied to which LB’s response was to hold her a little closer. In Johnson’s Hollow, Cooter and Crystal sat talking still as the moon rose in the sky. At the Boar’s Nest, Daisy was glad it wasn’t packed, for some reason she felt exhausted, even though she didn’t seem to have any other symptoms she thought she might be coming down with the flu. “Daisy, can I get another beer when you get a minute?” Darcy asked. “Sure can sugar,” Daisy replied. In town at the Duke residence Bo, Luke, Dixie and BL were at their kitchen table, each one had a piece of poster board making signs for the Hazzard Volunteer Fire Department booth and the concessions booth. BL asked, “How does it look?” Holding up a poster board with a bright red fire truck she had drawn at the bottom, leaving plenty of room in the middle for pricing and a menu. Bo replied, "It looks great, Honey." Luke and Dixie agreed. Dixie decided it was time for a snack. As she opened the fridge to see what looked good, she grabbed two beers for Bo and Luke. "You are a mind reader." Luke said. "No I'm not. I just know you two." Dixie said as she got out the strawberry jelly, then the peanut butter and bread. "Anyone else want a sandwich?" Luke and Bo both declined. "I'm good." They said in unison. “I’ll take a sandwich,” BL replied. Dixie made two sandwiches and poured two glasses of tea then brought it all over to the table and then they all got back to work, so the girls could have the posters when they decorated the booths tomorrow. “Why don’t we head on back to Placid and go get Kathy Mae?” Cooter suggested, anxious to meet the little girl he hoped would be his stepdaughter. “You’ll have to wait until tomorrow Cooter, she’ll be in bed asleep by the time we get there,” Crystal replied. Cooter frowned at himself. It wasn't late to him at all. He was going to have to adjust his thinking if a child, well children, were going to be a part of his life. "Alright.Tomorrow it is. What time do you want me to pick you two up?" Crystal was working the breakfast shift tomorrow so she could be off Saturday for the festival. “I’m working the breakfast shift and the dinner shift but I have the afternoon in between free, how about 2? ” Crystal replied. “Alrighty 2 o’clock it is then,” Cooter said. "If you are working the breakfast shift, should we be heading home?" Cooter asked Crystal replied, " Most likely." She paused before asking, "Cooter? Will I see you tomorrow or ever again?" “Of course you will 2 o’clock just like I promised,” Cooter pushed a strand of hair behind Crystal’s ear, “Honey I’m not going to run out on my baby before it’s even born, like Kathy Mae’s father.” Crystal sniffed and looked upward to contain the tears that were threatening to fall, but she willed them not to. She only managed to get out, "Alright." “Hey, it’s gonna be alright, I promise,” Cooter tilted Crystal’s face up and kissed her tenderly. At Lori Mae’s, LB put his arm around Lori Mae‘s shoulders, holding her as her head rested on his shoulder. Her breath on his neck came in soft light puffs in her sleeping state. LB for a change was content to hold Lori Mae while she slept. It was a rare thing for him to actually enjoy an evening that didn’t involve drinking or just being with a woman to have a bit of 'fun'. After Daisy got off work she and Darcy had gone to the farm for a change. Darcy held Daisy close as he swung them, his foot pushing against the porch floor to keep them moving. In Johnson’s Hollow, Cooter looked into Crystal's eyes, saying “we better get going so you can get some sleep before work.” “Yeah, I reckon so,” Crystal replied, sliding off the tailgate. Cooter helped Crystal into the truck then headed back toward Placid County. It was past supper time when Lori Mae stirred, "LB, I'm sorry I fell asleep." "Don't be sorry. You must have needed to sleep. Do you feel like you can eat anything yet?" LB asked. "Not really." She replied. LB offered, "Why don't I run over to the diner and get some chicken soup or something like that?" "I'll try it." Lori Mae wasn't normally really fond of chicken soup but for some reason it sounded good. Once LB returned with the soup. Lori Mae ate then he insisted on helping get her settled in bed then kissed her on the cheek before he left with a promise to call and check on her the next morning.

It’d be halloween in a week and everyone with a business or organization was getting ready for the annual halloween festival. The church ladies were planning to do a bake sale to raise funds for new hymnals BL was making a list of foods to sell in concessions which went to the orphanage fund. “We got hotdogs, nachos with cheese or chili and cheese and cotton candy. I thought we might pick up a few things at the big Tri counties supermarket Thursday after we see Doc Quinn,” BL said. Dixie had the list of the items needed for the chili that Uncle Jesse was going to make for the hotdogs and nachos. Then, she had an additional list from Luke for the Hazzard Volunteer Fire Department's booth. Luke had a secret weapon this year, he was bringing in a few of his Smokejumpers to help with the booth. Luke is doing polish dogs. Cheeseburgers and hamburgers.” Dixie said. “I reckon that covers the food. Bo said Cooter’s boy scout troop is selling chances for a dollar on a free oil change and lube job from the garage. Daisy’s Junior patrol are selling chances on a sideboard from the cabinet shop, and Earl Beasley is making leather goods like men and women’s wallets and belts and such for the hunting club’s booth. Mr. Rhuebottom is donating $100 worth of groceries for the chances the ladies auxiliary is selling.” BL said, repeating what she had heard from post office customers. “The winners is gonna be drawn at the festival,” BL added. Dixie replied, "I'm hoping there are some crocheted baby things. You know stuff that I can do, but don't seem to find time to do." After hearing herself say that, she added, "You know I might just get some really nice soft yarn while we are shopping." “Alright,” BL said Luke had taken a day off work and was currently out back with the pups in the shed getting out the grill to give it a good cleaning so it would be ready for the girls to use next weekend. Once he got the grill out of the shed he came in, took a drink of Dixie's tea and headed for the phone. "You can have your own glass." Dixie said. "Yours is better." Luke placed a call to the fire chief then came back into the kitchen. "I'm going to run over to the fire department to get the grill and tables. I'll bring them back here and give them all a good cleaning up so they are all ready for next weekend. Did you remind Bo to bring pallets to put stuff off the ground?" BL came back into the kitchen from the laundry room. in time to hear Luke’s question and answered for Dixie “I reminded him before he left for work, he was gonna see if he could borrow Uncle Jesse’s pickup to haul them home in.” Luke advised, "I'll be right back. Keep an eye on this bunch please?" Dixie nodded. "Alright." "Stay here a few minutes and ya'll can come back outside." Luke said as he went out the door, got in the pickup and headed around town to the fire department. He took out his keys, unlocked the door and headed to the small room where tables, chairs, the grill, various tents and shade covers were. Just as expected, the grill was all the way in the back. Luke began moving stuff out to get the grill and planned to put it back neater than he had found everything. Just as Luke was elbow deep in moving stuff he heard a car pull up out front. Hoping it was some help, he stopped and headed toward the front of the station. Rosco came in the door about then, "Alright, Luke Duke. What are you doing in here? There ain't no fires no wheres." "I came to pick up the grill and tables." Luke said before being interrupted. "So, so you admit it. You are here taking fire department equipment." Rosco said. Luke had other things on his mind so he really wasn't paying Rosco a lot of attention, "Yeah, I came to get this stuff to get clean for next weekend." "Oh tiddly tuddly. You come in here to steal from the fire department. I bet you even broke in here." Rosco ranted. Luke reached in his pocket, "I broke in here with this." He pulled his keys out of his pocket. "Don't you threaten me, Luke Duke." Rosco said. "Rosco, I am not threatening you. I have every right to get this stuff. I'm busy and you are holding me up." Luke said. Rosco replied, "Well it looks like you are the one doing the holding up." Luke sighed, "Call Randolph." "I ain’t calling nobody. I caught you red handed." Rosco said. About that time the sound of a familiar truck pulling up was heard by Luke. "You are making a mistake Rosco." "Mistake my foot. Now you are under arrest for stealing fire department equipment." Rosco said as he felt someone tap him on his shoulder. He turned around to see none other than Hazzard's fire chief standing in front of him. "Rosco, why are you in here harassing Luke?" Randolph asked. "He was in here unauthorized, there ain't no fires. He even told me he was here to take equipment." Rosco said. The older man told Rosco, "The only one in here unauthorized is you. Now git." He said pointing to the door. Rosco said, "But..." "Git." Randolph countered. Rosco left with his tail tucked between his legs like a scolded pup. Luke said, "Thanks. Sorry about all that." Randolph said, "No problem. I was just coming to see if you needed a hand." As much as Luke had wished for a hand a few minutes earlier he declined the older man's offer. "Thanks, but I got it." "How about some company to run the law off for you?" Randolph offered. Like replied, "Now that I'll take." "Abner. Abner. Come quick. That Duke boy is over at the firehouse and the Sheriff is there!" Mrs. Kravitz exclaimed. Not moving an inch in the direction his wife called from Abner Kravitz replied, “Gloria take your medicine.” “Luke Duke thinks he can do whatever he wants, thinks he’s some kind of hot shot cos he’s a smokejumper. It just gauls my soul,” Rosco fumed to Flash as he drove through town. Driving by Roadhog’s Trucking he saw what looked like Jesse Duke’s pickup parked near where a stack of wood pallets sat. Hanging a U - turn Rosco turned on his siren. Out of habit Bo headed for the pickup, stopping after a few steps he said to himself, “wait a minute, what am I running for? Andy said, get as many of these pallots as we need.” Rosco came to a screeching stop beside the pickup. “Alright Bo Duke you’re under arrest,” Rosco said as he reached for his cuffs. “Under arrest for what?” Bo demanded. Rosco giggled, “Theft.” “Rosco I ain’t stealing, Andy told me to get all these pallots I wanted. We’re going to set the grills and tables on them at the festival,” Bo was trying to explain as a truck belonging to Andy Nelson, the foreman at Roadhog Trucking, pulled up. “Andy tell him I ain’t stealing, you said I could have these pallets,” Bo said. “That’s right Sheriff, I did,” Andy replied. Rosco got back in his patrol car and left in a huff, he’d been thwarted twice in one day now from apprehending a Duke. “Need any help?” Andy asked. “No this is the last one, much obliged for straightening Rosco out,” Bo replied Andy got back in his truck and left. Dixie heard Luke back in the driveway. She let the pups out and yelled, "Need any help?" She could tell that Luke was a bit aggitated. Luke took in a deep breath and let it out slowly before replying. "I got this. This stuff ain't a problem." Dixie stepped inside while Luke wrestled the tables and grill out of the truck and set them up to clean. She poured two glasses of tea and went back outside. She sat the glasses on the bannister and went over to where Luke was spraying oven cleaner on the grills. " Come over here and take a break." Luke kissed her cheek, "As soon as I spray these down I will. Now get out of these fumes." A few minutes later BL heard Bo back Uncle Jesse’s pickup down the driveway so she stepped outside too. “Hey Luke, will you give me a hand putting these in the shed, so they don’t get wet if it rain’s before next weekend?” Bo asked. “Sure Bo,” Luke replied. It didn’t take long and then Bo said, “I’m gonna take Uncle Jesse’s truck back and get the General.” “Think I’ll go with you,” BL said. She figured on giving Dixie and Luke some alone time and find out what was bugging Bo. “In the truck she asked, “what’s got you so aggravated?” “Nothing darlin’,” Bo replied, kissing her cheek. “Uh huh,” BL said, not believing Bo. “Just Rosco being Rosco,” Bo replied, hoping it was enough to satisfy BL. Daisy had taken advantage of Uncle Jesse letting her sleep in after closing the Boar's Nest last night. She knew a plate of breakfast would be in the oven but right now it was the bathroom she was heading to. Her eyes still felt heavy as she finished up and headed back to her room. Normally, she would now gather her clothes for a shower or go eat breakfast. This morning she seemed just a bit 'off'. Once in her room she sat down on the bed ready to start her day, but looked over at her pillow which seemed to be calling her back to it. Figuring it couldn't hurt to just stretch out and close her eyes a few more minutes, Daisy tossed her robe to the foot of the bed, pulled the covers back and rolled over on her side. She curled up and snuggled down in the covers and was gone. Since it was still early, Bo and BL dropped the pickup off at the farm but thought Daisy might still be in bed so didn’t go in the house, after looking around and not finding Uncle Jesse or Maudine the mule, they got in General Lee and went home. Daisy had felt better the second time she had woken up and had done her usual housework then had gotten ready for her shift at the Boar’s Nest. She hoped it wasn’t too busy tonight. She might have felt better earlier but after doing housework all day she felt tired for some reason. In town, Bo, Luke, BL and Dixie were heading out to the Boar's Nest. The girls hoped to go over their list with Daisy. Cooter had freshened up and was locking up the garage ready to turn the wrecker over to Luther at the Boar's Nest. He hoped to meet Crystal for a drink or two, maybe a dance then he planned to call it and slip out real early. LB had helped Clyde with a big order all week. Now he was out of the shower, counting his cash. Tonight was stacking up to be a lot of fun. Lori Mae went in early to get off early. LB smiled tonight was going to be a great night. Everyone was talking, drinking, dancing and shooting pool as normal at the Boar's Nest. Daisy was giving her famous smile and managing to give all the men a show every time she walked by but was especially attentive to Darcy who was sitting with the others. She really wished tonight was an early night but it was Lori Mae's turn to get off early and it looked as if she and LB had plans. Daisy was right. She had no sooner clocked out and had a quick drink with LB and they were gone. Cooter and Crystal had left a few minutes before. Bo, Luke, BL and Dixie were finishing their drinks and waiting for a to go order. Daisy was sure they would be heading out soon. At least the rest of the bar was thinning out too. If she had to close, at least it wouldn't be busy. At the no tell motel, Cooter and Crystal pulled around to their room at the back of the building at the same time LB and Lori Mae were checking in. Cooter and LB couldn’t afford champagne but both wanted to make tonight special so had gotten one of those wine coolers that was nicer than beer but still in their price range. “Here ya go Crystal darlin,” Cooter said, handing Crystal a clear plastic wine glass he’d got at the emporium. Crystal accepted the glass and they toasted and clinked glasses. It was pretty much the same case in LB and Lori Mae’s room. After they had finished their drinks, things started heating up. LB was right, it was going to be a great night. After getting their to go order Bo, Luke, BL and Dixie headed for home and after Daisy had closed up, she met Darcy in the parking lot where he’d been waiting on her, so they could go have a little fun of their own.

BALLADEER: Saturday morning came. The four Dukes in town were up dressed and ready to head out to the farm. It was the time of year that the garden needed to be cleaned out before any frost hit. Luke saw that Dixie had dressed in work / play / comfy clothes. "Remember we are all going out to the Boar's Nest tonight." Dixie picked up a small travel bag, "I've got it covered. I even have you a change of clothes. Luke gave her a kiss, "That's why I love ya." “Mind you don’t get too hot in the sun darlin, don’t want you fainting,” Bo cautioned BL with a kiss. “I’ll be careful, I ain’t felt woozy headed in days so maybe I’m past all that,” BL replied. Luke, Dixie, Scrapie and Trixie loaded up in Luke’s truck and headed out with Bo, BL and Sadie coming up quick behind Luke, in General Lee. At the Duke Farm, Jesse was sipping his coffee as he heard both Luke's truck and General Lee. "Why do those fool kids bring two vehicles out here instead of riding together?" Then he heard the reason as three sets of paws hit the ground and were off on a barking, running chase. Luke was the first in the door as he yelled over his shoulder, "Scrapie don't be finding something bigger than you that I have to rescue you from." Then he said once inside the kitchen getting a cup of coffee, "Morning Uncle Jesse." Dixie gave Uncle Jesse a kiss on the cheek as she went by him to a seat at the table. "Good Morning." BL and Bo brought up the rear, Jesse noticed all the kids had dressed in old clothes ready for a day of work. “Morning Uncle Jesse,” Bo said, pouring himself a cup of coffee before taking a seat at the table. “Morning Uncle Jesse,” BL said as she sat down at the table, hanging an old hat of Bo’s on her chair. It was going to give her hat hair but maybe it’d keep her head cool enough she wouldn’t faint. Once they were all situated Jesse said grace and the food was passed around. The chatter and banter was lively as they all ate. A few minutes later, they were joined by Daisy, who had closed the Boar's Nest and had gotten in late but the commotion had woken her and the smell of bacon wasn't letting her go back to sleep. "Morning ya'll." "Daisy, good morning. We was gonna let you sleep a bit." Jesse said. "I know. Thanks, but the bacon smelled amazing." Daisy said. After breakfast the girls started gathering up the dirty dishes, as usual there wasn’t many leftovers, just a few biscuits and a couple pancakes. “You fellas go on out and get started, we’ll be out after we get the kitchen cleaned up,” Daisy said. “Alright, we’ll go get some buckets. “Come on boys,” Jesse replied, getting his red cap off the hook by the door. Once outside, there wasn't a dog in sight, "Scrapie, Trixie, Sadie!" Luke called and whistled. From out of nowhere, here they came bouncing and chasing one another. "Alright. I was just checking on ya’ll. Go play." Luke said. The three pups did loops around the humans and head off again at full speed. Bo got the tiller out to till up the potatoes. Luke headed to the corn and was joined by Jesse with buckets, bushel baskets and such. Inside BL said, “Dixie if you wash I’ll rinse.” “Ok,”Dixie replied. “I’ll dry and put things where they go,” Daisy said. In no time the kitchen was back in order and the girls headed outside to help the men. Buckets in hand the three girls headed to the bean patch, a somewhat good sized field where Jesse grew butter beans, pinto beans and peas. After a while the sun seemed to be blazing down but they’d made halfway decent progress and came in for a break. “I’m thirsty, anybody else want some lemonade? BL asked. Dixie replied, "Sure. I bet the others would too." A short time later, the girls were headed back to the garden with lemonade for everyone. Daisy called, "Are ya’ll ready for something cold to drink and a break?" “You betcha,” Uncle Jesse said. After a break to rest and cool down, everybody got back to work, finishing up just in time for a late lunch of sandwiches and potato chips. With the promise of a hearty supper of some of the fresh vegetables they’d gathered. After lunch the group moved to the front porch to shell the butter beans. About 3:00 Jesse put down the paper in his lap that he’d been using to hold unshelled beans, “I’m gonna go start supper.” “Need any help?” Daisy asked. “No I got it,” Jesse replied. Jesse took out a ham for tomorrow's dinner. He trimmed a bit of ham pieces off and put them in a large Dutch oven. Then he thinly sliced cabbage, potatoes, onions, carrots, some yellow squash until the lid barely fit, then added butter, salt, pepper and garlic powder. He put the lid on and turned it on to fry while he mixed up a big batch of cornbread. Then he put on a fresh pot of coffee and made a pitcher of tea. “Looks great Uncle Jesse,” Bo said when they all sat down to eat. Jesse said grace and it was another meal filled with laughter, banter and the sounds of silverware scraping on glass plates as the young and old alike ate their fill after a hard day’s work. After supper the girl’s cleaned up the kitchen, the men took the opportunity to get ready to go to the Boar’s Nest. Jesse was even going for a bit, in hopes of finding a game of checkers to go with his beer. Bo was out of the shower and Luke had just gone in the bathroom. Dixie asked Daisy, "What time is Darcy picking you up?" "He was busy today too, so we've got time." Daisy replied. "Well, if I can use a robe, I'll jump in the shower when Luke gets out, if you don't mind," Dixie said. "It's on the back of the bathroom door. Go ahead. I'm gonna go find something to wear." Daisy said. With that information, Dixie knew she had plenty of time to shower. Once showered, Dixie joined BL and Daisy in Daisy’s room to get ready. She took her underwear and bra out of her bag and put them on, then gave Daisy her robe back. Dixie dug her elastic waisted jeans and top out. BL somehow had managed to get a shower between Bo and Daisy and had just finished blow drying her hair when Daisy said, “Dixie you’ve put on some weight.” BL stopped messing with her hair, to look at Dixie. BL hadn’t noticed any changes in Dixie’s weight and they lived together. Dixie smiled a bit, "Maybe, just a little." Daisy was so excited about the new baby, "Stand up. Let me see." Dixie stood up. Daisy looked this way then turned, "There might be the start of a little bump, but I can tell you've gotten wider." BL chimed in helpfully, "She went up a cup size too." Dixie admitted, "I've changed pants size at work too. Of course they are men's pants and don't fit right anyway, but yes, I think I'm getting wider instead of showing." BL was glad she wasn’t far enough along to be growing anywhere yet, still not exactly sure when she and Bo planned to share their news. Dixie put on the stretchy pants and a top that was a bit loose with a flowy bottom that she hoped disguised her widening hips a little. “Daisy, Darcy’s here,” Jesse called a bit later. “Coming Uncle Jesse,” Daisy answered. Dixie and BL came out of Daisy’s room with her, all ready to go. The 3 young men had been catching up while waiting for Daisy. “We’ll see ya’ll there,” Daisy said, on her and Darcy’s way out. “What about the pups are we gonna come back for them or run them home on the way?” BL asked. Luke replied, "We can drop them off after we have a nice talk about pillows and toilet paper." Jesse gave Luke a questioning look. "It seems our three little friends decided it would be a good idea to get into toilet paper and then eat Bo's pillow." Luke explained. “You should have seen it Uncle Jesse, the livingroom looked like we’d got snow there was so many little pieces and mine and Bo’s bed looked like somebody’d plucked all your chickens,” BL chimed in. “Scrapie, Trixie, Sadie come on babies let’s go,” Dixie called and the three dogs came around the house at top speed. The remaining Dukes got in their vehicles. Jesse headed for the Boar’s Nest the back way while Bo, BL, Luke and Dixie in General Lee and Luke’s truck headed for town to drop the dogs off at home. “Bo if you don’t speed up Rosco will give you a ticket for impeding traffic,” BL said. Bo was driving like the older generations who used to take Sunday drives. Bo said, "I'm just being careful." BL said, "Well, the speed limit is 55. You can be careful at 40." "Cute." Bo said as he shifted up a gear. In the truck, Luke was having a very one sided talk with Scrapie and Trixie as Dixie was trying to hide her amusement at a grown man trying to reason with two dogs. "Scrapie, you know better and Trixie you are learning. Now, I don't care if Sadie does tell you it's alright to trash the house and eat pillows. It is very much not alright. Are you two listening to me?" One look at the pups said they were listening. "Ya'll got to play outside and had the whole farm to run wild. So, now it's time to go home and be good puppies and take a nap or the next time we have to leave you at home you'll have to go in the cage. You know the cage in the bedroom that you have never used Scrapie? Yes, that cage." Dixie was laughing so hard to herself that she was nearly in tears by the time they got home. Bo and BL pulled into the driveway a good 5 minutes behind Dixie and Luke who were still getting Scrapie and Trixie settled with plenty of water and some food in their bowls. The bathroom door was shut so the toilet paper wouldn’t be a temptation. “There ya’ll are,” Dixie said, coming back downstairs. ”Bo was being a Sunday driver,” BL replied. Luke gave Bo a questioning look, he never drove below the speed limit. “We better get going before our usual table gets took,” Bo said. BL squatted, taking Sadie’s head in her hands, meeting Sadie’s eyes, “no eating pillows while we’re gone. Or destroying anything else in the house for that matter.” BL stood back up and they all left, the three pups were stretched out on the couch and loveseat. Bo even peeked in the window on the way to the General Lee, "They are still on the couch. Do you think they will stay there?" Dixie replied, "If Luke's talk with Scrapie and Trixie works, yes." She couldn't contain the slight giggle, but waved BL's unspoken question off until another time. “Practicing your Uncle Jesse talks, Luke?” Bo asked “Cute Bo,” Luke replied. “Hey Dixie, wanna ride together and let the fellas ride together? The Boar’s Nest will be closed before me and grandpa Jones gets there if I ride with him,” BL said. "Ok by me if you are driving." Dixie grinned widely. Luke replied, "Well, I reckon we're taking General Lee." “Funny darlin,” Bo said in response to BL’s grandpa Jones remark as he climbed through General Lee’s driver side window. Luke climbed in the passenger side, shifting the General into reverse after Bo turned the key, moves that were second nature. BL and Dixie got in BL’s GTO and BL said as she backed into the street,”Ok what’s this about Luke giving Scrapie and Trixie a talking to?” Dixie began, "Alright, we know all the pups are trained pretty well and that my husband is very logical, but he was trying to reason with Scrapie and Trixie, like he was talking to us. Then, he reminded them that there is a cage in our room if they don't listen. He really used the 'c a g e' word." Dixie said, spelling out the word cage. BL laughed “I thought Rosco was bad, talking to Flash the way he does but Luke actually gave the dogs threats of consequences like they were kids in trouble?” “Yep,” Dixie replied. Still laughing, BL swung her car into the parking lot, Bo parked General Lee beside BL’s car. As quick as they could, both men slid out of the General to assist their wives and escort them inside. Uncle Jesse had found a checkers opponent in Clyde Davenport, Luther sat straddling a chair backwards, watching. “King me Jesse,” Clyde said, jumping 2 of Jesse’s checkers, landing in the bottom row. The newlyweds all went over to say ‘hi’ before going to their usual table where Daisy and Darcy were. “Watch him Uncle Jesse he cheats,” BL said, grinning. “Now hold on there, I always won fair and square,” Clyde protested. “Yeah but what about all those games I won? I wasn't all that good? In sports throwing a game is cheating,” BL replied. “That’s different, I was building up your self confidence,” Clyde said. In the meantime Jesse had won while Clyde was distracted. The ‘kids’ went over to where Daisy and Darcy sat. They could hear Uncle Jesse and Clyde bickering like an old married couple as they walked away. Daisy asked, "What in the world has got them so worked up?" Luke replied as he shook Dacy's hand and gave Daisy a kiss on the cheek, "Checkers." was the only explanation needed. Everyone took a seat and placed their drink order. Lori Mae had just brought drinks back to the table, when LB came in and joined the rest of the young folk at the table, giving Lori Mae a kiss before sitting down. “One second and I'll get you a beer hon,” Lori Mae said. “Ok,” LB replied. As Lori Mae turned to get LB a beer, Cooter walked up and much to everybody’s surprise he had a young lady with him that could only be the mysterious Crystal, judging by the way they were holding hands. Cooter said, “everybody this is Crystal Walker. Crystal this is Daisy Duke, Darcy Kinkaid, my brother in law and Daisy’s cousin Luke Duke and also my sister Dixie’s husband, my sister Dixie, my cousin BL, her husband and also Luke and Daisy’s cousin Bo and last but not least my cousin LB. he’s also BL’s brother.” “Nice meeting all of you,” Crystal replied. “Can I get ya’ll a drink? I was just going to get LB a beer,” Lori Mae asked. Cooter looked at Crystal, “beer’s fine,” Crystal replied. “Be back in a jiff, I’m Lori Mae,” Lori Mae said heading to the bar. Between Bo and Luke, they knew every female in at least three counties. A look between the two, said that neither had even heard of her. Luke said casually, "Where are you from Crystal?" “I moved to Placid county from Finchberg,” Crystal replied. “Placid huh. Do you know a Jeb Stuart Duke?” Bo asked. “No, I’ve only just moved there about 3 months ago,” Crystal answered. “How’d a pretty little thing like you get mixed up with Cooter? Bo asked next. “Bo she ain’t on the witness stand in court, ease up,” BL said, rescuing Crystal from Bo’s third degree. “Sorry Crystal,” Bo apologized. Lori Mae came back with 3 more beers asking the group, “can I get ya’ll anything else?” All said they were good. LB being the only one at the table without a spouse or date had been watching the others and noticed BL was drinking tea while everyone else had beer, curious he asked, “how come you’re drinking tea sis?” BL looked at Bo to judge whether or not he was ready for them to share their news. Bo’s unspoken answer to the unspoken question was to look at the older men saying, “Uncle Jesse, Clyde, Luther would you come over here a minute, me and BL got something to tell all of you.” Once the older men had come over BL looked at Bo then settled her gaze on Clyde and Jesse, “I didn’t feel so hot on and off all weekend long.” “She was real sick Friday night and then passed out Saturday night,” Bo interrupted. “Are you alright? What’s wrong?” Clyde asked, his brows knitted in worry already imagining the worst. “I’m fine Daddy. Doctor said I’d get over it in about 18 years, the worst of it will be the next 9 months,” BL replied, looking around the table all but Dixie and Luke looked confused. “Well what’s wrong?” LB asked impatiently. “I’m pregnant,” BL replied. Daisy hugged BL, "Oh, wow! Now I'll have two babies to help with. I just can't wait!" Jesse shook his head light heartedly, " Do you two have to do everything together!?" Jesse hugged BL and Bo, "but, I agree with Daisy. It has been far too long since there's been a baby at the farm." “You’re happy about it now but you might feel different the first time you spend the night at the house and you get woke up several times in one night ,” BL said to Daisy. “Nuh uh, no way,” Daisy replied. “I’ll be a monkey’s uncle,” LB said, expressing his surprise but it didn’t sound like that was his intent. “Longstreet Broderick Davenport! What a thing to say about your niece or nephew,” Clyde scolded his son. Kissing the top of BL’s head he asked, “when exactly am I gonna be a grandpa?” “Sometime around the end of May,” BL replied. “Well now this calls for another round of drinks. Lori Mae can we get another round over here, make 2 of those tea for the Mama’s to be,” Cooter hailed Lori Mae. “Make mine coffee, I got the wrecker tonight,” Luther said. “Coming right up,” Lori Mae replied, fetching the drinks. BALLADEER: The Duke news spread around the table into the bar, which meant that by morning, everyone in the county would know that there would soon be two more Dukes. That would not be at all comforting to such people as Boss Hogg, Rosco and any police in the Tri-County area, and all the teachers and principals may start looking into early retirement. As the evening progressed the older crowd headed out for home while the rest continued talking, laughing and swapping tall tales. A minute after the older crowd left, Dobro’s brother David and sister in law Jeannie Ann came in, “Howdy ya’ll” David greeted. “Hey David, Jeannie Ann. Still no babies yet? I swear them kids is gonna be half grown by the time they get here,” Bo said. “Ya’ll started something or it’s the water, Bo and BL found out earlier in the week, they're expecting,” Luke chimed in. “Congratulations,” David and Jeannie Ann both said to the latest of Hazzard's parents to-be. Joining the group, the men were having a conversation about cars and the women discussed all things baby. BL and Dixie were asking Jeannie Ann all sorts of pregnancy questions. They had been talking for sometime when Jeannie Ann felt a tightening in her belly but brushed it off as a muscle cramp and kept right on talking. Several minutes went by and Jeannie was convinced it had just been a muscle spasm or cramp until she felt another that hurt this time causing her to take in a sharp breath. “Jeannie Ann are you alright?” BL asked. “Yeah, yeah fine, just a muscle cramp or spasm,”Jeannie Ann replied. Several more minutes went by before Jeannie Ann felt the sensation again, now deciding it must be contractions she said, “David I think we better head to the hospital.” David was a picture of calm as he helped Jeannie Ann to her feet and to the car. Bo watched them leave the Boar’s Nest with his eyes but in his mind he was seeing BL at the big race that started the racing season, she was holding her very pregnant belly and bending over double. His breathing was short, fast gasp just like Monday in the doctor’s office. As David helped Jeannie Ann to her feet, they were surrounded by best wishes and offers to help in any way. After they left heading toward the hospital, the table was a bit quiet with everyone in their own thoughts. Luke looked over at Bo and saw him rather pale with his breathing 'off'. "Bo? Bo? Earth to Bo? Are you alright?" Luke asked. BL said, “He’s hyperventilating again, he looked and acted just like this when Doc Quinn said I was pregnant. Bo honey, try to breathe normal.” Luke got Bo's attention and got him to breathe in and out more slowly and in a couple minutes had him fairly calmed down. He finished his beer and suggested, "Are ya’ll ready to head home?" Dixie replied, "I am. It's been a long day." Between BL and Luke they made sure that Bo's feet were under him as they started for the cars. Meanwhile at the table Daisy cooed as she snuggled up to Darcy, "Ain't it exciting? All the new babies coming. I just can't wait to hold them all." “I reckon it’s exciting,” Darcy said but what he was thinking about sounded a whole lot more exciting. Finishing his beer Darcy put his arm around Daisy and the two left to find a private place for that excitement Darcy was thinking about. “Why don’t we get outta here too babe.” Cooter suggested and he and Crystal followed Daisy and Darcy, headed to someplace quiet and secluded. Left alone LB moved to the bar til closing then he waited in the parking lot until Lori Mae headed home.

Monday morning found Luke heading out to work with the pups. Dixie had called Dr. Quinn, and set up an appointment later in the day for BL and figured to do her check up at the same time. By setting the appointment later in the day, it meant that they could both sleep in awhile. Across the hall, BL burrowed deeper under the covers, she had called Ellen Sue last night to come into work at the Post Office this morning. Bo had gone out to the farm to help with the chores but was now changing into his work shirt, “you sure you don’t want me to take the day off and carry you to your doctor’s appointment?” “No Dixie’s already off, no use in you missing work when she’s already off. You said you have a delivery up that way, meet us there if it’ll make you feel better,” BL replied. “Ok see you later, love you,” Bo kissed BL then left so she could go back to sleep. Dixie was up and moving. As she showered, she was thinking of things she wanted to do today. Other than BL’s appointment. One thing that she wanted to do was start looking at flea markets and consignment shops near Doc's office for some larger clothes, maybe even maternity clothes for later. The one thing she needed to shop for today was a bra. She could tell that her cup size was changing even if Luke hadn't been pleasantly bringing it to her attention. BL got up, let Sadie out then turned the coffee maker back on to heat what coffee was left over from Bo and Luke filling their travel mugs to take to work. The automatic shut off was great for days like this, they didn’t have to make two pots. BL let Sadie back in and caught a whiff of the warming coffee and normally a pleasant smell, this morning it made her stomach do a flip flop. Clenching her teeth, BL refused to give into the nauseous feeling, going outside to get away from the smell, she instantly felt better. Dixie managed to find some casual pants and blouse that wasn't joggers but wasn't real dressy either. She brushed her hair and resisted the urge to put it in a ponytail but took a hair tie with her. Coming downstairs she smelled the coffee. Fixed herself a cup and called "BL? BL where are you?" "I'm out here." BL called back. Dixie went out and perched a hip on the porch rail, "I'm ready when you are. Is Sadie going with us?" “She’s not gonna like it but no Sadie ain't going. Give me ten minutes, I was warming the coffee back up while I waited for you to get done in the bathroom. I hope Doc Quinn can find out what’s wrong with me. The smell of the coffee was making my stomach do flip flops, so I came out here. Think I'll go around front and in, it's a straight shot upstairs,” BL replied. Dixie looked at BL confused, and then laughed and said, "If I didn't know better I'd say you were the one pregnant." "Funny," BL said, rolling her eyes. Going around the house and in the front door, straight to the bathroom for a quick shower. Towel still wrapped around her, BL went back into hers and Bo’s bedroom, putting on her jeans and a 3 ⁄ 4 length sleeve top. Pulling back the sides and front/top of her hair, clipping it with a barrett. Back downstairs BL went out to the car and the two were off. Dixie pulled up in front of Doc's office. Just as she and BL got out of the car, Bo pulled in behind them in the work truck. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think he likes you a little." BL laughed as Bo walked up "What's so funny?"Bo asked, giving BL a kiss. "Private joke." Dixie said. Bo frowned, "I hate those." As the trio came in, the Sara Jane at the front desk said, "I'm sorry. We were just about to close for lunch." Dixie smiled a bit, "I called Doc directly. She is expecting us." “Come on back, I’ll let her know you’re here,” the Sara Jane said, coming out of her office, opening the door separating the waiting room from the hallway of exam rooms. Dixie sat down in a chair by the door, BL gave her cousin a confused look, assuming Dixie would come back with her, same as she had gone back with Dixie. “I’ll wait here, those rooms aren’t big enough for all of us,” Dixie explained. BL and Bo were put straight into an exam room instead of getting BL’s vitals first, since all the nurses had left for lunch already. Dr. Quinn came and spoke to BL. She asked her all the medical questions. Everything was normal and routine except BL reported that she had been sick and fainted. Doc took her vitals herself. They were normal. "Alright, let's draw some blood and I need a sample." She said as she sat the test cup down. "After we get the samples, I'm gonna do a quick check on Dixie and by that time the test results should all be done." “Be back in a jiffy,” BL said, picking up the cup, heading to the bathroom. Doc went to get the supplies needed to draw a blood sample in the meantime, leaving Bo alone in the exam room. BL returned just ahead of the doctor, “Alright let’s get to the bottom of this. Pull up your sleeve please,” Doc said, pulling on a pair of exam gloves. “Gonna be a little pinch,” “I hate needles,” BL said, gripping Bo’s hand tight as Doc poked the needle into her arm. It was over before BL knew it though and Doc was saying,”I’ll have the results when I come back from Dixie’s checkup,” Doc then left the room with both samples. “I hope whatever’s the matter with me stops causing weird symptoms. I reheated the coffee while Dixie showered and the smell made me nauseous so I went outside hoping not to get sick,” BL said then added “Dixie laughed and said if she didn’t know better, she’d say I was the one pregnant.” Bo replied with a laugh, "Right." Doc ran through a few questions with Dixie. Checked her vitals, which were normal. "Alright, well get your weight and be almost done." Dixie felt a bit embarrassed, "Do we have to get my weight?" "Yes, we do." Doc insisted. "At this stage in your pregnancy, some women lose weight, and become anemic. Your weight will let me know you and baby Duke are healthy." "Oh, we are healthy. Sometimes I feel like I'm gonna starve at work if I'm busy or lunch is late." Dixie said as she stepped on the scales. While Doc adjusted the scales, she said, "You won't starve, but take healthy snacks to keep your blood sugar level up." Doc wrote the weight down. Like Dixie's last visit, her weight was in the higher part of the normal brackett. "You are perfectly normal." Dixie said, "That's a first. Perfect and normal. Davenports is seldom either. Now, to go buy some new bras when we get done here. Luke actually seems to be enjoying that I'm beginning to overflow the cups." Doc laughed, "I just bet that he is." After finishing up with Dixie, Doc got BL’s test results and went back to BL’s exam room. Making her expression neutral before going in. ”What is it, something transmitted by these Pterodactyl mosquitoes we have?” BL asked. Doc shook her head 'no'. "I bet it's because she's been working too hard." Bo said. Doc again shook her head 'no'. BL asked, "So what is wrong with me?" "It's nothing serious is it?" Bo stood up and stepped closer to BL as if to defend her. Doc shook her head 'no' as she began to speak, "No, it's nothing that time won't fix. Like nine months and eighteen years and she should be just fine." Neither BL or Bo was following Doc and both gave her a confused look. "BL you are pregnant." Doc advised. “Pregnant!” BL exclaimed. “But I'm on birth control. I know you said that alone it wasn’t 100% but I’ve never known anybody on it to get pregnant,” BL continued. “Have you been taking it, just like the directions say?” Doc asked. “Yes ma’am to the letter,” BL answered. BALLADEER:Friends you are witnessing something very few have ever seen…Bo Duke at a loss for words. Bo hadn't heard any of Doc and BL's conversation since Doc first uttered the word 'pregnant'. He was trying to form the word and get it past his lips. He had sorta gotten used to the idea of waiting to have kids later. Images started flashing in his mind as his head felt like it was spinning. Bassinet, the General Lee with a car seat, baseball games, football games, graduation, wedding, grandchildren. Bo suddenly found his knees weak and very wobbly. “Do you have any questions? If not, let's figure out when this baby is due,” Doc said, getting her little cardboard wheel out. Bo still hadn’t heard anything as Doc got ready to give them a due date. BL looked over at Bo, he looked a million miles away, “earth to Bo,” BL waved a hand in front of Bo’s face. “Doc’s about to tell us when the baby is due.” “Huh? Sorry,” Bo tried to rein in his thoughts and focus. “Ok, when was your last period?”Doc asked. “August 19th,” BL replied. Doc did some adjusting, then held the wheel so the couple could see, “your last period was on August 19th, conception would have been September 15th, so your due date is May 25th, that means you’re about 6 weeks along” Doc said. BL did the math, "That's less than two months between Dixie and me. They will be more like siblings than cousins." Doc noticed that Bo seemed even more unsteady. She pushed a chair closer to him, "Sit down, Mr. Duke. Are you alright?" Bo was hearing words and phrases that he had heard before but they were very foreign to him when they were being talked about in his own little world. 'Due date' he understood that it was May 25th. Five days before Memorial Day and the big race that kicked off the main racing season. Five days before any big race usually found him, Luke and Cooter elbow deep in the General Lee's engine. Bo hadn't noticed but his breathing was getting shorter and faster. Doc was watching the young man. He was on the road to hyperventilating. She reached in her desk drawer, grabbed a paper bag and formed a mask like opening at the opening in the bag and gathered the bag at its neck. "Mr. Duke breathe into this bag." She handed the bag to Bo and guided him to put it over his mouth and nose. Bo did as instructed and held the bag to his face for several breaths. Doc advised, "Remove the bag and breathe normally." BL asked, "Is he alright?" She noticed that Bo had sort of a green tint to him. “I’m fine Darlin’.” Bo said, doing his best to sound normal, so BL wouldn’t worry. “Do either of you have any questions?” Doc asked. Bo and BL both shook their heads ‘no’. “Alright well I reckon we’re done, see you next month BL,” Doc said. “Thanks Doc, see you next month,” BL replied, she and Bo headed back to the waiting room. When they got in the waiting room, Bo still didn’t look quite right, Dixie noticed. “Something wrong with Bo, he looks a little green around the gills,” Dixie said. “Only that he almost hyperventilated when Doc said I was pregnant.” BL replied. Dixie laughed genuinely, "I forgot to tell you that Doc has a sense of humor. She was kidding, right?” “Well if she was, she’s good. She never missed a beat and went right on with calculating a due date, which is when Bo started to hyperventilate,” BL said. That was a lot of information to process. At first Dixie wanted to laugh at the image in her mind of Bo nearly hyperventilating, but with the additional information from BL, she'd do her best to save the image for a good laugh later. "Soooo? Really? You are pregnant? That is great!!" BL smiled, genuinely happy even though she and Bo hadn’t exactly planned to start a family yet, “Unexpected but still good.”BL said wrinkling her nose then added, “I can do without the fainting and being sick as a dawg like I was Friday night.” “Me too,” Bo piped up, he had sat down, his legs weak again as the girls talked, adding “I better get back to work, there’s baby stuff to get ready for the little guy and then diapers once he gets here.” “Might be a she,” BL replied. There was that mental image of a pink car seat in the General Lee again. Bo tried to blink it away. Bo kissed BL and headed back to his truck to see where his next delivery was. He picked up the clipboard and found he had a rather long drive. He checked the address again and smiled. The delivery was really close to Luke's base camp. He tried to put the doctor visit out of his mind and just drive. Driving always helped. Outside, once in the car, Dixie asked, "So where to, Mama?" Bo wasn’t the only one with images in his head, BL saw a mini Bo riding his tricycle down the stairs. The tricycle was General Lee orange thanks to Uncle Cooter’s paint job. “You’re driving I’m with you, so wherever you need to go,” Dixie replied, "Alright. I need to make a stop for some bras that fit." BL said, "You have been the same size for years." "Well, then the cups have shrunk in the wash." Dixie replied, as they pulled up in front of a McRae's department store. “I bet Luke’s not complaining,” BL said, getting out of the car. Luke's team and the pups were just taking a late lunch break outside when he saw Bo's work truck pull up. He told the others, "I'll be back in a few." As he walked toward Bo he saw a look. It was a look he hadn't seen on his cousin many times in his life, "Bo? What's wrong? Is everyone alright?" Luke asked, full of concern for his family back in Hazzard. “Everyone’s fine,” Bo assured Luke. Luke replied, "Alright? So what brings you all the way over here?" "I got a delivery not too far from here, it's lunch time and I figured you wouldn't be too busy," Bo replied, hem hawing about the real reason for visiting. Luke shook his head. It was then that Trixie heard Bo and made a beeline to him, followed by Scrapie. Bo picked the little dog up and began to stroke her fur while hugging her like his life depended on it. "Alright, so you had a delivery close by, I'm not busy, and Trixie needed you to pet her, but do you care to tell me why you need to pet her?" Luke asked. Bo seemed to calm down as he stroked Trixie’s fur. “You know Dixie was taking BL to see her friend the doctor for Tri County jail. I had a delivery close by, so I met them there. BL’s pregnant,” Bo said, without much of a pause, afraid he couldn’t get it all out if he stopped too long. "Alright. BL's pregnant." Luke said. Bo looked at Luke like he was acting as if he hadn't heard him, "Luke! Didn't you hear me? BL is pregnant! That means there's a baby on the way! BL is gonna be a mother. And, .... and, .... I'm gonna be a .... father. Luke I just don't know about this! It's all happening way too fast." Trixie was licking Bo's face as he talked and stroked her fur. "Oh, believe me I totally understand and feel your 'pain' but it's too late now." Luke said. Back in town Dixie replied to BL, "Luke is absolutely enjoying the fringe benefits of my being pregnant. The bigger they get the more attention he gives them which I think is making them get even bigger." BL laughed, "Oh come on, you seriously think that?” “How come you’re not a basket case then, if you understand,” Bo asked. “Because I can’t change it and there are benefits in it for you,” Luke replied, thinking about Dixie’s growing breasts. Luke got Bo's attention, "Benefits? For me? Do tell." "Her breast will get bigger. Make a good handful," Luke replied, neither woman was flat chested but they weren't Dolly Parton either. Bo asked, "Really?" Luke nodded, "Really." Bo being Bo had to ask, "Luke ain't you afraid Dixie will get fat? And you know, stay that way?" Luke replied, "I promise you, if Dixie grew three more heads and was the size of a blimp, I'd still love her. If she picks up weight from carrying my child, to make sure my child is healthy, there is no way I could fault that." “You gonna love BL any less if she gets fat and stays that way?” Luke asked, turning Bo’s question back on him. “No of course not, even if she gets as big as Miss Lulu,” Bo answered. "Ok, so what are you fretting about?" Luke asked “She’s due May 25, that’s 5 days before the big race that kicks off the racing season. Me, you and Cooter are usually elbow deep in General Lee’s engine, what if BL goes into labor?” Bo asked. Luke had to laugh. "Your wife is going to be having your child, and you are worried nine months early about getting a car ready to race? Really Bo! We'll make it work." ”Hey Bo I gotta get back to work, can we finish this talk at home?” Luke asked. “Yeah, I got another delivery to make,” Bo replied. Trixie gave Bo one more lick from chin to forehead then followed Luke back to the crew. Bo headed out to his delivery destination, feeling better now that he’d talked to Luke. The afternoon was warm and sunny. Daisy had gotten the last of the wash in and put it away. She took a picnic basket out to her roadrunner before finding Jesse on the porch with a bushel basket of beans and a pot of coffee. "Are you sure you don't want my help?" Daisy asked. "No, no you go on and enjoy yourself. Tell Darcy to come by soon for supper." Uncle Jesse said as he gave Daisy a hug before she left. "I will do it." Daisy said. There weren't many days and evenings that she had free. She hoped Darcy wasn't too busy for a little fun. At McRae’s after leaving the tri county clinic Dixie and BL looked through the ladies department looking for Dixie a new bra. “I reckon I should go ahead and get a new bra now while we're here instead of later,” BL said while Dixie hunted her size. “Wouldn’t hurt,” Dixie replied. While shopping Dixie asked, "So, when are yall gonna tell everyone the news?" Dixie knew how this had taken BL and Bo by surprise. “In a day or two maybe, give ourselves a little more time to process it,” BL replied. Daisy had convinced Darcy to take the afternoon off and go on a picnic at sunset lake. “How about some dessert sugar?” Daisy asked, taking an apple pie from the picnic basket. "Daisy, honey that pie looks amazing but that ain't the dessert that I had in mind." Darcy said as he gave Daisy a kiss. "Well, let's cut the pie first, then we’ll talk about what type dessert you wanted." Daisy said as she began cutting the pie. Luke wasn't at all surprised to see the General Lee at the Boar's Nest as he came by there. No one else was there yet so he decided to take the pups home and get the girls and come back or come back alone. Something told him that no matter what Bo's mood was that he would be inclined to over do things tonight. Dixie heard the pickup then the pups. She met Luke out back, "I figured you'd stop at the Boar's Nest on your way in." "I brought the pups home to hang out with Sadie. Are you and BL gonna come out with us tonight? Something tells me that you might be driving the pick up home tonight." Luke explained. "Bo stopped by Base Camp." Dixie nodded. "Alright. I'll yell and see if BL wants to go.” BL was in the laundry room, putting hers and Bo’s sheets in to wash. Usually Saturday was sheets wash day but they had stayed in bed until Cooter showed up and then she’d been out of the house until Saturday night but by then she wasn’t feeling good and there hadn’t been time today before her appointment. Dixie opened the back door and Sadie ran out ready to play with Scrapie and Trixie. “Hey BL, I’m going to catch a ride back to the Boar’s Nest with Luke, he brought Scrapie and Trixie home,” Dixie called. “You going?” “Yeah,let me get these sheets going and I’ll holler at Bo on the CB, tell him stop and get me on his way, if he hasn’t left work already,” BL answered. “He’s already there, Luke said, but you can ride with us if you want,” Dixie replied. “Sure, thanks. We don’t need all 4 vehicles there, we all live in the same house,” BL said. After putting the dogs inside, the three young people headed to the Boar’s Nest to relax and unwind. Luke, Dixie and BL all walked into the Boar's Nest. Bo was seated at the bar. Luke could tell it wasn't Bo's first beer. "Join us at a table?" Luke asked but also suggested. "Sure thing there Luke Ole Buddy." Bo said with a slur. Once seated Lori Mae came over to get their order, “What can I get ya’ll, Luke replied, "beer for me, tea for Dixie.” “I’ll have tea too,” BL said. Ordinarily Lori Mae might speculate about BL’s order her and Bo being newlyweds but in light of Bo’s condition already, Lori Mae figured BL knew she’d be driving home. “Be right back.” In just a couple minutes Lori Mae brought their drinks. Luke asked, "What's the special tonight?" "Fried polish sausage, potatoes, onions and peppers with a side and corn muffin." Lori Mae said. "What do ya'll think?" Luke asked, nodding towards Bo. He hoped to get Bo to stop drinking and eat something. Dixie replied, "That works for me. Shopping makes ya hungry." “It sounds ok to me, I can’t think of anything at home I’d rather have,” BL replied. “How about it Bo, we’ll all just eat here, so the girls ain’t gotta cook?” Luke asked. “Ya’ll go ahead, I ain’t hungry,” Bo replied, taking another drink of beer. “Did you have time for lunch after meeting me and Dixie?” BL asked, careful not to say where Bo had met them, it would only get gossip and rumors started. Bo thought about it for a minute, "Nah, when I left ya'll I went by Luke's base camp, then on to my last delivery. Luke nodded, implying that he had the situation under control. He motioned Lori Mae back over, "Give us four specials but put one back to take home." Lori Mae replied, "Sure thing. What are your sides?" Dixie replied, "Cottage cheese." Luke replied, "Brown beans." Dixie thought about it, "Brown beans would be good with the potatoes, but I wanted cottage cheese." Luke saved her the decision, "Add a side of brown beans to Dixie's order." Lori Mae looked to BL for the other sides for her and Bo's dinners. “Make it easy, 2 more brown beans,” BL said. Lori Mae wrote it all on her order pad saying, “be back shortly.” Lori Mae then went to place the orders. “I need to go to the bathroom, this tea is going straight through. Dixie you comin’?” BL said. “Yeah,” Dixie replied. Even tipsy Bo watched BL like he and Luke always had watched the girls when they left the table. Luke took the minute alone to ask, "So are you crying in your beer or celebrating?" “A little of both I reckon,” Bo admitted with a sigh then added, “Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see and hold my child but I’m scared to death, I won’t be a good enough father. Hearing the doctor say BL was pregnant I started seeing images, bassinet, the General Lee with a car seat, then baseball games, football games, graduation, wedding, grandchildren.” Luke laughed out loud, "Grandchildren??? Ain’t you rushing things a bit?" "Awe, Luke, I reckon I am but, after we got through the time we thought she was, .... then, with the medicine, I thought there was nothing to worry about, then ka-blew-ie!" Luke repeated, "Ka-blew-ie?" "Yeah, ya know. Dynamite. Ka-blew-ie!" Bo said. “Bo just simmer down and find the joy in this, it’s not how you and BL planned but there’s no changing it, what's done is done. BL is just as surprised and scared as you I bet but she’s choosing to be happy instead of crying about it,” Luke said. “You’re right Luke, just because she’s smiling on the outside don’t mean she’s ok on the inside,” Bo replied, in one of his rare moments of insightfulness. "Right." Luke said, glad that maybe Bo's mood had changed for the better. It had and Bo replied with a bit of a slur, "Yeah, Luke. You are right. Let's have a beer to celebrate." Lori Mae came back with their orders just as BL and Dixie returned to the table. “4 specials with brown beans, 1 with cottage cheese as well.” “Can we get a couple more teas please, Lori Mae?” BL asked, looking at Dixie’s glass. “A couple beers too,” Bo slurred. BL looked at Luke, hoping he’d slow Bo down. Her husband was on the road to getting drunk but she was afraid to say anything because in his current state, Bo might accuse her of henpecking. “Be right back,” Lori Mae replied, heading to the bar. Luke replied, "Alright, Bo. I'll have this last beer with you, but then we need to head home before Sadie decides to eat your pillow. We've all had a big day and tomorrow comes early." Dixie added, "Scrapie wasn't real happy being left home either. You might need to worry about your own pillow." "With Scrapie I just have to worry about getting my pillow back. He tends to think the bed ain't soft enough and thinks it's better to sleep on my pillow." Luke claimed. "So is that why I never have a pillow?" Dixie asked. "Nope." Luke replied. "You never use a pillow, so there's no sense in it going to waste." "Oh. Well, true." Dixie replied. Bo frowned. "You don't sleep on a pillow?" Dixie replied as Lori Mae walked up, "I have something better than a pillow." Bo asked, "What?" Luke replied, "Me." “Here are your drinks,” Lori Mae said. “Thanks Lori Mae,”Luke replied. After finishing their meal and drinks the 4 parents to be decided to go home. Luke had given Dixie his keys, so the girls took the truck and Bo and Luke took General Lee that way Bo could talk more if he wanted to get anything else off his chest. Parking the truck, Dixie and BL heard the dogs barking as soon as they stepped up on the porch. Dixie opened the door and stopped in her tracks exclaiming, “oh my goodness!” “What’s wrong?” BL asked, looking over Dixie’s shoulder. The living room was covered in toilet paper and there was a stream of it coming down the stairs, “what in the world…” BL said in disbelief looking at the mess. The guys weren’t right on their wives heels so saw the room in all its white glory when they came in. Scrapie and Trixie were prancing around, wagging their tails obviously proud of their decorating skills, which evidence of still stuck to their paws. Bo shook his head, atleast Sadie had behaved he thought, until he went into the bedroom to get stuff for a shower. “My pillow!” Bo exclaimed, looking at the feathers all over the bed and on the floor beside it. Sadie lay in the chair a picture of innocence except the one small feather stuck to her wet nose. Luke was still picking up bits of paper in the living room, "What did you say, Bo?" "My pillow." Bo repeated. Luke called toward the girls in the kitchen, who were getting the trash can, broom and dust pan, "BL. I think Bo needs something." Dixie handed Luke the dustpan, “hold this and I’ll sweep.” BL went upstairs picking up the toilet paper cascading down the stairs as she went. Turning at the top of the stairs, coming to a halt beside Bo just inside the door of their bedroom, surveying all the feathers on the bed, it looked like somebody had been plucking chickens,”What am I supposed to sleep on?” Bo asked. “You can have my pillow,” BL replied. “What about you?” Bo asked another question. “I’ll just take a page from Dixie’s book and use you. I’ll get the vacuum, you go ahead and get a shower,” BL said heading to the downstairs closet where they kept the vacuum. Bo gathered his pj bottoms, underwear and a t-shirt, then went to take his shower. Meanwhile, Sadie, Trixie and Scrapie watched with the most innocent faces as their humans were picking up all their pretty decorations. After BL sucked up all the feathers with the vacuum she looked over at the chair where Sadie lay watching innocently. “Sadie, why did you eat Bo’s pillow,” BL asked, hands on hips which had no effect on Sadie who woofed a couple times as if saying, ‘I didn’t’. “Don’t tell me you didn’t, this feather on your nose says you did,” BL plucked the evidence off Sadie’s wet nose. Then BL took the vacuum back to the closet. Dixie and Luke had put the downstairs back together and Luke was currently outside having a 'cuss and discuss' with the two trained pups who very well knew better. Trixie and Scrapie listened attentively, while all the while giving a look of total innocence. Dixie brought Luke a beer and sat down beside him sipping her tea, "I think they wanted to go with us." Luke sipped his beer trying to be serious for the pups benefit, "Don't take their side." Dixie hid her grin, "I'm not." BL returned upstairs to find Sadie on her side of bed, the side that Bo normally occupied. Sadie looked up at her with the saddest eyes BL sat down beside Sadie saying, ”we got to have a talk. I know you probably think I don’t love you anymore because Bo gets to sleep in your spot. I still love you but I love Bo too, so you’re just going to have to learn to live with him, he still lets you sleep on the foot of the bed.” BL was now laying across the bed, hugging Sadie. “In a few months there’s gonna be a baby you will have to share me with too,” BL couldn’t be sure Sadie understood what she had said but it seemed like Sadie knew exactly what she was saying most of the time. Bo had taken a long shower, only getting out when he had used all the hot water, he had a lot on his mind and a hot shower was his second favorite thing to do, driving being the first, when he had some serious thinking to do. Sadie listened to BL and snuggled closer to her, then gave the chair a sad, sideways look when BL mentioned that Sadie got to sleep on the foot of the bed. Luke, Dixie, Scrapie and Trixie eventually made their way back into the livingroom and curled up together, all four of them on the couch to find a movie. It was still pretty early for bed and they figured to give Bo and BL some space also. Elsewhere in Hazzard, Cooter was driving the wrecker back to the garage with Crystal by his side, she had the evening off but he had the wrecker so she had decided to hang out at the garage and go on calls with him. Darcy hadn’t been able to get the whole afternoon free, he still had a few crop dusting jobs before the harvest season so after their picnic, Daisy had spent the afternoon in the clouds with Darcy while he worked. Now they were headed for a shower and a different kind of fun. After getting dressed and comfy in his PJ bottoms, Bo had gone back to the bedroom where he’d found BL and Sadie cuddling on the bed. Joining them, Bo was propped against the headboard on BL’s pillow, BL’s head on his outstretched arm, Sadie on her other side. Looking up BL asked, “Bo is something wrong? You haven’t been yourself since Doc Quinn said I was pregnant. Aren’t you happy?” “I’m sorry darlin’ of course I’m happy, just wasn’t expecting it. To tell you the truth I’m scared to death,” Bo replied. “I wasn’t expecting that diagnosis either but it is what it is. I could have cried because things are going to change in a big way, whether we like it or not but crying won’t help it’d just give me puffy eyes and a snotty nose,” BL said, adding with a grin “not a real attractive look.” Bo chuckled at this and kissed BL’s head, running his fingers through Sadie’s fur, forgiving her for destroying his pillow.

When Bo’s clock went off even though it was saturday he hit snooze even though he had to get up and go help with the farm chores. “Bo chores won’t do themselves,” BL mumbled only half awake. Bo didn’t reply, he hadn’t even flinched when the alarm went off. BALLADEER: That boy could sleep through a freight train running through the room. Across the hall, Luke cut his clock off before it went off. He had heard Bo's go off. He eased off the bed, stepped in his jeans, picked up his boots, socks and shirt as he eased to the door. As soon as his hand touched the door knob, Scrapie was out of the covers with a 'woof' as his feet hit the floor. Trixie was next. "Come on." Luke said as he headed out the door. He knocked on Bo's door, "Bo. Let's go." Luke said going to the bathroom to finish getting ready. He knew Bo wouldn't have moved yet even if he hadn't been up in the middle of the night with BL. “Coming,” Bo said, turning off his clock before the alarm went off again. As quietly as he could he stepped in his jeans, put on his shirt then picked up his boots and socks going to sit on the top step of the stairs to put them on while he waited for Luke to come out of the bathroom. Sadie came trotting out of the bedroom ready to go or play with Scrapie and Trixie. “C’mon I’ll let ya’ll out while I wait for Luke. The trio ran down the stairs to the backdoor and waited for Bo. Zooming out the door and around the yard. Once the bedroom was quiet again, Dixie curled up, hugged Luke's pillow and was out for the count before the guys left the driveway. A while later Bo, Luke and the pups come home, Bo saying, “I’ll take the dogs in, I want to see how BL is feeling.” "Alright, but remember, half this yard is yours." Luke said as he headed to the shed to get out the lawn mower. The yard was small compared to the farm yard, but it was a matter of principle. Dixie heard Bo come upstairs, then heard the lawn mower start up. She figured she'd get up and go make coffee and maybe a jar of sun tea while the guys mowed the yard. It was a good thought with good intentions as Dixie figured just another minute or two of snuggling the pillow wouldn't hurt as she listened to the sound of the lawn mower it lulled her right back to sleep. Bo tried to be quiet as he came into the bedroom, so he wouldn’t wake BL if she was sleeping but Sadie had other ideas. BL was on her side and Sadie couldn’t get to her face, undeterred she jumped on the bed and proceeded to snuffle BL’s head then licked BL right in the ear. “Sadie” BL said, wiping at her ear. “Sorry she was on the bed before I knew it,” Bo said, shooing Sadie off the bed, “get down Sadie.” Bo asked once Sadie was down and had gone looking for Scrapie and Trixie, “How do you feel darlin?” “Better but I don’t want no more of the Dixie diner’s Friday night special, atleast for a while,” BL replied. Bo kissed the side of BL’s head saying, “I gotta go help Luke mow.” BL replied, “ok,” dozing back off, when Bo was gone. Dixie still heard the mower but also heard Luke in the dresser, "What are you doing?" She asked without ever opening her eyes. Luke was holding a clean t-shirt, underwear and socks, “heading to the shower. Want to come?” “I’m sure I’ll be along as soon as the shower turns on and I hear the water running,” Dixie said, content to lay right where she was even if it wasn’t for much longer. BL heard the lawnmower through her state of dozing but she heard Luke come upstairs and go into his and Dixie’s room across the hall so Bo must be doing his share of the work. After a couple minutes BL heard Luke go into the bathroom and shut the door, a second later the shower kicked on. Followed by Dixie going into the bathroom. Down in the yard, Bo was working up a sweat, pushing the push lawn mower. So he took off his shirt and laid it over the porch railing. Gloria saw him through her kitchen window and shook her head….not only were those hooligans disturbing the peaceful morning but there was that blonde boy half dressed! A bit later Bo put the lawnmower back in the shed, grabbed his shirt off the porch railing, then went upstairs. Opening dresser drawers Bo got socks and underwear. ”What are you doing?” BL asked, propping her elbow on the bed and her head on her hand. Bo replied, “gathering my stuff for a shower when Luke comes out. “You probably won’t get one for a while, I heard Dixie join Luke a minute ago,” BL said. Bo replied, still hearing the shower running, "They are likely talking while Luke showers. Luke never takes long in the shower." He took his stuff and went to the bedroom door, figuring to hear the shower cut off as he reached the hall. It didn't. Instead, Bo heard Dixie giggle. The mental image that he pictured on the inside of the bathroom caused him to sit his clothes on the small table in the hallway and go back in his and BL’s room. BL had heard Dixie giggle too and grinned when Bo came back in the bedroom and flopped down in the chair in the corner, “still think they’re probably just talking?” ”Cute, I reckon I thought…I don’t know, Luke had grown boring, with Dixie in her condition,” Bo said. ”Booo, Dixie’s pregnant, neither one of them is dead. Talk to David Doolin, I bet him and Jeanne Ann still have a little fun even though she looks like she could pop,” BL chided. Bo was quiet for a whole minute. BL saw the wheels turning as he thought through whatever was bothering him. "Ya mean that won't hurt the baby?" Bo asked as he was still trying to remove the mental image of Luke and Dixie messing around in the shower, which would be perfectly normal if it were him and BL, but this was Luke, Bo thought. Sure Luke had a reputation when they were growing up, that still came up occasionally, but Bo just couldn't picture Luke and Dixie, ..... the mental image crossed his mind again, ..... no, no the problem was that he could see the mental image of it and, .... well, .... EWW!!! “I don’t know! You think just because I’m a woman I just know these things??” BL replied. ”Well yeah I reckon,” Bo answered.. “I don’t, maybe Dixie’s been talking to her doctor friend at work…Why don’t you come join me and rest awhile? You’ve had a busy morning and you were up with me half the night,” BL scooted over to make room. “My clothes have grass all over them,” Bo replied. “So shut the door and take them off. Didn’t you say being married meant we didn’t have to wear clothes if we didn’t want to,” BL parroted the gist of what Bo had told her, when she was showing him the matching robes and pj's she’d gotten at her bridal shower. “I did indeed,” Bo replied, shutting the bedroom door. Shedding his clothes in record time, he was in bed beside BL. A bit later, Luke and Dixie made their way to their bedroom. Once in the bedroom Dixie opened her dresser drawer for underwear and such to get dressed for one of her days off. Luke asked, "What are you doing?" "Getting my clothes to get dressed." Dixie replied. "What's your hurry?" Luke asked, as he reached around Dixie and placed his hands on Dixie’s now fuller breasts. From there, they moved their activities to their bed. Bo and BL were in the midst of a heavy petting session when they heard Luke and Dixie’s bedroom door shut. “Our turn,” Bo practically chirped as he got up, putting on the fluffy robe Dixie had monogrammed for the first time. BL did the same, Bo collecting his clothes off the hall table on the way to the bathroom. The shower cut on a couple minutes after. A bit later the shower cut off, the newlyweds got out and dried off, while BL was bent over drying her legs, Bo wound his towel then flicked her backside, BL squealed. Putting on her robe BL dashed back to her and Bo’s room. Bo wasn’t ready to get dressed so put his robe back on, grabbed his clean clothes and chased after his bride who was removing her robe as he came in the bedroom. Ditching his robe and tossing his clothes on the dresser, Bo scooped BL into his arms, getting another squeal, followed by a giggle as he tossed her gently on the bed, crawling over to where she lay, lowering his lips to hers. A bit later the couple lay entwined, the covers twisted around them. Luke was holding Dixie as he was propped up on pillows against the headboard while Dixie was curled up to him. Both were mostly awake but both had been napping. Luke had never been one to lay around and be lazy but doing this on an occasional Saturday couldn't hurt anything. Cooter was at the garage and had been struggling to get an engine block to go into the pickup that he was working on. Luther was gone out in the wrecker. Cooter looked around, scratched his head and came up with a plan. He put the out to lunch sign in the window, locked the garage and headed toward Bo and Luke’s figuring to get lunch and recruit some help with the engine. It was a nice day so Cooter had walked, whistling Camptown Races. Tipping his hat as he met Mrs. Palmer on the sidewalk. Bounding up the porch steps at Bo and Luke’s and letting himself in, he didn’t worry about anybody running around indecent. The minute Cooter opened the door the 12 legged ‘burglar alarm’ went off. “Hey now settle down, it's only me,” Cooter tried calming the trio of pups. Luke and Dixie came fully awake when all the barking started. “It’s probably just a squirrel in the yard, be right back,” Luke said, letting Dixie go and stepping into his jeans. Luke left the bedroom, appearing at the top of the stairs. Bo by now had been woken up by the ruckus downstairs. Untangling himself, first from BL and the covers Bo put on his underwear then pulled on his jeans. “Can’t Luke hear all that racket,” Bo grumbled. As Luke reached the top of the stairs and saw Cooter in the livingroom with the pups, he called down, "Turn them loose out back. I'll be right down." Luke stepped back in the bedroom where Dixie was getting dressed. "Figured I'd come back for my boots and shirt. It's Cooter. He's letting the pups out." Even though she was a grown, married woman, Dixie second guessed her outfit of joggers and big shirt, then quickly brushed her hair, "Crap. Do I look ok?" Luke replied, "You looked better ten minutes ago, but yes you're fine. What are you worried about?" "It's nearly noon. We've been in bed all morning." Dixie said. Luke replied, "So sue me." He said as he casually walked downstairs bare footed, with his shirt on, but unbuttoned and not tucked in. Cooter let the dogs out back and had just stepped back into the living room, when Bo was coming down the stairs shirtless, barefoot and his hair sticking out in all directions because it had been wet from the shower when he and BL had gone back to bed. ”Luke, what is the matter with them dogs? Bo asked. “Before Luke could say a word Cooter spoke up. “Sorry ya’ll I got ‘em stirred up bustin’ in here, must be nice to still be in bed at almost noon.” “BL was sick half the night and I was up with her and then I got up to go help with the farm chores,” Bo defended himself. Luke had gotten his socks and boots on by now and replied, "It was very nice." Dixie had been far enough down the steps to hear the exchange between the men, "Do ya’ll want coffee?" She asked as her feet hit the bottom step. Cooter as usual, not bashful in the least said, “I was hoping for lunch.” “You got it,” Dixie replied, heading for the kitchen, now that Cooter mentioned it, she could eat too.. “After lunch I need some help putting in an engine block,” Cooter said as he and Luke sat in the livingroom. Bo had gone back upstairs to finish getting dressed. “Sure no problem, me and Bo are happy to help,” Lke replied. BL sat up when Bo came back in the room. ‘Where’d you go? I was lonely.” “Cooter’s here,” Bo replied. “This early?” BL asked, having no idea how late it was. The latest she ever stayed in bed was 10am, Clyde had made it a rule when her and LB were teenagers, the only exception had been if they were sick. “It's nearly noon darlin,” Bo said on his way out the door. Dixie was glad to busy herself in the kitchen fixing a bite of lunch. She was looking for something quick, so she got out two packs of hotdogs that were frozen and put them in a pot of water to boil. Then, put on coffee, grabbed a can of chili and put it on to heat up while she grabbed the buns, mustard and an onion. Dixie was now chopping the onion as the coffee brewed and hotdogs boiled. BL had gotten up and put on leggings and a big t-shirt, still tired she didn’t feel like wearing anything that wasn’t super comfortable. Opening the bedroom door she realized she was a bit hungry but that changed as her feet hit the staircase halfway down and the smell of boiling hotdogs met her. BL capped a hand over her mouth, made an about face running back to the bathroom and slamming the door shut causing the 3 men in the livingroom to jump. “I better go check on her,” Bo said, heading for the stairs. BL knelt in the floor, gagging and retching but nothing was left after last night but each time she thought about that smell a new round of dry heaves hit. ”BL darlin, you ok?” Bo asked, coming in. “I thought it was food poisoning last night but maybe I caught something from somebody that came in the post office,” BL replied. Dixie came in the living room, "Lunch is on the table. Where is Bo and BL?" “BL’s sick again,” Luke answered Dixie. In the bathroom, BL sat back on her heels once her stomach was under control. Bo wet a washcloth and handed it to his wife,”feel better?” BL washed her face with the cool cloth, replying “yeah”. Dixie replied to Luke, "Ya'll go ahead and eat. I'll go see if she's alright." Upstairs, outside the bathroom door, Dixie called. "BL? Are you alright? Can I get ya anything?" BL opened the bathroom door answering, “I’m fine, do we have any sprite or 7up?” “Yeah I'll get you one,” Dixie replied, heading back downstairs. When Dixie came into the kitchen, Luke asked, "Is she alright?" "She said that she is. I'm gonna take a Sprite up." Dixie said. Luke wiped his mouth, "Sit and eat. I'll take it up. I need to put on some work pants while I'm there." "Thanks." Dixie replied and she began putting her hotdog together. “Here’s your sprite BL,” Luke said, poking his head in the bedroom, holding it out. “Thanks Luke,” BL replied, accepting the soda, opening the can and taking a sip. “Does Cooter need something or is he just looking for free food,” Bo asked. “He needs our help putting in an engine block after lunch,” Luke answered.”I said we’d help,” Luke added. “I don’t know if I should leave BL,” Bo said, worry in his voice, BL still looked a mite green. “I’ll be fine, Dixie will be here,” BL replied. “Great it's settled,” Luke said over his shoulder, going into his and Dixie’s bedroom. Bo wasn't happy, but at BL's insistence he changed clothes and met Luke and Cooter downstairs. After straightening up the kitchen, Dixie went to check on BL. "Are you feeling better?" BL replied, "I didn't feel bad. I just started down the steps and something hit me." She remembered the smell and reached at just the thought. "What did you fix for lunch?" "You can't be ready to eat yet? But, it was hotdogs." Dixie said. "No. No, I'm not. But are you sure they weren't spoiled?" BL said. "Yeah. We all ate them. They were fine." Dixie said. BL couldn't explain it but felt the smell had been why she was sick. "Let's try something. Want to go to the garage?" "Well, I'd been planning on it before you got sick." Dixie said. BL said, "OK. Let's go. Just once the door is open I'm heading straight outside." Dixie replied, "Go. I'll grab leashes and get the pups and meet you on the porch after I open windows to air the house out." A few minutes later, pups on leashes, the two headed around the square to the garage. At the garage the men were working hard when BL, Dixie and the dogs arrived. “Hey, how’s it going,” Dixie asked. “It’s going,” Cooter replied. “Thought you were gonna rest a while, darlin?” Bo asked. “I feel fine. We’re trying something, the second the bedroom door opened I went straight downstairs and right on outside while Dixie opened windows to air out the house, got pups and leashes. It had to be the smell of the hotdogs that made me sick. I just don’t know why,” BL replied. For the rest of the afternoon, the guys worked on putting the motor back in the pickup, while Dixie and BL manned the gas pumps and the telephone. Luther was happy to take all the wrecker calls and leave the hard labor, putting in the motor to the younger men. “Ya’ll coming out to the Boar’s Nest tonight?” Cooter asked. Luke replied, "This is becoming an awful thirsty job so we might just have to come out awhile. Bo?" The fun loving part of Bo wanted to say yes but the part of him that was trying to show that he was a responsible married man, wasn’t sure. BL watched uncertainty cross Bo’s face as they all waited for his answer. “We’ll be there,” BL answered for Bo. Luke looked at Cooter, who was looking at him. Luke cracked a smile, Cooter gave him a bigger grin, Luke chuckled, Cooter laughed. Before anyone knew why Luke and Cooter were enjoying gut busting laughter and were nearly in tears they were laughing so hard. Dixie was also controlling her own amusement. ”What’s so funny,” Bo asked, confused. It was at that moment that Luther walked in and thought his garage had been turned into a hyena refuge, "What in the world is the matter with those fools?" Dixie was grinning but replied, "Let them tell you." Cooter tried to explain while also trying to breath and not start laughing again, said, "Bo! Bo and ... BL ...." Luke added, "Ain't been married two months yet...." Cooter took back over, "And Bo is henpecked!" Luke really wouldn't have put it that way but Cooter did. “I am not henpecked!” Bo defended himself. BL hadn’t realized that she made it sound that way, she just hadn’t wanted to be the reason Bo missed out on a fun night. Two matching pink spots of embarrassment appeared on her cheeks, was she really becoming one of those wives. Cooter egged it on, "Did he or did he not look to BL for permission to go out tonight?" Luke looked at Bo, "Well, he did, but I'll give him that BL was sick last night and then just a bit ago." Luther had started to be amused somewhat, having been a young man with a new bride once, he could understand where Bo was coming from. Amusement turned to concern with Luke’s words about BL being sick. Not only was he concerned for his niece but Dixie was carrying his grandchild. “BL, honey are you ok, shouldn’t you be in bed or something? Luther asked. “I’m fine now Uncle Luther, it was probably something I ate. Getting out in the fresh air has me feeling alot better,” BL replied. Cooter said as he wiped his hands, "Well, since that is all settled, how about we get cleaned up and head out for a beer. I'll even buy ya'll the first round. I have put in more engines alone than I care to count, but that one just wouldn't line up long enough for me to work with it." They all agreed and the Dukes headed home. At the house BL said, “ya’ll go in first see if it’s free of that smell, then holler and I’ll come in.” Dixie went in and walked through to the kitchen taking deep breaths, not even a hint of hotdog smell was left. ‘It’s clear, you can come in BL,” Dixie called. BL went straight to the kitchen, her stomach starting to growl, “I’m gonna fix me a baked potato and one of those leftover pork chops, Bo grilled Wednesday, anybody else want one or are ya’ll gonna get something at the Boar’s Nest?” “I’ll eat there so you nor Dixie has to cook,” Bo replied. Dixie replied, "If you are going to cook anyway, I'll help and throw us all something in. They can have theirs later, or eat with us. I'll throw the chops in the oven to heat up and go change, if you put the potatoes on?" Luke was heading toward the shower as he called back, "If ya’ll cook, I'll eat." “I’ll eat too then,” Bo said. Dixie got the pork chops in the oven heating then ran upstairs to change. BL scrubbed 4 potatoes, poked holes with a fork then put the potatoes in the microwave. “I’m sorry about jumping in at the garage and making it look like you are henpecked and need my permission to do stuff. I just saw the indecision in your eyes because you were worried I wasn’t up to a night out,” BL said, when she and Bo were alone. “It’s ok darlin, I’m a big boy I can take Cooter’s teasing,” Bo replied. After they all got ready and had eaten, the 2 young couples headed to the Boar’s Nest. Luke and Dixie were in Luke’s truck and Bo and BL in General Lee. By the time they pulled into the parking lot, anyone could see the place was filling up fast. Luke saw the wrecker, "I hope Cooter got us a table. Cooter was watching and when he saw Bo and Luke along with Dixie and BL come in, he waved them over. “Is it a holiday? The only time this place gets a big crowd is when it’s payday for the mill and the factory,” Bo said. Daisy came over to get their drink orders and heard Bo, “no Whey Jennings is performing.” “You mean Whey Jennings the grandson of Waylon Jennings?” BL said. “Yes! Ain’t that exciting? Ya’ll want 4 beers and a tea for you Dixie?” Luke replied, "You better go ahead and bring us two rounds of everything before Boss marks up the prices!" Dixie laughed, "Tea is fine." “Be right back,” Daisy said and headed back to the bar. Daisy brought the drinks back to the table and headed back to the bar. LB walked in. He had hoped that it was quiet and that Lori Mae would get off early. So much for that thought. He pulled up a chair, "What in the world?" "Whey Jennings is performing," BL answered her brother, handing him one of the extra beers, Daisy or Lori Mae could bring another later. Rosco got on the stage, stepped up to the microphone saying, “alright settle down we got a special guest. We got a visit from his Granddaddy several years ago. Ladies and Gentlemen I present Mr. Whey Jennings the grandson of the great Waylon Jennings.” Rosco stepped off the stage as the band began to play the first notes and Whey sang I’m A Ramblin’ Man, sounding very much like his grandfather. Luke motioned to Daisy, who was really enjoying watching, as well as listening to Whey. He handed her some money, "Take Whey and his band a beer when they get done." Daisy was now not so annoyed at Luke's interruption, "I would love to!" Daisy grabbed a tray of beers fresh out of the tap, hopefully before Boss could water it down. She went over to where the band would have to come off the stage and waited. After the song, Whey said, "Would you believe me when I tell ya'll that I told our driver not to come this way? Ya see I remember my grandfather telling me about this place and even as a kid I thought he must have been kidding. That is, right until we pulled into the lot and I saw this orange stock car setting out front." Whey paused for a moment, "Would the fellas that own that car be the same ones he knew?" The crowd all answered that they were and pointed to Bo and Luke, which brought a lot of attention to their table. Jesse was at the bar elbowing Luther and Clyde. Daisy was even close enough to be heard when she said, "They sure are Sugar and they have something cold over here when you get done." "Well, now, thank you guys! That was another thing I was told is how hospitable ya'll are. Well, most of ya’ll." He motioned to Rosco and Boss to point out that they were the exception. “As a matter of fact, we were together with some Ole boys and Walyon was telling them about this place and this Ole boy by the name of Johnny Cash was listening to him talk and by the end of the story he had a song scribbled down. Let me see if I still know it." He broke out into the song, General Lee! Whey finished the song and as he and his band came off stage Daisy handed them a beer and they joined the young Dukes and Davenports at their table. Dixie and BL had vacated their chairs because there were no empty extras around, perching on their husbands knee instead. “Whey this is my wife Dixie and the guy in the CAT hat is my brother in law Cooter Davenport and the man over at the bar on the right of the man in the red cap is my father in law Luther Davenport, he owns the garage in town and Cooter helps run it,” Luke said. Whey shook hands with Cooter and touched the brim of his hat, giving a little tip to Dixie. “Nice to meet you Dixie, what do you do? You’re too pretty to be a grease monkey,” Whey replied. “She’s a correctional officer, over to the Tri-Counties jail,” LB volunteered helpfully. Dixie just happened to be close enough to elbow LB had she not been afraid of getting Luke instead because she was sitting on his knee, so she rolled her eyes and gave LB a dirty look saying “you don't have to tell everything you know with this place packed out like it is.” Luke said, “Mr. helpful there is LB Davenport, the man on the left of the red cap at the bar is his father Clyde Davenport.” That’s my father in law, he owns the cabinet shop. This is my wife BL and LB is her brother,” Bo took over the introductions. Again Whey gave his hat a little dip to BL and shook hands with LB. Daisy took a minute to make sure she checked on the band, "Can I get ya'll anything else, maybe another round?" Luke added before anyone replied to Daisy, "And this is our cousin Daisy. Our Uncle Jesse over there in the red cap pretty much raised us all, mostly by himself." Dixie cut in, "That's the reason for all that grey hair." “Yeah Daisy, bring us another round,” Bo said, answering Daisy’s question before Luke had cut in. “Make one of those a tea for me and baby Duke," Dixie said. “Ok so that’s 9 beers and 1 tea, be right back,” Daisy replied, heading back toward the bar. “Congratulations Luke,” Whey said, having immediately figured out why Dixie ordered tea, when everyone else was having beer. Over at the bar Jesse said, “I’m gonna go over to the kids table and introduce myself to that young man, why don’t you two come along.” That’s just what they did. “You sound just like your Granddaddy, I’m Jesse Duke,” Jesse said, shaking Whey’s hand. “Nice to meet you Mr. Duke,” Whey replied. “Where are my manners? Whey this is Luther and Clyde Davenport, Dixie and BL’s Daddies,” Jesse said. Whey shook hands with both Davenport men, “nIce to meet you both. Now can anybody tell me what the deal with the sheriff is, he said we could pay a $200 fine or perform here for disturbing a bird habitat or something.” “You’ll have to overlook Rosco, he used to be a good and fair lawman then when his pension got beat in an election he became crookeder than a dog’s hind leg,” Jesse replied. Just as Jesse finished Daisy and Lori Mae came to the table each with a tray of drinks. Noone at the table was paying much attention to anyone around them but if they had been, the Dukes and Davenports might have noticed the looks of envy they were getting while they talked and drank with Whey and his band. Luke replied, "You see Boss Hogg over there has Rosco always on the lookout for the fancy buses. If he gets you to stop and agree to play here, Rosco calls back to Boss on the CB. Boss lets the cat out of the bag that there's a big name playing here and then he raises the prices." “Ain’t that price gouging or something illegal?” Whey asked. “It’s Boss’s county as long as no big outside companies are involved he can charge whatever,” BL replied. “One time not only did he raise popcorn and beer prices, he charged 10 bucks to get out!” Jesse said. The band was finishing their beers. Whey said, "Other than meeting the Sheriff over there, it was nice to get to meet ya'll, but we better be heading out or we will be late." Daisy gave a million dollar smile and asked, "Don't you have time for just one more song? Please?" "Whey tipped his hat, "Just for you, we'll make the time. Harry there will just have to drive a little faster." Bo offered, "Luke here, and me, can run a little interference for ya until ya'll cross the County line and we can show ya just what General Lee can do." “That’s mighty nice of ya Bo but neither me nor Harry want to be the cause of anybody getting in trouble with the Sheriff,” Whey replied. “We won’t get in no trouble, Rosco’d have to catch us first and he ain’t too good at that most days,” Bo said with a cocky grin. “Too bad the General Lee don’t have a red light, then Rosco couldn’t do nothing,” Luke said thoughtfully. “Let me think about it while we do this song,” Whey said before he and his band got back on stage and Whey said “This song is for Luke Duke and his wife Dixie,”. The band played and Whey sang Only Daddy that’ll walk the Line. Everyone was enjoying Whey's song, though there were many envious of the attention the Dukes and Davenports were getting. Only a few people there understood the true meaning behind why Whey chose that song. Once the song was over, Whey and the band bid their goodbyes as they gathered their equipment and headed to the door. True to his word, Bo stood up. Luke finished his beer as he too stood up to head outside. "Give me the truck keys and we'll meet ya’ll at home if ya ain't back shortly. Dixie suggested. "Alright. Yell at us on the CB if ya leave." Luke gave Dixie a quick kiss and the boys headed out to play Rosco games if he tried to stop the bus again. Bo and Luke drove just ahead of the bus but didn’t get above 55 MPH. “Keep your eyes sharp, Cletus gotta be hiding somewhere, I didn’t see him at the Boar’s Nest,” Bo said. Back at the Boar’s Nest a few folks that just came for the show, were leaving but the bar was still packed more than a normal Friday at this hour. Rosco had left when he saw Bo and Luke leaving without their wives. “They gotta be up to something and I wanna know what,” Rosco said to Flash. As Bo came up on Stix River that was the county line between Hazzard County and Placid County, Bo shifted gears and left the road going cross country about 100 feet from the bridge, hitting a slightly elevated spot becoming airborne, the notes of the General’s horn playing dixie, getting the attention of everyone on the bus. “YEEHAA!” The occupants of the bus let out cheers of excitement and surprise at seeing the General Lee going airborne across the Stix River. Harry stopped the bus just over the Placid County line. Bo swung a U turn and headed back to the bus. Whey and the band were off the bus giving the boys back slaps and high fives just as Rosco pulled up beside them, "Alright! I got you now! All of you! You are under arrest!" Luke frowned, "For what?" Rosco stuttered and mumbled unintelligently. Bo reminded, "You can't arrest any of us, Rosco." Luke added, "The County line is way back over there." Rosco huffed as he turned to see that they were correct. "I'll arrest you and you and all of you... for, .... for, ..... You just keep moving out of Hazzard!! Jut, ... jut, .. jut, ... next time we're just gonna cuff you and stuff you, that's what we are gonna do! Ain't that right, Flash?!!" Rosco got in his patrol car and headed back to Hazzard. Whey asked, "Does he have those fits often?" “Yeah he does, he’s gonna give hisself a vapor lock one of these days,” Bo answered Whey’s question. They all had a good laugh then Harry said,”we better get going Whey, if we’re gonna make that show on time.” After saying their goodbyes and loading the bus, Whey and his band were on their way. Once the bus was out of sight, Bo and Luke headed back to the Boar’s Nest, crossing the Stix river by bridge this time. “Might want to go cross country, avoid Rosco. He was madder than a wet hen, he’ll be watching for us on the road,” Luke advised. “10-4 cousin,” Bo replied, heading back. Without any hindrance from Rosco, Bo and Luke made record time. Dixie was just finishing her tea and about to suggest to BL that they head back to town when Bo and Luke came back in the door and joined Dixie, BL and the rest of the crew at the table. ”Is it just me or is it a mite warm in here?” BL asked then added “think I’ll go out and get some air. Dixie want to come with me?” "Sure. We can go to the bathroom on the way back in." Dixie replied. Luke was motioning Daisy over. Daisy knew what they wanted, so she grabbed two beers on her way over. "Get me a lemonade or something this time please." Dixie said to Luke as she stood up to go out with BL. Across the room, two blondes were looking to find a date for the night, one motioned to the Duke table, "You know that last song, Whey played for Luke and his wife?" The other replied, "Yeah." "Look at her. She's not had a beer all evening." The first stated. "So?" The second asked. "Wonder if there's a reason? Loose top. Stretchy pants??? How long was it they got married?" She asked. “You think anybody connected the dots after Whey’s song to you and Luke? BL asked. "I don't know." Dixie said as they started toward the door, "After all, it is one of his regular songs." BL and Dixie went outside and were leaning against the building, suddenly BL went very pale. “I think I better sit down,” BL said, making just a few steps away from the cinder block wall before crumpling to the ground, out cold. Dixie saw BL going down and moved to make sure her head didn't hit the ground. "BL?" Dixie said, trying to get BL to respond to her. BL was out for the count. Dixie was behind BL's back with BL’s head in her lap. She couldn't very well leave BL to get the guys and certainly couldn't pick her up herself. Just about then, Dixie heard the Boar's Nest door open. She looked up to see Brodie coming out the door, "Can you go get Bo and Luke to come out here? Preferably without the entire crowd?" "Sure thing, Dixie." Brodie said as he turned around and headed back inside. At the back table Brodie went to Luke and pulled Luke away from the table. "Miss Dixie sent me for you and Bo. She said not to bring a crowd." Luke frowned. Something in that message didn't set right but he said, "Thanks." He turned to Bo and motioned Bo to follow him. He didn't waste any time following Brodie back through the crowd and outside. Luke spotted BL almost as soon as they got outside, “Oh Lord,” Luke said. Behind him Bo asked “what,” then he saw his wife on the ground out cold, Dixie holding BL’s head in her lap, Bo rushed forward picking up BL’s hand, “I knew we should have stayed home. BL darlin are you alright, can you hear me?” “Brodie give Bo your hat to fan her and get a damp towel from Charlie but don’t tell Daisy what happened, she’ll just get Clyde worked up,” Luke said, fanning BL. “Be back in two shakes of a lamb’s tail,” Brodie replied, going inside. “Why’d she fain't?”Bo asked Dixie. Dixie replied, "I have no idea. We walked out for fresh air and was talking. She got real pale and said she needed to sit down. This is as far as we got." Luke had checked BLs pulse and respirations. They were normal. Brodie came back with a cold wet towel that Luke put behind BLs neck. BL was starting to respond to them. Bo saw BLs eyes trying to open. “There she is” Bo said when BL finally got her eyes open. “What happened?” BL asked. “You tell us,” Bo replied. “I don’t rightly know, one minute me and Dixie was talking and I all the sudden felt like if I didn’t sit down, I was gonna fall down and well you know the rest,” BL said, sitting up. “I’m taking you to the hospital, you were sick as a dog friday night. Got sick again earlier today and this is twice in a week’s time you fainted,” Bo said. “No, no they’ll charge an arm and a leg, just take me home, I’ll be alright,” BL replied. Dixie offered, "Bo, I'm off Monday. We can maybe go see Doc then if she needs to." "First things, first, ya'll. Let's get her up and to the car. Just take it real slow and don't stand up too quickly." Luke helped Bo get BL up to her feet and to the car. He turned to Brodie, "Hey, thanks for your help. I don't think I paid Daisy for those last beers. Settle up with her for me and get you a beer with what's left." "Thanks, Luke. Anytime. The only reason I'm taking that beer for helping ya’ll is cause you need me to settle up with Daisy and besides I was out of money for another beer, but I'll get you next time." Brodie said. “Monday? Thanks Dixie but Monday’s an awful long wait, what if she faints again?” Bo said, worried. “Monday is fine, I just will have to make sure not to get too hot. Thanks Dixie,” BL said, giving Bo a stubborn look, she absolutely was not going to the hospital. “Anybody ever tell you, you are a stubborn woman?” Bo asked as he helped BL in the car. “Maybe once or twice,” BL replied. Dixie and Luke got in Luke’s truck and they all headed back to town. Luke asked Dixie once they were alone? "Is she alright?" Dixie shrugged her shoulders, "You know as much as I do." Letting him know that her and BL hadn't talked about anything he didn't know about. When Bo and BL pulled into the driveway and parked, Bo helped BL out of General Lee and kept a steadying arm around her in case she fainted again, “are you sure you’re alright? It’s after hours but I’m sure Doc Applby would see you at the clinic or come here,” Bo said. “I’m ok, feeling much better,” BL replied, smiling to look more convincing. It was a rather low key Saturday night at the Duke household, they popped popcorn and watched a couple of movies before going to bed earlier than usual for a Saturday night.

By the time Bo and BL were waking up, Luke and the pups and Dixie were already out of the County heading toward their jobs. Luke had received a page about a fire in the wee hours of the night. He had gone downstairs to call in for details as the phone rang, he figured it was base camp calling him when he answered the phone, but instead, it was Tri-Counties calling for Dixie to come in early. BL had packed her lunch and a few snacks, then had gone back upstairs to shower. Getting out and wrapping a towel around herself then going back to the bedroom. She was brushing her damp hair still wearing just a towel when Bo returned from the farm, liking the view very much as he came into the bedroom. Going over behind BL wrapping his arms around his wife,kissing BL’s neck saying, “Mrs. Duke, you do look pretty that way. But even prettier this way,” with those words BL’s towel dropped to the floor. “Bo you’re gonna make me late for work,” BL halfheartedly protested as Bo cradled a breast in each hand. “So call Ellen Sue to open up, until you get there,” Bo replied. “Can’t, she had business to take care of this morning,” BL said. Bo squeezed one last time then dropped his hands, giving BL’s backside a smack as he stepped back and turned to go he said, “Uncle Jesse sent you a sausage biscuit, I put it with your lunch. “Ok thanks, see you after work” BL said, then finished getting ready. BL ate her sausage biscuit and drank a cup of coffee while she sorted mail. When Ellen Sue came in at noon BL ate the lunch she’d brought from last night’s supper at the Boar’s Nest. After going in early, by quitting time, Dixie was tired, really tired and sleepy. She headed to the car without changing. Her plans included going home, to bathe, food and bed. Not necessarily in that order. Luke, for not the first time since he and Dixie had been married, was glad that rain had moved in on the fire they thought they would fly out on, and was now heading back to Hazzard. Trixie and Scrapie were being themselves, looking out the windows and sniffing the fresh country air. Coming up on the Boar's Nest Luke saw Bo and BL had beat them there today. He reached for the CB's mic, "Lost Sheep One looking for Little Shotgun." "You got me." Dixie replied. "Well, where are you?" Luke answered. "Circling the Square. About to park." Dixie replied. Part of Luke was glad Dixie had headed home to rest, while a small thirsty part of him was ready for a beer. He turned the truck back out of the lot and headed home. "Behind ya." "You don't have to come right home, but I'm tired." Dixie replied. "Be there in a few." Luke replied. Daisy was working tonight and came over to Bo and BL’s table when 30 minutes had passed with no sign of Luke and Dixie. Daisy asked,“Any idea where Luke and Dixie are?” “They were already gone when I got up to come do the chores out at the farm,” Bo replied. At the house in town Dixie said ”I’m gonna eat me a sandwich, take a shower and go to bed. I’m sorry, just too tired to cook, maybe BL will fix you something when she gets home.” “It's alright sweetheart I ain’t hungry yet,” Luke replied. While Dixie made herself a ham sandwich, Luke went to the livingroom and turned on the tv to see what was being said about the fire they’d watched all day at work. When an hour had gone by and Luke, Dixie nor Cooter had shown up, Bo was ready to go home, he had more important things to do. ”Whaddya say we head home, don’t look like nobody else is coming,” Bo emptied his beer mug. “Ok, if you’ll take Sadie with you I’ll go by the Dixie diner and get us all some supper,” BL replied. So that’s just what they did. Luke, Scrapie and Trixie were stretched out on the couch. Luke actually had caught himself dozing a couple times when he and the pups heard the General pull in. Scrapie and Trixie were ready to play with Sadie. They jumped up bouncing. "It's Bo. Sadie's not with him." Luke said as Bo stepped in the back door and said, "Yes she is. Come on you two." Luke stood up, stretched and turned the TV off. "I'll leave the door open for them, but I'm heading up." Bo questioned, "Where's Dixie " "Already in bed. Night." Luke said. "BL is getting food at the diner." Bo said. Luke nodded. "OK. Good. We'll eat it later." Luke had just gotten in his and Dixie’s bedroom when BL pulled in the driveway. The dogs heard the GTO pull in and all three came tearing in the backdoor, barking. Letting everybody know she was home. “I heard her, you can hush now,” Bo said. The dogs paid no attention to Bo and kept up their ‘talking’ as if trying to tell BL something when she came in.Seeing the backdoor open, she knew the trio had probably heard her from out back. “Oh my, really. They’ve been ignoring you?” BL asked the threesome when she saw the back door open. “Fibbers, you were playing in the backyard,” Bo said. “Let’s eat, it’s still warm. Where is Dixie and Luke?” BL asked “They went up to bed, Luke said they’d eat later,” Bo replied. BL put two plates in the fridge and then sat down at the table with Bo. After they got done and BL cleaned up Bo said, “Luke and Dixie had a pretty good idea, how about we turn in early,” Bo said,sleeping the furthest thing from his mind. Shutting the backdoor after calling in the pups they went upstairs. The pups ran ahead of Bo and BL. With the door opened, all three went into Luke and Dixie's room and promptly in the bed. Sadie gave Dixie a lick all the way up her face. "Sadie. I love you too." Dixie mumbled. Luke hadn't been asleep and was trying to calm them down. "Come on Sadie. Bo and BL need you to protect them. Luke tossed the covers and managed to get Sadie out the door and it closed. He turned around to find Scrapie on his pillow. "Scrapie. That's my pillow." He reached to move the small dog who decided to grrr. "Scrapie." Luke gave a warning tone. Dixie said, "Come here baby." Scrapie left Luke's pillow and promptly went under the covers where Dixie cuddled him still mostly asleep. "Trader." Luke said. When Bo and BL got to their bedroom, Sadie was stretched out in the middle of the bed. “And just who made you the queen of Sheba,” Bo asked, trying to get Sadie to move. “C’mon off the bed,” Sadie didn’t grrr at Bo like Scrapie had Luke but she huffed her displeasure, getting down. BL knew what Bo’s next move was going to be and said, “I don’t think putting her in the hall for a while is a good idea, considering Sunday morning’s storm.” “We don’t need her help either,” Bo said. “We’ll just have to teach her, sometimes the bed is off limits,” BL replied. “O….kay” Bo wasn’t sure how well that was going to work. BL told Sadie to get in the chair and stay. Then shut the door, shucking their clothes, the still relatively newlyweds, turned off the light picking up from this morning. They newlyweds weren't the only ones enjoying some time alone. With Daisy working Lori Mae and LB were parked up a lonesome hollow, while Cooter and Crystal had just checked into the "No Tell Motel". Just before closing, Darcy came into the Boar's Nest and ordered a beer. He looked around, "It looks slow tonight Charlie." Charlie nodded, "So we will be packed tomorrow." The slow night at the Boar’s Nest played in Daisy’s favor. Charlie let her go a little early, saying he’d close up. So Daisy found herself in Darcy’s Chevy headed to the Shawnee Indian cave. “I’m glad Charlie let me go early, it was killin’ me seeing you sitting there all alone and wanting to be with you,” Daisy said. “We got a couple hours before you’re expected home, don’t we?” Darcy asked, parking outside the old cave’s mouth. Daisy grinned widely, "We sure do Sugar!” Darcy got out of the Chevy, grabbing a sleeping bag and a lantern. BALLADEER: Two things a Hazzard boy rarely leaves home without, ya never know when you might want to do some frog gigging and night fishing. Ole Darcy wasn’t always a pilot. Lighting the lantern and helping Daisy out, giving her the lantern the couple went into the cave. Darcy sat the lantern on a rock platform that jutted out from the cave wall and then spread the sleeping bag. “Have a seat m’lady,” Darcy waved his hand as if he was presenting something special. “Darcy this is so nice, a lot more roomy than the backseat,” Daisy grinned widely, patting the space beside her. Darcy didn’t have to be asked twice, he replied “sure is.” Darcy leaned closer and pressed his lips to Daisy’s, wrapping her arms around Darcy’s neck and deepening the kiss. Darcy’s hands wandered, finding their way inside Daisy’s top, Daisy felt her bra loosen. Luke thought back as he sat propped against his pillows watching Dixie sleep while hugging Scrapie. It wasn't too long ago that he would have only been thinking of one thing, now he was content to let his wife and his baby's mother get some needed rest. He knew they had both gotten up early this morning to go into work early. There would be plenty of time for other activities. He turned the bedside light out and snuggled down in the bed behind Dixie. Dixie automatically turned toward Luke and his warmth. Just as Luke was about to doze off Trixie licked him in the face. He held the covers up for her to get under them and get settled. Now they could all get some rest. In that lonesome hollow, LB and Lori Mae had, themselves a real good time, now they lay in the truck bed snuggled up as they watched shooting stars in the night sky. Bo and BL had worn themselves out a few hours ago now they slept soundly, Bo spooning his bride but he was wide awake the instant BL threw his arm off her, jumping up and running from the room, the bathroom door banging shut a second later. BL knelt by the toilet naked but she didn’t care as she fought to control her stomach. Bo followed a second later, having put on pj bottoms first, “darlin are you alright?” His answer was more retching. Opening the door slipping in he saw a very naked and pale BL kneeling by the toilet both sweating and shivering at the same time. ”Can I get you something,” Bo asked, wetting a cool washcloth for the back of BL’s neck. “A gown and something to pull my hair up,” BL replied, noticing her lack of clothes. ”Be right back,” Bo said just opening the bathroom door, wide enough to slip out. A few minutes later Bo slipped back in, handing BL a gown and a ponytail holder, “here ya go darlin.” “Thanks,” BL replied, putting the gown on, then pulling up her hair. BALLADER: One thing about a Marine, once a Marine, always a Marine. That slamming bathroom door caused Luke and Dixie both to sit up quickly which triggered the dogs to jump up and bark. Luke had already tossed the covers and reached for his jeans as he thought typical Hazzard trouble had found them. Luke opened the bedroom and the mighty protectors ran out the door but instead of going downstairs, they ran to the closed bathroom door. It was only then that Luke saw the light under the door. He said quietly, "Bo? BL?" Dixie had sat up and grabbed her robe wondering what was going on but stayed put since Luke knew where she was. She had seen him when there was trouble. It was best to stay where she was at, at least for now until he figured out what the trouble was. “BL’s sick,” Bo answered. “Sorry didn’t mean to wake the whole house,” BL replied. “It’s ok BL,” Luke said. “Feel better, night,” Luke added heading back to bed. By now Sadie was barking too, only she didn’t really know at what, she was just barking because Trxie and Scrapie were barking. Luke attempted to hush Sadie,”Shhhhh. It's alright girl." He opened his bedroom door and Trixie and Scrapie ran out to check on Sadie. Together, all three ran downstairs. Luke knew where they were heading, "Everything is alright. The dogs want out. I'll be right back up." Dixie turned over and found herself alone in the room. She tried to get comfortable, but decided if she wanted to sleep she needed a snack. In the kitchen, she could see Luke standing on the porch waiting on the pups. She opened the fridge and found the plates that BL had brought home. She was just getting them out when Luke and the pups came back inside. “Do you want to eat the plate BL brought in or just a dessert?” Dixie asked. Luke hadn’t eaten before going to bed but it was too late/early for a big meal and then go back to bed, he’d eat breakfast later at the farm. “I’ll eat the dessert now and save the rest for later,” Luke replied. Upstairs Bo wiped the cool damp cloth over BL’s cheeks and forehead as she tried to concentrate on not throwing up again. “Are you alright now?” Bo asked, worriedly. “I think so, give me a few minutes,” BL replied. A second later though she clenched her teeth as her mouth watered and hot bile rose up her throat. Leaning over the toilet the battle was lost to more retching. A bit later when BL was feeling a little better, she warned, "Tell Luke and Dixie to make sure those dinners are good. Maybe there was something wrong with them." Bo heard Luke and Dixie coming back upstairs, "Ya'll didn't eat those dinners did you?" Dixie replied, "Just the desserts." Bo nodded, "BL said to check them because that may have been what made her sick, but I had the same thing and am fine." Luke frowned, "Bo you could eat anything and not get sick." “He has a point,” BL said with a weak grin at Bo . “Cute darlin,” Bo replied. A bit later when BL felt like she could lay down again without having to make another mad dash to the bathroom to throw up, she and Bo went back to bed, leaving the door open this time.

Thursday morning Daisy was doing her housework when the phone rang, Daisy picked up on the second ring “Duke farm, Daisy speaking.” “Daisy, this is Danny at the drugstore, I have the rest of Jesse’s blood pressure medication, if someone wants to pick it up, Danny said. Daisy replied, “I’ll pick it up in a little while, thanks for calling. Bye.” Luther was out in the wrecker while Cooter manned the garage. He had pumped some gas but was currently under the hood of Mr. Peabody's old farm truck. The poor old thing should have been put out to pasture years ago, but the old farmer refused to let it go. Suddenly, Cooter felt arms run around his sides to his chest as someone very soft walked up behind him. "Can I help you?" He asked professionally. "Oh, but yes, you can." Crystal replied. Cooter turned around, being careful not to get his greasy hands on Crystal's clothes. "What brings you all the way over here to Hazzard this early in the day?" "I had a few errands to run over here and thought you might have a few minutes free?" Crystal asked. “I reckon Mr. Peabody’s truck can wait a few minutes but I can’t leave the garage, my Dad’s out on the wrecker and I got to stay close and answer the phone,” Cooter replied. “That’s ok,” Crystal said. Clyde Davenport had gotten a call from the drugstore to tell him his cholesterol medicine was in but he couldn’t go get them and he’d missed a dose this morning because he was out. So he’d called over to the post office and asked BL to go. A bit later, Daisy had parked in town and was heading to the drugstore when she saw BL heading her way. She waited for BL to catch up and asked, "Where are you heading" “To the drugstore, Danny called and told Daddy he could pick up the rest of his cholesterol medicine. The drug store was short the other day when Daddy got his prescription filled,” BL replied. Daisy replied, "Then, I'll join you. I have stuff to pick up, too." The two walked across the square to the drugstore, which seemed busier than normal. Crystal walked in behind Daisy and BL and took her place in line to wait her turn to pick up her prescription. Behind Crystal, Lori Mae came in and took the spot behind Crystal. Daisy and BL were chatting while waiting when Lori Mae saw who was in line just a couple spots in front of her and she called to them, “Daisy,BL, hey what are ya’ll doing here?” “I’m picking up a prescription for Uncle Jesse,” Daisy said, adding “thanks for working in my place Saturday night, me and Darcy haven’t got to have a night like that in a while. “Hey Lori Mae, Daddy has a prescription that needed picking up and he couldn’t get away from the cabinet shop and he called and asked me to come get it,” BL replied. Lori Mae grinned, "Not a problem, Sugar. With the mill payday and all, I did real good in tips." Daisy was next and stepped to the counter, telling Danny that she needed to pick up Uncle Jesse's medication. Danny replied, "I have it right here. If you want your refill now, it's ready, too." Daisy planned to pick it up in a day or so, but if it was ready, why not. "Sure. There's no point in having to come back. " Danny handed Daisy two bags. Daisy moved to wait on BL to get her dad's medication. After Daisy had her bags one being white and the other pink, BL didn’t have to ask what was in the other bag, the color answered that question. Stepping up to the counter BL asked for Clyde’s medication. “I have your refill too if you want it now,” Danny said. “Sure , might as well. I’d be back in a few days for it anyway,” BL replied. Danny handed BL one white bag and one pink, the same as he had Daisy. Crystal had been trying to figure out how come the names that the strawberry blonde behind her had called the two women sounded familiar, then suddenly it clicked. “You two must be the BL and Daisy that Cooter talks about,” Crystal said, stepping out of line so she didn’t hold it up. “That’s us but who are you? BL asked. “I’m Cooter’s girlfriend Crystal Walker,” Crystal replied. “Oh, it’s nice to meet you Crystal. I’m Daisy” Daisy said. “I hate to run, we just met and all but I gotta take Daddy his medicine and get back to the post office. Make Cooter bring you by the house sometime,” BL said. In the meantime Lori Mae had gotten her prescription in a pink bag, BL noticed. Before leaving BL decided to get a cherry coke, while waiting she saw Crystal leave, also with a pink bag, BL decided tonight was a good night for some girl talk with Dixie. Dixie had taken a small bag of chips and a couple packs of cheese with the little cracker sticks to snack on and had planned to eat at work from the kitchen. Her plans were dashed with a miscount of trays.Getting a tray usually wasn't a problem yet was never a guaranteed thing. Inmates had to eat before staff could get a tray. Dixie brushed it off and nibbled on the snacks she had brought. By the time she went to change clothes at the end of her shift, the snacks were wearing off. She went to the car and considered grabbing a burger before heading to Hazzard but drove on. She would order at the Boar's Nest. Luke, Scrapie and Trixie had completed some extensive training today. He glanced at the pups as he drove. Normally, they were bouncing around, looking from the windshield to the window to out the back of the pickup as he drove. This evening was different. They were both stretched out to their maximum length together on the seat beside him, napping. He laughed as he drove. Luke wasn't so much in need of a nap or food, but he really was ready for a couple of beers as he pulled into the Boar's Nest ahead of everyone else. Luke cracked the window open before he got out of the truck, it was cool enough the two napping pups would be fine and they could finish their naps and he could relax “I’ll be back in a little bit, ya’ll finish your nap,” Luke said, as he got out of the truck heading inside. BL was next to arrive, she was usually first to get to the little roadhouse, after work but she had run home first and changed clothes, leaving Sadie at the house. Luke was already there when she turned into the parking lot. Luke saw BL come in and motioned her over. "It looks like we beat them. What do you want to drink?" He said as he took a drink of his beer and motioned to Lori Mae to come over to the table “Yeah, you’re a little earlier than usual, or am I later than I thought?” BL sat down answering Luke’s question just as Lori Mae came over. “I’ll take a glass of ice tea, not in the mood for a beer,” BL replied. “Lori Mae, can we get 1 beer and 1 ice tea?” Luke asked,adding, the rest will be along.” Lori Mae replied, “1 beer and 1 ice tea coming right up. Hey BL, any chance any of the rest coming will be your brother?” Lori Mae said. “No idea Lori Mae ,” BL answered. As Lori Mae walked away, Luke asked, "Did I miss something? Why is she asking a about LB?" “Apparently they are dating but LB sure has kept it quiet,” BL said Bo walked up just then, only having caught BL’s answer to Luke, asked, “Who’s been keeping what quiet? BL replied, “LB is dating Lori Mae.” Before Bo could respond Lori Mae came over with Luke’s beer and BL’s ice tea. “Thanks Lori Mae," they both said. “Can I get you a drink Bo?” Lori Mae asked. “Bring me a beer, please,” Bo replied. “Got it,” Lori Mae said, and walked away to get it. By now BL had downed almost half a glass of tea, trying to get rid of her dry mouth that wouldn’t go away. Dixie pulled up by Luke's truck and seeing the cracked windows snuck a peek to find Trixie and Scrapie spooning while napping in the truck. As she approached the table she gave Luke a kiss and asked, "What did you do to the pups? They didn't even move when I checked on them." "They have run themselves and me ragged in training today." Luke said as he took a large drink of his second beer and motioned Lori Mae again. Dixie noted the empty beside Luke's mug, "It must have been thirsty training." "Cute." Luke said, "But yes it very much made ya thirsty." Lori Mae asked, "What can I get you to drink?" Dixie replied, "Tea with lemonade, no ice." "Great." Lori Mae started to turn away. "I also want a special. The 2 piece chicken barbecued breast and leg and add a thigh. For the sides, I want corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and gravy, and add a macaroni and cheese with two biscuits, please." Dixie said. Lori Mae actually had to break out a pen and order pad for the order and then asked, "Does anyone else want anything?" Luke replied, "I do, but not right now." “I do,” BL said, Dixie’s order sounded so good she just had to order ”I’d like a 2 piece BBQ chicken meal.” “White meat or dark meat?” Lori Mae asked. “2 breasts with slaw, mashed potatoes, mac n’ cheese and a biscuit. Could you double the sides? I want to take 1 breast for lunch tomorrow and I want something to go with it.” BL replied. Bo decided he might as well eat too, if the whole household was going to eat, “I’ll get something when Luke does.” Lori Mae read the orders back to make sure she had them right then asked, “anything else? BL can I get you a refill?” Lori Mae asked. “Yes please,” BL replied. Lori Mae went to place the orders and get BL more tea. Luke surveyed the others drinks, "Go ahead and bring us all another round." He saw Cooter heading toward them, "And see what Cooter wants too." Lori Mae replied, “ok be back with those drinks in a minute,” Heading back to the bar Lori Mae caught Cooter and got his order. Lori Mae brought the beers and BL’s tea saying, "Dixie, BL I’ll be right out with your food.” “Ok,” Dixie and BL said. When Lori Mae was gone BL said, “be right back, I got to go to the ladies room. Dixie you wanna go with?” “Sure,” Dixie followed BL to the bathroom. LB came in the Boar’s Nest just as his sister and cousin entered the bathroom. Lori Mae was taking a tray of empty mugs to the bar just then and stopped to ask, “want a beer, I was just about to take food to Dixie and BL?” “Yeah, it was dusty out there today,” LB replied, giving Lori Mae a quick kiss. Uncle Jesse had come in and taken a seat at the table with Mr. Peabody. They had set up a game of checkers when Clyde and Luther walked in and noticed the tables were pretty full. They were heading to the bar when Jesse offered them a seat. So they sat down, ready to order a beer. Ever the observant one, Luke asked LB, "What was that over there about?" "I was ordering a beer." LB said. Luke replied, "I've ordered three, and it didn't look anything like that." BL and Dixie came back to the table, “lookee what the cat dragged in,” BL said. Lori Mae brought over the food the girls had ordered and a whole pitcher of beer, “I thought a pitcher might be easier when ya’ll want refills.” "Thanks Darlin'." LB said as Lori Mae snuck a quick kiss. LB managed to smack her lightly on the behind as she headed back to fill other orders. Dixie noticed BL's tea glass. "She might should have brought us a pitcher of tea too." “Yeah, this is my third glass, my mouth has been really dry today,” BL said. Dixie ate the chicken leg first, which was still her favorite part of the chicken. She planned to eat a bit of the sides and the thigh here and take the rest with the breast home for later or for lunch tomorrow. Luke said, "I'm going to go check on the pups. I'll be right back." BL watched LB and Lori Mae, still surprised they were dating but stunned at how serious they were, judging by what she had seen at the drugstore earlier today. Bo reached for the pitcher of beer, pouring himself a refill. “Go easy on that Bo, I know it’s watered down and don’t have much of a punch but you gotta drive home and your father inlaw is sitting right over there,” BL said. Luke returned from checking on the pups and topped his mug off and took a drink. "What did I miss?" LB ribbed BL, "Just BL hen pecking Bo." “Cute LB. I just don’t want to have to bail OUR father and my husband out of jail or worse go home a widow, I'm too young to be a widow,” BL said. Bo tried, "It's fine, Honey. I'm good." Dixie finished what she wanted of her supper and was ready for a box. "The next time Lori Mae comes by, I need a box and another tea. How about you BL?" She asked, trying to change the subject. ”Yeah, I need more tea too,” BL replied. Thinking to herself, ‘drinking at this rate her eyeballs were gonna float’. Dixie flagged Lori Mae down asking “can we get a pitcher of tea for me and BL?” “Sure hon, you want a half pitcher of lemonade to add to yours?” Lori Mae replied. "Sure and a box please." Dixie replied. “Were me and Luke the only ones to miss that you and Lori Mae were dating?” BL asked LB after Lori Mae left.. ”I knew,” Cooter volunteered, noone else spoke so they must not have known either. Dixie asked, "And since when do you keep secrets?" Before Cooter could reply, LB spoke up. "It wasn't really a secret. Ya'll just been going in early or not coming out." “You have a point there, you can’t exactly keep us informed if you don’t see us,”BL replied. ”Here you go. BL here’s your to go order. Does anybody need anything else?” Lori Mae asked. “We’re good thanks,” BL said. LB wiggled his eyebrows suggestively at Lori Mae. For another half hour the bunch talked and drank their beer and tea. Finally Luke asked Dixie, “are you ready to go home sweetheart? I left the pups in the truck, remember?” Dixie replied, "Yes, but since BL and I have supper and a snack, why don't you and Bo get something for supper and maybe all of us some pie for later?" Luke heard the rest of Dixie's thought that she hadn't said, 'so we don't have to cook later.' He nodded and waved Lori Mae over again, "Can you get me a two piece chicken dinner with a couple of sides. I'm not picky. Also, four pieces of pie. You can mix them up. Bo what are you gonna have?" ”Sure Luke,” Lori Mae replied. Bo said, ”I'll have the chicken dinner too with baked beans and potato salad.”. Lori Mae wrote everything down on her order pad, “Ok, be right back.” Lori Mae was only gone a few minutes when she returned she had 2 trays, one in each hand. “Here you go 2 chicken dinners, 1 with baked beans and potato salad,” this plate she sat before Bo. Another chicken plate with corn on the cob and fried okra. Sorry we're out of mashed potatoes Luke, gotta cook some more.” “Okra’s fine Lori Mae,” Luke said, smiling. “I got you banana pudding, chocolate pie, apple and blueberry pie,“ Lori Mae, put 4 dessert boxes on the table. “Thanks Lori Mae,” Bo said. "Cooter are you coming over?" Dixie asked. Before Cooter could answer LB asked, “not seeing Crystal tonight?” "Crystal? Who's Crystal?" Dixie looked from Cooter, to LB, to Bo and Luke trying to figure which one would answer her and who was hiding what. Cooter gave LB a look, so much for keeping the relationship quiet now. Sighing, knowing Dixie would hold onto this like a dog with a bone he said, “Crystal is my girlfriend, we been dating a couple weeks now.” BL leaned over whispering in Dixie’s ear, “that ain’t all they been doing.” "You've been dating a couple weeks and none of us even know who this person is?" Dixie looked at BL, "How do you know her?" Cooter opened his mouth to speak then closed it. “I saw her at the drugstore today and she introduced herself. She’s real sweet,” BL replied. "Ummmm, so if she’s so sweet, how come we haven’t seen ya'll together or you haven’t introduced us?" Dixie asked. “I didn’t want ya’ll to scare her off,” Cooter replied. “How about bringing her to the house sometime and we’ll have a cookout and everybody can get acquainted. I promise Bo and Luke will be on their best behavior, right Bo?” BL suggested, hoping to settle Dixie down. “Scouts honor,” Bo made the scout sign of honor with one hand, fingers crossed under the table on the other. “LB you and Lori Mae come too, we’ll have one last hurrah to end the summer,” BL said. Cooter snuck a glance at Dixie, "It's not Bo and Luke that I'm worried about." Dixie shot daggers with her eyes at Cooter, "Oh, but no. You can't be talking about me. There is no way I could ever equal you years ago when you sided with Dad over Luke." Luke saw truce lines about to be broken and a sibling civil war on the horizon. "We all agreed to let that muddy water stay under the bridge. Cooter, you come over anytime and bring who you want with you." Dixie felt Luke give her hand a tighter squeeze as he spoke, willing her to hush. Dixie didn't much like being hushed, but she would here and now. Though both her husband and brother likely hadn't heard the last of this conversation, especially if this Crystal, for whatever reason, didn't measure up. But Luke knew Cooter's history with girls. They just may fizzle out before said cookout. BL gave LB a hard look, his big mouth and sometimes dense brain was about to start another family feud and this time she’d be considered a traitor because she lived in the ‘enemy’ camp. “Darlin, you ready to go home for some R & R?” Bo asked, he didn’t want anywhere near this ‘family discussion’. “Yeah, I left Sadie at home when I ran by to change after work,” BL finished her tea then picked up her to go box. “See ya’ll at home,” Bo said to Luke and Dixie. Luke finished his beer, "We're right behind you." He gave Cooter a look and Cooter let out a breath he'd been holding since this conversation began as he watched Luke guide Dixie through the crowd and to the car's. When the others were out of earshot Cooter looked at LB, “see what your big mouth almost did?” “Sorry I didn’t think Dixie would get so wound up,” LB replied. “Well she did!” Cooter said. The 2 couples arrived home, Luke took Scrappie and Trixie to the backyard. They had rested while Luke was in the Boar’s Nest and now they were ready to run. Bo had helped BL and Dixie carry in the take out boxes of food and desserts inside, so the girls could get their lunch coolers that they took to work. “I’ll take Sadie out, Darlin. Wanna go out Sadie?” Sadie woofed and ran out as soon as Bo cracked the door open. “Dixie what was bugging you at the Boar’s Nest when we found out Cooter has been dating Crystal a couple weeks but hasn’t introduced her yet? It's never bothered you before, we have both always made sort of a game out of keeping up with our brothers' love lives,'' BL said, putting the food in the fridge but leaving the pie out for now. Dixie shrugged, "I think it was more his remark about not being worried about Bo and Luke being on good behavior but that he was worried about me not liking her and being rude, that bothered me." “I’m sure he was just kidding. Better be nice she could end up being your sister in law judging by what I seen at the drugstore,” BL replied. Dixie looked confused by BL's statement, "What do you mean and what did you see at the drugstore?" “Ya know those pretty little pink bags that you get only with a certain kind of medication, well she got one,” BL replied. Dixie wasn't on the same chapter of the book that BL was and thus couldn't draw the expected conclusion. "BL, I'm not following you. Pink bags at the drugstore for certain medications? The only time I ever got a pink bag at the drugstore was the tiny ones that birth control packets come in, but surely that ain't possible if they only been dating a couple weeks unless, .... she's the type that sleeps around." “Exactly, every woman in Hazzard who has ever got birth control packets or been with somebody who got one, can tell you that except little girls too young to know. It don’t matter how long they been dating if they are meant to be together. Look at you and Luke, first time around was just some bad math that led to bad timing but you still ended up right where you was meant to be,” BL said. "True, but I reckon I just never thought of my brother even getting naked before. I sort of figured that he just wore the same jeans and work shirt, even in his sleep." Dixie said, only barely exaggerating her thoughts of her big brother. “Well if it’s any consolation, I’ve never thought of my brother getting naked either,” BL said then made a grossed out face adding, “those are pictures I don’t want in my head.” Dixie agreed, "Right! Eww!!" Bo, Luke and the pups were just coming back inside, "Eww, what?" Luke asked. Dixie replied with a little harmless fib, "Spider." "Where?" Luke asked, ready to hunt it down. "It's gone now." Dixie said as she reached for her 'to go box' and sat Luke's on the table, "Come on eat your supper. I worked all day on it." She said in good fun. "And, I'll just join you for a little snack." “Better eat too Bo, can’t guarantee it’ll still be here later,” BL gave Dixie a teasing grin. "Cute." Dixie said. “I think I’m ready for some dessert too,” BL said, getting some forks and tea for everybody, then looking in each dessert box until she found the chocolate pie. After eating the foursome watched TV awhile, BL was tucked into Bo’s side on the loveseat. Bo looked down when her head came to rest on his chest. “Darlin, let's go to bed before you get too comfortable,” Bo eased BL off him. “I’m awake just resting my eyes,” BL mumbled. “Well I’m ready to stretch out, go on up and I’ll be up as soon as I take Sadie out one last time,” Bo said, pulling BL to her feet, making sure she started upstairs before he and Sadie went out back. Luke flipped the channel on the TV to the weather. After seeing the news and weather, he said, "Come on or I might be sitting here in the morning. Come on pups." He took them out even though they had just come back in with Sadie because they headed to the kitchen door from habit. Dixie went upstairs, freshened up in the bathroom, put on a nice gown and sat on the bed wondering what was taking Luke so long since the pups had just been out. Luke checked the doors, something he never did at the farm, but had gotten in the habit once he was in town with a family depending on him. He opened the bedroom door and Scrapie and Trixie dove into their bed. Luke took one look at his wife and was glad they had gone upstairs early. With the lights low, Luke ditched his clothes, got into bed and began caressing Dixie. His hands found her breasts and he noted there was a bit more plumpness to them. Just as Luke squeezed them gently, he noted Dixie tense. Dixie had been enjoying Luke's attention until he squeezed her breasts. The tenderness in her breasts took her by surprise and she couldn't help nearly yelping as she inhaled quickly and bit her lip to avoid letting out a yelp. BL had gone to the bathroom, the need to pee had hit the minute she had stood up. Going to hers and Bo’s bedroom she’d changed into a gown and had gone back to sleep almost immediately. When Bo and Sadie came in, Saie jumped up on the bed, making 3 circles then scratching the comforter and laying down. Bo changed into pajama pants then laid down beside BL, watching her sleep. Friday morning when Bo’s alarm went off BL tried to ignore it. She wasn’t ready to get up yet but her bladder had other ideas. “Darlin, you don’t have to get up,” Bo said as he stepped into his jeans. “Yes I do,” BL replied on her way out the bedroom door, the bathroom door shut a minute later.

Monday morning BL got up nice and slow to avoid another dizzy/fainting spell. ‘Morning darlin, how do you feel?” Bo asked. “I’m better, told you it was probably just water in my ears,” BL replied. Dixie, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie had gotten up, out and on their way to their jobs on schedule for a change. At the garage, Cooter was moving a bit slower than Luther liked but he was at work and moving. He might be burning the candle at both ends but he was doing his part. So far BL’s day had been uneventful, she hadn’t been dizzy even once but that was likely due to her careful movements. Truth be told she was a mite afraid of fainting again and noone there but Sadie to know it. Bo had gone out to the farm as usual to do the morning chores but hadn’t stayed for breakfast, he had to be at work to unload a truck early this morning. Ellen Sue reported to work right on time, taking her pink helmet off as she came in the back door, bending down to pet Sadie and give the dog a treat,”here ya go sweetheart.” “Howdy boss, how was your weekend?” Ellen Sue asked, grinning at BL who kept telling the slightly older woman that she wasn’t the boss, just a coworker. BL replied “Afternoon Ellen Sue, the weekend was busy and a little eventful.” “Oh?What’d you do?” Ellen Sue asked. ”Me, Bo, Luke and Dixie spent the day at the lake on Saturday, then grilled hamburgers and hotdogs that evening.Then Sunday we all went out to the Duke farm for breakfast before going to church then having lunch there,” BL replied. “That was a busy weekend, I don’t know how you had time for anything else sounds pretty eventful to me.” Ellen Sue said. “Well all that wasn’t what I meant by eventful. Sunday I had a couple dizzy spells and fainted once.” BL replied. “Oh my, are you alright, should you be at work? I could have filled in all you had to do was call,” Ellen Sue said, eyeing the younger woman closely looking for signs BL was sick. “I’m fine, must have just been water in my ears from swimming Saturday but would you deliver the mail, might not be a good idea to drive all over the county,” BL replied. Ellen Sue replied, "Right. I'll get it. You can stay here or head home to rest." “Thanks, think I’ll head home. I’m exhausted for some reason, I slept good though,” Ellen Sue replied, "Alright. I'll make the deliveries quick and be back to close. Sadie take good care of her." Sadie wagged her tail as her and BL headed out for home. Once home BL let Sadie out back a few minutes, “How about a nap, Sadie girl?” BL asked and got a ‘woof’ and Sadie making a beeline upstairs. BL stopped off at the bathroom, she had to pee for what felt like the 100th time today. Finished in the bathroom she went to hers and Bo’s bedroom, taking off her shoes before laying down beside Sadie, falling asleep within seconds. Dixie had a free minute and decided to call the Hazzard Post Office. Placing the call to the Hazzard switchboard she was transferred to the post office. Ellen Sue was just unlocking the door from the mail deliveries when she heard the phone ringing. She hurried to the phone, "Hazzard Post Office." "Ellen Sue? This is Dixie. Is BL there?" “No, she said she was going home to rest that she was exhausted,” Ellen Sue replied. Dixie replied. "Alright. I won't bother her then. I was just calling to check on her." “She told me about her dizzy spells and fainting yesterday. Asked me to deliver the mail, she didn’t think driving all over the county a good idea even though she feels better.” Ellen Sue said. "Alright. I'll go right home after work and check on her. Thanks." Dixie said as she hung up to get back to work. BL was sleeping good when the need to pee woke her up, at first she thought she could ignore it but nope that wasn’t happening. Getting up as easy as possible so she didn’t set off a wave of dizziness, BL went to the bathroom. The dizziness was strange but BL thought with needing to pee so much today, she must have a kidney infection. “How about you girl, need to go out?” BL asked Sadie, while she was up. Sadie woofed and headed downstairs. While Sadie was in the backyard, BL fixed herself a glass of ice water, she’d have to go to the bathroom again but her mouth felt like cotton. Letting Sadie back inside, BL took her ice water and went back to bed until she had to pee again anyway. When Dixie got off work, she didn't bother to change clothes. She was heading straight home so she didn’t waste time changing. Once across the county line, Dixie passed the Boar's Nest, noting that only Daisy’s vehicle and a few workers from the mill were there. Luke was coming from the other direction but also would pass the Boar's Nest. He noted that no one else was there. "Lost Sheep One to Little Shotgun or Lost Sheep Two." "Little Shotgun here." Dixie answered. "I'm coming by the Boar's Nest. Where are ya'll?" Luke asked. "I'm almost home. I'll explain in a bit." Dixie said. Luke replied. "Behind you." Bo was just getting back from making deliveries in Choctaw, unloading a truck this morning had put him getting started a little late. He hadn’t heard Dixie’s call on the CB but noted as he passed the backside of the post office BL’s car wasn’t there but Ellen Sue’s pink moped was. So he was a mite worried about BL. “Lost Sheep 2 looking for Sweet Talker, I just passed the post office and you ain’t there, what’s your 20? BL you out there come back,” Bo tried calling on the CB as he headed General Lee toward the Boar’s Nest. Dixie went in the front door, expecting BL to be in the living room. When she wasn't, Dixie called out, "BL?" Nothing from BL, but she heard a small woof from upstairs. At the bedroom door, Dixie knocked lightly, "BL?" The knock set Sadie off barking, the normal reaction except usually BL was wide awake and expecting it but not today and she nearly jumped out of her skin. “SADIE HUSH! You nearly gave me a heart attack just now.” BL fussed, not happy at being so rudely awakened. "Sadie, it's me. BL are you alright? Can I come in." “I’m fine Dix, yes you can come in,” BL replied. Dixie looked confused as she came into the bedroom, "If you are alright why are you home in bed?" “Taking a nap. I don’t know why but I felt drained and exhausted when Ellen Sue came to work at noon. I took a nap yesterday afternoon when we got home from the farm,” BL replied, a puzzled expression on her face. "Yeah, we all took a nap yesterday afternoon, so?" “Boy do we all sound old taking a Sunday afternoon nap,” BL said grinning then shrugged her shoulders adding, “maybe I’m coming down with something.” Dixie replied, " Maybe you are. We were all up with the dogs and storm Saturday night too. Well, alright Luke was up with the pups and Bo was up because Sadie took his bed." Dixie grinned as she petted Sadie. Luke pulled in the drive and cut the pups loose in the backyard. Dixie opened the bedroom door for Sadie who wanted to play. Luke opened the back door to a bouncing Sadie as she ran out to join the others. "Hey? Where are ya’ll at?" "Up here." Dixie said. Luke came upstairs to find Dixie sitting on BL and Bo's bed. “Why are ya’ll here instead of the Boar’s Nest? How come you’re still wearing your uniform Dixie?” BL looked from Dixie to Luke curiously. When Bo got no response from BL and noone but Daisy was at the Boar’s Nest he headed home, hoping BL wasn’t worse, she acted fine this morning. Bo saw all the vehicles home. He hurriedly got out of the General and took the front steps two at a time? Inside, he yelled, "BL?" Luke hadn't gotten any answers yet but called to Bo, "Up here." Bo again took the stairs two at a time, "What's wrong?" He asked as his pulse raced thinking something was seriously wrong. “Nothing’s wrong, ya’ll got your knickers in a knot for no reason,” BL said but that was as far as she got. Cooter was coming back from a job but didn’t see the other vehicles at the Boar’s Nest so turned off to go by the house to see what was up, he figured one or both girls were changing before they all met up. Seeing everybody home Cooter parked in front of the house and went to the door and knocked but when not even the dogs came to the door, he let himself in, “hey where is everybody?” Cooler called out. Bo answered “we’re upstairs.” Cooter had joined the ‘party’ a second later, “what’s everybody doing up here?” Cooter asked. BL wondered when hers and Bo’s bedroom had become Hazzard Central. “Let’s go have this discussion in the livingroom,” BL said,picking up her water off the nightstand. Downstairs Luke and Dixie sat on the couch, Bo and BL settled on the loveseat and BL set her water on the end table, Bo’s arm automatically went around his wife, like Luke’s had Dixie. Cooter didn’t want to get grease on the furniture and got himself a dining chair. BL started, “I asked Ellen Sue to deliver the mail today when she came in to work, I didn’t think it was the smart thing for me to go driving all over the county after fainting yesterday,” Cooter interrupted “you fainted yesterday?” BL replied “yes I had a couple dizzy spells yesterday and fainted once. Anyway Ellen Sue told me to come home and rest if I wanted to, so I came home and took a nap.” Cooter replied unconcerned after hearing the explanation, "Oh, ok. So are ya'll coming out tonight since BL is alright? " “Cooter, coming home at noon and sleeping all afternoon ain’t exactly alright,” Bo replied. “Is that a no then?” Cooter asked. “Yes!” Bo exclaimed. “We’ll take a rain check too.” Dixie said. After a hearty supper the 4 newlyweds settled in with a movie then went to bed. BALLADEER: Well for a few days everything was normal, as normal as things ever get in Hazzard.

A loud clap of thunder rang out, Scrapie and Trixie both jumped up and barked as if a burglar were breaking in. Luke sat straight up in the bed at the urgency of the dogs barking. "Shhhh. What?" Then he heard another rumble of thunder that set the dogs off again. Dixie pulled the covers closer and asked while still half asleep, "What?" "Storm. Go back to sleep. I'll take them downstairs awhile." Luke said as he put on his pj bottoms. He met Bo in the living room dressed similarly. "What brings you down here at 4 am?" “I was checking to make sure the top was up on BL’s car, before it rains,” Bo answered. “Ah guess Sadie woke BL up too and you got the pleasure of checking the car,” Luke said. “No, actually it was me Sadie woke up, when she jumped right in the middle of me because the thunder scared her. BL had gone to the bathroom, when she came back, asked about the car top and said she was gonna check. Told her stay with Sadie, I’d check,” Bo replied. Luke smirked, "How much of the bed do you think you are gonna have when you get back up there?" Bo frowned, "Not much." "Want a beer?" Luke asked, heading for the fridge “Yeah, might as well stay up so we can go out to the farm and do the chores,” Bo replied, maybe he could talk BL into an afternoon nap. Luke nodded. "That's pretty much the way I saw it. These two are small but not when they are hiding from the storm or wanting to run, jump and bark at it. I figured Dixie needed to sleep." Bo, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie took seats in the living room. Each had a small trembling dog with them as they sipped their beers and talked guy talk while Dixie, BL and Sadie slept upstairs. About 6:30, Sadie nudged BL’s hand, getting no response. She licked up the side of BL’s face, “Ok, just a minute, let me get dressed, Uncle Jesse is making a big breakfast.” Pulling on jeans and a top then going to the bathroom. before going downstairs, grabbing her boots from the bedroom, Sadie ‘herding’ every step needing out bad. “Morning fellas. Scrapie, Trixie, you wanna go out too?” BL said on her way to the back door. The two little pups abandoned Bo and Luke, racing outside. “Morning darlin, did you and Sadie get any sleep after I vacated the bed?” Bo asked good naturedly. “Yup! Like babies,” BL grinned replying then asked, “Do I need to get my church clothes gathered or are we coming back home to get ready?” Luke was heading upstairs, "Ya'll probably want to take your clothes. It will be quicker to dress while we do the chores. I'll get Dixie and be down in a few." BL didn’t say it but thought ‘good luck’ as Luke headed upstairs. Dixie didn’t like getting up early on her days off, especially since getting pregnant. “I’m gonna go get my church clothes. Want me to get yours too?” BL asked Bo. “Yes please and I’ll let the pups in,” Bo replied. BL headed upstairs thinking about what to wear. Luke went upstairs and closed the door behind him in case the pups came back inside. He pulled the covers back and got under the covers. Going back to bed was tempting, but the responsibilities of the farm and family wouldn't let him stay in bed. He brushed Dixie's hair back as he sat beside her in bed, "Dixie." Between the bed moving as Luke got in and him calling her name, Dixie was conscious if not awake. "Mummm?" She uttered. Luke pulled her to him and cuddled her as Dixie wrapped herself around his warmth. He decided to 'hit a bit below the belt', "Are you hungry yet?" Dixie replied negatively with a contented sigh, "Nope." Luke waited patiently, then added, "Not even for sausage? ... Eggs? ... Hash Browns? ... and Uncle Jesse's biscuits and gravy?" Dixie may have been able to resist, but literally, her belly growled. Luke brushed her hair back further, "Come on Dixie, Uncle Jesse is cooking a big breakfast for us all. You said last night you couldn't wait, besides you are gonna have to go to the bathroom soon." Luke smiled and waited. He almost thought he was wrong when suddenly Dixie sat up, tossed the covers back and threw her pillow at him, "That was dirty." "But it worked." Luke said as he dodged the pillow and threw it back at his wife! Dixie threw the pillow again as she wrapped her robe and darted out the bedroom door. She could feel liquid nearly to her eyeballs and was sure she'd never make it to the bathroom in time. BL heard Dixie’s hurried trip to the bathroom and then the door shutting with more force than necessary but it wasn’t slammed either and Luke hadn’t followed which must mean they weren’t fighting and Dixie wasn’t sick. Both good things. BL heard the distinct click of doggy nails as the three pups raced upstairs, likely headed to the first bed they could get to. BL had laid out hers and Bo’s church clothes on the bed and didn’t want wet, muddy paw prints on them, so spun toward the door, swinging it shut before the pups got upstairs. “Whoa,” BL muttered as she grabbed the bedpost for support when the room spun. Sitting on the side of the bed until the room righted itself, BL figured she had fluid in her ears from swimming the day before being the cause of the dizziness. Luke slid into his jeans, then proceeded to make the bed while Dixie was in the bathroom to avoid them getting ideas about going back to bed. He was snapping his shirt as Dixie came back in from the bathroom with pups behind her. Bo came back upstairs to get dressed so they could get to the farm asking as he opened the bedroom door, “what’s the door shut for?” “To keep wet, muddy paws off our church clothes. I packed your white sunday shirt and your good jeans,” BL replied. “Thanks darlin’,” Bo replied, snapping his shirt. "You made the bed?" Dixie asked, a bit surprised. "Yes." Luke replied. "Why?" Dixie asked. Luke replied, "To make it harder for us to go back to bed." Dixie said, "I'm not gonna lie. The thought crossed my mind. I'm dressing. I swear." She pulled out a pair of stretchy pants and top. As she put on her bra, Dixie noted her boobs were rather sore. She chalked it up to maybe Luke getting a bit too aggressive yesterday. Luke said, "Grab something for church and we can leave from the farm." Dixie nodded. She hoped finding something nice that fit right was as easy as grabbing a change of clothes like Luke had done. Dixie looked through the clothes that were a little big on BL and found a long flowy skirt with elastic and a top that looked roomy enough. The foursome loaded up into General Lee and Luke’s truck then headed out to the farm. Jesse was already cooking breakfast when he heard General Lee pull in. Bo parked the orange stockcar where it had been parked for years. Luke and Dixie parked, where Luke could get out easy if need be, the four came in the back door, the men going straight for the coffee pot. “Morning, breakfast will be ready by the time you boys get the chores done,” Jesse said. “Let me and BL put our church stuff in the boys old bedroom and then we’ll help with breakfast,” Dixie said. After a big breakfast the guys took showers and then got dressed while the girls showered. Dixie, BL and Daisy were getting ready in Daisy’s room, out of habit and necessity since all the makeup, hair stuff and such were in there. Dixie put the top on which was meant to be a bit low cut. She pulled, tugged and rearranged the top which was a bit snug but the problem was the top was now a bit too low. "Daisy, do you have a safety pin?" Daisy replied, "Ummm, .... let me look. I should have." She dug through a drawer and found the safety pins. "Here ya go." Dixie pinned the top closed. Looked in the mirror not a bit happy with the result but figured she was in the top and decent so it would do. She sat on Daisy's bed to put her shoes on. Just as she bent over to pick up her shoe, the safety pin popped loose. "Crap!" Dixie exclaimed. “Hang on, I may have something you can make work,” Daisy said, rifling through her closet pulling out a peasant top that could be worn off the shoulders, Friday and Saturday nights at the Boar’s Nest or on the shoulder with a skirt on Sunday morning and look decent. “Here try this,”Daisy handed Dixie the top. BL bent down to get her shoe, closing her eyes a minute when another wave of dizziness hit when she straightened up too fast. Dixie changed tops. Daisy was fussing with the sleeves on the shoulders. Dixie checked the mirror critically. She didn't think she was showing but she wouldn't argue the point that her figure was changing. She was sure that Luke wouldn't mind her being a bit more endowed on the top. Finally she asked, "Are we ready?" Daisy replied, "I'm good." "BL?" Dixie asked. “Yeah I’m ready but need a minute, I must have fluid in my ears from yesterday’s swim. My head feels a little funny if I turn too fast or bend over then stand straight again real quick, it’ll pass,” BL replied, trying to downplay the dizziness. Everyone made their way to their vehicles to head off to church. The pups were content to take a nap after a morning of running wild. In church, everyone settled in and listened to the Sunday school message. Then sang a couple of hymns before the preacher started his message. The small church had a good turnout today, which made the crowded church a bit warm. Bo's head was the first to nod, which rewarded him with an elbow from Luke on his left side. Bo straightened up, put his arm across the pew behind BL. Luke was glad Bo nodded off as his eyes had been on their way to closing too. He took the opportunity to change position, hoping to wake himself up a bit. He noted that he and Bo weren't the only two trying to nod off. Cooter had barely made it through the doors before the services began and from Luke's view, he looked to be out for the count. Just about that time, Luther gave him a disapproving look and nudged him none too easily with an elbow to Cooter's ribs. LB had at least managed to stay awake through half of Sunday school before his chin was resting on his chest. Clyde saw his son’s chin dip but instead of a nudge like his brother had given his nephew, Clyde took a more attention getting approach and pinched LB on the tender spot at the back of the arm, this had the desired effect as LB sat up straight, barely containing a yelp. As the final amen was said, BL raised her head and stood eager to get out where it was a mite cooler.The quick movements were a bad idea but she ignored the dizziness, going ahead of Bo. Stopping at the door to shake Reverend Frawley’s hand, “Good lessons this morning Reverend.” “Thank you BL. It’s nice to see you and Bo with us this morning,” Reverend Frawley replied. Bo, Luke and Dixie followed BL, each stopping to shake hands and speak to the reverend. Cooter and Crystal had made plans last night to go out to lunch after church, so he was in a hurry to pick her up at the Placid Baptist church , so he didn’t stick around to socialize nor did LB. Not sticking around to socialize themselves, the Dukes went back to the farm. “Finally I can get rid of this dress,” Dixie said, as they all filed into the farmhouse. Bo and Luke headed to their old room to change and Daisy and BL followed Dixie to Daisy’s room. Changed the trio headed back to the kitchen to make lunch. Bo and Luke went out to work on Jesse’s moonrunner Black Tilley, Jesse liked to keep the car running in case it was needed. “I’m gonna go sit down a minute,“ BL said to Dixie and Daisy. “You alright sugar?”Daisy asked. “Yeah, just a little warm in here, I am gonna go in the livingroom and cool off,” BL replied. Taking just a few steps, BL fainted crumpling to the floor. “Dixie get Bo,” Daisy said as she went to BL. Dixie saw BL was coming too and headed to the barn. She yelled before she actually got into the barn, "Bo! BL needs you." She exclaimed. Both Luke and Bo's heads shot up as if they had been shot or at least shot at hitting the solid metal hood of the old car with a thud! Bo tossed down the wrench he was about to use when Dixie yelled, not really caring where it landed he took off running toward the house. Something in Dixie’s voice told him something was wrong that BL didn’t just need him to come do something. “What’s wrong?!” Bo asked, tearing into the kitchen. “She fainted,”Daisy replied. Bo knelt beside his wife“ BL darlin are you okay?” Bo patted BL’s hand that he held. Jesse had been on the porch when he heard the ruckus inside. As he got up and opened the door to go see what was going on Sadie ran past him and ran right to BL and began licking BL's face. “I’m ok, I’m ok. Bo help me up before I’m licked to death!” BL was now fully conscious. “That’s enough Sadie!” Bo said but instead of helping BL to her feet Bo picked her up, laying BL on the couch. Dixie had turned back to the house behind Bo. Luke cursed, rubbed his head and followed Dixie back to the house to see what was wrong. Dixie went over to BL, "What happened? Did you feel dizzy again?" “Again? What does she mean again?” Bo asked. “Do you have to be such a blabbermouth?” BL asked Dixie, giving her a look. Sighing, BL looked at Bo. Dixie had already blabbed so BL figured she might as well tell Bo everything. “I got dizzy a couple more times this morning but this is the only time I’ve fainted.” “You need to see a doctor.” Bo said. “None are open, it’s Sunday. My only option is to go to the ER and that’s not happening,” BL replied. Dixie said, "She probably got water in her ears yesterday while we were swimming." Jesse nodded, "It's likely an ear infection starting. I'll warm some sweet oil and get some cotton balls. By tomorrow you will either feel better or be running a fever with an earache." Jesse got BL seen to and with lots of reassurance she was fine and a promise to stay on the couch, BL convinced Bo to go finish working on Tilley with Luke until lunch was ready. Jesse let Sadie stay inside, laying beside the couch, he could tell the dog was worried about her human and Bo seemed more at ease with the pup on watch. After a hearty meal, Bo took BL home to rest. For a couple hours all was peaceful as the couples napped.

Luke was certainly out later, but he was the first to stir the next morning. He eased out of bed, dressed, and picked up his boots. He looked over at the bed and all was still. His hand only touched the door knob when four eyes and ears peaked out from under the covers. "Come on." Luke said. Scrapie and Trixie were up and ready for anything. Across the hall Luke knocked once, "Bo". Automatically, Bo replied, "Coming." The same scene almost as in Luke and Dixie’s room, played out when Bo was dressed and picked up his boots, Sadie’s head came up, Sadie had heard Scrappie and Trixie in the hall and she was ready for adventures with her ‘cousins’. “Come on, let's go.” Luke turned on the coffee as Bo let the wild dogs outside. Once he had two cups of coffee, he followed Bo outside, where he watched the pups checking out the backyard for last night's intruders. Luke's truck was the easiest to get out, "Load up." He said as he and Bo reached the truck. At the Duke Farm, Jesse had already had coffee. He checked the clock. The boys should be here soon, he thought as he began putting bacon in the skillet to fry. Luke, Bo and the dogs pulled up at the Duke farm, Bo got out and was promptly followed by the dogs. Jesse was turning the bacon as Bo and Luke came in the back door. “Mornin Bo, Luke. Breakfast will be ready by the time you get the chores done,” Jesse said. “Mornin’ Uncle Jesse,” the boys said together. Bo added following Luke back out,”sure smells good.” With the house quiet, being out really late last night and the new baby Duke growing, Dixie had hugged Luke's pillow and was out for the count. Daisy had also been out late working at the Boar's Nest but would be in for breakfast. Jesse enjoyed cooking breakfast for his kids on Saturday and Sunday mornings since Daisy usually cooked through the week. BL might not have had a late night out but had not only a late night but plenty of exercise. The chores finished, Bo and Luke came in for breakfast, after washing their hands they sat down and waited for Jesse to say grace. “Where’s the girls,” Jesse asked. “They were still sleeping, it was a late night,” Bo replied. Luke nodded, “I thought Dixie was gonna string Dobro up. He guessed that Dixie is pregnant, which Dixie was cool with until she asked how he figured it out,” Luke chuckled then continued, “he said her large food order made him think of his sister inlaw Jeannie Ann who’s pregnant and eats like that.” Jesse poured more coffee. "As long as she's not wanting to eat anything dangerous like rocks or such, leave her be. Dixie will know what that baby needs and when it wants it." Luke replied, "Yes, Sir. Daisy packed some pie up for 'us' to have for breakfast. Would ya'll want to lay odds that the pie is long gone before we get home?" Jesse said, "We're you counting on it being there?" "I didn't want any to begin with. It's more fun watching her enjoy it." Jesse smiled. "There ya go." “You might not have wanted yours and I don’t want pie for breakfast but lunch ain’t far off,” Bo piped up. Luke gave him a look, "Then, you or BL might want to bake a pie, because I'm telling you they were likely gone before we got up today." “Bo the baby needed that pie more than you do,” Jesse admonished his nephew. Bo ducked his head a little. “Just wait until BL is carryin’ your little one, you’ll be just like Luke here as long as BL is happy will be all you care about,” Jesse added. The men's conversation was interrupted as Daisy came into the kitchen still in her big fluffy robe. "Morning fellas." “Morning Daisy,” the men replied as one. “Give me just a few minutes and I’ll have you an egg cooked,” Jesse said as he stood. “That ain’t necessary Uncle Jesse, I can cook my own,” Daisy replied, pouring a cup of coffee. “Nonsense, drink your coffee,” Jesse said, cracking an egg to fry. In town BL got up and put on her nightgown, now that she could see to find it and headed to the bathroom, leaving her robe in the bedroom, she knew Luke wasn’t there. She had heard the pickup leave and it hadn’t come back. In the bathroom just as she’d figured there was sign of her period. Finishing in the bathroom she went downstairs to the kitchen to make herself a cup of peppermint tea. Dixie had never been a morning person but sure as the world on the morning that she could sleep til noon, she had to go to the bathroom. Checking the clock, she found that had it been a work day, she would just be clocking in for her shift. "Thanks, kid. I could have slept a bit longer without feeling guilty, but now I'm awake." After the bathroom, Dixie changed into a comfy pair of pants and a large t-shirt, then headed downstairs to find BL in the kitchen making tea. “Morning, ain’t you up kinda early for your day off?” BL asked, then continued not waiting for the answer she already knew. “I’m making myself some peppermint tea, want a cup?” "Sure and I was rudely awakened by having to get all awake to go to the bathroom." Dixie said as she opened the fridge and looked inside trying to figure out what to fix to eat. “Better get used to getting up on your day off, in a few months it’ll be feedings and diaper changes then in another couple months add playtime to that,” BL put the tea kettle on the stove to boil. Dixie replied, "That I won't fuss about, but now I could have slept in. Are you hungry? I was thinking of fixing a big breakfast to surprise the fellas." “If I know Uncle Jesse, he’s already fed them,” BL replied. Dixie replied, "You are right and will send us stuff too, but I'm hungry now." “Have a bowl of cereal to hold you, they should be home soon,” BL said, pouring the hot water into two mugs, then a tea bag in each. Dixie saw BL’s reasoning, but reached for butter and eggs. "I'll just fix some eggs. Do you want any?" “No thanks, I’ll pass,” BL replied. At the Duke farm, Jesse finished putting foil on the last plate of the two that he was sending to Dixie and BL. One had the leftover bacon and a couple pieces of sausage on it and the other had the rest of the biscuits. ”Here’s the girls some breakfast. I’ll see ya'll in the morning for our usual big Sunday breakfast,” Jesse said, as he handed Luke the plates. “The girls will be much obliged, for the breakfast,” Luke replied. After saying their goodbyes Bo and Luke headed to Luke’s truck. “Sadie, Trixie, Scrappie!” Bo called. Dixie's eggs were almost done when Luke pulled in the driveway. Bo and Luke put the dogs out back and came in the back door. Luke came over to Dixie and smelled, "Ummm, something smells good." "Soap and water." Dixie said, thinking that Luke meant she smelled good. She wasn't wearing any perfume or body spray. Luke hugged her from behind, "I meant the eggs." Dixie smacked him with the spatula. "Uncle Jesse sent ya’ll what was left of the biscuits and bacon and there’s a couple pieces of sausage too,” Bo said, sitting the foil wrapped plates on the counter. “What’s the plan for today ladies?” Luke asked. “How about a picnic at the lake, before it gets too cold?” Dixie suggested. “Dixie it’s the middle of September it won’t get too cold until mid October at the earliest," BL replied. Dixie replied as she put her eggs on a plate with toast, "OK, so we can go then too, unless you have a better idea?" As Dixie came to the table, she also had apple butter for the toast and mayo for the scrambled eggs. “Mayo with scrambled eggs?” Bo asked, not believing what he was seeing, he looked at Luke and BL. BL shook her head as she came to the table with 2 sausage biscuits. Luke figured it was one of the weird cravings Uncle Jesse had talked about. BALLADEER: There’s only two things ole’ Bo won’t eat pecan pie and mayonnaise. "Some people eat ketchup on their eggs. And, no, this ain't a pregnancy thing." Dixie said. Bo asked, "It's not?" Luke wisely opted just to listen. "Well, it may be why I want them, but I've eaten them like this since I was a baby on Daddy's lap. He ate them like this since he was in the Navy." Dixie said. Luke was now glad for a couple of reasons that he hadn't jumped into the conversation. “I think I’ll go get ready,” BL said, adding "Bo you better get ready too.” “I am ready darlin” Bo replied. “Go get the fishing poles and tackle box out of the shed,” BL was trying to get Bo away from Dixie, she was too young to be a widow. Bo went out the back door as BL went upstairs changing out of her nightgown into shorts and a t-shirt. Pulling her hair into a ponytail before heading back downstairs. Luke had let the previous conversation about Luther die and changed to Bo and BLs conversation as he asked Dixie, "So are we taking food on this picnic, or are we roughing it on what we catch?" Dixie frowned at the idea of going on a picnic without food. "If you build me a fire, I'll take stuff to fix." "I can do that." Luke replied. "Alright, get me a cooler and a box, and I'll get some things together." Dixie said. While getting the cooler, Luke almost got the smaller one that was big enough for a couple of six packs of soda. He remembered that it was his wife gathering food for a picnic. He opted for the larger cooler. Dixie had a cast iron skillet and dutch oven on the table, a couple large bowls, paper plates, knives, plasticware, potatoes, a couple onions, cheese, a large pack of hamburger, a couple packs of hotdogs, buns, mustard, ketchup, a container of mayo, eggs, pickle relish, olives, spoons, lettuce, tomatoes, a can of hotdog chili, foil wrap, butter, seasonings. Luke sat the box on a chair and the cooler on another since the table looked like they were moving out. "How long are we staying?" Dixie gave him a wicked grin and asked, "How long do you want to stay? Here. Make sure this bag gets in the box. This is important." Luke took the plastic bag, which felt like it held another bag. "What is it?" Dixie gave him a look of disbelief. "Pup food and T R E A T S." "Did you just spell out treats?” Luke was suddenly surrounded by three sets of puppy dog eyes with wagging tails." Dixie laughed, "I did. And, that is exactly why." BL had returned to the kitchen in time to hear Luke’s question and hear Dixie’s answer. “I spell B A T H, too cos Sadie hides if I say the word,” BL laughed a little. “Shoot!” Dixie grumbled. “What?” Luke asked. Dixie replied, “no ice.” “On it,” BL said, then stepped out on the back porch, smiling sweetly. “Bo sweetheart will you run to Rhuebottom’s and get a couple bags of ice for the cooler?” “Sure darlin, be back in a flash,” Bo replied, a second later they heard General Lee crank up. Dixie opened the fridge and saw that it was lacking in the drink department. "I can take tea bags and make sun tea, but if ya'll want anything stronger, ya better call Rhuebottom's and have Bo get it while he's there." “Or bring a small saucepan, sugar and tea bags and something to put it in, I can make sweet tea on the cooking fire,” BL said. Dixie replied, "Fine by me. Luke?" "Tea’s good, but I'll call Bo." Luke said, heading to the phone. Dixie giggled, "I figured you would." BL looked at Dixie grinning, “translation, ‘tea’s good but I’d rather have beer.” Dixie nodded, 'yes'. "Ok, help me pack this stuff up and we'll be ready to go when Bo gets here." Scrapie, Trixie and Sadie all came running to Dixie! "What did I say?" Dixie looked up confused. BL replied, "G O." Dixie replied. "Yes. Yes, I did. Do we really have to spell everything around here? Yes, ya'll are going." Now, the three began to bark, jump and whine, ready to go. BL and Luke laughed, BL replying over the racket, “to answer your question ‘do we have to spell everything?’ yes,yes we do.” Luke took the dogs out into the yard while the girls bagged everything but what needed to stay cold. As soon as Bo got back with the ice and beer, the ice was poured in the cooler and the beer and cold food items were packed they were ready to go. “We almost forgot these, in case we stay till dark,” BL said, putting a bag of jumbo marshmallows in the chip bag “Are we taking just 1 vehicle or 2?” Dixie asked. "My gear...." Luke began. Dixie held up her hand to stop him. "Right. Unless we all go in one of the cars, we are gonna have to take two vehicles." Bo smiled widely, "Ya'll can come with us and leave the drivin' to me." “If we take my car we can put the top down and enjoy this gorgeous day,” BL said. “Fine by me,” Dixie and Luke both replied. Bo picked up the cooler and the three dogs jumped up, barking excitedly. “Let’s go,” BL told them and they all followed Bo. Dixie handed BL a plastic bag of non refrigerated food and then got the chips and marshmallows. As they went to the car so Bo could load it all, Luke grabbed the fishing gear off the back porch. Loaded up and pulling out, the newlyweds and pups were off for a day of fun in the sun. It was a beautiful day in Hazzard as they circled Hazzard Square. At the lake the pups started hunting, noses to the ground. The newlyweds were unloading the car when Bo realized they had forgotten the guitars. “Shoot, we forgot the guitars,” Bo said. “I’ll run back and get them. Do we need anything else?” BL replied. Dixie was looking at the water. It was really nice out today. "How about our swimsuits and some towels?" Bo chimed in, "Towels. Swim suits are optional." BL laughed at her husband, “you’ll rethink that when ole’ Rosco carts us all off to the pokey buck naked.” Luke looked from BL to Bo. She had won, but Bo wasn't ready to give up. "Just bring the swimsuits. We'll get things set up while you are gone." ”Be back in a jiff,” BL said and turned the car around heading home. Bo and Luke set to work, gathering wood for a fire while Dixie cut limbs from a bush for hotdog and marshmallow roasting. Pulling in the driveway BL left her car running while she ran inside to get swimsuits and the guitars. “Will these work?” Dixie asked, showing the guys the long sticks. “Perfect honey. Give them to Bo, so he can whittle points on them,” Luke said, as he lit a fire, fanning the flames to life. “Here we go,” BL said as she propped Bo and Luke’s guitars against a tree and sat a small bag with their swimsuits beside them. Since the group had gotten an early start, Luke suggested, "Let's let the water have time to warm up a bit while we see if we can catch us some lunch." "I'll be there in a few minutes. I'm gonna put the eggs and potatoes on to boil for potato salad and deviled eggs." Dixie took the big Dutch oven and filled it with water. She then added four whole potatoes and a dozen eggs with salt to the water and set it on the cooking rack over the fire then went to sit beside Luke on the old log that had likely been a fishing bench for years. "Any luck?" "I got something nibbling." Luke replied. 20 or so yards down the length of the bank away from Luke and Dixie, Bo and BL sat on another log, lines in the water. “Have you seen the dogs lately,” BL asked, she hoped they were ok. “They’re just enjoying a day out romping, they can’t do that at home much. The backyard is fenced in unlike the farm or here. Don’t worry we’re all here to relax and have fun,” Bo said. “I just hope they don’t have the Duke and Davenport luck for finding trouble,” BL replied, with a short laugh. A few minutes later, Sadie raced by the humans while being chased by Trixie and Scrapie. Finally, tiring of the chase, Sadie jumped in the lake. Trixie and Scrapie stopped dead at the edge of the water as Sadie swam off. After a bit of whining and barking, Trixie and Scrapie began a chase of their own. They were rolling each other then would chase awhile then roll each other again. Sadie swam back to shore after Trixie and Scrapie had started their own game of chase. Bo was putting another fish on the stringer that was attached to a long stick they had stuck in the edge of the water. Once on dry land, which happened to be close to Bo, Sadie shook her wet body, water spraying all over Bo. “Hey!!” Bo yelled. In trying to get away somewhat dry, Bo tripped and fell in the lake. Luke, Dixie and BL got a d laugh. “Bo if you wanted to swim you should have put on your swim shorts I brung ya,” BL teased. “Cute BL,” Bo replied, heading to get out of his wet clothes and lay them in the sun to dry. “Why don’t we go swimming, just let me take the eggs and potatoes off to cool,” Dixie said. “I’ll get our suits,” BL said, following Dixie. A few minutes in the water Dixie wondered why she had bothered putting on the swim suit the way Luke's hands were wandering. It was really a nice day for a cool swim but the water was a lot warmer than it had been a few minutes ago. Dixie was trying not to let on to Bo and BL exactly what was going on. Luke knew he had Dixie in a situation as she was trying to play it cool but he knew she was anything else but cool as his fingers managed to find a sweet spot with one hand he used the other hand to slide under her top and find a nicely plump breast. Dixie was squirming a bit but wasn't sure if she was trying to get away or get closer to what Luke was doing. One thing about it, Luke had Dixie right where he wanted her. Dixie had no reason to worry about Bo and BL knowing what was going on with her and Luke, they were preoccupied with their own activities. Bo’s hands and lips were wandering, Bo’s lips skimmed BL’s neck then he blew softly in her ear, making her shiver and raising goose bumps on her arms. ”Cold?" Bo asked. “No,” BL replied, anything but cold as Bo nibbled on her earlobe. Bo was enjoying himself even if his original thoughts of skinnydipping with his wife had been sidelined. Luke moved them more to the shallow as Dixie felt her top let go. Luke was now exploring Dixie's breasts, unrestricted by the bathing suit top that still hung around Dixie's neck. Luke couldn't help but notice that his hand seemed just a bit fuller than normal. Dixie whispered, "Luke, if you don't stop..." "Do you really want me to stop?" He nuzzled her neck as he slid her bottoms down. Dixie didn't reply. She merely helped him reach his goal as she wrapped her legs tightly around him. Her sudden movement sent them both over the edge. Had anyone been watching, it was very obvious what had just happened as they were both now struggling to contain themselves. Bo had his back turned toward the other couple but BL could see and although most of her attention was on Bo she said “I think Luke and Dixie would like a little privacy.” “Yeah so would I,” Bo said, nuzzling BL’s neck. Bo moved them around a little bend into shallower water, putting a clump of overgrown bushes between the 2 sets of newlyweds. BL sucked in a sharp breath as Bo squeezed one of her tender breasts, she ignored the tenderness though, chalking it up to that time of the month. For several moments, Luke and Dixie had largely forgotten about Bo and BL. When they finally came to their senses, Luke noticed that Bo and BL had disappeared. They had probably been occupied with each other too. "Why don't we get decent and go start lunch? The fire probably needs wood." Luke said. Dixie replied, "Alright, in a minute. This might be the last time the two of us get to have a swim like this before we have a little one to keep up with out here." Luke saw her point and held on to her tightly as he moved them out to the deeper water as they shared a passionate kiss. Bo and BL had also forgotten about the rest of the world and were in a world of their own. A minute later, BL felt warm moist air on the back of her neck, followed by something cold and wet touching her arm. Before BL could open her eyes, a wet, warm tongue started at chin and licked from her chin, over the side of her and Bo's mouth, up her nose, right across her eye. After the three tongue kiss, Bo ended the kiss between him and BL. “Sadie, do you mind?” Bo was not happy about the interruption. Sadie ‘woofed’ making BL giggle as she fastened her bathing suit top that Bo had undone for better access to her breasts. “That would be a no,” BL said. Dixie and Luke ended their kissing session and Dixie looked at the sun’s position in the sky saying, “I really do need to start lunch and you got fish to clean,” Dixie said. Luke grinned, "Alright, but I'm feeding the fire and going after more wood. Bo can clean the fish." He smiled wickedly knowing how much Bo hated cleaning fish. "That's your fight." Dixie said, heading to the edge of the water. Luke indeed fed the fire and looking around noted that Scrapie had been awfully quiet, "Scrapie?" In no time flat, Scrapie and Trixe innocently made their way out of their napping place and were at his side. Sadie also joined him and was about to shake off. "Sadie. Stop right there and shake off." Luke said. Sadie suddenly stopped short. She wasn't used to such firm direction from that human. She wasn't sure how to proceed, so she stopped as directed. Dixie got one of the towels BL had brought back, wrapping it around herself. BL and Bo by now had gotten out of the water. Sadie looked at BL as if asking ‘what do I do’? “Something the matter girl?” BL asked, then got her own towel. ”The fire needs more wood, Bo why don’t you start cleaning the fish while I gather some,”Luke said. “Yes sir,” Bo said sarcastically but headed back toward the lake after retrieving his pocket knife from the knife pouch on his belt. “You want me to peel the potatoes or the eggs?” BL asked Dixie "Work on the eggs. I'll get the potatoes. Give me half the eggs for potato salad and the rest will give us three halves of deviled egg each." Dixie said, then added, "Sadie was about to give us a shower and just wasn't expecting Sgt. Duke to tell her no." Dixie said, referring to Luke's tone being more the Marine Drill Sgt. than Sadie's 'Uncle Luke.' “Oh I see, well Luke better let her know she’s not in trouble or she’ll sulk the rest of the day,” BL said, putting the eggs in her towel’s tail, sitting on a rock. BL cracked an egg shell on the rock, peeling the shell off. In no time BL had all the eggs peeled and in foam plates. Half in one for the potato salad the other half on another for deviled eggs. “What did we bring hamburger meat, hot dogs and buns for if we’re having fish?” BL asked, sitting the small saucepan with ice in it, on the cooking grate to melt the ice for water to boil the tea. Dixie grinned, "Just in case they didn't catch any fish. The hamburger is still frozen. It will be fine to take back and the hotdogs I'm sure will not go to waste with the pups here. That's their favorite treat." “True and when we left the house, we didn’t know how long we were staying so hamburgers and hot dogs might end up being supper,” BL said. “Right,” Dixie agreed. BL shook the pan of melting ice, to shift it so it’d melt better. Luke and the pups returned with more wood for the fire. Bo had the fish cleaned. Dixie wrapped the fish, onion and butter in foil for Luke to put over the fire. All was good until one Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane saw smoke and decided to follow it. BALLADEER: Here comes de law Rosco followed the smoke all the way to the lake turnoff. He whipped in behind BL’s car, lights flashing. “I shoulda known a dang Duke was involved,” Rosco muttered, getting out of his patrol car. “What do you want Rosco? We ain’t doing nothing but having a picnic and that ain’t against the law,” Bo said, aggravated it looked like Rosco came to harass them as usual. “Picnicking ain’t but starting a fire is,” Rosco said gleefully. “No it ain’t Rosco as long as it’s contained and our is and there ain’t no burn bans been issued, or I’d be on call,” Luke said, bursting Rosco’s bubble. “Indecent exposure’s always a crime and you are all not dressed,” Rosco gloated, sure he had them this time. “We have clothes covering all the right parts, BL and me even have towels wrapped around our bathing suits,” Dixie pointed out, Rosco wasn’t the only one that knew the laws. Difference was Dixie enforced and obeyed them without twisting them around. Rosco used the only card he had left, "Then, ya’ll are out here making moonshine!" “What?! Rosco you've been out in the sun too long,” Bo said. “Just cos we built a fire we’re making shine…with what all we got is 1 jar, 2 cups of sugar and some melted ice and this small pan. We’ve only had the fire going less than an hour, don’t it take several to make moonshine?” BL added. Rosco eyed the contents of the cooking items that he saw but didn't want to give up so easily, "Maybe it's a new recipe. You Dukes are sneaky, sneaky I tell you." “Rosco me and Bo ain’t made, sold or run no moonshine, since we was put on probation after we was caught running it and we ain’t picked up old habits,” Luke replied patiently as if talking to a small child. Rosco huffed, "Well, just see that you don't. Flash and me are watching you both, well all of you." He stomped back to his patrol car. The four watched him somewhere between being appalled and being amazed. After getting rid of Rosco the 4 newlyweds finished making their lunch. They fed the pups now tired and hungry after their morning of adventures and romping. Spreading a blanket under a giant Elm tree, they ate their fish, potato salad and boiled eggs. Getting everything cleaned up, Bo and Luke got their guitars and the 4 young people had themselves a singalong. Luke played a few notes of Mama’s Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys by Waylon Jennings, they all sang along. Bo always the cut up changed the first chorus, “Mama’s don’t let your babies grow up to be Duke boys. Don’t let ‘em pick guitars and drive them old trucks. Let ‘em be doctors and lawyers and such.” When it started getting dark, Luke tossed a few sticks of wood on the fire and passed out the sharpened sticks, so they could roast marshmallows. A chilly breeze was coming off the water, so the group decided to forgo hamburgers and hotdogs at the lake and grill at home instead. Back in town, the pups hit the backyard wide open. Dixie and BL each took a bit of the kitchen stuff with them as they went to the back door. Luke and Bo unloaded the outside stuff like the fishing gear, then got the cooler and guitars. The cool breeze they had felt at the lake was tamer in town. Luke pulled out the grill into the backyard. As he lit the grill, he swore as he saw the curtain move at the Kravitz home, which with the grill smoke almost guaranteed another visit from Rosco or Cletus. “Today was nice wasn’t it?” BL asked Dixie while they emptied the cooler and put things away, adding “it’s been a minute or three since we spent a whole day at the lake just having fun.” BL put the hamburger meat in the microwave to thaw. Dixie replied, "Yes, it has. I'm afraid we won't get many more chances for just the four of us to do stuff like that with fall coming and then by Spring we will be busy getting ready for company." “Abner they’re back and I smell smoke,” Gloria informed her husband. “Well it is dark Gloria so why wouldn’t they be back? You probably smell the grill, it is supper time after all. Speaking of which, where’s MY supper?” Abner replied. “There’s TV dinners in the freezer,” Gloria responded. Dixie brought out Luke a beer and herself a glass of tea then took a seat on the steps to the back porch by where Luke had the grill in the yard. Luke motioned from the smoke of the grill, to the house beside them, "We might be expecting company in a bit." "Great." Was Dixie's reply. At Lover’s Glen, Cooter swore under his breath as the old green pickup’s CB crackled, somebody needed a tow out on Razorback hill but staying right there, laying in the pickup bed with Crystal was much more appealing. Cooter wasn’t the only one reluctant to end the time spent with a special someone, Daisy and Darcy Kincaid had parked on Kissin’ Cliff “to watch the sun go down and enjoy the pretty sunset, however the sun had disappeared sometime ago and a big full moon and stars now filled the sky. Back in town Bo and BL sat cuddled together on the porch swing. Unknown to them Luke had just made a prediction around back, that was about to come true. A patrol car was coming their way. ”Now what?” Bo grumbled as Cletus parked in front of the house and exited the car and came up the walkway. “Evening Cletus, what can we do for ya?” BL greeted. “Evening BL, Bo. I got a call saying your smoke was drifting to the neighbors house,” Cletus replied. “Oh for crying out loud! Luke is grilling, he can’t control where the smoke drifts,” Bo said, frustrated. “We’re having hamburgers and hot dogs, why don’t you come back on your supper break,” BL said. Cletus might have Hogg blood in his veins but he was nothing like Boss Hogg. “Much obliged for the invite but I can’t, Rosco’d have a fit,” Cletus replied. “What you do on your lunch and supper breaks are nobody’s business,” BL said. "Oh, gosh, wellllll, I don't know." Cletus said. Bo suggested, "Shouldn't you come back and check on the smoke later? What do you like on your burger? BL will have you a plate ready." Cletus was also a bit more humble than Boss Hogg, "Well, gee, that's awfully nice of ya'll. If you fix it. I'll eat it. I'm not particular." BL asked, "So a hotdog with chili, mustard and onion and a cheeseburger with lettuce, mustard, ketchup, tomato and mayo would work?" Cletus smiled, "Boy would it ever. Thanks ya'll." He said heading back to his patrol car. "Abner, that young Deputy never even checked that smoke. That house could be on fire!" Ms. Kravitz exclaimed. Abner looked over his paper, "So in all the time you have been spying on those kids, you haven't noticed those red lights in the dark haired ones pick up?" "No." She admitted. "Why would that make any difference?" "It means he's some sort of firefighter." Abner explained. “Oh,” Gloria responded, maybe having the two dark haired young people next door wasn’t so bad. She had seen Dixie coming and going in her uniform from the tri counties jail so that should keep down crime and the young man could be there in a flash if there was a fire. The two blondes were still a nuisance even if the girl was friendly and delivered the mail. “Better go tell Luke to grill extras for Cletus,” BL said, sitting up straight so Bo could get up. “Be right back darlin,” Bo said, going around back. “Hey Luke put on an extra burger and hotdog for Cletus.” Luke looked up from the grill, "Cletus?" Bo replied, "Yeah, it seems your smoke is offending some of the neighbors, but BL convinced Cletus to come back and check it later, and we'd have him a supper plate ready." Luke took a drink of his beer and set it down beside the grill. "You know I'd love to have a conversation with that lady, ..... but I don't think Uncle Jesse would approve of my side of it." After the third CB call from the garage, Cooter finally replied that he was on his way to the tow job and he was, just as soon as he got his pants and boots on. "I'm sorry, Darlin'. Maybe I can get someone else to take the wrecker tomorrow." He could at least hope. Darcy edged a bit closer to Daisy. He was feeling a bit braver than ever before with Bo and Luke having wives to keep them occupied, he felt reasonably safe the boys wouldn't be out hunting him and Daisy down. Daisy nuzzled closer still as their kiss deepened. Darcy let his hands explore and roam. Daisy was purring and responding positively to his advances. Darcy moved to the snaps on her bra. In one motion the bra released. Daisy deepened the kiss while discarding the bra. Darcy brought his hand up front. With two hands full of breasts he directed his attention to her nipples. Daisy inhaled deeply and managed a slight squirm. “It’s alright,” Crystal said, putting her top back on. Once dressed they got into the pickup’s cab. Crystal slid across the seat and Cooter drove back to the garage, one hand on the wheel, holding Crystal with the other. “How about we take this someplace else, like the backseat,” Darcy said, his pants were getting a tad too tight. “Ok,” Daisy agreed, crawling over the front into the back. Darcy gave her backside a little grope as it was up in the air. Cooter kissed Crystal and waited til she pulled out before heading off to the tow job. As he circled town, Cooter noticed all the vehicles were home at Bo and Luke's place. After a good meal, Dixie had rinsed and stacked the dishes that had to be washed which wasn't in her mind enough to fool with right then and made her way to the living room to find Luke on the couch with his sock feet on the coffee table. She took her favorite spot on the couch with him but faced the back of the couch looking at Luke instead of at the TV that was on, but Luke didn't seem to be paying it much attention. On kissing cliff, Daisy and Darcy had fogged up the windows in his old Chevy. Back in town, BL held Bo’s hand as they strolled to the little stream that ran behind the house. The pups were staying pretty close, brave enough to growl and occasionally bark, they weren’t brave enough to go exploring. BL had told Dixie she’d help wash the dishes later. Luke and Dixie were enjoying having the house to themselves, even if it was only while the dogs were out for a walk. Luke suggested, "Do you want to head upstairs?" "It's too early. Besides, that would be rude." Dixie said as she snuggled down into the couch getting closer to Luke. "Look. We are newlyweds, this is our house too and there is nothing rude about heading upstairs early. Not to mention, I don't have to wake you up down here later to go to bed." Luke stated. Dixie knew he was right but said, "I'm fine. I'm not gonna fall asleep down here." Quite a bit later, Daisy and Darcy were coming up for air. Their clothes had long been gone. The steamed up windows of the car gave them a bit of privacy from the outside. Darcy was thinking but found that he had actually said what he was thinking, "Never in a million years did I ever think we would do that." Daisy twirled her long hair, "And why not Sugar?" Darcy figured in for a penny, in for a pound, "I never figured on Bo or Luke letting me get this close to you and I just figured you would rather see other people." “Why did you think that?” Daisy asked. “Because I’m just a crop duster, you can have any man in the county you want,” Darcy replied. “Sugar I’m with the man I want. As for Bo and Luke, they got wives to keep them occupied and Luke’s gonna be a daddy in April,” Daisy responded. Darcy set up quickly, "Luke's what?" The idea seemed really foreign to him. He hadn't been great buddies with the guys but had gone to school with them. "Wait a second..... they ain't been married all that long Daisy." “Darcy, it only takes once, it could have been on their wedding night or a day or two later, they are newlyweds afterall,” Daisy explained. Darcy got real quiet at Daisy’s explanation, they had forgotten to use protection in the heat of the moment. “Darcy, are you ok?” Daisy asked. “Huh, oh yeah I’m fine,” Darcy replied. Daisy said “You don’t sound fine.” Swallowing hard Darcy said, “we didn’t use protection just now,” “Relax, I take birth control,,," Daisy said then quickly explained before Darcy got the wrong idea…”for female issues, anyway I've never known of someone on them getting pregnant. Even though Doc Applby says it’s not one hundred percent protection.” Darcy was a mite relieved at Daisy’s use of birth control and the explanation. Daisy decided to lighten his mood just a bit with a bit of female attention directed his way. It was still early. They may as well give it another go. “We best get back, so me and Dixie ain’t still doing dishes at 2am,” BL said when they reached the stream. ‘It’s still early darlin’, we got time,” Bo replied, pulling BL close for a passionate kiss. When the kiss ended BL reined in her focus trying not to let Bo’s charms get to her, “we promised Uncle Jesse we’d be at church tomorrow and if we oversleep, by the time you and Luke finish chores and shower and we all get ready we’ll be late. Uncle Jesse will skin you and Luke alive if we’re late.” Bo sighed BL was right, so they headed back to the house. Cooter had got Mr. Crowley out of the gully he’d found himself in, now Cooter headed back to town wondering if it was too late to hook up with Crystal again. Cooter picked up the CB and called for Crystal, "Where are you? I'm done." Crystal replied, "I'm almost to the Boar’s Nest." "Pull off there. I'll be there in a couple minutes then we can go somewhere. I know a place." "Alright." Crystal said as she swung into the parking lot to wait on Cooter. Luke reached for his second beer as he held his napping wife. She had drifted off about ten minutes after rejecting his offer to go upstairs. Luke thought it was kind of funny that he had called it. He said out loud to his little one, "Hey, Kiddo you are whupping your Mama here." Dixie was already asleep by the time Bo and BL made it back to the house, so Bo helped BL with the dishes. Just as they came into the livingroom Cletus pulled up to get his hamburger and hotdog BL had promised. The dogs went nuts hearing boots on the porch. “Cletus must be here for his supper, let him in while I get it,” BL said,going back to the kitchen. “Bo opened the door before Cletus even knocked, “Evening Cletus, BL is getting your supper.” “Mmm I can’t wait, sure beats the bologna sandwich I brought,” Cletus replied. BL came back with a paper plate ”one hamburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard and mayo. And one hotdog with chili and onions. I put you in a pint jar of tea too.” “Much obliged BL. see ya Bo,” Cletus replied. “You ready for bed darlin?” Bo asked, sleep wasn’t what he had in mind though. “Today too much for ya?” BL teased. Sweeping his wife off her feet, Bo carried BL to their room. In the patrol car as he ate his supper, Cletus was thinking how much in just a few months that Bo and Luke had gone from bar room brawls to family men. Even as he spoke to Bo and BL, he had noted Luke on the couch, boots off, sipping a beer with Dixie snuggled up to him on the couch. He had been to the Duke Farm on a Saturday night much later in the evening and both men would be fully dressed and ready for action or trouble. BL let out a bit of a squeal as Bo picked her up causing Dixie to stir. Luke saw his opportunity, "Hey, let's head up too." "K" Dixie said but never moved. "Dixie." Luke tried again. "Uh-huh." She mumbled. Luke finished his beer, sat the bottle down, then proceeded to sit Dixie up where he could get up, "I'm letting the dogs out. Get awake." "I'm not asleep." Dixie said. "Alright." Luke said, taking the bottles to the trash and letting the pups out. When they came in, he took a couple beers and a glass of tea back to the living room to find Dixie about half awake, "Let's head up." "It's still early." Dixie said. "Cletus ain't come by, Bo and BL ain't even back with the pups yet." Scrapie heard 'pup' and jumped in Dixie's lap, licking her entire face. Luke replied, "Pups are home, Cletus has been by and Bo and BL are upstairs. "Oh. Guess I dozed off?" Dixie said. Luke grinned, "For a few minutes. Let's go." Cooter motioned to Lori Mae Jones to bring him and Crystal 2 beers. “Thanks Lori Mae,” Cooter said when they got their drinks, When the buxom waitress left, Cooter took a drink to wet his parched throat, he was a little nervous about what Crystal would say in answer to the question he was about to ask, mainly because they hadn’t really dated in public except the Boar’s Nest “Crystal, I know this might be too soon for you to make a decision, seeing as how it’s a month away but will you go on the hayride with me?” “I’d love to Cooter,” Crystal replied, smiling. Lori Mae went over to the bar, "Who's the girl?" She asked Charlie the bartender. The only girl in the place that Lori Mae wouldn't know was sitting with Cooter Davenport. "I'm not sure that I've ever seen her in here before." By the time Dixie got upstairs she was more awake and rested from her nap. Luke was very pleased when she returned from the bathroom wearing only her robe which she promptly let fall to the floor. Bo heard Luke and Dixie’s bedroom door close and had a pretty good idea why, it seemed Dixie was awake now and were about to enjoy the perks of marriage, one of them anyway. Outside in the hall Sadie layed by BL and Bo’s closed bedroom door, raising her head everytime a muffled squeal came from her human. “Bo stoop, Dixie and Luke are just across the hall,” BL said, but her giggle took the seriousness out of it. Bo grinned wickedly as he lowered his head blowing another raspberry on BL’s bare belly, “Pthhht” Daisy and Darcy had decided they needed more room than Darcy’s backseat, so they had gone back to his camper at Hazzard Airport. Now they lay in Darcy’s bed wrapped in each other’s arms. At the Boar’s Nest, Cooter and Crystal were enjoying themselves, Cooter had somehow gotten Luther to take the wrecker when he’d got back to the garage after getting Mr. Crowley out of the gully. LB came in the Boar’s Nest and took a seat at a rear table near the bar. He had been seeing Lori Mae Jones and they had plans when she got off work. Daisy checked the time on the bedside table. It was getting late. "Stay." Darcy said. "Ohhh, you have no idea how much I would love to do just that, but I can't make Uncle Jesse worry." Daisy said. "Besides, he would want to know where I was and would be sure to tell Bo and Luke." "Point made." Darcy said. "Do you at least want to go to the Boar's Nest for a beer before I take you home?" He said reaching for his pants and boots. “Sure,” Daisy replied, gathering her own clothes and going into the bathroom. When Daisy came out of the bathroom, Darcy was dressed and waiting for her. Darcy opened the Chevy’s passenger door, helping her in then they were off to the Boar’s Nest. At the Boar’s Nest LB went outside on Lori Mae’s break. “So what’s the plan when I get off?” Lori Mae asked. “C’mere let me give you a preview,”LB said, leading Lori Mae around the corner, leaning her against the wall LB leaned in for a passionate kiss, his right hand cupping Lori Mae’s breast, his left grabbing her rear. Darcy came in from the back way, having no idea what he and Daisy were about to see as his headlights hit the couple leaning against the building getting friendly. Darcy asked, "So what do you make of that?" Daisy replied, "They look awfully friendly. I didn't know they were dating." "How in the world did something get by you in 'Gossip Central'?" Darcy asked. Daisy playfully punched him in the arm. "Darcy!" Darcy chuckled and parked the car, returning LB and Lori Mae to the privacy of the darkness. Getting out and rounding the car, Darcy helped Daisy then held open the Boar’s Nests door for her. “I’ll get us a couple beers, since the waitress is busy,” Daisy said. Darcy replied, “ok I’ll find a table”. Charlie looked up as Daisy came behind the bar and began drawing two mugs of beer, "Hey. You are off tonight." "Yes, I am. That's why I'm only serving one table. Mine." Daisy said as she flashed a grin and wrote the ticket up for Charlie. Daisy took the two mugs of beer back over to hers and Darcy’s table, “feels strange to be here on a Saturday night and not be working,” Daisy said, taking a drink. “Atleast I don’t have to share you tonight,” Darcy replied. Outside LB and Lori Mae were straightening themselves out, Lori Mae’s break was over. “How much longer til you get off,” LB asked. “About an hour til closing then I have to straighten up, that’s another 45 minutes if there ain’t a brawl in the next hour,” Lori Mae replied. LB replied, "Bo and Luke ain't here. I heard Cooter slide out after we came out. It should be pretty safe as long as everyone keeps their paws off you." “Hon, sometimes that’s just a hazard of the job,” Lori Mae replied. One last kiss and they went back inside. LB played pinball for a while until he ran out of quarters and Lori Mae got back to work waiting tables. At the Duke residence in town, BL put on her robe to go to the bathroom, Sadie jumped up from the hall floor, darting in as soon as the door opened and leaping full force into 'her' bed, right on top of a dozing off Bo! Bo startled when Sadie landed on him “Sadie…” Bo started to scold but stopped when he realized Sadie was trembling and not just excited to get in the room, “what’s the matter girl?” In the bathroom BL heard the rumble of distant thunder and wondered if Bo had remembered to let the top up on her car. “Going back to their bedroom BL found Bo talking softly and holding Sadie close against his chest while he layed on his side. ”Bo, did you raise the top on my car when we got home from the lake?” BL asked. “I don’t remember,” Bo replied. “I’ll go check, it’s thundering off in the distance, I heard it in the bathroom,” BL said. “So that’s what’s wrong, you heard it thunder,” Bo said to Sadie, then to BL, “I’ll go check Sadie needs you.” Bo got up and put on pj bottoms then went downstairs, taking BL’s keys off the hook by the front door. BL put on a nightgown then got into bed, hugging Sadie.

Note: This Story is the 3rd in The New Postmistress series. All written with my very talented co-author Dixie Davenport. BL shifted a little closer to her new husband Bo, throwing a leg over his, a cool front had blown in and the mid September air coming through the open bedroom window was a mite cool. Bo, usually a hard sleeper, hugged his wife . He couldn’t believe it would be three weeks tomorrow since their wedding day. “Cold Darlin?” Bo asked in a whisper. “Little bit,” BL nodded her head, resting on Bo’s shoulder. “Let me warm ya up,” Bo said, letting his hands start to roam. Moving out from under BL’s petite frame easily to hover over her, Bo lowered his head kissing BL passionately. Soon they were doing what newlyweds do, without making too much noise for their cousins Luke and Dixie to hear in their bedroom across the hall. Dixie managed to get out from under Luke's arm hopefully without waking him as she found her earlier discarded gown and slid it back on along with her robe. The house was a bit cool, but the robe was more for her benefit if she should run into Bo in the hallway. Dixie quietly opened the bedroom door and looked to see if Luke had woken up. He hadn't moved, but Scrapie and Trixie's heads popped up from under the covers. "Alright, but me first." She said, "Shhh." Dixie was followed into the hallway by the two pups and into the bathroom. Once she was done, they followed her into the hall and started down the stairs. Dixie let the pups out back, grabbed a drink and let them back in to head back upstairs. As she reached the top step, she understood why Sadie had not joined the pups. She shook her head with a grin as she quietly opened the bedroom door to find Luke propped up on his pillows, looking at her. Both pups knew they didn't have to be easy and leaped into bed. "I tried not to wake you." Dixie said. "You didn't. The cold, empty bed did." Luke admitted. Sadie heard Scrapie and Trixie go past the bedroom door and she hopped down from the easy chair, padding over to the door but it was shut all the way. Coming over to the bed, Sadie reared up on BL’s side of the bed. “Alright give me a minute,” BL whispered, Bo was sound asleep again. BL found her gown then her robe, incase she should meet Luke in the hall. “C’mon,” BL said, opening the bedroom door. Sadie trotted down the stairs and to the back door. BL opened the door letting Sadie into the backyard. When Sadie came back inside they headed back to bed. Bo hadn’t moved. BL shook her head as she took off her robe, Sadie hopped back in the chair. BL knew which of them would be up for those 2 o’clock feedings when they did decide to have a baby and it looked like it likely wouldn’t be Bo. Dixie managed to make Scrapie and Trixie give her enough room to get back into bed and in Luke's arms. Soon, the four were cuddled up to each other under the covers and back to sleep. BL was sleeping good, snuggled in Bo’s arms until his alarm went off. Bo didn’t even flinch so BL nudged him with her elbow., he still didn’t move so BL nudged a little harder. Looking at her own clock, which said it was 5:30 am, saying “Bo time to get up, your alarm is going off.” “Yes sir, I’m coming Uncle Jesse” Bo said, still half asleep. “I ain’t Uncle Jesse,” BL replied, giving Bo a deep kiss. Bo came alive then saying “No ma’am you sure ain't!” BL grinned and let Bo get up, he put on his jeans that were by the bed, then his socks before getting his shirt off the bedpost. Stepping into his boots, he then leaned over kissing his bride. “Keep my spot warm darlin, be back directly,” Bo left the room, making a stop at the bathroom on his way downstairs. BL scooted over to Bo’s side of the bed, the sheets were still warm. “Come on Sadie,” BL called, patting her side of the bed. Sadie had raised her head, watching Bo, she wasted no time getting off the chair, joining BL on the bed. Gloria Kravitz crammed cotton in her ears when General Lee fired up, these were her retirement years meant to be relaxing and peaceful but instead they were aggravating, mostly due to the 4 young hoodlums across the street with their loud vehicles, friends in and out at all hours in loud vehicles and the 3 yapping mutts the 4 of them owned. Luke heard Bo pull out in the General and for just a moment, felt a twang of guilt, and then he felt Dixie wrap her leg over his legs. Luke pulled her closer and wrapped his arm around Dixie, but instead of feeling warm flesh, he felt warm fur. He scratched Trixie's ear and fell back to sleep. As Bo pulled up at the Duke farm, the kitchen light was on, which meant Uncle Jesse was cooking breakfast and the coffee was likely ready. Sliding out of the General, Bo headed inside for a cup. “Morning Uncle Jesse,” Bo said, helping himself to a cup of coffee. “Morning Bo, how’s the missus?” Jesse asked, laying strips of bacon in an iron skillet. “She’s fine,” Bo replied. “I better get the chores done, said I wouldn’t be gone too long. Thanks for the coffee,” Bo added, putting his empty cup in the sink. Uncle Jesse said as Bo turned toward the back door, "I'll have breakfast done by the time you get done. Come on back in for more coffee and bit of breakfast." Jesse cut Bo's reply off, "Neither of them girls are early risers. You are used to eating this early and if I know you, you'd rather sneak a few minutes back in bed than to cook your own breakfast. I know ya'll is newlyweds, but you can't live just on love either. " Jesse had already planned to send the others a couple biscuits a piece back with Bo because he also knew that Luke wouldn't get up to fix breakfast for him and Dixie unless he thought the baby needed to eat. “Ok,” Bo said dutifully, not arguing, grinning and shaking his head as he went out. Uncle Jesse was right he planned to do the chores, go home and crawl back into bed with his wife for as long as possible. Bo and Luke pretty much met at the top of the stairs as Luke was going in the bathroom while getting ready to leave for his job. Bo said, "There's a thermos of coffee and a couple biscuits each in the kitchen for ya'll. I put BLs in the microwave for her. Luke shook his head, "Uncle Jesse still saying he's cooking too much from habit?" Bo replied, "Nope. He just handed me a bag of biscuits and the thermos on my way out." Luke grinned and shook his head as Bo shut his bedroom door. "Make sure ya'll got a clock set or you will both be late.", Luke called. Sadie raised her head which she had on the pillow beside BL’s, jumping off the bed with a huff going back to the chair and curling up. Bo checked to make sure BL’s alarm was set then shucked his clothes down to his boxer shorts, hanging his shirt on the bedpost then climbing in bed with his wife saying, “I’m back,” “Good, missed you,” BL said, laying her head on Bo’s chest. “Uncle Jesse sent biscuits for the rest of you, yours is in the microwave. I ate while I was there,” Bo said. “If Aunt Pauline ever finds out how often Uncle Jesse cooks for all of us, she’s gonna think you and Luke married the laziest girls in the county,” BL moaned and groaned. “Uncle Jesse don’t mind, I think it kinda pleases him,” Bo replied. Luke came back in the bedroom, "You have biscuits in the kitchen and I'll make you a travel cup of coffee when I go down." Luke was in 'work mode'. Dixie replied, "OK. Thanks." She put her work BDU pants on and went to button them. It wasn't happening. She checked the size. They were not the same pair she had worn yesterday but they were the same size. She quietly grumbled.Took off those pants and tossed them in a heap in the corner then opened the closet to find a pair the next size up. Luke chuckled to himself before quietly saying, "You do know you could just stay home, right?" Dixie gave him a look, "Luke." He put his hand up in his defense, "Just a reminder." "Thanks, but I got this." Dixie said. Luke thought but his mouth happened to voice what he was thinking without his consent. "That's what worries me." Dixie gave Luke a look and he decided it was probably a good idea to leave, “well I gotta go, see you at the Boar’s Nest after work like usual,lets go to work Scrapie, you too Trixie,” Luke gave Dixie a quick kiss. BL’s alarm went off, sending Sadie into a barking frenzy, the same as every work day. “Does she have to do that every morning?” Bo grumbled. BL reached out and turned off the alarm, “she just don’t want me to be late,” BL replied. “I’m gonna go take a shower,” Bo said. “Well hurry because I need one too, I’ll let Sadie out while I wait my turn,” BL replied. “You could let Sadie out and join me, together’s got to be faster than separate showers,” Bo reasoned with his usual Bo logic. BALLADEER: They should talk to Luke and Dixie about that, they thought so too. Hazzard County was waking up and coming alive as shops, the garage, bakery, and such came to life. Daisy was in town early to run a few errands. Her first stop was the local drug store. Inside, she took out the small package with her name and prescription with refills on it and handed it to the pharmacist. "Good morning, Danny. How have you been?" He smiled at Daisy and replied, "Good. How are Uncle Jesse and the fellas?" Daisy replied, "Everyone is good." Danny checked the prescription and said, "Daisy, the medication this time is the same medication.The pills will just look a bit different. You know how it is, if they can save a dollar they will order from the cheapest company." Daisy nodded, "Alright, by me as long as it's the same medication." "Yes, it is. Instead of the tiny round pill, these are just a bit bigger and pink." He explained. Daisy took the bag of medication, put it in her purse, paid the man and said, "Thanks," as she headed toward the street and over to Rhuebottom’s. Daisy read over her short shopping list just inside the door of Rhuebottom’s store. Morning Daisy, can I get ya something?” Mr. Reubottom greeted and asked her. “Morning Mr. Rhuebottom, I just came in to pick up a few things, since I was in town already,” Daisy replied, picking up a shopping basket. On the other side of Cooter’s garage a little ways down the street BL was dashing around like a mad woman, trying to get to the post office before the mail truck. BALLADEER: Uh huh I had a feeling showering together wouldn’t be faster. “Sadie get out the way,” BL fussed at the overexcited dog barking while bouncing all around her. Bo handed BL her travel coffee mug that matched his, that BL had gotten at her bridal shower. He also handed her a ziploc bag with the biscuit from Uncle Jesse. “Here’s your coffee and biscuit. I pulled your car out and left the motor running,” Bo kissed BL, adding “have a good day darlin. “Thanks, see you after work,” BL replied, calling over her shoulder before driving away, “LOVE YOU.” Dixie decided while driving to work that she needed to stop in the office and grab a few more pairs of work pants a size or two up. She knew she wasn't showing, but you sure couldn't say that by the way the BDU pants were fitting or well not fitting the past few weeks. Once parked instead of heading into the jail, she went into the administrative building and spoke to the girls that do the hiring. After a bit of small talk, Dixie said, "Can I grab a few more pairs of pants? It's crazy. It's way too early for me to be showing and I'm not, but the way these pants are cut, I've already moved up a couple sizes." "Sure. Get you a couple changes of whichever sizes you need." Said one of the ladies. "Thanks. I'll wash up what's not fitting and drop them in next week." Dixie said as she went to the room with the uniforms in it. BL whizzed into the square and saw the mail truck coming down the street toward the post office, so she pulled in a parking spot out front. “Sadie stay,” BL said, pulling the key out of the ignition, she found the post office key on her keyring and had the door unlocked by the time the mail truck drove up. “Morning Joe, how are you today?” BL said as the truck driver got the mail bag from the truck. “Morning Miss Dav…Mrs. Duke, I’m good, how about yourself?” Joe replied. “I’m good thanks,” BL replied, adding “have a nice day now.” “Once the truck was gone, BL sat the big bag inside behind the counter, then moved her car around back. Daisy finished with her shopping, sat her shopping basket on the counter so Mr. Rhuebbottom could ring up the purchases. How’s your Uncle Jesse and the boys?” Rhebottom asked. “They’re fine, Bo and Luke and their wives eat supper out at the farm atleast once a week,” Daisy replied. “That’ll be ten dollars,”Rhebottom said, sliding the paper bag over to Daisy. Daisy gave him a ten dollar bill, picked up her bag and went back to her car and figured she may as well head over to the Post Office and chat with BL while she put up the mail. Daisy dropped her bag off at the car and walked toward the Post Office. "Good morning BL and you too Sadie girl." Daisy said as she came inside and started petting Sadie. “Good morning Daisy, I don’t have the mail sorted yet, if you’re here to get the farm’s mail. I’m running a bit behind,” BL replied. “I was in town running errands and thought I’d drop by and chat, the farm’s mail can wait until you get to it and if I’m already gone, just deliver it like usual,” Daisy said. “Ok,” BL replied. “Are you and Bo going on the hayride next month and to the Annual Hazzard Derby?” Daisy asked. “Probably, you know the only way Bo will miss being in a race is if both arms are in casts and he can’t drive,” BL replied grinning. Daisy said with a giggle, “he’d probably drive with his knees then.” “You’re probably right,” BL agreed. Daisy said, "Luke has got some of the Smokejumpers helping with the Hazzard Volunteer Fire Department’s booth. Well I bet I can guess atleast two smokejumpers that volunteered to help, if he promised the company of a certain two of your cousins,” BL grinned asking “Think Jeb will come? The race ain’t motocross.” Daisy replied, “he prefers motocross but he’s a Duke boy and will race anything with wheels. Uncle Jesse says all 5 boys liked to race even when their wheels was tricycles!” BL made a mental note to tell Dixie to invite her coworker Debbie, it hadn’t escaped BL that Jeb had taken a shine to the young woman. “Who are you going on the hayride with?” BL asked Daisy. Daisy replied, "We'll just have to see who asks me. So after we get Bo off the track are ya'll gonna be helping out or just there to enjoy?" “I don’t know, Luke is helping with the hauntings and I think Dixie is helping with concessions. It just don’t seem right for them to be working most of the time while me and Bo are having fun.” BL replied. "I am more than sure that Luke or Dixie can find something for ya'll to do. I'm trying to figure out a costume, too. You just never know about the weather. I can think of a lot of things but if it's cold I'll freeze or the costume will be covered up." BL said, "True." Daisy wiggled her eyebrows a bit, "Not that I need or want graphic details about my cousin, but how is married life? How is it with ya'll living together? When can I expect another little cousin?" BL laughed a little,”I wouldn’t expect any more little cousins right away. Remember,that conversation me, you and Dixie had a few weeks ago? Well me and Bo talked and decided to just get used to marriage before we add kids to the mix, well kids of our own that is. As for all of us living together, it's going good,” Grinning wickedly BL decided to paint a picture of ‘married life’ without graphic details but she couldn’t help what Daisy’s mind conjured up. “It is not quicker to shower as a pair!” BL emphasized the word not. Daisy had the good graces to blush just a bit, "You know, I've heard that! " The girls continued to chat until.....Clara Coltrane came through the door “Good morning Miss Clara, what can I do for you? BL asked. "Good morning BL, Daisy I need to send this registered mail,“ Clara replied, handing BL an envelope.. “I better get back home, bye Miss Clara. Talk to you later BL,” Daisy said, leaving. “Ok, I just need you to fill these out. Front and back on the green one,” BL gave the older woman a pen. When finished filling out the forms Clara paid the fee and left to carry on with her day. As Daisy walked out of the Post Office, she saw Cooter outside the garage and decided to go say hello. "Hey, Cooter. How have you been? I haven't seen much of you lately." “Hey Daisy, I’ve been good. Spending most of my time with Crystal,” Cooter said. “Crystal?” Daisy asked, she knew a couple of Crystals. “Oh yeah I forgot, you were with Dixie and BL the night before the wedding,” Cooter replied adding, “Crystal’s my girlfriend. Daisy nodded, "So which Crystal are we talking about?" There was a couple Daisy seriously hoped Cooter wasn't seeing. She hoped he knew better. Even Bo and Luke hadn't gone around them, at least as far as Daisy knew. Cooter replied, "I don't think you'd know her Daisy. She's from Placid County. She works in a diner over there." Daisy was a bit relieved. Even without knowing the girl, at least she wasn't the couple Daisy was worried about. "You'll have to bring her by the Boar's Nest sometime." Cooter nodded but knew their relationship had gone a mite further than a beer at the Boar's Nest. “I wonder if Aunt Pauline knows her,” Daisy voiced her thoughts aloud. Aunt Pauline knew just about everybody in Placid. “I doubt she does,” Cooter said. He hoped not anyway, Crystal didn’t have a snow white reputation but Cooter felt like he knew the real Crystal. She was sweet and funny, she just had too much liquid courage in her that night. Daisy said as the courthouse clock chimed, "Oh, I need to get a move on. I'll see you soon." Cooter let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding since Crystal's name had come up in conversation. He had literally been saved by the bell from further questions. The mail all sorted, BL decided to eat her biscuit that was still a little warm because Uncle Jesse had wrapped it in foil while it was hot. She was hungry but at the same time was feeling bloated just like she did when her period was due, so that was probably why. Getting a mug of hot water, BL put a peppermint tea bag in it. Peppermint tea helped with the bloat, Grandma Betty had told her when she was just a girl and had her first period. Bo was making his normal rounds throughout the tri-counties area but had a new stop in Placid County. Bo parked the truck. Got out the paperwork so he knew which boxes he needed to get off the back. Getting out of the truck, he headed inside to see where they wanted the boxes of parts. He had just gotten in the door when a shrill voice squealed, "Bo! Bo Duke! Is that really you?" Bo still had not placed the voice or the face. He answered cautiously, "Umm, ... yes, ma'am it is." Before he knew what was happening, there was a shapely blonde wrapped around every part of him! "ma'am. Miss." Bo tried to get her attention while trying to unwrap her off him. “Not having any luck extracting himself Bo said, “excuse me ma’am I don’t want to be rude but could you let me go and tell me who you are? My wife wouldn’t like it none if she found out another woman was all over me, especially one I don’t recognize,” Bo said. Of all Bo's words, the girl heard the last two, "Don't recognize? What do you mean you don't recognize me?" She asked, very appalled, just before she slapped Bo right in the face and she got louder as she explained who she was, "I'm Linda Lou Miller from the Tri-Counties race! Not recognize Me?! I could have had your baby!" Bo now had a few pieces to the puzzle and remembered at least part of a victory celebration that just might have ended as the girl eluded to. Unknown to Bo, Pauline was having her weekly visit with her oldest friend Evelyn Griggs. They heard every word of Linda Lou’s tirade. Pauline was glad Evelyn had been in the restroom at the beginning of this exchange, she didn’t know the man on the receiving end of Linda Lou’s tirade was Pauline’s nephew Bo that she had talked about many times at their weekly breakfasts together. Bo was still trying to get untangled from Linda Lou, "I remember now, but Linda Lou, Linda, stop it." Linda blew in Bo's ear and nuzzled his neck. Bo froze as his body betrayed him, and his work jeans suddenly became very tight. Linda Lou knew exactly what buttons to push and where those buttons were. "Oh, Lord." Bo's breathing had even changed. He needed out of there, and he needed either his wife or a cold shower, now! Linda Lou knew exactly the effect her efforts had on Bo and was just getting ready to start them toward the back stock room as her hand wandered to Bo's jeans. Just at that moment, Pauline stepped toward the counter, "Bo Duke! What do you think you are doing?" She said as she saw the blonde tangled around Bo. “Aunt Pauline!” Bo had never been so glad to see his aunt. Linda Lou’s hand drooped as she silently cursed the older woman’s interruption. Bo felt his jeans loosen instantly at the ‘dry’ cold shower. Going around the counter so that it was between him and Linda Lou, he gave his aunt a bear hug. Taking his time hugging his aunt, Bo took a couple of nice deep breaths to regroup, "I'm just here, trying to deliver these parts." He held up the now crumpled invoices. "When Linda Lou there spotted me, I didn't even have time to," Bo increased his volume, "to tell her I'd just gotten married." Linda Lou heard loud and clear this time that Bo was married and like a lot of girls she was not happy about it. When Bo released Pauline she said, “tell BL I said hello.” “Yes ma’am I will, I better get going, I got more deliveries to make,” Bo said, leaving the invoice on the counter but out of the way so a customer didn’t pick it up by mistake, Bo left through the front door to avoid Linda Lou even though it was the long way back to his truck. Bo couldn't have dropped his last delivery fast enough. Once back in the General Lee, Bo took a look at his watch, it told him that BL wasn't off work yet. "Dang it!" He decided to head to the Boar’s Nest for a beer and hope his evening got better. Bo signaled to Daisy to bring him a beer as he came in. Daisy brought over his mug of beer saying, “here you go sugar.” “Thanks Daisy,” Bo replied. After Daisy had gone to take another order, Dobro Doolin came from the back room where the pool table was “Hazzard’s newest member of the chain gang,” Dobro teased. “Your time’s coming,” Bo said. “Where is BL?” Dobro asked. “Still at work,” Bo looked at his watch. “She should be here soon,” Bo replied. BL finished her mail run, ran by the house to change and let Sadie chill at the house tonight since it was everyone's payday weekend. Dixie hadn't taken a change of clothes to work with her so she planned to head home to change before stopping at the Boar's Nest. Luke also knew it would be too crowded for Scrapie and Trixie tonight so he was on his way to drop them off and pick Dixie up at the house. Over in Placid, Linda Lou had also made plans. She had called a couple of her friends who had been trophy girls at various races and they were making plans to head over to Hazzard for a bit of fun tonight after she went home and changed into something a lot less than what she currently had on. BL left the pouting dog behind, parking beside General Lee she headed inside. Heading to the back table BL sat down beside Bo, “hey did ya miss me? “Always,darlin,” Bo replied. BL had no idea how much he’d missed her today. “Hey Dobro, Jeannie Ann had them twins yet?” BL asked, making conversation. “Not yet,” Dobro replied, “I’m sorry I gotta go, catch ya’ll later,” Dobro said. “Are you sure you can’t stay? Cooter, Luke and Dixie oughta be here shortly. “I might come back later,” Dobro replied, leaving. When Dobro had left, Bo kissed his wife, not nearly as passionate as he wanted to though. “I saw Aunt Pauline today, she said tell you hello,” Bo said, then told BL about the rest of his day, most of it anyway. Dixie had just stepped out of her uniform when she heard Luke's truck. She had to laugh, "Do you believe your Daddy knew I was undressed?" Luke opened the front door, "Dixie?" Before Dixie could answer, Scrapie and Trixie had made a beeline up the stairs. Sadie joined in the chase. After the dog express got by him, Luke started upstairs. "I'm up here. Well, hello. Did you two work hard today?" Dixie was carrying on a total conversation with the pups when Luke walked in to find Dixie in just her underwear. "Now, there is the sort of sight I like to come home to." Luke said as he wrapped his arms around his wife. The dogs were suddenly bored and all three ran back downstairs. Luke shut the door with his foot as he felt very overdressed. Cooter walked in the Boar's Nest and saw Bo and BL at the back table. "Hey, hey. I figured this place would be packed by now." Bo replied, "Luke and Dixie should have been here." Cooter gave Bo a bit of a grin, "Well, now I ain't one to tell tales out of school and all, but both vehicles were in the driveway when I went by." “You told tales when you were in school, what’s the difference?” BL grinned. “Hush!” Cooter said. “If you saw both their vehicles at home they may be a while getting here,” Bo said, thinking he’d like to be home alone with his wife too. Daisy came over to see if Bo needed a refill and see what BL and Cooter wanted. “I have the wrecker so just one beer and then switch me to coffee,” Cooter said. “I’ll take one too,” BL said. While Daisy was getting the drinks Dobro’s brother David and his very pregnant wife Jeannie Ann came in. Jeannie Ann had wanted to get out of the house for a bit but they were planning on leaving before things got rowdy. A bit later found Luke snuggling a napping Dixie. He was about to just forget about going out when she nuzzled closer. "Sorry. I reckon I got comfy while we were snuggling." Dixie said. "Don't be sorry. I'm good to stay right here." Luke replied truthfully. He had worked all day, then put a lot of effort into making sure that Dixie had as much fun as he had. "Don't be silly. I'll just try to find something to wear that looks nice but is comfy too." Dixie said knowing that the guys still liked to go blow off some steam on payday weekends. Luke said, "OK. Take your time. I'm gonna step in the shower." Dixie said, " If you are serious about going out I'll get dressed and let the pups out awhile." Luke replied, "Meet you downstairs." In no time flat, they were pulling into the Boar's Nest. As they made their way to the table, no one missed the fact that Luke was freshly showered and shaved. Bo looked at Cooter and wiggled his eyebrows knowing it would get Cooter’s goat. Luke shook hands with David. The evening was like any other payday, people came in to cash their checks then to spend their hard earned money. Three married men danced a few dances with their wives, the music was live tonight, Bo and Luke’s cousins Coy, Vance and Jeb were playing. Cooter suggested, “how about a game of pool fellas.” Bo, Luke and David didn’t want to look henpecked by asking their wives permission but the look on their faces spoke volumes. “That sounds like a good idea, I can give these two tips about being a wife,” Jeannie Ann said. The girls were talking at their table. The guys were playing pool. Jeb was on stage, but out front when he noticed several girls walk in together but 'alone' all the same. When the song he was singing ended, Jeb went into Travis Tritt’s, T-R-O-U-B-L-E. Dixie was asking Jeannie Ann a few pregnancy questions, when the guys had deemed the pool game over and returned to the table. BALLADEER: Friends here comes walking trouble The Duke boys had been passing subtle warnings through songs and such since they were teenagers but Luke couldn’t figure out what or who exactly the warning was about. Bo didn’t have a clue either, it was like any other payday, then he saw Linda Lou and her friends. Jeb finished the song and went into When I touch you by Travis Tritt. “How about another dance darlin?” Bo asked. “Yes,” BL replied. On the dance floor Bo held BL close, just like the song’s words were saying, Bo felt calmer now touching BL than he had when he first saw Linda Lou. “You about ready to cut out darlin?” Bo asked. “Yeah I believe we have some unfinished business,” BL replied, blowing in Bo’s ear. Bo’s jeans felt a little tighter especially when the band started playing Conway Twitty’s I’d love to lay you down. Luke caught Jeb's attention and gave him a questioning jester. Jeb waved him off and hoped to explain later that the group of girls that just walked in not only looked like walking T R O U B L E but being from Placid County and 'trophy girls', Jeb at least knew of them since he too lived in Placid and ran Motocross. Linda Lou and the other girls found a table right in the middle of the action which put them in front of the stage and by both the dance floor and pool tables as well as being pretty close to the Duke's table. Bo had figured to finish their beer and say their good nights and slide out. BALLADEER: Too bad the moon and stars had a different plan. As BL and Bo got back to the table, Dixie said as she took BL's arm, "Come on, you can be company. Tea hit bottom." Not having much choice, BL, as usual, said, "Alright." Bo watched his wife leave the table and questioned aloud for the millionth time since he found girls to be interesting, "Why, do they do that?" Luke laughed, "There's no point in trying to figure it out. I'm certain that we would never understand it." "Understand what, Sugar?" Daisy asked. "Nothing Darlin'." Bo said. Luke saw Bo's mug, "Two more, Daisy. How about you, fellas?" “Can I get a coffee? I got the wrecker,” Cooter said. “Yeah I’ll take another,” David Doolin replied. “What about you Jeannie Ann, can I get you anything else?” Daisy asked, David’s wife. Jeannie Ann thought about it and then said 'if you got any hog jowls, I’d love some.’ She couldn’t explain why it sounded good. Normally she wouldn’t touch them. “Dixie, me and Bo was thinking about cuttin’ out. Was it really necessary I tag along?” BL asked as Dixie disappeared in a stall. Dixie smiled at BL's comment, "Bo hadn't even finished his beer. It's Friday night, surely ya'll ain't wanting to go home already like old married people are ya?" Dixie was making sure she was giving back all the ribbing that she and Luke had been getting every time they tried to head home early. Luke added, "Bring Dixie another tea and BL another beer too." “Cute. We were kinda wanting the house to ourselves for a little bit, you and Luke was late getting here. Cooter seen both your vehicles at home as he passed by,” BL added the last so Dixie didn’t try the ‘we had to work over’ excuse. Dixie laughed, "OK, so just say so, but ya don't have to leave yet. We can occupy ourselves, ya know." “Bo’s idea to leave now, not mine. He seems hot and bothered,” BL replied. Bo wished BL and Dixie would hurry up and come back before Linda Lou spotted him. Linda Lou not only had spotted him but took the seat at the table facing him, which happened to be behind Cooter’s back. Luke took a break in the music to step over to Jeb, who explained his general concern about the girls. When Luke turned back around and got a good look at the girls, he noticed that a couple of them did look a bit familiar. Luke also noticed that Bo was sweating bullets and suddenly seemed pretty thirsty as his new beer was nearly empty now. As Luke sat down, he said for only Bo to hear, "What?" Bo wiped his face so no one could see what he was saying and managed to say, "Tri-Counties spring race, trophy girl." Not seeing any sign of a wife nowhere around, Linda Lou got brave and went over to the Duke's table, “well hey Bo, fancy seeing you here, thought you had a wife,” Linda Lou said. “I do, she’s in the restroom,” Bo replied. Before Linda Lou could say anything BL and Dixie came back to the table. BL noticed a half a mug of beer at her place but before she could even form a word Bo jumped in with introductions, Linda Lou this is my wife BL. BL this is Linda Lou.” Linda Lou's sweet southern accent just gained about ten pounds of sugar as she turned toward BL, "Oh, hello there, Darlin'. Ya see, I'm a 'real close, and personal friend of your husband's. I just wanted to 'congratulate' you both, but ya may want to keep an eye out. He seems real chummy with that waitress over there. Bo I sure hope to see you at the Tri-Counties race again real soon like." Linda Lou said as she stepped away from the Dukes table and back to her own table to watch any fireworks explode that she just had lit the fuse to. Bo finished his second beer and reached for BL's in the same motion. Luke wisely wrapped his arm a bit tighter than normal around Dixie's waist, hoping that this gesture was a sign that he was very taken. “Thank you,” BL almost laughed seeing the waitress Linda Lou indicated, it was Daisy. Her back was turned so they couldn’t see her face. ”Maybe I should drive home,” BL said, seeing Rosco make his first check-in of the night. It was also time for his supper break. Bo was about to argue that he was fine but then he saw Rosco and handed over the keys. Finishing BL’s beer, Bo was debating whether to order another or go home as planned. Bo caught Daisy’s attention and felt like he may be out of the woods, "Can I get a beer for the road, since I have a driver and a tea for BL. Do ya'll want anything it's on me?" The table took Bo up on his offer for another round. Luke was thinking, "BL, since you have your car, do ya'll want me to take the General and Dixie can drive the pickup? That way, you can keep a close eye on Bo there." Luke kidded. “Sounds like a plan,” BL said, handing Luke General Lee’s keys. “This is like changing guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier,” Cooter said reverently. Daisy brought their drinks and everyone talked and drank, David Doolin finished his beer then said, “it’s been fun but me and Jeannie Ann need to get on back home.” ‘Me and Bo are gonna head out too,” BL said. Saying their goodbyes the two couples left. When Bo and BL opened the front door they were greeted by woof ‘hello’s’. “Let them out back and I’ll put a frozen pizza on,” BL said. “Ok but I’d rather skip the pizza and go straight to dessert,” Bo replied, wiggling his eyebrows. Bo let the dogs out and he and BL sat on the back porch watching them play while the pizza cooked. Once they had eaten they went upstairs, the pups zoomed ahead, Scrapie chased Trixie under the foot of the bed and out the side, Sadie didn’t fit under the bed but as soon as the little ones shot out the side, Sadie was back in the game. Out into the hall they ran. Bo shut the door then said, “I believe you said something about unfinished business,” “I did,” BL replied, undoing the button and zipper on her jeans, letting them drop to the floor then stepping out. Bo dropped his own jeans and picked his wife up, laying BL on the bed gently, then laying beside her, the rest of their clothes making heaps on the floor as they engaged in couples games. BALLADEER: Kinda like reindeer games Luke finished his beer and was about to suggest heading out also. Dixie instead said, "Did you get the feeling that we weren't welcome home for a while?" Luke replied, "No. Why wouldn't we be welcome at our own home?" Cooter was enjoying watching his sister and cousin play their husband's like fiddles as he drank his coffee. "Let's just say that a certain brother of mine saw both our cars home before we got here." Dixie said. "Oh." Luke said with a slight grin. He was still careful to try not to rub Cooter or Luther the wrong way. "What do you think about leaving the pickup here awhile and us taking a ride in the General Lee before it gets too cold or I'm too big to do it?" Dixie suggested. Luke replied, "I can make that happen. Cooter let Daisy know we'll be back for the pickup and maybe one more before closing." “Will do buddy roe,” Cooter said. Daisy came to check on them all but only found Cooter drinking his coffee, “what happened to everybody?” “They left but Luke said tell you, him and Dixie will be back for his pickup before closing and maybe another drink," Cooter replied. “Ok, well can I top of your coffee?” Daisy asked. “No thanks, I’m heading out,” Cooter replied. At the house in town, Bo and BL were fully enjoying being newlyweds and having the house to themselves. “If I wasn’t on birth control, I’d probably be pregnant before this night is over,” BL said, breathing hard. “You might be anyway.” Bo replied, grinning. Luke and Dixie drove around the county at a decent pace. They were talking about old times, long ago moonshine runs, some of the chases and races the General had got the boys into and out of, when Luke drove by an overgrown, unseen, barely there path. He stopped in the middle of the road, backed up, and turned General Lee up the mountain side. "Luke, I ain't one to complain, and I trust you, but do you know where you are going?" Dixie asked. "With my eyes closed." Luke continued up the trail to an open flat area where he cut the engine and lights. Dixie said, "AM I supposed to know where I am?" Luke shrugged. "It's real close to somewhere you used to beg me to bring you." "I did?" Dixie asked, a bit confused. Luke was a bit disappointed she seemed to have forgotten. "You did, well, not to this specific spot, but it's one of a few different places you used to want to come see and I valued my hide a mite too much to bring you up here." Dixie looked around. All she could see was woods around the area but figured out what he was talking about. "One of the still sites? Really? Where?" Luke grinned, "Are you up to a bit of a walk?" Dixie was on the windowsill. "For this. You bet I am!" They walked about a quarter of a mile through thick woods before a little clearing opened up with what looked like a hunter's shack came into view. Bo watched BL sleeping on his arm. He grinned, he’d worn her out but in a good way judging by the soft smile on her lips. Once in the cabin, Luke showed Dixie the fireplace and explained that if the still was cooking a batch of shine feeding, the fireplace actually also fed the stills fire. Jesse and the others had built the cabin so that it concealed the still and the shine making unless you knew exactly where and what you were looking at. For that reason, this was Luke's favorite still site. He had often come up here to camp out even if there was no shine being made. The big double bed was there and only in need of clean bedding. The tiny kitchen still had a coffee pot, dishes and a few pots and pans. "Do you think we could come up here and camp out before it gets cold?" Dixie asked. Luke knew why he loved her, "I like the way you think Mrs. Duke." Luke said, kissing her. "There's a little pond where I bet the fish might just be real hungry a little ways away too. Would you like to maybe come up here next weekend" Dixie beamed. "It sounds like fun." A bit later, they pulled back into the Boar's Nest. Luke said, "Do you want to go back in?" "Well, I don't want to cook when we get home, so let's go get something at least to take home and you can get that other beer before we head home." Dixie suggested. Luke and Dixie walked into a calm bar, even on payday it usually was calm by now. The usual table in the back was occupied so the couple sat more in the middle. Dobro indeed came back but this time it was the blonde newlyweds missing, “hey why are you two still out? Don’t married folks turn into parents this late?” Dobro asked, with a silly grin. He had no idea Luke and Dixie were well on their way to just that. “Bo and BL commandeered the house for a little bit,” Dixie replied, blushing when Luke added, “but we found a way to entertain ourselves.” Daisy came over and asked, “what can I get ya’ll?” “Is the kitchen still open?” Dixie asked. “Sure is, what would you like?” Daisy replied. “BBQ platter with slaw, and fries. I’d like a sweet pickle on the side and a glass of tea,” Dixie said. “How about you Luke? Dobro?” Daisy asked as she finished writing Dixie’s order down. “I’ll take just a couple BBQ sandwiches and an order of onion rings and a beer,” Luke replied. “Just a beer for me,” Dobro said. “Be back in a sec with those drinks,” Daisy said before going to place the food order and get the drinks. Daisy brought their drinks back, "I checked when I was back there. We still have plenty of peach and lemon pie." Dixie felt as if she were starving but tried to play it down. "Why do you do these things to me? I'll have a piece here and a couple to take home for breakfast for us." Daisy said, "Lemon or peach?" Dixie replied. "Yes." Dobro looked at Luke, who was grinning like a Cheshire cat who just ate the family canary. Dobro sat there saying nothing so long Luke was beginning to think he needed to draw a picture. Dobro might not have a PHD but he wasn’t ignorant, he thought about the way his sister-in-law Jeannie Ann had been eating for months and it was just like Dixie. “Congratulations ya'll. When does baby Duke arrive?” Dobro shook Luke’s hand. Luke looked at Dixie, who figured a vague answer was best and all that Dobro needed. "April." “What gave me away?” Dixie asked Before Dobro could answer, Daisy brought over the food, “Here’s your sandwiches and onion rings, Luke,” Daisy set a plate in front of Luke, then a plate and couple of smaller plates with a pickle on one and pie on the other. in front of Dixie, “here’s your BBQ platter with pickle on the side and pie for dessert. I put the extra pie in take out boxes.” “Thanks Daisy, Dixie and Luke both said. ”That gave you away!” Dobro replied, gesturing at Dixie’s large order. “Jeanne Ann has been eating alot more than her normal, for months,” Dobro replied. Dixie glared at the man sitting with her and Luke, "Thanks. I needed that." Luke chimed in, "Besides, Jeannie Ann is havin' twins." Dobro put his hands out in his defense, "Sorry, Dixie, but ya'll asked." "Besides, I haven't eaten since lunch." Dixie left off the rest of her thought, 'and I was starving.' “You about ready to go take back our part of the house darlin’?” Luke asked, if he didn’t get Dixie out of there, he was liable to be minus one friend. “Yeah I’ll eat my pie at home.” Dixie said, finding the right takeout box, adding her piece of pie. “Saying their goodbyes, going out to the parking lot. Dixie getting in Luke’s truck and Luke in General Lee. Both Bo and BL were asleep when Luke and Dixie got home and would have stayed that way if the dogs hadn’t barked when they heard boots on the porch. “Luke and Dixie are home,” Bo stated. “Ya think?” BL asked, with just a mite of sarcasm. Luke let the pups out back. Dixie was starting to put the pie away when she decided that she needed just one piece, but she was having trouble choosing between the peach and the lemon. She finally chose peach and was putting her fork in the sink as Luke and the pups came back inside. "Ready for bed?" Luke asked. "Just grabbing something to drink." Dixie said. The two of them and three pups headed upstairs. Trixie and Scrapie made a beeline for Luke and Dixie's bed, leaving Sadie to give Luke her biggest puppy dog eyes. "Alright." He knocked once, "Sadie's ready for bed Bo." Luke cracked the door only enough for Sadie to squeeze in and shut the door back. Once inside her bedroom, Sadie leaped into the bed and promptly licked both Bo and BL's entire face, ears and nose! “Alright, alright we’re sorry we locked you out but your help wasn’t needed,” BL said, trying to fend off the doggy kisses. Once Sadie settled down she went to her chair, made three circles and layed down. BL snuggled back down into Bo’s arms and all was peaceful again. About 4am, BL woke with cramping in her abdomen, figuring she knew the cause BL eased out of bed trying not to wake Bo. Putting on her robe and getting her discarded underwear, BL opened the bedroom door and slipped out and around the corner to the bathroom. Downstairs, Dixie heard someone upstairs moving around. She hoped she hadn't woke Luke up when she slipped out to the bathroom then the pie in the fridge had called her name. She finished the last bite of lemon pie and put her fork back in the sink. As Dixie reached the top of the stairs she heard someone in the bathroom as she went in her room and slid back under the covers after making the pups move over.

Hoss you are close with your explanation of third cousin, my grandmother was great great grandmother to my first cousin's grandchildren. This is my thoughts on the relationship, does it make sense to anyone else? Jesse's wife is Grandpa Henshaw's daughter and had a sister she married a Duke too [likely Jesse's brother], they have a kid. The 3 cousins are most likely more brother's kids [we don't know how many siblings Jesse had but we know there are 3 more cousins with different parents] All of these are first cousins and Grandpa Henshaw is all their Grandpa. Jesse's wife's sister's kid has a kid and is Bo, Luke and Daisy's 2nd cousin and then 2nd cousin's kid is their 3rd cousin and that cousin gets married making their spouse a 3rd cousin but not blood kin because they are related by marriage.