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I don't think the second quote is the one you're trying to remember, but it serves the same purpose. From 'One Armed Bandits' (S1E1): "Boss eats at the Boars Nest because his wife Lulu is a lousy cook." From 'Cool Hands, Luke & Bo' (S7E7): "Boss got all of his businesses back and he was looking forward to some of Lulu's fine home cooking." It's possible that the latter line is sarcastic as Boss ends up with three beans on a platter. Maybe Cooter never fixed the locks when he put the doors back on. What do you expect for $35.42?

MEADOWMUFN

NOTE: The names Pauline and John Duke are the names of Jeb Duke’s parents but they are not the characters of the same names created by JadedPhoenixBurning and Dixie Davenport. Bo parked Luke's truck behind the Boar's Nest, he'd never hear the end of it, if there was one little ding or scratch when he returned it to Luke. Going around to the passenger side, opening the door, putting an arm around her shoulders, as they went around to the door. "Why'd you park in back?" BL asked, then continued "plenty parking here in front, it's Sunday." Bo moved his arm, guided BL inside with a hand at the small of her back "one little ding or scratch and Luke would kill me," Bo replied. “Yeah, you are right. I see your point” BL said as they walked into the bar. Daisy had just taken over for her friend when she saw Bo and BL heading toward a back table. Meanwhile, at still site 4, Luke had not been at all expecting Dixie's gift box, its contents nor all it implied. He knew he was going to have to say something, but at the moment, he was trying hard just to breathe. Dixie was still crying, "See, this is all wrong." Luke gently pulled Dixie down to his level. " No, no, it's not. We can head over to Chickamahoney tonight, right now. We’ll surprise everyone in the morning, then in a couple weeks, we can surprise them again." Dixie replied in tears, "I won't trap you, Luke Duke." "It seems to me I asked before you told me." He moved in for a long, deep kiss. Dixie melted against Luke as they kissed passionately. At the Boar’s Nest, Daisy brought Bo and BL a beer, knowing they’d want one, “Where’s Luke and Dixie?” Daisy asked, putting the beers on the table, it was unusual to see one couple without the other. Both BL and Bo shrugged their shoulders, “Luke traded me keys tonight, said Dixie wanted to ‘get lost’ for a while,” Bo said. BL knew why Dixie wanted to ‘get lost’ with Luke but she couldn’t say, that was for Dixie to tell ‘if’ she wanted, her news would show itself in a few months anyway whether Dixie was ready to tell or not. “I better get back to work before Boss catches me,” Daisy said, then went back to the bar. BL sipped her beer wondering how things were going with Dixie and Luke. Luke had pulled Dixie even closer as the kiss intensified. He could feel every part of her melting in his arms. There wasn't anything he wanted right now more than for them to continue this moment, but he knew better. With every ounce of willpower he could muster up, Luke broke the kiss, helped Dixie to her feet, and started off for General Lee. He smiled at the sight of the old car in the moonlight that was so much more than just a car. He was a friend, family even, and yes, Dixie had chosen tonight's transportation perfectly. He helped her through the window, got in and cranked up the General's still powerful engine. Once at the road, Luke looked at Dixie, then turned toward Chickamahoney. Back at the Boar’s Nest, Cooter had just come in and sat down at the table with BL and Bo asking “where’s Luke and Dixie?” Bo told him the same as he’d told Daisy. Daisy came over, “hey, want a beer sugar?”Daisy asked. “Ya’ll want a refill”, she asked Bo and BL, getting three ‘yes’s; she brought the drinks over. The three friends talked awhile, Cooter only having the one beer before getting a wrecker call, “sorry I got to run out on ya’ll like this but old man Rich ran in a ditch.” Cooter said. Left alone again Bo got up, holding out a hand “wanna dance?” BL nodded ‘yes’, taking Bo’s hand, heading to the dance floor. Cooter managed to get old man Rich out of the ditch, but not without getting muddy. By the time Cooter got home he figured everyone would be paired up and heading out by the time he made it back to the Boar's Nest. He picked up the phone and told Bessie Mae who was working the switchboard tonight that he had the wrecker and was home for the night unless he got a call from her or the CB. Luther was still up reading the paper when he heard Cooter's phone conversation. It was a bit early for Cooter to be in. "So, why are you home so early?" "Old man Rich got himself stuck in a ditch." He motioned to his muddy work pants, "I needed to clean up before going back out, but figured it would be too late by then." "Any chance your sister may be thinking of heading here tonight?" Luther asked. Cooter shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. I haven't seen her tonight." Luther gave him a questioning look. Cooter told his father the rest of what he knew. "Bo had Luke's truck tonight. He said Luke told him that Dixie wanted him to take General Lee....." He paused before finishing Bo's statement. A bit lower, he said, "So they could ‘get lost’ awhile." Luther dropped his paper a bit, looking over the top of it. Cooter added, "That's what I was told." Luther mumbled something under his breath. Cooter decided the tub was calling him. Luther had lightened up on Dixie and Luke a couple weeks ago after unknown to anyone but them, he had been approached by Bill McCormick. They had talked a couple of hours one day at the Boar's Nest when it had only been the two of them and the bartender. Bill had asked Luther if they could have a conversation. He had been the father of a young girl who dated Luke on and off for several years. Bill had very much been against the idea, but found Luke grew on him. By the time young love had crashed and burned for the last time, he had to admit that he had missed having the young man around. After his daughter became involved with and then married Luke's high school football rival, Bill had to also admit that he would have much rather had the young Duke as a son in law. He frankly told Luther that Dixie could do far worse for herself. Luther was still looking at the paper but had no idea what it said. He was thinking back years ago when Luke had been so much a part of his garage, wrecker service, and his own family. He had been so set on protecting his daughter that he drove both her and Luke away. Had he been so wrong back then. Was he wrong now, that seeing them together grated on his last nerve? At the Duke Farm, Jesse closed his own paper, went to the kitchen and turned off the stove under the coffee pot, turned on the back porch light and cut off all the other lights except the night light of the kitchen. He took the last cup of coffee to his room where he planned to read his Bible a bit before turning in. At the Boar’s Nest, BL pulled Bo back toward their table, “let’s sit this one out, I’m plumb wore out”, BL said. “Alright”’, Bo said. Someone kept selecting one good song after another on the jukebox. The couple finished their beers while they talked about the fall harvest dance coming up in a couple months. BL looked at her watch seeing that it was getting late “we better go, I got to work tomorrow and Sadie’s going to think I abandoned her,” Bo and BL went out to Luke’s truck, Bo helping her in, then getting in behind the steering wheel. BL then slid across the seat next to him. Bo cranked up, putting his arm around BL as he drove back to the farm so BL could get her car. At the Duke farm, Jesse heard Luke’s F250 pickup but he wouldn’t do more than doze until he heard Daisy come home from work and General Lee, then he would be able to sleep better knowing all his ‘kids’ were home safe. “Looks like Uncle Jesse’s done gone to bed,” BL said, seeing the dark farmhouse. “Yeah, so guess I’ll see you tomorrow after work at the Boar’s Nest.” Bo said. “Don’t know if I’ll make it to town before then, that storm we had last night blew some trees on the fences close to the house, got to check the rest, remove trees and start mending the fences tomorrow,” Bo said. BALLADEER: See Uncle Jesse don’t work on Sunday except the daily chores that have to be done because Sunday's a day of rest. “I’ll see ya after work then,” BL replied, Bo leaned in for a long kiss before BL got in her GTO heading home. She had seen Dixie’s Thunderbird still at the Duke farm but just figured her cousin and Luke wasn’t back yet. She hoped Dixie was off tomorrow or her tail would be dragging at work. Several hours ago, Luke had felt each one of the landings he had made and wanted nothing more than to stay home. Now, it was the wee hours of the morning. Dawn was due in about an hour. He now felt about seventeen as he turned the General Lee into the Duke drive and promptly cut the engine at just the right spot to drift into his normal place. Luke got out, checked his truck hood, it was cold, he then helped Dixie out and stopped her as she headed toward the back door and the porch light. Luke held his finger to his lips, took her hand as he led her around the front of the house and to the window of his and Bo's room. Luke peered through the window. Bo was asleep and turned toward the door in his normal sleeping position. Luke eased the window up, stepped inside, checked Bo, and he hadn't moved. He then helped Dixie in the window. Once inside both their hands began to wander as clothes were discarded. Dixie had the forethought to take claim of Luke's discarded T-shirt. Luke pulled his covers back, getting into the twin bed facing away from Bo. For once he was glad that Bo could sleep through a train driving through their room and never wake up. He pulled Dixie in beside him and covered them both. As he figured it, they had about an hour to snuggle before the roof came off the house. Pulling in her driveway BL halfway thought Dixie and Luke might be here but the porch light was off and inside the house was dark too. Going inside BL was greeted by Sadie spinning in circles, tail wagging 90 miles an hour, “Hey girl! Did you miss me?” BL said as she got down on her knees petting the excited dog. After a few minutes, BL went down the hallway to take a shower, Sadie at her heels. After a hot shower, BL left the bathroom light on, so Dixie wouldn’t fall and break her neck when she did come in. Getting ready for bed, BL read her latest book for a bit, to unwind. Putting her book on the nightstand, turning out the lamp and hugging Sadie BL wondered where Dixie was. A few hours later BL got up to go to the bathroom, the light was still on, which meant Dixie still wasn't home.Taking care of business, BL went to the living room, it was too early to get ready for work but she knew there would be nomore sleep for her. Sadie sensed her master’s worry and hopped up on the couch, laying her head in BL’s lap, “Think I should call Luke, see if he knows where Dixie is?” BL received a groan from Sadie as if the dog was saying ‘not your best idea.’ At the Duke farm, Jesse Duke put the coffee on, expecting Luke to be heading out to start the chores. When Luke didn’t appear after 5 minutes, Jesse went to the boys room to check on them. Knocking before opening the door Jesse saw the discarded clothing, some of which was women’s “WHAT IN SAM HILL IS GOING ON HERE?!!” Daisy heard Uncle Jesse's bellow across the hallway. She jumped up, grabbed her robe and opened her door. She saw the door to the boys room open and stepped to the door. Bo was moving on instinct only as he was not fully awake. He had jerked his covers off and nearly jumped out of his own skin. He had set up facing the door and was now scrambling to pick up his jeans, shirt and boots. Why he wasn't sure but felt like he was late for something. Right now Luke rethinking last night's decision to come home. He had expected to be woken up by Jesse and have a lot of explaining to do, but Jesse Duke was awake, his dander was up and he was off on a rant. Luke had also sat up on his side of the twin bed facing Bo's bed. Glad that he had put on pajama bottoms, he also began gathering his clothes while trying to get a word in Jesse's rant. Dixie had thought Luke's plan wasn't a great idea, but she had gone along with it. They both knew everyone would have a good laugh about this later, after Jesse calmed down. She had on Luke's t-shirt that was a bit roomy on her. She took the blanket with her as she slid her jeans on and then turned to watch Luke try to explain things to Jesse. "You all know I don't run no brawdy house here. Ya'll may not have had a curfew in years, but this is still my house, Luke I ought to take you to the barn and I still might! You know I have never held to ya’ll messing around..... After trying to get a word in several times, Luke reached behind him and took Dixie's left hand and held her hand up with his left hand. The new gold bands sparkled across the dimly lit room. Jesse’s rant stopped cold, when Luke held up his and Dixie’s left hands. “You're married!!” Daisy squealed with excitement. Bo couldn’t get out of the room with Uncle Jesse and Daisy standing in the doorway, so when Uncle Jesse hushed, he turned back toward Luke, seeing the new gold rings just as Daisy squealed. BL decided to drive out to Hounddog lake, just as the sky was beginning to lighten “c’mon Sadie let’s go for a ride. Gloria Kravitz had gotten used to the Davenport girls coming and going, she had even learned what both cars sounded like, so hearing BL leave so early she wondered aloud “I wonder where she’s going this early? It ain’t time for the post office to open. BL drove out to Hounddog lake, the sun just beginning to peek over the trees, any other morning she would have taken in the beauty but today she was preoccupied, no sign of General Lee here either. BL didn’t know what to do now as she drove around to a few more places looking for Dixie, she didn’t want to raise the alarm by calling Dixie or Luke on the CB and calling the Duke farm on the telephone would only get the gossip mill going. Bo was still not awake fully. He processed the information just a bit slower than Daisy had but finally said, "Luke? Really? Married?? Really ya'll got married??" Luke knew it would take more than the rings to convince Jesse. He had already reached in his pocket for an unofficial copy of the marriage license that he handed to Jesse as he grinned mischievously at Bo and replied, "Yep. That there is the unofficial copy. Reverend Frawley, said he'd have this one registered today at the courthouse." Jesse looked at the paper in his hand. This was a day he never thought he would see. Here one of his boys had finally at least started to prove him wrong. Jesse had been certain that the chances of any of them settling down and starting a family was about the same chance as hogs producing beef. "Well, now, Lucas we might just forget about that trip to the barn, but we's still gonna have ourself a talk later. Unless ya'll forgot, we still have a farm to run here and don't you two married people have jobs to get to?" "No, Sir, we fixed that last night. After chores and breakfast, we still have another whole side of the family to tell." Luke remembered. Dixie had gathered the rest of her clothes and was trying to make her way to the bathroom, "I'll just step across the hall so these guys can get dressed then I'll come help you and Daisy fix breakfast." Jesse headed for the kitchen, closing the bedroom door behind himself. Daisy hurried back to her room thinking about what all was needed for a small reception/get-together for the two families. Dixie came out of the bathroom and went to the kitchen to help with breakfast. Jesse smiled at Dixie “well welcome to the family,” Jesse said. "I told him that wasn't the best way to tell ya'll." Dixie said. "Well, now, I handle that." Jesse said with a bit of a grin. Dixie couldn't help herself, "You know there were times I thought this day would never happen." Jesse handed her a cup of coffee, "Truer words have never been spoken." Once they were alone in their room, Bo was now more awake and trying to catch up. "Luke you really got married? Bo asked, he still couldn’t believe it, even though Luke had shown Uncle Jesse the marriage license. “Yes Bo, I really got married,” Luke replied. “Why all the sudden?” Bo knew Luke liked Dixie, maybe loved her but he didn’t think Luke was ready to settle down yet. You said that day a while back, when me, Daisy, Cooter and BL thought ya’ll went to Chickamahoney hat we’d all be the first to know,” Bo reminded Luke. “We’re telling ya first ain’t we?” Luke replied. “Yeah, ” Bo said but what he’d meant was they all wanted a heads up, so they could go too as the witnesses. “Didn’t want to wait another day, I love her Bo,” Luke answered Bo’s question about ‘why so sudden’ truthfully without telling their other reason just yet. Luke wanted it to look like Dixie got pregnant soon after the wedding. "Come on Bo, let's get at it so we can catch Luther and Cooter before the garage fills up." Luke said. He looked forward to this conversation with his new father-in-law like he would a root canal. BL was still out driving around looking for Dixie and Luke, since it was still a while before she needed to go back to town and open the post office. As she neared the eDuke farm, the General Lee’s one of a kind paint job could be seen from the road. “How about we get some answers, huh girl?" BL said, turning the steering wheel hard, pulling in the driveway and parking beside Uncle Jesse’s pickup truck. “C’mon Sadie,” BL had just opened the back screen door, when Bo and Luke came out the kitchen door. “Mornin Darlin, whatcha doing out this early?” Bo asked giving BL a kiss. The “Looking for our cousins, Dixie still wasn’t home when I went to bed. I wasn’t worried until I got up to go to the bathroom in the wee hours and she still wasn’t home,” BL said. “Bo let’s go back inside a minute,” Luke said as he purposely slid his left hand in his pocket. Bo grinned wild. Chores put off a few minutes and now that he was fully awake, he wouldn't miss this for the world. "Sure. This ought to be great!" BL looked at Bo's unusual reaction, "What should be great?" Luke just guided her toward the kitchen. Sadie followed them back through the screen door but stayed on the screened porch. She didn’t normally go in the house, not because Uncle Jesse said ‘no’ but because BL respected the fact he never had, had other animals inside his house. “Mornin sugar, ain’t it a great day?” Daisy chirped. “Mornin’ Daisy” BL replied wondering why Daisy was so perky, this early. “What’s up? You didn’t come home last night Dix,,,I waited up for a bit, just thought maybe you and Luke lost track of time but when I woke up in the wee hours and you still wasn’t home, I was worried and I been sitting on the couch waiting for it to start getting light, so I could go looking for ya.” BL may not have raised her voice but they all knew she was fussing just the same. "I'm sorry for worrying you. It was really late when we got here." Dixie began as Luke moved around behind her chair. Dixie continued, "I don't think I'm gonna be staying there as much anymore." BL looked confused. Even though she knew Dixie's secret, she was still thinking about losing sleep worrying about Dixie. Dixie smiled up at Luke, then back to BL before she said, "I think this might make things clearer." She handed BL her pretty copy of the marriage certificate and waited..... BL stared at the marriage certificate a full minute without saying a word, smiling big at the newly weds “congratulations! So this is why you didn’t show up at all at the Boar’s Nest? Me, Bo and Cooter thought you might come late, BL said. “Yep that’s why” Dixie replied, “Have you had breakfast?” Jesse asked. “No sir, I was too worried,” BL replied. “Daisy set another place”, Jesse directed, it wasn’t exactly an invite BL could turn down, Jesse Duke had spoken. “Yes sir, Uncle Jesse,” Daisy said, setting another place. Everyone sat down to eat after the three girls got it on the table. Talk centered around the newlyweds, Daisy was only slightly disappointed at not being able to plan a wedding but was content with a family gathering of the two families in the evening “what kind of cake do ya’ll want? I need to get some things from Rheubotttom’s and I can by the bakery and get a cake while I’m in town.” Daisy said a mental list of things she needed from Rhuebottom’s. “Just a yellow cake’s fine Daisy, right Darlin? “ Luke replied. “I have something to ask.” BL said, the Dukes all looked at her. “I know you ain’t got a place of your own yet and livin here will be kind of cramped, so how about my house in town?” BL saw both of the newlyweds getting ready to protest that they couldn’t take her house, so she held up a hand to stop them. “It’d be temporary, I’m sure you want to stay here on Duke land, Luke but as I said this house would be cramped. My house is all furnished and I don’t mind moving back in with Daddy. Both Luke and Dixie knew how much BL's house meant to her. Luke also knew Dixie was waiting for him to answer, so he did. "How about we accept your offer tonight after we go have a conversation with the Davenport half of this family? That will give us all a little time to work out the logistics. And, Daisy, before you go buying up half of Hazzard, can you give me a running start. You go out buying cakes, and the phone lines are gonna melt." Jesse gave him a stern look, "How fast do you think they are gonna melt when Reverend Frawley registers that marriage certificate at the Placid County Courthouse. You know Jeb's mama has spys stay on alert over there for anything involving a Duke. News like this ain't gonna keep long." Luke replied, "Jesse's right ya’ll. Come on Dixie.....Let's get this over with." BALLADEER: Now friends everyone in that room understood Luke's dread at sharing his and Dixie's happy news. “Ok that sounds like a good plan, I’ll go pack a bag at lunchtime and drop it off at Daddy’s when I deliver the mail.” BL said, looking at her watch. “I got to get to work…so I’ll be right behind ya’ll, I can call backup if Luther tries to kill ya,” BL grinned cheekily. “Cute BL,” Luke said. He and Dixie headed out, BL and a not so happy Bo following them outside. “I’ll see ya this evening Darlin;,” Bo kissed BL on the forehead, “See ya later Bo,” BL replied, getting in her car heading toward town as Bo went to the barn to do the chores alone. In town, like most work days, Luther Davenport pulled up to the garage a bit before eight. He unlocked the office, then the bay doors, and then put on a pot of coffee in his automatic coffee maker. It wasn't like perked, but the time it saved him at work was worth it. Cooter had gotten in early last night, so when he pulled in about the time the coffee was done, Luther wasn't surprised. Usually, Cooter was a mite late if he'd had wrecker calls. Luke and Dixie were in his pickup. Luke hoped to get to the garage before it opened, but with BL stopping by, he was a bit later than he wanted to be. As he pulled into town square, Luke had an idea and stopped short of the garage at the bakery. Dixie looked confused, "Luke, what are you doing?" Luke cracked a smile. "It's been a while since I had donuts and beer for breakfast." Dixie shook her head and ran into the bakery. A few minutes later, she came out with a box of assorted doughnuts and a small bag. Luke knew but had to ask, "What's in the bag?" "These are mine. Holes." Dixie said as she was already opening the bag. Luke pulled in at the garage. Out of the way of customers. When Cooter and Luther saw where Luke parked, they knew he wasn't there as a customer. "Hey there, Luke, Dixie. What are you doing in town?" Cooter asked. Luther had turned his attention back to setting his register up. Luke set the box of doughnuts on the counter by the register, went to the fridge and grabbed three beers. He tossed one to Cooter, then set the other between Luther and the box of doughnuts. He opened his beer and leaned up against the car that was already parked in the bay, much like he would have done on any Saturday morning when he hung out at the garage as a teen. Dixie had taken her spot on a tall stool that had been at the garage since she was little. She just happened to be sitting between Luther and Luke as she was munching on the doughnut holes. Luke took a sip of his beer as he watched Cooter grab his first choice of the doughnuts and open his beer. While the box was open, Luther reached for his choice, knowing if he didn't get his pick now that it wouldn't be there later. Luke now answered Cooter’s question, "We were out pretty late last night, so we both took a day today." Luther frowned a bit at both Luke and Dixie, calling off work for being out late. He'd known Luke to work for him, run moonshine at night, and plow a field the next day before lunch. Cooter also gave him a frown, thinking much like his father, but said, "wait, ya'll didn't come out to the Boar's Nest last night." "No, we didn't." Luke said, keeping his tone light, "Instead, we went for a drive." He paused for a drink of beer. "Ya know, there are still a lot of back roads in this county. We rode around and did a lot of talking. One thing led to another, and the next thing you know, we popped out of the woods right in Chickamahoney. At the post office BL was just unlocking the front door and raising the window shade when she saw Luther arrive at the garage. Flipping over the ‘open’ sign on the door, BL stepped out onto the sidewalk at the same time Luke and Dixie pulled into the garage parking lot and parked out of the way of customers. BL’s attention though was shifted from what was happening at the garage, when the mail truck arrived. “Morning Joe,” BL greeted the driver as he lifted the truck’s rear door, climbing inside, getting the mail bag. “ Good Morning Miss Davenport,” Joe replied. “See you tomorrow Miss,” Joe got back behind the mail truck’s steering wheel, heading to his next stop. Taking the mail back inside BL continued getting everything ready to start the day, while sort of watching for any signs of a commotion over at the garage. Luke took a sip of beer to see if that got any reaction. All he noted was Dixie's eyes widened at the mention of Chickamahoney. Cooter said, "Man, that was a long ride through the woods. Did ya take that old road out across Iron Mountain.?" Luke knew the one. "I know that one, but remember, we was in the General Lee. We took the one out by Hounddog lake." Cooter reached for another doughnut and nodded with his mouth full. Luther was checking his inventory. Luke continued, "While we was over that way. We decided to make a stop." Cooter added, "If yall left after supper, there couldn't have been much open." This slow, easy, seemingly ideal conversation between Luke and her brother was about to drive Dixie nuts, but she figured that Luke knew what he was doing. "This place is open most all the time, Cooter." Luke said, finishing his beer and reaching for Cooter and him a refill. Luther added, "Nothing much over there to be open except a couple of those wedding chapels." Thinking of their past, Dixie held her breath. "Yep, that's a fact. There are a few of them over there." Luke confirmed. Cooter asked, "Yeah, but where did ya'll stop? They ain't got a new all night café open over there, do they?" "Not that I saw Cooter." Luke said. He loved his buddy. Well, his brother-in-law now. “"The fact is, ..." Another sip of beer, "We decided to pay Reverend Bachman a little visit." “REVEREND Bachman!” Luther nearly choked on his doughnut. Dixie could see this spiraling downhill fast but the newlyweds were given a short reprieve as someone pulled up at the pumps and Mr. Peabody drove up to get the tractor part he needed, that Luther had gotten for him. “Thank ya Luther,” Mr. Peabody said, taking the part Luther handed him. Dixie took this time of distraction to get herself a coke out of the fridge, since Luke had forgot to get her a drink before. Luther had nearly choked on his doughnut at the mention of Reverend. Bachman, but he'd had to deal with his customer, so he had a few minutes to think before he got into Luke and Cooter’s conversation. "Luke, why would you and Dixie go see Reverend Bachman late at night?" Luke couldn't help himself. He was enjoying this conversation. He knew Luther may be pissed off, but other than swinging on him, what could he really do about it. Luke had waited a long time to not only prove Jesse wrong about the 'hogs producing beef' and all, but to prove Luther wrong too about how he'd use Dixie and leave her. He was trying to hide his amusement as he replied, "About a wedding, of course." Dixie was certain that if they lived through this, that she may kill Luke herself!" Luther asked, "So, this means that you have asked Dixie to marry you?" Luke replied, "Yes." Cooter was watching the conversation that reminded him of a chess game. "Dixie, I take it that you said yes?" Luther asked. "Yes, Daddy, I said 'yes'." Dixie said. "So, when is the wedding?" Luther was looking at Luke. Luke reached for the marriage certificate that he had shown Jesse as he replied, "Today, well earlier this morning." Luther looked from Luke to Dixie and back, then something toward the ceiling caught his attention for the briefest second before he horsley said, "So, you really want to be this grease monkey's wife?" "Yes, Daddy, more than I've wanted anything in a long while." Dixie replied. Luther nodded, then turned to Luke, "Alright. I've tried to make sure Dixie would not be hurt and would be happy all her life. I guess maybe I tried too hard. It seems that it's your turn now." Luther extended his hand to Luke, then pulled back, "There's one more thing. Remember, this is a family business, and you are officially family now." Luke stepped closer, looked the man in the eye, and firmly met the hand shake with his strong grip. Unbelieving what he'd witnessed, Cooter said, "Well, I think a beer is in order to mark this occasion." He was already heading to the fridge. Cooter got them all a beer,passing them around. Once they all had a beer, Cooter held up his bottle toasting the newly weds simply saying “congratulations!” Over at the Post Office, BL was dying to know what was going on. Mrs. Frawley, her neighbor on the other side, also the wife of the reverend of church there in town, came in “mornin Mrs. Frawley, how can I help you?,” BL greeted the woman who’d been her Sunday school teacher. “Morning BL, I need to send this priority,” Mrs. Frawley handed BL a large manila envelope. Taking the large envelope, stamping ‘PRIORITY’ in red she put it in a wire tray below the counter. “Is there anything else ma’am?,” BL asked, smiling. “No that’s all today, hope we’ll see you Sunday,” Mrs. Frawley said. “I know it's been awhile since I came to church, just got busy, that’s not a good excuse I know,” BL replied. Luke watched Dixie as she took the beer from Cooter, opened it, and took a drink for the toast. Dixie had been to Luke's right, so he held his beer in his left hand as he took a drink. Cooter looked totally shocked and said, "Now that's gonna take some getting used to seeing. It looks just plumb strange." Luke replied, "I don't know. I kinda like it." Dixie added, "Well I know I love mine." BL couldn’t take another minute of not knowing what was going on over at the garage and she knew exactly how to find out, gathering up the garage mail for ‘special’ delivery she swore under her breath as Enos Strate parked in front of the Post Office, he’d been off work with a broken arm “mornin’ BL, how’s it going? Enos greeted with his usual chipper way. “Mornin’ Enos, everything’s good. How’s your arm? I see you got the cast off,” BL said. “It’s good as new, Doc Applby took the cast off last week but he wanted to check it one more time before releasing me for duty. Thought I might as well pick up my mail on the way out.” Enos replied. Giving Enos his mail and wishing him well with his doctor’s appointment, BL clipped Sadie’s leash on and picked up the garage mail again. “C’mon Sadie, let’s take the garage mail over,” At the garage BL waved the mail then laid it on the desk “Hey…I brought the mail Luther.” Luke had turned some of his attention to the car that Cooter was working on. Luther replied, "Thanks BL." Dixie could see the questions written all over BLs face. Dixie quickly handed her beer to Luke as she walked out front with BL. Dixie smiled at her cousin's comment. "Well, it went better than I imagined, but I think that's what worries me." The girls had a good laugh before Dixie asked, "Hey, do you think we should try to beat all the busy bodies and put an announcement in the paper or just let Hazzard gossip take its course?" "You know no matter what you do, some will still gossip but an announcement in the paper might be nice for those that actually would be happy for ya’ll but may not hear it from the busybodies,” BL replied. Daisy had held off going to town just as long as she could. There was Duke news to spread, a reception to plan, cake to order. Her mind was racing nearly as fast as she was driving coming into town. Jesse had been a bit concerned about how Luther would take Luke and Dixie's news, so he was also headed to town a mite slower than Daisy. On the way to the bakery, Daisy saw Luke's truck still at the garage and Dixie and BL outside. She pulled into the garage instead. "Hey, ya'll. Am I clear? How did it go?" Dixie replied. "Better than I expected, which concerns me." Luke heard Daisy pull up. He'd been thinking on the way to town. "Excuse me, fellas." Outside, Luke put his arm around Dixie and Daisy, "I've been thinking, with tomorrow a work day and all...." He never got the thought out before Daisy read his mind. "Oh, no, you don't, Lucas Duke. You can not have news this big and not let me plan a party!" Luke found himself now putting his hands in front of him defensively, "I wasn't trying to stop you, Daisy. I swear. Just hear me out." "Ok." Daisy sulked. "Why don't you just get or make a small cake tonight. Have everyone over for supper and cake tonight. Then, this weekend, after you've had more time to plan, do it up big then?" Luke explained. "Well. Alright." Daisy agreed since she now had 2 parties to plan for. Dixie said, "Hey, that could work with what we were talking about. I was thinking of going over and putting an announcement in tomorrow's paper. We could invite everyone to the reception in the announcement." Luke replied, "That's fine by me. That is all y’all though." Dixie replied, "You just got to be there." Luke smiled mischievously and showed her his pager. "Maybe." He called as he headed back in the garage to tell Luther and Cooter about supper tonight. “Just let me see if Sadie can stay here and I’ll go over to the Gazette with ya’ll, I ain’t seen nobody go in the Post Office so I got time for a quick stop,” BL said, turning back to the garage. At the ‘Hazzard County Gazette’, Luke’s newspaper friend Norm was there helping out, like he did sometimes he asked “what can I do for you ladies?” “We want to put a couple announcements in tomorrow’s paper,” Daisy said. “Just put down what you want them to say, Norm handed Daisy a pen and a couple forms that said ‘please print’, Daisy gave Dixie the forms and pen. On the first Dixie wrote: On August 5th Lucas K Duke and Dixie L Davenport were wed in a small ceremony in Chickamahoney. Giving Daisy the other form and pen, Daisy wrote: There will be a wedding reception at 6:00 pm Friday at the Boar’s Nest, to celebrate the marriage of Luke Duke and Dixie Davenport. Out of habit, Norm took the first form from Daisy to read over to make sure all the needed information was included. Getting to the names of people who had been married, Norm let out a long, low whistle. "You two are serious?" Dixie was still writing all the information to make the announcement a nice one. She and Daisy looked at each other, then back at Norm before replying that yes, they were very serious. Norm was reaching for his camera and going into full reporter mode. "This is great! Where is Luke?" "At the garage." Daisy replied. "Well, come on, ladies. I need to go congratulate him." Norm said. He was thinking that this was going to be the biggest story he had ever written in Hazzard! BL had to go back to the garage to get Sadie and asked before Norm could get into full reporter mode or anything, afterall a Duke boy getting married was big news, “Daddy’s meeting me at the cafe for lunch, can I tell ya’lls big news or do you want me to let him read it in tomorrow’s paper?” Luke looked at Dixie, Clyde was her Uncle, so Luke thought it should be her call. Dixie replied, "I've been waiting since I was 15 to tell this to the world. Go for it." Luke couldn't help but cringe just a bit at Dixie's choice of words as he looked over at Luther. BL laughed at her cousin’s reply, her Uncle didn’t look amused at his daughter’s words although he didn’t say anything you could see his jaw muscles working. “Invite him and LB for supper and cake, the more the merrier,” Dixie added. You better hurry and get that cake ordered Daisy, before you need a big one instead of just a normal size cake. Tell Betty Lynn that I’ll pick it up after work, so you ain’t gotta come to town twice.” BL said “Will do, thanks BL,” Daisy replied, hopping in her car heading to the bakery. “I better get back to work,see ya’ll later,” BL said, then headed back across the street to the post office. At the Busy Bee, BL got a booth for herself and Clyde, a couple minutes later he came in,sitting across the table in the booth. Jenny, one of the waitresses, took their drink order and brought some menus, when she brought the drinks back. “What are you having Daddy,” BL wanted to get their food before she shared Dixie and Luke’s news, so she wouldn’t be overheard and inadvertently start gossip. “I think I’ll have the catfish platter,how about you? Clyde replied. “I had breakfast out at the Duke farm this morning, so think I’ll just have a burger and fries.” BL saw the questions in her Daddy’s eyes. Clyde wondered why BL went all the way out to the Duke farm for breakfast then drove back to town for work but Jenny brought the food so he couldn’t ask. Not wanting to go through the whole, Dixie being MIA all night she simply said, “Dixie and Luke got married and the Duke’s are having a small celebration, they want for the two families and you, LB, and me to come for supper and cake.” Clyde smiled nodding ‘yes’ as he chewed, swallowing he replied “I’ll call LB later and tell him.” BL told him about the big reception/party everybody was welcome at because it was announced in the next day's Gazette. “Can I stay with you tonight? Luke and Dixie are staying at the house, sort of a wedding night alone they didn’t get, it’s my wedding gift," BL said smiling. “Of course you are always welcome, you don’t even have to ask,” Clyde replied. After lunch, with neither having dessert, BL went back to the post office, while Clyde paid their bill and went back to work himself. After talking to Norm, Luke figured to get back to the farm and help Bo some today since he left him to do the morning chores alone. Dixie had scooted off toward the emporium and asked Luke to pick her up there. Her normal nightwear consisted of long night shirts with shorts or joggers. Inside Dixie found a nice silky lavender long gown trimmed in white lace and robe. It may not have been her choice if a wider selection was available, but from what was there, it was the best choice. Dixie had helped Jesse and Daisy with the extra large supper. Then, she slipped off to get cleaned up and changed before the guys came into clean up. Luke had caught up to Bo, and they had been working on mending a fence section. This particular job left lots of time for thought and discussion. Bo finally got around to asking Luke, "Luke, how long were ya'll planning to get married? I'd have thought you would have at least talked to me about the possibility of you asking Dixie." Luke kicked the post hole digger into the ground and leaned on it, looked heavenward, and said, "Bo, I not only thought about it but had asked Dixie years ago. You and the people who matter to us knew that. We were driving and talking, and when we ended up in Chickamahoney, we felt it was just time." “Uh huh, ok.” Bo didn’t exactly buy Luke’s reasoning, well completely. Bo asked, "Does it feel strange? Ya know, knowing you can't chase women anymore?" Luke laughed, "Strangely, it feels good knowing I don't have to chase women anymore. I just have to go home “Why ain’t you chasing a new woman every week?” Luke asked turning the tables on Bo.. “You ain’t been with nobody but BL for a couple months now,” Luke added. Bo set a post in the hole Luke had just dug, kicking dirt around it, then packing it down with his boot. In town BL locked the Post Office door, turned the sign to closed, pulling out of the alley and across the street, hanging a left at the church, BL pulled up in her driveway, leaving Sadie in the fenced in yard,” be right back girl, just going to pack a bag,” BL went to her room, packing black jeans and a blue top with a ruff on the shoulders, underwear and socks. In her makeup bag she tossed in her usual makeup, hairbrush and ponytail holder, deodorant and body mist. In the bathroom she got her shampoo and conditioner. Grabbing a thing of wet dog food and putting it with her stuff, she went back out to her car and headed for the bakery. Luke had noticed that Bo had become pretty quiet the rest of the afternoon, it was ok by him since he was doing a lot of thinking his own self. After telling Luther that they were finally married, things pretty much seemed like old times at the garage. Even though he knew not to totally let his guard down and be too relaxed too soon, Luke almost felt comfortable again in the same room with Dixie and Luther. That was a feeling he hadn't expected to ever return. Instead of washing up, Luke decided to shower, put on his newest blue jeans, and was giving his boots a fresh polish when Bo came into their room. BL entered the bakery, a bell above the door jangling, to announce her presence. A woman with salt and pepper hair, wearing a bib apron came out of the back with a friendly smile for her customer “what can I do for you sugar?” Becky Lynn asked. BL returned the smile replying “I need to pick up a cake for Daisy Duke”. Becky Lynn looked at the notebook by the register, going over to the cooler, taking out a cake with blue and purple flowers Congratulations Luke and Dixie written on it. How much Miss Becky Lynn?” BL asked. “Daisy paid this morning. Tell Luke and Dixie congratulations,for me,” Becky Lynn said. “Yes ma’am, I will,” BL replied. BL left town, going way slower than normal, so she wouldn’t damage the cake on the seat beside her, when out of nowhere a 15 mph speed sign popped up and then she heard a siren. “Gjit,gjit, I got her now, hang on Flash Darlin” Rosco said to his faithful companion. BL picked up her CB mic “Rosco what do you want? I ain’t speeding, heck I ain’t even goin 20,'' BL said, not even speeding up a little bit. “The sign said 15 and I clocked you at 17, so pull on over,” Rosco ordered. “Rosco there ain’t no speed limit signs on a dirt road. The frosting on this cake will melt, if I stop. You don’t want to explain to Daisy and Jesse you’re the reason Luke and Dixie’s cake, celebratin their marriage, got ruined, now do ya? BL said. “N..no I don’t……married?” Rosco replied weakly, dumbfounded by the news. Turning back toward town, he had to tell Boss. BL brought the cake in, sitting it on the dining table. They would be eating outside at picnic tables so there’d be plenty of room for everybody. Dixie was just coming out of Daisy's room, where she had changed and fixed her hair. Usually, she wore it pulled back in a ponytail around the house, and tied the ponytail up above her collar while at work, but tonight she had left it loose hanging around her shoulders and down her back. In the kitchen, Dixie volunteered herself and BL, "What do ya'll need us to do?" Uncle Jesse made a mental note of where supper was, "Get the table cloths out of the drawer over there, and ya'll can put them on the picnic tables and set the tables. Dixie reached for the table cloths and BL did a count; four Dukes, three from Luther's and 3 from her house. She then counted out ten plates, silverware and glasses. Once outside, while putting the checkered table cloths on the tables . BL was glad they were alone, the rest of the Davenports wouldn’t be there for a little while still and she had something privately to discuss with Dixie “hey Dix, I think I know a way to keep the gossips somewhat at bay, when they find out you're pregnant,” BL said. Dixie looked around quickly, ensuring they were alone, "Shhhh. How?" She asked just above a whisper. BL lowered her voice, even though she didn't think she was being loud. "You need to see a doctor asap, for a checkup, the doc will tell you how far along you are and a due date. So you just have to hide it a few weeks, then be vague about details," BL smiled "simple". Dixie looked up to see Daisy coming out with the rest of the items to set the table, "Simple. Right. Have you forgot who my cousin in law is?" “You ain’t planning to tell the family soon are ya?” BL asked once Daisy went back inside. When Dixie didn’t say anything right away, she nodded once saying “Didn’t think so because Luther would go into orbit…Just be careful what you do, like putting your hand on your belly because actions sometimes speak louder than words.” BL replied. Dixie shot BL a look. "That's silly. I mean, yeah, later on maybe, but I've only known a couple of days, so what would make you think I'd do that already?" “You wouldn’t if you were thinking about it.” BL shrugged. “We better get back to helping before anybody suspects something’s up,” BL said, going back inside,picking up the plastic bowl Jesse put water in For Sadie, when he dog sat for BL. Bo looked at Luke. He knew Luke liked his boots polished and cleaned, but to be giving them a good polishing like he was just for supper wasn't normal. "Getting a bit overdressed, aren't you?" " I don't think so. In fact, it wouldn't hurt you to dress up a bit." Luke replied as he put his shoe shine kit back in his closet. He had already tossed a change of clothes in a bag that was sitting on the foot of his bed. Bo looked down at himself “what’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?” Bo asked. “You ain’t going jukin’” Luke answered somewhat exasperated. He wanted everything perfect. “I ain’t going to church neither,” Bo replied. Luke shook his head, Bo just didn’t get it. "Well, just hurry up. Alight." Luke instructed as he left the room in a huff. He heard the wrecker turn down the driveway. He wasn’t sure if it was Cooter, Luther, or both. Bo didn’t know what Luke’s problem was, he didn’t see why the Davenports coming to supper was such a big deal, they had been coming for Sunday lunch on occasion for a long time. Taking one more look in the mirror to make sure his cowlick was laying down, he followed in Luke’s path. Hearing the wrecker, BL whispered as she passed by Dixie “ready or not here they come.” It wasn’t long after, Sadie barked happily in greeting as Clyde and LB’s pickups came down the driveway. "Thanks, BL." Dixie said. Just then, she felt more than heard Luke step up behind her. "Are you good?" Luke asked Dixie. "As long as Dad is the same man you talked to this morning, I'm great." She replied. Luke said for only her to hear, "Tell me about that." Jesse eyed the private conversation before declaring, "We's got company. Lets all get out there and greet them. Where's Bo?" Bo was tucking his shirt in as he replied, "Right here, Uncle Jesse." Outside LB came over as Luke and Dixie came out the door. Grinning wide LB said “congratulations Luke,rugrat.”. BL jumped at her brother on Dixie’s behalf ”LB, Dixie’s a married woman not a kid and it’s time you figured out she’s all grown up!” BL scolded. Cooter was about to bust a gut laughing “that’s tellin’ him squirt” Bo stood behind BL trying not to laugh out loud. She might be little but she was a little spitfire when riled. Jesse figured with the two Davenport elders there that he would let them handle their own. It was Clyde who spoke up first, "Kids! Enough." BALLADEER: Like the Dukes, the Davenport 'kids' knew when to cool it, well most of the time. Daisy said, "Ya'll sit down and get some iced tea. We'll have supper out here in a few minutes. Uncle Jesse, you can visit. BL will help me." Dixie said, "I'll help ya'll." "Oh, no, you won't. Now that company's here. You just stay out here with Luke. We've got this." Supper went smoothly, much to the relief of Luke and Dixie. After the leftovers and plates were cleared, Daisy brought out the cake. She had thought about asking Uncle Jesse about serving ‘shine with it but decided that could wait for the big reception at the Boar’s Nest, Friday. After cake, while Daisy and BL cleaned up, Bo, Cooter and LB were making plans of their own for Friday’s festivities. Luke was not looking forward to a man to man talk with Luther so he took Dixie by the hand saying, “let’s take a walk.” “Ok,” Dixie replied, the couple headed toward the back forty. The three elders went to the front porch to visit, Jesse sat in the rocking chair, the Davenport brothers made themselves comfortable at opposite ends of the swing. Jesse took a drink of coffee and said, "It's been good having you both over tonight. It's been a while. But now that we are officially family, I hope you'll come by more often." Luther knew, as did the other men, that you could likely count on one hand the number of times he'd been out to the farm since Dixie had left town. "It has been awhile, and I'm sorry for that, Jesse." "Well, we's family now. I hope we can all put the past behind us and move on." Jesse said. Clyde gave Luther a sideways look, trying to gauge how he’d answer. Luther took a drink of his own coffee, he was doing his best to put the past behind but it wasn’t easy sometimes. “No reason not to, kids are ALL grown now,” Clyde said, stressing the word ‘all’, mainly for Luther’s benefit. "I hear you both. I'm trying. Actually, I had been seeing the writing on the wall, so to speak, for some time since Dixie's been back. I even had a conversation with someone who wasn't happy at all to see Luke calling on his daughter, but told me that by the time his daughter and Luke stopped seeing each other that he sort of missed having him around. But, then I see them together and I can't help it, it rubs me the wrong way." Luther said, then added, "Before, it was the age difference and all. Now, their ages don't matter. I can reason that, but still...." Clyde nodded, "Luther I can understand how you feel and I bet Jesse can too, to a degree,” Jesse nodded ‘yes’. Dixie’s your ‘baby girl’, same as BL’s mine and we don’t want to see them get hurt,” Clyde continued “but we can’t always protect them, we got to let go and just let them know we’re there if they need us.” Luther nodded in agreement. Jesse added, "I know exactly how ya'll feel. None of us want to see Daisy hurt, but when she sets her mind to something, I just have to let her be, even if I know she’s going to get hurt,” After getting the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes washed Daisy and BL went to Daisy’s room to do their own planning for the reception Friday. “What do you think the cake should look like,” Daisy asked her blonde partner in crime. “Nothing real fancy, maybe just two or three layers, maybe just a few blue flowers around the base of the top layer and a bride and groom cake topper for a keepsake,” BL replied. “I bet Lulu will get the ladies club to help with more refreshments, if I ask,” Daisy said. “We should get Dixie a small bouquet to toss and a garter, so Luke can toss it,” BL said, adding “I just have to convince Dixie to wear a dress, so she can wear it.” Daisy giggled “yeah, I don’t think wearing it over her jeans leg would look right. BL shook her head ‘no’. Not wanting to be in the older men's conversation, Bo, Cooter, and LB had wandered off and were checking out General Lee's engine. Bo looked up and then around, " Say, where did everybody get off to?" Cooter looked around, "The girls are cleaning up and Dad's still on the porch." Bo frowned. It hadn't been what he meant. "Where's Luke?" LB replied, "Beats me." With an evil grin, Bo said, "Let's go find out." "Alright." LB said as the three men headed toward the back forty. About halfway to the wooded area behind the barn, Cooter pulled up short, "Hold it! Hold up a second." Bo said, "What? We're just gonna give Luke some grief." LB added, "Yeah, thatir newlyweds. We can't leave them alone too long." Cooter put his hands in his pockets, looked at his boots and said, "Yeah, but the bride in question is my sister. I don't even want to think thoughts like that." He shook a mental image out of his mind. Bo and LB looked at each other putting themselves in Cooter’s place thinking how it would be if BL or Daisy was off with her groom. They both looked at Cooter and said together, "Right." "I think we need to look at the General's distributor cap." "Distributor cap." Bo said, "Good idea." They turned around and went back to give the General a little more tender loving care. With their plans made Daisy told BL “there’s a ladies club meeting tomorrow afternoon, I’ll go see Lulu in the morning and tell her our plans and get her to ask the ladies for their help making refreshments, then on my way to work, I’ll go by the bakery and order the cake.” “Great. I’ll go to the flower shop and order a simple bouquet for Dixie to toss,” BL replied. “I think we better go check on the three bachelors, before they find trouble, “Daisy said with a big grin. Nodding ‘yes’ BL grinned back, so the two went through to the kitchen. Just as the girls got outside, they saw the three guys coming back toward General Lee. BL said, "Now don't they just look like walking trouble?" "Yes," Daisy agreed, "What did ya’ll do?" Cooter and LB looked at Bo, silently electing him spokesman. Bo didn’t say anything for several minutes “Uh, what were we doing? Cooter thought he saw a bobcat,” Bo said. “With ya’ll out here? Sadie would have been raising cane,” BL said, looking over at Sadie laying in the shade, not a care in the world, certainly not the presence of a bobcat or any other varmint. "A bobcat? On Duke land! Come on, Bo!" Daisy scoffed. Cooter had shot Bo a look when his name had been used in the tail. LB had even got wide eyed. The girls were waiting. Daisy was even tapping the toe of her heel waiting. "Alright." Bo gave in. "We were gonna have some fun with Luke." "Bo!" Daisy exclaimed. He was holding his hand up to hush her and also in self-defense if needed. "We didn't even get near them ...." Cooter again shook his head, trying to get a mental image to leave his mind, "I suddenly got to thinking and decided whatever is going on I don't want to know, see or hear the details." Another half hour and everybody was leaving to get home and get to bed, they had work the next day and there were still things to do at home before dark. “I’m just going to go back for my bag, then I’ll be along,” BL told Clyde. BL got in her car, then called to Dixie and Luke “I’ll meet you at the house.” Luke waved, ‘Mrs Hravitz is going to get a vapor lock, when BL leaves the house but we stay,’ Dixie thought as she pulled out in behind Luke’s pickup grinning wickedly. In town Gloria Kravitz was clipping her roses when BL parked behind Dixie instead of her usual spot, where Luke’s truck was now parked. Gloria wasn’t paying enough attention to what she was doing and cut off 3 of her roses. “Darn it!, Gloria fumed, seeing what had happened. When Luke got his bag from the truck at the sametime BL was putting hers in her GTO, Both giving Mrs. Kavitz a little wave, Gloria went toward her own front porch calling her husband, “Abner,ABNER!” Abner had been dozing in his chair. He crumpled his newspaper as he jumped at his wife's outburst. "What? For Pete's sake. What?" Gloria exclaimed, "One of the Davenport girls took a bag and left. The other is with a Duke boy, who carried a bag in with him!" If what his wife saw was what she really saw, this was upsetting even to Abner. "Surely you are wrong. Jesse Duke wouldn't let his boys do something like that here in town. It's still daylight outside. “You must have seen wrong dear, Jesse Duke wouldn’t stand for no such goings on,” Abner said, trying to reason with his wife. “I know what I saw Abner!” Gloria flounced right back out the door in a huff. Out on the porch she saw that the young couple had moved out onto the porch swing, they were really looking for somewhere cool but Gloria thought they were just flaunting their shameful behavior as she saw Dixie Davenport more than entwined in the Duke boy's arms. , August heat in Hazzard was stifling, but to be in love and newly married in a house with only fans it was downright unbearable. Dixie was sitting in Luke's lap as they kissed deeply. Luke's hands were rightfully moving over his bride's body. The temperature was rising even as the sun set. Getting even more worked up at the disgraceful display, Gloria went back inside to call Rosco, he’d put a stop to it, picking up the phone, she had Gussie, who was filling in while Maybelle was on vacation to get her the sheriff’s office. Enos was on duty, Doc Applby still wanted him to take it easy with his arm that had been broken and evening/night duty was usually uneventful “Hazzard Police Department, deputy Enos Straite speaking.” Enos said. “Deputy this is Gloria Kravitz, I want to report some deplorable behavior” Gloria replied. “Where’s this at ma’am? Enos asked, jotting down the address he promised to check it out then hung up. Hurrying out to his patrol car, Enos looked at the address he’d written down, he saw that it was close by, so he headed that way. Pulling up out front he saw Dixie Davenport sitting on Luke Duke's lap. They were both fully dressed. They were kissing until they heard his car stop. Luke likely knew most cars in Hazzard by the sound of their engines. He knew before he looked up that it was Enos's patrol car that stopped. He looked up to see Enos walking up the walkway to the porch steps. "Evening Luke, Miss Dixie." Enos said with his hat in his hands, turning it nervously. Luke greeted, "Evening Enos. It's good to see you back on duty." "Hey Enos." Dixie added. Enos shifted from one foot to the other, "It's good to be back, but I'm afraid this is an official call." "Official call?" Luke inquired. His mind was going several different places with this limited information. "I'm afraid so." Enos said. "Luke were ya'll doing anything else out here before I pulled up?" Luke wasn't following Enos' question, "Like what?" "Ummmm, .... anything that could be described as 'deplorable behavior'?" Luke thought back to what they had been doing and frowned. "Enos, the only thing we been doing is talking and a little kissing. Bo and I have had heavier petting sessions in the middle of the Boar's Nest on any given Friday or Saturday night." Now Luke was getting just a bit peeved and a little louder, "You know if I can't sit out here on the porch and kiss my wife, then there is something wrong here." Enos replied, "Well, no, Luke. There's nothing wrong with sitting on the porch kissing your wife." Enos paused now hearing what he had said, "Wife? ..... But, Luke, you got to get married to have a wife." "Oh, for crying out loud." Luke reached for the marriage certificate in his wallet. Thrusting the paper at Enos “see married” Luke growled. ”Married, possum on a gumbush. Congratulations buddyroe, Miss Dixie.” Enos gave a bit of a laugh. “Thanks Enos,”Luke and Dixie said together. “I better get back to the police station. Bye ya’ll and congratulations again,” Enos said, heading back to his patrol car. “Well why didn’t you arrest them?” Gloria demanded, arms folded over her chest, she’d wandered to the edge of the sidewalk pretending to be a concerned citizen. “I can’t arrest a married couple for kissing on the porch,” Enos said getting in his car. Gloria huffed, turning to go back inside as the deputy drove away. Luke watched the exchange. "Come on, Dixie." He took his bride by the hand, and they went inside. Upstairs, Luke turned BL's fan to pull the hot air out while turning Dixie's to pull the cool air into the house. With the doors locked, the law gone, each made calls to their respective workplaces that they were taking long deserved holidays the next day. Finally, it was time to shed way too many clothes and head to bed to do what newly married couples do.

Next morning at the Duke farm Jesse knocked on Bo and Luke’s bedroom door, about to call them both remembering Luke wasn’t there he just said “Bo chores.” “Coming Uncle Jesse,” Bo called back, he hadn’t really slept in the quiet room, he was used to hearing Luke breathing across the room. Daisy came into the kitchen to help cook breakfast “morning Uncle Jesse.” “Morning Daisy,”Jesse replied. “Morning Bo,” Jesse and Daisy said when Bo came in the kitchen. “You’re gonna call the rest of the family later and share the news right,” Daisy asked her uncle. “That’s right but I thought I’d wait until after breakfast, why,” Jesse replied. “When you call Placid County, will ya ask Jeb if he’d consider getting his, Coy and Vance’s band together to play at Luke and Dixie’s reception. I thought a live band would be nicer than the jukebox,” Daisy said. As Hazzard news traveled from the Bakery, to anyone who came in, from Sheriff Rosco to Boss Hogg, from Enos, and anyone else the Davenports or Dukes told, all who told others, ... yet the big news had pretty well not been spread all over the county until the Hazzaed Gazette hit everyone's porch bright and early the next morning. Dixie's announcement was placed nicely on the society page, but being that Norm was Luke's friend and the fact there were no other big news stories, the Davenport-Duke Marry in Chickamahoney was front page news. Daisy was the first to open the Dukes, Hazzard Gazette, "Oh, Uncle Jesse, you have got to see this!" She gushed. Lulu Hogg picked up the Hazzaed Gazette and unrolled it to get the society page before Boss got his fingers on it. As she unrolled it, the headlines caught her eye.... “Jefferson, did you know about this?” Lulu asked, showing Boss the headline. Boss hadn’t really believed it but there it was in black and white. Lulu found the society page and read the news of the reception “how nice of you Jefferson, letting them have a reception at the Boar’s Nest,” Lulu gushed. Boss choked on his coffee, hearing this. He hadn’t agreed to the couple having no reception at his Boars Nest. Lulu was on a mission, "I'll call Daisy. We can decorate. I'll get the Ladies Aid to make food." Boss saw his food sales for the night going out the window. "And Jefferson, we can take care of the beverages." Lulu more than insisted. "Oh, yes, and for the toast. You have got to call off Rosco. I just know there is some Duke moonshine put back for a nice toast, and I won't have Rosco, Cletus or Enos messing this up by trying to arrest anyone over it!" Boss Hogg was about to have a vapor lock, the more his wife talked. He’d gotten enough of a look at the announcement, to know that the reception was Friday evening one of his busiest nights and he couldn’t even charge for food nor drinks, it was enough to make a grown man cry. All over the county tears were being shed at the news. Some were tears of joy for the couple, but some were tears from totally other emotions. Some of Luke's former girlfriends, as well as girls who still had hoped to one day become his girlfriend, wept. Some of the other girls who hoped to date Bo Duke also shed green tears, knowing that their competition for the blonde's attention just doubled. Back at the Duke farm, Jesse was making a few calls to spread the good news of Luke and Dixie getting married. Calling his brother Elbert up in Tennessee, Elbert’s wife Bessie dried her hands before answering “Duke farm, this is Bessie.” “Bessie, this is Jesse, how are ya? How’s Elbert and the kids?” Jesse asked his sister inlaw. “We’s all fine Jesse, is something wrong? Give me a minute and I’ll call Elbert, he’s out in the barn with Coy and Vance,” Bessie was a mite worried, it wasn’t like Jesse to call this early. “No nothing’s wrong, just thought I’d call and tell ya’ll the news. Luke got married,” Jesse said. “What?! Why didn’t you let us know? We’d have come down,” Bessie fussed. “I didn’t know neither until he brought her home,” Jesse said. A little later in town, Mary Lou Pringle came in the post office. She'd just come from the jewelry store “Is it true?” the wealthy brunette asked. Mary Lou might have money but she didn’t turn her nose up at the Dukes nor the Davenports. BL grinned, the gossips were getting the word out, for those that might not have seen the Hazzard' Gazette yet “yep it's true, Luke and Dixie finally tied the knot,” BL replied. Jesse poured himself a cup of coffee. Sat down, took a couple of deep breaths, and let them out slowly. Daisy came back into the kitchen, "Have you called everyone?" "No." Jesse paused, "I have one more call to make." Daisy grinned knowingly, "Who too?" Jesse looked up at her with wide exaggerated eyes, "Really?" "Give Aunt Pauline and Uncle John my love, and remember to ask Jeb about the guys playing Friday night!" Jesse said to her retreating form, "You'll be able to give them your love when they get here." He let out a sigh. "Here goes nothing." At the Duke Farm in Placid, Pauline dried her hands on her apron before picking up the phone. "Duke Farm." "Pauline, this here is Jesse. I don't suppose John happens to be nearby, is he?" "No, he shouldn't be back til supper time." Pauline said. The two exchanged the "is everything alright and how was everyone?” before Jesse took another drink of coffee. The thought crossed his mind that he'd have preferred it to have been shine even at this early hour. He both looked forward to spreading this news in Placid but also dread of what he knew would follow...... Jesse smiled just a bit as he said, " Pauline, I have some good news for a change. News that should make you very happy." Though he knew she might be happy but not very happy. "Luke got married." Pauline nearly spit her own coffee out, "Jesse, we must have a bad connection. Did you say Luke was getting married?" Jesse knew that had he said "getting" married as opposed to "got" that could have changed her being happy to being very happy. "No, I said Luke got married." "To whom? I never knew he was dating anyone steady. Do we know the girl?" Pauline's mind was jumping from planning the oldest nephews wedding to was the girl good enough for him, to FINALLY! She had figured for years now that if Luke would get married, the other boys may begin to settle down. She longed for Jeb to find a good proper bride so that she could have some babies in the house again. In town the post office was finally quiet, there had been a steady stream of folks all morning, most of which were not there to conduct post office business but to ask about Dixie and Luke getting married, because they had heard it around town. BL took the time to make a call to her cousin BB over in Sweetwater, “hello”. “Hey BB, how’s it going? BL said. “Can’t complain,how about ya’ll there in Hazzard?” BB replied. “Pretty good I reckon, especially Dixie,” BL answered mysteriously. BB’s curiosity was piqued, Dixie hadn’t said anything about something special about to happen, last month when he’d seen her. “What’s up with Dix? “She’s the reason I called, her and Luke took a little trip upto Chickamahoney,” BL replied. “They got hitched? I’ll be…” BB said. “Yeah, Daisy and me, are giving them a reception Friday night at the Boar’s Nest. I need a favor, Daisy put the reception in the Hazzard Gazette inviting the whole county. That means technically Ernie Ledbetter is invited but if he shows there’ll be trouble, we can’t let him ruin it so I want you to be the ‘bouncer’ and make sure he don’t get that chance. All you got to do is sit close by the door,” BL said, seeing Cletus crossing the road heading her way. “I’m your man, you can count on me,” BB replied. “Thanks, see ya Friday at 6. I gotta go,” BL said, hanging up. Cletus came in wearing his usual cheerful grin “howdy BL,"Cletus greeted. Before BL could get a word out, he laid down the Hazzard Gazette he'd gotten from the stand outside the door “have you seen this?” Cletus asked. BL glanced at the paper, “yep, I saw it and there’s a formal wedding announcement in the society section,” BL replied. Jesse looked heavenward, mumbled a near silent prayer for patience, and began to answer what he knew was the beginning of a million questions..."Yes, we know her. In fact, she grew up with the kids. He married Dixie Davenport." It had been several years since Pauline spent much time in Hazzard. Usually, it was on a holiday so Jesse's house was full of the family so there weren't many friends if any there. "Davenport? Davenport? The name is familiar. Wait, isn't that the family that has the garage in town?" Jesse replied, "It is. You've been around her parents, her brother, and her when she was just a little thing. As much as she was enjoying watching and listening to Jesse on the phone with her Aunt Pauline, Daisy knew she needed to get to the bakery before going to work Back in town BL gave Cletus his mail “Cletus, will you do something for me?” BL used her sweetest voice. “Sure BL anything, what can I do?” Cletus replied, he like most single men in Hazzard would do almost anything for Daisy Duke but BL hadn’t been friends with her, all these years and not learned a thing or two. “I gotta run a quick errand, will you stay here and watch things til I get back?” BL said. “Sure, I can do that,” Cletus said. “Thanks,” BL said, dashing off to the flower shop. “Morning Agnes,” BL spoke to the middle aged woman behind the counter. “Morning BL, to what do I owe the pleasure?” Agnes said. “I need to order a bridal bouquet,” BL said, holding up a hand to stop the tirade of questions about to come her way. “Have you read the Gazette?” BL asked, To which Agnes nodded ‘yes’ BL continued, “thought it’d be nice if Dixie had a small bouquet to toss, maybe centerpieces for the tables.” “Sounds nice, what’d you have in mind?” Agnes got her notepad to write it all down. “Something inexpensive, the budget’s small.Dixie’s favorite flower is tulips, so maybe just tulips and baby’s breath for the bouquet and I’m not sure how many centerpieces,” BL said, promising to ask Daisy about the number of centerpieces before going back to the post office so Cletus could get back to his day. Luther had noticed Dixie's Thunderbird and Luke's truck parked at BLs on his way around the Square to the garage. Cooter had been under the hood of Rosco's patrol car trying to repair the damage from its latest swim when he noticed his father walk out of the garage for no reason. Cooter straightened up further to see that his father had walked out near the edge of the road, looked across the Square, cursed, and walked back inside. Cooter had no idea what his father was looking at until he went outside a few minutes later to gas up a customer. When he caught sight of Luke's pickup still at BL's. Cooter frowned then went back to work. Gloria went out to get her newspaper and was appalled to see both Luke’s truck and Dixie’s car still in the driveway after 8 in the morning, on a workday, hearing Dixie squeal she muttered, “Lord only knows what they're doing.” Unrolling the paper she was flabbergasted to see the headline announcing the marriage. Flinging the newspaper at her husband, Gloria declared “ just look Abner for, heavensake they aren’t royalty, just a greasemonkey’s daughter and an old moonshiner’s nephew.” Even with the dark curtains and Luke having no intention of getting up early, sleeping in for him amounted to waking up just after seven. Dixie had her head on his shoulder, her leg across his curled up at his side. It had only been two nights, but Luke was sure he could get used to this really quickly as he combed her hair back with his fingers. Dixie never moved. Luke snuggled closer and held Dixie just a bit tighter content to drift off back to sleep until Dixie woke up. A bit later, Luke woke to Dixie running her fingers across his bare chest, which kicked off a replay of the events of the night before. Around eight, Luke declared, "I'm about to do something I hardly ever do." "And, just what might that be?" Dixie was nearly afraid to ask. Luke grinned, "I'm about to go run a tub of bath water in that nice deep clawfoot tub." With that, Luke was out of the bed and across the hall in his birthday suit. Dixie enjoyed the view, then got up and found a tank top and shorts before she heard Luke from the other room. "Hey, Dixie. Do you want to come wash my back?" Luke called. Dixie laughed as she crossed the hallway. Luke was already leaning up in the tub, giving her full access to his back. Dixie reached for a washcloth and soap and gave Luke's back a nice washing just before she felt him wrap one arm around her and pull her into his bath clothes and all. Dixie couldn't help the squeal that escaped just before Luke covered her lips with his. Luke then said, "I think you are a mite over dressed for the day, Mrs. Duke." At 11:00 BL closed for lunch, Bo was picking her up to go to the Dixie diner just outside of town instead of the Busy Bee cafe. Just as BL locked the door, Sadie yapped at the orange stock car headed that way. Pulling up in front, Bo lifted Sadie through the driver side window, while BL was sliding through the passenger side. “Hey why don’t we go see if Luke and Dixie want to come,” Bo said, he’d been looking for a reason to interrupt Luke’s ‘wedded bliss’ but knew BL nor Daisy for that matter would let him near BL’s place. “Sounds like a good idea to me,” BL replied, figuring by now they were up and just watching a movie or something. So Bo drove over. Leaving Sadie in the fenced in yard, BL and Bo heading toward the house. BL hollering a warning before they went in “LUKE, DIXIE HOPE YOU’RE DECENT COS I’M COMING IN AND BO’S WITH ME.” Gloria heard the warning through her own open window, gasping in mortification as BL brazenly opened the door, walking in, Bo right behind her. Luke and Dixie heard General Lee long before BL and Bo opened the front door. They had been snuggling in bed when they heard General Lee stop. Luke looked at the clock, "I don't believe they all kept him busy that long." To BL's warning, he replied as he picked up his jeans, "We'll be down in a few minutes." BL and Bo were sitting on the couch when the newlyweds came downstairs, BL grinning like the cat who ate the canary “couldn’t help myself,” BL said as explanation for barging in. “We’re going to the Dixie diner for lunch, ya’ll want to go too?” Bo asked. Both Luke and Dixie agreed as the four headed out the awaiting General Lee with Sadie ready to go too. Inside the diner, the four took seats at one of the tables after promising to bring Sadie back a snack. “I wasn’t planning to bust in on ya’ll but Kravitz had her windows open and we all know she’s been watching ya’ll since last night, just thought I’d give her something to see,” BL said. Luke laughed at BL, "It's alright, we heard ya'll pull up." Across the diner was one of the waitresses that had gone to school with the group at the table. She had seen the newspaper but decided to act as if she hadn't."Hey, ya'll. What brings ya'll in today?" “Ain’t you heard? Luke and Dixie got married a couple days ago, so we thought we’d celebrate,”Bo said. The girl plastered a fake smile on her face, handing them all a menu, “congratulations, what can I get ya’ll to drink?” She had a good mind to spit in their drinks, she didn’t like any of them in school and that hadn’t changed. “I’ll have a sweet tea,” BL said. “Make that 2,” Bo replied. Dixie and Luke both agreed, "We'll make it easy. Just bring us all four sweet teas. What's the special today?" Luke asked. Dixie was looking at the menu, trying to decide between a couple of items. The waitress wrote down their drink order replying to Luke's question about today’s special, “BBQ pork chops, with 3 sides”. “That sounds good, I’ll have the special.Can I get a burger with nothing on it to go too please,” BL said. “What sides do you want?” the waitress asked. “Hmm, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and mac and cheese,” “I’ll have the BBQ pork chops too, with mashed potatoes, green beans and corn on the cob,” Bo replied before he could be asked. Luke was waiting for Dixie to reply. Dixie didn't think the special sounded good to her. "I want the chef salad with Thousand Island dressing, ...." Luke was about to order when Dixie said, "and the meatloaf platter." The waitress said, "That comes with two sides, but the salad is just a garden salad." Dixie nodded, "My sides are mashed potatoes and corn. I also want the garden salad." "Alright, meatloaf platter with mashed potatoes and corn and a small garden." The waitress repeated. "Make the salad a large, please." Dixie said. Luke had decided on the roast beef with Texas toast, mashed potatoes, and gravy. With the orders complete, the waitress was off to turn in the order as others arrived at other tables for lunch While the waitress got the drinks, BL asked“anybody remember her? She look’s familiar but I can’t remember who she is, I’d hate for her to come in the post office and not know who she is,” BL said but before anyone could reply, the drinks came. “So what are you two going to do the rest of the afternoon?” BL asked then added “if it involves the bedroom, we don’t want to know.” Luke gave BL a cat that swallowed the canary grin, "Alright, since you don't want to know. Next topic.” The waitress had made her way toward the back, "Bo, isn't her name Linda Kay, Mae, something like that." Bo gave his older cousin a 'thanks a lot' look. "Lucy Mae." He said rather quietly. Dixie gave him a look, then looked to BL to see if she noticed Bo might know her a bit better than the others. BL looked over at Bo arching an eyebrow in question, she noticed Lucy looked at her with a look, that if looks could kill BL would drop dead. Bo opened his mouth then shut it a few times, like a fish out of water. “Let’s talk about this later darlin,” Bo said, trying to buy himself some time. He was going to get Luke for opening a can of worms. “Why? I promise I won’t get mad,” BL replied. BALLADEER: Friends if he believes that, I got ocean front property in Tennessee I want to sell him. Luke shot Dixie a questioning grin. He had just caught Bo, and he knew it even if no one at this table would admit a thing. BL was still waiting for some kind of answer but Lucy Mae brought their food “Roast beef with Texas toast,” Lucy Mae said. Luke reached for the plate. After passing out the rest of the order, including a paper bag with the burger, went on her way to take care of other customers. “I think I should have got the meatloaf, that looks good,” BL said, stealing a bite off Dixie’s plate. Dixie playfully put her fork on BLs hand. "Mine, but you can have a bite." The crew sat into eating. Luke glanced at the clock on the diner wall, "BL, what time do you need to get back?" BL looked up at the clock while chewing then swallowing and getting a drink of tea. She doubted that Luke cared if she got back exactly on time, so wondered what was on his mind “30 minutes or so, if I run back and get the mailbag I have an hour until I have to run the mail route,” BL replied. "Ok. Just didn't want you to be late on our account." Luke said. Dixie had eaten about half her salad and was working on her meatloaf and sides. She figured she would need a to-go box but just couldn't decide between the salad only or the meatloaf. Several of the people in the diner, who had seen the announcement, had stopped by to give the couple well wishes. Daisy saw Lulu coming out of the courthouse as she was pulling back onto the road from getting gas in Uncle Jesse’s pickup. He needed gas so she’d offered to fill his gas tank, on her way to work. “Lulu, can I talk to you for a minute?” Daisy called from the truck, pulling over next to the curb. “Daisy honey, how are you and the boys and Jesse? How about Luke’s new bride? Lulu gushed. “Everybody’s fine,speaking of Luke getting married, will you do me a favor and ask the ladies of the ladies aid if they will make refreshments for the reception? Luke and Dixie don’t want anything real fancy and expensive,” Daisy said. “Of course and don’t you worry about decorating either, we’ll take care of that too,” Lulu replied. “Don’t worry about the beer, it’s on JD and me,” Lulu added “Thank you Lulu, I best get to work now, see you Friday and thanks again,” Daisy said, waving. Over at the Dixie diner Bo, Luke and the girls were finishing their lunch, Lucy Mae had given them the check with their order. “I’ll get that,” BL said, picking up the check. “No you won’t, you done gave up your house last night,” Luke argued, taking the check from BL. seeing a protest coming, he handed the check over to Bo “lunch is on Bo,” Luke smirked at his cousin. “Speaking of houses, when do you get the day off BL?” Luke asked. ’“I’m taking Saturday off, so I can hang out, while everybody’s in town,” BL replied. Bo gave Luke a look, for being so free with his money. While Bo paid, Luke and Dixie went on out to the General. “I need to pee, that tea went straight through me, here, feed Sadie for me please Dixie,” BL said, she really didn’t need the bathroom that bad, she just didn’t aim to leave Bo in there with Lucy Mae. When Bo and BL came out, Bo was being real attentive to BL. He was in the dog house so to speak and he knew it. Sadie was in the back with Dixie and Luke, hoping for more people food when Bo lifted BL onto the passenger windowsill, guarding her head from a bump as she slid in. “Everybody set”? Bo asked, cranking up. Luke replied, "We are good back here. After you drop BL and Sadie off, swing over and let me grab the truck. I'll come out and help you with the chores awhile. Dixie, do you want to go hang out with Daisy and Uncle Jesse, or do you have something you need to do?" Dixie replied, "I think I'll take advantage of not working today and go hang out with ya’ll." Bo headed back toward the Post Office.... Once at the Post Office Bo parked in front, jogging around to the passenger side, helping BL out. While BL was getting the key, Bo was getting Sadie out of the General Lee. “I know it's in here somewhere,” BL said, digging in her purse. She had her head down not paying attention and was knocked down when someone ran past “hey watch where you’re going!” BL hollered. “You alright,”? Bo asked, putting Sadie down, Luke had seen the man run out of the emporium and had already followed him down the alley beside the hardware store. Dixie had gotten out to check on BL, while Bo joined the chase “are you hurt?” Dixie asked, trying to keep Sadie off BL so she could get up. Just my pride, I’ll live,”BL replied. Dixie replied, "Good. Let's go see if they need help." She said, giving BL a hand up. While BL put Sadie in the General Lee, Dixie was through the driver's window and fired the General up. As soon as BL was on the window seal and dropping into the seat, Dixie pulled out in the direction that the guys had run after the other man. From the garage, Cooter heard a ruckus. Looking up, he saw Luke and Bo chasing a man. "Be right back!" Cooter called to his father in the garage. Dixie and BL were just in time to see Bo and Luke tackle the man as he cut across Hazzard Square with Cooter coming out of nowhere to help. Rosco was just pulling up in front of the courthouse when he saw the Dukes and Cooter trying to apprehend the man. “FREEZE,” Rosco said. “What do you wanna bet he blames Bo, Luke and Cooter,” BL said, sliding up onto the passenger windowsill. "No bet." Dixie said, sliding out her own window. The man wasn’t giving up and getting away from Bo and Luke he was giving all he had with no thought of stopping. Bo and Luke had no choice but to keep up the fight or the fleeing man would be on the loose again. Cooter was at the ready to help, but it looked like Bo and Luke had a hold of a tiger by its tail and couldn't let loose." “Quit it! I said stop now!” Rosco tried to get close enough to break up the fight but he couldn’t. Unholstering his pearl handled pistol and firing into the air didn’t work either, the man wasn’t giving up, he was determined to get away, Bo and Luke were used to hearing vehicles backfire, so they paid no attention to the gunshot either. Enos and Cletus were heading on patrol and saw the ruckus possum“on a gumbush Cletus, we better help”, Enos said. “The sheriff does look a mite outnumbered,” Cletus replied. Running over they each grabbed for a brawler……… When Enos and Cletus jumped in, Cooter had no choice. With the law trying to get the Dukes off the stranger, even though he had no idea what was going on, he couldn't let the man escape. He did the only thing he knew to do. He jumped in to help the guys hold the man from getting away. Dixie looked at BL, "Ah, geeze, there's Cooter." Dixie said. Mr. Winters, the store owner, ran up shotgun in hand and fired off his first barrel. At that noise, the fight stopped for a half a second, which was just long enough for Cooter to return the stranger to his feet. The man jerked away from Cooter, popping the buttons on his shirt to pull loose, letting the money he had stuffed in his shirt fly free to the ground. Rosco, Enos and Cletus all jumped a mile high at the shotgun blast, Recovering Rosco looked at the money scattered on the ground then back at the thief, "allright you, you're under arrest." Rosco said. Enos brought out his cuffs,snapping them on the crook's wrist "you have the right to remain quiet......" After reading the guy his rights, he and Cletus carted the man off to the jail. "Well looks like excitement’s over, I better get to delivering the mail. C'mon Sadie." BL said, turning back to walk to the post office. Rosco turned his attention to the Duke boys. He was seconds from reaching for his own cuffs when Mr. Winters began shaking the Dukes hands once the money had been picked up. "Thank you, boys. If he had gotten away with this, it would have surely hurt us." He said, very relieved to have gotten his store's money back. Luke was tucking his shirt back in as Dixie approached. "Are you alright?" Luke put his arm around her. "I'm fine. Come on ya'll, let's head over to the garage before we head out to the farm." Luke wasn't sure why but felt the need to put some distance between himself and the Sheriff. At the garage, Cooter headed toward the fridge and took out three beers and looked over at Dixie, "Do you want a beer?" Dixie laughed at Cooter. It was barely past noon. "Coke’s fine." Luther raised up from the car he was working on, "So what was so interesting?" Cooter took a long drink of his beer and then said, "The Hazzard Emporium was robbed. These guys chased down the robber." "So you had to leave work, why?" Luther asked Cooter. "Figured they might need a hand." Cooter grinned widely. Luke added, "And we did. They guy was slipperier than a polecat, and then Rosco jumped in, trying to get us off him." BL waved to Mrs. Benson as she was coming around the side of the Benson farmhouse. Next stop the county orphanage. This was the last stop on the route. Luther asked, "Did I hear shots?" Bo offered proudly, "Yeah, Rosco shot off his pistol, but that didn't stop the Ole boy. Then, when Mr. Winters showed up he shot off his shotgun." Dixie added, "That's when Cooter jerked the guy to his feet, and money flew out of his shirt." The guys had finished their beers, and with all that helpful information, Luther's new son in law and son felt it was past time for their exit. Luke said, "Bo, we best be heading out." Cooter added, "I'll walk out with ya'll. I got to ride out and help Uncle Earl change a flat on his tractor." It was a job Cooter had been trying to get out of since early this morning, but now, he'd rather deal with the tractor than his father. Dixie was already moving to the door. Coke in hand. Luke said, "We got to walk all the way over to the Post Office for the General." Dixie pulled the keys out of her pocket, "No, we don't. He's at the Square. I thought ya'll might have needed him close, so I brought him over." “Thanks Darlin,” Luke said. Helping Dixie through the General’s window first, Luke was still on the sill when Bo started moving. “Hey what’s the hurry, we ain’t being chased?” Luke fussed as he slid into the seat. “Sorry, my foot just automatically steps on the gas, when Rosco’s so close.” Bo said, indicating the police station that wasn’t far away. Seeing Gloria Kravitz bent over, her back to the road, Bo couldn’t help himself; he gave a blast on the horn, scaring Gloria, who toppled over. Bo Luke and Dixie burst out laughing once they saw Gloria was ok, shaking her fist at them as they pulled into BL’s driveway. Bo stopped just long enough for Luke and Dixie to get out of the General Lee and into Luke's pickup, then he was in reverse and heading to the farm. Luke had backed out and was behind Bo in nothing flat. Back at the Duke farm, Jesse was just finishing up bottle feeding a piglet when General Lee and Luke’s pickup came down the driveway kicking up dust. Bo parked in his usual spot and Luke parked at the front of the old farmhouse, so he could get out easy, if paged. “Where’s BL, ain’t she coming for supper”? Jesse asked as the three came his way. “She’s still working, she’ll be out in a little while after closing the post office,” Bo said. “Is Daisy in the house?” Dixie asked “Yes, she’s been a waiting for ya,” Jesse replied so Dixie went on inside, while Uncle Jesse, Bo and Luke did the chores. Dixie called out to Daisy as she went in the back door. "In here." Daisy called from the living room. Dixie saw bags, rolls of netting, streamers, bells, and other things she couldn't rightly identify spread from the kitchen table to the couch. "What's all this?" Daisy beamed, "Decorations for Friday night. Lulu told me the ladies aid would take care of most of it, but I had to get a few extra things." "Daisy. Honey this isn't a few extras." Dixie said. BL arrived a short time later, Jesse said to go on in, leaving Sadie to play in the yard,"Wow" , BL said, seeing all the extra decorations spread from table to couch. Ain't the Boar's Nest gonna be pretty Friday night? Daisy beamed, thrilled with her purchases. "It's going to be gorgeous, nobody will recognize it," BL replied. Dixie laughed at the two and thought if they went all out for a reception, she hated to see what they would have done if her and Luke would have gotten married in Hazzard or for that matter what they would do when the baby was announced. She felt really loved but had to say, "I think you two are crazy." Daisy said, "Well, it's not every day my oldest cousin gets married, ya know." Dixie replied, "Well, I certainly hope not." Outside, Bo had to say what he'd been thinking since he found out Luke got married. "Ya know, Luke, by eloping, you missed the best part about getting married." Jesse's ears perked up a bit, ready to hear Bo's words of wisdom. Luke gave Jesse a glance but looked at Bo, ready to play along, "Which best part would that be Bo?" "The bachelor party, of course." Bo said in exasperation. Luke grinned at Bo and declared, "Bo, trust me on this. That is not the best part about getting married." "I think he's got you there, Bo." Jesse said, then added, "With all the cousins coming in, why don't ya’ll plan something for Friday night after the reception or Saturday night?" BL laughed then asked "what are you going to wear?" Daisy loved to shop, and the “two Davenport females knew it so it was no surprise when she replied "We could go shopping, ." Dixie really wasn't a shopper, "I figured to wear a good pair of jeans, my boots, and a nice top." “Don’t you want to wear something really nice?” BL asked, then grinned mischievously, “some folks already think you’re a jezebel or something, I have a red dress if you want to borrow it,” BL teased. "My favorite dress is my favorite blue jeans. Besides, I got married in jeans." Dixie had hated dresses since her mother made her wear them often. BL frowned and looked at Daisy, they had to convince Dixie to wear a dress, so she could wear a garter for Luke to toss. Daisy shrugged her shoulders, she didn’t have any convincing ideas. BL realized that they were just going to have to tell Dixie why she needed to wear a dress, BL knew if they didn’t Dixie would stubbornly hold her ground, she hated wearing dresses that much. “You can’t wear the garter for Luke to toss, if you don't wear a dress.” BL said with a sigh. Dixie now saw BL's reasoning for the dress. "Ok, I have a skirt and the top looks great with jeans. I'll show up in a skirt but the minute I can, I'm putting on my jeans so I can have fun." BL and Daisy smiled, satisfied Dixie wasn’t going to put a kink in their plans and still getting what she wanted. "We should probably get this stuff put away and get supper fixed,”BL said looking at the clock. Dixie went out to the barn to tell the guys supper was ready. Luke walked back to the house with his arm around her waist. "You know we only thought eloping would make things simple, ..... Daisy has got enough stuff to decorate all of Hazzard that she got extra to go with the things the ladies aid is bringing." Dixie explained. Luke sighed. "You know I love her, but sometimes she overdoes things." Dixie nodded, "I just wanted to warn you, this is one of those times." After Jesse said grace and plates were filled with Daisy’s fried chicken, BL looked at Luke and Dixie, now seemed like a good time to continue their discussion at lunch about living arrangements. “Did you two decide what you want to do about living arrangements? BL asked. Luke saw Dixie was waiting for him to reply, "If you are sure you don't mind. It makes more sense." Luke was quick to stop at least some of Bo’s pout. "Bo, if you can get the morning chores, I'll come do all the evening chores unless I get a call or hung up." “I’m sure,it’s fine. Just don’t make me move all my clothes again,” BL said dramatically, like it was the worst chore she’d ever done. “I’ll help ya darlin,”Bo volunteered, he could think of alot of worse ways to spend a couple hours than going through his girl’s unmentionables. BL could guess why Bo was volunteering and she was pretty sure, so could the rest. “Thanks for the offer Bo but if Dixie and Luke don’t mind me coming every few days to repack my bag…”BL replied. "No, we don't mind at all. Besides, when Luke's gone I expect you over." Dixie said. “You know I’ll be there, wouldn’t want you to get lonesome,” BL smiled. That settled talk turned to other things. As supper drew to an end, Luke said, "Speaking of bags, I need to grab some stuff for work." "I'll help ya." Bo said. Everyone watched the guys head to their room. Dixie asked, "Is he alright?" BL shrugged her shoulders, Bo must be upto something but what that was she didn’t know. Bo wasn’t looking forward to being alone in this room every night from now on, he’d shared it with Luke as long as he could remember. “Gonna be strange not having you here,” Bo said. “I’ll just be at BL’s in town or the garage, it’s not like you won’t see me, you find a reason to go to town atleast 3 days a week.” Luke replied. Bo pouted, "But it's not gonna be the same." Luke nodded. "You are right it won't be, but you were fine while I was in the Marines. You've been fine when I was training and even working out of state." Bo said, "I wasn't fine, and now I'd just gotten good and used to your being back." "I'm ten hot minutes away as the General flies. Now, what do you and BL have planned? Ain't you been seeing a lot of her? Only her?" Luke asked, hoping to keep Bo from getting too far into a funk. “I thought we might take a stroll down to the swimming hole,” Bo said. “Maybe take a swim, if you can talk her into it?” Luke questioned to which Bo only grinned. “We ain’t really talked about being exclusive but she likes more than just a night on the town or going to the grange dances, church socials and such,” Bo said. BALLADEER: Friends I believe that boy’s growing up. Bo helped Luke gather up his stuff and carry it to his pickup, the girls had just finished cleaning up the kitchen and had moved to the front porch, hoping to catch a breeze. “Want to take a walk BL?” Bo asked on his way to the truck. “Sure,” BL said, getting up off the step, where she was throwing a ball for Sadie. Seeing BL get up, Sadie abandoned her ball when she joined Bo. “Stay with Dixie and Daisy girl,” BL said, heading off with Bo. Bo put his arm around BL’s waist as they meandered along, talking about this and that.“Are you and Daisy going to give Dixie a shower? Bo asked. “No probably not, Dixie and Luke ain’t got nowhere to store things, maybe when they get a place of their own, we’ll give them a housewarming,” BL replied. As they neared the swimming hole, Bo untucked his shirt and opened it “Whew, it’s hotter than a July firecracker,” Bo said. “Yeah, I had to go put on something cooler before I came out,” BL replied. She’d gone over to her house, swapping her jeans and short sleeved top for shorts and a spaghetti strap tank top. “Water sure does look nice and cool,” Bo said casually. “Mm…yeah,” BL agreed. “Think I’ll take a swim and cool off, care to join me?” Bo said, removing his shirt. “Bo we ain’t got suits,” BL replied. “So,noone around to know but us,” Bo said, grinning wickedly, shucking the rest of his clothes and his boots. “What the heck,” BL said, shucking her clothes and tennis shoes. Luke and Dixie headed back to BL's. Luke parked his truck behind Dixie's Thunderbird. He went around, opened the door for Dixie, then grabbed a rather large bag from the bed of the truck as he politely waved and spoke to Mrs. Kravitz. Dixie also spoke. Mrs. Kravitz spoke while nearly drowning one of her flowers. Inside Luke sat his bag on the stairs then pulled the shade down on the window facing the Kravitz home. The newlyweds got comfy on the older overstuffed sofa. Dixie asked, "Were Bo and BL going to the Boar's Nest tonight?" "No. No, I don't think so. Did you want to go?"Luke asked, willing to go if Dixie wanted to, but very content to stay right where he was." Dixie replied, "Nope, just wondering if they might stop by later." Luke kicked his boots off, "I'm pretty certain we have the place all to ourselves." "Good." Dixie said, snuggling a bit closer. Bo and BL were having a ball splashing each other and other antics. Bo ducked under the water, hoping it’d get his mind off what he was thinking about, which was what he wanted to do with her right now. It didn’t help one bit though when BL looked at him with her dark brown eyes. Caressing BL’s cheek, Bo lifted her chin leaning close, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss. Hands by both began wandering as the kissing got hotter, picking BL up Bo carried her out of the water to a spot of thick, lush, soft grass. “Be back in a second darlin,” Bo said. Going over to where his jeans lay, he got some ‘insurance’ from his wallet. Going back to BL, the two went back to their activities', BL was trying to be quiet although she didn’t know why, noone was around to hear. Reaching her peak she wasn’t able to stop the yell of passion as Bo reached his own. Panting Bo collapsed against her chest. A second later Bo swore. “What’s the matter”? BL asked. “Dang rubber broke,” Bo replied. "The rubber did what?" BL said for further clarification. As Bo removed the useless item, he showed BL what he had already seen. Bo Duke was cute and all, but right, the only logical thing BL could think of was to head back into the water. While trying to explain how sorry he was, Bo headed back into the water to clean up also. Both young adults agreed on just one thing after getting dressed, they both needed moral support! At BLs, Dixie had kicked her shoes off, both the newlyweds' hands were wandering as their kisses intensified. Even without listening, both Luke and Dixie heard General Lee slide into the parking place out front after being in a serious hurry to get there. Luke moved Dixie from his lap, adjusted his jeans, tucked in his shirt, and managed to open the front door as Bo and BL entered in near hysterics. BL rushed in, grabbed Dixie's hand like a lifeline, and pulled her upstairs. Bo let out a half sigh of relief when the girls cleared the room. Then, he looked at Luke with pleading eyes. “Dixie, I’m in trouble, what do I do?” BL pleaded for help before Dixie could say a word. “What’s wrong? Whatever it is, I’m sure we can fix it,” Dixie reassured her distraught cousin, sure whatever was going on wasn’t as bad as BL was making it out to be. “No we can’t fix it,” BL’s lip trembled. “Tell me what’s wrong and we’ll see,” Dixie said, still believing BL was making a mountain out of a molehill. “Me and Bo went swimming at the swimming hole, swimming wasn’t the only thing we did though,” BL said. “Tell me you were smarter than me and Luke?” Dixie said although she had a sinking feeling in her stomach the way BL was carrying on and Bo hadn’t looked good either when they came in. “W…we…were…i..it…b…br..broke,” BL sobbed. Downstairs Bo was still looking at Luke with pleading eyes, the same way he had since they were kids. “Ok, Bo out with it, why’d you two come flying in like the devil himself was on your tails?” Luke asked. “You know I told you, I was taking BL to the swimming hole,” Bo said. Luke nodded. “Well we went swimming and things got heated, one thing led to another…” Bo said. “You didn’t have protection?” Luke asked, he and Dixie were going down this same road, he had hoped this was one time Bo wouldn’t follow in his exact footsteps. “We had it, it broke,”Bo replied. Luke pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered “oh Lord.” Dixie hoped to be a comfort. "Ok. It could be no big deal. It was only once,right." BL shot her a look. Downstairs, Luke's thoughts jumped out of his mouth before he could think clearly, "Bo why, why is it that you feel the need to do everything I do?" Bo’s eyes got as big as supper plates, when he put 2 and 2 together and came up with 4. Luke swore then pointed his finger a centimeter from Bo’s nose “you can’t tell nobody what I just said. Not Dobro, Brody or even BL although she likely knows already, for heavensake don’t tell Daisy or everybody in 3 counties will know by tomorrow night!” Luke said. “Dukes honor,” Bo said, holding up his right hand, as if swearing in court. “YEEHAA!” Bo let out one of his rebel yells, causing the girls upstairs to jump about a foot high. “We may have a funeral Friday if that rebel yell was about, what I think it was about,” Dixie said, not sure whether to be amused or what. BL said “it probably was.” Gloria was still trying to see/hear what was going on with the young adults, when Bo’s rebel yell startled her and she lopped off half her rose bush. Dixie looked at BL, "Come on." She nearly drug BL down the stairs, Luke looked really guilty. "You told Bo?" "Now, now Dixie, honey, it's not like that he sorta figured it out!" Luke said in his defense. Dixie gave Luke a look. "Bo figured it out? I had to draw you a picture. And Bo figured it out?" BL cut in with a question, partly for her own benefit and partly to try and rescue Luke. “Have you decided where to go to see a doctor, since you don’t want nobody seeing you at Doc Applby’s or Lisa Sue telling half the county why you was there?” Dixie had been thinking about it. "There is a doctor that sees our inmates, she has her own office near Tri-Counties. I figure no one has to know why I'm leaving early for work or home a little late." “Want some moral support?” BL said, she gave Dixie a look, she wanted to get a home test and hoped Dixie would guess that BL didn’t want to risk being seen by somebody she knew. "Sure, but I'm not planning on going for at least another week or so." Dixie said. Only being married for a few days now, she at least wanted the possibility of her getting pregnant on her wedding night to be there. “A week?” BL moaned, a week sounded like an eternity. Dixie said, "Even if you go to a doctor they can't tell for awhile." BL knew she was right but still needed to know 'now'. "Awhile?" Bo gulped. Luke nodded, 'yes'. "So what do we do for 'awhile'?" Bo asked. Luke said flatly, "Pray." Dixie added “It takes some time before even one of those home test can detect pregnancy.” Bo looked at BL, the full consequences beginning to sink in, just because the stupid rubber broke. BL looked sick, just thinking about it all. Bo was looking a little green around the gills too. "Hey, Bo, give me a hand out here a second. Luke got up and headed out the back door. Outside, Luke asked, "have you figured out what you are going to do if she ends up pregnant? “I don’t know marry her, I reckon,” Bo said. “I ain’t the one that, atleast two kids at the orphanage might be mine,” Bo cracked a half grin. “Not funny Bo, this is serious, you don’t even have a steady job, chore money ain’t gonna support a baby and wife,” Luke said seriously. Inside BL was trying to be calm but wasn’t having much luck, “Dixie, can I stay here tonight, please? I can’t go home, the second Daddy sees me he’ll know something’s wrong,” BL said, then continued “I know you and Luke probably thought ya’ll would be alone, I promise I’ll go upto my room, you won’t even know I’m here.” "You are fine. We'll live." Dixie said while thinking that Bo driving right now might not be good for anyone in the county. Bo suddenly got a mental image of General Lee with two car seats in back. He headed further in the back yard where a small stream edged the property and lost his supper. Luke couldn't stop his snicker as he walked over to Bo, "Are you alright?” BL suddenly got paler if that was even possible, sinking onto the couch, she put her face in her hands. “BL, are you ok?” Dixie asked. “No, Sadie’s at the Duke farm, going there is almost as bad as going home,” BL replied, her voice muffled and shaky. "I can fix this." Dixie said, picking up the phone and placing a call to the farm. Luckily Daisy answered. "Hey Daisy, what is Sadie doing?" Dixie asked. "I just came inside from the porch to wash my hair. She's laying on the porch with Uncle Jesse." Daisy said. "Ok, BL and Bo stopped by and are thinking of staying. Maybe the guys will come get her in a few minutes." Dixie said. "Alright." Daisy said. “How about a beer?” Luke asked Bo. “Got anything stronger?” Bo answered. “No sorry,”Luke replied. “Beer’s fine,”Bo said. Luke came in the back door to get them and Dixie called out “hey Luke.” Luke came to the livingroom, he wanted to keep the hollering down, the windows were open and Mrs. Kravitz would love to know what was going on. Luke replied, "Yeah." "Would ya’ll mind running out and picking up Sadie? BL wants to stay here tonight, if you don't mind." Luke looked at the bottles of beer in his hand but replied, "Yeah, we can do that. I'll put these back in the fridge for later. We might stop in the Boar's Nest for one on the way to get her." "Ok, good. That will give me and BL some time." Dixie said. Luke went back out the way he came, stopping to put the beers back in the fridge on his way out, “C’mon, BL wants us to go get Sadie at the farm, we’ll stop at the Boar’s Nest on the way,” Luke said, heading around the house to his pickup. Bo wasn’t ready to see Uncle Jesse yet but followed Luke, getting in the passenger side. "Luke, you know Uncle Jesse takes a half a look at me, he's gonna know. I ain't ever been able to hide nothing from him." Bo said. Luke knew Bo was right. "Let's go get a beer and relax a few minutes. I hope to pull in, call Sadie and head back out. I'll tell Jesse you'll be out for chores in the morning, that's the best I can do. I have to work tomorrow. I'd like not to have to be trying to do chores in full darkness before driving out of town and working my shift." “Thanks Luke, I don’t think me and BL could get through this without you and Dixie,” Bo said. “Ya’ll would do the same for us,” Luke said as he parked in front of the Boar’s Nest. Getting out of the truck and going inside, Luke headed for the bar instead of their usual table, Bo followed trying to act as normal as possible. “Can we get a couple beers, Maggie?” Luke asked the Boar’s Nest newest waitress. “Sure thing sugar,” Maggie sat a mug of beer in front of each Duke. "Thanks, Maggie." Luke said, taking a $5 bill out of his pocket, "Keep the change." "Well, thank you, Luke, honey." Maggie said, tucking the $5 in her bra. Luke nodded, took a drink of his beer, and said, "Drink up, Bo." Bo didn't need an invitation as he downed half his mug in one drink, then flagged Maggie down as she went by, "Bring us another round." He said, tossing another $5 on the counter. Luke had only planned on one beer, but two wouldn't hurt. Maggie tucked the $5 in her bra with Luke’s and put down two more beers “I get off in 10 minutes,” Maggie hinted suggestively. Luke flashed his wedding ring and Bo flat turned her down, he had enough problems at the moment. Maggie smiled widely at them both, "That little ole ring is all new and all, but Maggie's here and I got a friend picking me up." “Thanks but no thanks. Come on Bo,” Luke said. Draining his mug in one gulp, Bo followed Luke out to the truck. Pulling out onto the road it didn’t take long before they turned down the Duke farm driveway. Bo was praying Luke’s plan to just call Sadie would work, then he saw BL’s car, “BL forgot her car was here, what now?” Bo said. Luke shrugged, "Keys should be in it. Grab it. I'll run blocker." Luke said, dropping Bo at BL'S car, then pulling closer to the porch. "Sadie, girl. Come on, baby." Then to his uncle, "We came out to get BL's car and Sadie. Bo will be here for morning chores. I'll be by tomorrow evening." Sadie got up and went bounding off the porch, stopping for a moment unsure of what to do, Luke was calling her but Bo was getting in BL’s car. Bo didn’t even see her watching though, so Sadie went over to Luke. Picking her up Luke sat Sadie in the seat beside him following Bo back to town. At the house, Dixie had gone in the kitchen looking for something. Neither BL nor herself had done much shopping. They had drinks, coffee, and a few frozen things. Any snacks that they had bought had been eaten. She picked up her keys and headed for the front door rather quickly. BL said, "Hey, you aren't leaving me, are you?" "No, I'm gonna radio the guys and see if they will pick up something to snack on." Dixie explained, heading to the cb in her Thunderbird. Dixie got in her Thunderbird, put the key in the ignition, giving it a half turn. Picking up the CB mic then “Little Shotgun to Lost Sheep, ya’ll got your ears on?” Dixie said, keying the mic. “Lost Sheep here, it’s Luke. What’s up Dixie?” Luke asked. “Can ya’ll pick up some snacks on your way back?” Bo chimed in this time “Luke’s got Sadie but I got BL’s car we got it too while we was at the farm”. Luke remembered what Dixie had told him, when BL moved to town and called Dixie and he’d asked why Dixie was taking icecream “don’t forget the icecream Bo,” Luke said. “10-4” Bo replied. “Thanks ya’ll I’m gone,” Dixie said, then turned off the Thunderbird, took out the keys, and went back in the house. BL sat on the couch hugging a throw pillow, right where Dixie had left her. “They got your car too,”Dixie said. BL hadn’t even thought about it, until Dixie just said the fellas got it. Bo didn’t turn to go toward Rhuebottom’s even though it was closer to BL’s, he knew Mr. Rhebottom would want to chat and he just wasn’t in the mood to socialize. Instead Bo headed to the all night supermarket. "The guys are still a ways out. Anything you want to talk about before they get here?" Dixie asked BL. BL shook her head ‘no’ “you already said it’d be atleast a week before I can get a test, so I guess there ain’t much to talk about. The best I can hope for is that I can avoid seeing Daddy and LB,and pray for a miracle like getting my period and not even needing the test,” BL said. Dixie replied, "OK." Each sat in the silence of their own thoughts until Luke's truck parked in the driveway. Sadie burst through the door, demanding attention. BL picked Sadie up, sitting the dog in her lap, she needed a distraction from the torture of her own thoughts so was happy to oblige Sadie’s demand for attention “hey girl, did ya think I forgot about you?” BL asked to which Sadie’s response was a yip and a doggy kiss from chin to forehead. Luke and Dixie laughed “I think that's a yes,” Dixie said. At the supermarket Bo had gotten a shopping basket, it had a bag of plain chips and a bag of nachos, a can of cheese dip and a jar of salsa, he wasn’t sure which to get so put both in the basket. Next was the cookie aisle, he got a pack of chocolate chip cookies and a pack of oreos, then it was onto the icecream to get a thing of chocolate icecream. Then he made his way to the checkout. Luke went to the kitchen for a beer and brought Dixie back a soda. Sitting down with Dixie, he asked, "Am I done? Again?" "MAY-be." Dixie stressed the first word. Luke gave her a look and kicked his boots off again. When Bo arrived back at the house with snacks, Dixie offered to put them up while volunteering Luke's help. "Did you talk him off the ledge?" She asked Luke. "I think he'll be fine until chores tomorrow anyway." Luke said, "He's worried about facing Jesse. I think we have a guest tonight." Dixie shook her head 'no'. "Two." “Two…BL’s staying too.” Luke said it more as a statement than a question. “Yeah, she don’t want to face Clyde anymore than Bo wants to face Uncle Jesse,” Dixie replied. In the livingroom, BL still held Sadie as if she were a lifeline. “I’m sorry darlin, this is my fault,” Bo said, he wanted to hug BL but at the same time he was afraid to touch her. “No it isn’t, we’re both consenting adults and I didn’t say no,” BL said with a deep sigh. After getting the snacks put up, Luke said, "Are we about ready to head upstairs?" Dixie was more than ready but asked, "Do you think they are ok?" "I guess we'll find out." Luke said as he started toward the living room closet. He reached for a pillow and blanket and put it by Bo. "Night ya'll. Bo, the earlier you get the chores done, the better chance of dodging Jesse. I'll get them tomorrow evening." With that, he and Dixie made their way upstairs." “Luke’s right if you're going to dodge Uncle Jesse, best get the chores done early and be on your toes,” BL said, putting Sadie on the floor, heading to the back door to take Sadie out to do her business one last time before bed. Bo opened the blanket and tossed the pillow on the couch, he didn’t know how he was going to be on his toes to dodge Jesse, he didn’t think he’d get much sleep tonight. BL, with Sadie on her heels came back into the livingroom, seeing Bo preparing to take off his shirt and get as comfortable as possible on the couch “There’s an empty bed upstairs, you don’t have to sleep on the couch,” BL said, heading up the stairs. “You think “it’d be ok,” Bo asked, even though Luke hadn’t specifically said he had to sleep on the couch.. BL shrugged “like I said before, we’re adults.” BL continued on to her room, Bo following her upstairs. Hesitating at her bedroom door, instead of going straight to the guest bedroom at the other end of the hall. As Luke stripped down to his jeans, he heard the distinct sound of a booted foot land on the upstairs landing. Dixie heard it too, looked at Luke a bit wider eyed. Bo looked at BL with a raised eyebrow, asking permission before going in. “Something you need?’ BL asked, pulling her tank top over her head. “You,” Bo replied. “No funny business, you have my word as a Duke, Just thought you might need holding,” Bo added, in answer BL dropped her shorts to the floor, putting on a nightshirt that reached the top of her knees she flipped back the comforter and covers, getting in and scooting over to make room for Bo. Crossing to the bed Bo shucked his jeans, socks and boots, then laid down, pulling BL over to him. Dixie had snuggled close to Luke with her head on his shoulder, "You know he stopped at this end of the hall." Luke replied, "Uh-huh. I'm not his keeper." "Ok." Dixie replied in agreement to let BL and Bo be adults, "But, you know when things hit the fan..." Dixie left her sentence unfinished. “When things hit the fan, we’re dead ducks too,” Luke finished. “It’s BL’s house, she makes the rules. We’re just living here til we get our own place,” Luke said. Wasn’t long before the only sounds were the crickets. The occupants of the house were sound asleep, worn out from the evening’s excitement/stress.Next morning before the sun was even up, Bo was getting ready to go to the farm to do the morning chores. Slipping out of bed, he saw BL had forgotten to set her alarm, so he flipped the switch so she wouldn’t be late.Picking up his boots he headed downstairs, pulling the bedroom door to, leaving it open enough Sadie could get in or out. As soon as Bo's feet hit the bottom step, Luke cleared his throat from his seat in the living room. Bo nearly jumped out of his skin. "Up early ain't ya?" Luke whispered. "You said if I was gonna dodge Jesse, I needed to do the chores early," Bo whispered back. Upstairs Sadie took advantage of Bo getting up, she hopped up on the bed,in 'her' spot that he'd been in all night. "Bo, you are gonna have to see him way before she can take a test. Besides, you've gone home after a night out many times. What's different now?" Luke asked. Dixie was in the kitchen out of ear shot, fixing coffee for her and Luke's drive in opposite directions. “What’s different now, asks the man who STILL ain’t told Uncle Jesse, he’s gonna be a daddy, you just eloped the same day you found out,” Bo said. Luke replied, "You are right there, but I stood up to my responsibilities and finally done what I wanted to do years ago. I just figured to let everyone get adjusted to that before we go telling everything." “Is it that or are YOU just chicken,” Bo said, quietly. Luke glared at Bo, "Being chicken and being plumb dumb is two different things." Dixie chose that moment to come out of the kitchen with three larger travel cups of coffee. "I made you both coffee, but Luke you got to let me out. I got to leave now or be late.” Dixie felt the tension in the room, as soon as she came through the doorway. Bo was about to say something when Dixie came into the room, “thanks Dixie,” Bo said, taking the cup of coffee, heading out the door. “C’mon I’ll walk you out, I got to get too.” Luke said. BL had tossed and turned ever since Bo had left her side, now she stood looking at herself in the mirror and she didn’t like what she saw. “Pull it together BL one look and everybody that comes in the post office will know something’s wrong. The whole Duke clan and Davenport clan are coming for the reception Friday and sure as shootin, they’ll know something’s wrong if you mope around like a wet blanket,” BL said to her reflection. Bo, being Bo Duke had things all planned. It was perfect, it couldn't miss. BALLADEER: "Yes, folks, it's time to start worrying!" Bo eased the General through the back forty, drifted in behind the barn. He gathered the eggs, milked the cows, and fed the animals. Then he quietly tiptoed to the back porch where he left the eggs and milk. He returned to the barn to finish up there. He knew Jesse wanted the garden hoed, but he knew he needed to head out of there before Jesse called him for breakfast. He looked at the garden on his way to General Lee. It could wait another day, Bo declared as he slid in the window. Back in town, once the others had left BL went downstairs, Sadie was like velcro walking so close beside her, BL was afraid she was going to trip over the dog. After letting Sadie back in, BL went upstairs running herself a hot bubble bath , it was one of the things she and Dixie had in common, a hot bubble bath could just about undo any stress. Leaning back in the clawfoot tub BL closed her eyes. The next thing she knew, she was rudely interrupted by the alarm clock Bo had set, followed shortly by Sadie barking madly at it! The bath water was cold, and all relaxation was gone. Once Dixie arrived at work, she went to the payroll department, which consisted of two girls about her age. She knew them from work but wasn't close personal friends. Taking a deep breath, Dixie squared her shoulders, preparing for the conversation she knew would follow. "Hey, ya'll. I need to change a few things and update some stuff." Dixie said as she sat down, knowing she'd be here awhile. "First is my address." She hadn't changed it before now due to not being how sure she was about staying in Hazzard. “I hear it, give me a minute to shut it off,” BL said as she drained the tub and dried off. Towel wrapped around her, BL rushed back to her room shutting off the alarm, Sadie immediately hushed. “No chance in me ever sleeping through the alarm,” BL said, looking for something cool but nice to wear. Settling on a light blue t-shirt dress that almost reached her knees and her white canvas tennis shoes. Pulling her hair back she pinned it up in a bun with bobby pins she kept in her purse, a little Powder and lip gloss from her purse and BL headed off to work, Sadie at her side. It took Dixie nearly an hour to do the address, name, and insurance information changes due to all the personal questions the girls had about who she had married and such. At the post office BL got Sadie settled with some breakfast before going up the street and around the corner to the coffee shop to get herself a cup of coffee to clear the cobwebs. Bo thought he’d made a clean getaway until Jesse stepped out the back door to get the milk and eggs, Bo left. “Where in tarnation are you running off to?” Jesse hollered. Sighing, Bo knew he might as well face the music, so climbing back out the General’s window, Bo said “nowhere Uncle Jesse.” "Well, get on in here and get cleaned up. Breakfast is almost ready. I just needed the eggs." Bo went in to do as he was told, "Yes, Sir." was all he trusted himself to say. At base camp, Luke was answering his own questions about why he had called in the day before. His buddy Randy being the ring leader in these unofficial questions, " Duke, we've worked together years now, and I ain't never known you to call in sick or otherwise. So what's with calling in requesting to take a 'holiday' yesterday?" Luke had known from the moment he decided he wasn't working yesterday that this conversation would happen. Since arriving, he had managed to keep the wide gold band on his left hand out of sight. Luke gave just a bit of a grin as he replied, "You are right, Randy, and I knew ya’ll would have questions. I needed yesterday to work out a few things after some events that happened Sunday." Luke paused, "One of the things is there's a party Friday night in Hazzard. Ya’ll are invited to meet Mrs. Duke." At that point, he waved his left hand. His crew broke out in a wave of congratulations, questions, and all-out pandemonium. One of the girls from HR asked, “is she the same girl that came to watch the jumps with your family?” Luke nodded ‘yes’. BL was just starting to sort the mail into two piles ‘delivery’ and P.O. Boxes, when she saw her Dad pull up and head inside, likely on his way to the cabinet shop, “was hoping to not see him til later,” BL muttered to herself. Clyde came in and propped on the counter, watching his daughter sort the mail. “Well atleast your still alive, not that I’d know, since you didn’t call to say you wasn’t coming home last night,” Clyde said. “Sorry Daddy, I stayed with Dixie and Luke, we lost track of time, it was real late so I stayed with them, just forgot to call,“ BL replied. Clyde grunted “have you got the cabinet shop mail ready, I gotta get going and open up.” BL handed Clyde a couple envelopes, “you want the house mail too, won’t take me long to sort it from the rest,” BL said. “Can’t wait, got a job to go look at, out at the Hobson farm, see you tonight,”Clyde said, on his way out Bo put eggs and bacon on his plate and after grace was said he dug into the eggs and bacon, hoping if his mouth was full that he wouldn't have to talk much. Luke gave everyone the details of the reception, and then the Smokejumpers got to work with their newbies. Dixie chose to invite only her former roommate to the reception. She was close to the tri counties workers and only kept in touch with Debbie from the old place.

You're probably thinking of this scene in 'The Revenge of Hughie Hogg' (S5E13). Boss has told Rosco that he's supporting Hughie Hogg for sheriff: Lulu: "...and until you give Rosco his job back you're gonna have to find another place to feed your face and lay that body down. Now, I mean it. And I mean it." Boss: "Oh, Lulukins, please." Lulu: "I do." Boss: "I don't mind about the laying down but I sure gotta have the feeding."

I remember how Boss said something once when Lulu put him on a diet, that he didn't mind_______ but he's gotta have the feedings.

I think it differs, depending on the book and the movie. Some books are better but then some movies are better.

NEDRA....

Always good to hear from you BL. I hope you are doing well.

THAT was great BL !! Hey, it's been a while! Don't be such a stranger!

because of where I'm from I've known or met many celebrities, country, rock, and wrestling

I noticed that in one of the episodes ( not sure which) , Waylon said Boss would just be happy if Lulu fixed him something to eat but in Ep. 1 ( ? ) he eats at the Boar's Nest, because his wife Lulu is a terrible cook ( and then he eats raw liver and Waylon says, " Well, at least he don't dunk it." ) I also noticed when Rosco asked about if Daisy was the one that distracted the High Jackers, the High Jackers were in the back seat of Rosco's car. When he told them to get out, they just opened the door ( FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR) and got out. You can't do that in a police car. The back doors are locked and can only be opened from the outside.

We obviously love her...she's a doll....!! but WHERE HAS SHE BEEN??? She hasn't showed up in a million years!