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ORANGE clunker car

Boss called Rosco a NUMB head on many occasions!

Luke's crew was packed up and ready for the plane to fly back home before Dixie's clock went off. When the clock went off, Dixie was mildly sorry for the sleep she lost last night eating today's lunch. After a quick shower, she returned to her room to dress. She sat down on the edge of the bed, put on underwear, her BDU pants, socks, and boots before she stood up to put her bra and shirt on. Once she had everything on, Dixie tucked her long uniform shirt into her pants, pulled her pants together to button them to find that there was no way the pants would button. They were close but would not button. All her work pants were the same size so switching them for another pair seemed useless. Dixie zipped the pants, got out a safety pin to hold the top of the pants closed, untucked her shirt and looked in the mirror. There seem to be no changes as to why the pants weren't fitting this morning, but they weren't. Dixie pulled up outside the offices of Tri-Counties Jail about ten minutes before she was due to start her shift. Seeing one of the girls arriving, she got out of the car. The girl spoke to her. "Morning. Now help. I've got a wardrobe malfunction." Dixie said as they walked into the building. Dixie explained her issue, and in a few minutes, Dixie had a pair of pants, which fit several more of various sizes and a velcro adjustable belt. "Thanks. I got to run." Dixie said as she made her way back to go park her car in her normal spot. BL was only slightly regretting her and Bo’s late night swing and then the midnight snack with Dixie that was well after midnight as Sadie nudged her elbow and barked, needing to go out. “Alright,alright I’m coming,” BL said, getting up and going downstairs, letting Sadie out into the backyard. Glad to be in town this morning, she could go back to bed a little while and still get to the Post Office by 8 and that is just what she did. Setting her alarm for 7:30 BL laid back down, putting a pillow over head. When the alarm went off, BL went downstairs to let Sadie in. “You can eat breakfast while I shower and get dressed,” BL put dry food in Sadie’s bowl then went back upstairs for a quick shower and to get dressed. At ten to 8 BL was dressed in a peach t-shirt dress that reached just below her knees. ‘Time for work,” Sadie trotted to the GTO jumping in. The mail truck was pulling up to the curb as BL was unlocking the front door, “morning Joe.” Daisy heard BL pull out and knew she should be getting home. She reached the farm in enough time to fix a good lunch for Bo and Uncle Jesse before they got in from the chores. She started laundry and began cleaning up the house some, then began working on bridal shower things. Scrapie was nearly as eager as Luke was for the plane to be in the air and heading for their home base camp. Bo came in to get him and Uncle Jesse a drink. Daisy was at the table working on all things wedding related, the bridal shower being top of the list because it was in just a couple days. “Hey Daisy watcha doing?” Bo asked. “Working on BL’s bridal shower and ya’lls wedding,” Daisy replied. “Did she tell you what we decided about the guest list, last night?” Bo asked. “No she was leaving just as I was getting up this morning,” Daisy answered, “Wait, last night?” Daisy asked, giving Bo a curious look, she hadn’t heard General Lee but maybe that’s because she’s used to the sound. Bo sighed he knew Daisy wouldn’t be satisfied until he explained, even if she didn’t come right out and ask. “I went to the Boar’s Nest for a while after unloading a load of stock. When I came through town I went by Dixie’s house to check to see if BL was there. She heard the General I guess and came out. We talked about how long the guest list is already, so we decided just close kin and only 10-20 friends.” Bo then fixed 2 glasses of lemonade going back out. "Bo? Bo Duke! Bo? You can't be serious! Can you??" Daisy asked hot on his heels. “We want to keep it small, so yeah I’m serious," Bo replied. "Bo, this is the biggest event all year! Come on! With Luke married out of the County and all, everyone in three Counties wants to be there!" “No Daisy! This is our wedding and this is what we want,” Bo said, in a forceful tone he never used with her. "Bo, ..... Bo, come on, the more people, the more presents." Daisy tried to reason with him. She knew she wanted everyone at her wedding and couldn't understand why Bo and BL wouldn't want the same. “Daisy we have everything we need,” Bo said, trying to get Daisy to understand. Jesse had been close enough to hear and though he missed the start of this conversation that had started in the house he had a pretty good idea what it was about and it looked like Bo might need some backup. “Uncle Jesse can you believe him, he only wants his and BL’s close kin and only 10-20 friends at his and BL’s wedding,” Daisy said, indignant. “That’s their call to make, I know of church weddings with less people there and they wasn’t elopements neither,” Jesse said, taking a drink of lemonade. "But, Uncle Jesse? Everyone will want to be there!" Daisy protested. “I’m sure they will but it just ain’t going to happen. Even if they invited 3 counties of folks, some wouldn’t come,” Daisy looked hopeful, Uncle Jesse was starting to understand. Jesse’s next words didn’t sound so understanding. “I said, IF they invited 3 counties of folks, the church wouldn’t hold ‘em all, even if some didn’t come,” Jesse said patiently. He knew Daisy only wanted the best for her cousin and friend. Bo explained, "Daisy, I just don't need to be gawked at by everyone who is just there to see what they can see. We want the people who mean something to us to be a part of this. Why do you think Luke and Dixie skipped out on all the drama?" Jesse hoped that was the reason Luke and Dixie had eloped. Daisy opened her mouth to argue that because Luke and Dixie eloped their family and friends had missed a very special time in their lives but Jesse cut her off. “That’s enough Daisy, you will respect Bo and BL’s wishes, is that understood,” Jesse said, putting his foot down. "Yes, Sir, Uncle Jesse." Daisy answered automatically. Daisy left for work a little early; she had a few errands to run before going in, the first being the bakery to order a cake for the bridal shower Saturday. She also wanted to get orders in for the wedding cake. Becky Lynn was just finishing up with another customer when the bell above the door signaled Daisy’s entry. “Morning Daisy, what can I get you today?” Becky Lynn asked, smiling warmly. “I want to order a sheet cake for a bridal shower, I’m giving Saturday,” Daisy replied. “Oh how nice, who’s the lucky bride to be?” Becky Lynn asked. “BL Davenport,” Daisy said, then wanted to know, “ Will you be open Labor Day?” “Oh my, that’s wonderful. Yes we’re open, always busy we can’t close shop for every holiday,” Becky Lynn replied. “Good, the wedding is Saturday, September 1st,” Daisy said. “Who she marrying?” Becky Lynn asked. Daisy lowered her voice before answering, “my cousin Bo but don’t tell, I’m on my way to put an announcement in tomorrow’s paper. “I promise not a word. I guess you want to order a wedding cake too, it’ll be here before you know it,” Becky Lynn said, ready to write it down. “I have a drawing of what BL wants,” Daisy pulled a folded piece of paper from her back pocket. Luke, Scrapie and the crew were back at base camp by noon and though they would have liked to have headed home there was a lot of unpacking and putting away of equipment before they could go their separate ways. Gloria Kravitz was ever present on her porch as Luke and Scrapie pulled into the driveway. Luke headed Scrapie to the backyard to run off some energy and to potty. Gloria ran in the house, "Abner, Abner, the oldest Duke is over there to get his stuff while his wife is at work." Luke finished his coffee he'd been drinking coming home, "Come on, Boy." Scrapie was on his heels. Luke looked in the freezer. He found a large roast and put it in the crock pot. He added spices and a bit of water and turned it on. He also put on a pot of coffee. Then, he headed upstairs for a shower. Freshly shaved and showered, Luke came down in pajama pants. After checking the roast and getting his coffee, Luke headed to the back door. Scrapie wanted back out to play. Luke sat on the porch steps watching Scrapie play. He figured he may as well get his bag out of the truck so bare footed and in only pajama bottoms Luke went to his truck, grabbed his bag and started back to the back yard. Gloria had stepped to her back porch in time to see Luke with his bag but couldn't see that he was wearing pajama bottoms. Gloria called out, "I'm sorry to see you leaving." "Leaving?"Luke repeated, confused. "Yes, it's such a shame when young people's marriages don't last. Especially when it's been such a short time." Gloria said. Luke had been taught manners and knew the woman was the town's busy body, but he was tired. "Look Mrs. Kravitz, I don’t know what you think you know, but you are way off base and you'd do yourself and all of us a favor if you don't concern yourself with what goes on over here." Luke walked up the steps, called Scrapie and went into the house to put his things in the washer. Mrs. Kravitz then got a glance of Luke dressed in only pajama bottoms and replied to Luke's rant, "Well, I have never." She stormed back into the house. Daisy went over to the Hazzard Gazette office after leaving the bakery then she planned to make a quick stop at the emporium for pretty but premade wedding invitations. “Hi Daisy, how are you and what do you need?” Norm, Luke’s newspaper buddy asked. “Hi Norm, I want to put an announcement in tomorrow’s paper,” Daisy said. “Ok just fill this out,” Norm handed Daisy a clipboard. Daisy wrote Bo Duke and BL Davenport would like to announce their wedding Saturday September 1st at Hazzard Gospel Church at 2pm. Invitation only, followed by a reception at the Boar’s Nest. Norm read over the notice and whistled lowly, "Wow! There's gonna be a lot of hearts broke when this comes out. If they want a photographer, I'm available." Daisy said, "Alright. I will let them know." Luke had his clothes in the washer. He stopped in the kitchen to add potatoes, carrots, onions and part of a beer to the roast. Refilled his coffee and went to the recliner in the living room. Scrapie made himself comfy between Luke and the chair for a nap. Luke picked up a newspaper from the days he'd been gone and comfortably settled down to do nothing until Dixie got home from work. Daisy wasn’t the only Duke with errands to run before work, Bo left in plenty of time to go by the Post Office and ask BL out to the farm for supper and hang around for a little bit if things weren’t busy. “Hey Darlin how’s it going?” Bo asked, leaning down to pet Sadie when she came over. “Pretty good, I guess,” BL replied. “Got plans after work?” Bo asked. “Not really, thought I might see if Daisy wants to work on the guest list some. Luke’s coming home so Dixie probably won’t want to hang out,” BL answered. Bo replied, “come for supper and ya’ll can work on it. She gets off at 6,” Bo said. Just then 3 customers came in so Bo stole a quick kiss saying;“See you at supper” then he headed out. Making a loop around the square, Bo saw Luke’s truck home, with some time to kill Bo turned the General in that direction. Luke heard the General coming around town and knew Bo would stop. He put his feet on the floor just as Bo parked. "That didn't last long." He said as he went to the door. Bo pulled in the drive behind Luke’s truck, slid out of General Lee and headed to the porch. Luke opened the door before Bo could knock or barge in, Bo cocked an eyebrow as he looked Luke up and down. “Pajama pants and bare feet in the middle of the day?” Bo asked then said “must be nice. Some of us still have work to do,” Bo managed to keep a straight face, while giving Luke a hard time. "Well, I did my work for the week in the past few days." Luke replied. Bo sniffed, "Something smells great. What did Dixie put on for supper?" Luke shook his head. Leave it to Bo to smell food, "I happened to have put a roast on so it will be done when Dixie gets home." "Ohhh." Bo teased, "Wow, has Dixie got you trained already?" Luke gave Bo a warning look, "Bo." Luke said simply. Bo held up his hands in surrender, “ok,ok I quit.” Bo took a seat on the couch; “Guess you and Dixie don’t want to come out to the farm for supper?”’ Bo asked. “Not tonight Bo, I just want to kick back and relax with my wife,” Luke replied. “I was hoping between Dixie and BL they could keep a handle on Daisy,” Bo said. Luke asked, "Now why would they need to keep a handle on Daisy?" He scratched Scrapie's head as he talked with Bo. “To keep her from inviting everybody in 3 counties to the wedding. She about had a conniption this morning when she found out we’re only inviting blood kin and just 10-20 friends,” Bo replied. Luke grinned, "Sorry." Bo gave Luke a questioning look, "Sorry for what?" Luke gave Bo a slight grin, "For eloping and making your wedding the first family 'event' she's had a hand in planning." "A hand in it, my foot. If we had let her, all we'd had to do was show up." Bo mildly complained. Luke held his coffee cup up in toast motion, "Understood." Luke said, then sighed, "But, she does it out of love, Bo." “I know she does, it's just too much sometimes. We just want a simple and small wedding. I tried talking BL into us just going to Chickamahoney and then having a big party like you and Dixie, she wouldn’t hear of it,” Bo told Luke all his frustrations, like he always had. “Oh yeah I almost forgot, it was Bobby Douglas that challenged us and General Lee to a race. He came to the Boar’s Nest last night. I told him it had to wait until you got back,” Bo said. Luke replied, "That figures. You know him and that bunch of young brats he runs around with need to be taught a few lessons. They drive around in cars their parents bought them and don't show anyone any respect from Rosco to the General to normal folk." “We need a plan to keep Rosco and Cletus out the way while we teach him a lesson. You heard Cletus. If I get myself arrested before the wedding BL will kill me,” Bo said. Luke nodded, "Yes, she will." Bo added, "And you know Rosco would just love to send us to Tri-Counties." "He might, but Boss would hate to pay that bill for housing." Luke hoped Boss's wallet would always be the deciding factor in whether or not to send them to the larger jail. “Speaking of Boss and Rosco, I seen them in town last night and it was pretty late, bet they’re upto something,” Bo said. Luke replied, "Got to be, but as long as they leave us alone, I don't care." “Amen,” Bo nodded, agrement, “I gotta get to work, catch you later cuz,” Bo said as he stood up. Luke replied, "Alright, Bo be careful." "You got it." Bo said heading out the door and to the General Lee. He cranked the engine to life and pulled out with the arch of the tires. Luke patted Scrapie's head who was tucked between Luke's leg and the chair snoozing. Luke thought he might have just enough time to close his eyes before Dixie got home. Dixie snacked at work as usual and ate lunch, but by the time she was nearing Hazzard she was hungry. She was trying to figure out what would be quick to make for supper. She planned to check the Boar's Nest first if Luke wasn't there, then she would head home. Dixie wasn't who would make it to Hazzard first. Unknowing that Luke was home with supper nearly ready. BL made a couple money order transactions, put up wanted posters and had opened a new PO Box before lunch, not to mention all the other daily duties of running the post office. She had been looking forward to maybe leaving a little early but that thought had gotten squashed when Ellen Sue called to say she had an out of town emergency. She knew Bo was at work so before going to the Boar’s Nest and finding herself alone, she made a loop around the square. Cooter was at the garage under a car’s hood and she could see Luke’s truck home, Dixie would be home soon probably. Dixie checked the Boar's Nest parking lot, only Daisy's ride was there. As she rounded the Square a pleasant sight met her, Luke's truck was in the driveway. Pulling in behind him she got out and grabbed the bag of new uniform pants then headed for the front door. As she opened the door she was met by the sound of a barking Scrapie. "Scrapie, it's me." Luke had managed to get his eyes open and met Dixie with a kiss. He reached to take the rather large bag. "What's this?" "Never mind that." Dixie wrapped her arms around Luke, "I missed you." "Well, I missed you too." Luke said, hugging Dixie back and leaning into another kiss as Scrapie jumped at their legs. He wasn't giving up until Dixie picked him up for a hug and kiss too. "I missed you too! Did you take care of Luke?" She was met with a sound like Scrapie was trying to tell her he had. "Well, did he take care of you too?" Dixie asked. Scrapie again tried his best to talk to her. "Really? It was bad? Oh, no, they didn't feed you? And made you jump out of perfectly good airplanes? Oh my!" Dixie said. Luke replied, "You know he's lying. Right?" Scrapie did his best to look pitiful and innocent. Dixie hugged him tighter, "You wouldn't lie would you?" Scrapie laid his head on her shoulder. Dixie now got a whiff of the roast. "Oh, Lord. Something smells good." Luke replied. "Surprise. Do you want to get comfy or eat first?" Dixie had already changed at work, she replied, "Eat. I'm starved." BL went by home first to get the invitation list that she, Dixie and Daisy had started last night, maybe she could get the addresses to the Duke kin that didn’t live in Hazzard, while they waited for Bo and Daisy to get home. “Hey Uncle Jesse,” BL said as she came in the back door. “I ain’t your Uncle Jesse…yet,” Jesse gave his usual response whenever a Davenport ‘kid’ called him ‘uncle’ but then in a gentler voice “tacked on the ‘yet’. “I guess Bo told you about our guest limit?” “Yes he did, him and Daisy wasn’t seeing eye to eye but don’t worry I straightened her out, told her it was yours and Bo’s decision to invite as many or as few as you want,” Jesse said. “Thank you,” BL said simply. “Anything I can help with,” BL asked a few minutes later. “No, the pork chops will be done, just about the time Bo gets home from work and Daisy won’t be far behind,” Jesse replied. “They smell great. How about giving me your brother’s addresses while we're waiting, so I can put them on the invitation list,” BL suggested. Jesse went to the desk in the livingroom, opening one of the drawers he retrieved a well used address book. Coming back to the kitchen he laid it on the table. “Here ya are,” Jesse said. “Thanks,” BL said, finding the addresses,writing them down. Luke had a good-sized helping of roast and veggies with bread and coffee. He found himself stuffed. Dixie had eaten a helping about his size. He stood up to rinse his plate, "Want me to rinse yours?" As he turned, he saw Dixie digging in for a second helping. "In a minute." Dixie said. Luke refilled his coffee cup and let Scrapie out back. He sat and watched Dixie as a slight grin made its way to his face. "What?" Dixie asked as she felt him watching her. Luke knew Dixie had never been one of the girls too shy to eat in front of someone, especially him, but he thought his Uncle Jesse a much better cook and said so, "I know that I am not the cook that Uncle Jesse is, but it looks like I did ok." "It's great, Honey. You got to show me how you did it." Dixie said, sopping up the last of the juice with a piece of bread. "I didn't do anything special. How about I put the rest in a container for your lunch tomorrow?" Luke offered. "Ok. I'll give these dishes a quick wash while you do that then." Dixie said. Once the dishes were done and the kitchen wiped up, Luke threw his clothes in the dryer, let Scrapie in and locked the back door. "Do you want to hang out down here?" Dixie replied, "Do you think we could get away with relaxing upstairs without a crisis arising?" Luke locked the front door, "We can sure try. Come on Scrapie." Scrapie headed upstairs ahead of them and curled up on Luke's pillow! BL and Jesse had talked while Jesse finished up supper and had started a new invitation list in her notepad, writing down the addresses she had by the correct name. Just as Jesse had said Bo was the first one home. “Hey Uncle Jesse, smells great,” Bo said, leaning in for a kiss when BL stood up and Jesse’s back was turned toward them. “Hi beautiful.” “Hi,” BL replied. ”I’m gonna do the chores then shower before we eat. I figure Luke’s got other things on his mind other than coming out here to do the chores,” Bo said, and went back out the door. BALLADEER: Looks like Ole Bo is right. As Dixie snuggled close to Luke, about to drift off to sleep, something struck her funny bone, and she couldn't contain the laugh. Luke was almost asleep until he heard Dixie laugh, "What?" Dixie laughed again, "You know it's a good thing I'm pregnant." Luke asked, confused, "Why?" "Because if I weren't already pregnant, I sure would be now." Dixie said. Luke thought a second about earlier events, "Yes, you mostly would have been, but I missed you." "Good." Dixie said, moving even closer to Luke. Bo was thinking about the wedding in just a little over a week. BL would be his to hold whenever he wanted and they could do whatever they wanted, he was glad he was alone outside as these thoughts made his jeans a mite too tight. He finished up with the chores and went around front, he didn’t want Uncle Jesse or BL seeing his frustration. “Be through directly, gonna shower,” Bo called on his way to get clean clothes. A second later Jesse and BL heard the bathroom door close. “Daisy’s home,” BL said, hearing Daisy’s roadrunner. Daisy came in, “Hey BL give me a minute to shower and change, get this smoke smell off me.” “Bo’s in the bathroom,” BL informed her. “Ok, but I gotta atleast change,” Daisy replied, going to her room. A minute later she came through with her work clothes, putting them in the washer. Dixie was awakened by the nagging feeling of having to go to the bathroom. She didn't want to get up. She was perfectly comfortable in Luke's arms. She tried to ignore the bathroom call, but soon gave up. She tried to easily slide out of the bed without waking Luke. Once done in the bathroom, Dixie wanted nothing more than to go back to bed, but the little Duke had other plans. She found herself in her packed lunch making a cold roast sandwich with mayo and ketchup. The sandwich hit the spot. So much so she fixed a second one. Bo came out of the bathroom dressed but still tucking in his shirt, going back to his room he sat on his bed to put his socks and boots on. Combing his hair he went back to the kitchen to find the others at the table waiting for him. Sitting by BL they had a nice meal, afterwards Daisy said, “You cooked Uncle Jesse, I’ll clean up, Why don’t you take your coffee and sit in your chair, relax and read the paper.” “I’ll help, it won’t take us long,” BL volunteered. “Thank ya girls,” Jesse replied, pouring a cup of coffee. Once the two girls were alone Daisy asked, “do you really only want family and just 10-20 friends at the wedding? Or is that all Bo?” “No it’s not all Bo, we agreed. If we were planning on lots of guests, we should have sent out invitations weeks ago,” BL replied. “Ok,” Daisy said simply, taking BL’s reasoning better than she had Bo’s excuses. Once the kitchen was back in order BL and Daisy sat down at the table to work on the guest list. Having a few names to add, Bo joined them. “Don’t forget your Aunt Kate, Bo. Think I’ll turn in,” Jesse said about 10 pm, it was his subtle way of telling BL it was time to go home. BL took the hint and gathered her stuff, outside Bo walked her to her car. Taking her arm load of stuff he put it on the passenger seat. "Breeze is nice out here tonight." Bo paused, "Want to take a walk down by the creek before you head home?" “Yeah it is,” BL replied, not answering Bo’s question right away but deciding that it wasn't the end of the world if something happened, they were getting married in a little over a week, “sure.” The summer night couldn't have been more perfect, warm breeze blowing, night sounds, the ripple of the creek. Bo took BL in his arms for a long kiss once they reached the creek. Once the kiss ended he said, "I've been wanting to do that all evening." “Well if I had known what being alone with you was going to get me, I’d have changed into shorts or jeans and then I could have helped you with the chores,” BL said, as she gently brushed Bo's chest down to the first button that he had buttoned, which was the 4th button from the top. Bo took that as an invitation to let his hands start doing some roaming of their own while kissing BL again. BL more than welcomed Bo's advance and finished unbuttoning Bo's shirt to let her hands wander over his sun tanned chest and back. Bo moved his lips downward and began nibbling on BL's neck. BL then moved to gently blow in his ear before moving to his neck. “Couldn’t you have worn something besides this,” Bo said in frustration. BL’s hands wandering over the skin of his chest and back was driving him crazy. “This activity wasn’t on my agenda, when I got ready for work this morning,” BL replied. Bo’s lips skimmed over her neck, sending chills down her spine. Bo and BL's petting was getting hotter and hotter. From out of nowhere, a deer came into the clearing for a drink of water. "Hoo, hoo, hoot!" Came from a startled nearby owl.’’ All the disturbance pulled BL back to earth, taking her hands away from their current activities and her lips from his, breathing hard she said “I better go it's late, Uncle Jesse is probably still listening for my car to crank.” Bo nearly whimpered, but he knew she was right, but he tried to protest, "Darlin', can't you stay a little longer?" The night had sure gotten hotter since they came out here and his jeans seemed to have shrunk. ”You know I can’t, just a few more days and we never have to leave each other again,” BL said, not quite sure who she was trying to convince more herself or Bo. Truth was she was all hot and bothered and wanted to stay as much as Bo wanted her to stay. Bo was glad it was dark outside as they walked back to the car. Once back at the house, BL left after a few more long kisses, which hadn't helped Bo's situation. As Bo started toward the bathroom, he heard Jesse call softly, "Bo." “Yes sir,?” Bo asked, going into Jesse’s room. In town, Luke had woken up to find his bed empty, except for Scrapie. He got up easily and went to check to make sure Dixie was alright. She wasn't in the bathroom. Luke eased downstairs, finding a small light on in the kitchen, he moved quiet as a mouse toward the light. He found Dixie eating a second cold roast sandwich. He had to grin just a bit. He would have liked to have stayed in the shadows and watched his wife, but said quietly, "Two o'clock feedings already?" Dixie about jumped out of her skin! "Luke! You scared me to death!" BL was glad the top was down on her car; it would give her a chance to cool down before she got home. Once home she hoped to sneak in the back door and to her room, without Sadie notifying the whole house that she was home. Opening the back door just wide enough to slip through, so it wouldn’t squeak, BL turned just as Sadie ‘woofed’ lowly. “Shh, please don’t bark,” BL said, picking Sadie up, easing down the hall to her room. "Kind of late on a work night for you both ain't it?" Was what Jesse asked, but it was what he didn't say was what Bo heard loud and clear, by the tone of Jesse's voice. “Yes sir I suppose it is, we just lost track of time,” Bo replied, leaving out any further explanation. He didn’t want to mislead his Uncle but he wasn’t going to give details either. Jesse simply said, "Good night, Bo." Bo replied, "Good night Uncle Jesse. I love you." "I love you too, son. Remember, a week isn't that long." Jesse said. Next day BL sorted the mail then worked on wedding invitations in between interruptions, trying to either get them ready for mailing or to just deliver when she delivered the mail. Hazel, the only other woman deputy Hazzard ever had besides Daisy, came in the post office with a copy of The Gazette in her hand. “I’ll be, I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t just read it. Another one of Jesse Duke’s boys getting hisself married.” Luke wasn't in too big of a hurry as he watched Dixie getting ready for work. She had her uniform pants on. Unknown to him, that was a size up from her old ones. She was standing facing the mirror with her hands up brushing her hair and putting her hair up. Luke studied her from behind. It was still early for her to be showing, but knowing her body like he did, he could see that she had gotten ever so slightly wider in her hips. Luke knew better than to say anything about her 'gaining weight', but he couldn't help the slightest look of contentment, or maybe it was satisfaction of knowing his baby was growing. Dixie turned around and saw the look on his face. It was the same look he had last night watching her feed her face at 2am, "What?" Luke stood up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I love you." Dixie laughed at him a little, "Well, I love you too, but I gotta get moving." Luke couldn't let her go without cupping each of her breasts for a bit of a squeeze. Dixie leaned into him, relaxed and was enjoying the attention just a bit too much when she suddenly teased and said, "Ow." Luke let go. "What?" Dixie took his hand and guided it gently over her breast to the area he had been squeezing. "Right there it's sore.” “I guess you’re here to get your mail? Not just to talk about the announcement in the paper,” BL said, the light catching the diamond on her hand, making it sparkle. “Wow that’s a nice rock you got there,” Hazel said. BL looked at her left hand smiling. “It was Bo’s mother’s ring,” BL replied, giving Hazel her mail, then Hazel was off with a wave. ”Hello, Duke farm, this is Jesse,” Jesse laid the firewood in his hands, on the stack before answering. “Just a minute,” Jesse held the receiver out to Bo, “it’s for you.” Bo came over and took the receiver, talking a few minutes then saying, “be there in 15 minutes Tom,” Bo hung up. “That was my foreman, one of the driver’s is sick and Tom needs me to fill in,” Bo picked up his shirt and headed inside. Within less than 5 minutes Bo had washed off a bit and put on his work shirt and headed to work. "I'm sorry." Luke said, then asked, "Are you alright?" Dixie replied a bit puzzled as to why she would be sore there of all places, "Yeah. Fine. It just took me a bit by surprise. I must have bumped into or hit something. I got to hurry." She said, glancing at the clock. Luke replied, "OK. I should be home at the normal time. Are we stopping at the Boar's Nest tonight?" Dixie grinned mischievously, "Only if you put that other roast on to cook before you leave." She tossed her head to the side, batted her eyes and gave her best puppy dog eyes as she gave him a smile. "That, I can do. Get out of here so you aren't late." Luke said. Dixie replied, "I just got to stop by the kitchen and get my snack, that used to be my lunch." BL postmarked the invitations that she was mailing out, so she could take them up to Colonial City later today with the rest of the day’s outgoing mail. Bo loaded the truck, then checked the route of the driver he was filling in for, it looked like he’d be going over into Chickasaw County. He’d atleast be able to meet up with the others after work. Luke finished getting ready, let Scrapie outside while he put the roast in the crockpot with the veggies and set it on low. He then grabbed his small bag with his extra change of clothes that he kept in his truck and headed out. As he left, he saw the curtain move at the Kravitz home. He shook his head and turned out into the Square. Bo was cruising along at a steady pace as he drove toward the county line with his load when he saw Luke’s truck. He gave a couple blasts on the horn to get Luke’s attention, wishing the horn had a distinctive sound like General Lee’s. Luke reached for the CB mic, "Aren't you out early?" Bo replied, "I was about to ask you if you were running late?" Luke replied, "No. An added bonus from being out of town this week." ”Ah, ok. I got called to fill in, so I’ll be able to meet everybody at the Boar’s Nest after work,” Bo said. Luke replied, "Sounds good. Catch ya later." Cooter took a break from the engine repair he was making on Mr. Wilson's pick-up truck. He got a soda and stepped out to the curb to get a breath of fresh air. Walking back inside, he said to Luther, "Town sure is quiet today." “Probably because your sister’s husband and his cousin are both working. I seen Bo go through earlier.” Luther replied. Cooter replied, "You know you could be right. Rosco isn't going to have much to do now days at all." BALLADEER: Rosco only wished that were true. Rosco was currently waiting outside of Boss Hogg's house. When Boss came outside Rosco asked, "So why am I driving you this morning instead of your normal driver?" Boss said, " Because I said so, besides your cut is less than his to keep his mouth shut." Rosco drove Boss Hogg out to the abandoned building of Hogg’s icehouse where they were meeting Boss Hogg’s partners in his latest deal to spend less for medication at the drug store in town. “Vic, Jack good to see you,” Boss stuck his cigar in his mouth to shake hands. Vic and Jack eyed Rosco suspiciously, a sheriff was never mentioned. Rosco had been in regular clothes the other night in town. “You didn’t say he was a sheriff the other night, this better not be a trick Hogg.” Vic said, menacingly. Boss Hogg back peddled just for a second, "Oh, oh, no, no, it's nothing like that. This is MY Sheriff. He's my brother in law, don't ya know. He's the best Sheriff my money can buy." Rosco beamed, "Awwww, that's nice Boss!" "Would you just shut up you numb skull." Boss Hogg said. "So here's the list of inventory and what we are paying." Jack layed out what he could supply the same inventory for. “I want the first delivery Saturday night,” Boss instructed. “We can do that, just make sure you’re at the drugstore at 1am” Jack replied. “Good, good. Me and the sheriff will be waiting,” Boss Hogg said. Their business concluded the 4 men went their separate ways. Dixie was off work, had changed clothes and was enjoying her drive home. Checking the time, she figured to pretty much meett Luke in the parking lot. Luke and Scrspie were coming from the other direction. Luke for one was looking forward to a nice cold beer. BL had started the mail route a little early today so she’d have time to hand deliver invitations, except where there was noone home, she had put those in folks' mailboxes. When she got back to the post office she had run the day’s outgoing mail she had collected and what was dropped off at the post office up to Capitol City. After she got back from there she’d done a few things and then changed into some shorts instead of the jeans she’d worn to work but was now headed to the Boar’s Nest. Bo was almost at the Chickasaw county line, a quick vehicle trade and he’d be on his way for a well deserved cold beer. It was hot today and the truck’s AC was broken. Dixie pulled into the lot right behind Luke and Scrapie and pulled in beside them. Luke looked over as Dixie pulled beside him, "Hey, Lady. Got a date for tonight?" Dixie nodded, "Afraid so with my husband." Luke replied, "Oh, ok. Sorry to bother you." Dixie shot him a look, "Luke!" Then asked, "Scrapie, what am I supposed to do with him?" Scrapie woofed as he and Luke got out of the pickup and came around to open Dixie's door for her. BL had been the first to get to the Boar’s Nest as she often did, Bo was usually right behind her but today he was working. When Dixie and Luke got to the table, there was Sadie laying beside BL’s chair in her K9-Postal worker vest. “It’s too hot to leave her in the car," BL explained. Daisy had come over to get their drink order and food for Dixie too and heard BL’s explanation said “and get Rosco’s goat too,” BL grinned replying, “maaayybeee”. “Luke, BL ya’ll want a beer? A cold glass of tea for you Dixie?” Daisy asked “Can I have the honey BBQ wings and fries with slaw on the side too? I missed lunch.” BL replied. Bo came up about then, kissed BL “bring me a beer too, will ya Daisy?” Bo asked petting Sadie. “Coming right up, then I’ll get the dogs some water,” Daisy said, going back to the bar. Dixie was trying not to order food right away, but if Luke had done as asked, they had a whole beef roast at home. As Daisy brought back BLs wings, she snitched one. Taking a bite confirmed that she needed an order, "Daisy? Can I get an order of Buffalo wings and extra blue cheese dressing?" "Sure, Honey." Luke asked, "Won't it bother your heartburn?" "I haven't had heartburn in a couple of weeks." “Hey! Get your own,” BL said. Dixie replied as she munched on BL's wing, " I did, you can have one of mine." Daisy passed out the drinks asking Dixie, “do you want a platter or just a wing snack, (which was just a basket of wings). "Just the wings but the double order " Dixie replied. “Ok, be back shortly,” Daisy said, going back to the bar. A minute later Bobby Douglas came up ”you old timers ready to eat my dust? Bobby taunted. Luke was moving his chair back as he calmly said, "Let's take this outside. Bo?" Outside was good with Bo. He moved his chair back as he said, " Alright." “This probably won’t be good,” BL said , watching the three guys walk out. Daisy brought Dixie’s wings and bowls and a pitcher of water, “Where did Bo and Luke go?” Dasy asked, setting a bowl down for each dog, filling it with water. Outside Bobby looked at the infamous Duke boys then at General Lee, “you really think that hunk of can beat my mustang?” “With his eyes closed,” Bo replied. About that time Cooter pulled into the lot in the wrecker. He saw the three men squared off and decided to see what was up. He walked toward them in time to hear Bobby ask, "Where and when?" Luke knew the best place to race was up by Hounddog lake on the straight stretch. At least there they stood a chance not to get Rosco involved. "Up at the lake, ...." “Saturday night, 1 am” Bo replied. Cooter added, “I’ll bring the draggin’ wagon.” The men then parted company, Bobby going back inside, while Bo, Luke and Cooter stayed outside to talk. “Did you get that part for the General?” Bo asked. “Came today,” Cooter replied. “Great, we can work on the General tomorrow night, spend all night getting him ready. Just like we used to do to get ready for a race,” Bo said. Luke handed Cooter some bills out of his wallet, "Stock the fridge." "You got it!" Cooter said. "Let's get back inside." Luke suggested. The girls had seen Bobby come inside alone. “I wonder what’s up?” BL said. “They are probably just talking and will be in,in a minute,” Dixie replied. She had barely finished speaking when Bo, Luke and Cooter too came in. “See,” Dixie said. Daisy came over as the guys sat down she asked Cooter, “What can I get ya Cooter beer, coffee or soda?” “Beer,” Cooter replied. Daisy had just sat Cooter's beer down when Luther came in and took a seat at the bar. Cooter said cheerfully after taking a long drink of his beer, "I'll be right back just as soon as I hand these keys off." Dixie laughed, "Dad can never say that his son isn't glad to see him at least once a day." BL chuckled and munched on her fries giving one to Sadie because she knew Sadie would stare a hole through her until she shared. Unlike many dogs BL had seen that yipped and whined carrying on, begging for food their owners were eating, Sadie had found staring quietly was more effective, carrying on had got her scolded. Back at the Duke farm it was drizzling outside and with Bo and Daisy both not at home, Jesse figured he might as well call Elbert and John and break the news about Bo’s wedding, in case the invitations were late for some reason. Cooter now sat back down contently to finish his beer. Dixie looked over at Luke, "Well?" Luke didn't want to talk too much in the Boar's Nest, "The walls have ears Darlin'." "How did I know that was going to be my answer?" Dixie said reaching for another wing, content to wait until they were home for the information she wanted to know. Luke reached for a wing. "Careful, you might draw back a nub." Bo said. Dixie and Luke both replied, "Cute, Bo." Jesse called his brother Elbert up in Tennessee first to tell them the good news of Bo and BL getting married. Elbert’s wife Bessie answered “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, “No nothing’s wrong, just thought I’d call and tell ya’ll the news. We’s going to have us a wedding in about a week,” Jesse said. “What?! Daisy or Bo?,” Bessie asked. “Bo,” Jesse replied. “Who’s the girl?” Bessie asked. “Dixie’s cousin BL,” Jesse replied. "A week?! Elbert!" Bessie called, then continued to talk, "You know that Pauline and me just knew once one of them boys settled down that the rest of them would follow, but a week isn't much notice. I hope you all have known longer....Elbert, Jesse is on the phone. No, nothing is wrong." Bessie said. Jesse looked heavenward, he knew Pauline was going to be twice as bad as Bessie. “We’ve known about three and a half weeks. They just didn’t want everybody to know right off,” Jesse said. Bessie didn’t understand why the ‘kids’ would want to keep such big news quiet “why not? Getting married is one of the most important days in a youngster’s life,” “I don’t rightly know why, just wanted to let you know in case the invitation is a few days late for some reason. You know how slow the mail can be,” Jessie said. As everyone finished their drinks, Luke suggested, "How about we drop off your car in town and go out to the farm. I can help Bo with chores and Scrapie can chase something." Dixie laughed. Sometimes Scrapie seemed to hunt without knowing exactly what he was hunting for. "Fine by me." At the Duke Farm Jesse was making the call he was looking forward to the least, Pauline stopped icing her cake to answer the phone, whoever it was better be quick before her icing started to set "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. I was just icing the cake I baked earlier," Pauline said. The two exchanged the usual ’is everything alright and how was everyone' before Jesse took another drink of coffee. 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." Pauline asked, cradling the receiver between her chin and shoulder. As she went back to frosting her cake, “What’s that Jesse?” “Bo is getting married next Saturday,” Jesse replied. Pauline dropped her knife in the bowl of icing,"I knew once Luke took the plunge, the other boys would start to follow,” "To whom? I never knew he was dating anyone steady. Do we know the girl?" “BL Davenport,” Jesse said, then added “I’ll let you get back to your cake, just wanted to tell you the news in case the invitation was a little slow getting there. I better get supper started, Bo’s got hisself a part time job now and he’ll be hungry when he gets home.” Jesse ended the call before Pauline could question him to death. “Darlin why don’t you drop your car off at home and I’ll pick you and Sadie up and ya’ll can come out to the farm too? Sadie can hunt with Scrapie,” Bo suggested to BL. “I need to wash a load of towels if anybody’s taking showers tonight or in the morning. I want to change sheets on my bed, I didn’t have time this morning, I’ll come out in a little while,” BL replied. Bo looked a bit disappointed but agreed, everybody then went their separate ways. At the Duke farm Dixie went into the house to see if Uncle Jesse needed any help while Bo and Luke did chores. “Hey Uncle Jesse, need any help?’ Dixie asked. Jesse replied, "You can set the table. I think I have everything else under control." Dixie turned to get the plates when Jesse noticed Dixie's jeans. "You know I usually don't butt into things, but I got to ask. When are you going to stop wearing those jeans?" Dixie looked at her jeans, thinking that Jesse meant that particular pair of jeans. "These jeans? What's wrong with them?" She asked. Jesse corrected, "Not those specifically, but jeans in general. Ain't they kind of tight around your waist?" Dixie tugged at her waistline a bit and put her fingers between her still flat belly and the jeans. Never mind that they were a size bigger than her daily jeans, "They aren't tight." Luke had stepped in the back door in time to hear Dixie's protest. Jesse replied, "Well, I ain't saying that you need maternity pants yet, but some stretchy pants may be more comfortable for you two." Dixie and Lukd both knew Jesse only had everyone's best interest in mind. Dixie replied without ever knowing that Luke heard the conversation, "I'll look around and dig some out." She kissed Jesse on the cheek as she went back for the silverware. BL put a load of towels, wash cloths, dish towels and a dish wash rag in the washer, it was a small load but they needed clean bath towels and washcloths. Going back to the kitchen and starting a lasagna for supper. “What’s for supper Sis? LB asked, coming in the back door. “Lasagna,” BL replied. LB sat his lunchbox on the counter then said “going to help Dad with chores.” While the lasagna baked, BL changed sheets on her bed, then made a salad and cooked a pan of pre-made rolls and set the table. Clyde and LB came back in, just as BL put the lasagna on the table with the salad and rolls. “Perfect timing, wash up,” BL said. “Ain’t you eating?” Clyde asked only seeing two plates. “No, I missed lunch and was starving so I ate at the Boar’s Nest. ” BL replied, adding, “I’m headed to the Dukes, Dixie and Luke are there. I shouldn’t be too late,” BL said, hurrying out the door before Clyde could give her the third degree. Jesse had let a pot of beans cook all day. Then, made cornbread and fried pork chops. He had used one chop to season the beans. Several fresh green onions were cleaned and put in a small glass of water on the table to be chopped into the beans if you wanted them. In a pot on the back of the stove was fresh buttered and seasoned greens that were set on the table. Luke hadn't eaten since lunch, except for the wing he snitched at the Boar's Nest and being home he dug in. Dixie had made a small plate just to be polite since she had eaten wings earlier. Bo ate his plate and got a bit more. Dixie had gotten a small piece of the cooked chop in her spoon of beans with a small piece of cornbread and a bite of greens. Once her plate was empty she found she needed a bit more. The logic she tried to use with herself wasn't working. It seemed that she had not ever tasted better pork chops than the piece of one in the beans and the greens. She wasn't sure what Jesse had done to them but she had to have more. While everyone else was ready for dessert, Dixie was content with real food. "What did you do different to these beans and greens?" She asked. Jesse said with a slight grin, "Nothing that I haven't been doing to them for the past fifty years." "You had to. I've eaten plenty of beans here, but these are different." Dixie said. Jesse just gave her smile.Daisy and Dixie were just finishing the dishes when BL pulled up. Bo and Luke were under the General’s hood tinkering when BL pulled up. As soon as the car stopped Sadie bailed over the side to catch up with Scrapie who was on the hunt for something. BL wasn’t sure what but Sadie was more than eager to help him find it, as BL went inside. “Looks like I got here at the perfect time, ya’ll look about done,” BL said. "Planned it that way?" Dixie kidded. BL replied, "I didn't want to show up in the middle of supper." Dixie said to Daisy, "Or middle of dishes." Jesse had moved to the porch with his coffee and paper but was having more entertainment watching the boys, the pups and listening to the girls in the kitchen. He was content. His boys were happy. There were women in his house (family) and there was even a new little Duke on its way. Scrapie caught the scent of something and ran to the corner of the barn with Sadie beside him. There he set into digging with dirt flying. Sadie watched him then figured if digging was ok that she would help. Scrapie woofed, whimpered and woofed in Luke's direction then dug some more. Again he woofed toward Luke. Luke finally went over to him, "What?" Scrapie woofed again frantically. Luke said, "I can't move the wall." Scrapie barked as if that was exactly what he wanted. Luke went in the barn and moved a board on the other side of the wall. About ten rats of all sizes ran in different directions. Scrapie was on one and grabbed it just outside the barn door. Three shakes it was dead and he was on another one's trail. Sadie kept digging for a minute, then a rat scurried by getting her attention. Sadie ‘woofed’ and pounced, grabbing up the rodent and giving it a good shake before dropping the dead one to snatch up another giving it the same treatment. Jesse was having fun watching the dogs from the porch. "Lift that tarp on the old tractor." Rats ran. Dogs pounced. "I need to borrow those two one day. Good job Sadie. Scrapie, that one is as big as you." Jesse said. Dixie asked the others, "What are we missing?" “Let’s go find out,” BL said. The girls went out back to literally find a rat race going on. The dogs were filthy from their digging expedition but were having a great time chasing, catching and killing rats. Jesse had even made his way out toward the barn. He knew where the rats were that traps and cats had managed to miss. He was directing Bo and Luke to move certain things, causing rats to scatter. Any old barn with years of animal feed in it always had its share of varmints. "Do you believe them?" Daisy asked. Dixie replied, "Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers." Daisy frowned, "I meant the three men, not the two dogs." “I guess there’s still a little boy in every man, no matter how old the man is,” BL said, watching the antics of Jesse directing Bo and Luke every which way,rats scattering and the dogs giving chase. Sadie was really getting into it, grabbing a rat and giving it a good shake. Seeing the girls now she brought her prize over, laying it at BL’s feet. “A present for me,” BL said, less than enthusiastic. Daisy and Dixie laughed. “She’s filthy, she needs a bath before she gets in my car or my bed,” BL said as Sadie was on the hunt again. Dixie laughed at BL. Seeing Scrapie after another rat, she said, "Get it, boy!" Scrapie indeed got it. Three shakes later the rat layed lifeless. Jesse stated, "I need these two out here like this on a regular basis." He laughed at the pups. "Scrapie is two up on Sadie." Sadie acted like she knew what he was saying and promptly caught up with Scrapie. Bo replied, "Not anymore Uncle Jesse. It's a tie now." Dixie looked at Daisy and BL, "Do you believe it, they are keeping score?" “I’d believe anything about now. I wouldn’t have believed it this morning if you had told me I’d be watching a literal rat race this afternoon,” BL said. Both dogs were still going strong but Bo and Luke were losing steam. Luke finally said, "OK, Scrapie, let's go get you a drink and cleaned up." Bo protested, "Hold up a second. Sadie needs one more to tie him." He moved a board and one rat scurried out. Sadie was closer and pounced it." Jesse said alright as soon as you get the dogs watered and cleaned up. Dig a hole and put all those rats in it away from here so the dogs won't try digging them up later." Dixie looked at BL, "Well, at least you got out of having to clean Sadie up." "True." BL remarked. Jesse said, "Come on to the porch girls the pies should be cool by now." "Pie?" Dixie asked eagerly. “Daisy, will you bring us the dish soap?” Bo asked. “Sure Bo,” Daisy replied, going into the house. Coming back out she had also brought a small washtub, “here ya go fellas. Luke I brought the small washtub, thought it’d be easier than trying to get to Scrapie on the ground.” Before Luke got one word out BL squealed, hands out like she was reaching for something. “Sadie no don’t!” Too late, Sadie shook water all over BL. Bo threw his head back and laughed hard, that is until BL turned the hose on him. When Bo got control of the hose, he tried to soak BL who managed to get away; he instead got Daisy who was standing a mite too close to Bo and right by Luke who had just filled the wash tub. He promptly threw the water on Bo. Scrapie used this distraction to make his escape and ran into Dixie's lap and arms. "Scrapie!" Dixie was relatively dry still compared to the rest, Luke turned to Dtxie, somehow he’d gotten control of the hose, “let me help sweetheart,” Luke said with an innocent look, just before he sprayed his wife. “Lucas Keith Duke, I'll get you for that,” Dixie threatened. Jesse was watching from the dry, safety of the screened in back porch “not as growed up as they think they are,” Jesse chuckled. Luke may have held the nozzle of the hose, but Dixie was able to get Luke's arm and wrist in such a way that she caused him to spray both of them. Luke finally tossed the water hose to a hopefully neutral zone, then wrapped his arms around his wife, picking her up and only letting her down once he reached a large mud hole. Dixie wasn't having any of being the only one muddy and managed to trip Luke up. The next thing anyone paying attention saw was the couple basically mud wrestling in the mud hole. Daisy spotted the abandoned hose about three feet away, making a dash grabbing it off the ground. She had a score to settle with Bo, who didn't see her mad dash because he was too busy watching Luke and Dixie wrestling in the mud. “Hey Bo,” Daisy said, giving him a soaking when he looked her way. Bo ran and caught Daisy, finally getting the hose back, but not before he was soaking wet. Bo pointed the hose at BL but he just shot a stream of water at her a couple times, just enough to set her on the run as he advanced, when she saw a chance she circled around intending to sneak up behind him and cause him to spray himself but his alertness from moonshining days were tingling. Whirling around Bo let loose a rebel yell as he sprayed his retreating fiance. "Bo!" BL screamed! Bo was dying laughing. Daisy grabbed the hose momentarily kicking it so the spray of water came out as a trickle.. Bo turned facing Daisy, she pointed the trickling hose right at him, she had backed out of reach the minute she got control. “Take one step and you’re toast, soggy but toast nonetheless,”Daisy said. BL had filled an empty 5 gallon bucket from the spigot while Daisy had his full attention. Bo felt cocky he’d taken the hose once from Daisy already, so he took that ill fated step. “NOW BL” Bo was assaulted front and back as Daisy turned the hose on spray in front and BL dashed her bucket of water from behind. Bo grabbed BL taking her to the ground in the now wet, muddy yard. BL grabbed a handful of mud and slimed Bo. Soon mud was flying and hands were wandering, much like what was happening with Luke and Dixie. Jesse gave Daisy a look to put an end to the nonsense so that everyone could get cleaned up and things squared away before it got dark. It was a good thing it was a warm evening or they would have all caught their death! “Ya’ll we gotta stop, the dogs still need cleaning up, them dead rats need burying and we all need to get cleaned up before dark.” Daisy said but the others weren’t listening. Their minds were on all the places their busy hands wanted to go. Spraying off her hand, shaking off the water Daisy put her thumb and middle finger in the corners of her mouth, giving a sharp whistle, getting the others' attention. “And pie to eat,” Dixie added, more ready for it than before their water fight. Everyone looked like they were professional mud wrestlers getting up and trying to wipe the mud off. Luke said, "That's not gonna work." He went over to the hose and began hosing himself off with the cold well water. "Who's next?" Daisy was less muddy. "Here. Then I'll go get towels." Luke figured exactly what Daisy was going to do and moved to the side of the house away from the back porch. "Come on Dixie. Daisy will meet you on the back porch with towels so you can strip down on the back porch and head to the shower." Daisy had indeed dropped her shorts, top and shoes on the back porch. Luckily she had a dry load of towels in the dryer. She wrapped a towel around herself and took the rest to the porch. Dixie took the hose and started to say something. Luke answered her before she could say it, "You didn't have a problem with it being cold when you sprayed me." "True." Dixie giggled at the sight of the others as she hosed down then dripped dry enough to not be soaking wet before going to the back porch. Luke asked a bit louder than intended, "Need any help?" Dixie never got the chance to answer. Jesse replied with a bit of a warning tone, "Luke. The others have to shower too and it is not quicker for newlyweds to take one shower. When Bo gets the mud off ya’ll take care of the dogs again and then the rats." Dixie just grinned and went on the porch to strip off and head to the shower. Daisy had grabbed a robe and was taking everyone's wet clothes to the washer as they took them off. Since she was mainly just wet, she would shower last. She also emptied the coffee pot and made a fresh pot to go with the pies. Bo had turned his back toward the house, giving the girls some privacy. “My turn,” BL said, taking the hose, rinsing off the worst of the mud. Bo could feel his wet jeans getting more uncomfortable by the second as his mind insisted on flashing images in his head of just what BL was doing behind him. BL peeled off her shorts and tank top. BL giggled when she discovered Bo’s muddy wandering hands had left prints on her belly. Clothes and shoes on the back porch BL wrapped a towel around herself saying as she stepped inside, “All yours Bo”. Bo turned around and picked up the hose, glad the well water was cold. Dixie quickly showered, wrapped a towel around her and cracked the door to find BL waiting on her. "Is coast clear to Daisy's room?" BL replied, "Yes, now let me in, I'm cold." Dixie made her way to Daisy's room looking for something to wear. She, BL and Daisy had always shared clothes and figured if it fit you, wear it. Opening a drawer where Daisy kept some of her looser jeans, Dixie found a pair of jeans she had worn before then grabbed a top with spaghetti straps. She even found some of her own underwear that she had left behind. Once dry she put on the underclothes then the jeans, but they felt tighter than usual even in the thighs. Once she pulled them up, she saw there was no way they were zipping. She took them off, folded them back and went back to the dresser. BL showered and gave her hair a quick wash, drying off then scrubbing the towel over her hair, soaking up water before wrapping the towel around herself she made a dash for Daisy’s room after checking to make sure the coast was still clear, Dixie was still only half dressed, rummaging through drawers, “Thought you’d be dressed and ready for pie,” BL said opening what had become ‘her’ dresser drawer over the years. “I’m looking for jeans, Bo must have done laundry and shrunk the ones I was gonna wear,” Dixie said. “Dixie I love you like a sister but maybe it’s not the jeans that shrunk,” BL found her extra underclothes and then put on one of Daisy’s sleeveless tops and a pair of jeans, she was still a little chilly. Looking in the mirror she brushed tangles out of her hair. Dixie gave BL a look, then said, "It's too early for me to be showing. See?" She stood up straight and stood sideways in front of the full mirror." “Just because you're not showing don’t mean you’re still the same size you’ve always been,” BL said, eyeing Dixie closely. "Well, I may not be but I haven't really noticed any changes. I've just felt, I don’t know, bloated maybe." Dixie gave up on the pants search for a moment and put the low cut top on to find that it too seemed to have shrunk. “I don’t know what to tell ya, maybe Daisy has some pants with elastic in the back she don’t really wear atleast and a button up shirt that fits looser,” BL suggested. As if on cue, Daisy came in to get changed after getting a shower before the guys came in from bathing the dogs. "Help." Dixie said. "I've always worn this outfit and it fit fine. Now, not so fine and, you hush." She playfully said to BL. Daisy tried to hide her grin, but opened another drawer and found joggers which were big on her and a regular t-shirt. "Try these. If they work, you will at least make Uncle Jesse happy." Dixie put on the outfit, even though it wasn’t her normal style she had to admit they were the most comfortable clothes she had worn lately, ”thanks Daisy,” Dixie said. “No problem sugar,” Daisy replied. Daisy put on a low V necked, form fitting t-shirt and jeans. “Now how about some pie, I’m hungry after all that exercise,” BL said. Dixie and Daisy were quick to agree, so they went to join Jesse on the front porch. Luke stepped out onto the porch freshly showered, shaved and carrying his wet muddy boots. He knew to leave some clothes here when he took his things to town, but he hadn't expected to have to change due to a mud bath. Dixie was just telling Daisy how comfy the clothes were as Luke stepped out. Luke said, a strange tone to his voice, "You're welcome Darlin and thank you for finding them. I've looked for that shirt for a while now." Daisy innocently replied, "It must have ended up in my drawer by mistake." "So tell me about the joggers." Luke said. Daisy replied, "Now, Luke, the shirt may be yours but the pants I've had forever." Luke nodded, "I had gave up on them years ago but I'm betting if you look right about here," He flipped the waistband down to show the printed words. He smiled, "You'll see why they lasted so long." Imprinted in the waistband was, "Duke, L. USMC" "I wonder how those got there?" Daisy asked. “I don’t think you’ll be getting them back anytime soon but at least you know where to find them now,” BL said grinning. Dixie made room on the swing for Luke to sit beside her. Bo came out, his hair still wet, feet bare and his shirt unbuttoned and untucked showing off his tanned chest and belly. “Did you two get them rats and the dogs took care of?” Jesse asked. His question was answered affirmatively. Luke said, "Sadie and Scrapie are clean and watered and in the barn to get dry and stay out of the mud. He was working on trying to get his boots clean but decided he'd just go bare footed until he got home. He wasn't really wanting to dig his work boots out of the truck. “I’m ready for some pie, is anybody else?” Daisy asked. The question was met with a chorus of yes. “I’ll help,” BL said. “Me too,” Dixie added. Three girls went inside, coming back a few minutes later with the pie, coffee pot, forks, saucers and coffee cups for all of them. Using a couple crates turned up on their ends for tables, they sat their loads down. Daisy served pie while BL poured the coffee. After the pie, the girls cleared the dishes and got the kitchen in order, then returned to the porch to talk, cuddle and just enjoy the evening. Jesse got up a bit later and went in the house. No one paid it much attention until a bit later when Luke suggested that he, Dixie, and Scrapie head home. Jesse said, "Daisy, go get that basket on the table for Dixie." "Basket? For me?" Dixie questioned. "A snack for later. Lunch for tomorrow. Whenever the little tyke wants it." Jesse said. Dixie replied as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, "Thank you, but you didn't have to do that." "I like to see people enjoy my cookin'." Uncle Jesse said, then added, "This bunch has gotten tired of it." “I ain’t , it's my own I get tired of,” BL said. "There could be reasons for that." Dixie kidded. “What might that reason be, cousin dear?” BL asked, cocking an eyebrow. "You've eaten your cooking right?" Dixie poked. “Cute, you never complained when we lived in town together and I had supper cooked and waiting when you had to work over,” BL retorted. "I'm picking on you. Don't be so sensitive." Dixie said. "Night ya'll." Luke asked, "Do you want Sadie when I get Scrapie? It's still muddy out here." ”I’m not mad, it's all good,” BL said to Dixie then to Luke “Yes please, just put her in the car and tell her to stay. I’m going soon. I told Daddy I wouldn’t be late.” Luke replied, "I'll tell her, but there is mud out here." Luke wisely carried Scrapie to his truck and continued to tell Sadie to go to the car and stay til BL got there. He opened the truck door for Dixie and put Scrapie in, "Night ya'll. Bo I'll meet you at the garage tomorrow evening." “I better get going too, Sadie stays where she’s told for however long I leave her but if she hears me talking eventually she’ll come to me. See ya’ll later,” BL said, getting up to go. Bo got up to walk her to her car. “Daisy I’ll bring your clothes to the shower Saturday,” BL said. “No rush, you got more important things to think about,” Daisy replied. The lovebirds walked hand in hand to BL’s car, BL’s head resting against Bo’s arm. “What did Luke mean he’d see you at the garage tomorrow evening?” BL asked. Bo knew he could use the excuse that they needed a tool Cooter had or that they hadn’t got much work done this evening. The first was probably true and the second definitely was but BL had heard them called out over the CB so he decided to be straight with her. “You heard us get called out on the CB,” Bo said to which BL nodded ‘yes’. “Me, Luke and Cooter are gonna work on the General tomorrow night, to get ready for the race up at the lake Saturday night,” Bo said. “I heard what Cletus said too Bo Duke. You better NOT get yourselves arrested! If Rosco has to send ya’ll to tri counties jail for whatever reason, it WON’T be pretty. Dixie has no desire to see either of you professionally,” BL fussed. “Believe me honey, we ain’t got a desire to see her professionally either,” Bo replied. After a long kiss goodbye, BL went home, Clyde looking her over seeing she wasn’t wearing her own clothes. “Didn’t you have on shorts when you left?” Clyde asked. As Luke pulled onto the road, Dixie was in her normal place, the middle of the truck seat with Scrapie laying on one of each of Luke’s and Dixie’s legs. Dixie had her head on Luke's shoulder, "Why are you meeting Bo at the garage instead of the Boar's Nest?" She felt Luke tense before he answered. "We planned to work on the General tomorrow night, you know, like we used to when we had a big race coming up." Luke said. "Oh. Ok. Why? There's not a big race coming up anytime that I've seen advertised." Dixie said. "Remember when we all used to go up to the lake and race on weekends?" Luke asked. Dixie said, "Yeah, if you weren't racing and had the wrecker I even got to go sometimes. That's when everyone treated me like I was three. Used to be a lot of fun. I even snitched a bit of beer when you'd pass it to me to hold." Luke was thinking that this may go better than he thought. “Yeah I did, helped Daisy with something and got filthy, needed a shower. Daisy loaned me some clothes,” BL told a slightly edited version of the story. Dixie added, "So what does that have to do with meeting Bo at the garage?" Luke replied, "Well, we haven't officially raced the General in a bit, so we gotta get him ready." "Ready for what?"Dixie asked. She must be tired because this wasn’t fitting together in her mind. "You know those young punks that have the car they think is so hot?" Luke asked. Dixie nodded, "Yeah I've seen them. They are dangerous! You and Bo have always driven fast, but there's a difference in fast and dangerous. They are Rosco type dangerous. No control." Luke said, "That's why Bo and me plan to take them down a notch or two." "How, .... do you plan on doing that exactly?" Dixie asked, drawing her words out slowly. Luke replied quietly and rather quickly, "We're gonna race him Saturday night up at the lake." Dixie's head nearly spun around she turned her head so quickly, "Luke for a second I thought you said that you and Bo were gonna race. We all know that racing on the roads is illegal in Hazzard and the Hounddog lake is in Hazzard." Luke waved his hand in dismissal, "It's not like we're gonna race up there all evening like we used to. We're gonna meet, race, go home before Rosco could get out of bed and get to the lake. No one has raced up there in years, so he don't watch it anymore. Besides, the only ones that knows is us and them." BL looked at the big picture clock above the couch after she’d put the towels in the dryer, it was still early and she needed to talk to Dixie but didn’t dare use the phone or CB, both had ears she didn’t want listening. “I need to talk to Dixie, don’t wait up, I may stay there if it gets late,” BL said. She was out the door with Sadie on her heels before Clyde could say a word. As soon as she heard BL’s car, Mrs. Kravitz was at her window. “Here we go again, I wonder what they're upto tonight? This used to be a quiet street,” Gloria fussed. Luke and Dixie had put their earlier conversation on hold. They were relaxed on the couch with Scrapie and a rented movie on the vhs player. The movie was just about to get good when they heard BL coming around the square. She stopped in front of the house. Luke paused the movie and got up to open the door with Scrapie behind him. When Luke opened the door Sadie ran in and a case of zoomies hit both dogs. BL didn’t waste time with pleasantries instead getting straight to the heart of the matter. “Does your wife know what you and Bo are planning?” BL asked adding “Cooter apparently ain’t the only one that ‘crazy’ for a CB handle is appropriate.” BL's entrance took Luke by surprise. He shut the door behind her, "Now BL just wait a second." He said as he crossed back to the couch. Dixie gave a slight nod of her head to let BL know that she did indeed know their plans. “Wait a second? Luke, Bo is getting married in a week, now is not the time for him to let his pride override good sense.” BL fumed. Luke just gave her a look, "BL, that's why we set it up for this weekend. We'd never set it up next weekend." Dixie waved her hand toward Luke as she looked at BL, indicating that they had already gone over this exact point. “You’d be a coupla dead men if you had,” BL then sighed saying, “Ya’ll ain’t got the sense the good Lord promised a turkey.” Luke tried to calm BL down, "We used to race up there about every weekend. No one has raced up there in years. I don't think Rosco even goes out that way anymore." “Cletus heard ya’ll on the radio so I wouldn’t count on him or Rosco not going up there, they probably been checking a couple nights a week along with Saturdays trying to catch you and Bo, that’d just tickle Rosco pink.” BL said then asked “did anything bad ever happen?” "Cletus wouldn't know where we used to race besides after we took the conversation off the air. Maybe he'll think it's resolved." Luke said. Seeing both girls' looks, he added. "It's not like he saw us go talk at the Boar's Nest or anything." Then Luke answered BL's other question, "Some paint got exchanged, Ralph wound up in a ditch a time or three, ...." Dixie added, "Luke and Mark were arrested...." “Cletus might not know but if he got babbling before he forgot, he mighta told Rosco he heard ya’ll accepting a race. Rosco ain’t completely senile, he may have forgot alot of stuff but when and where you and Bo caused him trouble probably stuff he won’t forget,” BL said then asked “why wasn’t Bo arrested?” Luke replied, "He wasn't eighteen and I was the one doing most of the racing. Rosco hasn't worked night shift since Bo and I came off the NASCAR circuit." "I told Bo he better NOT get himself arrested and I don't advise you to either. Told him if he did, it wouldn't be pretty, that Dixie had no desire to see either of you professionally if Rosco had to call Tri Counties for whatever reason," BL looked to Dixie to back her up. "BL, Luke and I have been all through this. They are racing Saturday night. I'm no more happy about it than you are, but I'm going. He's no more happy about that than I am about them racing." Dixie said. “I’m sorry Luke I didn’t mean to jump all over you, the closer the wedding gets the more wound up I get if things start looking like it’s going to go sideways,” BL said now that she was all out of air like a deflated balloon. "Those kids are gonna hurt someone. You. Dixie. Uncle Jesse. Rosco. We got to prove to them they are not hot sh--! Until then, they are gonna try to prove they are." Luke explained. “I know you’re right, if they don’t hurt someone else they could hurt themselves. Atleast when we were young and dumb, driving skills or lack of them was proven at the lake Saturday nights,” BL replied. "So relax. We'll go up beat them and beat them good. It should be settled from there." Luke said. He and Bo had tamed a lot of want to be hot shots through the years and General Lee was still very respected in several counties even if he didn't race regularly nowadays. “Well I’ve interrupted ya’lls movie long enough, reckon I’ll go home now,” BL said, heading for the door. “C’mon Sadie, let's go home. See ya’ll,” BL said. Sadie was in a playful wrestling match with Scrapie but backed off, going to BL when called. Luke assured, "Everything will be fine. Trust me." Dixie replied, "We'll talk tomorrow. Night.” “Ok, night,” BL said. Gloria had dozed off in her favorite chair, by the big bay window in her livingroom. Waking with a snort when BL cranked up, Gloria watched the car until the tail lights were out of sight. What seemed like a normal weeknight in the quiet little town was not so normal as Boss Hogg and Rosco prepared for Saturday night’s delivery to the drugstore.

Merry Christmas Skipper. We love you and look forward to that fresh start. ❤

I'm taking time off Hazzard Net until Jan 2nd. I'll come back with a fresh start.

I love you Cousin Skipper but you are making this way more complicated than it has to be. Simply stop posting on the quotes thread UNLESS you are certain the quotes are accurate. And finally, I am disappointed that you are not using my advice and taking a couple days off from HazzardNet to cool down. I've learned a lot in my lifetime, so please trust me on this one: If something is upsetting you, the best thing you can do is step away for awhile. That isn't always possible....but it is in this situation. You will feel so much better by taking a break.