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Hello from Tennessee!
Hobie Hartkins reacted to Breaker1 for a topic
Forgive me y'all, but I just found this site. I've been watching The Dukes of Hazzard since it first aired (I was 7), and have been an absolute fan ever since! I grew up in a Mopar family and have had my share of of muscle cars. I drive/own only Mopar, and the 1969 Charger has always been my favorite, I've had a couple of them. Anyway, most people on the show who come to Hazzard county, are just passing through, but I plan on staying for a while. Looking to rub shoulders with some like-minded people on here. I hope I can give at least as much as I get on this site. Thanks in advance for puttin' up with me! Keep it between the ditches y'all!1 point -
The New Postmisstress: Special Delivery
RogerDuke reacted to B.L. Davenport for a topic
Friday morning Lori Mae felt no better than the night before so she got up, got dressed and figured on being at Doc Applby’s when he opened hoping he could work her in sooner if she got there early, since she didn’t have an appointment. At the Duke farm, Daisy was feeling worse than she had the day before. As she got out of bed feeling like she’d been run over by a truck. Getting dressed, she opened her bedroom door and was assaulted by the smells of breakfast which sent her running to the bathroom with a hand over her mouth. Jesse put down the spatula in his hand and made his way to the bathroom. ”Daisy are you alright?” Jesse called through the door. “Just a mite queasy. I think I’m coming down with the flu, be out in a minute.” Daisy replied. “Ok, your breakfast is about ready,” Jesse said, then went back to the kitchen. Daisy waited a few more minutes then came to the kitchen, “I think I’ll skip breakfast Uncle Jesse. I think I’ll run and see Doc Applby, get a jump on this flu,” Daisy replied. Dixie and Luke had taken Friday off to help get the booths set up. Luke had gone with Bo to do chores so Dixie took full advantage of a bit more sleep now that Scrapie and Trixie decided that Luke and Bo needed help at the farm. BL worked out with Ellen Sue to take the afternoon off after delivering the mail that Ellen Sue would handle the post office by herself so BL could help Dixie get the concession booth fixed up. Showering and getting dressed, BL crept by Dixie’s closed bedroom door on her way downstairs heading to work. At the Duke farm, Jesse looked at Daisy and she did look peaked. “Why don’t you go rest a bit more, it’s still a while before Doc Applby opens, unless you want me to call him to come out here now? Jesse offered. “No it’s ok I can wait until he opens,I’ll go rest a while longer,” Daisy replied. Bo and Luke came in from doing the chores as usual, they planned an early morning breakfast with Uncle Jesse and Daisy. After washing up and getting coffee, Luke sat down at the table and asked, "Where's Daisy?" “She’s feeling a mite under the weather and is resting a while until Doc Applby opens up,” Jesse replied. Bo washed up and sat down, soon the Duke men were discussing some things that needed doing around the farm and planned a work day. At the cabinet shop LB was helpIng load up a delivery, he planned to make a slight detour by Lori Mae's to check on her instead of just calling. After getting home from the farm, Bo headed out to make a couple quick deliveries at work to be off early to help set up. Luke headed upstairs to wake Dixie to get started. Once upstairs he had other ideas and decided that he didn't need to be in such a rush today. He dropped his clothes in a heap and crawled back into bed with his wife and with the house empty they may or may not nap. BL had just finished sorting the mail when LB stopped by the post office on his way to make the delivery he had loaded on the flatbed truck. Sadie bounded over the minute she saw her ‘uncle’ LB. going down on one knee chuckling when Sadie lay down and rolled over for a belly rub. “Am I the only one that ever rubs your belly?” LB asked. “No but apparently you give the best belly rubs in the county, just look at her,” BL said, Sadie now had all 4 feet in the air and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. LB looked over his shoulder to make sure noone was coming then turned back to his sister, replying with a grin, “I do, ask Lori Mae. Speaking of Lori Mae, let me have her mail, this delivery is close to her and I thought I’d take her mail to her, since she’s not feeling well.” “Sorry brother, I can’t do that without her permission. At the risk of sounding like Miz Tisdale, it’s against regulations,” BL replied. “It’s ok, I was kinda using it as an excuse to drop by, I told her I’d call and check on her this morning but thought a visit was better. I better get going,” LB said, standing up and leaving. By the time Bo pulled General Lee back into the driveway, Luke and Dixie had enjoyed their early morning home together and both had cuddled and dozed back off to sleep. The sound of the General's engine awakened Luke, who swore under his breath as he almost automatically jumped up to get dressed as if he were about to get caught doing something wrong, then he looked at how comfy Dixie looked sleeping in his arms and decided he didn't care if Bo knew they were still in bed. Besides, this wasn't the farm and Jesse's rules 'about laying in bed all day ' didn't apply here unless he wanted them to and right now he didn't. Luke did know that they needed to get up but he didn't think jumping right up was needed. Instead he brushed Dixie's hair back from her face and kissed her gently. Dixie snuggled closer. Luke kissed her again and said, "We need to get started on the booths." "You said you were gonna wait on Bo to get back." She sleepily protested. Luke replied with another kiss, "He is back." Downstairs, Bo came into the kitchen and was greeted by Scrapie and Trixie who jumped around excitedly trying to tell him how abused they had been being shut out of the bedroom and all. He let the crazies outside and stepped in the living room where he figured to find Luke and Dixie but the house was silent. LB was headed to Lori Mae’s to check on her but she wasn’t home. LB figured she felt better so was at work making up the time she’d missed the day before but as he passed Doc Applby’s he saw Lori Mae’s car parked in front of the clinic and Lori Mae going in the door. Daisy hoped she wouldn’t have to sit and wait half a day at Doc Applby’s to be worked in so when she turned into the parking lot she was glad to see only a few other cars. Turning in Daisy recognized Lori Mae’s car. Inside Daisy signed in and sat down beside Lori Mae. “Hey Lori Mae, not feeling any better?” Daisy asked, adding “Bessie Lou said you called her to come in and finish your shift yesterday, because you weren’t feeling well.” “Hey Daisy, no, no better I feel a bit worse. What are you here for?” Lori Mae replied. “I think I’m coming down with the flu,” Daisy answered. Bo heard the bedroom door open and close upstairs with booted footsteps going toward the bathroom before coming downstairs. He greeted Luke with a look that spoke volumes. "Don't start with me Bo. Are you ready to load the truck up with the stuff in the building? The booths should be in place by now." Luke said. Bo replied, "Town is in full swing. Decorations are up and the booths are being put in place. I think I'm the only one in town that worked today." "You haven't even begun to work today." Luke said. Bo replied, "That's what I was afraid you would say." At Doc Applby’s office it was almost 11 o’clock before Daisy and Lori Mae were called back to get their vitals, weight and such, then they were put into exam rooms to wait for Doc Applby. At the post office BL was glad she was leaving early, with so many in town getting ready for Saturday’s festival the post office was a lot busier than usual. “See you tomorrow Mrs. Hodge,” BL said as Hazzard High School’s retired Home Economics teacher left. BL had to remember to tell Dixie they needed to be sure to go by the Ladies Auxiliary booth. Mrs. Hodge was going to have some of her knitted things to sell anything from baby clothes to scarves and gloves. When BL got to the house, things were in full swing. Bo, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie were loading Luke’s truck. They were now joined by Sadie. In the house, Dixie had a box with two crock pots, dish towels, dish soap, knives, and large spoons. A couple of box fans were in the floor. The decorations, poster boards and such were on the kitchen table. "Other than the food that will go tomorrow, am I forgetting anything?" Dixie asked as if they were moving to the next state instead of setting up booths across the square. “Dixie were not moving to the next state or even the next county, we’ll just be across the square so if we do need something one of us can run home and get it. Let me change real quick and I’ll help you take stuff out to the truck,” BL said. Going upstairs BL swapped her lightweight sweater and jeans for a regular long sleeve shirt and joggers and tennis shoes. On the way back to the kitchen BL grabbed all three dog leashes, so the pups didn’t run into the street. Over at Doc Applby’s he was looking over Daisy’s chart as he came into the exam room. “Sorry you’ve been waiting so long Daisy, I had an emergency over at Tri-Counties Hospital,” Doc apologized. “It’s alright Doc, I expected a wait because I didn’t have an appointment but hoped it wouldn’t be as long if I was here by opening time,” Daisy replied. After some questions about her symptoms and an exam Doc handed her a cup saying, “I need a sample, it’ll help me know what to prescribe.” When Daisy returned with her sample, she saw that Doc's nurse had set up to draw blood. "What's that for?" Nurse Hazel replied, "Since you aren't running a fever, Doc wants to run a few tests. Some infections will show in urine while others show in your blood." Daisy sighed in defeat, "Alright, but I don't have to like it." Once nurse Hazel was done she collected the samples and headed out of the room to see what the patient in the other room would need to have done. The nurse with her caddy of blood drawing supplies knocked on Lori Mae’s exam room door then came in as Doc was about to go see his next patient. “Hazel I’ll be needing a blood sample from Lori Mae also,” Doc Applby said, adding “Lori Mae, I need you to take this and give me a sample,” giving Lori Mae a cup Doc left to see his next patient. “What’s Doc need samples of both for?” Lori Mae asked. Hazel gave her the same explanation she’d given Daisy then collected the samples, put them in her caddy and headed to the lab. From an undisclosed location, Hughie Hogg waited excitedly as he watched the two young women heading into Doc's office. His interest was all the more peaked since one was Daisy Duke. He had so hoped to catch the Dukes in his little scheme but he just wasn't at all certain that they would play into his hand. He moved closer to the camera monitor and waited. When Doc saw Daisy’s initial urine sample report he frowned thinking that surely it was wrong. So, he waited for the blood samples to be done and saw the same result. He closed her file folder and headed back to the exam room. "Daisy, it seems all your tests are negative." He paused. "Negative? Then why have I felt so sick and run down?" Daisy asked in confusion. Doc replied, "I hadn't finished. I said all your tests were negative except one. At first I thought there might be a mistake but the blood samples confirmed the results. Daisy, you are pregnant." “Pregnant? But how?” Daisy asked although the second question was rhetorical. “Yes my dear, pregnant. The urine test can give a false positive but the blood test is never wrong.” Doc Applby replied. Daisy sat there in shock wondering what to tell Uncle Jesse when she got home, he was sure to ask what Doc had said was wrong. After the normal do's and don’ts, a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and a monthly appointment, Daisy had already tucked the vitamins in her purse and was tucking the appointment card in her purse as she exited the doctor’s office more than a little rattled. Once in her car, Daisy couldn't hold her emotions together any longer and broke down crying. Hughie noted Daisy tucking something into her purse as she exited Doc's office. Now that she was in her car, he tried to zoom the picture in but just could not catch what was going on inside the yellow hot rod. Daisy finally pulled herself together, Uncle Jesse would be wondering what was taking so long so she headed back to the farm when what she really wanted was to be alone and think for a bit. After Doc Applby finished with Daisy he went to the lab to get the results from Lori Mae’s blood and urine samples. Reading the results and seeing they were the same as Daisy’s he thought there was a mix up but the results were the same on a second testing. Gathering Lori Mae’s chart he went to the exam room, “well Lori Mae the good news is you do not have the flu,” Doc said. “Well if it’s not the flu, why do I feel so tired lately and sick?” Lori Mae asked. “You’re pregnant,” Doc replied. Lori Mae was obviously blind sided, "I'm what?! I can't be. I'm on birth control. I take it everyday at the same time." Doc noted her shocked reaction, "There is only one sure fire way not to get pregnant. No birth control methods are a hundred percent." After repeating the do’s and don’t and a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and an appointment, Doc Appleby moved on to his next patient. Still in shock Lori Mae went out to her car, stuffing her appointment card in her purse. She wanted to get out of town before she ran into anymore of the Duke family or LB. “How does it look?” BL asked. She and Dixie had just finished decorating one of the concession tables. Dixie stood back a little saying with a nod, “looks good.” Bo and Luke were setting up the grill and tables over at the firehouse. Cooter had his scouts in town early to set up their tent and tables to sell their crafts and such they made to earn badges to win the free oil change and lube job at the garage. Then, he sent them out to help others that may need help setting up their tents. Cooter had been a little preoccupied since his and Crystal's talk but he enjoyed the scouts and teaching them the importance of always being prepared and ready to offer their assistance especially to some of the older women who may not know how to set up their tents. Luke was busy making sure everything was ready to pull out of the firestation tomorrow and into the tent that he planned to set up later when he heard a little voice behind him. "Do you need any help here, Mister Luke?" Joey asked. Luke didn't need any help and didn't really have time to play with a child right now, until he turned around and saw the shy young boy. Luke knew that it must have taken him time to decide to come to the fire station and work up courage to ask him to let him help. Luke took a deep breath and let it out purposely slowing down his list of things to do. "Sure, Joey. How about you stand right there and I'll pull this old beast out and you can help me clean up the driveway in front of the station?" Joey seemed a bit disappointed as he asked, "We are gonna sweep all that?" Luke gave him a smile. "I have an easier way. Hang on just a minute." He pulled the fire engine out and onto the street and turned on the red lights. After scotching the tires he went to the side of the truck and got a short section of fire hose and a hydrant wrench. "Come on Joey. Let's hook this up at the hydrant." Luke then hooked the hose to the fire engine and showed Joey where to safely stand at the hydrant and after turning the wrench a couple times, Luke let Joey turn the wrench the last few turns until the water filled the hose. Now, Luke went to the side of the engine and pulled off fifty feet of inch and a half hose and connected it to a discharge. He adjusted the engine and nozzle to where the pressure was very low but enough to rinse the driveway’s dust off. "Come here, Joey. Now you hold the hose like this and we will move it back and forth to clean up the driveway." Joey's eyes were as bright as snowflakes on Christmas morning. "Me? Really??" Luke smiled again. He had just created a monster and he knew it. "Yes. Really. You can hold the nozzle and I'll back you up like we do on fires." After the driveway was clean and drying and the engine put away. Luke asked, "How are you with setting up tents?" Joey looked at the ground. "Not very good. I can't get my knots right." "Well come on. Let's see if I can help with that." Luke said. "You can tie knots?" Joey asked in disbelief. Luke replied with a smile. "I sure do. Of course I was sort of a slow learner." "Really?" Joey asked. "Really. I never got it in the scouts. Then, in the Marines I got it some but it was the firefighting and Smokejumping that really showed me how to remember them." Luke said. They stood the tent up and now it was time to pull the ropes tight and tie them off. Luke said, "I'm going to use a bowline knot here. You make a loop like this. Then, you take the free end and it's your rabbit. The rabbit comes up out of the hole, runs around the tree, then back down the hole. Now, you just pull it tight." "Hey! That is cool! I think I can do that." Joey said. Luke said, "Well, there are five more ropes to tie down. I'll pull the rope tight and you tie the knots." BL noticed that Luke had a helper. "Did you see that Luke has a helper?" Dixie smiled. "Yeah, I've been watching them for a while now. Luke even let him on the fire hose a bit ago. “You don’t think someone’s practicing to have a son, do ya? BL asked, grinning. Dixie laughed. "Maybe, but Luke's team loves to see kids get interested in firefighting early. He says they recruit young." “I see but shouldn’t their recruits weigh enough to hold a hose with more water pressure than their backyard water hose?” BL asked, still grinning, it was good to see Luke teaching a kid the way a father might. Nobody really thought either of the Duke boys was capable of raising children. Dixie replied, "I don't think it's so much about the amount of work they can do but the interest that it sparks in them."' “And maybe it’ll keep them from being juvenile delinquents or adult delinquents, having an interest in something noble,” BL said then asked “have you seen Daisy or any of her Junior Patrol?” "No, but they should be around somewhere." Dixie said. Just after Dixie said this a dark haired girl in a Junior Patrol shirt walked up asking “Miss BL, Miss Dixie do you know where Miss Daisy’s at? The troop was supposed to meet her, so we could set up our tent and tables to sell cookies tomorrow. The troop that sells the most wins a trip to six flags.” “She probably just got tied up Minnie Mae and is just running a little late,” BL replied. Daisy pulled into her usual spot at the farm with a sigh of relief it looked like Uncle Jesse wasn’t home and she didn’t have to have the talk with him she was dreading. Going in the back door, Daisy made herself a sandwich to eat on the way back to town to meet her Junior Patrol troop to set up for tomorrow’s festival. Daisy washed her face then wrote Uncle Jesse a note, ‘Doc said not contagious. In town helping my Junior Patrol troop setup for festival, Love Daisy’ Dixie looked up to see Daisy pulling up in front of the square where the girls were going to set up the tent, "See? There's Daisy now." Minnie Mae said excitedly, "OK! Great! Thanks Miss Dixie, Miss BL." She scurried off toward Daisy. "Watch for traffic." Dixie called. BL shook her head grinning as she watched the girl making excited hand gestures, telling Daisy something. About ten minutes later Darcy arrived, pulling up behind Daisy’s car making his way over to where she was and asking,”need some help?” Daisy hadn’t seen him and nearly jumped out of her skin hearing Darcy’s voice so close. “No but we need to talk." Daisy replied. “Ok shoot,” Darcy said. “Not now, too many little ears listening. The girls will have to go home in a few hours, maybe we can get a bite to eat and talk then,” Daisy said. “Sure sweetheart,” Darcy replied, a little worried; Daisy sounded so serious, not her usual bubbly self. A bit later, Luke was finished with everything he planned to do and walked over to Dixie to see if she needed any help. Just then they heard Joey tell Cooter. "I know how to tie my knots now." "Have you created a monster?" Dixie asked. Luke replied, "Maybe." BL had gone over to the bakery to get doughnuts, she had left Bo setting up a second tent but in the short time she was gone the tent was up and Bo was nowhere in sight. Going over to Luke and Dixie asking, “where’d Bo go, I went to get some doughnuts while he put up another tent now he’s disappeared,” Dixie replied, "I haven’t seen him since he walked off.” Luke replied, "I haven't seen him since we got here." “He better not be back home taking a nap while the rest of us are out here working our tails off,” BL said, opening one of the doughnut boxes. She had gotten enough for herself, Bo, Luke, Dixie, Daisy, Cooter and both scout groups to have one each, “doughnut?” she offered. Over at the cabinet shop Bo had been recruited to help build booths out of scrap wood that was too much to throw away but not big enough for much of anything. “Hey Bo hold this, so I can get the first nail in so’s it don’t slip,” LB said. Bo lined the wood up straight and held it for LB. LB swung the hammer and hit more of Bo's thumb than he did the nail. "Ow!" Bo exclaimed. LB then started laughing like a hyena. Clyde looked up from his project "What in the world?" Dixie asked from their location in the Square, "Was that Bo yelling?" Luke was already moving toward the sound. “Yes, c’mon!” BL headed in the same direction as Luke, that yell hadn’t been mad or frustrated, it was pain and BL wondered what Bo had done to himself. Dixie followed her husband and cousin. Bo shook his hand trying not to swear in front of Clyde, “it ain’t funny LB” "What's wrong?" Luke asked. Bo was still shaking his hand. "Other than only having nine fingers left?" “Nine fingers left?” Luke asked, confused, he didn’t see any blood. LB gasped out, “Bo was holding a nail for me, I missed and hit Bo’s thumb.” “We thought you were dying, you’ll live,” BL said, unsympathetically. Luke added, "I thought you had broke your fool neck or something." Clyde came over taking a look at Bo’s thumb, “I can poke a hole in the nail where it got hit and let the blood under the nail drain out and it won’t even look hurt” Clyde said. “That’s ok,” Bo replied, not fond of the idea. Luke stayed at the cabinet shop to help finish making booths since he had everything set up at the fire station. Dixie and BL went back to the square to finish decorating booths for the fire department and the concessions. By one o’clock everything was done and Cooter was getting cleaned up and changing shirts before heading over to Placid to pick up Crystal and Kathy Mae and by 1:45 he was parking behind the Placid hardware store where Crystal and her daughter lived in an apartment above the store. Dixie and the others got home and let the dogs out. In the kitchen Dixie opened the fridge trying to find something for a quick easy lunch. "I'm starving." BL asked, "What do you want?" Dixie honestly replied, "A couple of the fire department's polish dogs with fried onions and peppers and a little mustard." "That's tomorrow." BL replied. Dixie sighed, "I know, but you asked me what I wanted." BL replied, “I did but what do you want that you CAN have?” Waiting for Dixie’s answer, BL looked in the freezer, there wasn’t alot in there but she was hungry too but didn’t know what she wanted. Luke came in the back door about then. Dixie turned around and gave him the sweetest puppy dog eyes, "Isn't Uncle Jesse fixing hotdog chili today?" Luke replied. "Umm, yeah, I think so." Dixie tilted her head and smiled innocently. "Do you think if we showed up with the hotdogs we could maybe talk him out of a sample for lunch?" Luke replied, "Me, Bo or Daisy, there is no way. You and baby Duke, just might be able to." “Dixie we need the hotdogs tomorrow too,” BL reminded Dixie. "I got some for the house too, but ya'll are right. So, do ya'll want frozen pizza or sandwiches?" Dixie asked. “I vote pizza,” BL said, she really hadn’t known what she wanted before but now that Dixie brought it up, pizza did sound good. Bo had come in the back door just in time to hear Dixie’s question. Both men said simultaneously, “pizza’s fine.” “BL will you hand me one of those pizzas?” Dixie asked. In Placid, Cooter knocked on Crystal’s door. Crystal took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She had been through this before but most men hadn't even bothered to meet her daughter. As soon as they found out about her, they were gone faster than her own father had left when he found out about her. She opened the door to find Cooter standing there with two bunches of flowers. One much smaller than the other. Cooter handed Crystal the larger bunch of flowers as he looked behind her for her daughter who was playing in her room. At the sight of the two groups of flowers, Crystal choked up. "Thank you." Cooter checked behind her once more before kissing her cheek. "Kathy Mae.... come here." Crystal called. "Come meet a friend of mine." From a side door behind Crystal a toddler ran to her mother and held on to her leg. Cooter squatted down to her level. "Hello Kathy Mae. It is nice to meet you. Do you like flowers?" Kathy Mae reached out to touch a flower timidly. "They are for you Sweetheart." Cooter said gently as he handed the flowers to the small girl. "Just don't eat them." “What do you say Kathy Mae?” Crystal said to her little girl. “Fank you,” Kathy Mae replied. "You are very welcome." Cooter said. "Do you like ice cream?" Kathy Mae nodded her head 'yes'. "Would you and Mommy like to go get some ice cream with Ole Cooter?" He asked. Kathy Mae turned loose of Crystal's leg and walked over to take Cooter's big hand into her tiny one. “Just a second let me put these flowers in water first,” Crystal said. “Alrighty we’ll wait right here for ya. Right Kathy Mae?” Cooter replied. Kathy Mae nodded her head ‘yes’ and Crystal took the flowers into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later after putting Kathy Mae’s in her bedroom. Shortly the trio headed down the sidewalk to the ice cream parlor. Kathy Mae walked between the adults, her tiny hand still holding Cooter’s big one. Heading out of town and coming from the other direction, Jeb Duke was in his father's pickup truck when he was sure he'd seen Hazzard's best grease monkey all cleaned up and walking up the street with a small child and a pretty lady. Jeb had to go to the end of the street to turn the truck around. He wished he had his bike. Jeb had been unseen by Cooter as he, Crystal and Kathy Mae stepped inside the ice cream parlor and took a table. Cooter got Kathy Mae a booster seat and helped her up into it so she could sit at the table like a big girl. Jeb drove back through town, turned and came back not seeing the people he had seen before. They could have walked into any number of places. Jeb just couldn't get the picture out of his mind. It was one he'd never think he'd see their buddy in. Back in Hazzard, LB and Clyde had closed up shop a little early and LB had gone home, got cleaned up and headed to Lori Mae’s. Lori Mae had come home from the doctor and put on joggers and a comfy oversized shirt and pulled her hair up into a messy bun then took root on her couch and this was the way LB found her when he let himself in when she didn’t answer his knock. “Lori Mae, you asleep?” LB called out. Lori Mae looked over at her door, she had hoped LB would leave thinking she was asleep if she didn’t answer the door. She wasn’t ready to face him but he was there so she might as well. Lori Mae cleared her throat “LB do you want kids?” “Yeah someday,” LB replied, not sure where this was going. The ice cream arrived and from habit, Crystal took the spoon and began to give Kathy Mae a bite of ice cream. "No." Kathy Mae said. Crystal asked, "No? You love ice cream." Kathy Mae pushed the spoon away gently and said, "Him." Crystal was a bit embarrassed at Kathy Mae's actions. Cooter had already picked up another spoon. "I'm sorry.... I don't..." Crystal began. Kathy Mae took the offered bite of ice cream from Cooter and smiled. Cooter tried to hide his own grin. With the second bite Kathy Mae clapped “YUM!!" BALLADEER: Looks like Cooter’s already under that pretty little thing’s spell Lori Mae got a look of relief on face, hearing LB’s answer. LB saw the look and asked, “is something wrong Lori Mae?” Lori Mae looked down at her hands in her lap as she spoke. “I still didn’t feel good this morning so I went to see Doc Applby, he ran some tests,” Lori Mae paused, taking in a deep breath. “Well what did he say?” LB asked, his brows drawn together with worry. “LB you’re gonna be a father,” Lori Mae said. LB wasn’t sure he heard right, it sounded like Lori Mae had said he was going to be a father, “say that again Lori Mae.” “You’re going to be a father,” Lori Mae repeated. At the Placid Ice Cream Parlor Kathy Mae finished as much of her ice cream as she could. The adults saw it was time to go. Kathy Mae was up past her regular nap time. Walking back to Crystal's apartment, Kathy Mae stopped and held her arms up to Cooter to be picked up. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and let Crystal have his elbow. At the apartment, Cooter followed Crystal into Kathy Mae's room where he laid the nearly sleeping child down on her bed. He took off her shoes and covered her with a light blanket. Crystal handed him Kathy Mae's favorite bear. Cooter tucked the bear in with Kathy Mae. Once they were in the living room, Crystal said, "It looks like you've done that a time or three." Cooter shook his head, 'no'. "I've seen Uncle Mister Jesse Duke tucking in Daisy when she was a youngin and my parents with Dixie but that's about it." Back in Hazzard, LB had recovered from his initial shock and asked, “why’d you ask if I wanted kids before telling me you’re pregnant?” ”Because I didn’t want my child to ever feel unwanted,” Lori Mae replied. “Unwanted?” LB repeated, a question in his voice. “Don’t get me wrong Papa and Grandmama loved me and took care of me. They were the best grandparents a kid could have but I just didn’t understand why my parents didn’t want me. My father ran off after my mother told him about me, then she dropped me off at my grandparents house when I was 2 weeks old and never came back,” Lori Mae told LB the story that not many knew. LB pulled Lori Mae into a hug, he didn’t know what to say. Lori Mae pulled back after a few minutes asking, “you’re not upset, are you? I don’t want you to think I’m trying to trap you.” Lori Mae was worried though, she didn’t want LB to think she was trying to trap him, granted he wasn’t as popular with the girls as the Duke boys but that didn’t mean LB wouldn’t think he was being trapped. LB wasn’t having any thoughts of the sort, he was thinking about how Clyde would react to the news he was going to be a grandfather twice, the babies being a few months apart. LB now realized Lori Mae hadn’t said when the baby was due to arrive. “When’s the baby due?” Lori Mae shrugged her shoulders, “I was so stunned, I didn’t even ask.” With the pizzas ready, Dixie got her a glass of soda, two beers for the guys and asked BL, "What are you drinking tonight?" "Tea." BL replied, getting out a glass as Dixie handed her the tea pitcher. "The pizza is ready." Dixie said. She looked up to see six eyes and three wagging tails. "You three will get some, but I was talking to your masters." Luke said from the living room, "Do you care if we eat in here? There's a big fire they Friday morning Lori Mae felt no better than the night before so she got up, got dressed and figured on being at Doc Applby’s when he opened hoping he could work her in sooner if she got there early, since she didn’t have an appointment. At the Duke farm, Daisy was feeling worse than she had the day before. As she got out of bed feeling like she’d been run over by a truck. Getting dressed, she opened her bedroom door and was assaulted by the smells of breakfast which sent her running to the bathroom with a hand over her mouth. Jesse put down the spatula in his hand and made his way to the bathroom. ”Daisy are you alright?” Jesse called through the door. “Just a mite queasy. I think I’m coming down with the flu, be out in a minute.” Daisy replied. “Ok, your breakfast is about ready,” Jesse said, then went back to the kitchen. Daisy waited a few more minutes then came to the kitchen, “I think I’ll skip breakfast Uncle Jesse. I think I’ll run and see Doc Applby, get a jump on this flu,” Daisy replied. Dixie and Luke had taken Friday off to help get the booths set up. Luke had gone with Bo to do chores so Dixie took full advantage of a bit more sleep now that Scrapie and Trixie decided that Luke and Bo needed help at the farm. BL worked out with Ellen Sue to take the afternoon off after delivering the mail that Ellen Sue would handle the post office by herself so BL could help Dixie get the concession booth fixed up. Showering and getting dressed, BL crept by Dixie’s closed bedroom door on her way downstairs heading to work. At the Duke farm, Jesse looked at Daisy and she did look peaked. “Why don’t you go rest a bit more, it’s still a while before Doc Applby opens, unless you want me to call him to come out here now? Jesse offered. “No it’s ok I can wait until he opens,I’ll go rest a while longer,” Daisy replied. Bo and Luke came in from doing the chores as usual, they planned an early morning breakfast with Uncle Jesse and Daisy. After washing up and getting coffee, Luke sat down at the table and asked, "Where's Daisy?" “She’s feeling a mite under the weather and is resting a while until Doc Applby opens up,” Jesse replied. Bo washed up and sat down, soon the Duke men were discussing some things that needed doing around the farm and planned a work day. At the cabinet shop LB was helpIng load up a delivery, he planned to make a slight detour by Lori Mae's to check on her instead of just calling. After getting home from the farm, Bo headed out to make a couple quick deliveries at work to be off early to help set up. Luke headed upstairs to wake Dixie to get started. Once upstairs he had other ideas and decided that he didn't need to be in such a rush today. He dropped his clothes in a heap and crawled back into bed with his wife and with the house empty they may or may not nap. BL had just finished sorting the mail when LB stopped by the post office on his way to make the delivery he had loaded on the flatbed truck. Sadie bounded over the minute she saw her ‘uncle’ LB. going down on one knee chuckling when Sadie lay down and rolled over for a belly rub. “Am I the only one that ever rubs your belly?” LB asked. “No but apparently you give the best belly rubs in the county, just look at her,” BL said, Sadie now had all 4 feet in the air and her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. LB looked over his shoulder to make sure noone was coming then turned back to his sister, replying with a grin, “I do, ask Lori Mae. Speaking of Lori Mae, let me have her mail, this delivery is close to her and I thought I’d take her mail to her, since she’s not feeling well.” “Sorry brother, I can’t do that without her permission. At the risk of sounding like Miz Tisdale, it’s against regulations,” BL replied. “It’s ok, I was kinda using it as an excuse to drop by, I told her I’d call and check on her this morning but thought a visit was better. I better get going,” LB said, standing up and leaving. By the time Bo pulled General Lee back into the driveway, Luke and Dixie had enjoyed their early morning home together and both had cuddled and dozed back off to sleep. The sound of the General's engine awakened Luke, who swore under his breath as he almost automatically jumped up to get dressed as if he were about to get caught doing something wrong, then he looked at how comfy Dixie looked sleeping in his arms and decided he didn't care if Bo knew they were still in bed. Besides, this wasn't the farm and Jesse's rules 'about laying in bed all day ' didn't apply here unless he wanted them to and right now he didn't. Luke did know that they needed to get up but he didn't think jumping right up was needed. Instead he brushed Dixie's hair back from her face and kissed her gently. Dixie snuggled closer. Luke kissed her again and said, "We need to get started on the booths." "You said you were gonna wait on Bo to get back." She sleepily protested. Luke replied with another kiss, "He is back." Downstairs, Bo came into the kitchen and was greeted by Scrapie and Trixie who jumped around excitedly trying to tell him how abused they had been being shut out of the bedroom and all. He let the crazies outside and stepped in the living room where he figured to find Luke and Dixie but the house was silent. LB was headed to Lori Mae’s to check on her but she wasn’t home. LB figured she felt better so was at work making up the time she’d missed the day before but as he passed Doc Applby’s he saw Lori Mae’s car parked in front of the clinic and Lori Mae going in the door. Daisy hoped she wouldn’t have to sit and wait half a day at Doc Applby’s to be worked in so when she turned into the parking lot she was glad to see only a few other cars. Turning in Daisy recognized Lori Mae’s car. Inside Daisy signed in and sat down beside Lori Mae. “Hey Lori Mae, not feeling any better?” Daisy asked, adding “Bessie Lou said you called her to come in and finish your shift yesterday, because you weren’t feeling well.” “Hey Daisy, no, no better I feel a bit worse. What are you here for?” Lori Mae replied. “I think I’m coming down with the flu,” Daisy answered. Bo heard the bedroom door open and close upstairs with booted footsteps going toward the bathroom before coming downstairs. He greeted Luke with a look that spoke volumes. "Don't start with me Bo. Are you ready to load the truck up with the stuff in the building? The booths should be in place by now." Luke said. Bo replied, "Town is in full swing. Decorations are up and the booths are being put in place. I think I'm the only one in town that worked today." "You haven't even begun to work today." Luke said. Bo replied, "That's what I was afraid you would say." At Doc Applby’s office it was almost 11 o’clock before Daisy and Lori Mae were called back to get their vitals, weight and such, then they were put into exam rooms to wait for Doc Applby. At the post office BL was glad she was leaving early, with so many in town getting ready for Saturday’s festival the post office was a lot busier than usual. “See you tomorrow Mrs. Hodge,” BL said as Hazzard High School’s retired Home Economics teacher left. BL had to remember to tell Dixie they needed to be sure to go by the Ladies Auxiliary booth. Mrs. Hodge was going to have some of her knitted things to sell anything from baby clothes to scarves and gloves. When BL got to the house, things were in full swing. Bo, Luke, Scrapie and Trixie were loading Luke’s truck. They were now joined by Sadie. In the house, Dixie had a box with two crock pots, dish towels, dish soap, knives, and large spoons. A couple of box fans were in the floor. The decorations, poster boards and such were on the kitchen table. "Other than the food that will go tomorrow, am I forgetting anything?" Dixie asked as if they were moving to the next state instead of setting up booths across the square. “Dixie were not moving to the next state or even the next county, we’ll just be across the square so if we do need something one of us can run home and get it. Let me change real quick and I’ll help you take stuff out to the truck,” BL said. Going upstairs BL swapped her lightweight sweater and jeans for a regular long sleeve shirt and joggers and tennis shoes. On the way back to the kitchen BL grabbed all three dog leashes, so the pups didn’t run into the street. Over at Doc Applby’s he was looking over Daisy’s chart as he came into the exam room. “Sorry you’ve been waiting so long Daisy, I had an emergency over at Tri-Counties Hospital,” Doc apologized. “It’s alright Doc, I expected a wait because I didn’t have an appointment but hoped it wouldn’t be as long if I was here by opening time,” Daisy replied. After some questions about her symptoms and an exam Doc handed her a cup saying, “I need a sample, it’ll help me know what to prescribe.” When Daisy returned with her sample, she saw that Doc's nurse had set up to draw blood. "What's that for?" Nurse Hazel replied, "Since you aren't running a fever, Doc wants to run a few tests. Some infections will show in urine while others show in your blood." Daisy sighed in defeat, "Alright, but I don't have to like it." Once nurse Hazel was done she collected the samples and headed out of the room to see what the patient in the other room would need to have done. The nurse with her caddy of blood drawing supplies knocked on Lori Mae’s exam room door then came in as Doc was about to go see his next patient. “Hazel I’ll be needing a blood sample from Lori Mae also,” Doc Applby said, adding “Lori Mae, I need you to take this and give me a sample,” giving Lori Mae a cup Doc left to see his next patient. “What’s Doc need samples of both for?” Lori Mae asked. Hazel gave her the same explanation she’d given Daisy then collected the samples, put them in her caddy and headed to the lab. From an undisclosed location, Hughie Hogg waited excitedly as he watched the two young women heading into Doc's office. His interest was all the more peaked since one was Daisy Duke. He had so hoped to catch the Dukes in his little scheme but he just wasn't at all certain that they would play into his hand. He moved closer to the camera monitor and waited. When Doc saw Daisy’s initial urine sample report he frowned thinking that surely it was wrong. So, he waited for the blood samples to be done and saw the same result. He closed her file folder and headed back to the exam room. "Daisy, it seems all your tests are negative." He paused. "Negative? Then why have I felt so sick and run down?" Daisy asked in confusion. Doc replied, "I hadn't finished. I said all your tests were negative except one. At first I thought there might be a mistake but the blood samples confirmed the results. Daisy, you are pregnant." “Pregnant? But how?” Daisy asked although the second question was rhetorical. “Yes my dear, pregnant. The urine test can give a false positive but the blood test is never wrong.” Doc Applby replied. Daisy sat there in shock wondering what to tell Uncle Jesse when she got home, he was sure to ask what Doc had said was wrong. After the normal do's and don’ts, a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and a monthly appointment, Daisy had already tucked the vitamins in her purse and was tucking the appointment card in her purse as she exited the doctor’s office more than a little rattled. Once in her car, Daisy couldn't hold her emotions together any longer and broke down crying. Hughie noted Daisy tucking something into her purse as she exited Doc's office. Now that she was in her car, he tried to zoom the picture in but just could not catch what was going on inside the yellow hot rod. Daisy finally pulled herself together, Uncle Jesse would be wondering what was taking so long so she headed back to the farm when what she really wanted was to be alone and think for a bit. After Doc Applby finished with Daisy he went to the lab to get the results from Lori Mae’s blood and urine samples. Reading the results and seeing they were the same as Daisy’s he thought there was a mix up but the results were the same on a second testing. Gathering Lori Mae’s chart he went to the exam room, “well Lori Mae the good news is you do not have the flu,” Doc said. “Well if it’s not the flu, why do I feel so tired lately and sick?” Lori Mae asked. “You’re pregnant,” Doc replied. Lori Mae was obviously blind sided, "I'm what?! I can't be. I'm on birth control. I take it everyday at the same time." Doc noted her shocked reaction, "There is only one sure fire way not to get pregnant. No birth control methods are a hundred percent." After repeating the do’s and don’t and a trial bottle of prenatal vitamins and an appointment, Doc Appleby moved on to his next patient. Still in shock Lori Mae went out to her car, stuffing her appointment card in her purse. She wanted to get out of town before she ran into anymore of the Duke family or LB. “How does it look?” BL asked. She and Dixie had just finished decorating one of the concession tables. Dixie stood back a little saying with a nod, “looks good.” Bo and Luke were setting up the grill and tables over at the firehouse. Cooter had his scouts in town early to set up their tent and tables to sell their crafts and such they made to earn badges to win the free oil change and lube job at the garage. Then, he sent them out to help others that may need help setting up their tents. Cooter had been a little preoccupied since his and Crystal's talk but he enjoyed the scouts and teaching them the importance of always being prepared and ready to offer their assistance especially to some of the older women who may not know how to set up their tents. Luke was busy making sure everything was ready to pull out of the firestation tomorrow and into the tent that he planned to set up later when he heard a little voice behind him. "Do you need any help here, Mister Luke?" Joey asked. Luke didn't need any help and didn't really have time to play with a child right now, until he turned around and saw the shy young boy. Luke knew that it must have taken him time to decide to come to the fire station and work up courage to ask him to let him help. Luke took a deep breath and let it out purposely slowing down his list of things to do. "Sure, Joey. How about you stand right there and I'll pull this old beast out and you can help me clean up the driveway in front of the station?" Joey seemed a bit disappointed as he asked, "We are gonna sweep all that?" Luke gave him a smile. "I have an easier way. Hang on just a minute." He pulled the fire engine out and onto the street and turned on the red lights. After scotching the tires he went to the side of the truck and got a short section of fire hose and a hydrant wrench. "Come on Joey. Let's hook this up at the hydrant." Luke then hooked the hose to the fire engine and showed Joey where to safely stand at the hydrant and after turning the wrench a couple times, Luke let Joey turn the wrench the last few turns until the water filled the hose. Now, Luke went to the side of the engine and pulled off fifty feet of inch and a half hose and connected it to a discharge. He adjusted the engine and nozzle to where the pressure was very low but enough to rinse the driveway’s dust off. "Come here, Joey. Now you hold the hose like this and we will move it back and forth to clean up the driveway." Joey's eyes were as bright as snowflakes on Christmas morning. "Me? Really??" Luke smiled again. He had just created a monster and he knew it. "Yes. Really. You can hold the nozzle and I'll back you up like we do on fires." After the driveway was clean and drying and the engine put away. Luke asked, "How are you with setting up tents?" Joey looked at the ground. "Not very good. I can't get my knots right." "Well come on. Let's see if I can help with that." Luke said. "You can tie knots?" Joey asked in disbelief. Luke replied with a smile. "I sure do. Of course I was sort of a slow learner." "Really?" Joey asked. "Really. I never got it in the scouts. Then, in the Marines I got it some but it was the firefighting and Smokejumping that really showed me how to remember them." Luke said. They stood the tent up and now it was time to pull the ropes tight and tie them off. Luke said, "I'm going to use a bowline knot here. You make a loop like this. Then, you take the free end and it's your rabbit. The rabbit comes up out of the hole, runs around the tree, then back down the hole. Now, you just pull it tight." "Hey! That is cool! I think I can do that." Joey said. Luke said, "Well, there are five more ropes to tie down. I'll pull the rope tight and you tie the knots." BL noticed that Luke had a helper. "Did you see that Luke has a helper?" Dixie smiled. "Yeah, I've been watching them for a while now. Luke even let him on the fire hose a bit ago. “You don’t think someone’s practicing to have a son, do ya? BL asked, grinning. Dixie laughed. "Maybe, but Luke's team loves to see kids get interested in firefighting early. He says they recruit young." “I see but shouldn’t their recruits weigh enough to hold a hose with more water pressure than their backyard water hose?” BL asked, still grinning, it was good to see Luke teaching a kid the way a father might. Nobody really thought either of the Duke boys was capable of raising children. Dixie replied, "I don't think it's so much about the amount of work they can do but the interest that it sparks in them."' “And maybe it’ll keep them from being juvenile delinquents or adult delinquents, having an interest in something noble,” BL said then asked “have you seen Daisy or any of her Junior Patrol?” "No, but they should be around somewhere." Dixie said. Just after Dixie said this a dark haired girl in a Junior Patrol shirt walked up asking “Miss BL, Miss Dixie do you know where Miss Daisy’s at? The troop was supposed to meet her, so we could set up our tent and tables to sell cookies tomorrow. The troop that sells the most wins a trip to six flags.” “She probably just got tied up Minnie Mae and is just running a little late,” BL replied. Daisy pulled into her usual spot at the farm with a sigh of relief it looked like Uncle Jesse wasn’t home and she didn’t have to have the talk with him she was dreading. Going in the back door, Daisy made herself a sandwich to eat on the way back to town to meet her Junior Patrol troop to set up for tomorrow’s festival. Daisy washed her face then wrote Uncle Jesse a note, ‘Doc said not contagious. In town helping my Junior Patrol troop setup for festival, Love Daisy’ Dixie looked up to see Daisy pulling up in front of the square where the girls were going to set up the tent, "See? There's Daisy now." Minnie Mae said excitedly, "OK! Great! Thanks Miss Dixie, Miss BL." She scurried off toward Daisy. "Watch for traffic." Dixie called. BL shook her head grinning as she watched the girl making excited hand gestures, telling Daisy something. About ten minutes later Darcy arrived, pulling up behind Daisy’s car making his way over to where she was and asking,”need some help?” Daisy hadn’t seen him and nearly jumped out of her skin hearing Darcy’s voice so close. “No but we need to talk." Daisy replied. “Ok shoot,” Darcy said. “Not now, too many little ears listening. The girls will have to go home in a few hours, maybe we can get a bite to eat and talk then,” Daisy said. “Sure sweetheart,” Darcy replied, a little worried; Daisy sounded so serious, not her usual bubbly self. A bit later, Luke was finished with everything he planned to do and walked over to Dixie to see if she needed any help. Just then they heard Joey tell Cooter. "I know how to tie my knots now." "Have you created a monster?" Dixie asked. Luke replied, "Maybe." BL had gone over to the bakery to get doughnuts, she had left Bo setting up a second tent but in the short time she was gone the tent was up and Bo was nowhere in sight. Going over to Luke and Dixie asking, “where’d Bo go, I went to get some doughnuts while he put up another tent now he’s disappeared,” Dixie replied, "I haven’t seen him since he walked off.” Luke replied, "I haven't seen him since we got here." “He better not be back home taking a nap while the rest of us are out here working our tails off,” BL said, opening one of the doughnut boxes. She had gotten enough for herself, Bo, Luke, Dixie, Daisy, Cooter and both scout groups to have one each, “doughnut?” she offered. Over at the cabinet shop Bo had been recruited to help build booths out of scrap wood that was too much to throw away but not big enough for much of anything. “Hey Bo hold this, so I can get the first nail in so’s it don’t slip,” LB said. Bo lined the wood up straight and held it for LB. LB swung the hammer and hit more of Bo's thumb than he did the nail. "Ow!" Bo exclaimed. LB then started laughing like a hyena. Clyde looked up from his project "What in the world?" Dixie asked from their location in the Square, "Was that Bo yelling?" Luke was already moving toward the sound. “Yes, c’mon!” BL headed in the same direction as Luke, that yell hadn’t been mad or frustrated, it was pain and BL wondered what Bo had done to himself. Dixie followed her husband and cousin. Bo shook his hand trying not to swear in front of Clyde, “it ain’t funny LB” "What's wrong?" Luke asked. Bo was still shaking his hand. "Other than only having nine fingers left?" “Nine fingers left?” Luke asked, confused, he didn’t see any blood. LB gasped out, “Bo was holding a nail for me, I missed and hit Bo’s thumb.” “We thought you were dying, you’ll live,” BL said, unsympathetically. Luke added, "I thought you had broke your fool neck or something." Clyde came over taking a look at Bo’s thumb, “I can poke a hole in the nail where it got hit and let the blood under the nail drain out and it won’t even look hurt” Clyde said. “That’s ok,” Bo replied, not fond of the idea. Luke stayed at the cabinet shop to help finish making booths since he had everything set up at the fire station. Dixie and BL went back to the square to finish decorating booths for the fire department and the concessions. By one o’clock everything was done and Cooter was getting cleaned up and changing shirts before heading over to Placid to pick up Crystal and Kathy Mae and by 1:45 he was parking behind the Placid hardware store where Crystal and her daughter lived in an apartment above the store. Dixie and the others got home and let the dogs out. In the kitchen Dixie opened the fridge trying to find something for a quick easy lunch. "I'm starving." BL asked, "What do you want?" Dixie honestly replied, "A couple of the fire department's polish dogs with fried onions and peppers and a little mustard." "That's tomorrow." BL replied. Dixie sighed, "I know, but you asked me what I wanted." BL replied, “I did but what do you want that you CAN have?” Waiting for Dixie’s answer, BL looked in the freezer, there wasn’t alot in there but she was hungry too but didn’t know what she wanted. Luke came in the back door about then. Dixie turned around and gave him the sweetest puppy dog eyes, "Isn't Uncle Jesse fixing hotdog chili today?" Luke replied. "Umm, yeah, I think so." Dixie tilted her head and smiled innocently. "Do you think if we showed up with the hotdogs we could maybe talk him out of a sample for lunch?" Luke replied, "Me, Bo or Daisy, there is no way. You and baby Duke, just might be able to." “Dixie we need the hotdogs tomorrow too,” BL reminded Dixie. "I got some for the house too, but ya'll are right. So, do ya'll want frozen pizza or sandwiches?" Dixie asked. “I vote pizza,” BL said, she really hadn’t known what she wanted before but now that Dixie brought it up, pizza did sound good. Bo had come in the back door just in time to hear Dixie’s question. Both men said simultaneously, “pizza’s fine.” “BL will you hand me one of those pizzas?” Dixie asked. In Placid, Cooter knocked on Crystal’s door. Crystal took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. She had been through this before but most men hadn't even bothered to meet her daughter. As soon as they found out about her, they were gone faster than her own father had left when he found out about her. She opened the door to find Cooter standing there with two bunches of flowers. One much smaller than the other. Cooter handed Crystal the larger bunch of flowers as he looked behind her for her daughter who was playing in her room. At the sight of the two groups of flowers, Crystal choked up. "Thank you." Cooter checked behind her once more before kissing her cheek. "Kathy Mae.... come here." Crystal called. "Come meet a friend of mine." From a side door behind Crystal a toddler ran to her mother and held on to her leg. Cooter squatted down to her level. "Hello Kathy Mae. It is nice to meet you. Do you like flowers?" Kathy Mae reached out to touch a flower timidly. "They are for you Sweetheart." Cooter said gently as he handed the flowers to the small girl. "Just don't eat them." “What do you say Kathy Mae?” Crystal said to her little girl. “Fank you,” Kathy Mae replied. "You are very welcome." Cooter said. "Do you like ice cream?" Kathy Mae nodded her head 'yes'. "Would you and Mommy like to go get some ice cream with Ole Cooter?" He asked. Kathy Mae turned loose of Crystal's leg and walked over to take Cooter's big hand into her tiny one. “Just a second let me put these flowers in water first,” Crystal said. “Alrighty we’ll wait right here for ya. Right Kathy Mae?” Cooter replied. Kathy Mae nodded her head ‘yes’ and Crystal took the flowers into the kitchen, coming back a few minutes later after putting Kathy Mae’s in her bedroom. Shortly the trio headed down the sidewalk to the ice cream parlor. Kathy Mae walked between the adults, her tiny hand still holding Cooter’s big one. Heading out of town and coming from the other direction, Jeb Duke was in his father's pickup truck when he was sure he'd seen Hazzard's best grease monkey all cleaned up and walking up the street with a small child and a pretty lady. Jeb had to go to the end of the street to turn the truck around. He wished he had his bike. Jeb had been unseen by Cooter as he, Crystal and Kathy Mae stepped inside the ice cream parlor and took a table. Cooter got Kathy Mae a booster seat and helped her up into it so she could sit at the table like a big girl. Jeb drove back through town, turned and came back not seeing the people he had seen before. They could have walked into any number of places. Jeb just couldn't get the picture out of his mind. It was one he'd never think he'd see their buddy in. Back in Hazzard, LB and Clyde had closed up shop a little early and LB had gone home, got cleaned up and headed to Lori Mae’s. Lori Mae had come home from the doctor and put on joggers and a comfy oversized shirt and pulled her hair up into a messy bun then took root on her couch and this was the way LB found her when he let himself in when she didn’t answer his knock. “Lori Mae, you asleep?” LB called out. Lori Mae looked over at her door, she had hoped LB would leave thinking she was asleep if she didn’t answer the door. She wasn’t ready to face him but he was there so she might as well. Lori Mae cleared her throat “LB do you want kids?” “Yeah someday,” LB replied, not sure where this was going. The ice cream arrived and from habit, Crystal took the spoon and began to give Kathy Mae a bite of ice cream. "No." Kathy Mae said. Crystal asked, "No? You love ice cream." Kathy Mae pushed the spoon away gently and said, "Him." Crystal was a bit embarrassed at Kathy Mae's actions. Cooter had already picked up another spoon. "I'm sorry.... I don't..." Crystal began. Kathy Mae took the offered bite of ice cream from Cooter and smiled. Cooter tried to hide his own grin. With the second bite Kathy Mae clapped “YUM!!" BALLADEER: Looks like Cooter’s already under that pretty little thing’s spell Lori Mae got a look of relief on face, hearing LB’s answer. LB saw the look and asked, “is something wrong Lori Mae?” Lori Mae looked down at her hands in her lap as she spoke. “I still didn’t feel good this morning so I went to see Doc Applby, he ran some tests,” Lori Mae paused, taking in a deep breath. “Well what did he say?” LB asked, his brows drawn together with worry. “LB you’re gonna be a father,” Lori Mae said. LB wasn’t sure he heard right, it sounded like Lori Mae had said he was going to be a father, “say that again Lori Mae.” “You’re going to be a father,” Lori Mae repeated. At the Placid Ice Cream Parlor Kathy Mae finished as much of her ice cream as she could. The adults saw it was time to go. Kathy Mae was up past her regular nap time. Walking back to Crystal's apartment, Kathy Mae stopped and held her arms up to Cooter to be picked up. He picked her up like she weighed nothing and let Crystal have his elbow. At the apartment, Cooter followed Crystal into Kathy Mae's room where he laid the nearly sleeping child down on her bed. He took off her shoes and covered her with a light blanket. Crystal handed him Kathy Mae's favorite bear. Cooter tucked the bear in with Kathy Mae. Once they were in the living room, Crystal said, "It looks like you've done that a time or three." Cooter shook his head, 'no'. "I've seen Uncle Mister Jesse Duke tucking in Daisy when she was a youngin and my parents with Dixie but that's about it." Back in Hazzard, LB had recovered from his initial shock and asked, “why’d you ask if I wanted kids before telling me you’re pregnant?” ”Because I didn’t want my child to ever feel unwanted,” Lori Mae replied. “Unwanted?” LB repeated, a question in his voice. “Don’t get me wrong Papa and Grandmama loved me and took care of me. They were the best grandparents a kid could have but I just didn’t understand why my parents didn’t want me. My father ran off after my mother told him about me, then she dropped me off at my grandparents house when I was 2 weeks old and never came back,” Lori Mae told LB the story that not many knew. LB pulled Lori Mae into a hug, he didn’t know what to say. Lori Mae pulled back after a few minutes asking, “you’re not upset, are you? I don’t want you to think I’m trying to trap you.” Lori Mae was worried though, she didn’t want LB to think she was trying to trap him, granted he wasn’t as popular with the girls as the Duke boys but that didn’t mean LB wouldn’t think he was being trapped. LB wasn’t having any thoughts of the sort, he was thinking about how Clyde would react to the news he was going to be a grandfather twice, the babies being a few months apart. LB now realized Lori Mae hadn’t said when the baby was due to arrive. “When’s the baby due?” Lori Mae shrugged her shoulders, “I was so stunned, I didn’t even ask.” With the pizzas ready, Dixie got her a glass of soda, two beers for the guys and asked BL, "What are you drinking tonight?" "Tea." BL replied, getting out a glass as Dixie handed her the tea pitcher. "The pizza is ready." Dixie said. She looked up to see six eyes and three wagging tails. "You three will get some, but I was talking to your masters." Luke said from the living room, "Do you care if we eat in here? There's a big fire they are about to show on the news." "Sure." Dixie said loud enough to be heard in the other room, but added a lot lower, "I hate forest fires." She said with a bit of a grin. BL grinned, pouring herself some tea then cutting the pizza, “how many pieces do you want?” “Two for now,” Dixie replied. “How many slices do you fellas want?” BL asked. “Three, setting up booths and cleaning up the fire truck bay is hard work,” Luke replied. “Three for me too darlin, building them booths worked up an appetite. I could eat a horse,” Bo said. BL and Dixie fixed the plates then took their husbands to them along with a beer each then went back for their own. The couples ate, watched the news and chatted. Dixie got up to take out the plates, "BL if you go get the yarn we bought I'll show you the first step of crocheting." Bo said with a bit of a frown, "I thought we were gonna watch tv?" Dixie replied, "Trust me. I'm gonna put another pizza in for later while the oven is hot." Once everyone was settled in a few minutes before the movie started, Dixie took the wrapper off the yarn, took out the end from the center of the yarn and threw the rest to Bo. "Hey!" Bo exclaimed in surprise. "Just hold that for BL." Dixie said. Bo frowned. He now knew his job in the crocheting. "Tie a knot in the end here BL, then start wrapping it around the paper a few times, turn it, wrap a few more times until you run out of yarn and have a ball of yarn." Dixie said making this sound easy. Luke was already reaching for the next skein of yarn, "It sounds easy until you find the knots in these skeins." Dixie grinned, "That's why you always start by rolling the yarn. A ball of yarn is much easier than taking a big afghan in and out of a small loop." Luke grinned, "You could always just cut the knot out." He said playfully knowing what her comeback would be. "No!" Dixie said. "Then you have to make extra knots in your work and work twice as hard to hide them." The couples watched their movie and managed to get all the yarn rolled into balls. As the movie went off Dixie turned to look at the clock. The stores in town were closed. She sighed. "What?" Luke asked. She shrugged, "It's nothing. I'll get some tomorrow." "Get what tomorrow." Luke asked. "Ice cream." Dixie said. “Mmm ice cream sounds good,Why wait? There’s the all night supermarket or did ya’ll forget about that?” BL said. Luke had showered and was in jogging pants and slippers. "Honey tomorrow there is gonna be homemade ice cream along with every other dessert and food you can think of." Dixie replied, "You are right. I'll just grab something that is here." She started toward the kitchen. Daisy and Darcy had gone to the Dixie Diner for an early supper after all of Daisy’s Junior Patrol scouts had been picked up, now they sat in Darcy’s car watching the sun go down. “Daisy honey, what’s wrong? You ain’t hardly said a word since the girls in your scout troop was all picked up, did I do something to make you mad at me?” Darcy asked. “No sugar I ain’t mad at you. I just been preoccupied,” Daisy replied. “Want to talk about it?” Darcy offered. “Darcy I’m pregnant,” Daisy blurted before she could lose her nerve. “You’re pregnant?!” Darcy exclaimed, more than he asked for clarification. “How am I gonna tell Uncle Jesse?” Daisy asked, worry in her voice. “You’ll find a way, just be honest, he won’t judge you anymore than he would Bo and Luke if they had gotten a girl pregnant tom catting around,” Darcy replied. Daisy had heard those conversations between Uncle Jesse and the boys since they were young teens. "You aren't helping with that line of thought Darcy Kincaid." Daisy said. “Sorry, it will be ok,” Darcy replied, hoping he was right. Meanwhile, Darcy was now thinking about just how much hot water he would be in with Bo and Luke and thinking he'd better come up with some sort of solution pretty quick. "Let's just think on this a bit Daisy before we go telling everyone." “We can try but Uncle Jesse always knew we were up to something or what we’d done even though we thought he didn’t know,” Daisy replied. Daisy sat quietly with Darcy holding her for a long time. Darcy knew what he wanted to do, needed to do but the thoughts of his small mobile house trailer at the airfield wasn't ideal but it was a roof. "Daisy, when is your next night off?" Daisy replied, "Next week." "Can you trade with someone, get tomorrow?" Darcy asked. "Maybe. Why?" Daisy asked. "I figured we could drive up to Tennessee, get married and spend the night up there before coming back home." Darcy suggested. “Elope?” Daisy asked, it wasn’t how she had planned for a wedding but considering their predicament they could wait a bit after getting married then she could reveal her pregnancy. “Yes, if we tell anyone they will try to talk us into waiting and not rush into anything. I can’t give you a big house but we can save up if that’s what you want. All I know is I love you and want to marry you, Daisy,” Darcy replied. Daisy and Darcy continued to talk until very late. Meanwhile, in town, Dixie and BL had rolled their yarn while watching TV with Luke and Bo. The news was going off when Luke nudged Bo's foot with his and said quietly, "Bo are ya'll gonna sleep down here or go up to bed?" Dixie answered first, "Here's fine." Luke moved his shoulder that Dixie had her head on, "Alright, but your pillow is going upstairs." "Aww. That's not fair. I was comfortable." Dixie said. "Fair or not we have a busy day tomorrow. Come on ya’ll." Luke stood up as Dixie was acting like she was pouting. As Luke stood up, all three pups jumped up and began to dance around looking at the kitchen. "Alright come on. Bo, I'm putting the dogs out. Let them back in before you come up and don't sit there and go back to sleep." “I won’t,” Bo replied but it was a drowsy monotone. “Cmon pups I’ll let you out,” Luke headed toward the kitchen but the dogs beat him there and were dancing around impatiently, dashing out as soon as he opened the door. Dixie stood up and headed for the stairs when Luke came back to the livingroom after letting the dogs out, “night ya’ll”. “Nigh Dixie, night Luke,” Bo and BL said together. BL slowly sat up, rubbing the back of her aching neck, “I must have had my neck twisted funny when I fell asleep.” “Go on upstairs, after I let the pups back in, I’ll come rub it for ya,” Bo replied. Soon the house was locked up for the night and dark.1 point -
Hello from Tennessee!
Meadowmufn reacted to Breaker1 for a topic
Got ya. I was little, but I remember my dad getting upset every time I would wear out the front wheels so quickly. He was also proud, I could outrun all the kids in the area. I was Bo on those big wheels, in a neighborhood full of Rosco's. I went through so many. My favorite ones all had the hand break on the rear wheel allowing you to do power slides. My dad bought me a battery powered siren that he installed on every one except the General. Man those were good times!!!1 point -
Hello from Tennessee!
Hobie Hartkins reacted to Breaker1 for a topic
Nice! Well, give or take. I don't know about you, but I burned up a General Lee big wheel and a few others while tearing up the sidewalks in my own little Hazzard County back in the day. Did you watch the Dukes back then, during it's original airing?1 point -
What I'm Doing Right Now!
Hobie Hartkins reacted to Meadowmufn for a topic
Instructions if you're on a laptop or desktop: If you search on Bing and you find a video that's on YouTube, in the lower right hand corner of the video (to the right of the gear), there's "YouTube". Hover over that and it says "Watch on YouTube". Click on that, it will take you to YouTube, once the video starts playing, you can either copy the URL from the browser address bar or right click on the video and click "Copy video URL". Then just past that into your comment in the forums and the video should show up.1 point -
What I'm Doing Right Now!
Hobie Hartkins reacted to Meadowmufn for a topic
There have been studies showing that smart people prefer to watch shows with thought-provoking content. I think Scooby Doo and Dukes of Hazzard qualify, don't you?1 point -
Hello from Tennessee!
RogerDuke reacted to Hobie Hartkins for a topic
what part of Tennessee are you from?1 point -
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Hello from Tennessee!
Hobie Hartkins reacted to Garrett Duke for a topic
Welcome to Hazzardnet! It's always great to meet a Dukes of Hazzard fan.1 point