DixieDavenport

Jesse called fromt he living room, "Luke YOU are going to be late for your own graduation. I've suffered through all these years of school with you. I'd at least like to see you walk across the stage and get your diploma." Luke replied, "I'm on my way!" Luke adjusted the tie of his suit once more. He had waited all these years to be out of school, but now he dreaded the finallity of the event. He knew Robin would be graduating up near the front of the class while he was just glad to be graduating and with his class at that. Lori would also be in the list of graduates. Luke took a bit of comfort in the fact that Cooter was finally graduating and would be pretty close by. Luke laughed a bit, he sure hoped he didn't get pulled over before he got where he and Lori was going tonight he had 20 gallons of Jesse's finest in his trunk for the party afterwards. To his knowledge everything was going to go off without a hitch. Rosco had the night off unless he was truely needed. Luke had plans with Lori but it was still three days until the bet was up so they still couldn't 'be' with each other and after Bo and Dixie's stunt they were fortunate to be able to even to out with each other. Luke headed to the living room and to the school for the graduation exercises.

Luke showed up at the farm with his hair still wet and his wet clothes in his trunk. Jesse looked at him and said, "I'm here if you want to talk." He had recieved the call from Cooter early this morning telling him that Lori had agreed to marry Billy Ray. Luke smiled weakly, "I'm fine now I think. The bet is still on and the wedding is off." Jesse looked at him full of questions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie innocently asked BL, "Why did you believe them so fast and WHY was Luke all wet?"

Luke sighed and smiled looking to Lori as he stood there dripping wet, "Ya know you really hit home when you accepted that twits proposal. I was beginning to think maybe all we had was the sex between us. I talked to Cooter, he said maybe our timing is just off." Lori grinned, "I always heard if you love something set if free, if it comes back to you it's yours, if it doesn't come back then it never was yours. Luke, how many times have we done that and always ended up back with each other? How many times do we have to do it until we get it right?" Luke sighed, "I don't know Honey." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie looked at BL a few minutes later and said, "So should we conclude the bet is off and they DID or ARE going to?" BL looked at Dixie. How could she have left without knowing IF they had or were going to do 'anything'. She.........

Luke took Lori in his arms and held her tighly and began kissing her most passionately. It wasn't long until both were breathing hard with desire for each other. Luke suddenly remembered the bet! He pushed himself an arms away from Lori and uttered weakly, "Da-- bet!" He turned and headed towards the lake. Lori watched him. Luke walked determinely toward the lake and jumped in clothes, boots, belt, knife, car keys and all. Lori looked to Luke and said,"Luke???? what are you doing?" Luke was paddling around near where he jumped in, "Trying to find a cold spot." Lori knew Hound Dog lake was always COLD. It didn't even start to get warm til August and it was still late May. She watched as Luke had evidently tried to swim off his frustration. He swam towards the middle of the lake as quickly as he could then finally turned and headed back toward land as quick as he could. He was making good time considering the weight of the clothes and boots. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile BL and Dixie were looking all over the county for Lori and they were getting ...................... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke may have been drinking but he was thinking too. He had lost two girls in the last three months because they agreed to marry someone other than him. Luke pretty much felt he was batting a thousand. Lori had promised not to pressure him into marriage, yet, less than a week into a thirty day bet that they wouldn't sleep together, she had agreed in the middle of the Boar's Nest to marry someone else. Just how important could Luke have been if she was willing to promise the rest of her life to a man that hadn't been in town 24 hours. Luke thought that maybe Luther was right in betting him. Maybe his and Lori's connecting link was only sex. Without it, she was ready to marry someone else. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dawn broke to find Luke still pretty drunk. Cooter stretched and asked, "You about ready to head back?" Luke shook his head 'no', "How about calling Jesse? Tell him where I am, what's going on and that I need sometime. I may even spend tonight up here." Cooter nodded, "You got it. I'll be on the HazzardNet if you need me." Luke nodded and watched Cooter leaving, "Ah, Cooter, will you NOT tell Lori where I am? It's the only site I know of that I was sure she didn't." Cooter looked back and said, "Ok, Luke, but I'm telling you she doesn't want to do this." Luke shrugged his shoulders, "That's not what she told Billy Ray and 50 other people yesterday. I wasn't going to say a word to them. It was Lori or Billy Ray himself that felt the need to come jump me Cooter." Luke's muscles were a bit sore in places this morning from the fight but other wise couldn't complain. It was just that the fight shouldnt' have occured to beigin with.

Luke had drank more shine than he had in a long time. Cooter had been sippinghis and was feeling good, but he was keeping a watchful eye on Luke when he asked, "Cooter why can't we stay away from each other? I mean I can tell you that I don't want to get serious. We can break up and I'll go the the Boar's Nest. Lori walks in and we have War War III! Why?" Cooter scrated his head and, ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile, Lori was................. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lori just looked at him and said with a weak smile and a quivering lip, "Sure I, ah, ........ do,....... Cooter." She found the words hard to say even now. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cooter stepped out side to check on Luke, but all that he saw was a cloud of dust in the air from where Luke had backed up and burnt the car around and headed out of the parking lot. Cooter wondered where he was headed since he was not headed toward the farm. Cooter reached for the CB, he wsa a bit worried about Luke, "Lost Sheep One this is Crazy C. Come back." He heard no reply. He called again, "Come on Lost Sheep, dang it answer me." Luke sighed, greabbed another gear, then the CB mic, "Yeah Crazy C." Cooter said with concern, "Hey, don't know where you are headed, but want some company?" Luke really didn't want company, but he felt that it really wasn't good for him to be alone right now either. "Sure, Coot. Meet me out on Rt. 11. You'll see me!" Cooter said, "10-4 be there in two shakes of a lamb's tail." Luke was still driving hard. He was only looking forward as he fishtailed through a series of 'S' curves. A flash of light hit his back window just before the flash of blue lights were seen and the siren heard. Luke cursed a string of profanities that would like made Jesse blush and reached for the CB, "Crazy C, I'll be on the danged side just ahead of you. Slow down!" On another day Luke may have tried to shake Rosco, but he knew he'd been pushing his luck since he'd left the Boar's Nest and he'd looked at his gas gage and it was too close to empty to enter into a chase. Cooter heard Luke's tone of voice and heeded the warning by slowing way down,"What'd you do now?" Luke stopped his car and waited for Rosco in all his glory.

Lori hadn't been the only one tense. Though Luke had been relaxed and enjoying himself, that situation had changed as soon as Lori entered the bar. Luke had tensed and been ready for anything. He had seen Billy Ray heading his direction, so when he turned and Billy Ray had swung, Luke was man enough to take one punch, now it was self defense! Luke was up and dead after Billy Ray as the other costomers hurried to get out of the way of the fight. Behind the bar Charlie watched. He had the CB base station he could call Rosco but much perferred a good fight unless it got too bad of too much furnishings were being broken up. Billy Ray who had been trained by the Marines was suprised at Luke's lightening quick reflexes and powerful bunchs. Had he not been tring to defend himself from this assault he would have been impressed by Luke. But rigth now he was busy falling through a table and a couple chairs. At Lori's table she seen what happened and held her head over the table. She shook her head and sighed. She had a good mind to just LET them fight it out maybe one or the other would knock some since into the other. Charlie shook his head as another table was broken. Cooter had just pulled up hoping to stop trouble before it started. He noted Midnight out front and no sigh of Luke until he started through the door. Parked to the side was Luke's car. "Dang IT! Some days you can't shove it into second, EVEN if you double clutch it!" Cooter said and he prepared himself for anything before entering --- that is he thought he had until he entered the bar.

Luke checked the parking lot. Cindy Mae's car, Midnight, The Judge nor the wrecker were in the lot. Luke sighed in relief. He walked in the simi filled bar and took a stool at the far end of the bar. He wasn't with anyone, didn't expect anyone, and furthermore, hoped he wasn't bothered by anyone. Luke ordered a beer from Charlie and began sipping on it. If Luke was going to set at the bar he preferred this stool he could see the entire place, the front door, the door to Boss's office and not have anyone behind him. Luke watched the crowd. Ernie was there mildly pestering his newest girlfriend. There was several other couples carrying on private conversations at tables. A couple tables of other guys Luke knew and one table of girls that Luke went to school with. Then, there was Luke and three other guys at the bar. Luke let his thoughts go back to his earlier conversation with Lori. Why hadn't he been able to tell her what he really wanted. For them to be able to go out if they chose too or if they decided to go out with someone else then the other wouldn't start a war. Maybe it was because Luke had tried to tell her that before, maybe because Luke had tried to go out with other people and Lori had started a war. He-- she was at a Motel with Vance which is what started this whole bet mess in the first place and Luke still hadn't had THAT conversation with either of them. He was begining to relax and enjoy just thinking as he ordered his second beer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the garage Billy Ray asked, "So, ah, Lori what do you say we head to somewhere a little more relaxing while Cooter here works his magic on my car and we can talk?" Lori said, "Ah, the only place I can think of is the Boar's Nest and..........." "That sounds good to me!" Billy Ray jumped in. Lori nodded and plastered on a fake smile and said, "Sure, why not?" Frankly she could think of several reasons why not and they all ended with the name of 'Duke'. They took Midnight and headed off. Billy Ray was talking but Lori was trying to figure the odds of none of the Dukes being at the Boar's Nest. She sighed a bit. They were good odds. As Lori pulled in she thougth she had gotten lucky. NO Dukes vehicles could be seen. Of course she had missed sight of Luke's car hidden by the delivery truck. Lori felt a bit better as she and Billy Ray walked in to the bar. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke was on his fifth beer when Lori walked in with none other than Billy Ray Johnson. For a second Luke felt like he had been kicked in the stomach, but remembered this was what he was tring to tell Lori he wanted. He nodded their way and took another sip of beer. By the time Lori seen Luke his eyes were on her. She knew he seen her, he had nodded to them as if nothing was wrong. She decided that the was no point in leaving now. Billy Ray found them a table and they took their seats. Lori knew many eyes were watching her with Billy Ray and Luke for his reaction....................

Luke had about had it with everythign that was going on with Lori and now Bo and Dixie. He planned on finishing his chores and asking Jesse if he could head out for a cold one at hte Boar's Nest. He sorta hoped Cindy Mae wouldn't be there and that maybe Luther had grounded all the girls from the Boar's Nest. He--, if he went there and it looked complicated he may head to a still site alone for the night. He really wanted an evening to relax with no strings attached to anyone. Several hours later Luke was cleaned up and headed out to the Boar's Nest.

Bo sighed and followed him in pleaing his case, "Luke WE DIDN'T DO NOTHING! Yeah, we were messing around, but that's ALL!" Luke stopped dead, turned to face Bo, and glared, "THAT information MAY have made Jesse and Luther a bit HAPPIER had you bothered to SHARE that information with them." Bo said weakly, "They really didn't give me a chance." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie knew that now was not the best time to tell Luther that nothing had really happened between her and Bo either. She knew to expect a whipping at home too. If Jesse had seen the need to whip them, then Luther would feel the need to reinforce the message again. For the moment she was just glad not to be being yelled at!

Luke sighed and looked at Lori. He knew BL, Cooter and Bo would be hanging on his every word. "Look Lori I don't know why Luther felt so compelled to bet me anyway. It was Vance you had been with that night not me." Luke saw in her eyes that part of what she was talking about was just what he had said. He had tried to tell her what he wanted several times before but she didn't listen or just didn't want to hear. Maybe she felt like the bet would change things. Then, Luke thought, 'maybe the bet had or would change things.' He decided that there was still over three weeks of this bet to go so he decided to see if he made it that long. Luke finished by saying, "There's a lot left of the month. How about we get through it first and then we talk?" Luke knew it was crazy as he-- but this crazy bet was making him want even more what he couldn't have --Lori. It was driving him just a bit crazy. Lori even found that she was thinking more about being with Luke since the bet was made than she ever had before.

Bo and Luke headed for the farm. Luke was just glad to have exscaped with his family jewels! He looked at Bo and stated, "You know, I ain't never gonna make a month!" Bo said exasperately, "LUKE! You goy to! Luther will see to it you don't ever get to be with Lori again!" Luke sighed, "Don't remind me Bo, huh?" Bo replied, "Somebody better be reminding you!" Luke knew he was right. He said, "Sorry, Bo I know ya mean well." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lori found her behind to hurt alot worse as the day wore on, with Grandma sure to make her day torture.

Grandma Davenport had had enough of the three girls actions. Like she had told Dixie she had dealt with young wayward girls for years! She would speak to Luther in the morning. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Beside the girls room Luke looked at Cooter hopeful, "I hope you have a large supple of COLD water! Cooter had forgotten about Luther's bet with Luke and looked at him confused. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Grandma Davenport spoke with Luther the next morning, "You know I have connections and can see to it that all three girls are locked up until their wedding nights!" Grandma threatened. Luther sighed, "Let's see how the rest of the month plays out. If that Luke Duke comes too near Lori I'll help ya stop him from doing it again!" Grandma sipped her hot tea and smiled!

Luther stepped up to the door right about then and put his foot down!, "Everone to their rooms NOW! OR I will have youall CHASITIZED!" Luke and Bo about knocked Cooter down trying to get to his room! Meanwhile Lori, BL and Dixie..........

To BL, Bo may be a kid, but to Dixie he was a mighty fine specimen of Duke bones, but she sure would like to be in Lori's place but she'd never tell anyone that! ~~~~~~~~~~~ The Davenport girls got thier cars and Lori tried t talk Luke into going to the barn. Luke sighed, "Lori, look I ma do a lot BUT I refuse to go back on MY word, let alone deal with all the ridgerunners around here if I break the word of a ridgerunner. YOU of all people should understand THAT!" Luke almost begged her to stop trying to MAKE him break his word ..................... Lori..........................

Dixie meanwhile was hid around the corner laughing her head off. She reached out and grabbed Cooter, "No, don't! They are drunk as skunks! I brought them home and TOLD them to hush!" Cooter sighed and ................. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke meanwhile though decided a cold shower was his ONLY hope of temporary relief tonight. He headed for the shower. Bo was awake when Luke came in the room and said, "Luke if you intend to even give this bet afair try, don't ya think it would be easier on you to stay away from Lori?" Luke turned and looked at Bo and...................

Luke sighed and replied, "Not much. Let's go. What do ya'll say to leavin' Midnight and the Judge here and we'll take my car. No sense takin' all three." He winked at Lori. Lori knew where this was going. Bo would be elected to drive home after they had snuck him a beer or two early on so the rest could drink as much as they liked. Bo knew he was being 'used' but would rather drive than ALMOST anything. Lori nudged BL and said, "Fine by me." BL said, "Yeah, sure." She knew those two were up to something but hadn't figured out what just yet. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As soon as they pulled up to the Boar's Nest Lori glared at Luke and said, "If she opens her mouth one time I'll knock her out!" Luke replied without thinking, "She's at WORK she has to be professional!!!" Lori hissed, "ITS THE BOARS NEST!! NO ONE IS PROFFESSIONAL!" Luke shook his head. Bo said, "She's got ya there Luke!" "Thanks a lot Bo." Luke said with a shove towards the door. Inside, Luke ordered a round of beers and a coke for Bo. Of course Bo knew Luke would be sliding his beer over to him when he was sure Rosco wasn't around. They had gotten good at this. Cindy Mae smiled at Luke and Bo when she brought the drinks over, but remained business like. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The day had been hot so even though the beer was a bit watered down it was cold. The band was good and though Luke was a bit uncomfortable he was having a good time. He asked Lori to dance a slow dance with him. Lori in the middle of the dance started blowing in his ear and nibbling his neck. Luke whispered in her ear, "I AM dying HERE." Lori just smiled and occasionally blew in his ear until the song was over. Back at the table Luke was setting in the back corner with Lori beside him. After another round of drinks were ordered Luke felt a wandering hand. He quickly reached down to stop the hand. He knew in the poor lighting no one but him and Lori knew what was going on. He leaned in close to her and asked, "What are you doing?" Lori whispered back, "Just checking. You are dying aren't you?" Luke gritted his teeth, "You just don't know, Honey." He finished another beer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at the Davenports, Dixie was talking to her grandmother and pleading her case. "Grandma you know how they have always lied on me. I haven't thought about doing half what those two have been caught at. You have always taught me to be a lady. I intend to wait until my wedding night until I give myself to ANYONE. Lori was CAUGHT in the press box fooling around. And I've heard a lot on BL too! Grandma, Lori and Luke Duke have a child buried next to Lori's mother." Her grandmother thought for a long while before she spoke. "I have dealt with wayward young girls in this family for years. Come here dear, but so help me I hear anything about ANY of you three I'll fix you all!" She removed the chasity belt from Dixie. Dixie knew she meant what she had said too, but she be da--ed if she'd tell BL and Lori. Dixie decided to go for a ride to see what she could find out. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was very late whe Bo pulled back at the farm with a very drunk Luke, Lori and BL............

Luke ordered another beer and painfully watched as Lori teased him and every man in the place. This was day two of thirty. The half witted idea of slapping Rosco and going to jail for the next thirty days crossed Luke's mind, but that would likely only extend the bet another thirty days. Cindy Mae brought Luke another beer. She saw what Lori was doing to him, "Sugar, I get off in thirty minutes. I heard about the bet and I see what she's doing to you. I can make you feel much better." Luke remembered parts of a few nights before he smiled, "Yes, you could. But, would you really want to be with me knowing I wanted someone else?" Cindy Mae said, "Absolutely. I can make you forget all about her and that stupid bet. Finish your beer and think about it, huh?" Luke did just that. He was thinking about his situation and watching Lori as he drank his beer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie ran up to BL and exclaimed, "Dad's gonna get Lori a CHASITY BELT!" BL gasped and said, "He's WHAT?" Dixie said, "I heard him and Grandma talking!" BL ............. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke returned home after a few hours with Cindy Mae. Bo had heard about it as everyone was watching Luke and Lori. He asked Luke, "Ah, so, did it help?" Luke replied with a sigh, "Temporarily, but it wasn't what I wanted." He headed for the shower. Bo found himself laughing at his older cousins problems.

Luke thought he was off the hook on a 'technicality' until Luther said, "Luke. I've always trusted the word of a Duke, but this time I want more." Luke looked at him a bit confused, "Huh?" Luther who never ran moonshine in his life, said, "I want the word of a moonshiner. AND should you two screw around, I except you to tell me. Thus ending the bet." Lori had started pulling out but had stopped. She heard the request and gasped. Jesse shot Luke a warning look. Luke nodded, took a deep breath and sighed loudly. He looked Luther in the eye, spit in his hand and shook on the bet again. He had not only given his word as a Duke man but as a moonshiner and Luke knew as did Luther and Jesse that all the moonshiners around would be after anyone who went back on the word of a moonshiner. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Luther followed Lori down the drive way. Jesse saw the tension in Luke. Before Jesse could say anything, Vance said, "Luke I hear cold showers help!!!" And he took off running down the fields. Luke broke and ran after him. Jesse had to laugh at the two and HOPE Vance could out run Luke!

Luther was more than pissed thnking Luke had kept Lori out all night again. Luke knew the look in his eyes and said, "Now, Luther." Lori saw the fury in her Uncle's eyes, "Uncle Luther its not....." Luther grabbed Luke's shirt. Luke swollowed hard expectign to be hit. Luther yelles, "Luke! You kept my niece out all night AGAIN! It's not bad enough you knocked her up ONCE. You are TRYING to do it AGAIN!" Lori exclaimed, "IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!!!" Jesse didn't have a clear picture of what was going on either. But, he knew Vance and Lori had beaten Luke to the farm. He placed his arm on Luther's that still held Luke's shirt collar, "Luther, wait a minute. Let's hear them out." Luke was looking to Vance. He was almost sure Vance wasn't going to face Luther with the fact that it had been him NOT Luke with Lori last night. For once Lori was keeping quiet. She knew if Luke had been the one she was out with he'd had stood up to Luther. Vance.........

Luke cornered her and said in a tone so low Lori barely heard him, "Feel better? Even with ME now?" Lori said, "It wasn't about you Luke." Luke replied, "Tell yourself that, OK." He paused and said, "I still intend to see other girls. If you want to act like a slut go ahead. Just remember when a man takes a woman home to meet 'Mama' it's not usually one with THAT kind or reputation." Lori slapped Luke right across the face. Luke knew he deserved it. He still had her cornered. "Feel better, now?" He looked deep in side her past the front she was putting on. Lori.........

That next morning though, Luke opened his eyes and desparately tried to figure out where he was. When he felt something warm beside him. He looked over and saw Cindy Mae asleep on his arm. A second glance at the room told Luke he was in a cheap hotel. Then, he remembered yesterday evening. He slide out of the bed and as soon as his feet hit the floor his head was spliting wide open. He needed a shower and lots of coffee! After his shower and getting Cindy Mae up, they headed for Hazzard Diner for coffee. Luke stepped out the door of the room and parked a few cars up from his was Midnight. Luke sighed and plastered his 'happy' face on. He knew exactly what Lori was doing there. Getting even with him, but he didn't know who with. Luke and Cindy Mae got strange looks from all the early morning customers of the diner. Luke ordered a pot of coffee and whatever Cindy wanted to eat. He just didn't think he could eat this morning. CIndy Mae said, "I get the feeling everyone in here knows 'what' we did last night." Luke nodded. He only wished those memories were a bit more clear to himself. "They likely do Honey." He said. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile back at the motel.................

Luke made his way back to the bar but not before giving Rosco the money for her bail. "Rosco, please give it awhile before you release her and don't tell her I posted the bail." Rosco was just happy to have the money for the bail. He laughed and said, "Ok, say an hour or so?" Luke nodded, "Yeah. Thanks." Rosco figured Luke wanted a head start after their conversation, but in truth, he just didn't want her to know he posted the bail, though she'd likely know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke pulled up at the Boar's Nest, took a deep breath, plastered on a 'happy' face and enter to see Cindy Mae sipping on a beer talking friendly to the bartender she usually worked with. Luke walked up behind her and said, "Told ya I'd be back." Then, to the bartender he said, "Give us a couple more of those." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hours later Vance stopped for a beer on his way to the farm. He entered and saw his older cousin nearly 'three sheets to the wind'. He took a table near the back of the bar and watched Luke. He sure hoped Luke didn't intend to drive. He saw Cindy Mae heading to towards the restrooms and stopped her, "He's not driving is he?" Cindy Mae replied with a smile, "Well, he drove in here a few hours ago, but I've took his keys without him even knowing it about an hour ago. I'm driving when we leave. We're headed over to the 'No Tell Motel, so he likely won't be home tonight." She had waited years to get a chance to go 'out' with any of the Duke boys. Vance ..............................

Luke looked at Cindy Mae, "Sugar, I need to take care of a couple things. Can I met ya back here later?" Cindy Mae knew how Luke was and was glad just to spend SOME time with him. "Sure, Luke. I'm here for the evening." Luke replied, "Great. I hope to be back in an hour or so." Cindy Mae replied, "I hope so." Luke said, "Count on it." He kissed her on the cheek as he left. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cooter followed him outside. Luke turned at looked at him. "I didn't want to hurt her. Cooter I never promised her anything. Ever." Cooter raised his eyebrows. Luke held up his hand, "I know. I didn't have to, right?" Luke sighed, "I'm going!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the jail, Lori was pacing back and forth. She had just let all of Hazzard know she still CARED for Luke Duke! Just because he was drinking a beer with that waitress............