DixieDavenport

Bo saw the bed pieces and fell over laughing at Luke saying to Cooter, "And to think I came down here to tell him MY problems!" Cooter replied, "Half my customers think there was WW3 going on up there!" Luke glared at them, trying to keep a straight face, "Ya'll are a BIG help here! That bedframe has to have been up there since the garage was built and I ain't the only one ever 'been' in it. I know you BOTH have, as well as LB, BB, Jeb and any body else who had half a chance to get a girl in here in high school. It breaks on me though and I'll never hear the end of it!"

Luke tried to keep a straight face but it was hard, "Well you've watched them wrestling on TV? Mommy thought she could take Daddy but he showed her!" Lori about lost it! Luke then said, "Now I have to go get Uncle Cooter to help me fix the bed or sleep on the floor!" Lori was glad she had closed the bathroom door as she began to die laughing. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cooter had just hung up the phone when Luke walked in. He took one look at him and

Luke groaned rather loudly in frustration, made several attempts at adjusting his rather tight jeans that were now suddenly not fitting well. He got up off the bed and straighted himself once more before he walked straight out the apartment door, down the stairs to see Lori talking to Cooter normally. When she saw him however, she grinned ear to ear, right up until he walked over hoisted her across his shoulder in a 'fireman's carry', proceeded back upstairs, locked the door and took her to their room where he promptly placed her on the bed and climbed on top of her. He unbuttoned a button on her shirt as he nibbled her ear.............. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below Cooter was dying laughing. He could only imagine, then he decided he didn't want to imagine. The next thing he knew he heard a LOUD CRASH!!!

Luke sighed and said, "Unless you are really pissed at me for something and trying to get even, I do trust you. When I get worried is when you think you have to even with me for something. It's just that Ricky was working you too hard. Now, Todd is a different animal. He's worse than I am. He lears at YOU!" Lori laughed out loud a little and smirked,"Well honey, I wasn't pissed at you, but there is something I need to get even with you for, but as far as Todd, Darlin, alls I can do is do my job, I promise you this much though I would never ever go out on you, and thats the truth." Luke nodded at her statement and asked, "What do you want to get even with me about?"

Luke let her cry for a couple minutes before he took the frying pan out of her hand and said, "Being sorry doesn't change anything. Honey, if we can't get the trust thing going here. We'll never work. No matter if I want it to, you want it to, or we both want it to work; it won't. I'll either 'let' you change me and I'll sufficate. Or, I won't change and you'll be crazy wondering who, where, or what every second I'm out of your site and when I do come home you will accuse me of everything yur mind told you I could have been doing. Before you say anything, you was there when Dixie knew we'd slept together five years ago. Did I lie and deny it? Just exactly how long did it take for me to leave after this time? Did I tell her she was wrong thinking what she was? No, because she wasn't wrong. I didn't lie about it. I don't ever plan to go out on you, but if I do, I won't lie to you about it. Isn't that just a little bit of a comfort?" e knew either she'd see things his way or he was in serious trouble.

Luke smiled at her for a full minute before he said anything, "Didn't get them did ya? YOU are the one who answered your own question! I never said I SCREWED UP or that I DIDN't LOVE YOU!" Loir looked down her face blood red,"Yea but you were implying to it though." Luke said, "That's the way you TOOK it that I implied it."

Luke replied holding his breath that she'd not become angery, "Now, just listen and don't get excited. Could it be because you know you 'took' me away from Dixie?"

Luke began, "First, I'd like us to agree that this is NOT going to end up with you packing and leaving or throwing me down the stairs? I'll go find a neutral party to refree if necessary?" Lori humphed and said,"Let me know what it is first then ill see if i'll murder you after." Luke thought, 'so much for ground rules', "Remember this morning whenI was going to the Post Office to mail the divorce papers? and a couple weeks ago I went down stairs to drink a beer with Cooter? Both times you asked me where I was going. If I'm going anywhere, its a habit of mine to tell somebody where I'm going. But, you ask before I can tell you......

Luke began, "For starters, you know I'm a prideful man. Now, staying up here without paying Cooter anything but now that my leg is better I'll go back to helping him with the wrecker," He thought but didn't say, 'if you can let me out of your sight', then, continued, "at least I'm earning our keep. I have to call Randy tomorrow and have it set up with 'our' doctor about going back to work. House setting is one thing, but I'll not free load. Besides, we may want to wait until after court to move anywhere. I'd like to know I can pay the bills first and God knows Dixie's gonna be out for blood." He sighed......

Luke had just picked up the divorce packet to move it 'somewhere' as Lori charged into the bedroom. He couldn't have looked guiltier if Rosco caught him with a thousand gallons of moonshine. Lori knew immediately what was in his hand as she entered the room. "What are you doing getting ready to tear those up?" She reached for them, "I'll be glad to do it!" Luke snatched them back from her grip, "NO, I was actually getting ready to drop them in the mail!" Lori

Luke answered with a loud sigh. "I'd like to go to church with you, really I would. And, I know I SHOULD, but...." Lori jumped to conclusions, "You are ashamed of me!" "No, actually I just might be ashamed of myself, OK?" He said walking off.

B.L wailed into the pillow.."I know but I don't want you to think I'm fat. What if I can't loose the weight after the baby?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Cooter took Luke outside, "I think it's safer out here." "Uckle Cooter how come Mom and them act like that?" Little Luke asked. The kids had called him and the others Uncles and Aunts since they could talk. It was easier than going in to the compicated cousin explainations between first and second cousins or you're first cousin once removed. Beside with the Davenports and Dukes if you were family that's all that mattered.

Luke broke the silence by asking, "You about ready? Luke's got school tomorrow." Lori sighed, "Not really, but you're right." "Maybe we can come back out here and camp out before it gets too cold." Luke suggested. Lori looked at him, "I'd like that." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Jesse was reading his paper, when Bo cornered Beth. He must have thought no one could hear them. Jesse had great hearing and Bo was known not to be able to whisper. Jesse thought back to breakfast, if Beth was pregnant again, then they would be welcoming four new little Dukes to the family with in about eight months. Jesse remembered when his brothers and even the Davenport brothers were having children. The births of thirteen or more children had all came with in six or seven years of each other. They had thought that was close, but four in eight months would be really close. Jesse wished things were different especially in Luke's case but the boy was always stubborn. He had been the most responsible of the boys but there were time frames through out his life that being responsible and dependable seemed to get too much for him and he'd go just as far as he could in the other direction. Jesse felt he was in one of those phases now.

Luke was glad to have the cast off, though he expected to be ran through a lot of physical therapy before he'd be clear to jump again and likely he'd have to beg the doc to clear him. Luke finally suggested, "Lori, I don't want to fight, can we do something this evening, like go to the farm? the Boar's Nest? anything to have a good time and not fight? ~~~~~~~~~~ Meanwhile at the farm, Bo corner Beth, "Sunshine, tell me you ain't?" Beth replied, "I really love you, but I think I've proved that about five times over, so I hope NOT." she waved him off. "If it keeps up I'll go see Doc. No use going for nothing." Bo silently prayed she wasn't. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Lori replied.........

Luke replied, "She's not fat, that's the baby growing." ~~~~~~~~ Beth came out of the bathroom and quietly promised Bo, "You better only hope I'm sick from this cold front moving in, cause if not, you'll be making an appointment you talked me out of making for you about 5 years ago!" Bo swallowed hard and felt the pain in hi manhood at her implication! Dixie asked, "Beth, you don't THINK?" Beth replied, "I only hope I'm wrong in what I think!" Bo swore to himself, thinking, 'Beth had been pregnant enough to know the signs. Surely he had learned to be careful by now.'

Beth blushed and replied, "Ah, well, I thought he'd had just a bit too much to drink, but good isn't the word I'd use. Maybe considering he's an old father of five, after a hundred years of marriage, I'd have to say fantastic would be close." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SIX WEEKS LATER!!!!! Luke was getting ready for his doctors appointment. He hoped that things went well and he'd be free of the cast. He was a bit impatient waiting on Lori to get ready since she was driving, "Are you about ready?" Lori tried the third pair of jeans..... they refused to button. "I'll be there when I get THERE!" Luke swore. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie happened to come to the farm this morning for breakfast. Uncle Jesse had as always made plenty. As Beth set the bowl of scrambled eggs on the table, she got a good smell of the normally delicious food, but as soon as it hit her she turned absolutely green! and ran for the bathroom! All eyes went from her, to the bathroom door to Bo!

Luke looked to Cooter and smiled saying, "Told ya I'd be back!" Cooter grinned, "Yeah. Yeah, ya did." Luke grabbed a beer hoping to get to drink it with out Lori or Dixie showing up at least until he finished it for once since this whole mess started. Cooter looked at Luke seriously, "Do you really think ya'll can make a go out of this -- without killing each other?" Luke laughed and said, "............... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dixie came over for coffee as Jesse was still asleep there. She spoted Beth's neck. She waited until the 'right' time to ask, "Ah, ....... looks like someone, ........ had a good night!" Beth blushed and replied, "

Cooter fell over laughing and said, "Uh-huh, sure you will! I won't see you til tomorrow!" Luke laughed as he made his way up those blamed steps. He closed the door and said, "Now just what EXACTLY did I do? Last I heard was to stop. I did!" He couldnt' see how she could argue with THAT, but she'd find away! Lori....... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Jesse was still giving Bo that look that said he had been woken up during the night by him. Bo was at a loss to recall how he had woke Jesse up. He may have to ask Beth. Beth appeared as the thought crossed his mind. She had on a collared shirt and her hair was down, but even Bo could see the 'monkey bites' he'd left last night.

She asked looking to Luke, he smiled and replied with only an evil smile. He walked out the door. Lori asked, "Where are you going?" Luke replied, "Not far." He was heading down to keep Cooter company. If she was going to drive him crazy he'd get her a little hot and bothered then go drink a beer with Cooter. He walked into the garage. Cooter asked, "Did you survive?" "Barely!" Luke said going to the frig for a beer. Cooter shook his head and laughed.

Luke looked to her and smiled, he was being a pest and he knew it as he replied with a laugh, "Might be easier than living with you." Lori....

Luke caught on and calmly said with a sigh, "Fine." He turned to go make coffee. Though he had a good mind to go to the garage and get drunk. Some days he felt like he just couldn't win. ~~~~~~~~~ Once he had gone back toward the kitchen Cooter asked Lori gently, "Little moody this morning?" ~~~~~~~~~ Bo got the idea they had woke Jesse up last night.

Luke caught her just before she landed on the cast hurting herself or him. The way she leaped at him all he could do was catch her and roll to his left side hoping not to hurt either one of them. It not only surprised him but the fear of one of them getting hurt from her surprise attack scared him, "Sh--! Da-- it, Lori! You're gonna hurt one of us or the baby." Lori........... ~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next morning at the Duke farm, Jesse was up drinking coffee when Bo came in the kitchen. He was only up this early because Beth had woke him up. She had went to the shower first. He needed coffee and lots of it. Jesse looked at him once and asked, "I take it you enjoyed your night out?" Bo winced at the loudness of Jesse's voice, "Ah, ...... yeah, ....... maybe a bit too much." Jesse had heard them come in late. it was obvious that Bo had a bit too much to drink from the sounds of Beth helping him to their room.

Luke hugged her back then layed his hands on her shoulders and said, "Lori you got to understand this is a small town, a small county! Dixie and I are going to run into each other. We were talking abut the boys. She was actually waiting to tell you about it until......" he paused, "We were after all in a public place for God sake! Now if you'd have caugth us by the lake alone, then I'd say you might have a reason get a little worried, but you jump to conclusions and want to pack if we are on the same side of the STREET. You are making me a little crazy here...."

Luke looked to Lori in amazement and said, "Your really gonna leave over Dixie coming over to our table to ask me why she was 'cornered' by two five year olds asking her where babies came from? I guess the talk we all had the other night got them curious. She said they said YOU told them to ask me, but they forgot, so they ask her. I thought it was funny! Lori I've tried to stop you from leaving and I've talked to I'm blue in the face. Cooter brought me home. Not Dixie! I didn't go home with her or ANY other female. I'm here with YOU! And judging from what I saw, you came home to be with me. I notice you aren't gone or packed. You were asleep at home." Lori............. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Back at the Duke farm, Bo was still very unsteady on his feet, so Beth attempted to get him into their room before they woke Jesse up. As she got him into the bedroom he began to kiss her neck. "Bo, Honey, just let me get your boots off." Beth said. He wasn't helping her at all. Bo slurred, "Don't worry about the boots. Come here." Beth did her best to get him undressed and in bed. Bo was more than willing to help her get undressed too!

The others at the table felt it safer just to let BL have her say. ~~~~~~~~~~ Lori smiked and stayed hidden. Waiting to see what Luke did. After a couple minutes Luke went back inside. He figured that she really left with Todd. He noticed Dixie was now setting with a couple friends, so he figured it was 'safe' to go to Bo and Cooter's table. Tossing him the keys hadn't done him any good as he couldn't have driven with the cast on his right leg. So his only option was to go back in. At the table he order his second beer. Bo said, "She really left?" Luke glared. Bo had to have already started having a 'good' time or he wouldn't have been so blunt, "Apparently!" Cooter shot Bo a look to hush. ~~~~~~~ The band started playing. Everyone was having a good time listening to the band, talking and drinking. Bo and Luke were catching up and it appeared possibly running a race to see who could drink more faster. Both were drinking for different reasons. Bo to relax and let go. Luke to 'let go' everything for a couple hours. Eventually, the tables of friends were moved together which put Dixie and Luke at the same table though they were both into separate conversations.