DixieDavenport

A ways down the street Dixie who was carrying a ' J ' hook and chain, met up with BL who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. Dixie asked BL, "What happened to Brian's car?"

Dixie looked at BL wondering what she was waiting for. Dixie turned and started to the stairs hopin' BL was not far behind her. They all could hear Cooter from outside. "Mary Anne, what are you doing messin' with my truck? Don't ya know a man's truck is his castle!" (Took the 'liberty' of a Cooter comment since none of the Cooter's have been active on HN since 2007.)

Ummm ABout that oil ---- Looks liek the General got the last case for the big race and that part of what Cooter went after.

After gettting the keys to the wrecker Dixie made her way out side teh jail window and got BL's attention hoping to cover the distinct clang of teh J hook hooking the bars on the window. So far so good, that is until she saw Mary Anne at the wrecker. She quickly left teh chain piled in the bushes and went downstairs. "BL got in touch with Cooter, he's in Atlanta picking up some oil and things for the garage." Dixie paused, "He said he'd be back as soon as possible."

Dixie walked back to the garage and put out a call for anyone seeing Cooter, then she called Luke, "Can you bring the keys to the wrecker by the garage? So I don't have to hot wire it. You know how Cooter gets mad when I do that, but I think we're in need of an emergency tow job. Well, nothing actually needs towed just pulled." She said innocently. She thought to herself that if the Hazzard law didn't arrest the folks truely guilty of crimes or at least set bail for those they wrongly arrested at least she may be able to post BL's bail a little early. And since there was still a bunch of folks in and around the jail she might jsut get the bars off the window and gone before anyone seen who was actually driving the wrecker.

Hey cuz, do you want me to walk over and see if I see Cooter anywhere around? In case you need help with bail. I'll try to call Luke from the garage in case he is 'needed' with Cooter not around. It surely don't look like you'll get to use the phone anytime soon. Lori, I know you 'enjoy' BL's 'situation' nearly as much as I do, but care to take a walk with me?? DixieDavenport

Here I go see Luke for a few hours and look what happens! BL what sort of mess did you get into now. You, learn to keep your mouth shut? Anyone who knows us Davenport girls know we can't do that! Hey, Lori, Cooter ain't around, but I know where the spare keys to the wrecker is. Luke has them and may 'help' us if we get a ummmm,...... nearby wrecker call. And where did I see that long chain? Got to go. Enjoy your stay BL! Night all. DixieDavenport

Thanks Daney for the support. It was merely an idea that this place hadn't been collectin' them any money lately,........ besides, BL and myself are repectful citizens even pointing out some of the lawlessness in the County, but in true Hazzard fashion that appears to have taken second place in all this. As usual they have found another way to pick on the Dukes. I hadn't seen Luke in awhile and figured they had got him and Bo in here already, surely didn't think about Uncle Jesse (Roger) being first. DixieDavenport

Daney, Looks like you're gonna be an over night guest at the Iron Bar Hotel. I have to be up all night at doing my full time job, if Rosco would put me on the cash payroll I'd come set with you. I used to work at the jail in my former County. See what you can do I can have our 911 calls forwarded to me a the jail and do the mapping departments data entry from there. Surely the internet is no slower than what I'm working on. The County pays for it too! DixieDavenport

Reallly nice touch there Roger, again I'm sorry I got you into this! Of Course you ain't the first Duke in trouble with a Coltrane over a Davenport! DixieDavenport

No problem. Actaully didn't think anyone would like it. DixieDavenport

Roger it ain't lookin' good. I"ve been around Bo and Luke enough to know once a Duke is there he better be real patient. Has Brain ever figured out the bail? DixieDavenport

Sorry that you are the first 'victim' Roger. Oh, and nowhere in the Constitution is a phone call mentioned! That was pointed out in a criminal justice class I took once. Seems most arrestees wants to use the Constitutional Right to a phone call, but it don't exsist! Brain, I'll get right on that list of names for those warrants! DixieDavenport

I actually didn't think anyone but Chet would like it glad at least you did. We ran one at the County Fair for the Fire Dept. A dollar donation got them to pick you up, it took two to get you out. You couldn't pay it or we'd leave ya there for 15 minutes. I could see the essay as being a good bail for some of out one line addicts! PLEASE????? I was a Correctional Officer for 11 plus years, so I'll even help out to keep the local law on the roads so they can enforce other crimes in Hazzard! DixieDavenport

This is the beginning of a new year, why not put the old stuff further down and let them continue, but anything new would go on a 2010 folder with all new stuff??? DixieDavenport

I'd like to see one line dtuff at least moved to a sub link, even I can see not deleting their 'work' but what is posted from here on out (as we said in round 1 of this) should be stopped by the powers that be since they don't want Chet (or us) to stop them. 167 pages with what 10 posts to a page with only parts of sentences is not what I call dedication to work. I will be nice and not say what I think it is a dedication to. As we've suggested go on YM, or another program and post back and forth then make on page of a few paragraphs. You know those things that sentences make up! Yeah, I've voted a few times but when I want to jump on and read something new I don't want to have to start several stories, review them and still find nothing of any quality to read. DixieDavenport

Enosgal, Cowboy, BL Davenport I so agree with you all. I am as loyal to HN as I can be but lately have 'vacationed' elsewhere. In our last round up on this issue several stories go moved to more correct locations which is great. (One of mine even was lost in action and I am still trying to get most of it reposted.) But what good did it do? As for the Fan of the Month, I would like to offer my Congrats to BL Davenport. And, as for the writer of the month I think that is great it give new writers something to try to obtain, but can I offer a suggest to go along with with it that I think Chet will like. How about the moderators airing out the mattresses of the Hazzard jail and for those who get the worse reviews (that are legit -- not just picking or mean) why not list them as a resident of the jail for that month?? Seems fair. You reward Positive and Negative behavors equally and there is no deleting or sensor ship of the materials. Just the same stigma as seeing your name in the paper for having to pay a speeding ticket. It would give them a chance to maybe get some pointers and individual attention from more experienced writers. As I've said before I've even copied and edited and sent some stuff back to writers to show them how a good idea could look if punctuated spaced even near correct. I've also offered to help by proof reading before they post and never been contacted. DixieDavenport

Walking into the bar Bo and Luke saw, .....Bo, Jr. rolling on the floor of the Boar's Nest beating... or being beaten by... Jessica's brother. They weren't quite sure which, yet. Bo was angry, and Luke knew it. So he, being the "wiser" Duke still, grabbed Bo's arm, and held on. Bo looked at Luke, who said, "Give 'im a minute..." Bo was a little annoyed. "I can't give 'im a minute or he'll be in jail tonight." "Might do him good," Luke said. Bo had to agree with that. But it didn't take long for things to cool off, when Jessica walked over and poured a pitcher of cold water on the two young men. Luke grinned, "You know, Bo, that girl might make a Duke woman yet." Bo smiled. His cousin was right. He'd seen alot of Duke in her just in that moment. The two of them walked over and helped the boys off the floor. While Bo took the boys to a table to sit down and cool off, Luke walked over to Jessica and asked with a smile, "What in blue blazes just happened here?" Jessica was just tad pleased with herself and she was mad at her Father, furious with her brother, and worried about Bo, Jr. As she started to speak to Luke, she found herself so full of all these emotions she was shaking like a leaf. "Ok, I called Bo, Jr. and let him know I was working. He and Jake showed up. We talked during me waiting on tables, which didn't amount to a lot, then Joe showed up and the next thing I knew they were, .... were, ... well, you all saw!" Luke smiled at the young girl, "Honey, if I weren't married to an equally wise woman, I might just take you away from that young pup over there. You handled him and the situation real nice!" He winked at her. "You might have just saved them a bunch of trouble and at least the night in jail if the Sheriff had walked in." Jessica couldn't help but smile at Luke. "Thanks. That makes me feel better." Luke looked at Laura who was standing back to the side. She seemed uneasy to approach Luke after all this mess. "Laura, would you be a Dear and get me a beer for me and Bo?" Laura smiled rather shyly and nodded 'yes'. When she brought the beers to Luke, he said, "Laura, I'm not mad at you. You don't have to act like you are scared of me." She looked at Luke and said, "Mr. Duke, I..." Luke grinned that award winning grin, and said, "Mr. Duke? I'm just Luke if that's OK with you." Laura smiled. Luke was a good man, and she knew that now. She knew that someday, if things worked out, she would be honored to be a member of the Duke family. She just hoped she was up for the challenge. Jessica was still laughing inwardly at Luke's comment about "taking her away" from Bo, Jr. She loved her boyfriend's family dearly. What she didn't know was that Luke was paying her a high compliment. Not just any girl was Duke family material. She was still pretty angry with her brother and her father, though. She went on break about 10 minutes later, and walked over to her brother. "Joe Hansen," she said angrily. "I think I need to talk to you." Joe was up and following her out the door in seconds flat. Once outside, she turned on him. "What in the name of all that's holy did you think you were doing?" Joe yelled back, "Keeping YOU out of trouble!" "What? I believe I'm 18... I can keep myself out of trouble!" "You sure coulda fooled me!" he shot off. "If you can, why didn't you when you were at the lake with that Duke boy?" Jessica snapped. She walked over to her brother and firmly slapped his face!

Meanwhile Bo, Jr. was having troubles of his own! The barkeep had been watching them, and noticed that Jessica was slacking off on her work a little. "Jessica, this ain't like you," he said to her as she walked past him with a beer. She gave him a quizzical look, and he said, "You're not a slacker, Jessica. Stop acting like one." Jessica shook her head as she walked over to give a customer the beer. Bo, Jr. was growing impatient. He needed to talk to her and hit the road before the wrong person showed up. Unfortunately, it was too late as Joe Hansen, Jessica's older brother, walked in the Boar's Nest. He had been sent there by his Father to make sure that Jessica and Bo, Jr. weren't trying to see each other. He saw Bo, Jr. at a table in the back of the bar. He walked closer to the table and asked, "Bo Duke. What the he-- are you doing around my sisiter?" Bo, Jr. Immediately flew mad! 01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01 Back at the farm Debbie asked rather nievely, "What do you think the guys will find?" Beth stated her fear, "Well, I figure that the girls are at work and the boys went to talk to them." Dixie was a lot less trusting, "Or the girls SAID they were going to work and have went off to meet the boys!" Debbie asked, "They wouldn't?" Both Beth and Dixie said to gether, "Oh, wouldn't they?" Dixie cleared things right up, "Remember we grew up here with these boys Father's!" "Oh. Yeah. I see what you mean!" 01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01 Pulling into the Boar's Nest with the skidding of tires Bo and Luke saw Stormy parked. Luke let a sigh of relief. Bo gave him a questioning look. Luke explained, "At least they are here in a public place! Could be worse." BALLADEER: "You know you'd think those boys would have learned not to think like that years ago!"

Meanwhile, at the Boar's Nest. Laura and Jessica's shift had started. Jake and Bo, Jr. were just walking in. BALLADEER: "Well, so far, so good! They haven't gotten into any trouble YET!" Bo, Jr. walked over to a table that he'd seen Jessica cleaning off. "Hey, honey," he said softly. "Hey, yourself," she said, squeezing his hand without looking, knowing that she could possibly get fired for spending too much time with her boyfriend while on duty. She walked over to the bar to put the cleaning things back behind the counter and grab a glass of beer for one of her customers. "I'll be right back," she whispered to Bo, Jr. as she walked toward the table. Bo, Jr. sat down at the bar and waited. When Jessica came back, she pretended to be cleaning off the bar. Bo, Jr. said, "Hey, can I get a beer?" Jessica shook her head. "Not today. I can't. Bo, I almost got caught last time." Bo, Jr. sighed. "OK... Root beer, then, and... How's about a barbecue sandwich? I ain't had supper yet." She nodded. "OK..." She put in the sandwich order and fixed the root beer. She stood close to him trying to get a chance to talk. At that point, however, .... Laura had seen Jake come in and convienently asked a third waitress to cover for her so she could get some air. She gave Jake a sign to meet her outside in their usual place. He went out the front; she went out the back door. They meet beside the dumpster at the side of the buiding. When Laura met Jake he held his arms open for her. She jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs tightly around his legs. They kissed passionately for several minutes before Laura spoke, "Jake, I can't do this -- not being able to see you!" As he held her he could feel her trembling. "Look, I'm not all that smart on this, but can you go see Doc tomorrow so that your Dad will know everything is as he put it 'OK'." Laura wasn't sure either about how long you had to wait before getting tested but she was willing to just go get it over with to get her Dad off her back. "Tomorrow sounds like a day too long to wait to me!" She was sure that everything would turn out OK, after all they had only messed around once! What were the chances? she thought. "Sounds good! Do you want me to come with you?" Jake asked. Laura shook her head 'no', "I think I can play it off better to Doc if I go alone. Like it's part of a routine physical." "Good thinking!" Jake squeezed her tightly. "I have got to get back. All I need is to get fired!" she said. After a long kiss they returned tot he Boar's Nest separately.

He made it to the front door in record time, saying a quick "Thank you" to Luke before walking to the porch swing with the phone and sitting down. He raised the phone to his ear and said, "Hello?" "Bo?" she replied. "Oh, Bo, I'm so sorry about my Daddy. He doesn't know I'm talking to you. I'm on the pay phone at work. But we have to hurry. My shift starts in 5 minutes." "Careful," Bo, Jr. said. "You never know when Miss Maybelle might get bored and listen." "Why can't Hazzard have normal phone service?" Jessica said, annoyed at the thought of Hazzard's operator listening in. "Because it's Hazzard! We don't do normal." He shook his head. "So what's up?" "Bo, I can't stand the thoughts of not seeing you again and not talking to you anymore. I love you, Bo. I really love you, and I want to be with you." "Jessica," he said softly. "I love you, too. But I can't defy your daddy like this. Least, not yet. I mean, we're both 18, but you still live under his roof, and I don't want to make him madder, or hurt him anymore than we already have. But if this goes too far, I might have to. 'Cause I do love you... and I can only take so much." Jessica shook her head. "No, Bo!" she said, realizing that her body language meant nothing through the phone. "No. I want to see you now. Come to the Boar's Nest... please. I'll be here until 9 or so. Please, Bo!" Bo, Jr. could never argue with Jessica. "OK. I'll be there." She sighed. "I love you!" "You better," he said. "Cause I don't wanna get shot for doin' somethin' for somebody who don't." "Bo, he's scared that you'll be like Ethan was, and abuse me like he did Katie," Jessica said. "That's why he's so upset." Katie was Jessica's sister who'd gotten married at 17 to a no-good guy because she was pregnant. Her husband, Ethan, had beaten her repeatedly, until she'd finally left him. "Oh, honey! I'd never hurt you like that!" "Well, we know that, but he doesn't! Please, just come see me. Bo." "I will," he replied, against his better judgement. Luke's words about making sure this was the right thing to do came back to him. And he really believed that it was. He loved Jessica, and should anything happen, he would be more than willing to take care of her. "I promise." "I love you so much," she whispered tearfully as she hung up the phone. Bo Jr. hung up the cordless phone, set it inside the door, and walked back out to help his cousin paint the car. ~*~*~*~*~ Bo and Luke were sitting at the table quietly talking, when Beth walked in and said, "Guys? Where are the boys?" Luke answered first, "They were working on Stormy awhile ago out back." Beth said, "WELL, ...... They, ....... are not, ....... working on Stormy now. There's no sign of them or him and they didn't say where they were going." Luke looked at his watch. The evening shift would be at the Boar's Nest by now. He looked at Bo and said, "Three guesses and I'll take back two of them." Bo's eyes widened, catching Luke's guess, "Ah, sh--!" He exclaimed. As Luke had seen Bo do the same thing that he suspected the boys were doing when Beth worked at the Boar's Nest, he also figured that the girls Father's would show up at least a few times to make sure the boys weren't there while the girls were working. Luke stood up moving his chair back, he looked at Beth then to Dixie and Debbie who had just walked in from work, "Ya'll stay here. We'll be back soon. I hope!" Bo and Luke were headed toward the door and the General Lee. They hoped they would not find trouble at the Boar's Nest when they got there, but this WAS Hazzard County! Maybe the Sheriff would be on a fishing trip or at the diner for supper. If they hurried they might just save the boys and themselves a lot of trouble! At least they hoped so!

Jake had followed to others to check on Bo, Jr. "Bo?" the older boy said, catching up to his younger cousin. "What happened?" Bo, Jr. looked at Jake for a minute, then kept walking toward the barn. "He told me to leave... not to see her again." Jake sighed. "I'm sorry, Bo.... I really am." The blonde entered the barn and sat on a bale of hay, burying his face in his arms. Bo and Luke stood side by side in the doorway. Bo finally walked over to his son. "Are you OK?" he asked. "If you mean my hand... yeah, it's just gonna bruise is all... But I can't say about the rest of me... Daddy, he said I couldn't see her again!" "I'm sorry, son," Bo said, putting his arm around the young man. Bo Jr. shook his head. "Not as sorry as I am. I'm such an idiot, Daddy." "You're not an idiot, son. You just made a mistake. And no matter what, we're still gonna be here for ya, just like Jesse was here for us..." Bo, Jr. hung his head. "Yessir. I know. But... But I love her, Daddy. I mean, that's like tellin' me I can't have a heart no more... They're just gonna take my heart away and make me keep goin' anyhow..." Bo replied, "Son, ......." He was interupted by Luke who placed his hand on Bo's shoulder and motioned for Bo and Jake to let him talk to Bo, Jr. As Bo turned he saw Luke set down beside Bo, Jr. "If you listened to my story at all the other night, you will know that I know the kind of hurt you are going thru. Believe this or not, you guys are in a he-- of alot better shape than I was. First, you are both 18. Secondly, I had more than just Luther telling me I couldn't see Dixie. Third, I thought I was going to be feeling those feelings a lot longer than you will." Bo, Jr. looked up very suprised, "Luke, Are you saying for us to see each other anyway?" Luke looked suprised, now, too, "That's NOT exactly what I was saying! I'm just saying if you both want this to work you have a better situation than I had. I'm not telling you at all to defy her father. Though legally he can't stop either of you, but you better be da-- sure about this. You'll need income, a place to stay, there is a lot to consider before you make a stand on this if that's what you want to do. And don't do it for the wrong reasons either. Trust me if you do it's sure not to work. All I'm really telling you is that your sitiation is temporary and there is light at the end of the tunnel. You don't have to feel totally hopeless like I did setting in a cell kicking myself for messing Dixie's and my life up beyone repair -- at least I thought that then which was the whole point." Luke could only HOPE he hadn't put the wrong idea in the young Duke's head. "Come on, let's get some ice on that hand." He said putting his arm arond Bo's son as they walked to the house. Bo, Jr. walked into the kitchen with Luke, who went to the freezer to get some ice for him. He filled up a ziplock bag with ice, wrapped in in a towel, and handed it to the boy. "Try that," he said. Bo, Jr. put it in place on his knuckles. "Thanks, Uncle Luke." "No problem. Now, next time you're upset, try not to take it out like your dad used to." "Cute, Luke," said Bo, who'd walked into the kitchen behind them. Luke grinned. "Well, at least you never dented the hood of the General Lee." At this point, Bo, Jr., who was beginning to feel a little better, straightened up and said, "Da--! I didn't dent Stormy, did I?" He looked from Bo to Luke, both of whom were shaking their heads, then he dropped the bag of ice on the table and ran out the door, to find......a baseball size dent in the hood of his beloved car, "Oh, man!" Jake was close behind and said calmly. "Well, you've been saying you wanted to repaint him. Guess you have a reason now." "Yeah, but I wanted to repaint him because I wanted to; not bacause I had to!" Bo, Jr. said. In true Duke fashion, Jake replied, "Oh. Well. That cleared that right up." He paused then offered his help, "Well, it seems I'm in about the same boat as you are, so get the paint, and it shouldn't take up long to fix that dent and sand him down. I'm sure we can borrow the garage and maybe even get Cooter to 'shoot' (the paint) him." Bo, Jr. gasped involuntarily, "Oh, no. Laura's Dad was as furious as Jessica's?" Jake nodded, "Pretty much! He has grounded her to the house until she, ah, ..... proves that she's 'OK'. He asked me if I'd learned this at the 'Miller's' then I let him know who my Dad is and let's say that was more than 'unacceptable' being a, ah, as he put it, 'no account Duke'. But I figure I am who I am and he can like it or lump it! Jessica is over 18 and can do what she wants, but I got the feeling she wanted to try to keep peace, ya know?" "Yeah, I know exactly!' said Bo, Jr. "Laura begged me not to tell her Dad, but I had too after last night." Jake explained. "Yeah. I know had I had an option I wouldn't have told anyone else. Wished Dad and Mom didn't know either!" Bo, Jr. replied. From the far distance of the house Luke used a voice that not many in Hazzard had heard when he called to the barn for Bo, Jr. It was the deep, loud, authoritive voice that Luke had put away when he left the Marine Corp though now he did find himself using it on fire scenes. "Bo Jessica's on the phone!" Luke bellowed. Bo, Jr. was up and running ..............."

Luke was out the door and running before anyone else had time to figure out just what exactly was happening. "Jake," he said breathlessly when he got to his son's car. "How'd it go?" "He said I couldn't see her until he knew she was... y'know... OK... At first he thought I was trying to rub his nose in it... Dad, why would he think that?" Luke shook his head. "He's hurt, son. I can't say I wouldn't feel the same. Beth just brought that up, and she's right. I don't know how I'd feel if a guy did that to my daughter... That's somethin' I guess I couldn't know unless it happened." Jake nodded. "I know... I mean... I didn't... I never..." Luke nodded, knowing what he meant. It was then that Bo, Jr. pulled into the drive way in Stormy... The others could see the horribly sad look on Bo, Jr.'s normally smiling face. As he got out of the car and before anyone could stop him he hauled off and punched the hood of his beloved car. Bo looked from his son to Luke. He was looking for answers. Luke shook his head trying unsuccessfully to cover up a smile. It wasn't funny and he knew it but something about the teens action had struck a funny bone, he said, "Yep, he's yours! Come on let's see if he broke anything. Dixie reached out for Beth, and shook her head a gentle 'no', "Come on, they don't need a 'Mother hen' right now." "But, ...." Like any Mother of any child she was worried that Bo, Jr. had hurt himself. "Beth, Luke is trained and they both have enough knowledge of such things from Jesse that he'll be just fine." Dixie explained. Beth sighed as she turned to the house, "I know. I"m just worried about him." "I know, Honey, I'm worried about him too." Dixie replied. They'll be inside in a bit. They won't miss lunch unless it's bad." Dixie said walking onto the front porch. As the phone was ringing off the hook, Dixie answered it, "Duke Farm." At work Debbie was calling to ask Dixie about a ride. Well, that was her excuse, "Hey, Dix. Just got a minute here and called to see if you needed a ride in the morning since Luke won't let you drive your car." Dixie quickly read between the lines, "How thoughtful! And if I do you'll just swing over here tonight so we can both leave from here in the morning and you just MIGHT see a certain Duke boy in the process?" she smiled. "Now, that had nothing to do with it." Debbie protested. "Uh-huh. Sure. Known ya far to long girl!" Dixie stated. "But, yeah, come on that way Luke will have the truck if they need supplies for the house. They had to quit work on the floor earlier to keep from loosing fingers!" Dixie said without thinking she'd open things up for a lot of questions. "What?" Debbie asked. Dixie sighed, "Short version: The boys went to tell the girls fathers about the other night. The guys were worried about 'their' boys and couldn't drive a nail without hitting their fingers!" Debbie was laughing, "I can see that! How are the boys?" "Alive at the moment. That's all I know for sure. They are all in the barn." Replied Dixie. "I'll see you all about 5:30 if things don't fly apart here." Debbied replied. "What could possible go wrong there????" Dixie asked sarcastically. Knowing that anything at any given time could cause you to have to work over. Debbie replied, "I thought you liked us here. There ya go jinxing us. Thanks alot! But, tomorrow is your Monday and MY Friday!" "I do like you all. Just tell that "Buford" not to mess my book up!" Dixie said referring to the appointment book that she juggled for 5 days of the week most weeks and "Buford", a nickname, put things in the other two days. Which meant Dixie's Mondays were usually spent fixing his mess. "I'll tell him. Placid County just pulled in with one to 'Book'. Got to go." Debbie said hanging up the phone. "Debbie will be over tonight, to ..... ah, ...... take me to work in the morning." Dixie grinned. Beth grinned back though her concerns were more in the barn at the moment. "Someone has 2 minutes to come tell me something!" she said looking out the window.

Meanwhile, Jake was riding home with too much on his mind to enjoy driving on such a beautiful day. "Yeah, ain't today just lovely out here!" he said sarcastically to himself. "Wonder how Bo (Jr.) was making out? At least I'm alive -- for now." ~*~*~*~*~ At the Duke farm, Bo and Luke were putting the last floor in Luke and Dixie's home. They both had done this kind of work before and were not strangers to it, but you sure couldn't tell it by the number of times either had hit their fingers instead of the nails. "SH--!!" Bo said thowing the hammer across the room! Luke knew what he'd done again, and laughed, "Again? What do ya say we go up to the house? Lunch should be ready soon and maybe those boys will be back by then and we can quit worrying about them before we loose any fingers!" "Cousin. You are on!" Bo said. Acting like he'd was a kid on the last day of school instead of a father of almost six. ~*~*~*~*~ Luke walked into the house and said to Beth as he hugged Dixie, "I hope you aren't real partial to Bo's fingers!" Looking a bit alarmed, Beth asked, "What did you do?" "Cute, Luke!" Bo sighed, "Nothing he hasn't done a hundred times today either." "Well, that's true. We had to quiet working of loose fingers." Luke replied. "Uh-huh. That sounds like a good excuse to me, but I've seen you both putting down a floor and you do it well. ......" Dixie replied. Luke replied, "Well, we usually aren't concerned with planning our oldest childrens funerals while trying to lay the floor." Both Beth and Dixie laughed at the two. Beth replied, "You two are far too soft on them. Just think what you two would have done to any guy who did that to YOUR daughter!" Before they could answer they heard a car approaching from such a distance they had to stop talking to figure out which 'child' it was ........ Two faces showed much sign of relief when they heard the car belonging to Jake, who'd just returned from Laura's house.

Meanwhile, Bo, Jr was wishing to be struck by lightening or something! He was standing in front of Mr. Hansen, who was boring holes through him with his eyes. He didn't particularly like the Dukes, though, up to this time, he didn't have any reason to doubt Bo, Jr. "What is it?" he asked the young man. Bo, Jr. sighed. "Can we have a seat, Mr. Hansen?" "Sure," the man said, still not taking his eyes off of Bo, Jr. Bo, Jr. sat on the sofa with Jessica at his side, her dad sitting directly across from him. "Mr. Hansen... I know that you don't like me very much... And... I guess I've never done anything to make you like me... And..." He sat there for a moment, trying to put the words together in his mind. "Mr. Hansen... I'm sorry... But Jessica and I... well... we kinda... made a mistake... See, I love her very much, and I think she loves me, too... But, we kinda put the cart before the horse..." "Are you telling me that my daughter is... in the... family..." Mr. Hansen asked. "NO!" Bo, Jr. exclaimed. "At least, I don't think so... I sure hope not..." Jessica had reached for his hand, and was now holding it tightly. "Mr. Hansen, I'm sorry... But there is a chance that she might be. And if she is, I'll do whatever I can to do my part. I'll marry her... I'll even marry her now, if she wants me to, and you want me to... Mr. Hansen, I'm sorry." "You should be," he said. "I want you out of my house. I don't want to see you here again." Bo, Jr. stood up. "I understand that, sir. But I do want to say, I'm sorry, and I never meant to do anything to hurt you or Jessica." "It's too late for that, now," the man said, his eyes filling with tears. He'd always wanted better things for his daughter than it seemed that most of the county had. But she seemed to have just thrown her life away. He loved her so much, and his anger was truly at himself for letting this happen more than at Bo, Jr., though he would never admit it. "Jessica, I love you," Bo, Jr. said, softly, afraid that she'd been taken from him for good. "And if you... 'need' me... you know where I am..." She nodded, finding herself almost hoping that she would be pregnant, so that her dad would have to let her marry Bo, Jr. "I love you, too," she whispered. She turned to her dad, her green eyes pleading, "Please, Daddy... let me walk him to his car and say goodbye?" Mr. Hansen wanted to say no, but he couldn't. "Go on. If you're not back in five minutes, I'm coming to get you." Jessica nodded, and walked out the door with Bo, Jr. They stood together beside Stormy for a moment, without saying anything. Then, Jessica looked up into his blue eyes, so full of pain. "Jessica... if you are... expectin'... please, tell me? Don't let me go through life never knowin'..." "Bo, don't you worry about that... If I'm expectin', you'll be the first to know." She looked at him shyly. "And, Bo... If I am, my Daddy'll probably make me marry you... Are you sure you don't mind?" "I'd never mind that, honey," he said. "I love you, and I'm going to take care of you. Even if I didn't do that so well the other night..." She put her arms around him and kissed him. "If it meant being with you again, I don't think I'd mind being pregnant so much," she whispered into his ear. "I love you." "I love you, too... so much!"