by: Susan

Luke was dropping some stuff off around the back of the courthouse when he saw them. Jessica, and a man a few years older than her. Brown-haired and clean shaven, and somewhat taller than the little blonde. Probably close to his own six foot he reckoned. Slim, and muscular, and wearing jeans and a plaid shirt, he was standing a little bit closer to Jessica than was really, strictly, necessary.

   //Now, Jess was lookin’ at this fella like he was the captain of the football team, and he’d just asked her to the prom, and as Luke watched, the fella bent slightly, and puttin’ one arm around her, kissed her on the lips. Just a quick, gentle brush.

Ol’ Luke was about to turn away, not wanting to be a Peepin’ Tom or nothin’, when the sun flashed off of somethin’ on the fella’s hand, behind the girl’s back. A gold somethin – on his left hand… //

As Luke watched, momentarily startled, the stranger kissed Jessica again, deepening the kiss and prolonging it. //Now, he obviously knew what he was doin’, ’cause when they pulled apart, she looked kinda dazed. As if he’d hit her over the head with somethin’, instead of just kissin’ her like that.//

As Jessica looked up at her companion, she said something low, that Luke didn’t catch, and at the sound of her voice, the man’s face, which had been wearing a similar look to hers, fell all of a sudden. Becoming closed and almost angry, as he looked away from her.

She looked stricken “What’s wrong? Did I…”

“No, sweetheart, you haven’t done anything wrong.” He cut her off, his voice deep. Louder and harsher than hers. “No” He repeated, as she started to say something else, her expression confused, and suddenly unhappy. “I’m the one…” He put a hand under her chin, tipping it up so that her eyes met his, and gently running his thumb over her cheek, before taking a deep breath.

“No. Now, come on, let’s get you back to your Mama. She’ll be wonderin’ where you are.” He put a gentle hand on her back and steered her off in the opposite direction to where Luke was standing.

// Luke stood for a moment longer, takin’ in what he’d seen, and then shook his head and went back to what he’d been doing. The others had gone, and it really wasn’t any of his business, anyway – and besides, he had things to do.

  A little later, he joined Bo at the bar of the Boar’s Nest and they both ordered beers. Bo mentioned that Jessica was there, and that she seemed to have found a friend.//

“That’s her boyfriend.” Luke didn’t exactly sound thrilled. More than a bit disgusted, in fact.

“Her boyfriend?”

“Yeah. I saw them together. Earlier. When I was dropping off that stuff round the back of the courthouse, for Ms Lulu. They were kissin’.”

Bo chuckled “Ok. So… what? You never seen two people kiss before?”

Luke lowered his voice so it wouldn’t carry. “Bo! He’s married!”

“What? Married?”

“Yeah.” Luke looked uncomfortable. “I wasn’t exactly watchin’, but I couldn’t help noticin’ his ring. The way the sun flashed off it, an all.”

“Shoot!”

“Yeah.”

“I wonder if she knows?”

“Well, he wasn’t exactly hidin’ it, so I guess she does.”

//Ol’ Luke was kind of disappointed. He’d liked the little blonde, and the thought that she was fooling around with a married man, well, it just didn’t feel real good to him. Not to mention the fella – cheatin’ on his wife like that. Jesse’d brought those boys up real strict, and well, seein’ first hand, as it were, the other two foolin around like that – it just didn’t set quite right with either of them.//

 

………………………………………………

 

The two of them decided to take their beers over to a table, and as they passed where the actors were sitting, a hand caught Luke’s arm.

“Bo! Luke!”

“Hi, Jessica.” Not wanting to seem unfriendly, they both responded to the young woman’s greeting, and smiled as she introduced her companion.

“This is Josh Collins. My co-star. Josh, this is Bo and Luke Duke. They’re the ones who gave me a lift when Billy and Mitch decided to take off and leave me behind, the other day.”

“Hey, yeah. I heard about that. Thanks for helping her out.” The man stood and held out a hand to the two Dukes which they both took, returning the offered handshake.

//He seemed like a nice enough fella, and what people got up to on their own time, really wasn’t the Dukes’ business, so when Josh asked them to share his and Jessica’s table, the boys figured ‘Well, why not?’ and joined them both.//

“Look, why don’t you sit with us? There’s plenty of room.”

“Yeah, I’ll even shout the next round, if you like.” Jessica smiled, and as they all sat down, the Dukes exchanged glances.

“Ah, look,” Luke began “I’m sure you and your boyfriend have got better things to do, than…”

“What?” The girl looked startled. “Boyfriend? Josh isn’t my boyfriend! And besides, he’s married, anyway.”

“I know.”

“You know?”

Luke looked at the other man, who was looking as confused as his colleague. “You’re not wearing a ring now, but you were earlier.”

“Earlier?” Josh frowned

“Yeah.” Luke grimaced, uncomfortably. “Round behind the courthouse. I was droppin’ some stuff off, an’ well, I wasn’t actually looking, but I… couldn’t help seeing the two of you. You looked pretty friendly.”

  //The two actors started goin’ red, and as they looked at each other, they started to laugh. Hard. The fella chucklin’, and droppin his head, puttin’ a hand over his eyes and Jess clapping a hand over her mouth as she turned away, her shoulders shakin’, and looked at the the ceilin’. Both of them lookin’ pretty much anywhere but at Luke, in fact.//

“What’s so funny”

The two actors shared a glance at Bo’s question. Josh’s muttered “And here we thought we were being so private!” making the girl laugh even harder.

She managed to get herself (mostly) under control, and taking a deep breath, said “Luke, what you saw  was a rehearsal!”

“What?”

“A rehearsal?” Bo was as confused as his cousin

“Yeah.” Josh was grinning now, still chuckling slightly. “We were trying to find somewhere private to work out a particular scene. I guess it wasn’t quite as private as we thought.” He added, with a slightly chagrined glance at Jessica, which made her start giggling again.

“If we look on the bright side, though,” She responded “If we fooled Luke that way, we must have gotten things about right.”

 //They both started laughing again, this time, and Luke closed his mouth, which had been hanging open, with a snap.//

  “So… what I saw… that wasn’t actually for real?”

“Well, he did really kiss me, and he is pretty good at it…” A teasing glance at her colleague, who just grinned, “… but no, we’re not really ‘fooling around’, if that’s what you mean.”

“Apart from anything else,” Josh chimed in, “my wife’d have my head, if she thought I was doing anything like that – and besides,” His expression turned slightly sheepish. “Well, I wouldn’t want to cheat on her. She’s beautiful. I mean,” He looked at his colleague “No offense, Jess, but…”

“Hey, I don’t mind.” Jess put a hand on his wrist and gave it a quick squeeze. “Much better, that way, than being partnered with a creep! And you’ve got kids to think of, too.”

“You’ve got kids?”

//Now Josh’s grin returned, wider than ever, at Bo’s question. Still slightly sheepish, but more than a little proud.// “Yeah. We’ve got a little boy, Billy – he’s three – and we’re expecting another in just a couple of months.”

“Hey, wow!”

“Congratulations!”

 //Luke’s opinion o’ Josh had done a one hundred and eighty degree turn around, since he’d found out what had really been goin’ on, and, well, I must admit I’m kinda impressed, myself. The way some o’ these Hollywood folks behave, if you believe the papers, and then him sayin’ that he thinks his wife’s prettier than any o’ them starlets, and he wouldn’t want ta cheat on ‘er… Well, it kinda makes you think he must be a decent sorta fella, after all, don’t it?//

Jessica picked up her drink, again. “I wouldn’t encourage him, Luke. The next thing you know, he’ll be pulling out photos!”

“Well, now that you mention it…” Josh started to slide a hand towards his pocket and grinning, Jessica nudged him with her elbow. Hard.

“Stop it, you.”

“Ow!” He turned an aggrieved face to the Dukes “She’s picking on me!” He whined, pointing at Jess and making them both laugh.

“Aww… Poor baby!” She looked at the boys, over the rim of her glass “And he’s only twice my size, too!”

“Hey. Maybe you should pick on somebody your own size.” Bo teased.

Jessica just pulled a face. “But there’s nobody my size, here! Although you’re probably the skinniest…” She put down her glass, thoughtfully “Maybe I’ll pick on you instead!” She leaned across the table, grabbing for Bo, who scooted his chair back, laughing as hard as both Josh and Luke – who was nearly spilling his beer at the actors’ antics.

  //Now, things might have kept going in the same vein, but for Daisy coming over with a tray, to see if anybody wanted anything else to drink. Of couse she had to be introduced to Josh, and him bein’ a red-blooded fella, he made it plain he thought she was real pretty. Polite-like, and respectful, but admirin’ enough to make her blush, all the same.//

Everybody had another drink, and then the Oak Ridge Boys came in from the back.They’d been caught in one of Rosco’s speed traps, again, and they were doing a set at the Boar’s Nest to pay off the fine.

A space was cleared to one side of the bar for anybody who wanted to dance, and there were plenty of folk willing to take it up. After the first song, Josh got to his feet and approached Daisy, who was taking a quick break.

“Miss Duke? Would you do me the honour of dancing with me? Please?” He smiled down at her.

//Now, how could a girl say ‘no’ to that? Daisy gave him her hand and the two of them joined the couples on the floor, where Luke was partnering Jessica, Bo already having had a turn the first time out.//

 

………………………………………………………….

   Pt 2 : Headline News

 //The next day, Bo came in, grinning, with the morning newspaper.//  “Hey, Daisy, you made the paper!”

“What?” She turned around from the stove. “Bo, what are you…?

“Here.” Bo held out the newspaper, and there on the front page, was the headline “Movie Star Takes Local Waitress For A Spin” and a photo of her dancing with Josh the day before.

“Oh, my goodness!” Daisy grabbed the paper from her cousin, laughing and blushing at the same time.

“I guess you’re a celebrity now.” Luke had come in behind Bo. “Wonder what Enos is going to think about your new boyfriend?”

“Oh hush!” She swatted at her darker cousin, “Apart from anything else, Josh Collins is a married man.” Adding as she caught the scent of something scorching “And I’m going to burn the breakfast if you two don’t stop!”

She laid the paper on the table and turned back to the stove, blushing, as her cousins continued to tease.

“I wonder how much it’s going to cost to talk to her now?” From Luke “Now that she’s famous, and all.”

“I dunno, but maybe we’d better make the most of it while we can. While we’ve still got her here.” Bo snuck up behind Daisy and slid an arm around her waist, placing a kiss on her cheek.

“Oh, Bo, get off!” Daisy pushed him away with her elbow, while she shifted the frying pan off the heat.

“Yeah – before she goes flying off to Hollywood, with Mr Married Movie Star.” Luke came up on Daisy’s other side.

Daisy’d had enough “Do you two want to eat this breakfast or wear it?” She turned, the pan in her hand

Bo and Luke looked at each other, realising they’d taken things about as far as they could go, and answered meekly. “Eat it please!”

“Well, then, you two better sit down, and hush up.” Jesse was sitting at the kitchen table, quietly enjoying the whole thing “And stop teasin’ your cousin!”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Yes, Sir”

Jesse put an arm around Daisy as she served him “I think it’s a beautiful picture, sweetheart, and you’re just as pretty as any movie star.”

“Thankyou, Uncle Jesse.”

“And she cooks better, too.” Bo started sniffing the air, waiting for Daisy to join them, and Jesse to say Grace, so they could start eating.

“Amen.” Luke joined him.

…………………………………………………………………..

  //Later, Enos tracked Daisy down at the Boar’s Nest.//

“I think it’s a real pretty picture, Daisy, and… well,” Blushing, he pulled a folded copy from his wallet “I was wonderin’ if you’d mind signin’ it for me?”

“Oh, Enos, I’d be happy to! Just let me get a pen.”

 

Finis. (For now…)