by: Marty Chrisman

Uncle Jesse, Daisy and Bo were all as excited as could be when Kelly and Luke got back to the farm and Luke told them that he had asked Kelly to marry him. Kelly couldn’t help but laugh as Daisy immediately started making plans, talking about the church, the cake, and other details.

“Whoa, Daisy” Luke told her with a laugh, holding up his hand to stop her “We haven’t even set a date yet.”

“I don’t care.” Daisy said, her eyes sparkling with joy. “A wedding takes a lot of time to plan so I just figured we might as well get started, that’s all.”

“Now, Daisy” Jesse said with a fond smile at his niece “Give Luke and Kelly some time to catch their breath. There’s gonna be time enough for all that.”

“Yee Haw!!” Bo said with a huge grin “Who gits to be your best man? Me or Cooter?”

“You of course.” Luke told him with a grin “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“And Uncle Jesse’s gonna give me away.” Kelly said “Aren’t you, Uncle Jesse?”

“I’d be proud to, child.” Jesse said

Kelly looked at Daisy “And Daisy is going to be my maid of honor.” She said, smiling at the girl who was just like a sister to her.

“Well,” Jesse said with a chuckle “Now that that’s all settled, let’s eat.”

Most of the conversation during supper still centered around the plans for a Duke wedding. After supper, the boys did their chores while the girls cleaned up the kitchen. When Luke came back into the house, he went upstairs to wash up. When he came out of the bathroom, he found Jesse standing in the open doorway to his bedroom.

“Come in here a minute, Luke.” Jesse said somberly.

Luke followed Jessie into his bedroom. Walking over to his dresser, Jessie opened the top drawer and took out a small box that Luke knew contained Jesse’s keepsakes from his long marriage to Martha. He sat down on the edge of his bed and opened the box, his eyes softening with memories as he rummaged through the box. Finally, he found what he was looking for.

Standing up, he walked over to Luke and said, “This was your Aunt Martha’s wedding ring. It’s yours now.” He held out a wide gold band with an intricate design engraved on it.

“Uncle Jesse, I can’t take that.” Luke said self consciously.

“Nonsense.” Jesse scoffed “It’s a Duke family heirloom. It goes to the oldest son to give to his wife on their wedding day. And you’re my oldest.” Jessie said fondly “So it gets passed down to you. Now take it.”

“Thank you.” Luke said, not sure what else to say. He accepted the ring, feeling the weight of the gold band in his hand. Carefully, he slipped the ring into the watch pocket of his jeans.

“I know you’re gonna be happy cause I know how much you and Kelly really love each other.” Jesse said, a hint of emotion creeping into his voice. “And that’s the most important thing. Love.” He smiled at his oldest nephew “And I know you’ll take good care of her. You always did……” The hint of a tear glistened in the old man’s eyes “Now go find her and celebrate. The two of you have earned it.” Luke smiled as he left Jesse’s room and went to find Kelly.

When he found her, they decided to go to the Boar’s Nest for awhile. Bo and Daisy decided to go with them, so the four young people climbed into the General and headed for the tavern. When they arrived, both Bo and Daisy excitedly told all their friends about Kelly and Luke’s engagement. Before they knew it everybody in the bar was congratulating them and buying them all drinks. Everybody that is except Christy.

*   *   *   *

How could he ask her to marry him? Christy thought to herself bitterly with a cold, unrelenting rage. Well, we’ll just have to see about that. It doesn’t look like she knows how to take a hint. A thin little smile curved her lips. Maybe she was going about things the wrong way, maybe it was Luke she needed to be concentrating on. Christy had always had a way with men and Luke Duke had been no exception.

Christy sat at the bar watching the happy couple with barely concealed resentment. When Kelly and Daisy went to the bathroom and Bo started dancing with Lorrie Miller, Christy saw her chance. She walked over to the table where Luke was sitting and slid into Kelly’s empty chair. Pasting a phony smile on her face, she leaned in close and said, “So, when’s the big day, Luke?”

“We haven’t decided yet.” Luke told her

“It’s too bad,” Christy said, letting her hand drop to the top of Luke’s thigh. “We had some good times. I hate to see that end.”

“Everything has to end sooner or later.” Luke said, reaching down and putting his hand on her wrist to prevent her from moving her hand any higher.

“Why?” Christy said, looking deeply into those sapphire eyes that could still make her stomach do flip flops. “What Kelly doesn’t know can’t hurt her.” When Christy leaned in closer to try and kiss him on the mouth, Luke turned his head so that she kissed his cheek instead.

Turning his head back to look at her, he said quietly but firmly “I love Kelly and we’re getting married. It’s over Christy. For good.” Unable to restrain herself, Christy suddenly raised her hand and slapped Luke as hard as she could. Luke grabbed her wrist, hard this time, hard enough to hurt. “Don’t do that again” he said in a quiet yet deadly voice, his eyes darkening with anger.

Jerking free from his grasp, Christy shoved back her chair and jumped to her feet. “This ain’t over, Luke Duke!” she yelled, loud enough for several people sitting nearby to hear her “You’re gonna be sorry!” She stomped away from the table as Bo hurried over to see what was going on.

“What was that all about?” Bo asked in a concerned voice as he sat down at the table with his cousin.

“I don’t think Christy’s too thrilled about me getting married.”

“Why should she care?” Bo said “She’s been with a dozen guys since the last time you went out with her.”

“I think she was just trying to see how far she could go.” Luke said, taking a long swallow of his watered down beer. “She was pissed cause I wouldn’t let her kiss me….or cop a feel.”

“You gonna tell Kelly?” Bo asked

“Damn it,” Luke muttered “I don’t think I’m gonna get a chance to” He glanced towards the bar in time to see Christy step in front of Kelly as she came out of the bathroom with Daisy. Luke couldn’t hear what was being said but both boys jumped to their feet when they saw Christy shove Kelly, who immediately shoved her back. By the time they got across the room, the two girls were on the floor. Christy was screaming, biting and scratching, and pulling Kelly’s hair. Kelly, on the other hand, was punching with her fist. Luke grabbed Kelly and Bo grabbed Christy, separating the two women. Instantly, Kelly threw back her hand ready to punch Luke until she realized it was him. Meanwhile, Bo was busy trying to fend off Christy who was now biting him and kicking his shins trying to get him to let her go so she could get at Kelly. Even if it was a little mean, Kelly, Luke and Daisy couldn’t help laughing at Bo’s predicament.

“Alright you Dukes!!” Roscoe’s voice yelled “Break it up right now!!!”

“Us?” Bo said in an exasperated tone, as he tried to keep from getting bit or kicked again. “Christy’s the one who started it!”

“Is that so?” Roscoe said, obviously not believing Bo. “Well, I want all of you out of here. Right now!” He pulled his gun from his holster, waving it around in the air “And I mean it! So git!!”

“Roscoe, put that thing away before you hurt somebody.” Luke said calmly, eyeing the gun warily. Roscoe was a lousy shot, he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn but in a crowd like this, somebody was bound to get hurt if his gun went off by accident (which had been known to happen)

Cautiously, Bo released Christy, who instantly whirled around and punched him in the eye. With a hateful look at Luke and Kelly, she stomped out of the bar. “You Dukes get out of here too!” Roscoe ordered “Before I throw all of ya in jail!”

“We’re going….we’re going.” Luke said in a pacifying voice, as the four of them began making their way to the door. He breathed a sigh of relief as Roscoe put his gun back in his holster, looking pleased with himself.

“What happened in there?” Luke asked Kelly as soon as they were all outside.

“You tell me,” Kelly said, her voice still sharp with anger. “That crazy bitch started it. She told me that you and her had a thing going. Then she tried to punch me, so I punched her first.” Luke couldn’t help laughing. The boys had taught both Kelly and Daisy how to fight and most of the other girls in Hazzard knew they’d come out on the losing end in a fight with either one of them.

“Honest, Luke. That’s what happened.” Daisy said “Christy came up and started running her mouth trying to tell Kelly that you and her still had a thing going.”

Luke looked at Kelly apologetically “Look, I saw her a few times about a year ago but that’s all there was to it, I swear.” He admitted. “There was never anything between us except maybe in Christy’s mind.”

“Yeah,” Kelly grumbled “I forgot, this is Hazzard County.”

“Hey, what about me?” Bo said innocently “I got the worst end of it. I’m the one who got bit and kicked….and punched in the eye to boot.”

“Come on, Bo” Daisy said in a teasing voice “Let’s get you home. Maybe Uncle Jesse will kiss it and make it all better.”  They all laughed as they walked across the parking lot, the fight in the bar forgotten.

            Christy sat in her car and watched them climb into the General Lee. It wasn’t over, not by a long shot. Luke Duke was going to pay big time for this and so was his new girlfriend. Christy made up her mind that she was going to find a way to make them both very very sorry. If she couldn’t have Luke Duke, then neither could Kelly.