Nothing But Trouble

Chapter 6

"I've told you boys time and time again don't let bring trouble to anyone you bring home and what do you do you get Faith locked up all night."
"Now Uncle Jesse it ain't all like that I was locked up too."
"You finally find a girl worth marrying and you get her throne in jail now she's not going to continue to go out with you. Y'all can't be getting in all this trouble because the odds of the two of you reproducing are right up this with hogs producing beef."
"Uncle Jesse she's the one that got of out anyway and got all of the charges dropped."
"I don't care she shouldn't have been arrested at all. Luke I ought to put you over my knee and whip ya like I did when you's a little tyke and Bo why did you try and keep this all a secret?"
"I don't know Uncle Jesse I guess I didn't want you to get mad."
"You boys outta know better than that and there better not be a next time. Now get out there and do your chores. "Yes sir" Bo and I replied at the same time. We headed out side and I got to work chopping some wood while Bo moved bales of hay. "We still going to grab a beer at the board nest when we finish?" Bo asked
"Yeah and the last one done pay"
"You're on. Is faith meeting is there?"
"Yeah she's probably already there with Daisy."
" oh good"
"Hey you almost done over there?"
"Yeah I got one more stack to move and that's it."
"Well hurry up I just finished."
I jumped in the general and pulled it a round as Bo dove through the window. I sped past the center of town and picked up a tale. "Shit. Can't we go through one day with out him or rosco chasing us."
"Well with your driving Enos is gonna actually catch us."
"Actually Bo your not the one at the wheel so there's no chance of that."
"Real Funny Luke."
"Y'all boys pull it on over now" Enos' voice rang out on the the C.B. I picked it up "you know the rules Enos you gotta catch us first."
I floored it and headed off road trying to lose him with sharp turns and 180s. "Why shoot I swear this boy just gets better and better everyday. He's almost as good as us."
"Well his daddy ran moonshine with our daddy's so I guess it just in his blood."
"I sure with Faith was here maybe you'd show off a little and drive better."
"What like this?" I switched gears and headed to the creek spraying water everywhere.
"Luke I know the general needed a wash but I sure didn't."
I rolled my eyes and picked up the C.B. "Alright let's call it quits before we both drown."
"Okay Luke but please revert back to 55 miles a hour and I won't have to chase y'all no more."
When we reached the road again Enos turned back towards town. Arriving at the Boars Nest I parked right next to Faiths Mustang and we headed inside.
"Hey Daisy how you doing?"
"I'm good Bo business is really picking up today. Y'all know what you want."
"Give us some of boss's 'finest' beers."
"Coming right up."
Daisy filled up our glasses and slid them down the bar to me and Bo. I brought the glass to my lips as two arms wrapped around my neck and a kiss was laid upon my check. "Did you miss me?" Faith asked. "Of course. How's your day been?"
"It's been good you"
"Fine except for uncle Jesse yelling at me about what happened last night."
"That's okay he'll get over it. Hey Daisy I'll what the boys are having."
"You sure you can handle this. This is pretty a mans drink."
"Shut it Bo I can probably out drink you with this and moonshine."
"In your dreams honey."
Faith glared at Bo after downing her drink and I laughed. We and I ordered another round when some city slicker walked up to us. "Hey baby how would you like to have a drink with a real man."
"Oh yeah like you know where to find one. Buzz off she's mine."
"That better mean you'll be done with her tomorrow."
I gave him a dirty look and went to walk away but Faith spoke up "really Jesse that's unnecessary. Sorry not everyone goes through girls like you do."
"But baby you stayed with me for years."
"Yeah but what about everyone before me. You used to not be able to keep a girl for more than a couple hours."
I grabbed Faiths hand and pulled her away from Jesse before anything too bad starts. We took a seat at a little booth started to talk. "So that's your ex boyfriend huh?"
"Yep that's him. Are you alright?What's on your mind?"
"Oh so it shows huh"
"Well I think I've made up my mind I meant least partly. I don't quite know how to say this"
"Go ahead your doing terrible." I scratched the back of my neck and chuckled  "yeah your right about that um look I want us to be together"
"Sugar we are together"
"Come on you know what I mean. I mean more serious."
"Exclusive?"
"Sort of. Of course there'd be a certain adjustment probably."
"What adjustment?"
"Oh nothing much I just need a certain amount of freedom. You know how men are"
"Oh and you think women aren't like that?"
"Well I don't think they should be."
"Hm I'll bet in hazard you just put chastity on your women bind their feet and make em shuffle 10 paces behind huh."
"Well no uh we don't bind their feet no more that'd slow me down picking cotton."
"Ha that's cute. Alright let me get this straight you don't want me to see anyone while you just chase anybody you like?"
"Like ain't love. I mean what's important is your my woman and all those other girls don't mean a thing."
"Mhm"
"Where you going?"
"I'll tell you what when you want a whole lot of women instead of a whole lot of girls I'll be over getting a drink with a real man. Of course it don't mean a thing." She patted my shoulder and walked towards Jesse whispering in his ear when she reached him. I watched them walk over to the bar together while Daisy walked towards me.
"Luke why is Faith over there with that guy."
"I guess that's her business ain't it." I said not taking my eyes off Faith. She looked pretty upset but kept downing drinks with Jesse. Faith put a nickel in the jukebox and started dancing with her ex. I had to keep my self from getting angry but as soon as I saw that city slicker start to grab all over and lean in to kiss we I lost it. I ripped them apart and punched him as hard as I could. Soon enough we were in a full on fight neither one of us letting up. He grabbed me by the collar and threw me against the wall but I charged back and tackled him to the floor. The sound of a gun shot made us both stop like deer in headlights. Sheriff Rosco stood in the doorway of the boars best his gun pointed at the ceiling. He walked over to both of us and broke us apart. "Luke I am sick of you constantly picking fights with out of towners now I'm going to have to kick you out or else I'll have to impound the general and give you a great big fine for disturbing the peace." I shook my head gave one last look to Faith who looked madder that an mother hen when you touched her chicks. Bo and Daisy met me out side and helped clean the blood off my knuckles and face. "I can't believe Faith ever dated that fool and now she's probably helping him when she should be out here with me."
"Luke would you quit talking like that. Just let her be she looked pretty mad at you she might just need time to cool off."
I nodded my head in understanding and climbed in the passenger seat of the general. Bo pulled out as Jesse walked out of the Boars Nest with Faith under his arm. I clinched my fists but held my anger in as we made our way back home.

Faiths POV
I watched as the general drove away and once it was out of sight I ran towards my mustang and ft in the drivers seat. "Baby I thought you were coming home with me!" Jesse slurred. "Sorry bud were over and you've had way to much to drink now get out of here." He staggered towards his car but I sped away before he could follow me. I drove around until dark not wanting to go back to the Duke farm after what Luke said. I found an abandoned barn in an old field and parked my car got some blankets out of the trunk and made a bed for myself in the back of the mustang. I thought about what Luke said and the events that followed before letting sleep take over me.

Luke's POV
After Bo and I got back to the farm I went out looking for Faith. I checked every backroad and all the hotels in hazzard looking for any clue as to where she might be. After hours of looking I went back home and sat in the living room hoping she would show up any minute. The hours passed and I started to drift to sleep but was awoken by Uncle Jesse walking into the kitchen. "For a fellow that loves his sleep you're up kind of late ain't you"
"Can't sleep"
"You uh want to talk about it?"
"It's Faith"
"What about her?"
"She's different."
"Luke I explained that to yous years ago"
"She's so sure of herself. She drinks and drives like a man she talks to me like a friend. She's so beautiful I just can't hardly control my self around her. Jesse I ain't never felt so much for anyone before."
"You tell her that?"
"Oh yeah I told her that tonight at the Boars Nest."
"What happened?"
"She left with her ex boyfriend." I said as I made my self a cup of coffee.
"Sit down. Luke I've been watching you. When it comes to women you've got as much sensitivity as a buzzsaw."
"I am sensitive. Well I picked her didn't I?"
"So you know what you want?"
"I want her to stay around."
"You think about marrying her?"
"Huh well not exactly why rush into something like that?"
"Well women don't like waiting around."
"Hell tonight she didn't wait for nothing. After she left with that turnip brain I went out looking for her. Jesse I ain't never went looking for a women before. They always come looking for me. Did you ever have a women get at you like that?"
"Yeah once. I married her. Night." Uncle Jesse patted my arm and walked back into his room I responded goodnight and sat at the kitchen table finishing my coffee.
Finally morning came and the kitchen door open with Faith walking inside. She started to walk past me without saying a word but I got up and grabbed her arm. "I want to talk to you"
"Yeah well I don't want to talk to you."
"Faith where you been all night?"
"Why?"
"Cus you mean something to me. I've been sitting here thinking about you all night. Doesn't everyone deserve a second chance. You sure as hell gave that ex boyfriend of yours way to many."
"Yeah well I ain't going to make the same mistake on you but alright Luke I'll listen to you."
"You know this ain't easy for me. I even talked to uncle Jesse about you."
"And?"
"And it's never been like this with anyone before. Alright it's hard to change the habits of a lifetime but if chasing other women upsets you I'm willing to make a sacrifice."
"There's something about you Luke Duke." I wrapped her in my arms and kissed her hard on the mouth glad I had her back. She broke away and smiled making my heart beat out of my chest.