A/N Thank you for the response to this story. And a HUGE shout out and thank you to my girl texasbelle91 for letting me run this idea by her, months ago, for encouraging me, believing it could work, and for allowing me to bounce ideas around with her. You truly are a Belle! Let's see how Merle does asking for that date, and what's happening Daryl and Billie Jo?

Three Weeks Later

Merle he'd been around, prided himself on his ability to get a good read on people. He'd seen the way that sweet-as-sugar little gal looked at him when she thought no one saw. He also knew the old farmer was a traditional and conservative man. He'd have to ask him before he could ask her.

So that Sunday after dinner Merle asked her daddy if he could have a private word with him. The farmer replied with a nod of his head, and invited Merle to sit with him on the front porch.

"What's on your mind son?" Hershel questioned.

Merle had made up his mind he was going to have to convince the old boy that he was a good man, and deserved a chance. He considered himself a damn good salesman, so he set right to it, "I want ya ta know sir how much I appreciate y'all allowin' me n my baby brother ta rent y'alls place. I know ya don't approve of our business dealin's, but please believe me when I say, we're just tryin' ta earn a decent livin' durin' hard times. I think y'all can agree we done pretty well for ourselves. Everythin' we got is bought and paid for, we don't owe nobody for nuthin'."

At this point, Hershel interrupted with, "Well I appreciate all of that son, but what is it you want from me exactly?" The farmer was pretty sure he knew.

Merle took a breath and replied, "Well sir, I would like ta ask yer permission ta escort yer daughter to the dance at the Grange Hall next Saturday evenin, if she'd agree ta accompany me,"

He'd stated his case, made his request. Even for all his confidence and salesmanship skill, Merle thought he might pass out from a bad case of the nerves.

Hershel studied him for a moment, and replied, "Well son, I don't know if my daughter is the right woman for you. She's young, certainly has never had any experience with men, or boys for that matter, whereas I would imagine you yourself have some past associations with women."

"Well sir, I know I'm quite a bit older than your daughter, and I have dated some women, but I ain't ever had a girlfriend, and I sure never had a wife. I understand yer concern for Miss Beth," Merle responded. "I want ya ta know I ain't gonna treat her with nuthin' but respect, ya got my solemn word."

Hershel wasn't concerned about the age difference, it was no greater than the age difference between himself and his wife.

What he couldn't deny was, he didn't just have concern about Merle Dixon's business, but what were his long term intentions toward Beth? He wouldn't ask quite yet, but he would ask soon.

And the man had to admit to himself that his youngest daughter was nearing 20 years of age, and there were not any other gentleman callers coming out to the farm asking his permission to court her. The local men, they knew about his daughter, knew about her history. She was tainted. Oh she was a good girl, but there had been trouble. Either Merle Dixon somehow didn't know, or he was so smitten he didn't care. And what Hershel understood was, if she didn't marry soon she likely never would, she was getting older. And if she didn't get married, who would take care of her when he was gone? A woman needed a man to care for her, especially Beth, she was so delicate.

"Alright son, I'm going to step in the house for a few minutes. I want to have a talk with my daughter and ask her if she cares to go to the dance with you. You just make yourself comfortable."

Merle nodded, said a "Thank you, Sir," and thought to himself, hell ain't no way a man can be comfortable in this situation.

What seemed like hours, but was surely no more than a few minutes later, the farmer returned and sat down with Merle. "Well son," he began, "My daughter has agreed to attend the dance with you. Now, I know the dance starts at 7:00, and it's over at 9:30. You can leave the farm 30 minutes before the dance starts, and have her home here by 10:00. Her brother Shawn and his girl Amy, will be accompanying you. At no time will Shawn take his sights off his sister. Do we have an understanding?"

All Merle could say was, "Yessir, thank ya sir. I'll take good care to have her back on time. I promise ya, I ain't gonna do nuthin' but treat that young gal proper." Inside he was thinking, a chaperone? What kinda hell did I get myself into? But then he thought about those beautiful blue eyes and that pale white skin and he didn't care about being chaperoned.

xxxx

In the meantime, Merle had another matter that needed tending to. Seems a customer of theirs had disrespected little brother and himself, that simply wouldn't do.

He occasionally had Daryl make deliveries, when things were real busy, but the boy was really not the man you sent out to deal with customers, and Merle had told him long ago, "If ya make a delivery, and ya encounter any trouble at all, n I don't give a shit what that might be, ya just wait 'til ya see me, ya let me know what it is, and I'll take care of it, understand?" And Daryl didn't usually buck Merle. Merle was not only his brother, but he was also the closest thing to a Daddy Daryl had, and Daryl, for all his feral ways, was respectful to his elders. Oh he back talked from time to time, but he followed the rules.

Daryl still hadn't moved into the house on the farm, said he just didn't feel comfortable "in town." He preferred that little cabin they had up in the woods. As much as Merle wanted to see the boy come down out of the hills and become part of the world, he understood. Daryl just didn't feel at ease around most folks, the woods was probably where he belonged, but still, Merle was going to work on this one slowly, try to ease the boy into it.

Daryl had come back to the cabin just about the same time Merle arrived. Merle had been discussing particulars with a big deal account who wanted ta buy a lot of 'shine for a club that was making plenty of dough over in Miami. They had rich customers who came to watch the entertainment and drink good booze, not some rot gut.

That's how it came to be that he sent Daryl to make that delivery, now he came back to the cabin and Daryl was pacing like a cat, his fists were clinched, his head was down, and Merle swore the boy was snorting like a bull, he obviously wanted to tangle with someone.

That was another reason Merle didn't want Daryl dealing directly with customers, Daryl could be a might short tempered, volatile. Merle wasn't going to let his little brother get in trouble with the law or anyone else. If someone had to take a fall, it would be Merle, he was never going to let things go bad for his baby brother, not if there was any way he could prevent it.

"What's the matter brother, what's happened boy?"

"Fuckin sumbitch, said the 'shine weren't no good, said quality gone downhill, said he wasn't payin' full price." Daryl was fuming. "I done like ya tol me Merle, but I wanted ta kill the fuckin' sumbitch, talkin' bad 'bout my 'shine. It don't come no better n mine. But I done like ya tol me, and I tol him I wasn't takin' no part payment, said you'd be seein' him ta collect, fuck brother he laughed, like he weren't even scared. Damn, I wanted ta beat him, why can't ya jus lemme beat the tar right outta him?"

"Ya ain't wrong little brother, but I can't take a chance a lettin' ya get in trouble. I got ta protect ya, don't want the law comin' after ya. I know that guy's an asshole, and I never shoulda sent ya, I'm real sorry. Don't ya worry, I'ma be goin' over there n get the money. Now where's Billie Jo? I know ya probably got her here."

Daryl called for her and she came out of the back room. Merle saw how they looked at each other, the girl went right up to Daryl and she held to the back of his shirt, and the boy didn't even flinch, usually he didn't want no one touchin' him.

Merle knew then, he had to talk to Daryl tonight about how not to get this girl in the family way. Merle liked Billie Jo just fine, and little brother seemed real happy, but if they were going to be having babies, Merle wanted them doing things the right way, get married first, Dixon's had enough of a reputation. Merle didn't want to have a little niece or nephew that could be called a bastard and it would be the God's truth. He wanted Daryl and Billie Jo to take precautions, and he didn't know if they knew a thing about that stuff.

But first things first. He went back in his room there at the cabin, and he put on some dungarees, a work shirt and work boots. He wasn't going to spoil any of his good clothes beatin' the fuck out of some no good sumbitch.

"Y'all lay low here at the cabin. Daryl, if I ain't back in three hours, ya come snoopin' 'round town cuz it's gonna mean I either been beat half ta death, or I'm in the jailhouse. Ya know what ta do from there. And don't be bringin' Billie Jo," And he looked at the girl, "Sorry little gal, but this business ain't always safe, wouldn't want ya gettin' caught up in nuthin' bad."

And the last thing Merle did before he left was slide that braided rug over, the one that laid on his bedroom floor, he opened the floor safe hidden there, and took out two pistols and a sawed off shotgun. He stashed one pistol in his boot and handed the other to Billie Jo, "Anyone bothers you or Daryl, ya don't hesitate, ya hear?" She looked at him and nodded. He handed the sawed off to Daryl.

Daryl followed his brother outside and they each clasped a hand on the others' shoulder. "I'll be back right quick little brother. Like I said, you n Billie Jo lay low, now. I'ma get yer money, n boy, ya do make the best 'shine a goin', don't ya let no one tell ya any different." And Merle drove off down that narrow dirt road.

He parked a couple blocks from the sumbitch's house. No need to be seen if it could be avoided. He checked the pistol and he started makin' his way, not down the sidewalk, but slippin' through backyards.

He snuck in the asshole's back door, and found him half asleep in that overstuffed chair in the parlor, a jar of 'shine next to him. Merle crept right up behind him, and before the man knew what hit him, Merle had him in a headlock. He snarled in the man's ear, "Well there now, ya done it this time Dave, ya done upset my baby brother, ya insulted his work, and ya tried ta cheat me n the boy outta our money. Not only was that real stupid, but that there is just a plain n simple lack a respect. Ya know I can't be havin' that."

And fast as that, Merle had slipped that pistol out of his boot, cocked it, and had the barrel pointed right at Dave's head. And Dave was squirming, trying to break free, but Merle had gotten the drop on him good, and the big man definitely had the advantage. "I been tryin' ta figure just how in hell you was gonna be able ta make this right Dave, n I finally come up with a damn good solution," and Merle's voice was hard as steel. "Yer gonna pay a little bonus, 20% extra on account a we had ta make two trips, that's real inconvenient, and gasoline ain't cheap. Now where's the money ya sumbitch?"

And the idiot tried to lie, "Merle, ya know I wouldn't never cheat ya, it weren't that way, it's just, well you know Daryl ain't very bright," And that's as far as he got with that, because Merle slugged him square in the jaw.

Dave was on the floor, and Merle stood above him with the pistol pointed right square between his eyes. "Ya jus don't learn do ya Dave? Ya can't be disrespectin' Daryl. I'd match little brother's brain against yers any day a the week ya dumb fucker. Now where's my money?"

And Merle started pulling him up by his shirt and Dave stood on shaky legs and said in a cracking voice, "I got the money hid in my room."

"I'll follow ya," and Merle held that gun to the back of Dave's head.

Dave opened the bureau drawer, reached underneath it and pulled an envelop off it. He counted out the money, plus the 20% extra to Merle. He knew he'd been beat.

"Now see there Dave, don't ya feel better when ya pay off yer debts? Sorry ta tell ya, Dixons ain't never gonna sell ya 'shine ever again. Ya done fucked up Dave, gonna have ta drink the rot gut ol' man Johnson sells. Shit, maybe you'll go blind, who knows?" And then Merle slugged him hard one more time, stood over him and said, "Ya stay away from me n mine Dave, and don't ya never talk bad 'bout my brother again cuz next time I'll let him take care of ya, n he won't be nice like me."

And Merle backed out of the room, and high tailed it back to the truck and the cabin the same way he came.

When he got back he gave Daryl his split of the money, plus the extra 20%, and he told him, "That's for bein' a good boy and followin' the rules. You tell me if that sumbitch ever says anythin' to ya ever again, K?" And Daryl nodded.

"Now boy, I wanna have a talk with you n Billie Jo, let's all sit a spell in the parlor."

Daryl and the girl both looked nervous, and Merle figured the best approach was to get right to it. He looked his brother in the eyes and said, "Ya know it's my job ta look out for ya, keep ya outta trouble. So now I want ya ta be honest with me here, you two been gettin' carnal?" And Daryl and Billie Jo just looked confused, so Merle tried to put it more plain, "You two been bumpin' bellies?"

And Daryl's neck flushed up red and the boy said, "She wants to, but I told her that's for married folks." Billie Jo never looked up, but she did slug Daryl hard in the arm. And Merle was pretty damn proud of himself cuz he didn't laugh.

"I see, well so, if you was married then would ya wanna little brother?" Sometimes Merle worried about the boy.

"Well hell yeah, but ya told me I can't be makin' no babies," And again Daryl's neck flushed red, Billie Jo still hadn't looked up.

"Well are ya wantin' ta marry up?" And they looked at each other, looked back to Merle and nodded.

"How old are ya girl?" Merle looked at her and she finally looked up at him, "17."

"Well 14 is age a consent, so yer both legal, ain't nuthin' holdin' ya back if that's what ya want, we'll have us a weddin'. What about yer folks Billie Jo, ya think yer ol daddy's gonna agree ta ya marrying a Dixon?"

"Yes Merle, he's been hopin' Daryl'd ask him if he can marry me. Said he's been makin' Mama pray for it," And now her neck was red.

"Well then boy, I guess ya better go on n talk ta Billie Jo's daddy. You tell him I said I'd furnish the 'shine n whatever else y'all need. Can't do it here, I don't want no one knowin' where the still is. Gonna have ta be at yer place girl, or we could do it up near the river. Y'all work it out n let me know."

And Merle went back in the room, changed back into his nice clothes, and then he called Daryl to come in. First he explained what all had happened with Dave, and the little promise he gave Dave about Daryl, "But ya still come talk ta me before ya do." Then he gave him a packet of condoms and told him how to use them. At first Daryl protested, but Merle insisted, "Billie Jo's a pretty little gal and yer in love with her, she's liable ta break down yer willpower." Merle laughed and Daryl's neck was bright red again.

He drove back to the farm, arriving well after dark. When he got out of the vehicle he saw her standing in the upstairs window. She gave him a smile and a small wave, and he couldn't believe that little gesture was enough to make his heart skip a beat. He smiled and waved back to her.

A/N Yeah, don't be disrespectin' Daryl! :) Next chapter, let's go on a date. Thanks so much for reading, please review xo