A/N Thank you all so much for the reading this story. You know I always love to hear your comments, and a large part of what's contained in this chapter was based on a review posted by a reader. I don't want to spoil the story, so more about that in the closing A/N. Thank you all again for being so terrific!

When Daryl pulled up to Shawn and Heather Rose's house Billie Jo looked to him, "I gotta go in with Heather Rose, need ta talk ta her bout sumthin'."

He just nodded, he had no desire to be in on this talk.

Once in the little house Billie Jo set her hands to Heather Rose's shoulders, "Now listen cousin ya ain't in trouble or nuthin' so don't get the nerves, but ya need ta understand sumthin', alright?"

The young girl looked a little scared as she gave a nod of her head.

"What our men do, that's private family business. We don't ask 'em questions, we don't interfere n we don't ever tell no one else nuthin' about it. Hell, we don't even talk about it among ourselves. Merle he takes real good care a all of us. It's why ya got this nice place ta live in, an we all got us plenty ta eat n nice clothes. We're real lucky ta have him. When he tells us sumthin's got ta be a certain way, we don't question him, we do right like he said. An we don't never ever say nuthin' ta nobody about Merle, ever. We sure as hell don't tell no tales. Now ya might think Shawn's Mama an Daddy are part a our family, n I s'pose in a way they are, but they ain't ever ta know nuthin' bout what our men are up to. Nuthin' about nuthin' is best. Especially Shawn n Beth's Daddy, he don't like Merle for some stupid reason. The other thing is, when someone's askin' questions ya let yer man answer, you just smile an look like ya don't know anythin'. Like I said, ya ain't in trouble this time, but ya mind Merle, ya mind me, an ya let yer husband take the lead. He's the man. Now don't ya ever do nuthin' like that again. Alright?"

Heather Rose she was shook, she had a tear in her eye, but she managed to squeak out, "I won't never do it again, I'm real, real sorry." The tears came, Billie Jo gave the girl a hug and told her, "It's done an now ya know. Doncha worry everythin's gonna be alright. Now ya wash yer face n make yer man some supper."

When she got back out to the car her husband asked her, "Ya get her set straight?" Billie Jo she looked at him, kinda smiled and asked, "How did ya know I's gonna set her straight on sumthin'?"

It was his turn to smile, "Ya get a look about ya, I'm yer man, I know that look."

xxxx

They'd made love and they were lying in bed feeling happy and content. That's when she told him Daddy had come by. He held her in his arms, put a hand in her hair and looked at her in a real loving way, "So Honey tell me about Daddy's visit. Tell me all of it, what happened, what Daddy seen, what all he or anyone else mighta said." He kissed her forehead and smiled like everything was just fine.

She smiled at this man who was always so tender with her, wondering when and why her Daddy had gotten so mean. She told him everything about the incident, and he just pulled her in closer to him, "Ah Honey I love ya so much." He was stroking her hair and kissing her and she was sure everything was just right.

Mama came by early the next morning, Friday. Beth was still in her fancy dressing gown and she and Merle were having breakfast. "I'm sorry to come so early, Otis had to go to the Feed Store so I took a ride from him. I came to ask you to Sunday dinner this week, and Merle please ask Daryl and Billie Jo to come too. Shawn and Heather Rose will be coming, and Maggie and Pete will be here from Atlanta. It's going to be so lovely for all of us to be together."

"Why thank ya Mama, that does sound like a fine way ta spend a Sunday. It's mighty nice a you ta think ta include Daryl n Billie Jo an I know they'll be real happy ta come." Merle smiled warmly, hoping it all turned out to be just as lovely as Mama thought it would be.

What he was thinking was Daddy wasn't going to forget what he'd seen and heard. And Merle would be just fine having yet another confrontation with the old man, shit, it seemed every day of his life he had some kind of confrontation.

What he didn't want was his sweet wife to be in the middle of all these bad feelings. He knew this was wearing on her, especially now. Something about being pregnant made a woman a lot more sensitive. Mrs. Johnson had warned him of that. She told him how women got more touchy, might be a little more irritable, have a shorter temper, she told him how his wife's emotions might get away from her.

His young wife was a delicate person and with her tender feelings he didn't want her worrying about anything. She'd always seemed so fragile to him, and in her present condition he worried about her more than ever.

He'd just have to hope the Old Farmer had the good sense to confront him in private, deal with it man to man.

She'd started to think about the trouble between her Daddy and her husband. Merle tried hard to hide it, he never complained or talked bad about Daddy, but she knew. She thought about all the times her husband had to somehow try and appease Daddy. She knew he'd bent over backwards to try and placate the older man, agreeing to all of his conditions when they were courting. And she remembered how awful it was when Daddy had kept them apart. She'd loved their wedding, but they'd been forced to run off, Mama didn't get to be there, all because Daddy just wouldn't accept what a fine man Merle was. And Daddy always seemed so unpleasant to Merle. She had no idea why he was so darn mean to him. Her husband was a good man, a kind and gentle man, the perfect husband. He took such good care of her and she knew she was the most blessed woman in the world to have Merle Dixon.

Then the worry set in. She began to worry that her husband may become tired of this situation, may decide this constant battle with his wife's Daddy just wasn't worth the aggravation. He might decide he deserved to be treated better, because he did deserve better. She'd seen the way women looked at him, why there were many of those women who would be more than happy to have Merle Dixon for their husband. Those other women's Daddies would be proud to call him son.

She never ever wanted Merle to leave her for one of those women.

When he got home Friday evening he saw she'd made him a real special supper, and she was serving it in the formal dining room. Why she even had pretty little candles on the table.

He was smiling and he took her in his arms, held her close, "Everythin' looks real nice are we celebratin' sumthin' Honey?"

Damn if she didn't start to softly cry and he pulled back just a little, and wiped a tear from her cheek with the pad of his thumb, "Blue Eyes, what's wrong? Tell me now, ya know I don't like ta see ya sad."

More tears came as she softly spoke, "I'm sorry Merle, I don't understand why Daddy isn't nice to you. It hurts me and I know your feelings are hurt. I just feel terrible."

"Now Honey don't ya worry bout that. It'll all work out. Sometimes these things they just take time. None a this is yer doin' and ya ain't got nuthin' ta feel sorry for, he'll come 'round. C'mon now let's eat this nice dinner ya made n don't be thinkin' bout things that make ya sad, alright?" He held her real close, kissed her tenderly and gave her bottom a nice little squeeze.

She nodded and smiled, but even with his assurances and show of affection her worries stayed on her mind.

This was what he'd been concerned about, he didn't want all this bullshit with her Daddy getting her upset. He'd tried and tried to smooth things over with the Old Farmer. And hell he supported the man's daughter in style, treated her with nothing but love and caring, employed the man's son, honored and respected his wife, and was kind to his family. Why he even went to church with them. What the hell else could he do?

After supper he put music on the phonograph and he held her closely as they danced to Georgia Blues. He put a hand to her head and began to pull those pins from her hair, casually tossing them to the floor. He ran his fingers through her silky blond curls while he nuzzled her neck and softly kissed and sucked the delicate skin there. She was responding with low moans and holding him more tightly to her when he moved his hands to her back and unbuttoned her dress. When that dress fell to the floor he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the sofa.

He laid her there on her back and dropped to his knees on the floor beside her. He was smiling as he reached up, slipped the strap of her slip down and exposed her breasts. He kissed her deeply while gently pinching her nipples and then moved his mouth to her breast. He nibbled and sucked on those sensitive little breasts, while slowly sliding his hand up the inside of her thigh and to her womanhood. He felt the warmth and the moisture there, and with one hand he deftly pulled those panties from her and began to explore that sensitive area with his fingers. She was moaning louder now as her bottom began to rise up and down on the sofa. He brought her to orgasm and kissed her tenderly, "Ah Honey yer man loves ya so much. I wanna show that ta ya any time you'll let me."

He stood and slowly removed his own clothes while he gazed at her with a warm smile on his lips and a look of love in his eyes. She returned that look as she watched the man she loved shed those clothes and reveal what she was certain was the most perfect body.

Again he hit his knees and went back to fondling her breasts while kissing her deeply and whispering those words of love to her. She responded with her own sweet talk and promises of never-ending love.

When they were both fully aroused he gently nudge her thighs apart and entered her. He slid a strong hand under her bottom and pulled her even closer to him, sinking deeply into her with powerful thrusts. He alternated between kissing her lips, sucking on her tender little earlobe and sucking and nibbling at her pretty pink breasts. She cried out loudly as she came, and he soon reached his own climax calling her name.

xxxx

When she woke Sunday morning she felt as though she hadn't had a bit of rest. She was alternating between feeling nauseous, feeling hungry, and feeling bloated. She felt overly warm and out of sorts.

They went to the kitchen and she made them a light breakfast, she didn't eat but one bite full.

He knew something was wrong but he was at a loss as to what that might be. "Are ya upset with me 'bout sumthin' Beth?"

"No Merle not at all I just feel so, well almost like I'm puffy, and I'm so warm I'm perspiring, and then I start to feel clammy. I know I'm being crabby and I don't want to be, but I just can't seem to help myself."

Mrs. Johnson's words came to him. He rose from his seat stood and got a cool damp cloth, he held it to the back of her neck, "Is that better Honey? Does that help?"

"It does husband, thank you." He freshened the cloth several times and she'd begun to feel a bit better. He thought she should forgo church and dinner, stay home and rest. She'd insisted she was fine, that it was all normal and that she wanted to see her family, especially Maggie.

So that Sunday, just like so many Sundays before, he took her to church. He didn't care for that weekly gathering of people he knew weren't nearly the good folks they portrayed themselves to be. But it was important to her. There were good souls there and his sweet wife was the best of those. And all he really wanted was to please her.

After the services they went to the farm. Daryl, Billie Jo, Shawn and Heather Rose all arrived just after he'd pulled up in the driveway. Her folks and Maggie and Pete were already there.

The younger men all stayed out on the porch visiting while Daddy and Otis retired to the front room, and the younger women helped Mama and Patricia get the dinner to the table.

The Old Farmer sat at the head of the table insisting his wife sit to his left side and his youngest daughter to his right. Otis headed up the other end of the table and the old man suggested Merle sit next to him. Merle would have none of it and he took a seat next to his wife. Billie Jo sat to his other side and Daryl next to her. Shawn and Heather Rose sat across, with Maggie and Pete next to them, and Patricia at the far end next to Otis.

Daddy said a real nice blessing and the food was passed. Everyone was enjoying a delicious meal and pleasant conversation. Without warning, Daddy covered Beth's hand with his and said in a most unpleasant tone, "I love my daughter she's a precious and sweet gift to me from God. What I don't like is her being married to a scoundrel that would run off and leave her to fend for herself in a house full of people with guns. While he's off with his brother engaging in what I'm certain is some manner of illegal activity. My daughter deserves a better husband than that!"

Now about halfway through the Old Farmer's statement everyone had stopped eating. They were all waiting for Merle to blow a gasket, Daryl's fists were clinching and un-clinching and Billie Jo was at the ready to jump up and get the hell out of the way. Heather Rose had begun to softly cry and Shawn was holding her hand and trying to comfort her. He was thinking when the fists started to fly he needed to get her out of the way. Maggie's mouth was hanging open, and Pete was thinking, "what the fuck is the matter with this old man?" Otis and Patricia were holding hands, looking down and praying hard. Mama was shocked and angry and glaring at her husband.

Merle was just about to pull back from the table, take his young wife, and leave this farm for good. He'd never again have one thing to do with the Old Farmer. But he couldn't beat him, like he would a younger man, he was too old and he was still her Daddy. He wouldn't do that to his wife.

He'd just started to stand when Beth rose quickly from her seat, pushing gently on his shoulder indicating he should stay seated. She leaned over, put her face right up close to the old man's and began to yell, "Daddy you are a mean, venomous man. You're hateful and malicious. I'm not sure why you're so nasty to my husband but I will not stand for it another minute. He's my husband and I will always choose him."

"You kept me isolated and ignorant, my husband has had to educate me about life. He's the one who had to explain to me that I was pregnant, I was so dumb I had to idea. And you were so worried he was going to take my virginity before we married, maybe you should have explained to me about those things, instead of praying I'd never find out. And Daddy, I would have gladly given my virginity to him because I did know enough to know I wanted him, and that you were keeping us apart for your own mean spirited reasons. But Merle is an honorable man, he waited until I was his wife."

"I'm amazed at the patience and kindness Merle has shown you because you certainly didn't deserve it, and I should not have allowed your nasty behavior to continue. I won't have it any longer, I won't allow my husband to keep taking your abuse and I certainly won't have my child exposed to it. You cannot be a part of our lives. I'll not have you poisoning my baby's heart and mind against his Daddy."

Now the girl had barely had a bite of food all day, she hadn't been feeling well and with the added stress of the moment surely contributing, she fainted. She began to fall, and Merle was quickly on his feet and caught her in his arms before she reached the floor.

He looked at her Mama, "I'm real sorry this happened Mama me and mine won't be darkenin' your door again." And he carried his wife right out that door.

Daryl and Billie Jo were right behind him, Daryl stopping to say, "Thank ya Mrs. Annette."

Heather Rose was crying harder as Shawn quickly went out right behind those Dixon brothers. He said to Merle as he helped him get Beth in the vehicle, "You know I'm staying loyal to you brother."

Merle paused just long enough to say, "I thank ya for that, I'ma get my wife ta the doc now, I'll see ya in the mornin'."

Otis and Patricia were still praying, Pete was wishing he was just about anywhere else in the world, and wondering how soon he could get Maggie gathered up and get the fuck out of there.

Mama and Maggie had gotten to their feet and they were coming down on Daddy like the wrath of God Almighty himself. Daddy looked scared.

A/N I'd say Beth has finally had it. A great big thank you to Athlete Girl for leaving the review that prompted this chapter: "I'd love to see a hot sweaty cranky pregnant Beth lay into Hershel for keeping her ignorant about how babies are made and how life works in general :)" I hope she's pleased with this effort. Check out her stories, she's a Peach! Thank you all for reading, please review/comment - you're all peaches! xo