Rebecca's heart pounded as she and Dewey entered the Boar's Nest. She had slept like a baby since Luke dropped her off at her house early that morning. Now, all she had to do was get his plan to work. She wanted to shove Dewey's sweaty palm off her back, but reminded herself it would all be over soon. All she had to do was get him into the back office, and this nightmare would be officially over. And not a moment too soon.

Everyone greeted them cordially enough. Although Dewey may have been disliked in Hazzard, he was still powerful enough to gain respect from his peers, however misguided it may be.

Sadly, the only way Dewey earned respect was through trickery. And using anyone in his path to get what he wanted.

Rebecca allowed herself to be led to the most prominent table in the room, declining a drink. But, Dewey helped himself.

*****************************

Dewey Hogg was feeling pretty good about himself. Not only did he have one of the most eligible females in town at his side, although unwillingly, he had finally proven to himself that the mayor of Capital City did have one promiscuous daughter. He hadn't staggered into town until daylight, first going by Rebecca's house to make sure her car was still in the driveway.

He honestly didn't think she'd try anything. Although her hatred was apparent, so far, she had not tried to get out of his little web of deceit.

Dewey took a sip of his watered-down beer, satisfied history would not repeat itself, that the Dukes had lost. And he had won. He glanced at Rebecca sitting stoically across from him, eyeing him disdainfully. He winked at her.

Yes, indeed, life was good.

Until Luke Duke walked into the room.

****************************

Rebecca could swear the room quieted, and she smiled to herself, especially when Dewey sloshed beer on his coat. She watched, disinterested, as he mopped it up. Although her back was to the door, she knew Luke's plan was picking up steam.

Luke and Bo settled at the bar, directly in Dewey's line of vision. Rebecca pretended to be interested in the bowl of stale pretzels, waiting for her cue.

Just as Luke figured, Dewey couldn't resist. Insisting Rebecca come with him, he took her hand and practically drug her to the bar. Rebecca made an effort to struggle against his grip, while inside she wanted to crow triumphantly.

"Fancy seeing you here, tonight of all nights." Dewey leaned on the bar next to Luke, Rebecca rigid against his side.

"Dewey, why don't we go sit down?" Rebecca had to remember that in Dewey's eyes, she wanted to be anywhere but here.

"Now, now, honey, I just want to see why my arch rival here shows up on the night we announce our engagement. Isn't that right?"

Rebecca crossed her arms, hoping she looked disgusted enough and flounced back to their table.

Luke eyed Dewey. Everyone in a 10-feet radius leaned closer, expectantly waiting on what would happen next. He shrugged and stuck out his hand. "I guess the best man won."

Dewey eyed his hand suspiciously, then grinned and took it in his. "Well, well, a Duke admitting defeat. Never thought I'd see the day."

Luke had to resist the urge to wipe his hand on his jeans. He shrugged nonchalantly. "She's probably out of my league anyway. Too high maintenance, you know."

Dewey rolled back on his heels, enjoying his good fortune. "That's OK, Lucas. You can't win'em all. There's plenty of other young beauties out there that are more, shall we say, on your level?"

Luke wanted to punch that smug look off his face. Instead, he feigned indifference. "If you'll excuse me, I think I see one of those young beauties over there." Grabbing his beer, he got as far away from Dewey as he could get.

Now, it was Rebecca's turn.

She wouldn't look at Dewey when he returned to the table, a triumphant look on his face. He touched her arm, and she jerked away from him.

"Don't touch me!" she hissed.

"You can drop the hostilities, my pet. That boy is already over you," Dewey motioned towards Luke, who had his arm around a cute little blonde in the corner.

What Dewey didn't know was that cute little blonde was her neighbor's very married and two-months pregnant granddaughter who was extremely upset at Rebecca's plight.

Rebecca had to play along. She narrowed her eyes at the sight and turned to face Dewey. "This isn't over, yet!" she hissed and flounced into Boss's empty back office, slamming the door behind her, hoping Dewey would follow.

With her back to the door, she smiled when she heard it open, daring to glance at the little microphone Daisy had mounted to the side of Lulu Hogg's picture on Boss's desk. She moved a little closer to it, praying this worked. And praying she could get him to spout every little threat all over again.

***********************

Luke leaned back in the booth as Dewey followed Rebecca in Boss's office, grinning. "This is gonna be great!"

"Oooo, I oughta kick that guy in the pants," Annie, Dot Agee's granddaughter, fumed beside him.

"If Rebecca can pull this off, you might just get your chance," Cooter said from across the table.

"She'll get him to talk. Don't worry," Daisy said, although she looked a little worried.

***************************

"Now, you know you don't need to be acting that way in front of everyone," Dewey's syrupy voice made Rebecca cringe. She expertly moved out of his grasp, getting closer still to the microphone.

"And just why is that, Dewey Hogg? Everyone already knows what a sorry creep you are." She raised her voice. "Just what makes you think everyone would believe you over me?"

He ran his finger along her bare arm, and she jerked out of his way. His eyes hardened. "If I'm not mistaken, I have you over the proverbial barrel. Plus, half the town thinks you're just a spoiled little rich girl who duped her poor little boyfriend to marry me. So, I think I have the upper hand."

Ass.

Rebecca tossed her hair over her shoulders. "I'm getting tired of your games, Dewey. If I had half a mind, I'll march out there and tell them what you did to me at the top of my lungs."

Dewey chuckled. "Remember our agreement, dear . . ."

"Agreement? You blackmailed me!" Rebecca hoped that came through loud and clear.

"I always was an expert at blackmail."

"Not an expert, a complete loser."

Dewey made a move like he would hit her.

"Don't you dare touch me, you coward! Only a lowlife snake in the grass would hit a woman!"

Dewey lowered his hand. "Oh, I wouldn't hit you. I have too much at stake now. And you won't say a word. You'll just marry me next weekend like I was the love of your life."

Come on, Dewey. Spout all the filth you planned. "If I refuse to marry you?"

"You know the drill, Rebecca. Bo and Luke go to prison, the Dukes lose their farm, Enos loses his job, Cooter gets evicted, Daisy leaves Hazzard without her Uncle Jesse and your Yankee Boston family is disgraced by your grandfather's land deals." He ticked them off one-by-one, enjoying constantly reminding her of what she could lose. He didn't figure a few reminders would hurt anything, keep all she stood to lose fresh in her mind.

Rebecca had to turn around to keep him from seeing the smile on her face.

The crowd hushed as the two voices fought, murmuring to each other throughout the tirade. The word "blackmail" most certainly made the murmurs louder. Each person in the bar knew someone or was someone who had been on the wrong end of Dewey Hogg's blackmail list, so when he starting naming what he would do if Rebecca didn't marry him, the crowd turned downright hostile.

How dare that man hurt such a sweet girl that way?

You know, my uncle and aunt almost lost their farm because of him.

I think someone should do something about it.

Luke couldn't help but smile. God, he loved this town!

When Dewey opened the door, the first beer glass barely missed his head, shattering on the door jamb. At first, he thought he had walked into a bar fight in progress, but when he realized all the angry glares, fighting words and well-thrown flotsam were aimed only at him, he was more than a little confused.

Are these the same people that smiled politely and shook his hand just a few minutes ago?

"Wait a minute, folks! What's goin' on here?"

Several particularly irate men, all of them bigger than he was, had started inching closer, their posture not friendly at all.

Their spokesperson, a large, rather muscular guy with a scar on his forehead spoke up. "We're goin' run you outta town, Hogg. You don't mess with Hazzard folk and get away with it."

Dewey put on his best gameface. "Why, I have no idea what you're talkin' about, brother. Let's all sit down and have a round on me. To celebrate my upcoming nuptials."

"There's not going to be any wedding, Dewey." Luke had sidled around the edge of the rather angry crowd and was leaned against the wall, cleaning his fingernails with his pocket knife.

Dewey laughed. "I didn't think you'd bow out so gracefully, Lucas!" He edged away from the crowd.

Luke snapped the knife shut. "Oh, I'm not bowing out. You are."

Rebecca sauntered out of the office, twirling the microphone by the cord. She held it out for Dewey, dropping it in his outstretched hand. Smiling, she walked over to Luke and stood next to him. He draped his arm familiarly across her shoulders as they both watched Dewey figure out what just happened.

The crowd moved in closer, yelling threats. Dewey finally realized he was outnumbered, but when he turned around to bolt out the back entrance in his uncle's office, he ran straight into Enos, who was effectively blocking his way.

"Aren't you gonna to do something about this?" Dewey said, gesturing towards the crowd.

Enos shrugged. "I don't see anything goin' on, Dewey."

A rather large hand grabbed Dewey's shoulder, and hauled him back inside the bar. Not only was he hauled outside the bar, but escorted by everyone at the Boar's Nest to the outskirts of town, Enos leading the way.

*****************************

"I really love how everyone says they knew all along it was a farce, but I know for a fact half of them thought I was a shrew." Rebecca's hand absently scratched her dogs' floppy ears as they sat in her front porch swing.

"That's just how is goes sometimes, especially in a small town," Luke agreed. The evening was picture-perfect. There was a small breeze to stir the warm air, and crickets sang from every corner of the yard. A car door slammed next door and Lady raised her head at the noise, yawned and laid her head back down in Rebecca's lap. Rebecca was leaned into the crook of Luke's arm against his side, her other hand loosely linked with his. It was a beautiful night, but Luke noticed none of it. All he was aware of was the feel of her body against his, the way she hummed absently to the tune from a radio across the street. Her exotic perfume floated about him, and mixed with the smells of early-summer, was enough to make him light-headed.

He nuzzled her neck. "I've missed this."

She leaned her head forward as his little kisses played out. "I don't know. After a week at the hands of Dewey Hogg . . ."

Luke stopped. "That man didn't touch you, did he? Because I swear if he laid one finger on you, I'll hunt him down and . . ."

She turned around and kissed his cheek. "That's not necessary. He never touched me because he knew he'd come away bloody. Except for when he kissed me in front of you." For one fleeting moment, the helplessness she felt all last week returned. "But, that was just . . ."

Luke's lips found hers, and any lingering emotions from the previous week faded away.