Chapter 25: A Look at the Heart of the Matter

Weeks later, Kira came across Kim at the market while she was trying to get some grocery shopping done with two toddlers in tow. She should have left them at home with Jebb but she rather just go ahead and handle them herself than wonder if Jebb was able to keep up with them. He was finally back on his feet but she didn't want to push his recovery by having him wrangle the twins alone. Instead, he was making sure that they had all of the farm hands that they'd need come the harvest season.

It was still early but Jebb wanted to ensure that the workers and hands that he wanted would be available for the cotton harvest season. Already, they'd made sure that Ryan (their full time farm hand) would be comfortable working with the men that Jebb had planned to hire. Ryan was a Godsend for their farm; even though he'd been young when they'd first hired him more than two years ago he'd proven himself capable. He was a self-starter and when he'd been put in charge of the temporary workers this year during the planting season while Jebb had gone over to Jesse's farm he'd kept everyone on task really well. Kira was also fairly certain that Jebb would be hiring Ryan's brothers again since they appeared to have the same work ethic as their brother. They had seemed a bit resentful at first to have to take orders from their younger brother earlier in the year but they soon came around.

Kira knew that with the new plot of farmland being added earlier this year they'll need even more hands next year. Maybe even full time rather than just during the busier seasons. Luke's land hadn't been used this year since planting season was already over when Jebb and Kira bought it out from under Boss.

For the Dukes, it seemed strange that they would now have so much need to even hire farm hands. Much less have the money to do it. Something that four years ago would have been impossible. No, it seemed that instead of just having a small farm that had been in the family since before the Revolutionary War, the Dukes now had the beginnings of an entire plantation. Three farms, now joined together to create one huge family farm. Luke now had a section all of his own to run come the next season and it went without saying that Bo would eventually take over for Jesse when he decided that he'd let the young bucks run things for him. But for now, he wasn't likely to admit that he was slowing down just a bit so Bo would help him the best he could right along with the other fellas.

While Kira was shopping for the staples of the house she and Kim started to chat, mostly about the upcoming charity event and asking Kim if she and Bo planned to attend. Kim had really begun to settle in with the family though she still seemed unsure of herself when a lot of other women were around. Kira could understand to a point. After all, she still had to come face to face with Jebb's old girlfriends every time she went to Placid almost three years after she and Jebb had gotten married. There were even a few women here in Hazzard that Jebb had dated when he'd come for visits in high school though they hadn't been anything serious. But Kim, she had to deal with Bo's exes on a daily basis. Most were even some of her patients. Some were still resentful of all of the time that Bo had been devoting to her this year.

"I don't know, I just don't think that I want to endure a whole evening at a dance where women like Kathy and Cindy Lou will be makin' eyes at Bo."

"Oh come on, Kim. The trick is to make it where no matter how many women try to grab your man's attention, he'll only have his eyes on you," Kira said with a sly grin.

"And how's that?"

"Before we head to Placid to visit Jebb's folks a couple times a year, I break down and buy a few outfits that are guaranteed to keep his attention. And if I know my brother like I think I do, if you do that, he'll be too busy trying to make sure that the men around keep their hands off of you to even notice the women trying to make a play for him."

"You're serious?" Kim looked at Kira doubtfully. Kira always dressed a bit conservatively. It was hard to imagine this type of advice coming from her. Now Daisy, she'd expected it from her. She was completely confident in her looks. She knew just how much she drove men crazy with the way she dressed and enjoyed it. But Kira? It was hard to picture her wearing anything half as daring as Daisy's short shorts.

"Absolutely. I never thought that I'd say this, but, how about we go shopping? Without the boys of course. I could probably get Jesse to help with them tomorrow. We can head into Hatchapee and spend the day. I know that the other men will all be mendin' fences all day and Daisy is taking Jo to a store in Osage for a dress to wear next week for the dance. So we'll be on our own tomorrow."

The two women made plans to meet to buy an outfit for the dance that had been organized to celebrate the completion of the new Neo-Natal Unit for the hospital in Hatchapee that served the Tri-County area. It was only after Kira had gone into premature labor with the twins and they'd been sent to the closest unit all the way in Atlanta that the need for one in the area had been highlighted. Mother and babies had been in two separate hospitals nearly five hours apart until Kira was transferred to Atlanta to see a heart specialist.

Now, just shy of two years later, the unit was opening. Both she and Jebb had vowed to match the amount of money that had been raised along with Boss Hogg (with a lot of pressure from Lulu). With the Dukes so well known and loved in the area, it hadn't taken long to get things moving. Now the Tri-County hospital would very soon have its very own Neo-Natal Unit. Now all of the Dukes would help celebrate the opening while hoping that the new Duke expected in November wouldn't need it.

~01~

Lulu and Daisy, along with the entire women's club, had pulled out all the stops for the grand opening of the new wing at the hospital. The sister clubs in Hatchapee and Chickasaw had been quick to join in with raising money for a cause that would benefit not only Hazzard but their counties as well. The ribbon cutting for the new hospital wing had been this morning and now everyone who had helped to bring the unit to the Tri-County area were ready to dance the night away in celebration. The fact that the coming harvest was just a mere few weeks away gave one more reason to cut loose and have fun before the hard work of bringing the crops in began. Of course Bo wished he didn't have to get so dressed up for it. He wished that he could just wear his jeans and yellow shirt that he always wore. But no, he was now wearing his Sunday suit as he was picking Kim up from her uncle's house instead.

Bo waited outside as Kim made her way to the door. Her Uncle Irving was still at the hospital since he had the night shift tonight. Bo shifted as he listened for the sounds that would tell him that Kim was getting ready to open the door. When she finally came into view, Bo gave her an appreciative look as he took in her mocha colored sleeveless short dress that she was wearing. The short skirt showed off her tanned legs and made them look longer than they usually did.

"Wow. I don't think I've seen that dress before, Darlin'."

"I'd hope not. I got it over in Capital City last week when I went shopping with Kira."

"Kira went shopping?" Bo knew exactly how little his sister liked to shop.

"She said that she needed to get some new clothes before heading to Placid, Monday." Kim closed the door to the house and did a small spin. "So, do ya like it?"

"Absolutely." Bo gave Kim a kiss and led her to the General Lee. He helped her in and drove to the Ladies League's building where the dance was being held.

The rest of the Dukes were already at the dance. Jebb and Kira were over in a corner speaking with some of the other donors while Luke and a very pregnant Jo were sitting at a table with Cooter and his date for the night. Daisy was on the dance floor with Darcy and it looked like Boss and Lulu were already there, too. Of course both of them were over at the buffet that was set up for the guests.

Bo led Kim over to the table where Luke and Jo were at. He was kind of surprised that Jo had come on out considering how far along as she was now. What is it? Thirty-seven weeks? By this time with Kira, the boys were born and both they and she were in Atlanta. Of course his sister had a very difficult pregnancy. Jo, however, seemed to have the exact opposite experience. Something that Bo was certain that Luke was thanking God for. With Kira, it seemed like there was one impending disaster after another during her pregnancy. Starting with her being ran off of the road when she first learned that she was pregnant, to going into labor while she was being held by two men that had been hired to kill her.

Jo's pregnancy so far had been uneventful. In fact, she kept running right up through her second trimester. Now both she and Luke were just sitting and waiting for their little girl to make her grand entrance. Of course, considering the fact that those two still haven't decided on a name yet, it's a good thing that the little girl is a bit shyer than the boys were. Otherwise, she may have to come home as Baby Girl Duke. Considering the reason why his cousin and his wife were still going around in circles, he figured that it was probably a good thing than Kim can't have any children of her own. He'd hate to try to decide on a name for a daughter. A name that none of his past conquests had. Oh sure, crossing hundreds of names off of the list right off of the bat. Now that would be fun. Not.

Thinking of Kim, Bo noticed that he wasn't the only one who was admiring the way that Kim's new dress showed her off in all the right ways. Was it just him or were there more men looking her way than usual? When all of the women did that traveling in a pack thing that they always seem to do when heading to the restroom, Bo watched as Kim's skirt brushed the top of her thighs. To him, it seemed that the skirt was inviting men to follow her movements. And follow them he did.

"Kira, I think you missed your calling. Bo hasn't taken his eyes off of Kim since they got here," Daisy joked.

"Well, just because I don't like to shop doesn't mean I can't be good at it when I set my mind to it," Kira said as checked her makeup in the adjoining room to the ladies room. "Besides, I thought she could use a confidence booster. She doesn't see how much Bo loves her. I think she's still waiting for him to get bored and move on."

"But you think the same thing as I do. Don't you?"

Kira shrugged, "You mean that Bo seems to be getting closer and closer to giving me a sister-in-law pretty soon? They're good for one another. I can't think of anyone else that Bo has ever been this head over heels for. I think he's starting to realize that himself."

"And for once, it doesn't look like it's scarin' him off," Daisy giggled.

"Nope. It doesn't. In fact, he seems to be accepting it." Kira and Daisy headed on out ahead of Kim and Jo and headed back to the table.

Daisy and Darcy headed out just before Luke and Jo did. Jo's back was starting to give her a hard time after being on her feet for so long. She just wanted to put her feet up, though it was pretty obvious that Daisy, too, intended to get off of hers as well. When Bo and Kim finally left the dance it had started to rain lightly. Kim slid over into the middle of the seat next to Bo to avoid getting wet from the rain coming in through the windows. Of course, neither Kim nor Bo really minded having one more excuse to cuddle up together in the car.

Bo slung an arm around Kim and didn't mind it one bit when the rain began to pick up. Not when Kim was pressed snug up against him. The only thing he regretted was that he had to take her home. He had to admit that when he thought of the relationships that his cousins had with their wives, Bo was just a bit jealous of the fact that they weren't regulated to trying to steal a few moments here and there like he and Kim were. Doing their best to find a time that would work for both of them. Even if their days were busy with the farm, the kids, business in town, or anything else.

At the end of the day, they still got to go home to one another while he was heading to his room all alone. Nearing the Appleby's home, Bo really began to hate seeing that pale yellow house with its too cheery white picket fence. When he pulled up at the house he helped Kim out and walked her to the door as the rain plastered her dress down firmly onto her body and ran her makeup. She had to be at the hospital early in the morning so Bo knew that she needed to go on in and get some sleep. But, since she was heading in for the early shift at the hospital tomorrow, they should be able to get together in the evening.

~01~

Kim had been nearing the end of her shift when the hospital was informed that a train had derailed nearby. The hospital was asked to stand by for possible casualties. She called Bo to tell him that she couldn't meet him at the Boar's Nest. Fortunately, there were relatively few wounded so Kim was able to head out sooner than she originally thought and figured that she'd still be able to catch Bo at the bar after all. She pulled into the parking lot as she saw Cooter's tow truck pulling out. Well, Cooter may be leaving, but she saw that the General Lee was still parked beside of Dixie. Kim parked her Jeep as close as she could to Bo's car and headed on inside to the darkened bar.

As she let her eyes adjust to the lighting, Kim focused in on Bo and saw that one of the Johnson Twins were trying to coax him out onto the dance floor. Kim started to see red as she saw the pretty petite blonde make herself at home in Bo's lap. She actually even considered heading over to the table and giving that twit a piece of her mind. After all, there wasn't a woman in Hazzard who didn't know that he was spoken for. Luckily for the blonde woman, Bo was the one to put her in her place instead. Kim couldn't tell what he was saying, but she did see her face when he picked the blonde up and removed her from his lap. Ms. Johnson seemed a bit put off by whatever Bo was saying to her and actually picked up the half empty pitcher of beer that was sitting on the table and poured it on his head before stomping out.

Despite the fact that Bo had just been given a beer bath, Kim couldn't be happier. Here Bo had no idea that she was even in the county and he was still staying true to her of all people. Smiling, Kim took her jacket off and walked over to Bo as he was searching in vain for something to dry himself off with. When he looked up and saw Kim offering her jacket, he was more than a bit surprised. When he took the jacket, Kim leaned down and ignored the beer and gave him a kiss that was just a bit deeper than she usually gave him in public. Not that he minded, he just couldn't stand up for a while now.

"What was that for?" Bo asked once Kim pulled back and started to help him dry the beer up.

"For what you just did with Cindy."

"I thought you were still at the hospital."

"Things weren't as bad as they could have been. I just got here."

"I'm glad you were able to make it," Bo said as he began to dry himself off.

"So am I." And the timing couldn't have been better, Kim thought to herself.