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Chapter 9
The Proposal!

Dawn Hazzard Pond:
The sky is just beginning to lighten up when Luke awakens to find Dixie curled into the crock of his arm. For a few minutes before moving an inch he watches her sleep. He thinks what a beautiful woman she has become. His thoughts can't help but think back to the last time they were here in this spot. It was about three months after Dixie's big birthday! She was so happy because she could do about what she wanted, even snitching Luke and Cooters drinks when adults weren't watching. That night at the Boar's Nest Luke suggested she ask to spend the night with Daisy at the farm so she wouldn't have a curfew. She told her Dad not to worry about her because after Luke and her left the Boar's Nest she was going to the farm to stay with Daisy. It was a hot summer night so Luke suggested they leave early and take a ride out to the lake. (At this point Luke was trying to settle down his wild ways. He'd been in and out of trouble since his senior year in high school over his ex girlfriend Robin. It seemed her new boyfriend and younger Brother, David were always causing him to get into trouble.) Luke drove down to the lake and parked in his secret spot. He and Dixie had walked around the lake while sipping on liquor Luke just happened to have in the trunk. They returned to the General Lee and ended up in the back seat.

A few hours later while on routine patrol a Trooper headed towards the lake. He had with him a new State Trooper who was very eager to make a name for himself. The senior Trooper knew the car and was pretty sure what was going on but the young Trooper insisted on checking into it. The next thing Luke knew he was looking into the new Troopers flashlight. The new Trooper ordered them out of the car. Luke being temporarily blinded by the flashlight asked who was there. The Troopers identified themselves. Luke asked them to give them a minute to get dressed. Luke covered Dixie the best he could while she got dressed, then he put on his jeans and took his shirt with him as he got out of the car. The new Trooper asked if they had been drinking. Luke knew that they had him already for at least indecent exposure, but he just hoped he could talk Dixie out of trouble. So he decided to be honest with them. Yes, they had been drinking but didn't intend to go anywhere until morning. The new Trooper asked for ID's. Dixie at this point is shaking like a leaf. Luke tells her to get out her ID. He hands both ID's the Trooper. The new Trooper goes to run them and the tags on the General to see if they are legal. Luke talks to the senior Trooper, telling him, that he knew the new guy just wanted to bust him, and could they just leave the General there and take Dixie home? See Luke did not want them to call Cooter or his Dad to pick up the General with Dixie there. Knowing all hell would break loose when Luther Davenport had to come and pick up Dixie from the Sheriff's office. The senior Trooper had been around for a while and said he supposed they could do that much if Luke would not give them any trouble.

When the new Trooper came back he ordered Luke to put his hands on the car and spread them! Luke was getting a bit disgusted at this point. What is his problem? He was making all this fuss over a couple of misdemeanors? At this point the older Trooper spoke up saying, "This is not really necessary." Then the new Trooper handed the two ID's to the other Trooper. He looked at the ID's as the new Trooper pointed out the birthdays. He hands the ID's to Luke and asked if the information was correct? Luke stated as far as he knew. Then he asked Dixie the same thing. She also said her information was correct.

The senior Trooper showed the ID's to Luke and asked him his age he said, " 20". Then he asked Luke how old Dixie was. Luke started to respond with the age he thought she was "eightee…." But looked at the ID as he was talking. He looked at Dixie almost in shock. "Sixteen!" Luke gasped almost unable to breath.

Dixie said innocently, "Yeah? So? You knew I just had my sweet sixteen a few months ago. But what is the problem?"

At this point Luke almost passed out; he still remembers his knees going so weak he set down on the hood of the General to keep from falling. He had been preaching to Bo since before Bo turned 18 to ID any one before he bought them a drink, to be really careful since the law was trying to bust them they could put someone up to setting them up. He had preached and preached! He had also thought he had been so careful in this area since he had been 18. "Sixteen….. Oh, ….. Hell."

Dixie was very innocent and did not realize that Luke was in big trouble. After Luke regained some composure about his own self he tried to calm Dixie. The senior Trooper had always been a close friend of the Dukes but had to do his job. He decided to charge Luke with Indecent Exposure, Public Intoxication and 2 counts of Contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He explained to Luke that Dixie's Dad could press the felony the charge of Statutory Rape if he chose to, in which case one count of the contributing would be dropped. The General was left parked. Luke and Dixie were transported to the Hazzard County courthouse, where Luke was booked and Dixie's father called to pick her up and to see what he wanted done with Luke. Dixie's father and Cooter were furious! He wanted the book thrown at Luke. In order to find Luke guilty there would have to be tests ran on Dixie to obtain the proof. Luke could not bare this and agreed to plead guilty to keep Dixie from having to go through this embarrassment. He even pleaded with her father and the Judge to let him marry her. Figuring this was the least he could do for her reputation that was sure to go down the drain and Luke truly knew he loved this girl. His requests were denied. The Judge that Luke went before was Judge Milton C. Hardcastle better known as 'Hardcase'. Luckily for Luke he was a very good friend of Jesse's. After listening to Luke's side of the story he truly believed that Luke did not know Dixie was 16. However, the law and Dixie's father must also be satisfied. Making one of the toughest decisions in his career he sentenced Luke to the maximum of 20 years in prison. There was also a condition placed that Dixie and Luke could not phone or write each other. The Judge also spouted a lot of Latin gobbledy goop that no one from Hazzard understood. With in a few days of the trial Luke was transported to prison for the next twenty years. Talk about a broken spirited Duke.

Dixie could not stand the looks her father gave her. The looks from everyone else in Hazzard did not do her any good either, so she left Hazzard swearing never to return because Luke would not be there.

Six months later Luke was in the process of planning an escape to try to get out and see Dixie just for a little while, when he was called out by the transportation team. He was transported to Hazzard unknowingly to the Duke or Davenport clans. He was taken before Judge Hardcastle for reconsideration. They talked many hours in the Judge's chambers alone before the Judge explained that he had every intention of letting him go in six months when he sentenced him, but if he or Mr. Davenport knew this then it would not have been as effective. Luke was released. The Judge also sealed the records as a favor to Jesse and Luke. He and Cooter eventually made up, however, Cooter never told Luke Dixie's where abouts. Mr. Davenport even accepted Luke afterwards since Dixie wasn't around.

Luke looked at Dixie, then as the last few stars in the night sky. He thanks his lucky stars to have this beautiful woman he has loved so long beside him. He gently kisses her cheek and brushes a stray hair from her face before slipping away into the morning. He builds up the fire, puts on coffee, and has started breakfast before she stirs. Luke smiles and pours her coffee, taking it to her so she can still cuddle under the covers in the early morning chill. "Morning, Beautiful."

Sleepily, Dixie replies, "I know your not talking to me."

Luke replies, "Yes, Darlin' I am. Are you in a hurry to get back to the farm?"

Dixie says, "No. Why. I told you I never wanted this to end."

Thinking, Luke says, "Good, just wondering."

After breakfast, Luke packed their things and placed them in the car. Going back to Dixie he suggests a walk. They walk in the fog of early morning around the lake. Luke spots a fallen log and they take a seat there. "Dixie, since you walked into the Boar's Nest the other night, I have been thinking about us." He pauses, "If it is possible, I love you more now, than I ever have. I don't know if this will work. I don't have a lot to offer you. All I can say is I would die trying to make you happy." Luke slips from the log to the ground in front of Dixie on one knee he continues, " Dixie Davenport will you marry me?"

Tears have already begun to fall from Dixie's cheeks. "Luke, …"

Luke continues, "When ever you want. Now, or ten years from now, you name it. Just say you will marry me."

Dixie runs her fingers through Luke's hair sending chills down to his toes. "Yes…..Luke, I will marry you." She says through her tears.

They kiss passionately for a long while.

After their long kiss, Luke asks, "So when do you want to make this legal?"

"Honey, I'd say right now, if Uncle Jesse and the others had not been waiting for this as long as we have." Dixie states.

"Darlin', I told you I have been thinking this through for, oh so long. What would you say about us going to Chick Ma honey this morning? Making everything legal and then later, we'll do it again for the others?" Luke proposes.

In shock Dixie says, "You mean Luke Duke not only proposed to me, but is willing to marry me TWICE?" "Anything to make you happy!" he declares. They seal it with a kiss!

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