Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes of Hazzard, not making any money, just cheap thrills.
Warnings: Angst
Rating: K+
Trouble On The Horizon
Chapter 5
"That was very good Luke," Martha praised when the story was finished. "Now though, I think it's time for this one to have a bath," she said, scooping Bo from the couch.
"No, want Luke!" Bo yelled, struggling to get back to his cousin.
"Luke, Daisy why don't you two help me with Bo's bath?" Martha suggested, thinking it would help all of the children.
"Okay," Luke replied for both of them. Getting off the couch, the two older children followed their aunt and youngest cousin into the bathroom.
"Alright now let's see... Here, Luke why don't you help Bo get undressed?" Martha suggested, setting the younger boy on the floor. Turning away from the children, she began to run water into the tub, adjusting the faucet until the temperature was just right. While the tub filled, Martha checked to see how the children were doing. Quickly hiding her smile as Luke struggled to remove Bo's shirt, she moved to help him. "Let me help ya sweetie," she softly spoke, reaching for the buttons on the small shirt and quickly removing the shirt. In a matter of seconds, she had Bo ready for his bath. Picking him up, she sat him in the warm water that filled the tub.
"Aunt Martha, the doctor said not to get the cast wet. How am I gonna help?" Luke asked, tapping her shoulder to get her attention.
"Well, you can still help honey. In fact you can start right now, would you get a clean washcloth for me?"
"What about me Aunt Martha?" Daisy asked.
"Why don't you go ask Uncle Jesse to help you make some hot cocoa for everybody. We'll have a nice treat before bed, how does that sound?"
"Yay!" The three children cried out as one. Moving to her aunt's side, Daisy planted a small kiss on the woman's cheek, before running from the room.
"Uncle Jesse?" Daisy called as she came into the living room. Stopping in her tracks, Daisy looked wildly around the room not seeing her uncle anywhere. Running into the kitchen she was surprised that he wasn't there either. Beginning to get scared, she ran as fast as her little legs would carry her to the bedroom where her aunt and uncle slept. With still no sign of him there, she ran outside and headed for the barn, "Uncle Jesse!"
"Daisy what's wrong?" Jesse called, coming off the front porch and hurrying to the child when she came tearing out the back door.
"Oh Uncle Jesse," Daisy cried out, throwing her small arms around his neck when Jesse knelt down beside her. "I couldn't find you and I was scared that a tormado got you," Daisy explained, tears running down her cheeks.
"Aw Daisy, I was just out on the front porch enjoying the night air," Jesse explained. "Honey I want to show you something, okay?"
"Uh-huh," the small girl replied, vigoursly nodding her head.
Carrying the child to the double doors that led to the storm cellar, Jesse reached down and pulled one door open. Carefully walking down the steps, he reached for the string on the overhead light and yanked it down, bringing light to the dark space. "Now you see this here isn't just where your Aunt Martha stores her canned goods. No ma'am, this is also a storm cellar and if ever a tornado was to come through here, we'd all get in here and shut the door so we'd be safe."
"The tormado can't get in here?"
"Nope, the torm...tornado can't get ya in here. Now you also need to know Daisy that I know the signs to look for, so I'll know if a tornado is likely to show up. I don't want you worrying about this sweetheart, I won't let a tornado sneak up on us," Jesse assured her.
"Uncle Jesse, why didn't Aunt Lavinia know that there was gonna be a tormado? Don't all grown-ups know when there's a tormado?"
"No baby they don't all know, ya see my daddy taught me what to look for, that's why I know."
"But your daddy is Aunt Lavinia's daddy, ain't he?"
"Well yeah," Jesse chewed his upper lip thoughtfully, trying to figure out how to explain that one. "But I'm older than your Aunt Lavinia, so there's things I know that she doesn't. I suppose too Daddy just didn't think a girl would need to know about things like that."
"So it's like me and Luke? He knows things I don't, and he helps you with outside stuff when I's helping Aunt Martha in the house."
"Exactly, just like that," Jesse agreed. "Now why were you looking for me?"
"Aunt Martha said to ask you to help me make hot cocoa," Daisy replied.
"Well, doesn't that sound nice? Let's go make some cocoa," Jesse said, turning off the light and leaving the storm cellar.
A short time later, as Daisy stood on a chair, carefully stirring the cocoa on the stove, the phone rang. Moving to answer it, Jesse kept one eye on Daisy as he reached for the kitchen extension. "Duke farm, Jesse Duke speaking."
"Jesse, it's Lavinia. Mr. Schnell told me you found Bo," Lavinia said.
"Yes and he's going to be fine thank the Lord," Jesse replied.
"He is? Mr. Schnell said he wasn't talking, I thought..."
"Doctor said it was just shock and he'd snap out of it. Fact is he's already started talking again."
"Oh that's good, I'm real happy to hear that," Lavinia said. For several seconds neither of them spoke...
Finally growing impatient, Jesse broke the strained silence. "Was there something else Lavinia?"
"Well, I was just wondering...Jesse I know you're mad at me right now, but I haven't got anywhere to stay."
"I suppose you could stay here," Jesse offered. He wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he didn't have the heart to turn her away.
"Thank you Jesse, if it's okay with you Mr. Henthorne from the general store said he could bring me out tonight."
"Alright, about how long do you think you'll be?" Jesse asked. He wondered if he would have enough time to calm Martha down before Lavinia arrived.
"Mr. Henthorne, about how long do you think it'll be before we leave?" Lavinia asked, and Jesse heard a man's voice answer from the background. "It'll probably be about an hour and a half or two hours Jesse."
"Okay, we'll see you then, good-bye."
"Jesse!" Lavinia called out before he could hang up.
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to say thank you."
"You're welcome Lavinia, but sister you might want to make yourself scarce for a few days at least. Especially around Martha," Jesse suggested.
"Oh," Lavinia replied sounding disappointed, "Sure, I understand. Bye Jesse, I'll see ya soon."
"Bye," Jesse replied, hanging up the phone and moving back to the stove. "Well now youngin, how's the cocoa coming?"
"I think it's done Uncle Jesse," Daisy replied. "Do you think we could have cookies with our cocoa Uncle Jesse?"
"I think that would be just fine, but let me ask your Aunt Martha first," Jesse quickly replied as Martha cleared her throat from where she stood in the doorway.
"Martha dear, do you think it would be okay if we have cookies with our cocoa?" Jesse asked, looking at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Oh you," Martha replied, chuckling at the pleading look on her husband's face.
"Please Aunt Martha," Luke and Daisy chimed in, while Bo just looked at her with the same pleading look that Jesse had aimed her way.
"Alright, alright I can't resist all of ya. Jesse, if you'll pour the cocoa, I'll get the cookies," Martha said, sitting Bo at the table and moving to get the cookies. Coming back to the table, she sat the small tin of cookies down and opened the lid. "Now just one each," she instructed, taking a cookie for herself and holding out the tin to Bo. After the youngest had chosen his cookie, Martha handed the tin to Luke who took one and passed it on.
"Everybody done with their cookies and cocoa?" Martha asked a little while later. "Well then, you children need to brush your teeth and get ready for bed," she said, after they nodded that they were done.
"Jesse, you gonna tell me what's going on?" Martha asked, as soon as the children were out of earshot.
"Yes, but let's wait until after the children are in bed," Jesse suggested, dreading the upcoming conversation.
Twenty minutes later, the three children came into the living room, teeth and faces clean and dressed for bed. After everybody had been given their hugs and kisses, Jesse took the boys into their room, while Martha went to settle Daisy into bed. Meeting back in the hallway, Jesse and Martha walked outside and sat in the swing on the front porch.
"Okay Jesse Duke, what's got you in knots?"
"Lavinia called..."
"And?" Martha prompted, when Jesse didn't continue.
"She asked if she could stay here, I told her yes," Jesse told her, bracing himself for an argument.
"Of course you did."
"You're not mad?"
"I won't say I'm happy about it, but she's your sister, what else could you do? So when will she be here?"
"She said in a couple of hours..."
"Oh, well at least I'll have a chance to get myself ready for the idea."
"Well, that was forty-five minutes ago," Jesse reluctantly admitted.
"Were you planning to tell me?"
"Of course I was, I just didn't want to say anything in front of the children. I wasn't sure how you would take to the idea," Jesse explained.
"Guess I can understand that. Well, I guess I better go get the spare room made up," Martha said. Pushing herself to her feet, she moved inside, surprised when Jesse followed her down the hall.
"Thought I'd give you a hand," Jesse explained, when Martha looked at him, the question clear in her eyes.
Nodding her head, Martha turned back to the hall and walked to the spare room. With the two of them working together, it didn't take long to change the sheets on the spare room bed. Opening the window to air out the room, they went back into the living room and waited for Lavinia to arrive. They didn't have to wait long; in what seemed a very short time, they heard a car pulling into the yard. Jesse stood up and went to the door, motioning for Martha to stay seated, while he went outside.
"Lavinia," Jesse greeted, stepping off the porch and moving towards his sister. "Do you need any help?"
"No thank you Jesse, I've only got a small sack with a few donated clothes," Lavinia answered. "Mr. Henthorne I want to thank you for the ride, it was very nice of you," she said to the man who had driven her here.
"It wasn't any problem Miss Duke," Mr. Henthorne replied. "I do need to get on home though, y'all have a good night."
"Good night Mr. Henthorne," Jesse and Lavinia both replied. Standing next to each other, they silently watched as the car turned around and pulled out of the yard.
"Well I suppose we might as well go inside," Jesse finally said, after several minutes of awkward silence.
"Yes, I suppose so," Lavinia agreed, turning towards the house and slowly walking to the door. Taking a deep, steadying breath she opened the door and stepped inside, feeling a bit like Daniel in the lion's den.
"Lavinia," Martha greeted her sister-in-law, forcing herself to speak calmly, if not warmly.
"Martha," Lavinia returned the greeting in a small, unsure voice. "I am sorry that this happened Martha, I didn't know there would be a tornado..."
"That doesn't really help a lot Lavinia," Martha replied in a tight voice. "I know you're sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that those children were put through a nightmare. It won't help any either with the nightmares they're bound to suffer from, in fact Bo's already woke up screaming once. I won't turn you out Lavinia, but right now I'm still angry about what happened and I'm just not ready to absolve you of your guilt."
"I understand," Lavinia said, swallowing hard and looking away not wanting Martha or Jesse to see the tears that threatened to fall. "I guess I'll just say good-night then," she quietly spoke, before heading to the spare room.
"Good night Lavinia," Jesse quietly called. Moving over to the rocker where Martha sat, he pulled her to her feet and into his arms. "Thank you sweetheart," he murmurred into her hair.
"For what? Jesse I was rude to Lavinia, you shouldn't be thanking me for that," Martha protested, trying to pull away.
"Maybe, but you also are letting her stay here when I know you'd like to throw her out on her ear. You kept your temper too, I know how hard that was for you."
"Do you?" Martha asked, sounding as though she wasn't convinced that he did.
"Yes I do, I know how you get when you're worried about the kids and how protective you are. Besides, I'm having a bit of trouble with my own temper right now, but she's my baby sister and I can't just throw her out."
"I know Jesse, and that's why I'm keeping my temper in check. Enough about your sister though, we need to go to bed. I've got a feeling we'll be getting woke up before morning," Martha sadly told him.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Jesse agreed. Shifting slightly, he kept one arm wrapped around Martha as they headed to their room. He hoped they'd be allowed at least a few hours of sleep before the nightmares began.
TBC
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