A/N – Hi! I don't know why this story has been so difficult to do, but it has. You have no idea how much your suggestions and comments have helped. So, please feel free:)
This was originally intended to be a little 'racier' of a story. I've tried to tone it down, and I hope there isn't anything inappropriate for younger readers. If anyone thinks there is, please let me know:)
Disclaimer: I don't own the Dukes, and no infringements intended.
BALANCING THE BOOKS
CHAPTER 6
DECISIONS, DECISIONS
The next few days, Jackie buried herself in her work, and it hadn't taken long to discover why she had been sent to the Bank of Hazzard. There were discrepancies, but unlike many of the audits she conducted, they weren't hidden very well at all. That fact alone was enough to cast doubt on the Treasury Department's original theory. Knowing she was jumping the gun, she returned to the task of finding the problems and plotting a course to fix them, making copies and notations of what her impressions were as she did so. She would review everything again when she was done.
From that first Monday morning, Jackie settled into a routine. She would walk to the bank from her room, seeing Cooter as she passed by his garage. Like the Dukes, the mechanic was friendly, and Jackie found herself in a position of having to drag herself away as the clock approached eight. If it had been her choice, she would have chatted longer, but she was on the taxpayers' time, and that meant it was their time.
For lunch on that first day, she'd walked across the street to the local diner. It was a typical, small town cafe where the locals gathered for conversation and coffee more so than the food, though the cuisine had been quite good. More than a few of the residents introduced themselves; some conversed, but all of them looked her over quite well. She wasn't one of their own and she could imagine the speculation taking place as to who she was. Jackie found that the males were more talkative, especially the younger ones. Some she recognized from the Boar's Nest, and the Special Agent had already been extended various invitations, which she politely declined. The older males were more interested in why she was there, and the females of all ages had more of a tendency to whisper and stare. It wasn't that she wasn't used to it; she was. It happened in every small town that she was sent to. Yet, constantly being under a microscope could wear on a person's nerves. With the beautiful spring weather and the lovely town square just across the street, Jackie preferred those surroundings to sitting inside, anyway. Therefore, on the second day, she ordered her lunch to go and took it to the gazebo, along with a book, but that didn't guarantee any more privacy than the diner.
Hazzard may have been comparable to other small, rural communities she had visited, but there was one distinction that the Georgia town held that no other ever had; it was the friendliest town she had ever been assigned to. Besides seeing Cooter in the morning, she also found herself running into him during the lunch hour and on her stroll back to her room in the evening. His garage was on her route, so she didn't find that so strange. What she did find unusual was just how often she seemed to be crossing paths with one, or both, of the Duke boys.
Besides constantly bumping into them on the street, they seemed to have an awful lot of banking to do. They were always stopping by to say hello, yet she rarely ever saw them go to a teller to conduct business. Jackie had a feeling that if she were to access their accounts, she'd find limited activity. She could, if she wanted to; she had complete authority to view any and all of the bank's records, including individual accounts, and she knew she'd never have to explain it to anyone. She didn't, however, knowing that it would be an abuse of her power. She didn't think that she had to see with her own eyes that farming really was a hard way of life, and she'd never want to embarrass her friends by letting them find out that she had looked at their bank balances, or lack of them.
It wasn't that she minded seeing any of the young men; she didn't. If she were honest with herself, she would have to admit that she liked these people, more than she should. If she were completely candid, she'd have to admit that one young man was having a stronger effect on her than the others. She wasn't ready to admit that, though, so she reminded herself that she wasn't there to make friends; she had a job to do. She did, however, wonder just how the boys ever got any work done around the farm when they always seemed to be in town.
By the fourth day, Jackie was comfortable with her mid-day schedule. Settling down with her sandwich and book, she was about to discover that reading wasn't going to be on the agenda. A pair of boots were standing in front of her. Allowing her eyes to travel upward, she shouldn't have needed to see the face to know who it was; the oil stains should have given it away. Towering above her was the town's best, and only mechanic, Cooter Davenport.
"Howdy? Mind if I join you?" he grinned, raising a brown paper sack to reveal his own lunch.
"Not at all," she replied, closing her book and inviting him to sit down with a wave of her hand. Even if she had minded, she wouldn't have been able to refuse. She still felt that he had undercharged her for the work he'd done on her car. Within minutes, she had no regrets about extending the invitation. Besides company, Cooter was providing her with entertainment. Jackie found it difficult to remain sitting upright as her fits of laughter threatened to cause her to topple over. Cooter was a wonderful story-teller and a gifted comedian. Though she wasn't sure whether to completely believe all of the details he was conveying, she certainly was enjoying the tales.
Of course, Bo and Luke had no way of knowing that they were the topic of discussion as the orange Charger stopped at the curb. All the boys saw was Jackie and Cooter laughing hysterically and looking like they were having a very good time. Neither of the cousins appreciated what they were witnessing, and in a joint effort, they decided to crash the party. Jackie was still laughing when they walked over, but Cooter had recovered enough to fill them in on what he had told her so far about their escapades in Hazzard. Nodding and trying to look innocent, the boys sat down, but made their presence known.
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Bo could not erase the image from his mind. He'd been watching Luke flirting with her, but seeing Cooter and Jackie together had sent him over the edge. The blonde knew that his cousin liked her, but while he'd been keeping a close eye on Luke, he'd forgotten all about the mechanic.
Bo couldn't explain why this girl had affected him so much in such a short period of time, but she had. Bo Duke had a reputation with the ladies around Hazzard, and one of the things he was known for was not being able to stay in a serious relationship for too long. He might fall hard, but he never stayed interested. The logical thing to do was to forget about Jackie Johnson. She wasn't going to be in Hazzard long enough to risk ruining life-long relationships. Afterall, it wasn't as if Bo Duke had any trouble securing the company of a female. Yet, Bo Duke wasn't logical, and something just wouldn't allow him to step aside. Instead, he found himself sizing up the competition in a way that he never had to before.
Cooter Davenport had been Luke's best friend since the oldest Duke boy arrived at the farm, even before Bo. While Bo tagged along when they were kids, eventually Cooter and Bo had developed their own friendship, no longer needing Luke as the common thread. The mechanic had proven time and time again that he was a true friend, to all of the Dukes. As they discovered girls, Bo and Luke earned a reputation which caused many a father to chase them as far away from their daughters as possible. Yet, out of the three boys, Cooter had enjoyed the longest and most serious relationships with members of the opposite sex. Underneath the many layers of grease, there must have been something that the ladies liked; at least, a few of them in the past had. Still, Bo believed that he could handle Cooter, though he did have an advantage over both Luke and himself; with Jackie staying at the boarding house, he was simply closer.
Moving on to his cousin, Bo wasn't so sure he could deal with Luke so easily. It was no secret that out of the three cousins, Luke was the smartest; it was the area of insecurity that Bo struggled the most with. With the local girls, it really wasn't that much of an issue. The blonde cousin was known as one of the best looking men in the area, and he'd always relied on those good looks to secure his place with the ladies. He was also known as being sweet, and the females seemed to like that, too. Luke did not have a reputation as being quite so tender. His legacy was his brains, but having a high IQ in rural Georgia didn't always mean that much, so Bo had always been a little more popular.
Unfortunately, Jackie Johnson wasn't one of the Hazzard ladies. She was from a big city, college educated, and very much a professional. Bo couldn't help but believe that in the long run, a woman like herself would prefer more of an equal, and if that were the case, Luke was more her type. Even if Bo could win her heart, he didn't know how long he could hold her interest.
Whatever might happen, Bo couldn't even imagine being able to watch if Jackie decided that she wanted Luke or Cooter.
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Able to stand it no longer, Bo slipped out of the farm house that night. No one was aware that he was leaving until they heard the General peeling toward the highway. Uncle Jesse wanted Luke to go after him, but the brunette convinced his uncle that they just needed to let him be. Luke Duke had a hunch he knew where Bo was going, and doubted that his youngest cousin would appreciate being followed.
Luke had only been half right. While Bo did end up parked in front of the boarding house where Special Agent Johnson was staying, he had not driven straight there. In fact, he hadn't planned on going there at all. Bo had just wanted to clear his head and try to eliminate some of the turmoil he was feeling, and the best way he knew to do that was to drive. The blonde figured that even a speeding ticket was a lot less expensive than the cost of therapy, and Rosco would have to catch him first. The drive may not have eliminated the insecurity he was feeling, but it made him understand that he wasn't going to accomplish anything by sulking around the farm. If he ran and hid, it would only open the door to other suitors, like Cooter and his cousin, and a Duke never quit. So, Bo decided to go directly to the source of his frustration.
The Mustang was outside the building. Bo parked the General in back of it, oblivious to the stares that the paired orange cars were receiving. However, Bo knew that just because the car was there didn't mean that she would be. Jackie could be anywhere, with anyone, and even if she was in, she might not be alone. Finding himself outside her door, Bo took a deep breath before raising his hand to knock. He could hear something inside, and was thankful that part of his prayer had been answered. She was there; now, he'd find out if she was alone.
Had Jackie Johnson been at home, she probably would have been fearful to hear a knock on her door that late in the evening. It wasn't late by Chicago standards, only eight o'clock, but in a small town on a weeknight, it was; almost everything in town was already closed. Yet, this was the friendly town of Hazzard and she wasn't scared. She only hoped that it wasn't one of her potential suitors having gotten up enough nerve to finally visit her at her home away from home. If she'd had more time to really think about it, she would have corrected herself. There was one suitor that she would have been pleased to see, but considering the hour, she never considered that it might be him. Opening the door, she was pleasantly surprised. "Bo!" she said, then smiled. "Hi!"
"Hi!" he grinned back, peering into the room to see if there was anyone else there. When he saw the papers scattered across the floor and no signs of anyone else, he instantly felt better.
"What are you doing here? Isn't this considered late by Hazzard standards?" she giggled.
"Well yeah," he grinned, then turned serious. "I hope you don't mind."
"I don't mind at all," she said. "I'm from Chicago. The evening doesn't even start until nine there."
"Oh well in that case, I guess I'm early," Bo quipped.
"No, you're right on time," Jackie corrected, flashing a devious smile at him, which caused his heart to skip a beat. After a momentary pause, she asked again, "so, what are you doing here?"
Bo tried to think of something clever to say, but Jackie's presence turned his brain to mush and left him weak in the knees. When he couldn't come up with the perfect response, he settled for the truth. "I was just thinking about you," he admitted. "Guess I just wanted to see you."
"You say the nicest things," she told him, which caused him to blush.
"I can see your busy, but do you think you'd have time for an ice cream cone? I'll buy!" he offered.
Pausing a moment, she answered. "Sure."
With chocolate chip for her and chocolate for Bo, they strolled down the streets of Hazzard, looking in the windows and pointing to various things on display.
"I'll bet that would be real pretty on you," Bo said, pointing to a dress in the window of the ladies' clothing store.
Jackie blushed and thanked him for the compliment, wondering if he'd ever run out of sweet things to say to her.
"This here is Miss Tizdale's Post Office," Bo pointed out.
"Really? I thought that the United States government owned the post offices in this country," she laughed.
"Not in Hazzard. She's been running the one here since before the pony express came into existence. I'm serious," Bo assured her when she started to laugh. "She's a nice, little, old lady. Really likes Uncle Jesse, too, but when it comes to the post office and the cab company, she's all business, kind of like you. If you ever need to use it, just remember to take a number or she won't wait on you, even if you are the only person standing there."
"You're kidding?"
"Nope," he stated. "Scouts honor!" he added, causing them both to remember their first encounter.
Coming upon the farm supply store, Bo pointed to a sign. "Ought oh! Better get your hog feed. It hasn't been that price in years."
"That's ok," she told him. "I think I'm good."
Though he had been making a joke, he suddenly was struck by a thought. "I'll bet this is really different than window shopping in Chicago," he said.
"Yeah, it is," she agreed.
"What would you be looking at if you were there right now?" he asked.
"Well, let's see," she said, pausing while she decided how to respond. "A lot of clothes, specialty foods like chocolates and coffee, jewelry, art, and some stranger things like apparatus devices used for the enjoyment of illegal drugs." Bo looked at her like she was kidding. "I'm serious. It's not illegal to sell the contraptions, just the stuff that's supposed to go in them."
"Do you miss it?" he asked.
"Not really. I only pass them on my way to work. I don't shop at stores like that."
Having finished their treat, they threw their napkins into a receptacle as they approached the furniture store. In the window was a hand crafted baby cradle. "Oh my, will you look at that. It's wonderful," she said, placing her hand against the glass.
Getting up his nerve, Bo intruded on her thoughts. "So Special Agent Johnson, do you ever think about getting married and having kids, or are you one of those devoted, career minded only ladies?"
Taken off guard by his question, Jackie looked up at him with wide eyes. "I think about getting married and having kids," she confided in a whisper, though she didn't tell him that she didn't have much reason to think about it too often.
"How come you're not?" he asked, then clarified his question, "married, I mean. Pretty little gal like you probably has her pick of eligible bachelors."
"How come you're not married?" she asked, turning the tables. "From what I hear, you're considered quite a catch."
"Who told you that, Daisy?" Bo laughed.
"No," she replied.
Staying on a topic that he was interested in, Bo responsded to her question. "Haven't found the right person."
"Well see, now that's a problem that's not unique to just small towns."
"But I'm working on it," Bo assured her.
"Yeah?" she asked, suddenly feeling disappointed. She wondered if he was trying to tell her that he had someone special, and if he did, she wondered why he was there with her, instead. Listening to herself instead of her companion, his words didn't register immediately.
"Yeah," Bo confirmed. "There's this pretty little gal from Chicago that I'm just crazy about."
When her brain finally did catch up to Bo's admission, her blue eyes widened in surprise as she raised them to his. She expected to see a mischievious grin brightening his features, but was completely caught off balance when she saw that there was nothing playful about his expression. He was completely serious, and his last statement didn't melt her heart, it seized it. It was as if time had stood still.
Moving ahead in slow motion, Bo leaned in. His lips lightly brushed against hers. Pulling back momentarily, he leaned in again, and this time, his lips didn't lightly brush hers; they claimed hers. As she responded to him, he increased the pressure, feeling her match his intensity.
Bo had kissed lots of girls before, but never had he was felt what he was feeling at that minute; he was dizzy. Jackie seemed to be feeling it, too, and Bo tightened the hold he had on her. It was as much an effot to keep them both upright as it was to draw her closer. Finally breaking apart, they stood there looking at each other while the world faded into the background. Bending down for another light kiss, Bo pulled back and rewarded her with one of his infamous smiles, which she returned.
"Want to sit for a while?" he asked her, nodding toward the Town Square that she seemed to like so much.
She wanted to say something, but all she could do was nod.
Turning toward the center of Hazzard's downtown, Bo kept his arm around her. In a reflex action, Jackie's arm slid around Bo's waist, and the sensations they were feeling were making breathing difficult, for both of them.
Sitting down at a bench, Bo turned to face her, again. Placing both of his hands on her face, he kissed her deeply, again and again. They wound up in each other's arms, not caring if the entire town was watching. When they both needed air, Bo loosened his hold, but not enough to completely let her go.
"I've never felt this way about anyone before," he confessed.
"Me neither."
"Good!" Bo beamed, causing both of them to laugh.
Time then sped up, passing more quickly than they wanted. Bo offered to walk Jackie back to her room, seeing that it was now almost midnight, and they both had to get up early in the morning. Reaching her door, Bo took Jackie in his arms again.
"If I don't leave now, I'm going to forget all about being a Southern Country gentleman," he told her.
She wouldn't have cared if he had, but couldn't find a way to make her mouth and tongue work together. Instead, she nodded.
"Hey, tomorrow's Friday night. How bout dinner and a movie?" Bo asked her, and she agreed. Promising to pick her up at six, he wanted to hear her door lock before he walked away.
Taking one last look at the creature who had stolen her heart, Jackie did as Bo asked, rushing to the window once inside. Bo must have been able to sense her eyes upon him, because he looked up, and for a moment, they just stood there looking at each other.
Jackie remained in place long after the General was gone. Somehow, even the Mustang didn't look right anymore without the orange Charger nearby. Jackie suddenly realized that the books of the Hazzard county bank weren't the only thing out of balance.
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Back at the farm, Luke was still awake. It was almost twelve thirty, and Bo had left hours ago in a mood. Luke was worried about him, regretting the decision not to follow the impetuous member of his family. He swore that if his cousin didn't get home in the next few minutes, he was going to go looking for him. Luke was just about to get up and get dressed when he heard the General's engine. Sighing, he felt an immediate wave of relief that Bo had made it home safely.
Not knowing that his cousin was still awake at that late hour, the blonde snuck in very quietly. Ridding himself of his clothes, he was just about to crawl into bed. The sound of Luke's voice startled him.
"You okay, Bo?" Luke asked.
"Just great, cuz. Just great," Bo purred.
Luke didn't have to ask. He could hear that the lightness in Bo's voice was back. Then, he told himself that his cousin sounded even happier than normal. If Bo wanted to talk, he would have done so after discovering that his oldest cousin was still awake. The silence meant that he didn't, and Luke didn't need to ask what had happened. From the sound of Bo's voice, the brunette could only guess where he'd been and what had taken place. Sighing, he turned to face his own wall. His mind was willing to concede defeat; he just hoped that his heart could go along with the plan.