Chapter 5

After Jessie-Bell started getting better and stronger it seemed to Bo that life could not go smoother. His job in the mill at Green's Ville was still open to him and with the money he had saved; he managed to pay off all of Jessy-Bell's mecidal bills. On top of that he had found a little house in Green's Ville that had been for closed on my the bank. It was a bit of a fixer uper so Bo was lucky enough to get it cheep. He managed to take a day and drive up there to see the town. The little house that he had bought was small but still managed to have three bed rooms on the 2nd floor. Really he only needed two but you never know. When Bo had first heard the asking price, his first though was a trailer, but it was a nice little place with a lot of property. The formor tented was a drunk and didn't really get a chance to pay all his bills. The power, heart and everthing had been cut off. Finialy the bank had to reposse it just to pay up on the bills. The man was now living with his daughter and getting up in one of the Northern States.

The day that Bo got Jessy-Bell form the hospital he placed her in the back seat of his car and together they drove to Green's Ville. Bo had already checked with the doctor up there and he was more then happy and more then qualified to take care of Jessy-Bell. It was a long drive and Bo was sure to stop to make sure that Jessy-Bell was okay. The nurces had made sure that Bo knew what to do for just about everyone of her crise. He was thinkfull for that.

It was around late afternoon when they finally got there. Bo pulled into the drive way, turned the car off and got Jessy-Bell out. He took her car seat and all. He'd keep her in there till he got her crib set up (he had set all of their stuff the day before).

Bo spent the next couple of hours putting together Jessie-Bell's crib and getting his room in order. Jessie-Bell was still young and still needed to stay in his room till she was a bit older. When his room was finally together he was so tired that all he wanted to do was sleep. He checked on Jessie-Bell and then crawled into his own bed. He had about three days before he had to start work and he had to get the house in order and find a babysitter for Jessy-Bell. It wasn't long before he was sound to sleep.

Bo turned over in his bed. He was enjoying his sleep so much when the sounds of whimpers filled the air. At first Bo though that Luke was having flash back's to his time P.O.W in Nam. He was just about to jump out of his bed and wake the poor man up until the whimpers turned into a full fledged cry. That's when Bo realized it was Jessy-Bell and not Luke. Jumping from his bed, he ran for the little one's bed. Looking into her crib he found the little baby lying on her back with a teddy bear throwing it back and forth. Bo picked her up and put her to his cheek. She kept crying so Bo took her down stairs to get her something to eat. He took one of her bottles out of the fridge. When Bo put the bottle to the baby's mouth she took it right away and sucked away until it was almost all gone. After she was finished Bo put her up to his shoulder and started to pat her back. Not long after he heard the sound of a little burp. Bo smiled and laughed. He looked at her. Her big grin was looking up at him. Bo shook his head.

After Bo got the baby all cleaned up and got himself cleaned up he took her out into the town for a walk and to see if he could find a babysitter. Bo knew he needed someone who was willing to work nights. As Bo walked through the town he got a few odd looks and so on. Finally he found himself in front of a neat little diner. When Bo walked into the diner, he got quite a few stares. One in particular was that of the town sheriff.

Sheriff Jeffrey Parsons was a young man with a big heart. His blond hair and blue eyes made him an artwork for the woman to admire (N/A. Re-Reading this I don't remember writing that part... But then again when you send it to you're cuz who the character is based on for editing you ever know what you're going to get). Too bad for them that was all they could do... since there was a gold wedding ban on his finger.

Jeff smiled at Bo when he came in and made a motion for Bo to come sit next to him. At first Bo didn't like the idea but decided to take a chance anyways. He went and sat down next to Jeff.

"Well that's a pretty little thing you got there sir. Mind if I ask where you got her too."

Bo laughed and smiled at the man.

"Same way most people get their babies from sir." replied Bo

Jeff smiled.

"Names Jeffery Parsons. Sheriff Jeffery Parsons. Nice to meet you..."

"Oh... Bo. Bo Duke. Oh and this one here is Jessy-Bell."

"Ha. Well it's nice to meet y' alls. Jessy-Bell sure is a pretty little thing. Her mother must be a looker... if you don't mind me saying." said Jeff

"Yeah she was something else."

"Was?"

"Um... Yeah. Her mother... Isn't really with us anymore." Said Bo.

Bo figured a while ago that as far as Linda-Ann was consurned Jessy-Bell was dead and the odds of her showing up in Green's Ville was slim. He'd didn't want Jessy-Bell to grow up knowing her Mother had just walked on her in her time of need. Bo figured it would be best to just keep it to himself.

"Oh..." Replied Jeff. "I'm sorry for your lost."

"Ah. Thank You." replied Bo

"So how old is this little one anyways?" asked Jeff tying to lighten the mood.

'Oh! She's about three and a haft months."

"What! You're kidding me? I though for sure she was only a month? She's about the same size as my little one, Becky, and she's only about a month old."

"Oh really. Well you never know. They might grow up to be the best of friends."

"Yea. So how's she sleeping. Bec's been keeping us up allnight."

"Went to bed last night and slept through the whole night." said Bo

"You're kidding me. Well that is something."

He kept on talking to Jeff about Jessy-Bell, Becky and then so much more. About what he was doing out in Green's Ville. He also let it slip that he had been on probation for running shine. Jeff was okay with that. Jeff then confessed that that was how he paid his way through school. Bo laughed. They sat there talking and enjoying their coffee . Bo then brought up the topic of having to find a babysitter that would work nights. That's when Jeff snapped his fingers.

"I know just the woman for ya!" He turned away from Bo and yelled out "Hey Gabby! Come here for a minute!"

Bo turned and looked. He watch as this young latino waitress made her way to the front of the diner. She looked like she was about 15 or 16 years old. Her long dark brown hair was tied back in a pony tail and her big brown eyes lit up when she looked at Jessy-Bell.

"You called me Jeffrey?" she put her hand out to Jessy-Bell, who took it and right away tried to put it in her mouth. The young girl smiled and started playing around with Jessy-Bell. Jessy-Bell laughed.

"Yeah still looking for another job?"

"Sure am" she replied

"Well this young 'fella here is looking for a sitter to work nights. The lucky gal will be looking after this little one. And hey... She sleeps through the night!"

"All night work?"

"Um... Yes m'am. I want to be home day time with my little one here" answered Bo

"Awww... How sweet. Well sure thing. I can't see why I can't. Plus I need the extra money." replied the waitress.

"All right then. Um...sorry I didn't get your name." Asked Bo

"Gaberilla, but everyone calls me Gabby. And no need to apologize... I didn't get your name either."

"Oh! Bo... Bo Duke and this here is Jessy-Bell."

"Nice to meet you. Um...When do you want to me to start?"

"Oh! Um... Monday night. I go in at 7 and come home at 7."

"Perfect! I'll be there 6. Is that okay?"

"Um... Early but yeah."

"Alright then." Said Jeffrey. "Now that we have that settled. How's Mike getting on?"

At these words Bo noticed Gabby tense up.

"As good as any man can be I guess. Well I have to get back to work. I'll see you later Jeffrey. It was nice meeting you Bo. Oh! And you too Jessy- Bell."

Jessie-Bell squealed and giggled as Gabby walked away. Bo could tell that Jessy-Bell really liked Gabby. To him that was a good sign. It meant that Jessy-Bell wouldn't have a problem with Gabby taking care of her.

"Poor girl."

Bo turned his head and looked at Jeffrey. He had said it right out of the blue.

"What?" Asked Bo. "What do you mean?"

"Ha. Gabby. Poor girl. Just 17 years old, here living with her dead beat boyfriend. Don't have a single family member within a 1000 mile radius and to top it off she got to be working like a dog to support his sorry ass. Sometimes I wonder if he hits her. And that's why she doesn't leave him."

Bo just looked at Jeffrey. Jeffrey noticed the look on Bo's face and quickly threw in:

"Oh god! Don't worry Bo. Known Gabby for two years now. Yeah she moved here with him when she was 14. But I tell you. Will power. She may not be going to school but by god she tries. Always reading and stuff. Ah. She'll treat Jessy-Bell good. Don't you worry about it."

"Jeff.... if she was only 15 when she moved here.... with her boyfriend. Isn't that kind of illegale?"

"Well. Yea. Bastard she's with is 20 years old. I tried to get her out of there once and back home but after I looked into. Believe it or not she's better off here. Family back in California is worst off. Mother died when she was 10, father's a drunk of the biggest kind and her brother are all in gangs.

As for foster care. At 15-16 she'd just be jumpped around from home to home with no chance at a real family. I'd firgured it best to just keep an eye on her, help her out as much as possible and maybe one day she'd get the strength to dump that loser and run off and find her prince charming."

Bo looked passed Jeff to Gabby. Poor thing alright. It was right then and there that Bo promised that Jessy-Bell would never have to go though any anguish like that.

The days went on and soon it was Monday. Gabby showed up 6 o'clock right on the dot. They talked about how much Bo would pay her and they agreed on a sum. Bo had Jessy-Bell all ready for bed. He kissed her good night, said see ya to Gabby and then took off to work.

His first night was hard but he'd get use to it. His job was to make sure that everything was shut down for the night and to fix anything that was broken. Also he had to get everything started up by morning for the morning shift that came in at 7. Bo got off work and made his way home. When he walked through the door he was greeted by Gabby and Jessy-Bell. Gabby had her work uniform on and was feeding Jessy-Bell her breakfast. Bo smiled to the both of them. He walked over to Jessy-bell and kissed her head.

"She a good girl last night?" asked Bo

"Good as gold. Woke up once, but that was just a dirty diaper job."

"Not bad." replied Bo.

"Well I'm off to work. Oh! There are some pancakes in the oven for you. 'Figured that you'd be too tired to get your own breakfast. I hope you don't mind." said Gabby

"What! Pancakes! Hell no I don't mind. Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes." Bo sang as he made his way to the oven. "Mmmmmmmmm."

"Whaaaaaaaaaaaa" scream Jessy-Bell. Bo looked up at the little girl in Gabby's arms. Her big blue eyes were looking right at him. Gabby laughed at her. She then took Jessy-Bell and placed her in her play pin.

"Well I have to go to work now. I'll see you same time tonight."

"Sure thing. Thanks."

"No problem." With that Gabby picked up her bag and left.

And that's how it went for the next two year. Bo would come home from work and take care of Jessy-Bell. It was hard work and the toll it was taking on Bo could be seen. Bo would get his sleep when Jessy-Bell lid down for a nap and sometimes, on her day off Gabby would come and take Jessy-Bell to the park so that Bo could get some extra sleep.

Bo was sure that he had aged 10 years in just those two. But from the attechen that the local woman gave him that wasn't the case. They always tried to get his attechen and make small talk with him. Gabby comment on this one morning. Bo just laughed. He then explained to her about the skirt chaser she use to be in his younger day's.

"Oh. You're younger day's. What was that... two years ago Mr. I'm 40 years old." laughed Gabby.

"Haha... Yourrrrrahhhhhh..." Bo started yawing haft way though. "You're so funny Miss Soto."

"Huuummm... and you're sooo tired Mr. Duke. Anyways I have to get to work. Same time tonight?" Asked Gabby

"Hmm... Oh no.. I got to night off. It'll be sweet dreams for me tonight." replied Bo

"Oh." replied Gabby. Bo knew she tried her best not to sound disapointed but she failed. Being home was not where she wanted to be. On that note Jessy-Bell came running into the room.

"Daddy!!!!" she ran and jumped into Bo arm. "Aola"

"What?" asked Bo

"Oh...Sorry" replied Gabby. "I've been teachering abit of spanish. She was trying to say Hola. It's hello."

Bo's eyes widen.

"She two and she know hello in spainsh?"

"Yes. I hope you don't mind. I can stop if you...." But Bo cut her off

"God no. Teach her away. It'll be nice for her to grow up knowing a 2nd language. Thank you."

Gabby smiled then looked at her watch.

"Well I have to get going. I'll see you tomorrow then?"

"Yup. If I don't see you in the day it'll be about the same time tomorrow night okay?" replied Bo

"Sure thing."

And with that Gabby was gone. Little did Bo know that him taking the night off would be one of his worst mistakes... And Gabby would pay the price for it.