Author's Note: This is a story I wrote about the Dukes and their first years at the farm. I tried to keep it with them from the point where they got to the farm, and carry on throughout a couple of years. It's a growing and learning experience for all of them. There are also notes at the end of each chapter, a credit of sorts to a father from his son.
Warning: The warning is placed here for vinsmouse, who wanted a spew warning here, claiming it might be a bad idea to drink while reading the funnier parts. So please keep in mind that drinking any kind of beverage while reading this, might be hazzard'ous to the health of your screen.
Disclaimer: The Duke Boys are not mine, I don't own the Duke boys, nor the General Lee. I promise that once I'm through with them, there will be nothing broken that a trip to Cooter's garage can't fix….
Learning To Love…
Chapter 2: ….A Cousin
Jesse frowned as he once more stood looking at the kids. Daisy had gotten some pots and spoons from the kitchen and was playing that she was baking cakes. She found it very exciting and had found a way to include little Beaureguard in her game. Holding out the wooden spoon to him to taste the batter and lick the spoon. Since everything he got hold off went straight to his mouth he put on a very believable show of tasting it. It was Luke that had Jesse worried. He seemed to be almost trying to avoid the baby. He played some with Daisy, though he refused to play 'girls' games. He wouldn't have anything to do with the baby if he could avoid it though.
Martha had tried to interest him in playing with the baby, even if all you did was really wave toys in front of him and watching him grab at them. Something Daisy would enjoy doing, but Luke might go as far as walk detours around the blanket, Jesse supposed that it was time to talk with him about it. He had no idea what it was about, the boy hadn't made any complaints that his cousin was smelly or disgusting, he just didn't want to be near him.
"Daisy, yer aunt is outside hanging laundry, why don't ya go help her." Jesse suggested wanting to be alone with Luke as they talked.
"Okay Uncle Jesse." Daisy dropped the spoon into the bowl and ran off outside.
"Luke come on over here," Jesse sank down on the couch and patted the seat beside him. Luke gave his car a throw before heading over and sitting down beside him.
"Something troubling ya son?" Jesse asked giving him a serious look.
"Not really," Luke shrugged.
"Luke, yer having me worried." Jesse shook his head and put his hand on the boys back. "Ya don't seem to be doing too good here. I get a feeling that ya don't quite like Beaureguard?"
"I don't know," Luke fidgeted slightly.
"Ya don't know if ya like him or not?" Jesse frowned, a baby could be strange and a hard thing to understand for young children.
"Well, he's cute an' all I reckon, but it's wrong." Luke tried to explain it, but he wasn't sure how to make his Uncle understand what he meant.
"Wrong how?" Jesse tried hard to understand what the boy meant but it was not easy. "Is he too small? Ya know he's gonna grow like any other kid."
"Yeah, but he ain't the right baby really," Luke frowned towards him. "Mommy an' daddy told me about the baby, but that ain't it," he pointed towards the baby on the floor.
"Are ya talking about Jud?" Jesse suddenly thought he might have an inkling what Luke was talking about. It wasn't too long ago when Luke's parents had a baby, but that boy never even made it home. He was killed in a hospital fire, Luke had only seen him about two times when he was allowed to visit the baby. It had hit the family hard and Jesse could understand how he might be hesitant over another baby.
"He was the baby, wasn't he?" Luke asked quietly.
"Jud was a baby," Jesse nodded. "But there are other babies, that one there isn't yer brother, he's yer cousin. He is a completely different person, it's the same as ya an' Daisy are different."
"Of course she is," Luke burst out. "She's a girl."
"Yeah Luke, she's a girl." Jesse smiled to himself, it was amazing how the boy could make some things so complicated, and some things so simple at the same time. "But there are lots of other differences ya know. Beaureguard is gonna grow up to be his own way, but I promise ya that he could have use of ya being there for him when he does."
"What am I supposed ta do wi' him?" Luke frowned.
"Well, be his cousin, an' his friend. Family is really important ya know Luke, very important. Now, wouldn't ya like him to grow up an' think about ya as his friend?"
"I dunno," Luke shrugged and fidgeted slightly.
"Luke, what happened to Jud was sad, really sad, but those things does happen. It's the lord that decides when he calls someone, but if ya let that stop ya, then ya ain't only gonna lose Jud, but yer gonna be losing him to." He pointed at Beaureguard as he pulled Luke closer.
"I dunno," Luke shrugged again.
"It's not gonna be like Jud, Luke." Jesse hugged him again. "He isn't yer little brother, but he's gonna be a really good friend if ya let him."
"I'll try," Luke looked over to the baby. It really wasn't that he had anything against him. He told the truth when he said he was kinda cute. He just didn't know what to think about a baby after Jud. When they told him he was gonna be having a little brother he had been really mad, but then he had seen Jud and liked him only to have him die in a fire. After that he just wasn't sure what he thought about this baby.
"Ya know ya can talk with me if something is troubling ya, right son?" Jesse hoped to comfort him.
"Yeah," Luke nodded slowly but he didn't look so sure to Jesse.
"Really Luke, anything at all. I'll help ya," Jesse promised him hugging him. "I know this is a really hard time fer ya, but we are here to help ya."
"I know, Uncle Jesse." Luke knew that his aunt an uncle was there to help him, and he was really glad to have them. When he woke up from the nightmares at night he would slip across the hallway. They left their door slightly ajar in case the children needed something in the night, and Daisy had woke up screaming several times so that they hurried to her. Then their aunt would take her back to their room and she would sleep with them.
Luke had never done that much with his parents, occasionally he would slip in into their bedroom to sleep in their bed. When he had really bad nightmares, but mostly he was content with his bear and his goat. Now if he woke up with the nightmares he would slip over and peek in through their door to make sure that they were all still there. Once he had made sure that they were all there and everything was still okay he just went back to his own bed. He had his Teddy bear and he his stuffed goat so he was gonna be okay as far as nightmares was concerned.
He knew that Jesse meant what he said and he was grateful to have them.
"Are ya feeling better now Luke?" Jesse asked softly.
"Guess so," Luke looked towards the baby again, he supposed all that he wanted to know was that the same thing that happened to Jud wasn't going to happen with this one.
"Ya know, it's about time to see if that boy there wants something to eat, do ya want to help me feed him?" Jesse asked.
"Okay I guess," Luke nodded, he supposed that it couldn't be too bad.
"I'll go warm up a bottle for him," Jesse grinned heading out into the kitchen. He knew well enough how to warm up a bottle of the formula they were feeding Bo. It was really a little early but he was hoping it would spark an interest in Luke for his cousin. He brought the bottle back with him when it was the right temperature. Sitting down on the floor he had Luke sit in his lap and take Beaureguard in his arms. He showed the young boy how to hold the baby, cradling him in one arm and supporting his head at the same time.
"Now, as soon as ya give him the bottle he's gonna know what to do," Jesse smiled as Luke grabbed the bottle in his free hand. He had his own arm behind Luke's to help him support the boy. Luke brought the bottle over and the baby started sucking at it immediately. He opened his eyes to look at Luke and waved his hands at him. Grabbing at the bottle with one tiny fist, and then grabbing one of Luke's fingers with the other.
"I think he's worried I'm gonna take it away again," Luke declared.
"Well, he's hungry, that's for sure." Jesse chuckled as he watched them. He hadn't thought the baby would be too hungry yet, but the way he ate he seemed starved. Little Beaureguard usually had a healthy appetite, and now he showed it. The bottle was soon empty and Jesse put it on the floor.
"Now, the way he eats he swallows down a lot of air, so that is why we are gonna have to burp him," Jesse explained. Taking Beaureguard he eased him over his shoulder and patted his back until he burped before giving him to Luke and instructing him to do the same thing.
"What is he gonna do now?" Luke wanted to know, he couldn't remember what they did with him since he never paid that much attention.
"Well, sometimes after he eats he wants a nap, and sometimes he wants to play for a bit." Jesse explained it to him softly, Luke was still holding him, and that was a good sign to Jesse.
"So, do we put him in the crib? He can't play with cars." Luke frowned as a tiny fist flew out and hit him in the chest.
"I don't think he's minded for a nap just yet," Jesse chuckled putting the baby back on the blanket. "Why don't ya play some with him Luke?"
"How?" Luke frowned again, if he couldn't play cars, then how did you play with him?
"Whatever ya do he is gonna think is funny," Jesse demonstrated by tickling him on the belly. "Just don't get too rough with him since he just ate, an' I reckon he's gonna be having a good time."
Luke nodded, Bo was dressed in a lose fitting shirt and a pair of small trousers. The drawstring was tied on his belly and he was currently waving his legs in the air and grabbing at his feet. Trying to play some resemblance of a game with him Luke loosened his hands from his feet.
The baby made a sound that sounded like if he was giggling and clasped on to his hands, waving his own small hands up and down. Luke smiled to himself, it did appear as if the baby was indeed easily amused.
For a time he found some ways to amuse him, poke him here and there and watch him squirm. Give him a slight tickle and then grab on to his hands again. Even if the baby occasionally kicked him or punched him he didn't really mind. One thing was for sure, his Uncle had been right. This baby was a lot different from Jud. Jud had been even more tiny, and he never did anything more than either lie still or scream. While all of a sudden having a different baby around was very strange it wasn't really the wrong baby, it was another baby. It was strange, but maybe having him would be better, if he could keep from doing the same mistakes he had last time.
Eventually thought the baby started acting more sleepy, yawning and losing his interest in whatever Luke was doing. When not even tickling his stomach provoked much of a reaction Luke gave in and simply curled up next to him. He shuffled close to him and curled up himself, taking a nap the same as the baby even thought he hadn't intended too.
In credit of the man who sometimes could explain some things, but usually just mumbled something….
TBC
Please review, the Cricket is hungry….