-_-_-E!-_-_-

Book Two Johnny and Dixie

I’ve got your love, I don’t know how we did it, I don’t know why it seems so long
I’ve got your love, I don’t know why you hid it, I’ve never felt like this before
I won’t fall in love, you said that so sure
You ever notice you never say that anymore
I’ve got your love and it’s a perfect reason for understanding life some more
I’ve got your love, I don’t know how we did it, I don’t know why it seems so long
I’ve got your love; it’s such a total feeling I don’t know where it all began
I won’t fall in love, you said it so sure
You ever notice you never say that anymore
I got your love and if I lose a lover I know it wouldn’t hurt long
I got your love, I don’t know we did it, I don’t why it seems so long
I got your love ……… ²

Part One

8:45 a.m. Dixie McCall’s Apartment

Dixie had returned to her apartment to pack a bag before spending her vacation with Johnny.  She had gone straight to Johnny’s from Kel’s only because she had seen the condition her lover had been in after the fire that morning. She had a feeling he needed to talk.  Instead, she’d found him asleep on the couch when she arrived.  So she left him a note and drove to her place. She took her time, taking a long, much needed shower, and getting something to eat while she waited for the load of laundry she’d put in to wash before leaving for work the day before, to dry. After cleaning up the dishes and putting the clothes away, Dixie changed then picked up the small bag she’d packed. Once ready to leave, she called Johnny to let him know she was on her way before locking the door and heading down the hall.

Kel sat in the parking lot of Dixie’s building. He had slept for a few hours after Dixie had dropped him off before heading over to her building. He watched as Dixie got into her car and pulled out of the parking slot.  He started his car and waited to see which way she turned before following.

Dixie drove slowly down the unpaved lane that led to Johnny’s house.  He had petitioned the county to have the lane, which did have a name, paved, but so far the neighbors didn’t want that.  She remembered a heated phone call Johnny had with one such neighbor several weeks ago.

Kel knew where she was going and wanted nothing more than to keep her from arriving but knew that wouldn’t be a good idea.  So, he followed her and parked several yards into the woods after arriving at Johnny’s.  He climbed out of the car and walked up to the house.  He didn’t want to be seen, but he did want to know what was going on inside.  He stepped quietly up to the living room window and tried to see in around the drapes. He cursed when he couldn’t so he tip-toed down the steps and walked around the house. He ignored the barking dog not knowing that Johnny had recently adopted a Husky puppy that was in the garage right at that moment.  He got to the deck and walked up the steps to look in the dining room windows.  He saw Johnny and Dixie slow dancing in the living room. Kel felt a sense of jealousy he’d never felt before as he watched Johnny and Dixie dancing and kissing.

Johnny hummed softly along with the music playing on the stereo. He held the woman in his arms as if he never wanted to let go.  “I love you, Dixie McCall.”  He whispered.

“I love you too, Johnny.” Dixie whispered back.

They danced and kissed some more before the record ended. Stepping away from each other, they headed for the stairs. Soon the house was quiet as the lovers found themselves in each others arms on the king size bed.

Kel fumed as he watched them walk up the stairs hand-in-hand. “I’ll get you John Gage. No one steals from me and gets away with it.”

Soon Kel was walking back to his car not finding a way to get into the house or see upstairs.  He drove home planning.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

The next day

Johnny whistled as he walked into the kitchen.  He was off three more days before he returned to work. His shift had been given a rare four day break between shifts so he was taking full advantage of the time off. He started breakfast after having taken care of the horses. He was making an omelet he hoped Dixie would like. It was their one year anniversary and he wanted everything to be just right. He had ordered a bouquet to be delivered that afternoon and he had his tux at the cleaners waiting for Jo to pick up. He was taking Dix out to her favorite restaurant then he was going to ask her a very serious question. He thought about the ring he’d purchased the week prior and how long he’s wanted to ask the woman he loved to spend the rest of her life with him. He felt deep down that he was making a mistake. He had had a long talk with Roy the other day. Roy had told him not to worry, that Dixie would be crazy to turn him down.  That yes, he did deserve Dixie McCall. Johnny took a deep breath as he made his favorite breakfast dish.

Dixie woke up slowly smelling something wonderful.  She peeled open her blue eyes and smiled. “Mmmm, smells heavenly.”  She sat up and let the sheet fall off her breast.  She smiled when she heard Johnny catch his breath.  “You made me breakfast in bed?”

“Sure, nothing but the best for milady now.” Johnny helped her get situated then put the tray over her lap. “Enjoy. I have mine over here.” He pointed to a tray that was on the dresser. He picked it up and walked over to the bed.

“Here, let me help.” Dixie held out her hand for the tray. Johnny handed it to her then crawled back into bed. He set the tray in place and smiled.

“Enjoy,” Johnny held up his cup of coffee.

“Thank you, Johnny.” Dixie sipped her coffee before taking a bite of the omelet. “Mmm, as good as it smells.”

“Thank you, milady,” Johnny smiled. He too took a bite of his creation. “You’re right, this is good.”

They both laughed as they ate the breakfast.

Dixie couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of John Gage wearing an apron while doing the dishes.

“What?” Johnny looked at Dix.

“You…” She started laughing again. “Your apron, it’s pink.”

“Yeah, well, it was white, until I washed it with one of my red tees,” Johnny blushed.

“Hey, we’ve all done that before. I know a way to get the red out and the white back.” Dix smiled.   

“Thanks, Dix.  Oh, don’t make any plans for this evening.  I got us reservations at The Lighthouse Inn* for dinner.”  Johnny said as he put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher.

“Really?” Dixie looked at Johnny.  That was her favorite restaurant and she had never been there with Johnny.

“Sure, anything for my girl.” He pulled Dixie into a long over due kiss. He loved the feeling of holding this woman in his arms and kissing her.

Dixie sighed as the kiss deepened.  She wanted it to go on forever.

Finally the need for oxygen overrode their lust and they had to break apart.

“WOW!” Johnny grinned.

“Oh, yeah,” Dixie agreed. “What time are our reservations?”

“Seven,” Johnny leaned back against the counter and pulled Dixie into his arms. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” Dixie pushed back, “Share a shower with me?”

“Sure, I’m all for conserving water.” Johnny pulled Dixie out of the kitchen and up the stairs.  They laughed all the way.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Kel’s on the road to not so greatness

Kel Brackett sat on his couch.  His head was pounding and his ears rang. He wasn’t looking forward to returning to work, but he was needed at the hospital. He had called and talked to a new intern who told him that there had been a bad accident and they were short handed.

Once at the hospital, Kel went to his office.  He found Joe Early sitting on the couch waiting for him.  “Joe.”

“How are you feeling, Kel?” Joe asked.

“Lousy.” Kel growled.

“Well, maybe you should go back home and get some more rest.” Joe looked at Kel. “You’re not hurting anyone but yourself by being here.”

“But I was told you were shorthanded and that there’d been an accident.” Kel said.  He was after all the head of the ER.

“You have more vacation and sick time than anyone else in this department, take it.” Joe stood and held out his hand for his friend.

“All right,” Kel gave in and let Joe help him stand.  He pulled his jacket back on and wrapped it around his body. He suddenly felt very cold.  “But call if you need me.”

“You show back up here before you’re over that ear infection and I’ll have you admitted.” Joe threatened.  “Now, go.”

“Is Dix working today?” Kel asked as he and Joe walked down the hall.

“No, she’s on vacation.  She took four days off to rest and recreate.”  Joe gave a small laugh and a smile.

“Really? Where’d she go?” Kel asked.

“No where.  At least she didn’t say she was going anywhere.  So I assume she stayed home.”  Joe had seen the way Kel had been acting around both Johnny and Dixie since he and Dix had returned from Hawaii several months ago.  He was beginning to worry about his friend. “Look Kel, go home, get some more sleep.  When you come back in three days, we’ll talk.”  Joe smiled at his friend.

“I can’t Joe, I’m needed here.” Kel grumbled.

“Not as much as you think, Kel. You’ll be more of a help if you stay away.  Quite frankly, you look like hell.”

“Truthfully, I feel like hell.” Kel gave his friend a small smile. “Okay, I’ll go home.”

“And don’t show back up here until the day after tomorrow.” Joe walked him out of the office.

Kel let Joe call a cab for him and he rode home nursing the headache and ringing ears. Once home, he paid the fare and walked slowly into his building. He had a plan running through his head as he thought about getting Dixie back from John Gage. ‘Gage, you’re gonna rue the day you were born.’ He thought.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Part Two

The Lighthouse Inn

Dixie and Johnny were sharing an intimate table tucked away in a far corner over looking the ocean. They were sipping their wine quietly talking while they waited for their orders. Johnny’s hand kept disappearing into his jacket pocket so much that Dixie finally had to say something.

“What’s that in your pocket, Johnny?”

“Huh?” Johnny blushed, “Oh, nothing.”

“Really now?” Dixie smiled. She reached for her purse and pulled out a package. “Well, since you aren’t going to say anything, I think I will.  Happy Anniversary John Gage,” She handed the gift to her lover.

“Thank you, Dixie.” He pulled the first gift out of his pocket and handed it to her, “Happy Anniversary Dixie McCall.”

Dixie took the slender package and placed it in front of her. She smiled when she looked at Johnny. “Well? Aren’t you going to open it?” She asked.

“Huh?” Johnny seemed preoccupied. He shook his head to clear it then reached for the gift. He opened it slowly, wanting to savor the moment. The package was not a real small package, a cube shape, wrapped sedately. He took the small card off and read it: ‘To my one and only’ was all that was written.  He smiled as he ripped off the wrapping.  Inside was a box from a big named jeweler.  He opened the box and looked at the watch. “How…” He couldn’t continue as he stared at the beautiful silver and gold pocket watch.

“Roy told me about your dad’s watch and how it broke while on a run one day. I thought that maybe if I gave you a new one, you’d be happy again.” Dixie blushed.  “Not that you aren’t happy, but….”

“I know. Thanks Dix, it’s beautiful.” He opened the face and looked at the inscription. ‘To John Gage My Life, My Heart Forever Dixie McCall’.  He closed the watch and tucked it away in the inside breast pocket of his jacket.  He wanted to keep it close to his heart.

“Now it’s your turn.” He shyly said.

“Okay,” Dix opened the package to reveal a necklace with a diamond mounted on a small heart. She looked at Johnny, then at the heart.  Inside the heart were four letters intertwined. ‘JG DM’  Dixie wiped at the tears that were falling, “It’s beautiful, Johnny. I love it.”

Johnny stood and walked around the table. He gently removed the necklace from the case and put it on Dixie. He leaned down and placed a kiss on her neck, then on her lips. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Dixie said as Johnny returned to his seat.

Their dinners arrived shortly after the gift exchange and they ate while they talked about the rest of their mini vacation.

“What do you think of skiing?” Johnny asked.

“I’ve never tried it.” Dixie admitted.

“Would you like to learn?” Johnny was pushing the peas around on his plate.

“If you’re not going to eat them Johnny, stop playing with them.” She giggled.

“Sorry.” Johnny laughed too.

They talked about going to Tahoe or Aspen next Christmas holiday as they finished their meal.

Desert was served in two parts per Johnny’s request.  The first part was two pieces of cake, one chocolate, and one white with raspberry filling. Johnny poured two glasses of champagne and pulled another box out of his pocket. 

Dixie watched while the waiter placed a card in front of one of each piece of cake.  A second card appeared to be placed in front of Johnny.  She raised her eyebrows in question.

“I am going to open this envelope after I’ve guessed the answer.  You will then open the envelope in front of the piece of cake you would most like to eat.” Johnny made a show of opening the envelope after he held it to his forehead ala ‘Carnack the magnificent’ “The answer is……Yes.” Johnny opened the envelope and pulled out a card, “See, it says ‘Yes’ on it.” He giggled. “Now it’s your turn, which piece of cake do you want?”

Dixie looked from Johnny to the card, over to the cakes then back to Johnny.  She knew which one she really wanted, but she wasn’t sure what she should do.  Sighing, she smiled then took the card and the piece of chocolate cake.

“Now, open the card.” Johnny prompted her.

Dixie slowly opened the envelope and pulled out the card.  It was folded in half.

“Wait!” Johnny said.  “Before you open it….” He pulled the box closer to his hand then nodded.  The box was hidden under the napkin that he had dropped over his hand before the deserts had arrived. 

Dixie opened the card.

Dixie McCall, will you marry me?

Dixie looked at the card, then at the ring Johnny was holding in his hand.  She felt tears running down her cheeks as she looked from the card, to the ring. “Oh Johnny,” She couldn’t stop crying.  Slowly she nodded and whispered the one word that Johnny wanted to hear.  “Yes.”

Johnny stood and walked around to her, he then got down on one knee and placed the ring on Dixie’s left hand. “Thank you.”

The lovers kissed in celebration.  Johnny let out a whoop of excitement when the kiss broke.  “YYYEEESSS! She said yes!” All around the patrons who had seen what was happening broke out in applause for the happy couple.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Brackett’s apartment

Kel finally hung up the phone.  He’d been calling Johnny’s house all evening hoping to talk to Dixie.  Not being successful added to his pounding head. “Dammit, where are you?” He asked the room as he hurled his water glass against the wall.

He paced around like a caged animal until he finally took the meds he’d been prescribed and went to bed to sleep. He fell into a fit full sleep having dreams of the lost love and who she was with now.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Johnny’s Ranch

Johnny woke up and looked the bedside clock.  The numbers slowly switched from 1:59 to 2:00.  Johnny stretched carefully before getting out of bed. He padded quietly into the bathroom where he took care of his full bladder then pulled his robe over his naked body.  He looked at his bed to see the sleeping form there then headed out of the room.  He had to think and the best place for him to do that was out on the deck watching the night sky.

Taking a bottle of beer from the fridge, Johnny walked out onto the dark deck.  He loved the darkness that he never got living in the city. Even at Roy’s the back yard had residual lighting from the street lamps, out here there weren’t any lamps to brighten things up.  Johnny liked this.

He reclined on the lounge chair sipping his beer as he thought back on his evening with Dixie.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Secluded section of the beach

Dixie took Johnny’s hand as they walked along the surf line. She looked up at the star filled sky seeing the haze that hovered over this part of the city in the late fall. The street lamps gave off their orange light to make things look almost surreal. Dix squeezed Johnny’s right hand with her left and looked at the man she was willing to live with for the rest of her life. “It’s beautiful here.”

“I know.” Johnny squeezed her hand back.  They’d taken off their shoes back at the restaurant’s parking lot and Johnny had grabbed a blanket. Now they were walking barefoot in the still sun warmed sand. “The water’s getting cold though.” He said as the surf climbed higher on the shore. He looked around at their surroundings.  There was an old fire pit just off to their left, he steered them towards it. “Let’s go over here and start a fire.”

They picked up some drift wood, (does anybody know where that wood really comes from?) and Johnny built a small fire in the fire pit while Dixie spread the blanket on the sand.

The two lovers lay on the blanket staring at each other, not caring if anybody saw them, or heard them, as they started kissing passionately.

Johnny slowly ran his hands over Dixie’s body as he kissed her. He felt her responding to his touch. He kissed a path down her neck, taking nips as he went along. He felt his hands take on a mind of their own as they started pulling her blouse out of the waist band of her skirt.

“Oh, Johnny,” Dixie panted as her hands too went to work.  Soon both were in a partial state of undresses as they started to make love under the stars with the crashing surf in their ears.

Dixie couldn’t ever remember making love on the beach before, and most certainly not with the man she was with.  It was as if their bodies were meant to go together.

They finished their love making and laid there watching the stars.

“I’m so happy.” Johnny said.  “I don’t think I remember a time when I’ve ever been this happy before.”  He felt emotions welling in him that he’d never felt before.  He buried his face in Dixie’s hair as the tears welled up in his eyes.

“Shh, it’s all right.” Dixie held Johnny seeming to know what Johnny was going through.  “I love you, Johnny.  You can be as happy as you want now.”

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Johnny’s Ranch

Johnny felt the bottle slip out of his hand and jolted upright.

“Are you all right?” A soft voice asked.

“Oh, Dix,” Johnny held open his arms.

Dixie went to him and lay down in his arms.  “I woke up and you weren’t there.”

“I’m sorry. I had to see the stars.” Johnny said softly.

“I know. I figured you needed to come out here to think. So, what did you decide?” Dixie asked.

“I’ve decided that no matter what, I’ll love you forever, Dixie. Forever and ever,” Johnny hugged Dix close to his body. “I want to wake up in the morning holding this body and I want to come home from work knowing that you will be here to take care of me as I will be here to take care of you.”

”That sounds wonderful.  So, when do you want to get married?” Dixie let out a small laugh at Johnny’s sigh.

“Oh, hell, how does June 2^nd sound?”

“Like a date.”

“Okay, then it’s set, we’ll get married on June 2^nd 1979.” Johnny sat forward and wrapped his arms around Dixie’s waist.  “I love you.” He took a nip of her neck.

“You must be part vampire.” Dixie giggled.

Johnny continued nipping away at the soft skin just below her right ear as his hands got busy again……

-_-_-E!-_-_-

In a little cabin on the beach

Tito and Jorge talked while they looked over the contents of the wallet they’d stolen three nights earlier.  “Man, I can’t believe that dude didn’t have any cash on him. Man, this sucks.” Tito threw the wallet into the corner of the shack that he and his friend were crashing in.

“Well we have his address.” Jorge said.  “We could always go over there and see what kind of goods he has.”

“Man, that’s so stupid!” Tito spat out. “Don’t you think he’s told the cops? Man, use yer head, the cops’ll be all over that place for at least two weeks and we don’t have that kinda time.”

“So?” Jorge pulled had pulled a picture out of the wallet, a picture of a pretty blonde.  “What about blonde here?”

“What about her?” Tito asked.

“Well, her address is on the back of this picture.  Maybe she’s got some stuff we can hock.”

“Now that’s using the old noodle, as my grandma would say. Jorge, my man, let’s go.”  The two left the cabin and headed for Dixie McCall’s almost empty apartment.  They were sidetracked by an invite to a party by another of their friends, they figured the apartment would still be there tomorrow.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Dixie McCall’s apartment (For Rent)
The Next day

She’d been slowly moving in with Johnny for months, but still had several things there, mostly clothes, books, and most of her kitchen and furniture.  They’d talked about it and had decided that they would pack the rest up during their mini vacation and finish the moving process.  So, the day after Johnny proposed and while the yahoo’s who’d mugged Dr. B. were on their way over, Johnny and Dixie with the help of Roy and Joanne DeSoto, were packing the rest of Dixie’s stuff for the move.

“You got that?” Roy asked as Johnny walked out of the apartment with his arms full of boxes.

“Yeah, Pally,” Johnny grunted.

Roy shook his head as he walked back towards the building.  They had parked the moving van as close as they could to the building entrance so they didn’t have as far to carry the furniture.  They were almost to the point where they could dismantle the three book cases and move the furniture out to the van.  Dixie and Jo were busy packing up the kitchen, bath, and bedroom.  They figured they’d be done in another hour and be able to help with the furniture.  Roy looked at Johnny as he pulled the door open. He couldn’t remember ever seeing his friend this happy before.  “Hey, I’m gonna give the guys a call see if we can’t get them over to help with the furniture.”  He called out.

“Yeah, I think you’d better.” Johnny agreed.

Two hours later, Dixie was all moved into Johnny’s house and the muggers were looking around an empty apartment cursing up a storm.

-_-_-E!-_-_-

Finale