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Chapter 3

The roar of EWING 3’s engine roared through Southfork’s drive, interrupting a casual conversation between his parents on the veranda, “What in the hell? Junior!” Jock’s voice bellowed, striding over to his eldest son with an expectant expression. “What in the hell is going on here?”

“Nothing, dad. I had a bad day at the office, that’s all.” JR lied, holding his hat in both his hands with an apologetic look on his face, hoping his father would let it slide.

“Well,” Jock shared a concerned glance with his wife, “How can that be? Because your secretary already informed me you haven’t been in the office all afternoon, she said you skipped out the office after a phone call from a young woman. Now I understand you may like this reputation you’ve earned yourself since college,” his father reasoned, while Miss Ellie’s eyes lowered to the ground, well aware of her son’s behaviour which Jock had always encouraged. “But you’ve got to understand, Ewing Oil is way more important than any young girl running around with you.”

“I know, dad. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.” JR promised.

“Good.” Jock replied, satisfied. “Now get yourself showered and changed, your mothers invited Punk and Mavis Anderson for dinner with the family and that includes you.”

“Yes, sir.” JR dutifully nodded his head, strolling inside the house to his bedroom while his parents returned to their late afternoon drinks on the veranda. Travelling down the hall, the quirky babble of his two year old niece attracted his attention and JR stopped dead outside the nursery room. As the blonde haired girl crinkled her forehead with a small frown at his presence, JR leaned over the cot, “My drunken bum of a brother made a big enough mistake with you. I’ll be damned if I’m gonna make the same one myself.”

“Hey, JR.” A dark haired eleven year old entered the nursery room, copying his brothers stance against the cot. “Good day at the office?”

“Not bad, Bob. How was school?” JR checked, admiring the carefree yet responsible little boy that was his favoured and most adored brother. “I thought you would be out with that girl, what’s her name?”

“Jenna. Not tonight,” Bobby shook his head. “She’s got homework.”

“Well, she’s not the only one. I’ve got some stuff to deal with,” JR excused himself. “I’ll see you at dinner, alright.” Leaving Bobby in the nursery room with their niece, JR shut himself away in his bedroom, his thoughts still centred on his confrontation with LeAnn and his possible first child. “Damn,” he muttered underneath his breath with a confused glint in his eye, believing her pregnancy claim could prove his inner fool, yet following through on his threat could threaten the Ewing family name.

Half an hour later, after a shower and change of clothes, JR found himself quieter than usual at the dinner table where his mother fussed over the guests and Jock made futile conversation with Punk over the oil world. Eventually Mavis changed the subject from Ewing Oil, “Ellie, did you hear Martin Hurst’s daughter is engaged?”

“Marilee? Hell, I didn’t even know she was involved with anyone. She didn’t seem the type to settle down at all,” Jock commented.

“That’s exactly what I thought, but then are any of the young ones these days? They all seem intent of living life for themselves and don’t think about the future, living for the moment they call it.” Punk chuckled, rolling his eyes with the thought.

“I think it’s a nice idea. Being pressured into marriage certainly isn’t ideal, some simply aren’t ready for a family and it’s better to start late than break up a family a few years into marriage,” Mavis reasoned, contrasting her husbands statement. “What about you, JR? Have you got any plans for marriage anytime in the near future?”

“Oh, Mrs Anderson. It will take a real special girl to tie me down.” Forcing a confident grin, JR answered with pride while Jock shuffled with discomfort at JR’s eagerness to remain single.

“JR’s yet to meet anyone special enough. And like you said,” Miss Ellie rushed to his defence, sensing her husbands annoyance, “It’s better to be sure, rather than rush into anything too quick.”

“Sure. I mean, look at Gary leaving that poor little girl upstairs all alone in the world,” JR changed pace of the conversation, easing himself back in with an insult thrown to his younger brother as usual. “The last thing daddy and mama needed was another kid to take care of but he didn’t think of that, of course. No I’ve got enough sense to make sure it’s the right woman before I drag any children into my midst,” he claimed.

As Miss Ellie fell silent, Jock picked up the conversation, “I think we’ll open another bottle of wine, don’t you?”

“Well, I’m sure one day you’ll find the right woman, JR.” Mavis gently encouraged, “Good looks like yours shouldn’t be put to waste,” she assured with a small smile and JR smiled in appreciation. “And you can’t give them away to just anyone,” she pointed out.

“Why not? He usually does,” Bobby shrugged, with a teasing smirk.

“Bobby James Ewing, that’s enough.” Miss Ellie held back her laughter, still attempting to sound slightly outraged. “I think I’ll find that bottle of wine,” she excused herself into the kitchen.

“I’m not so sure Junior hasn’t found the right woman,” Jock continued. “After all, there’s one young girl who managed to tear him away from Ewing Oil this afternoon, yet her identity remains a mystery for everyone but JR. Unless you feel like enlightening us, Junior?”

“No, dad. She wasn’t anyone special, when she is I’ll let you know,” he promised.

Miss Ellie returned to the dining room, “More wine, Punk?”

“Thank you.” Punk held out his glass in an accepting fashion, “And what about you Bobby? There’s word that you’ve been spending an awful lot of time with Miss Wade.”

“Yes, sir.” Bobby proudly acknowledged.

“They’ve been inseparable since Lucas brought that little girl to the barbecue last year and I doubt that will change,” Miss Ellie admitted, eyeing her son with the most charm and sweetness acquired.

“Excuse me, Mr Ewing?” Teresa interrupted, “There’s a young woman on the phone for you, JR.”