Luke shoved Bo through the house to Daisy's old room as he went to open the door he said "Ya wanna know what's been goin' on. I'll show ya"
"Luke, if ya think I wanna see and in Daisy's room...." Bo was cut off by Luke shoving him again into the room. Bo looked around and was speechless.
"Wow" Gaby said as she came in. They all looked around amazed. There were new covers on the bed and new curtains. It had all been painted a pale yellow and across one wall was painted a mural of Kait and Gaby's horses racing across the prairie with their manes and tails flying. Luke grabbed Bo and dragged him down the hall to Uncle Jesse's old room and pushed him in. Again Bo Gaby and Cooter just stood and looked. This room had also been totally redecorated in pale green with new covers and curtains. It also had a mural of Jackson racing along a Georgia clay track with clouds of dust billowing out behind.
"Luke, I......" Bo finally began to speak turning to Luke and staring at him. Luke just stared back.
"Luke, It's beautiful" Gaby said.
"I didn't know ya had it in ya, Lukas" Cooter smiled
Luke stopped glaring at Bo and turned to him.
"That's just it. I don't. I just painted the walls. Daisy made the covers and the curtains and Sally Anne did the pictures on the walls" Luke explained.
"Damn that girl's good." Cooter said.
"I know, she left Hazzard to go to art college. Remember? I just didn't want anyone to see it before the kids"
"Luke, I'm sorry" Bo started again "So why were you at here place all day?"
"In return for her doin' this, I was doin a little fixin' up for her of the old place she just moved into "
" I'm sorry Luke Shoulda known." Cooter said.
"Yeah ya shoulda" Luke replied.
"I guess we kinda jumped the gun a little" Bo said with embarrassment.
"Yeah ya did" Luke glared at him again before turning tail and marching out.
Bo found him leaning on the paddock fence, staring out across the field.
"Luke, I'm sorry...........I really shoulda known better.................I'm sorry for what I accused ya of and I'm sorry for thumpin' ya and I'm sorry for not trustin' ya" Luke didn't move and said nothing.
"I can understand that ya don't wanna talk to me right now..................I just hope ya can forgive me....................I'm real sorry Luke" Bo sniffed. He always hated it when they fought. Luke made no response so Bo thought it best to leave him to cool down so turned to go back to his house. Luke heard him start to leave still sniffing away tears.
"You were right not to trust me" Luke said still staring out across the paddock.
Bo turned back sharply "Luke ya didn't......Ya said...."
Luke finally turned to face him "I know and I meant it.............I didn't but I coulda. .......It wasn't what I wanted but I almost did anyway" Anguish was written across Luke's face. "I nearly threw it all away for one night" He turned back to lean on the fence
"What about Jess?" Bo said as he came over to lean on the fence next to Luke.
"I want Jess. I want the kids." He said forcefully then more quietly "I want to get married"
"And Sally Anne?"
"Nothin' happened. I guess just spendin' a lot of time with her.......maybe too much time......It kinda felt like the old days"
"But ya love Jess." Bo said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah, I love her more'n I ever loved anyone, 'cept maybe you, Daisy and Uncle Jesse"
Bo gave a quick laugh "I hope ya don't love me like that" He said putting his arm round Luke.
Luke chuckled. "I guess not quite like that" He put his arm round Bo and they went back to Bo's.
As they went in, Gaby go a wet cloth and took it over to Luke gently dabbing his cut lip "Luke I'm sorry. We shouldn't have got involved. We shouldn't have doubted you"
Luke gently took her hand from his face "It's OK. I shouldn't have been so secretive and given you reason to" He kissed the top of her head.
"Which is why we did Buddy" Cooter stood up from the table "Can ya forgive us"
"Already done" Luke replied grasping Cooters hand in an arm wrestling fashion and hugged him. "And I wanna thank all of ya for lookin' out for Jess and the kids"
"Dukes always takes care of their own and they're gonna be Dukes" Bo smiled putting an arm round Gaby. "And I know you'de do the same for me"
Luke nodded "You bet"
"Are you going to stay for supper," Gaby asked
"Thanks but I got somethin' I need to take care of" Luke answered.
"OK" She said gently rubbing his arm. Luke turned to go
"And Luke......" Bo called him back, his voice almost a plea. He stared at Luke and Luke stared back for a moment before going back and hugging him tight.
"It's OK Bo. We're OK" Luke said, as ever no words were needed between the two of them.
As he left the kitchen, Luke heard Bo ask in fun "So Cooter, what brings y'all out here? Was there somethin' ya wanted or was ya just hopin' to stay for supper?"
Cooter replied "I was just fetchin' out that tractor oil, y'all was waitin' on but forgot to bring"
Luke took a deep breath as he stood in his own kitchen, before walking over to the phone picking up the receiver and dialling the number. "Hey there Babe. Did I wake ya?"
"Luke! This is a surprise. I was still up."
"I needed to talk to you"
"Is something wrong?"
Luke proceeded to tell her everything that had been going on and what the others had thought and even about the fight with Bo. When he had finished Jess was quiet. "Jess?"
"I'm still here" She replied quietly.
"That's where I wanna be right now. I love ya Jess. I don't ever wanna cheat on ya." The slight hitch in his voice giving away what he was feeling.
"Luke I want to believe you. But I've been here before."
"Jess please. I've done a lot of dumb things in my life but nothin' so dumb as what I coulda done this past week. But nothin' else matters just you and the kids."
"I know that's what you say, but..........."
"And it's what I mean or I wouldn't have told ya. Nothin' happened. Nothin' woulda happened. I love you and I still want to marry you."
"And I still want to marry you too. God, I wish you were here Luke."
Luke wanted nothing more. He wanted to be able to hold her tight and tell her everything would be OK "I'll change the flights,..... anythin'....... I wanna make this right"
"We can see this through for a few more weeks"
"You sure you're OK with this?"
"I have to be. Call me stupid but I have to believe you. From the start we had to trust each other, being so many miles apart, without trust we have nothing"
"Jess. I don't deserve you. You're the best."
"And don't you forget it"
He could sense her smiling "Never............Jess, I do love you"
"I know........but is it enough?"
"It's just the start, .....I hope"
"For what it's worth I love you too Luke"
"Then marry me....... please"
Jess gave a little chuckle "When you have such a way with words!"
"Well?"
"Yes, I'll marry you."
Luke breathed a sigh of relief "I'll be seein' ya real soon"
"Yeah, it'll be OK. I'll talk to you soon, Luke"
"Sleep tight, Babe"
Luke let out a deep breath as he put down the phone. After a moment to gather himself together, he put on a CD Jess had left behind that he had bought her in Nashville. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and went and sat in Uncle Jesse's chair. He put his head back running his hand across his face and back through his rested his hands on the arms of the chair. "What am I doin, Uncle Jesse?"
"Listenin' to your heart"
Luke looked up quickly to see Bo lent on the doorway. "How long ya been here?"
"Long enough" Bo answered coming in and sitting on the sofa opposite Luke as close as he could get. "Did ya talk to Jess?"
"Yeah"
"Is everythin' OK?"
"Yeah, I guess"
"Luke for once in your life stop thinkin' too much about everythin'. You spent your whole life runnin' coz you thought too much "
"What am I supposed to do then?"
"Follow your heart instead of your head." Bo put his hand on Luke's chest "It's whats in here that matters right now. You know what ya want."
"It ain't that easy"
"Sure it is. You wanna be with Jess, but you think you have to be here. You wanna get married but you think about the complications. You want her close but you push her away coz you think y'aint good enough. You always did what was right, now you gotta do what you really want"
"But all I do is mess it up"
"So, if you love her you'll find a way to put it right" He put his hand back on Luke's chest and drummed two fingers like a heartbeat "I know you don't usually....but just listen"
Luke took a deep breath "Thanks Bo"
"You're welcome" He hugged Luke and stood up to leave.
Luke looked puzzled "Hey Bo. How did you get to be so smart all of a sudden?"
Bo gave his big grin "Just listenin' to you and Uncle Jesse. Night Luke"
"Night Bo" Luke chuckled to himself as Bo left.
Luke put his head back in the chair again "You know what Uncle Jesse, I guess Bo musta listened more'n we though he did" He took a swig of his beer as he listened to the song that was playing quietly on the CD (Keith Urban - Tonight I wanna cry)
After sticking it on repeat, the next thing he remembered was waking up in the chair in the early hours of the morning, the half drunk bottle of beer somehow still in his hand. The fire had gone out and it was cold. He stretched and got up, putting the beer on the kitchen table, he stared out across the farm. It would be at least another hour before Bo would appear for morning chores. But he knew it would be pointless, trying to go back to sleep. He was too restless. Luke took the CD out and as he put it back in the box, he wrote a quick message in it. He found an envelope addressed it, put the CD in and stuck it down. It was way to early for the post office to be open, so he grabbed his jacket and headed for the barn. The sun was just starting to peep above the horizon. Spring was on it's way, Luke could just feel it. It was a beautiful morning, cold but still beautiful. The sort of morning that made him want to run. As a kid when he got this restless he had run. Across the field, up to the creek or just around the yard. Aunt Lavinia always said it didn't matter where, he just had to be on the move. Luke hadn't run like that in years, but he still had to be on the move, so he saddled up Dollar and walked him around the paddock, before trotting and cantering. Eventually, he was in a flat out gallop up to the top forty passed the creek. Even jumping a few fences and ditches on the way. He was still a Duke after all. After, stopping at the creek on the way back to let the horse rest and get a drink of water he cantered back to the yard, jumping the paddock rails.
By the time Bo found him he was back in the barn rubbing down Dollar
Bo walked into the barn carrying two cups of coffee and handed one to Luke"Wondered where you'd got too. Especially when there's just a package for Jess and a beer on the table"
"Too good a mornin' not to be runnin' " Luke smiled.
"Ain't you ever grown outta that" Bo grinned.
"Nope"
"You wanna come over for breakfast? Gaby's worried about ya"
"Not this mornin' , I got some things I need to take care of. Tell her I'll stop by later and I'm fine"
"Alright"
"Ya need the General this mornin'?" Luke asked as he put a blanket on Dollar and took him to the paddock.
"Nah, Want me to come?" Bo replied leaning on the side of the barn with his mug.
"Ya needn't. But if ya want. I just got some things I need to take care of" Luke needed time on his own and Bo could tell Luke didn't want to hurt his feelings by actually saying no so he found something else he had to do at the farm.
So as soon as the chores were finished, Bo headed off for breakfast and Luke grabbed the package for Jess and headed for town. He was still restless and speeding along the back roads into town helped. The General snaked around the corners, kicking up dust. Suddenly Luke heard sirens behind him. He looked in his rear view mirror and smiled as he picked up the CB. "Cletus, What y'all doin' out so early?"
"I could ask you the same thing. But the early worm gets the bird and it looks like I got me a Duke, so pull it on over, Luke"
Luke laughed "Don't you mean the early bird get the worm, Cletus. And y'aint got me yet. I ain't of a mind to be stoppin' today. "
"Aw, come on Luke please"
"Sorry, today's a runnin' day" Luke put his foot down and sped away. Cletus did his best to keep up but eventually when Luke jumped the creek, Cletus landed in it.
"Y'all OK back there"
"Just dandy" Cletus replied dejectedly
"When I get to town I'll have Mavis come get ya"
"Thank ya Luke"
And with that Luke sped off with a wheel spin, kicking stones and dirt out behind him. He took the parcel to the post office and stopped to tell Mavis about Cletus. He even managed to stay cheerful when he ran into Sally Anne. He was thinking about Jess and the kids, and all the things he had to do before he left for the wedding. He still had some fixing up to do at the farm, the jeep needed looking at and he had to call in at the schools about Kait and Bobby. He missed the kids. With that he spun the General around and headed for the High school. When he got there the corridors were empty as lessons had already begun. He turned the corner and almost ran into a guy coming the other way.
"Dobro!"
"Luke Duke. As I live and breath" He said as they shook hands. "Where you been hidin'. Ain't seen ya around in an age"
"I've been around. Busy out at the farm mostly"
"Yeah. I heard Bo got his-self a daughter"
"Sure has. Real cute little thing she is too."
"I'll bet. What you doin' here? Finally owned up to a few kids of your own?" Dobro grinned.
"Nothin' like that. I'm just here about Bobby"
"Bobby?"
"Y'all remember. He raced Hazzard Juniors at the carnival last summer."
"I remember. Kid with a lead right foot. You were kinda sweet on his Mama"
Luke smiled "That's the one. Well, his Mama and me's gettin' married and I gotta get Bobby and his sister enrolled in school"
"Married!! I heard somethin' about it in town. I thought they was shuckin' me for sure."
"Nope. No shuckin' "
"Never thought I'd live to see you and Bo settled down with kids"
Luke smiled "So how come you're here? Never could keep ya in when we was supposed to be here"
"I'm here about my boy. He's in trouble again and Laura-Beth said it was about time I showed my face"
"What'd he do?"
Dobro grinned "Nothin' we ain't done before him" Luke laughed. "Hey Luke, did that guy find y'alls place yesterday?
Luke looked puzzled "What guy?"
"Stranger in town, he was askin' about ya over at the Boar's Nest. About five ten, short dark hair. Real strange talkin'. He was drivin' a dark blue sedan."
"Ain't seen him. Wonder what he wants?"
"If I see him I'll give y'all a holler. I'd better get goin' "
"Yeah, me too. Good to see ya" They shook hands again.
"We'll have to catch up properly over a beer" Dobro said.
"Sure. Might have to wait till after the wedding. I'm gonna be outta town for a while"
"No problem. Congratulations and everythin' "
"Thanks Give my best to Laura -Beth and the kids."
Luke went off to see the Principal. As he stood outside his office waiting for him Luke felt like he was sixteen again. Every time he'd had to stand here meant he was in trouble and that earned him a whooping from Uncle Jesse. He rubbed his hands together nervously as he waited.
Back at the farm later, Luke told Bo about runnin' into Dobro and what he had said about a stranger looking for them. Bo hadn't seen anyone around and he was sure Gaby would have said something if she had. So still puzzled they headed for town to see Cooter. But Cooter called them on the CB before they got there.
"Breaker one, breaker one. I might be crazy but I ain't dumb Craaaazy Cooter comin' at ya. Any you Dukes at home out there on the Hazzard net. Come on."
Luke picked up the CB "Hey Crazy C. This here's a Lost Sheep. We were just headin' into town to see ya. What's up?"
"Well, I'm just goin' out but I thought ya might like to know that there's a stranger in town this mornin' askin' about y'all"
Bo and Luke looked at each other puzzled "Cooter, he wouldn't happen to be about five ten with dark hair a foreign accent and drivin' a blue sedan would he?"
"Yeah, y'all seen him?"
"Not yet but he's been askin' a lot of questions. We already heard. Any idea who he is?"
"Nope, but he didn't look like an old friend fixin' to surprise ya"
"OK Thanks Coot. You see anythin' else give us a holler on the CB"
"You got it Lukas. If ya need anythin' I'll be standin' by"
"Thanks a lot we're down and gone"
Luke put the CB down looking even more puzzled. "Who would wanna be askin' questions about us"
Bo glanced across as he drove "Immigration checkin' up on you and Jess?"
"Nah, that's all OK. And it can't be about the kids coz that's already done. He after you?"
Bo laughed "Me!! I ain't done nothin'" Then as he looked in the rear view mirror he turned more serious "But Luke why is it than whenever trouble turns up, it's nearly always drivin' a
dark coloured sedan?"
"We don't know it's trouble yet. Let's just see if we can find this guy"
"Well, don't look behind you now, but trouble just found us"
Luke spun round in his seat to see the dark blue sedan racing up fast behind them. "Why does it always do that?" He sighed.
"I don't know, but I don't think he wants to talk" Bo replied. With that the sedan rammed into them hard from behind. "Hey what's he think he's doin'." He yelled
"Don't know but Cooter was right about him not bein' too friendly." They were rammed again "What ya waitin' for. Hit it Bo"
Bo stamped on the gas and raced off with the sedan doing a fair job of keeping up. But as fast as the guy was, he wasn't used to wet Georgia clay, which made him reckless and
dangerous. He was still trying to ram the General and run it off the road. Bo was staying ahead and even tried cutting off the road to loose him.
"He ain't bad for a city boy" Bo commented "He's stuck to us like a hound dog on a possum trail"
"We don't know he's a city boy. But I think it's time to get some help." Luke picked up his CB "This is Luke Duke calling Sheriff Roscoe P Coltrane or Deputy Cletus Hogg. Y'all got your ears
on.................. .................Roscoe, Cletus We got a problem out here. We need your help"
"Never thought we'd be askin' for their help" Bo smiled.
"Just drive Bo. Roscoe and Cletus are the only law we have"
"This here's Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane. What do you Duke boys want. This Channel is for official police business"
"Roscoe would ya just listen. We're up on Willow Road and there's a guy in a dark blue sedan tryin' to run us off the road"
"Tiddly Tuddly. You Dukes don't need our help to outrun....."
"Roscoe, this guy looks set to kill us and you're the sheriff ain't ya"
Roscoe snickered "Well alright but if you're shuckin' and jivin' and wastin' police time I'm gonna......."
"Cuff us and stuff us and put us under the jail. I get it Roscoe." Luke said impatiently.
"Cletus you numskull Where are you?"
"Out on Highway 7 at the speed trap like ya told me sheriff"
"Cletus would ya hush. Get out to Willow road and arrest somebody"
"Who Sheriff?"
"Anybody"
"What for?" Cletus asked
"Cletus would you find that one brain cell in that empty head of yours and use it. Think of somethin'"
"OK Sheriff. I'm down and I'm gone"
"Thanks Roscoe" Luke said.
"Lukas Dukas This is Crazy C I'm comin' up on Hopkins Crossin'. Where you at?"
"Comin' up on ya fast."
"How's about we make us a sedan sandwich"
"Thanks Cooter" He turned to Bo "Keep her runnin' cuz" Luke looked behind them.
"Ain't this just like old times Luke" Bo said giving half a smile.
"Yeah, times I could do without. Keep a lookout for Cooter"
Bo slid the General round a few more bends before they heard Cletus racing up behind the sedan with his lights and sirens going. When the driver of the sedan heard it he quickly turned off just before the crossing. The General slid in beside Cooter, stopping just before it hit the truck and Cletus drove off the side half into a ditch to avoid hitting the General, but blocking it in. They all climbed out and helped Cletus out.
"Whoever that was didn't want to get caught" Cooter observed.
"So what d'you suppose he was after us for?" Bo asked.
"I don't know but I don't like it" Luke said looking concerned.
"Did anyone get a look at the licence number?" Cletus asked.
"No, but I did notice that they were Atlanta plates." Luke replied.
"Where d'y'all suppose he's gonna go now?" Cooter asked.
"Don't know, but I don't like the idea of just sittin' round waitin'" Bo frowned.
Suddenly, Luke jumped up from leaning on the patrol car. "We gotta shift this"
"What ya thinkin' Buddy Roe" Cooter looked puzzled.
"Dobro said he was askin' about the farm" Luke looked at Bo "Where're Gaby and Lacey?"
"Back at the farm" Bo said catching Luke's drift and looking very worried. In a moment, they had pushed the patrol car to one side and were back in the General racing for the farm with Cletus and Cooter not far behind.
"Pretty Maiden This is Lost Sheep Ya got your ears on?...............................Lost Sheep to Pretty Maiden Can ya hear me?......................Gaby, if you're there Honey I need ya to pick up"" Luke kept trying the CB
Bo looked across with a mixture of fear and concern "She ain't answerin' Luke"
Luke put his free hand on Bo's shoulder. "Just drive Bo"
"Pretty Maiden to Lost Sheep. Luke Duke this had better be good. Lacey was nearly asleep" Bo and Luke breathed a sigh of relief and Luke patted Bo's shoulder.
"I ain't got time to explain but I need ya to stay inside and lock all the doors and windows. And keep an eye out for a dark blue sedan." Luke instructed trying to be calm and not worry her.
"But what's........." Gaby started to ask
"Gaby, just go. We'll be there real soon to explain" Luke said impatiently.
"OK, it'd better be good"
"They're fine" Luke breathed at Bo in relief.
"For now" Bo said quietly not taking his eyes off the road
Who is the stranger? What will happen to the Dukes? Is everything really OK for Luke now with Bo and Jess?
What do you think?
"Don't stick a fork in it, it ain't done yet"