Chapter 53
When Jeb came in with the other guys just before dinner, Daisy got him off to the side and told him about Karen's call. Jeb had turned to call her back, when Daisy stopped him. She explained that Karen was grounded and she wanted him to try to call her without getting her into more trouble. Jeb knew that if he called now his parents should be there to answer the phone and he would promptly be told that Karen was grounded and he could call her back when she got ungrounded, then he'd be stuck talking to them about every detail of his summer so far. Jeb said, "Thanks Daisy, I'll try her maybe later or tomorrow."
Daisy figured Jeb knew how best to handle such things in his house so she thought no more about it.
Over the next few days things were pretty much back to as normal as any Duke on both farms could expect with Luke still on the mend and Karen still grounded. Both the recent graduates were beginning to get just a bit stir crazy.
Jeb had talked with several of his friends and had found a motocycle that he intended to buy once he got paid for his help at Jesse's over the summer. Now, he just had to get his Dad on his side, before he brought this up to his mother.
Bo had finally gotten his cast of his broken wrist. It was still a bit weak and he was cautioned to take things slow, but at least he was now able to drive any vehicle on the farm. He couldn't believe that thirty seconds of stupidity before school was out had haunted him this long.
Over at the Tri-Counties jail Ralph Green was learning that the warning about the food that he'd gotten shortly after he arrived here was accurate. He would almost welcome a plate of the Chili Mac stuff after five days of things that had been far worse and he'd never seen cornbread served nearly every meal but breakfast.
He had tried and tried to call Robin's but no one would except his calls which was likely due to the high charges of the calls. At least that is what he tried to tell himself, since even his family didn't take his calls.
Ralph was also learning that living in a cell with four other men was less that easy. Things went on that he knew shouldn't be going on there and if the guard found out all of them were sure to be in deeper trouble than they were. In fact, they had more than insisted that he join them in drinking some of their home made hooch. Ralph was smart enough to know that the reason they insisted on him joining them was that he would not be able to 'rat' them out if he too was drinking it.
On Placid County, Pauline was out hanging up mounds of laundry caused from having twin infants in the house, John was at work somewhere on the Loftlin family property. Karen grabbed the phone, as she watched her mother hanging clothes. Finally she had caught Jeb in the house, "Jeb! Am I glad I FINALLY got you on the phone!" Karen exclaimed.
Jeb frowned, "Oh Lord, if you are glad to talk to me something is really wrong."
"I'll SAY! and it effects you longer and more than it will me." Karen began. She didn't bother to 'sugar coat' this or beat around the bush because of the Hazzard County operators. Karen figured that if her parents weren't totally ashamed of their behavior then she wouldn't try to hide it either.
"Me? What are you talking about? I'll be here all summer." Jeb replied.
"Yes, you will, but you are the sixteen year old that will still be here for at least the better part of two years." Karen reminded.
"Ok, I'll give you that. So what's up?" Jeb asked.
You know the room between yours and mine. We'll I 'understand' that it will be housing yet another brat!" Karen said.
"WHAT? You can't be serious!" Jeb exclaimed. Surely Karen was wrong or something.
"I heard the 'P' word myself the other day when I tried to call you and you decided NOT to call me back." Karen hissed.
"I was going to call you back, but Daisy said to call you when I thought Mom and Pops would be out. Then, well, it sort of slipped my mind." Jeb said.
"SLIPPED YOUR MIND! You have LOST your mind! Karen exclaimed. "Look, I never call you so when I DO you'd think that it might just be important!"
Jebb replied, "Ummm, yeah, I'll remember that for the next time you call. Karen, are you sure that you mistaken."
Karen replied, "Trust me on this. I know what I heard."
"Well, Ok, but let me know if you hear anything else. Hey when will you be ungrounded?" Jebb asked.
Karen seen Pauline was now picking up the empty basket, "At least for the next thirty years IF I get this phone hung up before Mom gets in here, longer if I don't so I've gotta to go."
Jebb looked at phone in his hand as he wondered what his sister could have possibly done to be in that much trouble.
By Friday night Bo was itching to get out and drive somewhere anywhere. He had pretty much gottent he stiffness out of his wrist that had been casted for the last six weeks.
Luke was feeling much better. At least now he could breath and his ribs were starting to heal. He feeling a lot more than a little stir crazy. Luke couldn't remember the last time that he had spent a whole week at home because he was sick or hurt.
Jesse could see the three boys all itching for a night away from the farm. The trouble with that was he knew Luke didn't need a night like he'd had that had aggravated his injuries. He also didn't need to turn Bo and Jeb out on the town alone. The best idea that Jesse had to give them some elbow room, yet insure they were pretty much not up to 'no good' was to give them something to do. So, before any of them got up the nerve to ask about going out tonight, Jesse called them, "Boys." After all three had joined him on the porch Jesse began, "Alright, we've managed to get a little behind in production and delivery lately."
Luke felt that Jesse was looking dead at him. He knew that between being in jail and being hurt, that he hadn't been much help lately.
Bo also dropped his gaze as he knew that his own injury had also not helped the family business.
"I want you fellas to head up to Still Site #3 and cook that batch that should be good and prime tonight." Jesse said, "I'm heading off to #1 and mix us up a batch that will be ready to cook off here in a few days. Luke I'm going to let you go cause it's a warm night, but no over doing it."
Luke replied, "Yes, Sir." Luke figured that at least he was out of the house. He had been no further than the barn since last Sunday.
Bo frowned but didn't say a word. This was NOT how he'd hoped his night would go.
Jebb hadn't really planned to work tonight either but since he didn't get to help cook many of the batches he wouldn't mind either.
As the evening turned to night the three Duke boys in Hazzard County had their camping gear and fishing poles and were ready for a night of cooking. Of course they would also get to sample first hand some of Jesse Duke's finest.
In Placid County, Karen had completed all the extra chores her mother had dished out to her and finally headed to her room. She hoped the twins slept tonight as she was always the first one to be awakened by their cries. Karen had dressed in her pajamas and stretched across her bed with the latest magazine about glamorous stars of Country Music. She was nearly ready to get under the covers when she heard something hit her window, then she heard it a second time. Getting up from the bed Karen went to the window. Below she saw Danny. She opened the window quietly and said, "What are you doing?"
"Come on down." Danny said.
Karen whispered, "I can't. I'm grounded."
"So am I. We're all going up to the lake." Danny said, "The others are waiting. You can come down to the porch roof and I'll catch you."
Karen figured Danny knew what he was talking about, "Let me change." She quickly changed into a loose pair of old jeans and top. She quickly grabbed her bathing suit that she used to lay out in, locked her bedroom door from the inside, then placed a nail file in the door frame to keep a key from being used to get in like her mother did the other day. After climbing out on to the roof she slide down until she felt Danny grab her ankles then she let go and dropped into his arms. They quickly headed toward the woods where their friends waited for them in Roy's pickup truck.
Once in the truck, Karen told Danny, "I'm dead, if they find out I'm gone."
"Join the crowd. The way we have it figured, we'll be going to court soon. We may as well have one good night to remember if we're sitting behind bars for awhile." Danny said.
"You don't really think that, that will happen do you?" Karen asked.
"The Judge's nick name is Hardcase. I hear he is the toughest of the three judges. He doesn't stand for 'his' law to be broken. Sorta takes it personally." Danny explained.
Karen sighed, "Oh Great!"
Danny wrapped his arm around her and said, "Let's not worry about that tonight. We've got a new place out by the lake all picked out and the night is young."
Karen said a silent prayer that her parents didn't find her gone.
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Sorry for the long delay. Blame life, work and internet problems. Hope you enjoy. Plan the next chapter to be longer. Please review.
