The bullfish tugged at the line. Bo tugged even harder at the pole, reeling him in. Ain' no way he was gonna lose this one. Daisy snickered at him as he struggled. Luke smiled.
"Wha' s'matter Bo?" Sparks teased, "Can't real him in?" Bo gave her a sarcastic laugh, then gave the line one last tug. The fish popped out of the water, shining like a wet mirror in the sun. He was at least a foot long.
That's a nice lookin' catch.
"Nice, Bo!" Vol said from the nearby tree. Daisy gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
" 'Ey Vol!" Wrenches cried from up higher on the bank, "Bet ch'y'all can't beat the size a' that thing!" Vol stared at him.
"Ooooooooooooohhh…" Bookworm and Tiny instigated from the picnic basket. Vol stuck out her tongue at them, then stood up to face her twin brother.
"Big mistake, my friend." Vol whispered.
Uh –oh, this don' look like it's gonna be too pretty.
Daisy watched them prepare to fight. Bo and Luke would square off every now and then, especially when they were in junior high, but nothing like facing each other head on and staring each other straight in the eye. She nudged Sparks.
"They really ain' gonna fight, are they?" She whispered. Sparks snickered.
"Hell yeah- Don' worry, they don' fi' ch' other too bad, jus' wrestlin'. No punches 'r nuthin' li' tha'."
"Who usually wins?"
"S' always stalema'es. They both fi' great- Vol's 'bit taller than Wrenches, but he's 'bit stronger than 'er."
"So you have no idea?"
"Nah, we let 'em go 'till Pops calls it over- then it's whoever's on top." Daisy nodded, still puzzled. Vol and Wrenches stared at each other, circling like two male bobcats preparing for a fight over a girl. They stopped once, then Vol leapt in for the kill. She jumped Wrenches with a blazing speed, then the two were both rolling around the dust, screaming profanities at each other. The two separated, staring each other down.
"Girls…" Wrenches said, "Girls can't fi' like a man…"
"Short boys… can' do nuthin'." Vol replied.
Daisy glanced back at Sparks, clueless.
"They insult 'chother- hit the other's buttons. Do it in the military- ain' tha' right Luke?"
"What?" Luke replied from the water.
"Sergeants call y' names, insult cha', stuff li' that- makes you stringer, ri'?" Sparks asked.
"Yep. Not so often in the Marines, but they still do it."
"'Zactly why Pops does it." Sparks told Daisy. "Helps Vol fi' 'gainst men an' Wrenches fi' 'gainst taller men." Daisy nodded.
"I get it." She exclaimed as Vol and Wrenches split again.
"Lazy…" Wrenches began, breathless. "Bitch… can'… do nuthin' more… than mend… ripped pants... and wash clothin'…" Vol's eyes flashed.
"Little…" She snapped back, "Little bastard boys… only good 'fer… washin' foreign cars an' cleanin' dirty… floors." They both were completely unabashed by their profanity. They tackled each other again, and Vol came out on top. A trickle of blood ran down from the corner of her mouth.
"Vol…" Wrenches said, pointing, "Y'all's… is bleedin'…" Vol wiped her face and eyed the blood on her wrist.
"Dammit..." She snapped. "' Bit my cheek. S' nuthin'." Wrenches walked over to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
Well, that wasn' too bad.
"You're pretty good."
"Y' ain' half bad yerself."
They walked back to the bank. Luke reeled in a catfish and tied it with the other seven fish he and Bo had caught already. Daisy stood up and gave Vol a worried look as Vol sat down beside her.
"You okay, sugar?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." Vol replied nonchalantly. Daisy giggled.
"You're good with men- you ever consider a job at a bar?" Vol laughed.
"Not yet- Wanna see what'll happen after college."
"You're gonna go to college?" Luke asked.
"Don' see why not. " Vol replied. "'Specially if I get a scholarship." Sparks snorted.
"If? Vol, y'all's is one of the bes' damn athletes Sull'van High's ever had. If they don' give y' one, then they don' pay no 'tenntion t' the teams." Daisy smiled.
"What sports d' y'all play?"
"Volleyball, football, baseball, hockey, car racin'… Whatever I wanna." Bo laughed. Vol smiled at him. "Pops tol' me y'all played football 'fer Hazzard High, an' the whole NASCAR racin' gig y'all's had."
"Yep." Luke said.
Daisy laughed. It was true- Bo Duke had been both quarterback and a kicker for Hazzard high school, and he and Luke had spent half a season on the NASCAR tracks- plus a short return afterwards. She stood up, then spotted someone from behind one of the old maintenance sheds.
"I'll be right back." She said and walked over. Vol watched her go, and motioned for Lee to follow her.
Charlie Miller watched her come closer.
"One of them gal's is comin' Tim!" he hissed. Tim peeked out from behind the building.
"So she is." He thought a moment. "Knock her out."
"Y' mean hittin' her in the head? Or usin' the drug- stuff?"
"Hit her as hard as you can Charlie. But wait until she gets over here." Charlie shrugged.
"'Kay."
Now this one ain' gonna be good.
Daisy heard the Yankee man's voice, but not the words. Lee tiptoed in the long grass behind her. Daisy turned the corner and saw the two men. The bigger of the two swung, hitting Daisy in the face, under her left cheek. Lee started barking. Daisy stumbled back and ricocheted off a tree, falling limp at the base of the trunk. Vol, Bo and Luke heard Lee barking. They all rushed to the mad dog.
"Get out of here!" Tim cried as the group approached them. He and Charlie jumped into the car and drove off. Vol and Tiny were the first to reach Daisy. She lay sprawled, unconscious, a lump on the left side of her face. Vol bent down over her, and gently ran a hand down the lump. It was bone.
"BO! LUKE!" she cried. Tiny took off after the car. Bo bent down over Daisy. "Careful…" Vol whispered as he gently turned her onto her back.
"Daisy?" Bo whispered. He reached a hand for her face. Lee kept on barking. Vol stood up to calm him down
"Don' touch her, Bo." Luke said, joining his little cousin at Daisy's side. He'd seen this before, in the Marines.
"What's the matter?" Bo asked him.
"I think her jaw's broken." Wrenches joined them. "We gotta get her to Tri- County."
"I'll get the truck." Wrenches said. "Ain' no way we gonna get her through the General's window." He ran back to the big black Chevrolet. Luke put one hand on each side of Daisy's face, supporting the broken bone. Tiny returned breathless.
"The car... got away." he began, "Light blue mustang…maybe '76 or '77. Georgia license plates… Atlanta."
"We'll let Rosco know after we take care of Daisy." Luke said. "Thanks." Tiny nodded. Lee had finally quit barking. He stared down at Daisy, and gently licked her face. Vol stood over them.
"Goddamn bastards..." She whispered. "We'll take care of 'em." BO nodded, staring back down at Daisy. Her eyes were closed, her features slack. If she hadn't been punched in the face, both cousins could've sworn she was asleep. Wrenches pulled up with the pick– up truck. He turned around and backed it up to them. Bo and Vol each reached their arms under Daisy's back.
"Okay, now." Luke said, his hands still around her head. They all lifted the limp body and slid her into the bed of the big truck. Luke jumped in to hold her head during the drive. Wrenches, Tiny and Sparks all ran back to the General while Vol slid into the driver's seat of the truck. Bo rode shotgun to give her directions. She pulled the truck into gear and gave Luke a thumbs- up through the back window, which he returned. She hit the gas and the 4x4 suspension pulled the truck out to the road, Wrenches following with the General.
"Keep it between the ditches Vol." Bo said. "Left up here." Vol nodded, then took the turn. Luke braced himself for the left on West Hills road, still holding Daisy. She gave him a small groan, and her eyes slowly opened.
"Lu…" She whimpered.
"Shhh... Daisy, don't try talkin'. ' Think your jaw's broken." She stared up at him and gave him a small smile. He gave her a quick peck on the forehead.
I'm headin' out t' church ri' now, y'all's is welcome t' join. Hope Daisy ain' knocked offa her feet fer too long. Man, I hate it when she's in trouble.
A/N: Wow, this was a long one... Ha! Gotcha there!Thanks to everyone for waiting, and for all the awesome reviews. Volleyball ends the weekend softball starts, so I doubt I'll get any decent breaks. Now that this story's finnaly up and running, I think I'll be able to get more chapers up. Oh yeah- NEVER move anyone whomight have broken a bone. Call for help immediately!(I don't trust the Hazzard county ambulances;)--wildthing
