Chapter 14: The Rescue

Jebb and Kira each drove out in separate vehicles. That way, if they did find the lost Dukes, they could sweep them away as quickly as possible. Jebb drove the General Lee, knowing that a quick getaway would be needed once they got the others free. Kira drove her truck since getting Bo into the stock car would present a problem with him obviously being so sick. Her truck had a HEMI in it so, while it couldn't stay on par with the General, it still could run a fair race if need be.

The search of the tunnels below the Duke farm was slow and grueling. Jebb thought on how exciting going down to the old mines had been as a child and how different things seemed now as an adult. He saw and heard things that his childhood self never would have. He saw the evidence of previous cave-ins and heard the tell-tale signs of impending ones. As he and Kira headed to the next mine shaft that fit the description of the one she saw, in what Jebb could only call a vision, he saw fresh tracks in the dirt. Pulling off the small path (it really couldn't be called a road) Jebb got out of the orange stock car to get a closer look. Kira followed suit and saw, for the first time in two days of searching, that they just may have found their first clue.

Leaving the vehicles hidden in the brush, the two set out on foot towards the mine shaft. Creeping closer, they saw four men standing at the mouth of the shaft talking animatedly. Kira wished that they could get closer to hear them but knew that they would be pushing their luck.

After a couple of moments, two of the men entered the tunnel and minutes later were replaced by the two that Kira had seen the night before. After some more discussion, the two latest arrivals and one of the other men got into a dark van that was parked nearby. That left one man standing guard at the entrance to the mine shaft.

Nodding to Jebb, Kira pulled back towards the vehicles with Jebb at her heels. Once Kira was sure that they were well out of range of being overheard, Kira stopped.

"Those two that came out of the tunnel were the two I saw last night. It looks like we'll only have to deal with three goons."

"Three goons with three guns, Kira. That changes the odds a little, don't ya think?"

"You got any other suggestions?" Jebb shook his head as an answer to Kira's question. "Do you remember how to get to the junction that intersects this shaft from the other entrances?"

Nodding his head, "We'll have to go to the old Hansen farm. One of the mine shafts had a cave in about ten years back. Hopefully, the other two should be alright. Come on." Jebb got back into the stock car and led the way to yet another mine shaft entrance.

Once at the entrance, the vehicles were backed into it to keep them out of sight just in case the strangers happened by and the two proceeded to brush away their tire tracks before going back into the mine shaft. Each grabbed a pack that they had brought with emergency supplies and quickly, but carefully, headed down into the heart of the underground lair that had been taken up by the kidnappers. After several minutes, the cousins were able to pick up murmurings from further up the tunnel. Quietly making their way, the dim light of an old oil lamp came into view. Staying hidden behind some outcroppings of the mine and the shadows cast by the light, Jebb and Kira began to watch those that were within the junction of the four mine shafts.

After what seemed like hours. The third man who had been left outside to stand guard called to the other two. After checking to ensure that their prisoners weren't going to be able to escape, the two inner guards went to find out what the outer guard had wanted. That gave Kira and Jebb the opportunity to set their plan into motion. Kira made her way to Daisy as Jebb went over to Luke.

"Daisy, when things calm down again, ask to use the facilities. Trust me." After a hurried whisper, Kira left a confused cousin behind.

Kira fought the urge to check on Bo knowing that the guards would be back any second. If she were discovered, the plan wouldn't work. So, instead, she made her way to the mouth of the other mine shaft where she had stood the night before in her waking dream. Leaving Daisy wondering why she hadn't tried to loosen her ropes as it looked like Jebb was doing for Luke. He, too, was speaking in hurried whispers. Then as footsteps could be heard, Jebb raised his voice ever so slightly.

"Alright guys, here's the plan." Jebb began to cut away the ropes from Luke's hands knowing that there wasn't really time to free him. He just needed it to look like he was freeing Luke. "First, Luke I'll need you to-"

Click.

Just as he had expected. He heard the cock of a gun just behind his head. Raising his hands in surrender, Jebb tried to catch Luke's eye to indicate that this was, in fact, part of the plan.

"Looks like we got ourselves a hero here. Them must've been your tracks that was spotted out on the road." Jebb hoped that they hadn't found the vehicles just yet. Hopefully, he and Kira had brushed away enough of the tracks once they left Duke land to keep them from going to Hansen's. "Where's the other cousin at? The one that paid that snip of a man Hogg a visit yesterday?"

"She had a call to go back to Atlanta. It's just me."

"Search him!" Bellowed the larger guard to the other.

Jebb found himself roughly being hauled upwards and frisked for weapons. They only found his buck knife that he had been using to free Luke since he had already given his cousin the other knife that he had brought with him. That knife was now safely hidden in Luke's shirt sleeve. After being searched, Jebb was tied up like the others had been and the guards re-tied Luke. All the while, missing the new accessory that Luke now possessed. Next, they searched the pack that Jebb had carried with him. Inside it, all that the guards found was first aid kit, some rope, emergency food, and a lightweight thermal blanket.

After searching through the pack, the smaller guard went out to tell the third guard about their new addition. With that done, it didn't take long for the guards to once again become bored watching the Duke family. Taking up their stations over at the makeshift table, the two guards began to mimic the guards of the previous night and set about to playing cards.

Meanwhile back at the farm, Enos Strate pulled his patrol car next to Jesse's truck and Daisy's Jeep. Walking up to the back door, Enos knocked as he walked on into the kitchen.

"Knock-knock, ya'll. Hope ya don't mind but Jebb said to come on in. Hello? Where is everybody?" Spying a folded piece of paper with his name on it on the table, Enos picked it up and began to read it.

Enos,

If you're reading this, it means that Kira and I are gonna need your help. The reason I came to town is to help Kira find the others who have been kidnapped. We have reason to believe that they are being held in the old silver mines beneath the farm; one of the ones that have a juncture to intercept the others.

Contact the state police and bring help, ASAP.

Jebb

"Possum on a gumbush! I got get some help!"

Jesse sat beside his niece and watched as yet another nephew was tied up and wondered just how getting himself caught was supposed to help get them all out of here. There must have been some sort of logic to it. He just didn't see. He also was just as confused about just why Kira had headed to the mine shaft at the opposite side of the junction. It never ceased to amaze him at how these kids all seemed to have their own way of thinking and going about things. Like when Kira told Daisy to ask to use the bathroom.

Jesse looked over at Daisy and figured that she must have forgotten what Kira had said to her during her brief appearance before Jebb's own capture. He leaned over and nudged Daisy ever so slightly then looked toward the shaft that Kira had disappeared into. The shaft that been converted into a makeshift restroom.

"Excuse me. I hate to be a bother, but I really need to use the little girls' room."

One of the guards looked over at Daisy as she spoke up. He knew that it was unlikely that these five would be released. His boss wasn't known for leaving witnesses. Why he had let this family live this long was beyond him. But one thing he did know, he fully intended to have a little fun while he could. Getting up, he walked over to Daisy and untied her feet and pulled her up and pushed her toward the opposite shaft.

This was Luke's signal. He slowly worked the knife out of his sleeve and began to work on his ropes as Daisy was shoved toward the makeshift latrine. Only a few moments later he heard Daisy screaming at the top of her lungs.

Just as Daisy was pushed roughly into the tunnel, the guard pinned her against the wall of the mine and kissed her. So engrossed in his activity, he almost didn't register the sound of what could only be the cock of a gun. In fact, it was only when it was pressed to the back of his own head that the situation seemed to dawn on him.

"Let her go and don't make a sound," Kira whispered into the guard's ear. The guard raised his hands as Kira took his gun away from him and handed it to Daisy. "Start screaming, Daisy. Make it sound like you're being attacked."

Keeping her gun pressed firmly against the guard, Kira used her other hand to free Daisy using her knife that she had kept in her left boot. Once Daisy was freed, Kira had her cover the guard as she used some fishing line that she had brought with her to tie up the guard. Kira knew that the line would keep the guard from trying too hard to free himself so as not to let the line cut into his own skin.

The second guard was annoyed that his colleague had obviously decided that he wanted a little fun before this job was done. He didn't blame him really; he was just upset that he hadn't thought of it first.

"Alright, Fred, I think you've had enough fun. Get on out here. Fred! Come on!"

With that, the second guard headed into the mine shaft. Behind him, Luke had finally worked out of his binds and cut away the ropes from his ankles. Once free, he quickly cut Jebb's hands free and gave him the knife as he headed toward the mineshaft behind the guard to help the girls.

Kira had just finished tying up the second guard as she heard someone running her and Daisy's way. Only after raising the gun in the direction of the shaft did Kira see that it was only Luke. Instinctively, Luke raised his hands at the sight of the gun. Putting her gun down, she and Daisy walked toward Luke.

"That leaves only one." The three cousins walked back into the junction as Jebb and Jesse were checking on Bo. "How is he?" Kira asked Jesse as he leaned over his youngest nephew.

"He sounds like he has fluid built up in his lungs now. His fever is still way too high, too. We gotta get him to the hospital."

"Luke, you and Jesse head the way Jebb and I came in. Take my truck and get him on to the hospital. That'll leave us the General if we need it." Luke started to look like he'd argue the point that he had a score to settle. "Bo can't wait. Please, Luke."

After looking over at Bo, he knew he wouldn't be taking the time to seek revenge. He hefted his cousin up and carried him down the mine shaft to the waiting vehicles with Jesse at his heels. That left Daisy, Jebb, and Kira to take care of the third guard.

"It's the cops! We got to get out of here!"

The third guard ran down the mine shaft in a panic. Once at the junction, his eyes immediately fell to the vacant wall where the captives should have been sitting. He went for his gun only to be stopped by an overly calm voice.

"Drop it, or I'll drop you." Kira walked out of the nearby mine shaft maintaining a bead on the last guard.

The guard knew that he was caught between a rock and a hard place; cops behind him and an unknown gun-wielding woman in front of him. He would take his chance with the woman. Raising his gun to take aim, a gun shot rang out.

"I hear gunshots. This here is Deputy Enos Strate, I'm going in." Enos called into the CB then threw the mic down without waiting for a response.

Drawing his own weapon, the deputy raced to the mineshaft that he had just pulled up at. As he ran down the tunnel, he heard the moans of pain of a man growing louder. Reaching the junction, Enos was greeted by a sight that he had not expected. The woman who had come to see Hogg yesterday was holding a gun on a man who was writhing on the ground holding his right arm in agony. Coming to a halt, Enos raised his own weapon.

"Police, drop the gun!"

Kira looked up to see the deputy coming her way with gun drawn. Kira flipped her gun around and tossed it, butt first, toward the deputy's feet.

"Enos! It's alright, Sugar. He was gonna shoot Kira. It was self-defense." Daisy walked over to Enos and put her hand on Enos's to lower his gun away from Kira.

Enos looked away from Kira and turned to Daisy. He was so scared for Daisy when he heard the gunshots. Here she was safe and sound now and all he wanted was to pull her close. But he still had a job to do.

Meanwhile, Jebb had led the other two guards back into the junction. "Glad you made it, Enos. Here's two more that maybe you can take out of our hands. Jesse and Luke have already left to take Bo to the Hospital."

With that, Enos looked up and saw the bound men. Outside, sirens could be heard as the state police arrived. Each of the Dukes gave their statements as to just what had happened and were released to go to the hospital to check on Bo and the others. Police officers had already been dispatched ahead of them to take Jesse's and Luke's statements as well.

When the three cousins pulled into the hospital parking lot, it was well past dark. Jebb pulled the General Lee beside Kira's truck and all three climbed out and went in search of the other three Duke Men.