************ NOTE: In this story, I am trying not to get really technical as far as the laws go but to determine the penalties for Luke I have actually looked up our state codes on these charges and then 'tweaked' them to fit Hazzard. In the court section of this it didn't jump up and out of the code about the drivers being suspended for DUI, but as I got to looking and thinking about it I knew there was a mandatory revocation for DUI in this state. As a ex Correctional Officer, I have never heard our Magistrates tell those charged with DUI about the revocation so I went with it. But the more I thought on it, of the 3 charges Luke should dread the DUI conviction more than the others so I went to our DMV site and found that part about the suspensions / revocations. In order to explain why the Judge didn't tell Luke this, I put that this was done by the DMV not the courts. Didn't want to bore anyone with this information, but felt it needed explained. Hope you enjoy the story, I take the fiction part seriously use it freely, but want it to also be believable.
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Chapter 7
Bo and Daisy pulled out ahead of Jesse and Luke heading for home.
Daisy looked back over her shoulder and saw Luke and Jesse getting in the pickup. She wondered out loud, "How bad do you think it'll be?"
Bo asked, "For us or Luke?"
"I was meaning Luke, but your right, us too." She said. Daisy was no angel, but most of her being in trouble started much like today by following one or both of her older cousins in doing something she full well knew better than to do.
Bo said, "School's out in a couple weeks, but I don't see 'vacation' starting for us for awhile afterwards."
Daisy flopped back against the seat and pouted, "Why do YA'LL always get me in trouble?"
"Hey! I just said I was going. You are the one who said you was going with me. I just didn't try to stop you." Bo said with a bit of a temper.
Daisy replied, "Exactly! And you knew better than let me come with you!"
Bo gave her a look of disbelief as he continued to drive.
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Luke got in the truck as Bo and Daisy wisely pulled out heading home. He closed the truck door and waited. It was coming, he knew it, just wasn't sure when or how.
Jesse took his time getting in the truck. He had been pretty sure how he was gonna handle this situation all the way to town, but now he had Luke's side of the story. He figured Luke had only given him the basics with Rosco so near by and then he had the younger two to deal with now for openly disobeying him and not staying at the farm. Jesse figured to use the drive home to figure out the best way of dealing with the three wayward ones to get the most results. Jesse started the truck and headed out of town without a word.
Luke was looking out the front window as they road along, every so often sneaking a partial look at his Uncle driving along like nothing was wrong. The longer they road in silence the more uncomfortable Luke got.
Jesse had a wide peripheral view and could see Luke's discomfort. He was sure the boy would have rather he got in the truck ranting and raving and telling him he was grounded for 'life', which is why Jesse had chosen to say nothing to him for now about last night's behavior.
Luke decided that Jesse was waiting for him to speak up first so he cleared his throat, pulled at his collar and swallowed hard the lump that was suddenly stuck in his throat.
Luke's actions were not missed by Jesse who inwardly smiled.
Luke's voice was much weaker than normal as he began, "Uncle Jesse, ... I'm sorry about all this."
Jesse nodded. "I'm sure that you think you are Luke."
Luke grimaced. He didn't at all like the tone Jesse used. Knowing the he surely would be sorry for his actions before all this was over.
Jesse drove on in total silence until they had almost reached the farm, "Looks like we'll get some rain."
Luke hadn't expected to be talking about the weather. He had expected to talk about last night while it was only him and Jesse, but Jesse obviously had other ideas. "Could be." Luke said neutrally.
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The closer Bo got to the farm the slower he began to drive. Jesse had caught up to him and even tapped the brakes a couple of times.
Daisy looked over at Bo noticing that he was driving much slower than normal. "Something wrong Bo?" She was meaning with the car.
Bo sighed, "Just not looking forward to getting to the farm."
"Yeah." Daisy sighed.
Several minutes later, Bo said very lowly as he turned in the driveway, "Here we are."
Again, all Daisy could say was, "Yeah."
Luke visibly tensed as Jesse too turned in to the farm.
As both vehicles were parked near the back door and all four occupants got out. Looks were exchanged between the three younger Dukes.
Bo and Daisy saw Luke's unreadable expression along with him give them a very slight shrug of his shoulders.
None of this had been missed by Jesse, including the fact that all three looked to be holding their breath just a bit. 'Good.' he thought. "Let's go in the house a spell, it'll be lunch time soon."
All three young Dukes headed that way and appeared to be walking on eggshells as Jesse came in to find them standing in the kitchen, waiting. He merely said, "Luke, ... unless I miss my guess you'll be wanting shower, so you go do that. Daisy, Bo and I we'll get somethings together for sandwiches for lunch and have us an early lunch since I don't figure any of us had a normal breakfast."
He was met by a chorus of, "Yes, Sirs." As the three again exchanged looks before getting into motion.
Luke went straight for the bathroom and gladly shut everyone else out. He leaned hard against the door and let out the breath he'd been holding since he had turned to see Rosco holding on to him in the wee hours of the morning. He took a couple more deep breaths to clear his thoughts and relax a minute in the safety and privacy of the bathroom away from all the eyes that had been looking up to, down at or just plain watching him for the last several hours. The last ten or so hours seemed to be some of longest hours he'd had the displeasure of living in sometime now. With one more sigh Luke set about shaving and showering. He found the shower felt refreshing and relaxing at the same time. In fact he ended up standing under the water several extra minutes just letting the water relax some of the soreness away from him from not only the fight but the long few hours on the thin mattress and hard steel bunk. Luke finally shut the shower off, stepped out, briefly dried and seen that he had failed to bring clean clothes to the bathroom with him. Luke wrapped the towel around his waist, cracked the bathroom door and heard the activities of lunch preparation in the kitchen. Against house rules he darted out the bathroom and toward his and Bo's room down and across the hall only a couple feet away.
NARRATOR: Now ya'll know Duke timing. It has been 'off' for years.
Daisy opened her bedroom door heading back to the kitchen. She looked up to see Luke only wearing a towel around his waist, "LUKE!" she turned, stepped back in her room and slammed the door.
Luke looked up, seen Daisy and swore, "SH-!" He stepped in his room and slammed the door.
In the kitchen, Bo and Jesse were working in total silence. Jesse still thinking. Bo waiting for the shoes to fall. They heard, "LUKE!"; **SLAM**; "SH-!"; **SLAM** Both knew exactly what had happened. Bo tried hard to hide his laughter failing totally. Jesse looked heavenward asking for patience and understand in dealing with these three, all of whom had decided today was the day to try his patience to the limits and get in all the trouble they could.
A short time later all the Dukes gathered around the table ready to eat. Jesse said, "Luke would you do the blessing."
Luke knew this shouldn't be thought of as a punishment but knew Jesse had his reasons for giving him this 'opportunity'. He decided to make it short and sweet, "Lord bless this food, those that prepared it and those that will eat it. Amen."
The others followed his 'Amen', though Jesse did send a glare his way.
Everyone was finishing up as Jesse finished his tea, "Alright. Now before we clean up, ..."
Luke put his tongue in 'check' knowing there was things coming that he'd likely not like.
Bo looked at Luke for direction.
Daisy hoped to keep her tears in check, not only for her part in the days events but for her older cousins too.
"First off, Bo mentioned earlier about your car that is now in County impound at the Davenports." Jesse paused as he gave his oldest a hard look, "What is it now for tow and impound?" Jesse knew that Luke had spent enough time at the garage to know exactly.
Luke was looking at the table, but raised his eyes to meet Jesse's, "Fifty to tow, ten per day in impound."
Jesse replied, "So that would be sixty today? Seventy tomorrow?"
Luke nodded, "Yes, Sir."
"Do you have the sixty?" Jesse asked.
"Yes, Sir." Luke replied respectfully.
Jesse asked, "Do you have the seventy to get it out tomorrow?"
Luke quickly thought about what exactly he had in his wallet and put up, then replied, "No, Sir."
Jesse sighed, "Get your sixty dollars."
Luke seen a glimmer of hope as he went to his bedroom and got the rest of his money. He had sixty eight dollars. He put sixty out and the eight in his wallet, then returned to the kitchen. Luke showed Jesse the sixty dollars.
Jesse said, "Give it to Daisy. She and Bo are gonna take the pickup to town and get you car while we have us a meeting of the minds."
Luke swore loudly and wisely to himself as he turned to Daisy to give her the cash.
Jesse added, "Then when ya'll get back we'll have our own meeting so don't waste no time gettin' back here."
Daisy and Bo both replied, "Yes, Sir." They quickly made their way to the door and their 'escape'. Only after they reached the pickup did they realize they had just left Luke on a 'sinkin' ship.
After the pickup was a good distance down the driveway, Jesse said, "So tell me again about last night. I figure I got the short version at the jail."
Luke nodded that indeed he had as he poured himself another glass of tea while trying to figure out where to start. With a loud sigh, Luke began, "You know that Robin and me have had this 'on again / off again' thing going on for several years." Luke paused.
Jesse nodded that he did know this.
"Well, we've been in the 'off again' phase for awhile. I've heard rumors, never seen for myself that she has been going with, talking to, seeing Ralph Green." Luke paused to let that settle, "The other day she had me meet her and told me basically that I commit to marrying her within two years or she would marry someone else."
Jesse asked, "Ralph Green?"
"She didn't say." Luke replied and continued, "I seen this as an ultimatum. Jesse I may have asked her to marry me in two years, might have been ready to marry her within that time, but being faced with that, …... I know I am not ready to marry anyone right now. I didn't want to promise or commit to something I wasn't sure of, so I kissed her and said basically, 'Congratulations and have a nice life.' then I got out of her car and in mine and left." Luke stopped and waited.
Jesse listened and said, "What does this have to do with last night?"
"Nothing, ... and everything." Luke replied, "I was up at the lake and I'll admit the car was tuned and ready, but I really hadn't planned on racing, ... right up until Ralph showed up and challenged me to a race. I had not been drinking, except a beer at the Boar's Nest before dinner. So we lined up, flag dropped and I had him off the line, all the way down the track, but he was close. Close enough to try to stick me in the ditch or he flat lost control. Either way, he ended up in the ditch and you know they just cleaned them out and they are deep. After I crossed the finish line and seen him stuck I came back, we tried to drive it out, tried to pull it with the wrecker, ... nothing was getting it loose. I admit at this point I started sipping on a beer. One thing lead to another, finally my jack was used as well as a couple others and the wrecker. Several beers and attempts later, Cooter seen Ralph wasn't doing what he needed him to do to get the car out. He yelled at me to steer it out. I handed off my beer and steered the car out of the ditch while hooked to a wrecker. After the car was safely out of the ditch Ralph approached me, call me a cheat, and then swung on me. Now, Jesse, you can say a lot about me, …... but to call me a cheat AND swing on me, ... " Luke let his sentence die unfinished.
"Suppose we need not mention the possibility that he may also be takin' your place with your best girl." Jesse added not mincing words for a second. He seen Luke's dander up just at the mention.
"That too." Luke added with his jaw tensed.
"So that was enough to have you two in a 'knock down, drag out' by the time Rosco showed up." Jesse concluded.
"Pretty much." Luke admitted.
Jesse thought a long minute before saying, "After hearing Judge Hardcastle, it sure sounds like you two have bite off a bunch of trouble for one night out. What exactly are you planning on doing about it?"
Luke began, "Well, on the Fight charge he said it was a fine and / or jail. I can hope that he'll decide on the fine. The Driving Under the Influence I hope once I tell my side of it they will drop it, but if not I know I'll be seeing Rosco for at least another several hours. And, then the Racing is a fifty dollar fine. I can maybe get some work at the garage to cover that."
"With no drivers license?" Jesse asked firmly.
Luke seen the water going from simmer to boil, "I figured to try to earn it before I go to court."
Jesse fumed, "Sounds like you are pretty 'hopeful' there, Son. Just when do you 'figure' to do that? You still have a couple weeks of school before you graduate. We still have a business and a FARM to run. So in all your PLANNING just when do you figure to have time to work at the garage?"
Luke hadn't thought that far but quickly hedged, "We don't run every night and there are Saturdays."
"Nice to see you have it all figured out. So, Mr. what are you going to do if you get sentenced to the year in JAIL for the fight?" Jesse asked raising his voice as he went.
Luke dropped his head a bit, "There won't be much I can do about it."
"There was a LOT you could have done to NOT to be in this situation! If you are gone for a YEAR, that is putting a lot of extra work on all of us that you SHOULD be here helpin' us to DO."
Luke knew Jesse was right about that. He had no answer for it.
Jesse said, "I put out TWO hundred and FIFITY dollars to get you home. I had a right good mind to take you to the wood shed and tan your hide for ya when I got you home but then your cousin decided to disobey me and bring Daisy along with him, so I might just save that there punishment for them two."
Luke wanted to plead their case but knew now wasn't the time, so he decided to just listen.
"You are the one those two look up to, you are the reason they disobeyed me, and YOU will be the reason they get punished."
That was all Luke could take without speaking up, "Please, Uncle Jesse. I know you are right, I am the reason they disobeyed you. Please don't punish them when it is my fault." Luke knew he'd regret what he was about to say for awhile, but he knew that he'd regret it a lot longer if he didn't say it. "Whatever their punishment is, ... I'll take. I saw the look on their face in the courtroom, Uncle Jesse you are right, they do look up to me and last night wasn't an example I should be setting for them. I know you tried to protect them from seeing all that and I saw how much they were hurting when they did see it. I have already punished them enough by allowing myself to get in this fix and them seeing it."
Jesse had been on a roll, but when his 'know it all nephew' took the blame and offered to take his cousin's punishment, it took Jesse by surprise. He replied, "Well, I just have to think on that, but for starters there are fence posts needin' replaced along the front of the property. You can take the breaker bar and the post hole diggers and get started. When they get back with the pickup, we'll bring the posts down." Jesse paused before adding, "When they get back with your car, I won't take your keys, but lets just say you need to be askin' before you decide to head off the farm at least until that there court date of yours."
Luke had grimaced when Jesse had mentioned the fence. He really hated digging the hole for the poles. Largely why Jesse had came up with that particular task for him to do, Luke figured. Luke knew that since he had his license that if the work was done he was usually free to roam the County and hadn't even been held to a time to be home for some time now. Heck, for the most part he hadn't been held to comin' home, but Jesse had expected to know that. His eyes fell to the table for the briefest second before meeting Jesse's again, "Yes, Sir." He replied, letting Jesse know he understood exactly what the man had not only said, but meant too.
"While you are working, I suggest you figure just how you plan to get out of that DUI charge since you think that you can talk your way out of it, because the Judge may not be the one who does it, but when that conviction is turned in to DMV, they will suspend you license for 45 days I believe." Jesse said.
Luke's eyes shot upward, "What?"
"Don't you remember anything from the drivers book you helped Bo and Daisy study?" Jesse asked.
Luke frowned. It seemed he would have remembered that.
Jesse held up his hand, went to the bookcase and produced a drivers handbook, flipped through the pages and handed it to Luke.
Right there in black in and white Luke seen exactly what Jesse had told him. It stated that along with the fine and mandatory jail time that drivers privileges would also be revoked for 45 days. Luke starred at the page a full minute before laying the book down and looking up at Jesse.
Jesse added, "Without a license I can't let you deliver cause if they will be looking to catch you driving and hoping you are loaded."
Luke nodded and replied quietly, "I know." Luke was beginning to see his first summer out of school looking to be a very long one boring one filled with a lot of muscles aches if he was lucky enough to stay out of jail.
"That fence is waitin' on ya." Jesse said.
Luke nodded and replied as he headed to the back door, "Yeah."
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