Chapter 8

In town, Ralph had been through a similar hearing with the exception of being charged with DUI. His bond had been posted at a hundred and fifty dollars that Ralph did have on him. Trouble is he had also had plans for that money, none of which involved paying bail, but it beat setting in jail too. In his mind he wasn't finished with Luke. He made his way over to garage, got his car out of impound, swore when he saw the damage in the daylight and before leaving told Cooter, "You be sure to tell your good friend that this isn't over on or off the road. I figure to take what he's cost me out of his hide or his car."

Cooter knew Luke could take the guy either way and replied, "I'll be sure to do just that."

Ralph headed out of town toward the County line and his home.

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On the way to town Daisy looked over at Bo and said, "I feel bad about leavin' Luke."

"Me too, but Uncle Jesse wanted to talk to him alone." Bo stated the obvious.

"How much trouble do you figure he's in with Uncle Jesse?" She asked not only out of concern for Luke but also trying to gauge how much trouble she and Bo were in.

Bo thought for a minute before replying, "I don't think it is a good sign that we were sent for Luke's car. Uncle Jesse is probably gonna yank out a few tail feathers so he can't fly real soon but he'll be fine when they grow back."

"Luke ain't gonna like that." Daisy replied.

"Not a all!" Bo said as he pulled up in front of the Davenport Garage.

Cooter looked up from the car engine that he was working on when he heard the familiar sound of the Duke pickup. He said without noticing who was in the truck with Bo, "Ya know, Lucas, I expected ya sooner. I was about to sale this thing for scrap."

Daisy stepped out of the other side of the pickup, "I hate to disappoint ya there Cooter, but I ain't Luke."

Cooter seen the barely sixteen year old female Duke who was about as cute as a speckled pup and ever bit as feisty. She may be several years his junior, but he could already tale that it weren't gonna be long before Uncle Mister Jesse and the boys had their hands full with the young bucks who would be following her. "No Ma'am, ya ain't. You're a lot cuter to look at." Cooter said to Daisy, then looked at a sixteen year old Bo, who was nearly seventeen and asked, "So where is our jailbird? I know he's out already, cause Ralph was just by."

Bo nodded that 'yes' he was out, "He's with Uncle Jesse, who sent us here to get Luke's car."

Knowing that Jesse normally did any business or sent Luke to handle it, seen red flags of warning. He whistled long a low, "He's in deep?"

Bo nodded 'yes', "I think so, but we're likely right behind him."

Cooter frowned not being able to imagine what these two could have done to be in nearly as much trouble as Luke who had not only been caught by Rosco, but spent a night in jail and had his car impounded. "What could ya'll possibly have done to be in THAT much trouble?"

Bo said honestly, "Went to town behind Jesse to get Luke, when he told me to stay at home in my room, ... after I told him I wasn't staying at the farm."

"Dang!" Cooter said, "What was you thinkin'? You knew Luke had already riled him." Then he looked at Daisy, "And you?" He couldn't figure what she could ever do to make Jesse upset with her.

Daisy had the good graces to blush as she said, "Went with him to town."

Cooter who was just a bit older than Luke knew all about being in trouble with Jesse because he and Luke had ran around together even before Bo was allowed to do some things with them. Which meant, if Luke had gotten in trouble, that Cooter got in trouble TWICE. Once with Jesse, then once with his father, Luther, when he got home. Jesse's call always found Luther before Cooter got home to 'try' to explain. Funny thing was, if Luke took a trip to the woodshed, Cooter could count on joining him there, a fact that had sure made Luther's job raisin' him a lot easier. "Daisy, girl. Have you lost all your good sense?"

"I was worried about Luke." She said honestly nearly pouting.

Cooter said, "I was lookin' forward to ya'll bein' out of school, but it's lookin' like its gonna be a real boring summer for sure now. I hate to do this to ya'll and all but it's gonna be sixty to get the car."

"Got it right here." Daisy said.

Cooter put the money in the register and wrote out the receipt, "Who get's the keys?"

Bo replied, "Me."

Daisy frowned.

Cooter shrugged, handed Bo the keys to the car and picked up the impound yard keys, "Come on Bo. We'll be right back." Was Cooter's attempt to get Bo alone.

Daisy knew what he was up to and added, "I'll be in the pickup. Don't be long Bo."

Cooter headed to the lot, unlocking the large double gates and opening one for Bo to get through. He said on the way to the car, "I got a message for Luke from Ralph Green." Cooter paused before saying, "But, looks like he may had a wait. He told me to tell Luke, 'That this isn't over on or off the road. I figure to take what he's cost me out of his hide or his car.' But the way things look, Luke's hide may be tacked to the wall for a bit so he may not get his chance."

Bo agreed, "Yeah, but what really worries me Cooter is whether it is gonna be Jesse or Judge Hardcastle doing the 'tacking to the wall'."

Cooter looked confused, "What are you talking about?" He knew what went down or he thought he did since he was there. "Luke was in a little fight. Big deal."

"It sounded like a big deal at the courthouse this morning." Bo said, "Judge told Luke he could go to jail for a year for that 'little fight' and loose his license for racin' not to mention the fine for DUI."

Cooter frowned, "Wait a second. Me and Luke were together up until he raced Ralph. Luke hadn't drank anything until after the race and we were trying to get Ralph out of the ditch. Tell ya what, if you don't believe me, ask Mark McCormick. He was there the whole time. We used his and Luke's jacks and I think Luke even handed his beer off to Mark when I needed him to steer it out of the ditch for me. By the time I got out of the wrecker he and Ralph were into it hot and heavy. Before I could get there, Rosco showed up. Puzzled me why he had their cars towed for a fight though."

"I don't know, Uncle Jesse talked to Luke before the bond was set. Luke rode home with Jesse. All I know is me and Daisy was there when the Judge told him the charges and what he could face." Bo explained.

"Well, you just tell Lucas if he needs me I'm there and I'm sure Mark will be too. I know I could not have gotten that car out of the ditch without his and Mark's help." Cooter stated.

"I'll do it!" Bo said as he got in Luke's Torino and headed out toward the farm.

Cooter shook his head as he watched Bo and Daisy pull out for home. He would like to be there for the three cousins, his three friends, but on the other hand he was glad he wasn't there to face Jesse's wrath.

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At the farm, Luke had lost his shirt over an hour ago as he dug the fence post holes with the post hole diggers and used the breaker bar to break or remove larger rocks in his way. Luke was no stranger to hard work and this was a job that needed done, but in his opinion could have and likely would have waited. He felt Jesse had given him busy work that Jesse knew he hated on purpose. Luke was glad at the moment that he had't drank more than he did the night before or he would surely be paying for it in this hot sun.

Jesse was working outside near the barn and could see Luke at the far end of the property. He seemed to be working pretty well. Too well, in fact if he had been drinking heavily the night before so Jesse felt inclined to believe Luke at lest partially at this point.

Daisy seen Luke hard at work as she pulled in the drive way. She wasn't looking forward facing Jesse it had been awhile since she was in this bad a trouble with her uncle.

"Fence posts." Bo uttered as he seen Luke working in the hot sun. Like Luke, he hated setting fence posts. Especially in hot weather. It wasn't nearly as bad in the fall or early spring as it was through the hot Hazzard summer. Bo took a deep breath dreading the talk he knew would come with Jesse.

Luke stuck the post hole diggers in the ground and picked up his discarded shirt and wiped his face and neck with it as he looked toward the house. He saw Jesse stop what he was doing and wipe off his hands as he started toward the house and Bo and Daisy. Luke knew better than to stop work and join his younger cousins. He picked up the diggers, as he watched Jesse head to the porch.

Jesse met Daisy and Bo at the vehicles. Bo did what he thought Jesse would want and reached Luke's keys to his uncle. Jesse simply said, "Just hang them on the hook when you go in."

All the vehicles had their own hook by the door and that's where they were kept, but something about Jesse's manner told Bo they just may have a bit of dust on them when they were next taken off the hook. Bo was a bit relived that they would be on the hook and not in Jesse's pocket.

Jesse told Daisy, "How about getting me and Bo a glass of tea and you can take yours down with you when you take Luke a glass."

Daisy was relived for another few minutes before facing Jesse, yet she knew it was Bo's turn to face the music. "Yes, Sir."

Jesse took his rocker where he normally sat in the evenings and drank his coffee and enjoyed the sight of the family farm and the progress that had been made that day. Today, though the day wasn't over and Jesse was taking time out of his day to deal with his niece and nephews. He set rocking and waiting for Daisy to head down to Luke. "Take a seat Bo."

Bo would have rather stood but figured at this point his obedience might not help, but his lack of would certainly make things worse. He took the top step about five feet away from his uncle. He pulled his left leg up and rested his arm on it while he tried to appear casual and relax the right one on the ground below.

Daisy returned with two glasses of tea for Jesse and Bo. She gave Bo a thoughtful gaze as she handed him his tea and went back in the house. She got the other two glasses of tea and came back out on the porch, giving Bo a 'good luck' look.

Jesse said, "Take your time."

Daisy said a bit choked up, "Yes, Sir."

Jesse sipped his tea and waited until Daisy was nearly half way down the field to Luke.

Luke had seen Bo set on the steps and Daisy go inside. He knew better than to stop working while trying to figure out what was going on so he half heatedly sunk the post hole diggers into the solid ground only to find a large rock. He had gotten involved with trying to loosen it or break it so he could continue the job. He was so involved that when Daisy stepped into his view that it actually took him by surprise. "What brings you down here Darlin'?"

Daisy bit her lip and said, "I figure I was gotten rid of so Bo could get his, so I guess that means you get a break since I'm supposed to take my time."

Luke sighed at that information, though a break did sound good. He reached for his shirt, dried off with it then slipped it back on only buttoning a couple buttons. He took the tea Daisy reached him. "Thanks." he motioned toward a large tree a several feet away hoping for a bit of shade.

On the Duke porch, Jesse looked at Bo who was looking anywhere but at him, "Bo look at me Son."

Bo did as he was told.

Jesse said, "Bo, you aunt and myself have tried to teach you three right from wrong. We tried to bring you up like your Ma and Pa would have wanted us to. Now, your Daddy was my younger brother and I'll tell you right now they surely wouldn't have let him talk to them the way you did me earlier today."

Bo dropped his head but never looked away from Jesse as he said, "No, Sir."

"Furthermore, I would not have stood for that talk to come from any of my brothers or sisters towards them AND I'll tell you another thing, ... none of them would have talked to me that way. They knew better. ... And I thought you three did too." Jesse said pausing to let the information sink in.

"Yes, Sir we do." Bo said.

Jesse fixed a hard look at his nephew for a full minute, "Oh, so that wasn't you telling me that you was going to town against me telling you to stay put?"

Bo nodded 'yes' that it had been, "Yes, Sir it was me."

"Then, how can you set there now and tell me you know better than to sass me?" Jesse asked.

Bo felt a lump move up into his throat, yet he still felt he was right by wanting to go get Luke. "Uncle Jesse, I didn't mean to or want to sass you. But, when I stood up ready to go and Daisy said she wanted to go, ... you called us 'kids'. I'm nearly seventeen, I'm not three."

Jesse had to agree at his age but felt he was acting closer to three most of the day today. "Bo, you may be almost seventeen, but when you are fifty, I'll still be your old Uncle Jesse and expect you to mind what I say. Understand?"

"Yes, Sir." Bo replied thought he didn't like it.

"I know you don't like it but I really don't care if you don't. I've done things I ain't liked, ain't planned on or was expected to do for more that twice the time you've been on this Earth. It won't matter how old you are, if you live here or even if I'm not around, I promise you that you are always gonna have to do what you're told, what's expected of you or act with in the boundaries of laws, rules or what is morally expected of you. There won't be a day goes by, even as an adult, that you won't have to do something or NOT do something that you'd like to do differently." Jesse explained.

Bo nodded.

Jesse frowned, "Bo you are much to old to sass and defy me."

"Yes, Sir." Bo bit his tongue to keep from pleading his case until he couldn't hold back any longer, "But, Uncle Jesse, Luke was in jail! He needed me, us."

Jesse glared, "He likely needed to stay there and learn a lesson of his own, but he is family and I'll go get him once for doing something stupid. But the next time he does something stupid I may just leave him set, so if you happen to be with him and your over eighteen, you might want to consider not jumping in with him on the 'event'."

Bo nodded and respectfully said, "Yes, Sir." though they both knew Bo would be right by Luke's side no matter the age or how stupid it was.

"For now, you can go join Luke diggin' them holes for the poles I'll be bringin' ya in a spell and send Daisy up to me." Jesse instructed.

Bo stood up and set his glass on Jesse's table, "Yes, Sir." He wisely said, though he didn't think the digging of the holes was the entire punishment. Bo walked to where Luke and Daisy had been watching from the shade of the tree. "Jesse said to send you up and for me to help you." He said first to Daisy, then to Luke.

Daisy bit her lip, got up and asked, "That's all he done to you?"

Bo said, "He said 'For now, help Luke'."

"Great!" Daisy said as she started to walk slowly to the porch.

"Daisy, here." Luke handed her his glass. "Good luck."

"Ghee, thanks!" She replied over her shoulder. Daisy managed to get to the porch and set the other two empty glasses on Jesse's table, then took a seat on swing facing Jesse with one foot on the swing, the other on the floor to push herself with.

"Daisy you are the youngest of you three. You knew Luke was in deep when Rosco called last night. You knew I was not happy about having to go bail him out of jail first thing this morning. You heard Bo sass me and though you didn't let yourself get caught up in his sass, you came to town with him." Jesse paused.

Daisy felt tears building but refused to cry, "Yes, Sir."

"Why?" Jesse asked.

"Because you always told us we are family and family sticks together. Luke was in trouble and needed us all not just you." Daisy said clearly.

"I had things under control, I've done this for my brothers when they got a wild hair." Jesse said.

"But, Uncle Jesse you may have been through it but us three haven't." Daisy said.

"That may be true, but I didn't feel you needed to witness what you did today." Jesse said.

"What are you talking about?" She asked.

Jesse said, "I heard you gasp when you saw Luke come up before the Judge and sob the entire time until we went outside to wait for him. You mean to tell me that all that did you some good?"

Daisy looked up refusing to cry, "Maybe not, but it would have been worse setting here wondering what was going on."

Jesse nodded, "That said, you heard the Judge today, ... what are you and Bo going to do mostly likely WHEN not IF Luke goes back to jail."

"What?" Daisy gasped.

Jesse nodded, "Rosco and JD are friends. JD is the completion. If Rosco jails Luke it keeps only me running shine. Now Hardcastle is as honest as the day is long but didn't get the name 'Hardcase' for nothing. If he don't give you the maximum he's not far from it."

Daisy asked, "So when he said up to a year, ... then it's not likely that Luke will only be fined."

"Afraid not, Darlin'." Jesse answered.

"But, Uncle Jesse Luke thinks it's possible to get out of this with only a few more hours in jail and a fine." Daisy said.

"He may tell you that, but he knows his chances and the odds that are against him." Jesse said. "But we are talking about you here. You knew I didn't want you to go to town. Right?"

Daisy nodded, "Yes, Sir."

"For whatever reason, Bo defied me and came to town, you came with him right?" Jesse said.

Daisy looked away to keep her tears from falling as she replied, "Yes, Sir."

Jesse stated, "They are digging holes for posts that I need to take them. While you get supper ready you can start cleaning the kitchen. Ceiling to floor, china cabinet, what nots and all." He saw her start to protest. "You can start anywhere you want, you'll have all your 'spare' time to finish it."

Daisy held her sigh as she heard the unsaid words that she was grounded.

"Other than working or errands I specifically give you, you are not to leave the farm without permission until further notice." Jesse said officially.

Daisy's eyes nearly bugged out.

Jesse held his hand up. "Yes, I know it is end of the year and all. I didn't say you would not be allowed to participate in some activities, just that I need to be asked permission and we'll decide which are the most important to you."

Daisy knew better than to swear especially out loud, but she was doing her share silently at the moment. Any other time she would not only be allowed but encouraged to participate in any school functions. "Yes, Sir."

"Now, go get busy. We'll all have us get together after dinner." Jesse said felling he'd takin' enough time talking away from work.

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