Chapter 14

NARRATOR: "Well folks, things seem to be off to a rip roarin' start over at the Hazzard High School. All the decorations were in place and had transformed the old gym into a fairy land of stars, clouds and moons. Daisy and her friends have gotten all the refreshments and souvenir bags ready to pass out. The band had already began to play even before guests started arriving."

The decoration lights were turned on and the regular gym lighting off as Daisy took her place at the front door along with Ms. Cline. Ms. Cline was checking tickets while Daisy would be giving out the souvenir bags. Daisy said, "Wow! I can't believe this is our gym!"

Ms. Cline replied, "I thought 'Moonlit Moment' would be a good theme, I just wasn't sure that we'd get everything together like in the picture." ****

Daisy replied, "Well, it surely looks like ya'll did a wonderful job."

Several couples had already arrived by the time the Bo got back with Mary Kay. A few minutes later Cooter and Beverly arrived and Daisy almost didn't recognize Cooter. She actually had to look twice at him and only really recognized him because of Beverly. She gave them their bag and said, "Ya'll look great! Have a good night."

When Daisy looked up at the next couple she nearly choked when she seen Robin, Luke's former girlfriend, with none other than the Ralph Green. It was all Daisy could do to get out the words, "Have a nice night." as she handed Robin her souvenir bag.

01~~~~~~~~~01

At the garage, Luther had finished up for the week. He turned to Luke, "Well, I'm out of here. I'm glad you could drive for Cooter tonight. It has been a long week."

"Not a problem. I'll likely bring in the Torino and tinker with it a bit if it's slow." Luke replied.

Luther laughed, "It is usually hit and miss on prom night. Rosco and the other officers will be out so that in itself can make for a busy night. I always just hope that all the prom goers get off the roads and stay off before they decide to do whatever it is they plan to do."

Luke nodded in agreement. He may not be going to the prom but had a lot of friends and family that would be there. "Tell Cooter I'll like just stay here until he gets awake and gets here. I just need to get home in time do my chores at home before Uncle Jesse gets excited about them."

"I understand that. I'll tell him." Luther said as he started to walk out the door. "You have your garage key, and here are the keys to the impound lot." He tossed a key ring with the keys on it. Taking a minute to think to himself, Luther added, "Tomorrow go over to Ruebottom's and get yourself a set of those keys made and put it on my bill." Holding his finger up in warning, "Just remember to NOT make any unofficial UN-impoundings."

Luke laughed at Luther's comment. He also understood the trust the man was placing in him. "You got it. Thanks."

Luther replied, "I figure with graduation and all that you may just be wanting to make an extra dollar or two this summer."

"That I would. Thanks again." Luke said. He and Luther shook on agreement, which bound Luke to his promise to the unspoken chance that his car could end up back in the impound yard and he'd not use his keys to remove it unofficially. After Luther left, Luke did bring the Torino into the garage and began preparing it to be able to redo the primer on the areas effected from trading paint with Ralph. The more Luke worked on the car the madder he got. The car had been ready to paint before the night of the race. Now it would take hours to get the car back the way it had been.

01~~~~~~~~01

The last dance of the prom ended and the gym lights came on with the band adding best wishes and cautioned everyone to use care as they left the school and to be safe.

Everyone was surprised to find at the parking area they were being directed toward the back road of the school toward a narrow winding road that circled the track and football fields. Leaving the lights of the parking lot everyone leaving the school saw why they had been directed that way. Additional stars and moons lite the path from the school to the main road. Traffic was moving slowly as the students and guests took time to enjoy the drive with some even going back to the school to drive back through the lights to get pictures. As Ralph got closer to the main road he saw the unmistakable blue flash from strobe lights. Though he nor Robin had been drinking, he did have a unopened bottle of Jack Daniels under his seat. Not wanting to repeat his stay at Rosco's Iron Bar Hotel, Ralph began to franticly search for the bottle under his seat. He failed to notice the car in front of him stop until the looked back up. Ralph had only two choices, the back of the car or the small grassy hillside to his right. He chose the grassy hillside and applied the brakes which proved of little used on the dew wet grass. Ralph gritted his teeth and actually closed his eyes as he felt the tires lock up and continue to slide over the hill. He couldn't bare to watch his beloved car get mangled. At the bottom of the twenty foot embankment the car finally came to rest unharmed. After getting his breath, Ralph first tired to back the car back up the hill that it had slide down, which didn't work. He managed to get turned around and tried to drive up the hill side, which again didn't work. He got out of the car and yelled up to the crowd that had gathered, "Can you guys help me push this thing out of here?"

Being that all the guys were dressed in their prom best, none were willing to get that dirty on what looked like a useless effort. Cooter and Beverly managed to get close enough to see the crowd gathered, "Stay here. I'll be right back." Cooter said. Once he got close enough to see the car in question and hear Ralph's pleas to bystanders, Cooter said, "That car ain't comin' out of there without a wrecker. Are you both alright?" He asked knowing that Robin had been with him at the prom.

For the first time, Ralph thought to ask Robin if she was alright.

Robin was feeling a mixture of emotions beginning with fear, anger, and more so embarrassment, but she wasn't hurt. "I'm fine. Just dandy."

Ralph advised Cooter, "We're both alright. Just need out of here."

Cooter knew Beverly didn't have a CB in her car which is what they had taken to the prom. He turned to Brodie, "Go tell who ever Rosco has down there on traffic that we need a wrecker up here."

"Will do." Brodie was off.

Ralph saw the guy in question leave before he could argue the point. He swore then remembered the reason for his looking away from the road, Ralph quickly reached under the seat and found the bottle of Jack Daniels. "Here. Put this in your purse or somewhere." Ralph had surely seen the evening turning out differently when he bought the Jack Daniels. He had hoped it would be just enough incentive to get what he'd been after since he first met Robin, which would be the ultimate revenge on Luke Duke after taking 'his girl'.

Robin tried to the bottle in her purse but she was carrying an unusually small bag tonight and couldn't it in there. She opted to put it in the seat and cover it with her dress.

Brodie and his date pulled up to the Deputy's car, "Hey, we got a guy over the hill back here. No one is hurt but Cooter said to tell you he'd need a wrecker."

The Deputy nodded and reached for the CB, "Hazzard Four to Hazzard Garage."

Luke was setting down in the floor working on the bottom of his car when he heard the CB come to life. Sighing he got up just as the Deputy made his second call for the garage. "Hazzard Garage, go ahead Hazzard Four."

"I need a wrecker out on the back side of the school near the football field." The Deputy said.

Luke sighed and replied, "I'll be right there." He had no idea why a car would be out in that area, but went out and after locking up the garage, got in the wrecker and headed off toward the school.

After making the CB call for the wrecker Deputy Petticord made his way way back to where the crowd was gathered and immediately seen why a wrecker was needed. He said to the guy beside the car, "Is that your car?"

Ralph replied, "Yeah."

"Were you driving?" Deputy Petticord asked.

Swearing to himself, Ralph replied, "Yeah."

"Come on up here and talk to me, while we wait for the wrecker." Deputy Petticord insisted.

Ralph swore with every step that he made closer to the Deputy, because for every step he took up the slick hill, he slide down three more. Ralph was still busy with the Deputy when Luke pulled up in the wrecker.

Luke saw the police cruiser, the crowd, but the car that he was called to tow wasn't obvious. It could have been any of those parked along side the road. Luke figured that maybe they had caught someone drinking and driving. He got out of the wrecker and walked over to the Deputy. Luke recognized the Deputy once he got closer to him in the darkness that was only lite up by the blue strobes of the police car and the yellow lights of the wrecker.

Before Luke could speak to Deputy Petticord, Cooter was at his side, "Easy Luke."

Luke frowned at Cooter wondering why Cooter was obviously trying to calm him down. "What?"

Cooter motioned to Ralph standing by the Deputy but then again so were several other guys.

Luke took Cooter's advice seeing Ralph there, but still hadn't made the connection. "Deputy Petticord where do you need the wrecker?" Luke asked.

Cooter was hoping to keep Luke on an even keel and said, "Over here, I'll show you."

Luke got back in the wrecker and followed Cooter to the edge of the hill still not seeing the car as he got out of the wrecker. "Ok Cooter who ride needs towing?" Luke asked.

"The one over the hill." Cooter said calmly.

Luke was on the wrong side of the wrecker to see the car, but took the trucks chocks down and scotted the wrecker. He released the cable and started over the hill with Cooter running the wrecker. Luke was about half way down the hill when he could make out the tail lights of the car in the darkness. Now things were adding up, Ralph with Deputy Petticord, Cooter wanting him to stay calm, and now the familiar tail lights. He couldn't help speed up his descent down the hill, going immediately to the passenger side of the car. "Are you alright?"

Robin knew the voice even before she looked up into the blue eyes, "Just get this car out of here."

"Not on my life with you in it." Luke said matter of factually.

"Yes, you will. I'm not walking up that muddy hill in these heels and my new dress." Robin said.

Luke opened the door, "Yes you are." Before she could reply he said, "Look the cable could break, the hook could slip, anything, ... Come on I'll get you up the hill."

Knowing that Luke knew what he was talking about and he was right, she gave a heavy sigh and put her feet out of the car. Only then did she remember the bottle of liquor in the seat. "Luke? The law is up there isn't it?"

Luke wasn't sure why that bothered her, but replied, "Yeah, why?"

"Can you take this?" Robin moved enough for him to see the pint bottle.

Luke frowned, "That isn't yours."

"No." Robin said.

"Truth. Was he drinking before he did this?" Luke asked as his temper was being to rise.

Robin said, "No. I didn't even know he had it until after this happened."

Luke tucked the pint in his inside jean jacket pocket, "Ok, now let's get you up this hill so I can get this thing out of here." Making their way to the back of the car Luke called to Cooter, "Can you secure a rope and toss it down?"

Cooter replied, "Yeah, hang on a second."

Luke grabbed the rope with his left hand and took a step up the hill, then dug the heels of his boots into the ground making sure he wouldn't slip. "Ok, take my hand and step just above my feet."

Robin did as Luke told her too while holding her dress up as she went. It was a slow process but they were near the top of the hill.

Luke stepped one foot to the flat of the roadway and pulled Robin up the last step of hill where she ended up almost in his arms. Their eyes met for a split second. Before either could say anything, Luke turned and started back over the hill mumbling in part, "... get the da- thing out of here." Luke hooked the cable up, signaled Cooter to get the slack out of the cable, went to the driver's side of the car and got behind the wheel giving Cooter a wave to start to pull the car up the hill.

Robin placed her hand on Cooter's hand on the controls of the wrecker, "What is he doing?"

Cooter replied, "Going to steer the car out of there."

"But, ..." Robin said just before she seen Ralph walking her way. She knew Luke was going to do just exactly what he wouldn't allow her to do.

Cooter worked the controls of the wrecker, Luke steered the car up the hill and together it was back on the road in drivable condition in minutes.

Ralph came over to Luke as he got out of the car.

As Luke stood up, he looked Ralph in the eye and said evenly, "Don't even think about it."

Deciding not to deal with Luke at all, Ralph turned to Cooter, "How much do I owe YOU?"

Cooter replied, "You owe Luke about a hundred dollars, CASH, which I'll give him for ya if you want or he tows the car."

"A hundred DOLLARS? Ain't that a bit steep?" Ralph asked.

Cooter gave him a grin, "Not as steep as that hill."

Deputy Petticord came over seeing the three young men in deep conversation. "Problem fellas?"

Luke was the first to answer which grated Ralph's nerves, "Not at all, just a bit of negotiations."

"There is nothing to negotiate. Son you pay the bill or Luke there tows the car." Deputy Petticord explained. "How much does he owe you, Luke."

"A hundred dollars cash." Luke confirmed Cooter's quote.

Ralph looked over at his car still attached to the wrecker, then reached for his wallet. One thing he was sure of was that in the while he had dated Robin 'she' was costing him more than any other girl he had dated.

Seeing Ralph reaching for the money Luke prepared to unhook the car. Cooter grinned widely as he took the hundred dollar bill. "Thank ya for your business."

Luke released the car and secured the cables on the wrecker. Cooter handed him the hundred dollar bill and reached behind the seat for a shop rag to wipe his hands on. Luke watched Ralph stomp off and had to grin. "Thanks for your help there Cooter."

"With all this traffic I wasn't going anywhere until it was out of there." Cooter said.

Luke nodded as he started to get back in the wrecker, "I'll be at the garage until you get there tomorrow. Just get me home for evening chores, huh?"

Cooter raised his eyebrows a couple of times, "That MIGHT be arranged."

"Well, if not just yell and let me know you're alive and I'll take the wrecker home to do them." Luke replied every bit as mischievously as Cooter had been. As Luke drove back to the garage, he couldn't help the mild sense of satisfaction in knowing that the evening Ralph obviously had planned had not happened. Then, Luke remembered something. He felt his jacket pocket and had to laugh. He still had the bottle of liquor that he was sure was supposed to be Robin's demise.

01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01

***** This story is for entertainment purposes only. Characters and events are not meant to represent any person living or dead or true events. Events may be based in part on things that have happened to myself or people I know, but have been changed so much they are merely a shell of the actual events. Please read and review.