Thanks Vector for review # 100. Sorry about the cliff hanger. Maybe this one will be better.

Parts of this chapter is written in Memory of Neva Patterson, Swamp Molly, who passed away December 14th, 2010 at the age of 90. This was one of my favorite episodes. We have also lost two more important residents of Hazzard: Peggy Rea, Lulu Hogg, passed away Feb 5th, 2011 at the age of 89. Also, more recently, Paul R. Baxley, stunt coordinator and stuntman who passed away March 4th at the age of 88. Thanks for all the gifts and laughs each of your talents gave us. May you all Rest in Peace.

Truce

Daisy came in from work to find Jesse setting alone on the porch swing with his Bible closed by him. "Are you alright, Uncle Jesse?"

Jesse gave her a reassuring look and replied, "I'm fine. Just thinking."

She thought for a minute and knowing said, "About Luke?"

Jesse couldn't deny it, "That's right."

"He's OK isn't he? I mean, ..." Daisy's voice trailed off.

"He's fine." Jesse said but his thoughts continued with what he wouldn't voice to the young innocent girl before him, 'Well, as fine as a young man can be when he's been locked away in a cage for nearly two weeks.'Jesse may seem like a saint to most everyone in Hazzard these days but he and a few others in the County knew better. In fact there was a time back in the Fall of '39 when he'd came very close to being a guest not of the County for a few weeks but of the State for a few years. He thought back to how 'Swamp Molly' had helped him that night to get away from the Feds. Jesse knew he'd never forget what she had done, not that she'd ever let him forget it either. In fact she still claimed he owed her and tended to call in the favor every few years or so. Also, Jesse couldn't say that he nor his brothers had never been behind those same bars that Luke was now, though he for one had never been sentenced to any time. Still, Jesse knew how unpleasant even those times had been.

Daisy seen Jesse was still deep in thought, "Are you coming to bed? It's getting late."

Jesse replied, "Go on, I'll be along soon." He continued to think how different things on this farm could have been if it hadn't have been for Swamp Molly. Lavinia always said that the lady had done so because she had her 'cap for him'. Jesse smiled at the thought because by that time he only had eyes for Lavinia. That close call, coupled with responsibility of being the oldest of his brothers and sisters had surely caused Jesse to be a lot more careful and, in fact, settled his wilder ways down right considerable. Jesse could only hope that this entire situation would have a similar effect on Luke, however, he knew that it was just as likely to have the opposite effect. With Luke being cooped up all this time Jesse knew that when he got home, the temptation to go 'hog wild and pig crazy' would be there. Jessee knew he could treat Luke like a child and ground him longer, but he knew he couldn't ground Luke for forever. On the other hand, if Luke was man enough to break the law and have to set in jail because of it once then Jesse figured that if that was his choice to do so again who was he to try to stop him? Yes, Jesse knew he'd try to talk to Luke and convince him not to try to make up for the time he'd lost this summer while in jail but he'd not treat him like a child either.

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In the boys room, Bo was as jumpy as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs. Jeb may have been on Luke's bed but he was doing nothing but reminding Bo that Luke again wouldn't be sleeping beside him.

Jeb knew he was a poor substitute for their older cousin, but tried, "Checkers?"

Bo tossed the magazine he had been staring at for over an hour without turning a single page, "Nah." He got up off the bed and walked to the window. He strangely felt every bit as caged as Luke was currently. He knew it would have been bad enough to have been in jail as long as Luke had been even had he gotten to come home on Wednesday as originally told instead of two whole days later on Friday. That was one thing about being grounded by Jesse Duke you knew if he said a weekend or a week that was what he meant. It was those few times he'd been mad enough to ground them without telling them how long like this time. Jesse never had to tell any of them they were grounded. They just knew. As for how long, none of the three had gotten brave enough to ask that yet. Bo looked down at his casted hand. That was yet another restriction along with being grounded and not having Luke around. He wasn't even sure he could drive a standard right now even if he hadn't been grounded.

Jeb watched him for a long while before saying, "I think there was some pie left. Join me?"

Bo's stomach was ready, until his mind reminded him that Luke wasn't able to have a snack, midnight or other wise. He now felt his stomach in his throat and knew he'd never be able to anything right now. He replied, "Go ahead. I'm fine."

Jeb looked at Bo's back as he stood staring out across the field. He knew that Bo was anything but fine, but had no idea how to make it better for any of his older cousins or his uncle. Jeb knew they had a bit of age on him, and he knew things could change, but he promised himself right there to try his best not to put his family through this type pain. He prayed things got back to some sort of normal tomorrow when Luke got home.

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What Luke had to say took a bit longer to say than it likely should have. It was nearing dinner the next day be fore he asked Ralph, "Are you enjoying this?"

"What?" Ralph looked at him like he'd lost his mind.

Luke continued, "Fact is, I'm not. I haven't been. But this is about a lot more people than us. About people that care about us and that we care about. In fact, you being here is hurting some one that I'd rather not see hurt by you or me, either one."

Ralph was confused, "Who?"

"Robin." Luke saw his dander beginning to rile, "Now, just hold on. What I'm trying to say is I think it is time we call a truce."

Ralph had only heard the word a couple times in school and wasn't real familiar with it. He asked with a frown, "Truce?"

"Yeah," Luke began to explain, "I've given up enough of my time over this whole thing and I'm sure you had other things you'd like to be doing other than locked up here." He paused.

Ralph wasn't sure where Luke was going here, but so far Luke was right. If he hadn't been here, he was sure that Robin would be 'his' by now. At the moment he wasn't even sure they were still engaged since his phone conversations had been at best limited and monitored. He hadn't been ready to talk about anything that would have given Luke the idea that they weren't anything less than very happy. But, there was still the fact, she had not been here to see him at all. Ralph frowned as he thought, 'Just like Duke said she wouldn't be.' He hated that Duke knew her that well.

Luke seen he had Ralph's attention so he continued, "We're all out of school. She'll be starting college in a few weeks now. If you are what she wants, I'm not gonna try to mess with that. I got nothing to prove to her or you on or off the road." Luke hoped that Ralph didn't jump on that, since he'd not only beaten but embarrassed Ralph when he'd ended up in the ditch. He saw Ralph about to say something cute, "Look. Is it worth spending the rest of the time she is home before college in here over who's car is faster? If that's what you want to prove there are several races around the Tri-Counties this summer. We'll be there, ... enter. We'll settle it on the track."

Ralph wasn't as sure as Luke was that Robin would be leaving for college this fall or ever if he had his way about it, but to get that way he needed to be a lot closer to her. So at least for now, what Duke said made sense. Ralph knew it woudl take time to get her under his control enough to listen to him.

Before Ralph could reply, Rosco showed up with the dinner trays, "Good news, good news, dinner is here."

Luke only wished he could be that happy about dinner. He sighed. One good thing about it was that it would be his last dinner here. He hoped it wasn't the chipped beef like they had again for lunch. Opening the container he seen it was worse. It was the Chili Mac. They had been served it a couple times while here. Because he had pasta, something that resembled meat, tomato paste or something red, and chili spices, who ever fixed the trays thought it was nearly a meal by its self so the only other thing on the trays was two pieces of cornbread.

Ralph looked at his food, then at Luke, "So how does this 'truce' thing work?"

Luke may not have been in the habit of wasting food, but for now it could wait as he set the tray down, "Simple. We get out of here tomorrow. You go your way and I'll go mine. Then, we just leave each other alone and stop trying to push each others buttons."

Ralph considered that a couple minutes before saying, "Prom night. You pulled my car out."

Luke nodded, 'yes' for him to go ahead.

"I had a bottle of Jack Daniels in there. Care to tell me what happened to it?" Ralph said accusingly.

There was several ways Luke could tell the truth here. Point blank make Robin the bad guy causing trouble for her and Ralph. Tell the truth and credit Robin so that Ralph wasn't mad at her. Or take total blame himself. Thinking quickly, Luke decided on what he thought would work the best if he actually planned to hold to the truce he suggested, because he knew if Ralph 'hurt' Robin in any way he'd never even think of the truce again. He said as he tried to cover the edge to his voice, "It seems your girl didn't want you in trouble with the law," Luke looked around at their surroundings and added, "Imagine that. Anyway, it seems she trusted ME to keep YOU out of trouble, which I did."

Ralph frowned. It was a logic that was hard to argue with, but he did ask, "So where did my 'Jack' go?"

Luke bite his tongue at least three times before he could talk with out saying what he was thinking, 'The Jack that you wanted to try to use to take advantage of Robin with?' Instead he decided to answer truthfully, "I gave it to a friend for graduation night. Thanks to you, I hear he had a real good time."

"Well, ... I'm glad he did. I was so broke from prom, loosing to you and that wrecker bill; that had it not been for graduation presents I'd not had gas to get to graduation, let alone something to drink in celebration." Ralph said truthfully.

Luke could only hope it was in 'celebration' not in seeking out a 'conquest'. "The wrecker bill wasn't me in the least."

Ralph thought for awhile before saying anything else. If Duke was playing square with him that was not one but two things less he had against the guy in front of him. But he didn't like the idea of backing down to anyone, let alone Duke. So he asked, "So I'm just expected to back down?"

Luke shrugged his shoulders, "Not exactly. I don't see it so much as either of us is backing down, more like just walking away."

Ralph nodded then said unsure if he was ready to be 'friends' with Duke, but finding it hard not to at least think about, "I'll think about it."

"Fair enough." Luke said. He'd hoped to get this resolved tonight, but it looked like he'd have to wait at least awhile before he'd know if he'd actually gotten through Ralph's thick skull. Or course, no matter what was said here tonight, the proof would be when they ran into each other outside of these bars.

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Daisy made it to her room and while getting ready for bed thought of her two oldest male cousins. She really would like to wring both their necks at times like this for putting Uncle Jesse and the entire family through all this. First there was Luke, who had so much Duke pride that he'd rather set in a jail cell than to back down from anything. Just like he'd stood there and took every thing that Pauline had said to him. Daisy hadn't been able to put her finger on what Luke had done in order for the Judge to keep him and Ralph longer but she had a strange feeling it had something to do with her. Something told her that Luke's stubborn Duke pride had said or done something because of her. As she brushed her hair in front of the mirror she looked at herself. It was times like this that she really hated the attention she had started getting from men. Usually she enjoyed the attention or at least had learned to use it to her advantage, but Bo and Luke were so protective of her that sometimes they jumped in when they shouldn't have. Something told her this was one of those times.

Then, there was Bo who had so much temper that he broke his wrist and hand punching the pole in the barn. No matter what he said, sheknew that Luke being kept away from him hurt Bo worse that the pain from the injury had.

Daisy was just getting in bed when she finally heard Jesse come in from the porch. She could also hear enough from Jeb and Bo to know that they too were still awake.

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Day broke in Hazzard much like any other morning for everyone except a few folks named Duke and maybe one named Green.

At the farm, Bo who hadn't gotten much sleep the entire time that Luke had been gone, got even less the night before. He couldn't help wonder if something else would happen to keep Luke from coming home again.

Jeb was awake as soon as he head Bo stirring about. Neither were surprised to find Jesse already in the kitchen with coffee made and ready to start breakfast. Looking at the kitchen clock it was nearly thirty minutes earlier than they were usually up. Jeb looked at Bo, "May as well get on the chores."

Jesse nodded, "I'll have breakfast when you two get back."

Daisy had just been waiting to hear the others up before she got up. She had been more awake that asleep all night long. This morning seemed like many of the Christmas mornings the cousins had shared as kids. The restrained eagerness for the night to pass so that they could see what Santa had brought them. This morning no presents awaited them, but the cousins didn't care. They would be happy just to finally see their oldest cousin home. Daisy hurried to get dressed so that they could have everything done before Luke got home. Well, at least she hoped that Luke would finally make it home.

Each had their own ideas of just what they wanted to do with Luke first.

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For someone who hadn't gotten much sleep that past week and a half, Luke was also awake early. He sincerely hoped that nothing would keep him from getting home today. He really wanted a long hot shower in the privacy of their bathroom, his own clothes, a descent lunch, somewhere in there just fifteen minutes by himself and his own bed back tonight. Then, he thought about Ruby's offer and decided that maybe he could wait one more night before making it to his own bed if he still wasn't grounded for life. Luke really hoped that that his Uncle Jesse would think he'd 'paid' enough for his mistakes. He surely would like a night out on the town to cut loose, drink a few beers, listen to some music, maybe dance a bit, and then if things worked out he'd find himself leaving all that behind early to take one Miss Ruby up on her plans. Luke swore to himself. He had allowed his imagination to run away with it's self rapidly. If he kept this up that hot shower would have to be a cold one.

It wasn't long before Ralph was up and began to pace the cell in anticipation of being released.

Peggy brought the breakfasts in and after giving Deputy Petticord his lunch took the guys theirs.

It was Ralph who voiced what Luke was considering asking, "So, ... ummmm, ... anything we have to do before getting out of here today?"

Peggy smiled a bit and asked, "You mean like seeing the Judge before leaving?"

Luke was listening intently.

Ralph nodded, "Yeah, like that exactly."

"The only thing ya'll have to do, which most people find to be the hardest sometimes, is just to wait for the clock hands to both be straight up." Peggy said.

Letting out the breath Luke hadn't realized he'd been holding, he said, "But we've been here this long why should another six hours matter?"

Peggy replied, "I've seen it before and you two may be different, but usually the hardest time anyone has in jail is the first few hours and the last few when they know they are getting out."

That didn't make a lot of sense to Luke or Ralph but they hadn't been there before so they wouldn't argue the point. Luke opened his tray to two fried eggs that now looked plastic, two pieces of toast and chipped beef gravy. As much as he'd been taught not to waste food, this morning had to be the exception. Besides, he could always argue the fact that this didn't qualify as food. Luke knew he'd be hungry by lunch but if Peggy was right he should be home for lunch.

Ralph took one look and didn't even think about it. He closed the container and figured he'd stop at the Boars Nest for a bit of lunch on his way home or to Robin's. He hadn't figured out where would be his first stop.

Luke brought up last nights conversation, "So, thought any more about that truce?"

Actually Ralph had been thinking about that for most of the night. One part of him thought he was backing down to not continue to out do Duke. When he was around Robin and especially her family it seemed like he was competing with a ghost, but this ghost had a name, was warm and breathing only a few feet away from him and that made blood boil and 'got his goat' all at the same time. But what Duke had said about Robin only being home for a short while, at least that was her plans. If he wanted his plans to work and not be only having a girlfriend when she decided to come home from that fancy school her and her parents had picked out all the way across the state, then he needed to concentrate on her now. There would be plenty of time later to deal with Duke. The part of him that felt as if he was backing down had to ask, "So when is those races you mentioned?"

Luke thought maybe just maybe something he'd said had sank into the thick skull of the guy in front of him, "Next one is three weeks away in Placid County. They have a big deal up there. A small round track, a drag strip, even do some motorcycle racing and afterwards the set up a road course. You can enter in as many events as you want. They race all weekend."

Ralph asked, "So this truce thing, ... it don't apply on the track?"

"There is mainly only one rule up there that is strictly abidded by, ... There ain't no rules." Luke explained.

"Well, then if that is the case, I think I can agree to try this here truce thing and I'll see ya on at least one of those tracks up there." Ralph replied. He hoped he could get some money up to be able to enter more than one of them. Now he just had to think about which race he thought he could beat Duke at.

At least that got Luke's mind on something simi constructive. He had two weeks to get his car ready and painted for that race. He'd also have to try to get some work driving the wrecker for the needed cash for the car and the entry fee. He'd also get a bit from making delivers. He was nearly sure that Jesse hadn't delivered as much as he would have done. Jesse just wouldn't leave the others alone with him in jail that often. Sure Jesse had likely did a few that he couldn't put off but they were still behind. If he knew Jesse as well as he thought he did, Luke knew production hadn't slowed and all he'd have to do is deliver the goods. He just hoped that didn't want him to deliver anything tonight.

Then he swore. Luke had intended to swear to himself, well actually he had voiced the swear before the thought that suddenly occurred to him had a chance to finish. He wouldn't be making any deliveries or be driving the wrecker. Shoot, he wouldn't even be driving to the Boar's Nest to meet Ruby. Because as soon as he walked out the front door of this building his drivers license was revoked for fifteen days.

Ralph looked at Luke questioning. Even Peggy and Deputy Petticord looked up when Luke swore. It was Ralph who asked, "What?"

Luke thought before answering. He may have a truce with the guy but that didn't mean they were friends. He replied, "I just remembered I still have to get my car painted and all before that there race up in Placid. Three weeks ain't much time." It was the truth, Luke had been thinking that. Now if Ralph rolled out of here and jumped in his car forgetting or deciding to ignore the Judge's warning that if they were caught driving they'd spent the next one to six months here. It certainly couldn't be Luke's fault, they had both been told and warned.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter with no cliff hangers. Please review.