Thanks for reading and all the reviews. This month's schedule is a witch at work but I'm trying to find time to keep updating so please keep reading. I hope May looks better.

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Chapter 31

Luke danced a few more dances with Shelly and a couple other girls. Jesse and Bill had left long ago. Bo and Jeb had each found something young and warm to cuddle as last call was announced. Luke made his way to the bar and ordered another beer. This was one advantage of Jeb driving. He told Daisy to send Bo and Jeb another round drinks as he took his beer. Just as Luke thought that he'd get out of there without any trouble from Ralph, he saw him enter the bar. Taking a long drink of his beer, Luke swore to himself. Something told him there was going to be trouble, and it was likely with a capitol ' T '.

As Ralph walked in and spotted Luke at the bar, he approached Luke.

Luke sighed. Taking another drink of beer he said, "Now Ralph, I know David has been filling your head with a bunch of crap..."

"How would you know that?" Ralph asked.

"Because Robin was here earlier. Her linkage got crossed. I saw her before Cooter did and went out and got it uncrossed. Yes, I got in her car and made sure that the gears shifted freely. She was not in the car with me, but I bet that David didn't tell you that. My date was in the restroom. I got Robin back on the road and was back in here just as she came out of the restroom. I left with Ruby. Ask anyone here. David only told you enough to try to push your buttons like he's been pushing mine. And five will get you twenty, that he's somewhere watching to see us both just hoping that we both cross the line to get in trouble while he comes out smelling like a rose." Luke said.

Ralph frowned. "You're kidding? Right? That was all there was to it?"

"That's all. Just trying to be helpful." Luke replied.

Ralph fumed, "So, I've risked my behind and license to come over here and confront you about actually helping Robin get to meet me on time?"

Luke shrugged his shoulders, "If that's how you got here, ... yeah."

"There was no more to it?" Ralph asked.

Luke replied, "No, not a bit more."

Ralph replied, "Well, this isn't over. I plan to ask around. If what you are saying isn't true, we'll have problems."

Luke gave a bit of a smile, "Ask all you want. Care to join me outside and see if we spot a rat?"

Ralph followed Luke outside the Boar's Nest. Just as they walked outside they saw David's truck take off out of the parking lot like a scalded hound.

Luke said, "There goes you're 'rat'."

Ralph like Luke knew David's pickup. He nodded. For the moment what Luke said was adding up, he'd have to give him that. Before Ralph was forced to say anything that would indicate that he was in any way backing down, Rosco flew by in hot pursuit of a vehicle heading toward town.

Luke suggested, "If I were you, while he's that way, I'd be going the other way."

As others started coming outside signaling the closing of the bar for the night, Ralph said, "I'll do that, but I do intend to check into this further."

"Be my guest." Luke said as Ralph turned to go to his car hoping to mix in with the others leaving and not be spotted driving.

Bo and Jeb came outside and asked, "What was that all about?"

"I knew that David would run straight to Ralph and tell him I helped get Robin on the road earlier." Luke said figuring that they had missed some of the details of the evening. "Come on let's get out of here." Luke said as he walked to his car. Purely out of habit he went to the drivers side of the car as he reached for the keys in his pocket and found them not there."

"Looking for these?" Jeb said from behind him as he showed him the keys.

Luke sighed heavily and went to the passenger side of the car as he replied, "Habit."

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The Duke patriot was in bed by now but not alseep. He heard all the boys come in and knew Daisy would be behind them in awhile. He was glad the boys were home. Jesse hoped that meant Luke had had no other trouble after he left. He listened as the boys made their way in the house and to their room with nothing seemingly out of place. Just as the house quietened down for the night Jesse heard Daisy come in and quietly get ready for bed. Now he could go to sleep.

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The Duke farm woke to what appeared to have the makings of a bright sunny day, though the sun had not dawned yet as the family first stirred. Saturday for the Dukes usually meant a morning of regular chores followed by anything that had been put off until the weekend when they could all help. But it also meant when the work was done they'd likely have a bit if free time. Today was no different as Jesse said as the boys were heading out for chores, "After chores, I need ya'll to take the pickup to town for some nails and tin roofing. We got to get that back side of that barns roof fixed before the next big rains." He added before the boys could complain, "While you're waiting you can run by the garage just as long as you eat a doughnut for me, but I need ya'll back here to get that roof done. Once it is done you'll be good until tonight. Don't make any plans for later tonight."

Luke nodded. That was all he needed to know.

Bo also knew what was up.

Jeb, on the other hand didn't pick up on the plan for the night near as quickly.

They all headed outside and Jeb stopped Bo, "What was that all about for tonight?"

Bo replied, "There's a run tonight." He frowned and looked at his broken wrist, "Just not sure how he plans to work it with Luke not able to drive and this. Come on, I'm sure Jesse has a plan."

Daisy came in to start breakfast.

Jesse advised, "You likely won't have to fix much breakfast. The boys have to run to town and they will likely stop at the garage for breakfast."

Daisy nodded with a smile. "Alright Uncle Jesse." She knew Saturday's were normal catch up days, but Jesse always tried to make it where they'd all have a bit of free time too. She also knew the boys would prefer the breakfast of doughnuts and beer to anything she fixed.

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At the garage, Cooter was just unlocking the doors while still holding the box of fresh doughnuts in his hand as Jesse's pickup pulled in behind him. He turned to see Jeb on the driver's side as Bo and Luke were got out of the passenger side. "Hey, Hey. Well now if ya'll don't look like trouble this early in the morning."

Bo was first to help Cooter make sure the doughnuts found their normal spot on the work bench inside right next to the register. Bo, being Bo also managed to help himself to the first one from the box.

Luke on the other hand made his way to the refrigerator and grabbed two beers. He handed one to Cooter as he opened his own, then reached for a doughnut.

Cooter took a swig of his beer and said, "Thanks Luke. At least you handed me a beer before helping yourself." He said as he tried to give Bo a serious look.

Through a mouthful of Cooter's doughnuts, Bo managed to say, "Oh, sorry about that Cooter. Here." He dug back into the box and handed Cooter a doughnut.

"Thanks Bo. But I could have gotten it out of the box myself." Cooter laughed. He looked up to see Jeb being just a bit stand offish. "Dig in Jeb, I was only funnin' with Bo. Didn't mean ya'll weren't welcome or nothing. There is doughnuts here and pop and beer in the refrigerator."

Jeb looked at Bo, then Cooter, "I was just afraid I'd loose a hand if I reached too quick." He got a doughnut and headed for the refrigerator.

Bo said, "Grab me a beer too, Jeb."

Now this wasn't that unusual a thing to happen even if Bo was underage, but there was a couple things running through Luke's mind at the moment. Firstly, they usually stayed longer before returning to the farm. Secondly, if he let Bo have a beer, then he'd have to let Jeb. Thirdly, was the trouble that could cause for them all if Rosco stopped them or Jesse found out. Then, he thought that the only beer you could by in this County was nearly water. Jesse had not really said too much about them havin' a beer at the garage before. With a sigh he decided on a compromise, "Fellas, just one."

Jeb nodded, 'OK."

Bo frowned and looked at Luke like he'd lost his mind.

Even Cooter looked up surprised.

Luke explained, "Look Rosco is going to be watching me hard. I'm with you both. If you all are crossing any lines and are with me you are both chancing getting caught." Luke saw the looks that his younger cousins exchanged, as if they weren't concerned about Rosco. He'd have to spell things out for them, "Ya'll might not be concerned about him, but at the moment I pretty much am. If you all are underage and drinking not to mention driving, guess who is in more trouble that ya'll."

Cooter amazingly had picked up on Luke's line of thought and replied, "US." He knew since he'd provided the beer and he and Luke were the adults of the bunch that it wouldn't be good. Also, Rosco might never give them a second look on a Saturday morning heading back from picking up supplies. He knew as well as Luke did that Rosco would be looking to catch Luke driving the entire time his license was revoked.

Luke nodded 'yes' but said, "Or at least me since he is head hunting for me." He reached for the phone and called Ruebottoms. He placed the order for the roofing tin and nails. After the order was put in, Luke said, "Jeb if you run the truck over they will have it loaded while we finish breakfast."

Jeb ate the last bite of his doughnut and said, "Alright." He was just glad that the store loaded the order and they'd only have to unload it and then of course put it on the barn roof after carrying it up the ladder to get it there.

While Jeb took the pick up over to the general store, Cooter looked at Luke and asked, "So what all went on at the Boar's Nest that I missed before you nearly poled David?"

Luke shrugged, "You missed it? I thought everyone in three Counties knew about it."

Acting just a bit embarrassed, Cooter said, "I was just a bit to occupied with Beverly to worry about what you was doin'."

"The short version is Robin came in needing help with her car. I told her that synchronzier was going out, ..." Luke began.

"She hasn't had that changed yet?" Cooter asked.

Luke frowned, "No. Anyway when she came in I saw her before she saw you. I got the tools out of the wrecker and got her back on her way. Then I came back in and left with Ruby."

Cooter nearly choked on his beer, "RUBY? You left with Ruby? Man alive, ... if half the stories I have heard, ..." Cooter seen Luke's slight tilt of his head towards Bo and the returning Jeb.

Luke gave a bit of a grin, "Well, all I'm sayin' to that is, ... that's who I left with." He took a long drink of his beer.

Cooter admitted, while hoping to move the conversation a bit, "All I know is I came in and had no more got in the place when David yelled at you when you was dancing with Shelly."

"When you came in? Where'd you been?" Luke asked.

Cooter gave Luke a silly grin, "I told you me and Beverly were occupied."

"Yeah." Luke said, figuring just how occupied that they had been if he was just coming back in. he knew the wrecker had never left as he'd seen it and used tools off it.

Bo finished his beer and automatic reflexes turned him toward the refrigerator and Jeb, "You get a feelin' they ain't telling us everything?"

Jeb frowned as he took a drink of his own beer, "I thought it was only me who was left out of the conversation."

Luke frown and simply said, "Bo."

Bo had the beer in his hand and was ready to twist the top off, "What?"

Luke pointed to the beer. "One, remember? We don't need to be running in ditches or falling off the barn roof."

Bo frowned, "Well I ain't driving and won't be allowed on the roof."

"Just the same. We agreed on one. Besides, if we want to come back this afternoon, we need to be heading out." Luke finished his own beer ending the debate as he headed to the door followed by Bo.

Jeb frowned as he looked at his still half full beer. He'd gotten a late start because he took the truck to the store. He looked from the beer to his cousins who were already out the door. Then he saw Cooter.

Cooter said, better drink up they are leavin' ya.

"Yeah," Jeb said, not realizing HE had the truck keys and the guys couldn't leave him far behind. In true Duke fashion, Jeb turned the bottle up and finished it in one drink and tossed the empty in the trash. "Thanks, Cooter, we'll see ya later, most likely."

Cooter shook his head as he stood in the garage door and watched the three cousins heading for the general store, their truck, and hopefully home.

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