Chapter 32

As the boys were getting near half way home they were deep in conversation about who they planned to try to sit with at the church picnic Sunday after church. Spending the day in church wasn't their favorite way to spend a Sunday afternoon but if they had to be at church most of the day then they could at least make the best of it. Luke looked up just in time to see a speck of white in the thick bushes ahead. "Jeb slow up."

Jeb looked down and seen he was doing 55 mph on the nose. He frowned, "I'm doin' the limit."

"It don't matter. Slow down." Luke stressed just as they passed the hidden patrol car.

Bo seen why Luke had insisted Jeb slow down just them. "Ahhh, Jeese that's Rosco."

Luke replied said with a sigh as they were passing the patrol car, "Yeah, it is."

By now both Bo and Luke were turning to see what they knew was going on behind them.

Jeb had kept his speed at 55. He looked at his cousins like the were crazy. Jeb only seen the patrol car's front end as they passed it. He knew there was no reason for the law to stop them. They were legal and doing the limit. He thought that right up to the time he checked his mirror and seen the front of the patrol car on his bumper with it's lights on. "What's he doing? I ain't done nothin' wrong."

Bo and Luke replied together as they felt Jeb slowing down, "Loose him."

Now Jeb knew his cousins had lost their minds. His mother had always raised him to obey the law and respect officers. Surely they must be joking with him. "Do WHAT?"

Luke frowned. He was now seeing that Jeb had been raised a bit different than he and Bo. Luke knew he'd just got his license, but they had all driven before they got their licenses. It just dawned on him too that Jeb had likely never even been in a car that was trying to avoid the law before let alone try to run from someone. Luke swore, "Just stop. Pull over. Pull over Jeb."

"WHAT?" Bo said setting up tall between his two cousins. "Luke have you lost your mind? Ah, here we go." He said as he felt the truck pulling over.

Jeb had listened to Luke and his gut feelings. He slowed down, put on his turn signal and pulled to the shoulder of the road.

Rosco had been certain that the eldest Duke cousin was driving the pickup truck when he'd seen it go by. He knew Bo was still not able to drive the standard truck. He fully expected the truck to give him a run, but to his surprise it pulled over. His eyes nearly popped out of his head when he seen it slowing and the signal light indicating that the vehicle was about to pull over. The Sheriff couldn't image why Luke would just pull over for him knowing that his license was revoked. But that didn't matter what mattered was he was about to get Luke Duke out of his hair for up to SIX months when he hadn't even been out of jail for twenty four hours yet. "Kew, Kew, Kew, ... I love it! I just love it. Police work is my life." Rosco cheerfully said as he got out of his patrol car. As he walked up to the drivers side door he was already talking, "Alright, now Luke Duke. You know that's a naughty naughty. So you are under arrest!" He giggled again.

Luke shook his head and leaned forward to look around his cousins, "Under arrest? For what?"

Only now does he see it is Jeb driving. "Ohhhhh, ohhhhh, um, oh, ... Luke? Your not driving. Why?" Before Luke could state the obvious, Rosco recovered himself. "Oh, nevermind that. Jeb Duke? Do you even have a license?"

Jeb found himself just a bit nervous as he replied to the Sheriff, "Yes, Sir."

Rosco motioned for him to proceed, "Well, just be getting it out there so I can see it and keep your hands where I can see them." His hand was resting on his pearl handle 38.

Jeb reached for the door handle so that he could get out of the pickup to get his wallet.

Rosco stepped back and nearly pulled his gun, "Now you just stay there and don't you threaten me none."

Luke seen what was going on, "Well, Rosco if you want his license then you are going to either have to let him out of the truck to get his wallet or he's gonna have to dig around in his back pocket for it."

"Now Luke Duke, you just hush now." Rosco said but reason had some how sank into his brain. "Jeb you just reach real slow with one hand for that wallet.

Jeb did as he was told, then handed over the license.

Rosco seen that the ink on the license was still wet on the license as it was only weeks old. "I need the registration too." Rosco giggled as he muttered, "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

Luke reached for the registration and handed over to Jeb.

Rosco giggled as he pulled out his ticket book. "I'm glad to see that you came all the way over from Placid County so that ol'e Rosco here could give you the first of what will likely be many tickets." He giggled some more.

"Ticket?" Jeb looked at Luke. None of them knew how much trouble he'd be in when his mother found out that he'd gotten a ticket. "For what?"

Luke held his hand up for Jeb not to provoke Rosco who was obviously giving him a ticket because he hadn't been able to arrest Luke for driving.

Rosco replied as he kept writing, "Speeding."

Bo sounded off, "Now that is bull and you know that Rosco."

Jeb looked from the Sheriff to Bo to Luke. He knew he had not been speeding and so did both Bo and Luke. Luke again motioned for him to cool it as he gave his head a slight shake, 'no'. Luke knew that under the circumstances the three would fair much better with Jesse with a minor speeding ticket than any of them going to jail for something Rosco exaggerated.

When Rosco finished the ticket and handed it to Jeb, he looked at it and frowned. He couldn't believe it. He looked to Luke and asked, "Can he really ticket me for going a half mile over the limit?"

Luke looked from giving Rosco a hard glare back to his younger cousin, "Yeah. Yeah, he can write ya for anything."

Rosco smiled a satisfied smile. "Now you boys have a good Saturday and slow it down a might."

Jeb waited until he saw the Sheriff get in his car, "Luke! I'm in deep trouble getting this ticket. Mom will ground me for life."

Luke advised, "Just pull out slow and easy. Head back to the farm. Rosco had to write you for something. Just be glad he didn't stretch the truth any more than he did. He only stopped ya beause he was hoping that I was driving."

Jeb pulled out as Luke advised. Real slow and easy. "But Luke, Mom will flip."

"Maybe not. We might not even have to tell her once we get home and tell Uncle Jesse. Besides, like I said, Rosco can write ya for anything, but he's got to get the Judge to up hold it. Everyone knows speedometers are only accurate at best to within five miles per hour." Luke said hopeful.

Bo complained, "But, Luke that was crap."

"Oh, I agree. But it beat him trying to arrest anyone, figuring out we'd all drank a beer, or deciding that we were hauling shine in mid day. That could have put us behind at least a couple hours. Let's get back to the farm and get that roof done. We'll tell Jesse all about this over lunch."

Jeb drove, but couldn't believe how calm Luke was about this whole thing.

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Jesse was just beginning to wonder what was keeping the boys when he heard the pickup coming up the drive way. By the time Jeb had backed it to the barn where the supplies would be close to the barn. Jesse made his way out to the barn to direct his three nephews in the repair of the roof and to insure that Bo remained on the ground even if he had to park the truck on him. At times it did take all that was in Jesse to keep his injuried nephew with the ground under both feet. He and Bo did all they could from the ground to help get the needed supplies up to Luke and Jeb on the barn roof. Several hours later the four men made their way to the old farm house for a bit of lunch.

The June day was a hot one so Daisy had made a light lunch of sandwich stuff, fresh veggie toppings, and a large jug of ice cold sun tea.

After washing up, everyone took their places at the table for grace to be said. Lunch was eaten without much conversation. Finally as everyone was relaxing a few minutes to another glass of tea, Luke began, "Uncle Jesse on the way home from town today something happened that you need to know about."

Jesse frowned. If it had been something serious, then he should already know about it. He waited for Luke, the oldest, who had been a self appointed spokes person for them all since he could talk.

Luke began, "We were about half way home when I saw a bit of white in the trees. I told Jeb to slow down."

Jeb looked up at Luke thinking that his cousin was about to get him in deeper trouble than he was.

"He was going the limit, fair and square. But, I knew if he didn't get it slowed up we'd get pulled for sure. Heck, we'd still most likely got pulled, as Rosco came up to the truck he was certain I was driving. I was on the passenger side." Luke paused and let that sink in. "Once he seen I was indeed not driving he had to write us for something. He wrote Jeb a ticket for a half mile over the limit."

"He WHAT! Well, that pea brain ...!" Jesse remarked. He sighed, "I'll talk to Judge Hardcastle before Friday." Jesse said, as Friday's were the day the Judge heard all the traffic ticket information.

Jeb looked surprised. "Uncle Jesse? I'm not in trouble?"

Jesse had nearly forgotten that Jeb was unfamiliar with Hazzard County. Rosco Coltrane was a good law man but it seemed that every since JD Hogg had taken office he was trying every way he could to influence the Sheriff. "Now Jeb, I know your parents raised you right just like I have these here boys, but the law is a bit different here. First off, I believe you boys when you tell me you was going the limit. I don't think the ticket will stand in court second of all. Thirdly, I think Rosco wrote it knowing both those things just to 'save face' because he was certain that Luke there was driving."

Jeb looked at Jesse uncertain, "But my mother will have a fit. I'll be grounded for life for this ticket."

Jesse smiled a bit, "Let me deal with your mother. Leave it up to me after we see what happens Friday and stop worrying."

"Yes, Sir." Jeb replied, still not sure how his uncle could stop her wrath.

After the lunch things had been put away and the others had made their own way off toward things that they wanted or needed to do, Luke hung back. Jesse watched as his oldest hung back on the porch with him instead of joining the others. "Something bothering you, Luke?"

Luke leaned against the banister of the porch with a defeated sigh, "Yeah, there is. I know you have a run planned for tonight. With Bo's broke hand and me not able to drive, ... "

Jesse interupted, "You're right, but Jeb can drive and he's under age."

Luke had thought that Jesse may be thinking along those lines. "Uncle Jesse, I'd never down another Duke and if that's what it seems I'm doing, that is not my intent. Today when Rosco got after us, me and Bo suggested rather strongly that he loose him... Uncle Jesse it was more than obvious that Jeb has never even been in a car that had no intention of stopping for the law, let alone be driving it. As soon as I seen this I told him to pull over."

Jesse took all this in. He knew that Pauline had been a big influence over all the kids but had thought for sure that John had at least shown Jeb a thing or three about running the law. That there would surely be a monkey wrench in Jesse's plan for the night run. "Thanks Luke. I'll talk to Jeb and John if needed."

Seeing that Jesse had ended the conversation, Luke replied, "Yes, Sir."

The boys spent most of the afternoon at the garage with Cooter tinkering on Luke's car and with the wrecker. They also had passed time talking about girls while cooling off with a beer or three. They made it home just in time to get cleaned up for dinner.

Jesse had indeed talked to his younger brother and found out that Luke had indeed been correct. As the dishes were being stacked and the table cleared, Jesse finished his coffee and said, "Jeb let's take us a ride."

"Sure Uncle Jesse. Where are we going?" Jeb asked.

"No where in particular." Jesse said as he grabbed his red cap and headed out the door past the pick up.

Jeb was behind him but now even more confussed than ever.

From the kitchen window Luke, Bo and Daisy watched as the two headed to the barn. Luke smiled. "They are gonna take Tilly."

Jesse went to the back side of the barn and grabbed the tarp that covered the moonrunner. Jesse then tossed the keys to Jeb. "You drive."

"Uncle Jesse are you sure you want me to drive Tilly?" Jeb asked. He'd always heard stories about this car but never thought that he'd be in the driver's seat.

Jesse looked at Jeb, "I'm more than certain I want you drive Tilly. The others have had their chance behind the wheel. Now it is your turn."

Jeb got in and carefully started toward the driveway.

Jesse pointed to the back forty, "Head out that way."

"Yes, Sir." Jeb said. He was trying to impress his Uncle as a good driver and was staying to the faint path that was there. He was driving pretty slowly and very carefully.

About half way across the field Jesse said, "Speed up a bit and don't worry so much about hanging to this here path."

Jeb nodded and sped up some.

"A bit more." Jesse figured they were at a good speed now. "Ok hold your speed and gently turn your wheel to the left and then back to the right back again. Not to fast or steep. Just do it a couple times to get the feel of the car."

Jeb looked at Jesse a bit confussed.

Jesse explained, "Getting a car from one point to another safely is great. But to drive a car, really drive it, you need to be able to feel the car. Sorta drive it by the seat of your pants."

Jeb tried to do what Jesse was telling him but wasn't exactly sure what he meant.

Finally Jesse said, "Pull over at that there oak tree. Let's trade places a few minutes."

After trading places, Jesse got the car to the same speed Jeb had it and began to turn the wheel back and forth gently rocking the car from side to side. "See what I'm doing? Can you feel the weight shift?"

Jeb replied, "Yes, Sir."

"Alright, see it rocks but doesn't flip or lean too much. I know I can turn it about this far. Anything more extreme and it will lean further than I want. Now I'll just get it up a little more, then I'm going to hit the brakes and turn her sharp." Jesse advised.

Jeb watched as Jesse sped up, hit the brake and turned the wheel sharp to the left. The car went into a slide and by the time it stopped it was facing where they had came from. "Wow!"

"That there is a bootleg turn. Ever want to throw some mud behind you. Hold the brake a bit as you pull out." Jesse did so. Tilly's tires dug into the mud and slung dirt, small rocks and grass everywhere behind the car. "Now before we leave here today, you're gonna show me how to do those three things. First, you got to get back over here and get a feel for this car. She has power, but when you are in the drivers seat you control it."

Jeb wasn't at all certain he could do this, but he was willing to try.

After a couple of hours out in the field, Jesse once again took the drivers' seat. He simply told Jeb, "Hang on." Jesse put Tilly through a couple of slides, skids, bootleg turns before heading back toward the house.

Jeb expected Jesse to stop out the house, but instead he grab another gear causing Tilly to fish tail throught the yard to the driveway.

As Jesse passed the farm house Luke, Bo and Daisy noticed him driving much like he cautioned them not to drive. As Jesse neared main road he made sure nothing was coming then fish tailed onto the main road. Jesse headed for Rosco's favorite location for his evening nap. He purposely rocked the patrol car as he flew by.

Rosco shot straight up in the drivers seat after being rudely awaken from his nap. He was just in time to see Jesse Duke's moonrunner, Tilly pass him. He swore, "That ole Coot!" He started the car, hit the lights and siren and took off after the runner. Rosco was already in action before he realized that it was still evening. He could count the times on one hand that he'd seen these runners on the road in the daylight hours, but all that didn't matter now. He had a Duke to chase.

Jeb looked back behind them when he heard the siren, "Uncle Jesse there is a police car back there."

Jesse grinned. He'd actually slowed a might after rocking Rosco's world just so the Sheriff could get behind him. "I see him." Jesse said calmly.

"But, shouldn't you stop?" Jeb asked.

Jesse replied, "He, he, he. Not after I went to all this trouble to get him behind me."

"You wanted him to stop you?" Jeb asked.

"No, I wanted him behind me so I can show you how to loose him." Jesse explained.

Jeb was still a bit confused. "Say what? This wouldn't be like what Bo and Luke suggested I do when Rosco stopped me would it?"

"This is exactly what they were telling you to do." Jesse continued to talk to his youngest of his three nephews as he calmly drove Tilly down the dirt at speeds between fifty five and sixty miles per hour. He was keeping his speed down for two reasons: the first would be that he didn't want Jeb driving at speeds he couldn't handle and secondly he wasn't ready to loose Rosco just yet. "One thing you should know Jeb. I could probably out run Rosco on a straight out run. But, I want to show you how to out drive him not out run him." Jesse turned off road through an open field.

Rosco had to brake hard and nearly lost the car when he turned into the field.

Jesse was watching the mirrors while Jeb was looking out the back window. "See how he nearly lost the car then. He swung to hard too fast. He was braking harder than I was also. The car behind you is always at a disadvantage. First it has to go faster than you to keep up. Second, you know what you intend to do. If you catch them off guard they have to see what you did, then they have to react to it and try to follow you or counter what you did. See if he was thinking, he could have stayed on the road there went around the bend there and been here, " Jesse said as he pulled the car back onto the road way, "Before I got here. Thing is he's over eager to catch me so he didn't think. Now, had he stayed on the road an tried to cut me off, I just might have had to double back on him and come out where I went in at. That's another thing, you got to know the land. Not just the roads but the land. Take that there field there," he pointed to a field where the corn was nearly knee high. " In the fall or winter I'd have taken that field and crossed out to the back road of the lake, but look at that corn. Mr. Parker has a good looking crop there and I wouldn't cut through it unless I really had no other choice."

Jeb looked as Rosco had gotten back on the main road finally and now seemed to be gaining on Jesse, "Uhhh, Uncle Jesse, he's gaining on you."

Jesse looked up as if he'd forgotten about Rosco, "So he is. Well not for long."

Jeb saw the road construction signs just up ahead. Then a road closed sign. "The road is closed."

Jesse kept his speed up, swerved around the road closed sign, crossed the ditch and put Tilly on the bank. He went through the contruction area and back on to the road with practiced ease.

Jeb was shocked at how easy Jesse made that look, then turned back to watch Rosco follow Jesse across the ditch line up on to the bank and promptly land on his top as the patrol car rolled down the bank.

Jesse stopped and seen Rosco climb out with shaking his fist at Jesse. "Well, he's alright. Get on the CB there and tell Cooter that ole Rosco has fipped his lid out here at the construction site. That was a bit uncalled for I'll admit but we got to get back to the farm. We need to get loaded and out of here soon."

Jeb called for Cooter to bring the wrecker while he and Jesse drove back to the farm without incident.

At the farm, Jesse looked from Bo to Luke. "Now here's what I have planned. Jeb here is gonna drive Luke's car and we'll go get Tilly loaded up. I really think he needs to go with me tonight. So, here's what we'll do once we get loaded. Bo you will be driving back out and I want you all to just drive around out to the lake, maybe toward the Boar's Nest to anywhere you'll get attention."

Bo frowned and reminded, "Uncle Jesse I can't drive and change gears with this here lump of plaster on my arm."

"I said you'd drive. Luke there will be changing your gears." Jesse said.

Something from Luke's childhood came back to him. "Like I used to do for you?" He remembered setting on Jesse's lap and steering when he wasn barely more than a toddler, but as he got older Jesse taught him to listen to the engine and watch for him to hit the clutch and Luke would change the gears for him long before he was old enough to drive.

"Exactly. Now Daisy here is where you come in. I want you to make a phone call after you get to work and hear us on the radio. You call the Sheriff's department and report that you saw Luke driving. You can even tell them you know they are loaded with shine." Jesse said.

Luke nodded. He knew that was all it would take to get every law man in the Tri-County area heading their way and also that if they thought they were loaded with shine it would keep them busy searching the car. "Bo you wear my jacket and I'll take that yellow shirt you're always wearing over your shirts and I'll get our cowboy hats."

Bo looked at Jesse and Luke. "Are ya'll sure about this?"

Jesse and Luke grinned a bit. Luke replied, "It will keep them busy for awhile that's for sure."

"But with Luke shifting gears and me driving there is probably no way that we can out run or out drive them." Bo added.

Jesse replied, "That's pretty much the point. Ya'll just do what you can to take them for a ride. I don't care that you get stopped as long as Luke there is on the passenger side of that car and there is no shine in it. Jeb will get to go on his first shine run. Ya'll will play decoy and it might only cost us a speeding ticket." Knowing how much the load was worth that he'd be delivering out of state tonight, Jesse was willing to take that chance.

Now, Bo had ran the law and lost them several times, but unlike Luke who was good at playing the decoy he'd never gotten stopped on purpose. "But, ...?" he questioned.

Luke advised, "I'll be with ya, Cuz. It will be fine."

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Found a new path for this story to take. I hope ya'll enjoy. Let me know with reviews. I proof read this, but can not get spell check to work. Forgive any spelling errors this time. Thanks.