The First Time

by DixieDavenport

This was orignally posted as a one shot reply to a challage, but is expandable. This is about phone call in the middle of the night and everyone in the Duke family's 'First Time' at dealing with such things.

33. Twists and Turns

NOTE: If you are reading my story as well as JadedPhoenixBurning stories and notice some of the same characters, we have talked about this and though the stories aren't related at this point and do stand on their own, we have used the same name for the town near Jeb's home in Placid County as well as for his parents and sisters. Hope that you enjoy both our stories and send words of encouragement along the way.

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Chapter 33

At the still sight Jeb and Bo were still a bit unsure of the planned events of the night, though Jesse and Luke were certain they would work out fine.

NARRARTOR: "They all seem to forget that this is Hazzard County and things never go as planned for anyone."

Jeb asked Bo, "Do you think this will work?"

Bo sighed, "I don't know. I hope so. I've never done this before."

"Me neither." Jeb said.

Luke passed by carrying another box that contained 4 gallon jugs of Jesse's finest. "Would ya'll stop worrying. You're both under age. Worst case for ya'll is they call Jesse or your folks to come get ya'll."

That was the first time since telling Jesse about the ticket that Jeb had worried about his parents. Well, more so his mother. "Ah, geesh, don't get me thinking about Mom knowing anything about this. I'm not even sure that Dad would be happy about it."

Luke being the oldest knew just a bit more of Jeb's father than Jeb did, "What? Uncle John is great. He'd likely love to be right in the middle of this. Especially since it is your first shine run."

Before Jeb could respond or think about what Luke had said, Jesse said. "Alright boys we're loaded. Now, me and Jeb will give you boys a ride back to the Torino."

Once at the Torino, Jesse watched as Bo, who was now wearing Luke's gray cowboy hat and blue jean jacket got in the Torino. While Luke, who was wearing Bo's yellow shirt and black cowboy hat got in the passenger side of his car. Bo started the car while Luke put it in first gear. Bo pulled onto the road and though they shifted into second gear with unpracticed movements the car did get put into second and continued down the road. Jesse now swung wide and passed his nephews heading toward the County and State line. He picked up the CB and radioed, "Shepard to Lost Sheep."

"Lost Sheep here." Luke replied.

"Ya'll best be getting on back here to the farm. We's got a big day tomorrow." Jesse said.

Luke replied, "10-4."

That was Daisy's signal to make her phone call. She eased to the pay phone unnoticed by any one in the bar. After having the operator connect her to the Sheriff's Department and hearing Rosco answer, she began, "Sheriff Coltrane, I thought you'd like to know, that no good Luke Duke is driving a load of shine out to somewhere on the lake tonight."

"He's driving? He's behind the wheel of the vehicle?" Rosco eagerly asked.

"Yes, he just passed me and I'd know that no good, low down, ..." Daisy didn't get to finish her statement as the line went dead. She laughed at the mental image of seeing Rosco tripping over himself to go catch Luke driving.

Once Rosco got in the spare patrol car while his was at Cooter's being repaired, he radioed, "All officers in the Tri County area. This is Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and I have a report of that Luke Duke is driving a load of shine out near the lake. His license are revoked."

Hearing that broadcast, Bo swore, "Sh-! That's gonna have everyone crawling on us."

Luke grinned, "That's the plan."

"Great." Bo said.

It wasn't long before Rosco found Luke Duke's Torino cruising down the lake road. Bo sped up and said to Luke, "Back shift."

Listening to the engine and unable to see Bo hit the clutch in the dark, Luke went from fourth gear to neutral and heard the gears grin as he tried for third. "Sh-! Put the clutch in."

"It is in." Bo fumed.

Luke tried again and the car went into third but slowed down instead of increasing speed as Bo had planned. Rosco was now on their back bumper wondering why the car had slowed down, only now to see it picking up speed again. "Ohhh, ohhh, ohhhh! What are they doin'? They are tryin' to trick me in to thinking that they were gonna stop. Well, stop or not no one gets away from Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane!" Rosco gripped the steering wheel just a might harder.

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Jesse and Jeb were just nearing the Hazzard County line. So far they hadn't seen hide not hair of any law or ATF agents. Jesse had been explaining the various moves he'd made with Tilly and more importantly why he had done so. They were nearing a bridge just before the Placid County line. Jesse reached over and shut his head lights off. The brake lights and tail lights had already been shut off when he left the farm.

"Did you mean to do that?" Jeb asked.

Jesse's grin was still visible in the moonlight as he laughed, "Yes, I did. There is a bridge up ahead. It is watched for runners from across the line. So if they can't see us then they won't be looking for us on the other side."

Jeb may not have been on a run before but he wasn't stupid either. "With this moonlight won't the car still be seen crossing the bridge?" He asked his experienced uncle.

"Not if we don't use the bridge." Just as Jesse said this he turned Tilly off the road onto a moon-runner trail that he knew about. It took them off road and away from the main route down stream.

Jeb trusted his uncle with his life and about now thought that he may be doing just that as they headed off into darkness, off road without the use of the headlights.

Jesse reached the river crossing and eased Tilly through the shallow part of the river using care not to get stuck on the rocks of the river bed or drop off into a deeper section of water. Once out of the river, Jesse hit the brakes, pumped them a few times then rode them awhile to dry them out. "Cars are funny things. Give me one that doesn't run great and I'll deal with it just as long as it stops when I need it to. You've got to make sure that you dry the brakes out once you go through water like that before you need them."

Jeb was setting on the edge of his seat watching and listening to everything Jesse was telling him.

They were getting close to the town of Tranquil in Placid County so Jesse had turned on all his lights and was running a respectable speed just under the limit. As he rounded a sharp curve he passed a car head on that he knew very well. "Set back and hold on." Jesse advised as he watched the mirrors on the car.

Agent Andy Roach had gotten Rosco's message about Luke driving with a revoked license and having a load of shine on him. He had been to Atlanta earlier and had just came through Tranquil in Placid County when he saw a car that he knew all too well. Now the younger Duke boy may or may not be driving it but that was Jesse Duke's moon-runner, Tilly. He hit the brakes and turned before he had time to think about not going on the report of the younger Duke driving. That was a runner and it was loaded. Sure Jesse ran overload shocks but even they managed to sag a bit when he was loaded to the hilt.

Jesse seen the tan sedan turn on him just like he knew that it would. He now began to speed up. The speed limit was the least of his problems at the moment.

Jeb turned to see the car turn around and get behind them. "Friend of yours?"

"As a matter of fact he is, but that won't stop him from doing his job. I just didn't need to see a ATF man tonight." Jesse said grabbing another gear.

"ATF?" Jeb asked with out even considering how a person could try to arrest you and still be your friend.

Jesse replied wishing they would have passed him in Hazzard and not in Placid County, "Federal man. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms."

"Revenuer?" Jeb questioned.

Jesse nodded, "Revenuer."

Jeb was not any happier than Jesse was right now. "What are you going to do?"

"Just keep driving and hope our luck don't run out." Jesse said.

Jeb couldn't help but think that the Dukes had seen their fair share of bad luck lately with Luke's arrest, revoked license and Bo's broken hand.

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Bo had again managed to get the car's RPM's right for Luke to shift to fourth gear, pick up a bit more speed then Luke back shifted to gain momentum and even more speed faster.

Rosco was having a good night. From what he could see by the head lights it did indeed look to be Luke Duke driving his car. He wasn't getting overly excited tonight. He had even called in anyone one listening to assist. Rosco finally had a chance to get a Duke running shine. Just getting the credit for an arrest may be enough to help convince the voters when time came to vote to pass the levy to ensure his pension for all the years that he'd put in for the County.

Bo looked behind him. He was beginning to sweat. He felt like a fish out of water not being able to change the gears and was having to fight to control the natural reaction at each gear change.

Luke on the other hand was the older, more experienced of the two on shine runs. Having to set on the passenger side made him feel like a fish out of water. He knew part of Jesse's plan was for them to let themselves be caught so everyone was busy searching the car not out combing the area for them and accidentally run up on Jesse and Jeb. Letting themselves get caught proved to be harder on the two young men and their pride than the times they had tried to avoid getting caught. Another missed gear for them and Rosco was literally on their bumper. Feeling the jerk of his car Luke complained, "Dang it Bo!"

"IN case you didn't notice, it was you that missed that there gear." Bo reminded.

Luke knew that fact without being reminded but it was easier to blame it on Bo at least at that given second. Luke slide out the window without discussion. He crossed the top of the car which made Bo slow just a bit as he worried about his cousin on the top of his car. At the driver window Luke said, "Move. I'm coming in."

From behind Rosco seen what he thought was Bo going over the top of the car. He figured they were trying to pull a fast one and get Luke out of the driver's seat.

Bo glared at him, "No way!"

Luke frowned, "I'm not jokin' Bo move it over."

"It's your car Luke. You should be able to shift it blind folded. Now get in here and shift these gears or I'll have to do it myself." Bo bluffed. He wasn't at all sure that he could get the car any further than knocking it from fourth gear to neutral. Then they would be a setting duck for sure. Bo was loosing speed and needed to back shift again to third to get some distance between him and Rosco before the Sheriff joined him in the front seat of the Torino.

Luke was still on top of the car at the driver's window.

"Have it your way." Bo said as he hit the clutch and did manage to get the car into third gear but his RPM's weren't right and the car lurched to a much slower speed. Bo cursed out load.

Luke had lost his hold and nearly went over the windshield onto the hood at best. He was able to get a hold at the last second and swore his own self, "I'm coming. I'm coming back in."

Bo didn't have time to wait and grabbed the shifter just as Luke was coming back in the window. The pushing of the gear shifter had been awkward to get it from fourth to third, but the pulling motion to get the shifter from third to neutral with his still injured hand proved both painful and impossible. He got it from third into neutral as the pain hit. The pain erased the blonde Duke's determination right there. He let go of the shift and swore loudly in pain.

Luke hadn't even seen what happened but the sound of the engine slowing and Bo's howl of pain told it all and his tail got back in the seat. He seen that Bo had instinctively grabbed the right wrist with the left and had his eyes closed tightly trying to compose himself.

Luke lunged for the steering wheel to at least keep the car on the road. "Bo you've got to drive this or we're gonna have that bad night you was trying to avoid. Hit the clutch and go."

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Placid County, US of A. The night was quiet with only the summer sounds of frogs, crickets and a light breeze blowing as John Duke laid awake. His wife and twin baby daughters had long been in bed and he certainly hoped were all sound asleep and stayed that way. He was glad that Karen, their oldest was at a friends house tonight. John gently set up and made his way out of the bedroom boots in hand. He hoped that if anyone heard him stirring around that they would think that he was going to the restroom or the kitchen. As he did indeed get to the back door of the kitchen he gently opened it willing it not to squeak. He stepped out on to the back porch where he'd purposely put a pair of jeans and a shirt right after Jesse had called him earlier. Once he was dressed, he reached up on the window shutter for the key to Traveler. He quickly walked to the back of the barn and opened the rarely opened section of his barn. For years after he got married every time he'd got anywhere near this car his wife had given him grief. But tonight was just one of those nights that he was glad that he'd stole a bit of time when Pauline was away to keep old Traveler all tuned up and ready. Now he knew he what he was ready for. John got in the car, fired it up and eased it out of the barn and toward town. As he reached the main road he turned on the CB that he had only a year or so put in the car. He flipped to the channel that he'd often heard Bo and Luke talk about being Shepard's channel. "Traveler to Shepard."

Jesse's eyes grew wide and so did the grin on his face. He may have a Federal ATF agent behind him with no blocker, but suddenly the odds seemed a bit better. "Well now, Traveler it has been a long time." Jesse said with ease.

"That it has. Where are you?" John asked.

Jeb had never heard his Dad use that CB handle before but he'd almost swear that it was him on the other end of the radio.

Not ever wanting to give an exact location on the CB Jesse replied, "I'll be in 'town' in about two shakes. Should be by your place shortly."

Hearing Jesse's reply, Jeb had to ask, "Is that my Dad?"

Jesse grinned, "It sure is."

John asked, "Everything alright?" Something had given him a bad feeling. He hoped that it was only because his only son was in the runner for the first time heading toward him.

"Fine, just fine, other than the company I got. He just popped up out of no where." Jesse said calmly.

John caught Jesse's meaning but tried to down play it as he also tried to figure what he and Traveler could do to help. "I hate when family does that."

"Well, if'n it were family I'd always welcome it." Jesse said. He hoped that if anyone heard this they would think that he had an unwanted house guest. He knew that his younger brother would pick up that he'd welcome any help he could get about now.

John grinned. He knew he was a lot closer to Jesse, Jeb and Tilly than they knew. It had also been a long time between runs for Jesse's baby brother and frankly he missed the adrenaline of a good chase. "Well, now it's good to know that family is always welcome. Never know when I just may drop in on ya."

Jesse checked his mirrors and hated to admit what he was about to even to himself, "Well, now the sooner the better. I've missed ya."

Keeping up the banter between each other, John replied, "Well, now I might just have to come get rid of that unwanted house guest so they'd be room for me to visit a spell."

As Jeb was listening to the brothers calmly talk, he looked from the Agent's car back to the road ahead. That's when he saw a sight up ahead he'd never seen on the road before...

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Bo heard Luke but the words didn't make it through the pain until a split second later than it should have. He hit the clutch only as he heard the gears grinding as Luke was trying to get the car moving aggressively forward.

Once Bo hit the clutch, Luke was forced to go to second to get the car moving again. Just as he did so, he looked up to see Deputy Petticord's car pull in front of them. "Christ Bo! RIGHT!"

Bo swung right without thinking as he also hit the clutch and the brake trying to avoid the Deputy in front of him.

Luke hoped the clutch was in as he threw the car into first gear. Something worked as the car transmission roared into first gear. By some chance the boys missed the police car.

Rosco had been right on their bumper and slide to a stop only inches away from the Torino.

Luke had already ducked just knowing that the Sheriff was going to take out the entire side of his car.

Rosco was out of the car and could see the familiar jean jacket of Luke Duke's in the drivers side. He wasn't sure how or why he had been able to catch the young man but at the moment all that mattered was he had managed to catch him driving the vehicle. Not letting himself think about what this would mean to the family in the long run if his information was correct the two did have a trunk full of shine, the Sheriff got out of his car with his hand on his pearl handled 38 pistol. He was heading to the passenger side of the Torino.

Deputy Petticord was also out of the car moving to the drivers side of the car.

By the time the boys realized that they had gotten the car stopped, that the Sheriff had not hit them, and gotten their eyes opened their small world was a sea of flashing blue lights. Luke sighed deeply and swore under his breath, then said, "Bo just play it cool and stay calm."

Deputy Petticord was at the driver's door. "Alright, slow and easy. Out of the car."

Bo had only thought he felt butterflies in his stomach when the Johnson twins were around. Now he knew for sure what they felt like. He opened the door slowly and got out of the car as directed.

"Out of the car Bo Duke." Rosco said from the passenger side.

Only when Luke turned to Rosco in the flashing lights did Rosco see that it was not Luke driving. "What are you doing over here? You are supposed to be driving this here thing. It is your car!"

Luke replied, "No I ain't. My license is revoked remember."

The Sheriff replied with a bunch of gibberish, before he looked over the car to see Bo Duke wearing Luke's jacket. "Why are you wearing Luke's jacket?"

Bo had to try twice to find his voice to answer, "I was cold."

"Oh good grief!" Rosco exclaimed. He knew no one was cold on a summer night like tonight. "Just, ... just open up that there trunk."

Luke looked from Bo to the Sheriff and calmly asked, "Got a warrant?"

Bo froze. He didn't want to not do as the Sheriff directed but he wasn't going to go against Luke either.

Rosco replied, "Don't need one. I got enough reason to believe ya'll is hauling shine. Now your Dukes, you didn't stop for me and its far too late for ya'll to just be out here for a drive. Now open it up."

Luke acted reluctant to agree but finally told Bo, "Well, you may as well open the trunk."

Rosco's mouth was watering as Bo got the keys out of the ignition and came to the back of the car. Between shaking from being nervous and trying to use his left hand to get the key in the lock of the trunk with only the lights from head lights and the blue flashing lights he wasn't going quick enough for Rosco. He moved over and took the keys from Bo, "Just move over there with Luke where Deputy Petticord can watch ya. I'll get this." With that the trunk opened and Rosco she, "Ah HA! Just what I knew I'd find! Moon, ... tool boxes?"

Luke looked as innocent as he did when he was two, "Yeah, tool boxes."

Rosco frowned. "Well it's got to be here somewhere."

Luke leaned back on the Sheriff's car, crossed his feet and arms. "Ain't nothing back there but tools and some camping stuff."

Rosco had seen runners have hidden compartments in the before so he started looking around the trunk for one, then he checked the back seat.

Bo knew there was no shine in Luke's car but just watching the Sheriff searching it made him more than a bit nervous.

Rosco wasn't able to find anything obvious so he returned to the car and got on the radio to see where the agents were. As Duke luck was holding lately there was a few within minutes of the them that had been coming to help look for the car that Rosco now had stopped.

When the agents pulled up Bo looked at Luke, "What is going on?"

"We're gonna be her while." Luke replied.

That answer didn't do anything to help Bo's anxiety. He was all too ready to get back on the road home. He couldn't believe what he was seeing as seats and door panels were removed. The trunk had long since been emptied of its contents. As the hood of the car was opened, Bo looked at Luke, "Luke it's gonna take us all night to get this back together."

Rosco heard Bo added, "After we find that there shine and arrest ya, you won't have to worry about putting it back together for several years."

Luke made sure Rosco was back at the car and shot Bo an amused look.

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Setting on the side of the road Jeb saw his Dad's 1958 Chrysler. Sure he'd seen his dad take it out around the farm and tinker with it when his mother wasn't around, but he'd never seen it on the road before.

As Jesse passed his younger brother, John put Traveler in motion getting out behind Tilly just seconds before Agent Roach got to him.

Andy Roach's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he seen the black Chrysler jump out in front of him. He knew the car, well. He also knew John Duke lived in Placid County but he was sure the man had gotten ride of that car long ago. He hadn't even heard anyone talk about it in at least a dozen years now. Roach put his foot further to the floor. He knew his night just got even more complicated with two Duke brothers ahead of him. This also confirmed what he'd expected, Jesse Duke was loaded to the hilt with moonshine.

John was having a ball blocking the agent and holding him back from gaining on Jesse.

Jeb was watching his Dad from Tilly, "Wow! I didn't know Dad could drive like that! Or that the old car could still run."

Jesse laughed out loud at his innocent nephew, "Don't count cars or people out just cause they got a little age on them. That also means theys got experience!" He said as he again shut off his lights, rounded a curve and ducked off road into a grove of pine trees. Jesse weaved in and out of the pines in the dark better than most people could have in the daylight.

John seen Jesse duck off road so he kept to the main road hoping the agent was far enough back not to have seen him leave the road. He planned on letting the agent follow him for several miles before he too ducked off road and lost the agent. Hopefully buying Jesse enough time to get gone.

Jeb noticed that his dad didn't follow, "Why didn't Dad follow us?"

Jesse replied, "He's given old Andy a ride."

"What if he gets caught?" Jeb asked.

"He won't." Jesse said confidently before explaining. "Son, that car has got an engine! It's a 392 Hemi under that hood. Besides, were he to stop he has no shine in there. An agent ain't gonna even waste his time trying to get someone to write him a ticket for speeding. That's about all he'd really done." Jesse laughed.

Jeb hoped his uncle was right.

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A few miles away at the Duke farm in Placid County... A sleepy Pauline Duke, John's wife, woke to a crying baby. When she turned over she noticed her husband was not in bed and thought that maybe he had beat her to their daughter's room but she didn't hear him. With both their oldest children gone, Pauline put on her robe and headed to the girls room. She found not one awake crying baby but now two. She spoke to the girls trying to comfort them so she could get to the kitchen for the bottles. Things had been much simpler with Karen and Jeb as she had breast fed but with the girls being twins she and John David had thought it would be much easier to bottle feed the girls so that everyone could pitch in. At least that had been the plan, but tonight it seemed she was on her own. Karen was at a friends. Jeb was in Hazzard County with his Uncle Jesse and heavens only knew where John David had gotten off to. Maybe he couldn't sleep in the heat and had made his way to the porch swing where he couldn't hear the girls. She'd worry about where he was just as soon as she got the infant twins back to sleep. Pauline got them somewhat comforted and left to go heat their bottles. She saw no sign of her husband as she got the bottles and returned to the hungry infants. She propped both bottles long enough to change their diapers then picked up both girls and set down in the oversized rocker to rock them while they took their bottles. After burping both girls and getting them settled back in their bassinet, Pauline was just heading for the porch when she heard a car engine. She thought that she recognized it though it had been years since she had heard the car even fire up. Brushing the curtain of the front door back she saw now head lights as the sound of the engine got closer. Pauline waited. Only when she got a glimpse of the car in the moonlight did she flip on the porch light...

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