Chapter 41
As John was just about to finish his fifth watered down beer, he figured the kids weren't coming back tonight and he should be heading on out. He had stayed long enough that he knew no drugstore in the state would be open now. John finish the beer, set the mug down and turned to scan the room for his niece so he could tell her he was leaving.
A man about John's age was setting at a near by table as he now got a good look at the man he had been watching since he came in. He was now certain he knew him though it had been a number of years. He stood up and went to the bar, "Well, well, well, ... if it ain't John Duke.
It took a full minute for John to look beyond the man's years to see none other than his old high school rival, Steve Campbell. He and Steve had always had problems. They had started with sports, girls and finally cars and moon-shining. Their disagreements only stopped after John pretty much stopped coming to Hazzard and going to the road houses. John replied not unsocially but not friendly either, "Steve."
"So what brings you back to Hazzard?" Steve asked.
Trying to just get the conversation over with, "Stopped by to see my son, but he's not here tonight."
Steve laughed and said with a grin, "Always figured you had knocked that little uppity -tch up and had to get married."
Before John could think, Steve was in the floor. His situation at home, the alcohol, his old rival plus that comment had been all it took for John to just react and not think. That had usually been what got him into so much trouble as a younger man. Yeah, he should know better now, but at the moment he just didn't care.
Daisy turned when she heard a commotion just in time to see her Uncle John send Mr. Campbell flying across the bar and into the floor. Her eyes went wide. Sure she had seen her cousins in fights like this but never dreamed of seeing any of her uncles act like this.
Steve Campbell shook his head and found his feet, then pounced on John. He hadn't gotten any smaller since high but working inside all week had soften him a bit.
John Duke worked hard and even with a little age on him, he still had what it took to hold his own in any fight.
Only due the shine and beer John had drank, Steve was able to get him to the floor. John quickly reversed the situation and was now on top and in control of the situation. He was giving Steve every bit and more of what he was receiving.
01~~~~~~~~~~01
In JD Hogg's private office of the Boar's Nest he was trying to explain things to his Sheriff, "Look Rosco I know you have always been one of the finest law men in the state, but now that I'm in office we can go places. I have the power. You have the muscle in that there badge you are wearing to get rid of any of my competition. You owe me. After all I did marry your fat sister, Lulu all those years ago. Think about it don't you want to be rich!"
Before Rosco could reply he heard a terrible commotion from the front room, he was already heading toward the door.
01~~~~~~~~~~01
Jeb had just pulled Luke's Torinto back up beside the girls car as Ruby pulled in beside them. Followed by Cooter's wrecker and Mark's Firebird.
As everyone got out of the cars to say their good nights, Bo suggested, "What about one for the road?"
Being that everyone had done far more lovin' than drinking, even though Luke had managed to do a lot of both, they all readily agreed. Just as the group stepped inside they couldn't believe their eyes at the fight that was going on inside.
Even before they could make out who exactly was fighting, Sheriff Coltrane came out of the back room with his pearl handled Colt in his hand, "Alright knock it off! ... Ok, freeze! Just Freeze right there!" His words had no reaction on the fight before him. He fired two rounds into the ceiling sending glass from the over head lights everywhere! While everyone else was trying to shake off the broken glass, the Sheriff stepped up and grabbed the man on top of the fight.
John hadn't paid attention to who exactly had grabbed him and promptly shook himself loose and when back after the man who had just punched him.
Rosco uttered a few unmentionable words as he holstered his gun and reached for his handcuffs. He managed to catch hold of the man on top of the fight and get a cuff on the arm that was still in full swing toward the man on the floor. Only after the punch found it's target did Rosco get control of the man's arm as it recoiled. This motion worked for the Sheriff as he also managed to grab the man's second arm and get the second cuff in place. Using the handcuffs Rosco managed to insist the man on top get off the man on the floor. He gave the first man a not so gentle push away from him so that he could help the man on the floor up.
Once on his feet, Steve Campbell was a bit surprised to be put against the wall and handcuffs applied to his wrists that were now behind his back, even before he could register that it was the Sheriff breaking up the fight.
Rosco straightened himself, then said, "Alright Campbell, let's go." He said as he grabbed Mr. Campbell's handcuffs and used them to guide him toward the door. Only as he reached for the other man did Rosco see that it was none other than John Duke.
Mr. Campbell worked at the bank and had become a rather outstanding citizen of Hazzard. Sure he'd always had a loud mouth when he was drinking but usually wasn't any trouble. He looked appalled at the Sheriff, "You can't do THIS!"
"Watch me." Rosco said as he straightened up to his full height.
The guys had tried to shield the screaming girls as the broken glass had fallen everywhere. Only as the Sheriff approached the group with the two men who had been fighting did Luke look up. He managed to see that one of the men was his Uncle John, Jeb's father only seconds before Jeb himself looked up.
"Dad?" Jeb questioned.
John only now saw Jeb and the others. He couldn't help but drop his head as Rosco lead them out to the parking lot.
Bo managed to look up as Jeb called to none other than his father. He seem Jeb in motion.
Jeb started after the Sheriff as he took John Duke and Steve Campbell out to his car.
Luke and Bo reacted at the same time. Bo threw up his good arm. Luke reached for his younger cousin with his right arm, then cursed as the pain shot through his ribs as Jeb pulled against him. Luke was glad Bo had also grabbed him as he managed to get out, "Jeb, ... don't! I can't fight, ... you now. Let's, ... find out what, ... happened."
Cooter and Mark both knew that Luke didn't need this. They also knew the younger Duke, even if he wasn't eighteen yet, didn't need the trouble with the law. They both stepped in front of Jeb forming a wall in the doorway. As the four girls had already stepped back from whatever was going to happen.
Once the Sheriff had pulled out of the lot, the four unblocked Jeb and headed for Daisy, Luke was the first to speak, "What, ..."
Daisy held up her hand to Luke, for him to save his breath, "I heard a commotion. I looked up just in time to see Uncle John send Mr. Campbell to the floor."
Jeb exclaimed, "What? MY Dad did WHAT?"
No one had noticed the other Deputy as he walked up, "I'll remember that Miss Duke. So I take it your Uncle threw the first punch?"
Daisy looked like a deer in the headlights. She said weakly, "Yes." Then more strongly, "No!" Finally adding, "Ummm, ... I don't know. That was the first thing I saw." She tired to explain.
The Deputy had out a small notebook writing something in it as he looked at the boys, "Where you all in this?"
Luke replied, "No, ..."
With Bo adding, "We ain't been here two minutes. We're trying to find what happened ourselves."
Jeb added, "Come on you all we got to get Dad."
"You're wasting your time. Sheriff and Deputy Petticord will have the doors locked while they process them. Judge won't be in until morning. Ya'll can be there then." The Deputy explained.
Being that Luke had been on the other side of that locked door, he looked for help from Mark and Cooter who were older than his other cousins. "Deputy is right..." He knew Jesse would be asleep by now and there was no point in waking him. Luke also knew that none of them would get much sleep tonight. "Let's get that, ... last round. Put the girls on their way, ... then head out, ... and we'll sleep out, ... in the barn.
Cooter grinned widely. It had been awhile since they'd all camped out in the barn. He also knew there would be more drinking than sleeping going on. He looked at Mark, "I'm in."
Mark shrugged, "Why not."
Cooter added, "We'll even get the chores for you all in the morning since it don't look like any of the three of you will at your best."
That was more than Mark had bargained for but he too remembered some of the parties in that barn. He figured that he didn't have anything else going. Cooter was right, with Bo only having one arm, Luke's ribs were obviously still hurting him and now with Jeb worried about his father they were sure to need a couple extra hands. "Yeah. Sure."
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
Rosco knew this was neither man's first rodeo. Unlike it had been with the just a few weeks ago with the last two wet behind the ears kids. Deputy Petticord had met him outside the Courthouse. Rosco and the Deputy headed straight downstairs with the the two men. Rosco hadn't intended to change them out into orange as he had the younger two. He knew they'd both be fine in street cloths. They both had likely been drinking and would sleep until nearly time for the Judge to come in.
Deputy Petticord was freshly trained and eager to do his job well. He hoped to use this job as a stepping stone to move up to a bigger department. He automatically went to the cabinet where the freshly washed orange jumpsuits were stored. He grabbed two and two sets of flip flops.
Rosco had stopped to lock the gate behind them when he seen what the kid deputy was doing. He shrugged. It was the right way to proceed so he wouldn't call him on it in front of the prisoners but he would talk to him later and let him know that not everyone needed changed out. Rosco said, "Well, John it's been awhile. Take a seat here and I'll start your paperwork. Mr. Campbell you can go over there with Deputy Petticord."
John moved toward the seat and waited. Figuring that Rosco would uncuff him. When he seen Rosco make no move to do so he sighed deeply as he took the seat. The Sheriff was right it had been a long time since he'd seen the inside of a jail. Frankly he hadn't missed a thing.
Rosco got out a booking card and ink pen. He looked at the man before him. They had both been here before. He wrote, 'Duke, John...' then said, "It's Jonathan isn't it?"
John nodded, 'yes', then replied, "Right."
"Address?" Rosco asked.
John automatically replied, "Rt. 11, Box 30, Placid." He was about to take that back and use Jesse's address but the Sheriff had already began to write. John didn't need any official mail showing up from Hazzard. It would only start yet another argument, but it was too late now.
"Emergency contact?" Rosco asked.
John was now thinking. "Jesse." Then gave the farms phone number. He surely didn't need Pauline to get woke up this time of night from the jail. He was sure that he'd be in enough hot water over this without her or the girls getting woke up.
Across the room at the show area, Deputy Petticord respectfully said, "Mr. Campbell after I uncuff you. I'll need your belt, watch, wallet, and boots."
"Need my things? Why?" Mr. Campbell questioned.
"I'm going to put them up for safe keeping." The deputy explained.
Mr. Campbell was having none of that. "They are safe right where they are."
"Sir, it is policy. That way if you loose your watch for example the County isn't responsible." The young deputy replied.
Rosco heard the conversation. He liked the part about the County not being blamed for stuff. Maybe this kid had something after all. "Mr. Campbell. Do as the Deputy says and don't make this night any longer for us than it has to be." Rosco had had a jail full of people the night before and hoped to get some sleep tonight.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
It was nearly time for Daisy to get home by the time the boys had their last round, said their good nights to their dates and finally pulled into the Duke farm yard. Rather than their normal parking places they parked closer to the barn. They hoped not to disturb Jesse.
Jesse had already made his way to his bed earlier but he heard the familiar sound of Luke's car. Then the rumble of Cooter's wrecker. He knew Luke certainly wasn't driving it tonight with being hurt and his license still revoked. Then he heard another car. It was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't place it. It had never been unusual for the kids to bring home stray dogs, cats, and even kids. He could tell they parked near the barn and figured they would sleep out there since it was a very hot night.
Daisy had closed the Boar's Nest then driven home. She saw the cars parked near the barn and lights on in the barn as she pulled into her regular place. There was no way she wasn't going to go check on them even if she couldn't stay with them in the barn. Had it just been her cousins it would have been one thing but she saw Cooter's wrecker and Mark McCormick's Firebird. Daisy opened the barn door to find the guys just digging out sleeping bags. Luke had just took the lid off a quart of moonshine. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah." Luke took a drink then added, "Better now."
Daisy frowned but reached for the jar for a drink. It had been a long day for all the Dukes. She took a reserved sip, then a larger one. Turning to Jeb, she asked, "Sugar, how are you doing?"
"I'll be alright. Just dread tomorrow." Jeb said.
"What did Uncle Jesse say?" Daisy asked.
Luke shook his head 'no', "Nothing. It's been a long night last night followed by a longer day today. Let him sleep. If anything could have been done tonight I'd have called him when it went down, but it can't. I'll be up early and let him know first thing. Mark and Cooter are gonna handle the chores in the morning for us."
Daisy nodded. Luke made a lot of sense. She worried about their Uncle Jesse when he stayed out all night on a shine run at his age, but last night was worse. All the boys had been picked up and questioned. Luke had gotten hurt and had to see Doc, then Jesse had to be up town early to be with Luke when he saw the Judge again. She knew too that he'd also have to spend tomorrow in the same courtroom. "Alright. I better be getting inside." She took another drink of shine before handing it back to Luke. Daisy left the barn and quietly entered the old farm house. She tried to avoid every loose floor board as she made her way to the bathroom, then her bedroom. Just as she stepped toward her door from the bathroom the loose board let out a tell tell squeak.
Jesse had been awake but must have snoozed between the boys cars and Daisy pulling in. The low squeak of the loose floor board woke him as if loud alarms went off. He questioned, "Daisy?" since her car was the last he'd heard come in the drive.
"Yes, Sir. It's me. Bo, Luke, and Jeb are all staying in the barn tonight with Cooter and Mark." Daisy said quietly.
Jesse frowned. It wasn't unusual for the boys to bring home friends for the night, but he usually had a bit more warning. Something didn't sound right in Daisy's answer, "All three boys are in the barn?"
"Yes, Sir. Checked in on them myself." Daisy replied in truth, yet she was leaving a bunch of information out that she knew her uncle would have liked to have had then, as opposed to hearing it in the morning. She trusted her older cousin to know the best way to handle this as she went into her room and closed the door. Daisy still couldn't believe that her Uncle John had been in such a fight.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
In Placid County Pauline Duke was fuming. First she had been worried, now she was just mad. Everyone in this part of the State knew John David and she was sure if something like an accident had happened she'd been notified quickly. Tonight was beginning to feel like some of those nights all those years ago when she had been left alone all night with Karen, a toddler and Jeb, a newborn. Here she was home alone with the newborn twins, supper had been stone cold for hours and still John David was not home. She began to think back to those nights as she rocked the girls.
How many times she'd set and worried about that man of hers? Pauline was sure that she couldn't count them on both her hands, maybe even her feet too, before he'd finally grown up and started acting more responsible. In fact, she had nearly been ready to leave him and go home to her mother when she found out that Jeb was on the way. There was no way after finding out about Jeb being on the way that she could have went home. True enough her mother didn't approve of John David and her father liked him even less in those days. He had even forbid her to date that moonshine trash the very night that she had brought him home to announce their engagement. Her father had ordered John David to leave the house. That's when John David got his dander up. John told her father that she was over eighteen, he had come there to announce their engagement and that he would marry her. He also included that her father couldn't stop him.
That was just about the time her father turned purple! He told John David, "This is my home, that is my daughter and I'll not let her out of my sight until she is seventy-five!"
That was when it hit the fan. John David stepped toward her dad and Pauline was almost sure he was going to hit her father. She almost wished he had instead of doing what he did do. John David looked her father in the eye and said very calmly, "It's too late for all that. You're not gonna stop me from marrying my childs mother."
Pauline thought she was going to have a coronary, then she saw her mothers knees buckle as she fainted dead away onto the couch. Before she could say anything her father had stepped closer to John David to clarify what he thought he heard, "You mean to tell me that you have gotten MY daughter to sink to your level?" Pauline thought for sure the rafters of their fine home rattled with her fathers words. She had went to her mother's side but John David stood his ground and gave her father a very satisfied grin as he said, "She's only a few weeks along and IF you don't want that fancy name of yours tarnished," John David nodded toward Pauline and her mother, "Then these nice ladies had better get to planning a wedding real quick like." Pauline didn't know what or where John David had gotten all that from. Sure she had went against her Daddy to date him, yes she had agreed to marry him, but she had never did more than kiss him! He hadn't so much as got her bra unhooked and here he was telling her father she was pregnant!
Emily whined out in her sleep. Pauline shushed her. From that night her life with John David was a whirlwind. She expected it to be up to the wedding, but she had figured her life would then slow down. She was wrong. They had stayed in Hazzard awhile with John David's folks. They got up far earlier than she had ever gotten up. Trying to be the good wife, she had pitched in with the house work while John helped in the fields. After a full day of housework Pauline was more than ready to go to sleep. John David was even more ready for bed, but sleep hadn't been his plan. She still longed to prove to her family that she had been a 'good girl' up until she was married. The only way she felt she could do that was to prove she had not been pregnant when they got married. Now that they were married her father couldn't do anything about her NOT being pregnant. So from their first time on their wedding night and every time since Pauline insisted John use protection. John went along with her request but often told her that even with the use of condoms, it was not a sure thing that she wouldn't get pregnant. How right he was! She found herself pregnant not even six weeks after they had married. She counted back and figured she had gotten pregnant her first fertile time with John David. She knew he'd worn protection and she made sure he was careful. To this day she still couldn't figure out how she ended up pregnant with Karen so quickly. Jeb, well he was a different story. She knew how he happened. One, just ONE time without protection before she could get on birth control refilled and she was well on her way to being a mother again! Pauline had been busy taking care of a Karen who had been sick. John David had also had a bad case of pneumonia, so Pauline hadn't taken the time away from her sick family to run to town to get her prescription refilled. She really would have hated to think how many children she would have had if she wasn't on birth control! He- she had gotten pregnant with the twins on birth control for Christ's sake! Just thinking about how fertile John David was scared the he- out of her as her thoughts drifted back to their very unprotected night only a few weeks ago. Pauline felt her face flush at the memories. She wanted to scream but it would wake the twins up. She was now almost certain she was pregnant again. Pauline knew she should have went to see Doc now for birth control, but she knew he'd run a pregnancy test first. She bit her lip hard. She really didn't think she could hear the cheery, "Congratulations!" again. Not now, not at her age, not with twin newborns. Pauline had seen Karen and Jeb's embarrassment when she went to school functions with them wearing maternity clothes and obviously pregnant. They had both been mortified to find out that their parents still did 'IT'. Both had a very hard time accepting they had a younger sibling on the way. When it turned out that she was carrying twins they nearly died of embarrassment.
Pauline couldn't help but to think back to the last time John David stayed out this late. It turned out that he had been in jail. Of course she only found that out as she was fixing breakfast and Jesse had called her. She had spent the next several hours as she had many times before. She had made excuses for John David. He was sick. He had errands. His truck needed repair. What ever she could do to stall until Jesse could get to the courthouse, get John David out of jail so that he could get home. John David always made a point to check in with her no matter how mad she was just so that he knew what story to tell about why he had been late.
Pauline looked at the clock. It was 2 am. John David wasn't home. Jeb was staying the summer with Jesse. Karen was thankfully staying at friends. The twins were far to young to know that their Daddy wasn't home yet. First she prayed that John David was safe. Then she prayed that if he was in jail that he made it home safe so that she could kill him.