Thanks to all of you for reading and more thanks to those who take a few minutes to leave words of encouragement. I try to respond by PM's to anyone who reviews, but sometimes life gets in the way. There are some who don't have the PM feature and that's why I acknowledge their reviews before the chapter begins. Also, I'm an EMT not a doctor and while my medical and legal versions may not be totally correct I at least hope I make them feasibly possible. This is fiction after all.

Vector 426 - Thanks for continuing to read! No blood is never good and I think you might be right about Luke's date with Ruby not helping matters. As for Jesse's full plate, it's just another normal day in Hazzard! Hummmm a 'volcanic event'. I like that. It just may be exactly what happens when Pauline gets wound up!

Evading the Whole Truth

Chapter 45

Judge Milton (Hardcase) Hardcastle never considered himself a slacker, but on Sunday mornings he did indulge himself in just a might more sleep. After fixing his coffee he sat down to a file for an upcoming case he would have in as couple weeks over in Chickasaw County. Hardcastle had made it to his second cup of coffee when the phone rang. "Hardcastle."

"Judge this is Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane of Hazzard County." Rosco said brightly.

Hardcastle rolled his eyes. He knew who the man was. "Yes, Sheriff."

"Well, git, git, git, I got a couple for you to see this morning don't ya know." Rosco giggled as he talked to the Judge.

"Alright. Well, I'll be over after church. Say about one." Hardcastle advised.

That made Rosco's day even better. Wasn't nothing like making an arrest and having to let them go as soon as he got them. Sorta like catching a trophy fish and having to turn it loose. "I'll let them know, Judge."

Hardcastle looked at his clock. He still had awhile before getting ready for church. After pouring a third cup of coffee he looked back at the file. He had no more that read the first sentence when the phone rang again. "Hardcastle."

"Judge this is Placid County jail and we have a house full for you." The officer said.

"A house full? On a Sunday? How did that happen?" Hardcastle asked. He was the Judge for four Counties and usually never had to go to more than one County on the same day. For that matter he usually didn't have to leave his house on the weekends.

"Trooper Mitchell and a trainee were making rounds last night and came up on a bunch that were skinny dipping." The officer said.

Sighing the Judge said, "Skinny dipping?"

"When they got closer they seen that there was some drinking going on. Everyone there was under age and drinking." The officer explained.

"Everyone. How many is everyone?" Hardcastle figured the situation was being exaggerated.

"Eight." The officer replied.

The Judge sighed again. There went his chance to catch a fish today. "Alright, I have church, then I have a couple in Hazzard. With travel time, I should be there after four." Hardcastle hated to make anyone wait that long on a Sunday but it just couldn't be helped today.

01~~~~~~~~~~~~01

By the time Jesse made it to the living room with Luke, Bo was at the phone ready to call Doc but he didn't know why he was calling. "Uncle Jesse. Daisy said for me to call Doc, but why?" In his mind Luke was like the rest of them and had only drank far too much shine.

Jesse said gruffly, "Tell Doc I'm bring Luke in. Something isn't right with him." Jesse turned to Mark and Cooter, "Get him in the truck I've got to get the butter 'n egg money before I go."

Jeb was there with the others, "Can I go with you all?"

Jesse checked the time and then looked at the bunch in front of him. "No. Jeb I have been down this road with your father before. I can do it again. What I expect from each and everyone of you all is to be in church and on time. Do what you all need to get sober." He held up his hand, "No, none of you are sober and Daisy, you keep them awake in church. There is already three of us Dukes not gonna be filling seats in two churches this morning so you all are going. No excuses."

Mark and Cooter had stopped near the door as they were taking Luke to the truck. Luke would have rather went to church than to Doc's, "Uncle Jes,... I can, ... get a, ... show, ... 'n see Doc, ... later."

Mark and Cooter ducked when they saw Jesse turn toward Luke and them.

Jesse said sternly, "Get him to the pickup." Then he turned back to Bo and Jeb, "I mean it. Be at church, sober and on time. Don't forget you all have chores to do." Jesse got in the truck and headed toward town.

While they were getting Luke in the truck Bo had Maybelle connect him to Doc Applebee's house.

When the phone rang Doc Applebee's niece was at the phone first, "Doctor Applebee's" She said sleepily.

Bo groaned. This was not his morning, "Kim where is Doc?"

Kim knew the voice and frowned. "Bo Duke? What do you need with my uncle for so early in the morning? Is everything alright there?"

"LOOK, I really just need to talk to Doc, now." Bo insisted with a slightly raised voice that only made his head pound worse.

"I am perfectly capable of telling my Uncle what is going on Bo Duke." Kim said.

Doc Applebee came in the room just in time to hear Bo's name, "Bo Duke? Is everything alright out there?"

Kim rolled her eyes as she handed him the phone, "I don't know he wouldn't tell me."

Doc took the phone, "Bo?"

"Yeah, Doc look Uncle Jesse should be there anytime with Luke. He seems to think something isn't right with him." Bo quickly explained.

"Jesse thinks something isn't right with Luke. What about you? Can you tell me anything at all?" Doc asked knowing that the Duke boys were very close to each other.

Bo sighed, "Well, I know he had a bit to drink last night but that is about all I know."

Doc didn't think anything strange about Luke drinking a bit he likely would need something to take the edge off for a week or so until those ribs started to heel some. "Luke hasn't been exerting himself or anything has he?"

"Nothing that I've seen Doc, but you might want to ask him that yourself." Bo replied.

"Alright. Thanks for calling Bo. I'll take care of Luke when they get here." Doc told Bo. Doc turned to Kim, "Jesse Duke should be here with Luke anytime."

"I'll go get ready." Kim said.

01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01

Everyone was awake at the Placid County jail. The officer came out of the office after turning on the phones just outside the cells. He told the group, "The phones are on. All the calls are collect, just listen to instructions on the phone."

Charlene knew she needed to call her parents soon in hopes of still making it to church. At least that would be one less thing she'd get in trouble for.

Danny was at the phone ready to dial, "When should we tell them they should be here?"

The officer couldn't help the slight grin on his face, "Well, the Judge said he was going to church then he has two arraignments in Hazzard before he heads over here. So around four, maybe five."

Charlene nearly shrieked, "What? You said FOUR o'clock?"

"Maybe five." The officer replied.

Charlene turned away from the phone to Jackie and the others, "I'm dead. They are going to kill me."

Jackie replied, "Well, I hate to tell you but if they wake up and find us all not at home they are going to be worried to death. Then, that worry will surely turn to anger when they find out where we are. We better not wait too long."

Karen replied, "Well, at least they won't be looking for me. I told my parents I was staying with Charlene last night."

Charlene added, "At least that was the plan after we got home last night."

Jackie said, "We'll when your parents find you both gone they are likely to call Karen's house."

Together both girls replied, "Oh, Lord." Neither had thought of that.

Peggy said, "Well, which ever one of you is going to call first. Please do it so I can call my folks. They should be nearly ready to make sure I'm up for church."

Charlene was still beside the phone. She reached between the bars and dialed her home phone number then listened to the instructions to say her name at the tone. Charlene said at the tone, "Charlene." then she waited as the phone was connected to her house.

Mrs. Murphy was just heading to her daughter's room to wake her and her friend for church. She hadn't believed how quiet they were when they came home last night. As she started up the stairs the phone rang. Returning to the ringing phone she answered, "Murphy residence."

She was greeted by a recording, "This is a collect call from the County jail, from, ... Charlene." Not believing what she heard, Mrs. Murphy followed the directions to accept the charges for the call. The line was connected. "Charlene?"

"Mother. ..." Charlene said then hesitated not knowing where to begin.

"What was that recording about? Surely there is some mistake that recording said it was the County jail."

"Mother there is no mistake," Charlene felt tears filling up her eyes threatening to fall as she talked, "That's where we are."

Her mother replied, "You said 'we', who is the 'we' ?"

"Mother I'll explain it to you when you get here. They are saying you should be here by around four or even later." Charlene said.

"Four? Oh my, that just isn't acceptable. You will need to be at church at ten." Her mother said failing to see the reality of the situation.

Charlene rolled her eyes, "Mother I really don't think you understand. Believe me I'd rather be in church this morning, but I need to go and let the others use the phone."

Across the room Danny, was dialing his house. After following the instructions he heard his father answer, "Dad I'm here at the jail. Can you be here about four when the Judge gets here?"

"What is going on? You said you 'at the jail'. Are you 'at' or 'in' jail?" His father attempted to clarify the situation.

"Well, 'in' is a better way to describe it." Danny said.

His father asked, "What are the charges?"

"I'm not exactly sure, but the others need to use the phone." Danny said.

Danny's father replied, "Alright." He had decided to call the jail to find out exactly what was going on just as soon as he was off the phone.

Charlene handed the phone off to Karen. After following the directions, Karen waited and prayed for her father to answer the phone. He was always up first. He should be the one to answer the phone. Karen grimaced when heard her mother's voice on the phone.

Pauline was glad that Carl had just left to start the chores after he explained that John had wanted to get the animals taken care early so that they would be done before church. After church John had wanted to get the fences looked at as they went to the lake for their regular Sunday fishing trip. Pauline had only heard half of what Carl had said after she learned that John had lied to her about what he was doing yesterday and then wanted to get it done today. Never mind that he shouldn't be doing any work today other than taking care of the animals. She was sure to let him know just how wrong it was to work on Sunday just as soon as he got home. The phone rang just after Carl went out the door, which also caused Emma to start crying. Pauline reached for the crying infant, then the phone. She heard an unfamiliar recording from the County jail. Before she could process the information or even get mad at John for once again being in jail she heard her daughters voice on the line say her name.

"Karen? Where are you? You are supposed to be with Charlene." Pauline said as she tried to hush Emma.

"Well, I am with Charlene. Trouble is, …. we are in the jail." Karen replied.

"JAIL? What on Earth for?" Pauline gasped.

Karen said, "I don't know the official stuff. Could you just send Daddy down here about four or so when the Judge gets here?"

"One of us will be there, but I intend to find out what happened just as soon as you get home young lady!" Pauline said in a huff as the phones time ran out and ended the conversation.

Karen was a bit relieved when the phone conversation was ended. She hoped to see her father here in stead of her mother, but she really didn't think her mother would come down 'here' with the twins.

Pauline wasn't sure where John Duke was at but she hoped he was home by four to go get Karen. It already looked as if her and the twins would be going to church alone. Not only was that something she didn't look forward to but she was now going to have to explain at least a dozens times where John and Karen were. She couldn't very well tell them that she didn't know where John was, nor was she going to tell anyone that her oldest daughter was in jail. 'What was that Karen said? That she was with Charlene?' Pauline thought, then said out loud, "Oh my Lord." She knew it just wouldn't do for the the preachers daughter to miss church AND be in jail. Where had she went wrong in allowing Karen to be friends with Charlene? She was always so careful when she checked out her children's friends. Being the preachers daughter, Pauline had figured the girl would be a good influence on her daughter. She would just have to find out where she had went wrong.

01~~~~~~~~~~01

Rosco looked at the two grown men behind the bars across the jail and said, "Good news. Good news! The Judge will be today, just after church, ... about one o'clock."

John wasn't sure exactly how that was good news but it beat the way some places did things. He'd seen some places that if you were locked up after five in the evening on Friday you had to wait at least until Monday at nine in the morning to even think about seeing a Judge. He planned to make two stops when he walked out the front door upstairs. One to the farm to see Jeb. He didn't think Jesse would bring him along. The second was at the drug store for a home test for Pauline. He figured if she was going to be spitting nails that once was better than twice.

01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01

Jesse watched Luke all the way to town. Luke was setting very straight up, just a bit to straight up. His left arm was still protectively guarding his ribs. His breathing just didn't seem right to Jesse. He hoped that his nephew had not had a lung punctured. Jesse had seen a lot of broken ribs in his time and he knew a lung could collapse easily. He also knew that anyone with broken ribs ran the risk of pneumonia for some time after the injury. Luke had been lucky when his ribs were injured before. He hadn't had any complications from them, but it looked like he may not be so lucky this time around. Jesse parked on the street in front of Doc's house and office. They were facing the Courthouse where Jesse's second stop of the day would be.

Once out of the truck Luke refused any help from Jesse as he slowly made his way up the walk and up the couple steps onto porch.

Kim was already at the door with it open. She took one look at Luke. Even she didn't like she she saw, "Uncle, ..." She was cut off.

"I'm here." Doc wasn't sure how it was possible but Luke looked worse than he had right after the fight. "Come on back."

Jesse was only a step behind Luke, the doctor and his niece as the four went into the larger of the exam rooms where the portable X-ray was located.

"Alright Luke just take off you're shirt and lay back." Doc said.

Luke started to unbutton his shirt and grimaced as he moved to take the shirt off.

Kim was beside her uncle as he was getting ready to examine Luke. "Here. Let me get that." She helped get the shirt off Luke's shoulders.

Luke seen the flat bed Doc had wanted him to lay on, "Doc, ... can't lay,... down, ... can't, ... brea,..."

Doc nodded. He didn't like how short of breath Luke was as he raised the head of the bed to almost a sitting position. "Here this will be better. I'll help you get your feet up." After Luke was some what settled Doc said, "Alright, you two need to step out while I get a couple pictures." Once Jesse and Kim were outside, Doc asked, "Luke just nod for me. You haven't been in anymore fights have you?"

Luke nodded, 'no.'

"Good." Doc said, "How about trying to over do it? Lift anything? Chores? Anything like that?"

Luke again nodded, 'no.'

"Have you done anything that caused you a great deal of pain since the fight?" Doc asked.

Luke didn't automatically nod 'no', he was thinking back to last night with Ruby. But what they had done felt great, but he also remembered hurting like he-. Luke looked up to see Doc looking at him waiting on an answer. Luke dropped his gaze to the floor, "Yeah."

Doc could tell that he didn't really want to ask what the young man had been doing but he'd about bet that at least one of the ribs that had been cracked had now been broken. He just hoped that a lung had not been punctured in the process. "I'm not going to ask what you were doing. Let me get these pictures." After getting the X-rays, Doc said, "Just relax until I get back with these. I'll send your Uncle in."

"Doc?" Luke said.

Doc turned around, "I'm not going to say a word, Son."

Luke looked relieved, "Thanks, ... Doc."

Jesse came back in the exam room to wait with Luke.

After getting the X-rays ready Doc came back in the room and flipped a light on and hung two of Luke's X-rays in front of them. "I want to show you something. This was Luke's X-ray taken after the fight. There are three broken ribs here, here and here." Doc said as he pointed them out. "Now look here, here and here." Doc said as he pointed to another rib on the left side and two on the right side. These ribs had cracks running through them but weren't broken."

Luke was sure he didn't want to hear the rest of this or see today's X-ray.

Doc flipped up the second X-ray taken a short while ago. "Now look at this. There are breaks from after the fight. Here are three more. Now, what we're going to do is I'm going to re-wrap you. I'm hoping the reason for so much additional pain is that there is only some more swelling. If so, you shouldn't be in much more pain than you were the last time we did this. Then, I'm going to leave the next part up to you." Doc paused before he very seriously said, "I can put you to bed in a room here in the clinic for about two weeks where I can make sure you are in bed, OR I can send you home with Jesse and let him keep a REAL close eye on you. Making sure you go no further than the couch or MAYBE the front porch for at least a week."

Luke swore to himself but didn't dare voice it in front of Doc or Jesse.

"Well?" Doc asked.

Luke replied, "Home."

"Alright, then we'll get busy here." Doc said.

Jesse spoke up, "Doc. This morning Luke threw up and there was blood in it. Not a lot but some."

Doc nodded. "It happens. After I get him re-wrapped, I'm going to check him out more. I don't think he's going to make church this morning Jesse if you want to go get ready. After church he should be ready to head out of here."

Luke looked up at the clock. That would be nearly four hours from now. "But, ... Doc..."

"I monitor you for a few hours or I'll have Kim make you up a room." Doc said.

Luke seem Jesse smile at Doc Applebee. Doc handled his boys just like he did. He didn't put up with an ounce of their bull headiness. Luke knew he had lost and he hadn't even started to protest.

Jesse said, "Well, in that case, Doc. I have to go check on another mule headed Duke. I'll be back in a spell to check on Luke before I head back to the place."

Doc reassured, "He'll be fine, Jesse."

Luke wasn't so sure that he'd be fine or not. It seemed like Doc and Jesse were working together. He knew Doc just gave Jesse all the additional power needed to make sure he didn't lift anything heavier than a coffee cup for awhile. Luke just plain hated to be fused over and babied when he was sick or hurt.

01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01

Please take a second to drop a few words on encouragement. Kim is also on loan from jadedphoenixburning.