Thanks to all you readers out there that have been faithfully reading and reviewing. I hope you like this chapter. At times the characters seemed as closed mouthed as Luke can be when he has something on his mind, but then again, several of these characters have a lot on their minds this Sunday afternoon! Enjoy! I'll try to get them to talk more and life to back off some for the next chapter!
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Chapter 47
Jesse checked the time and seen that he had just enough time to get Luke back to the farm before having to meet the Judge at the Courthouse for John. Jesse circled the square and motioned for Bo, Daisy and Jeb to get in. They all got in the back of the pick up to give Luke more room. As they got to the farm, Jesse noticed that what ever Doc gave Luke it must still be working cause Luke was napping. He woke Luke gently, "Luke."
Luke woke up still feeling the effects of the shot Doc had given him. Seeing they were at the farm Luke tried to wake up enough to get in the house.
Jesse and the others got him in the house and settled in the recliner before Jesse said, "I'll be back as quick as I can. Boys help Daisy with dinner and count on one more."
Jeb asked, "Can I go with you?"
"Son, we went through this already this morning. Now, help Daisy and Bo and I'll bring your Dad back with me." Jesse said.
Jeb didn't like it but he replied, "Yes, Sir."
Jesse hurried off to town so he would not be late. He was thankful, that for once the preacher had not gotten long winded today. As Jesse got out of the pickup he saw Judge Hardcastle coming from the other direction. They met at the courthouse steps.
Hardcastle frowned, "Jesse don't tell me that boy of yours is who I'm seeing this morning."
Jesse shook his head, "No, I'm not here for Luke this morning."
"Well, that is good. But, your other kids aren't old enough to be seeing me, so why are you here so early?" Judge Hardcastle asked.
"No, Bo is the next one but he won't be seventeen for a few days yet. I'm here for another Duke. My youngest brother, John from over in Placid County." Jesse explained.
"Well, let's get in there." Hardcastle said.
It didn't take long for the Judge to review John's file and have Rosco bring him up to the Courtroom to have his bond set. Jesse knew the look on his brother's face when he was brought in wearing the orange jumpsuit as well as the cuffs and leg irons.
Judge Hardcastle advised John of his right to an attorney and means to get one for the trial, then he continued, "You have been charged with Fighting and IF you plead or are found guilty you could be fined, jailed or both as follows - Fighting up to one hundred dollars or up to twelve months in jail."
John Duke had stood before a couple different Judges in his life in this courtroom and a couple more. He was sure he'd heard those same words more than once, but they just seemed to hit 'home' a little harder today. The fine he could handle without much problems, though he knew Pauline would give him at least a thousand ways it could have been spent better. He was also familiar with the 'up to' part of the Judge's statement, but that left a lot of grey between not going to jail and being locked up for a year.
"I'm setting bond at one hundred dollars. Are you prepared to make bond?" Hardcastle asked.
John hadn't planned to stay in Hazzard when he came over. Right now he knew he may have twenty bucks in his wallet.
As John turned to look at Jesse, Jesse was already reaching for his wallet. "I've got it."
Hardcastle advised, "From your file I see that you live in Placid County, so I'll not make it a part of your conditions of bond for you to stay in Hazzard County. Just don't change your residence without notifying the courts." Hardcastle frowned. "I see you want your court date information sent here in care of Jesse?"
"Yes, Sir." John replied.
Jesse paid the bail money and got the paperwork in order while John was taken back downstairs to change and get his belongings. As Jesse was leaving the Courtroom, John was coming back upstairs. Jesse waited until they got in the pickup truck before asking, "John David what in tarnation got into you? I can't imagine what possessed you to stop at The Boar's Nest of all places. Didn't you learn at about fifteen years ago that trouble finds you in them there places. There's still plenty of folks like Campbell around these parts that remember you and Traveler."
John let Jesse go on until he ran out of steam without even trying to get a word in edge wise to either agree or disagree with Jesse's points of the lecture. It had been years since he'd gotten a lecture like this from his oldest brother. John figured it was only polite to let Jesse rant and rave until he was finished.
"So tell me why you were there and don't go trying to pull the wool over my eyes." Jesse finished.
John had been awake most of the night thinking and Jesse had given him even more time to consider his truthful reply to Jesse. He thought it may sound a bit lame, but sometimes truth was stranger than any lie he could come up with. John took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "It's this pregnancy thing with Pauline, Jesse." He held up his hand to stop Jesse as he seen him ready to pounce on him without hearing the rest of what he had to say. "Look at first it was kind of an ego booster. Still being able to cut the mustard at my age and all. I felt that way with the twins too. Then reality set in with them when I seen the looks that Pauline and I got having newborn twins at our age. You know me, I've never given two hoots what people thought about me, but Jeb and Karen were mortified to say the least. I don't have a regret to one about the girls, Jesse, but I really don't want to go through all that again either. Then, you got to figure she could have twins again. Plus there is the facts, Pauline isn't getting any younger either. I guess this whole thing is just bothering me a bit more than I thought it would."
Jesse listened to his much younger brother talking about how old he was. Jesse just let him go right on and admit how big of a fool he was before he finally gave John 'the' look that said he was still waiting for his question to be answered.
"What?" John asked.
"I'm still waiting for you to answer my question. I'm not buying any of that horse hocky." Jesse said.
John frowned. It had been a long time since he'd had a talk like this with Jesse and he seemed to be getting better at it. "Jesse it's the truth. Call it a mid-life crisis or what every but I guess I was just feeling a bit too old, so ..."
"Now wait just a minute. First off, Papa was at least ten years older than you when you were born. You said the twins and this new baby if and that is IF Pauline is pregnant made you feel young, yet you just turned right around and said how old you feel. So now which is it?" Jesse said.
John let out a breath he'd been holding for sometime now. "Jesse it's both. Still being able to make a baby is one thing, ... having to spend the next eighteen years raising it is yet another."
Jesse rolled his eyes, before saying, "Seems to me, that you should have thought about that before you ever dropped your drawers."
John put his forehead in his hand. Leave it to Jesse to state the obvious!
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After picking up John's truck at The Boar's Nest, Jesse and John headed out to the farm. By now Luke was awake. According to Daisy, who met Jesse at the truck, Luke had refused to take any of the pain meds Doc had sent him and was fussing about being 'grounded' to the recliner.
Once Jesse was in the house, Luke protested, "Uncle Jesse, ... what ever she, ... said, ..." He took a deep breath, "I didn't, ... do."
Jesse had the winning arguement, "Son, when you can argue with me in full sentences, I'll think about listening to you. Until then, you are there or in bed, that is unless you want me to call Doc so he can get you a bed at the clinic." Jesse said as he made his way to the kitchen to check on lunch and get two cups of coffee. He saw that Daisy had everything under control and should be ready to put the sandwich makings on the table for a late lunch.
Luke fumed but held his tounge so as not to voice the curse that had already started to form in his mouth.
John couldn't help the slight grin he sent his oldest nephew. John was relieved that at least he wasn't the only one in deep with Jesse. He took the seat on the couch closest to Luke, "Care if I join you in the 'dog house'?"
Luke knew how Jesse was with him and the other kids, but even he hadn't been present when his Uncle John had been on the wrong side of his Uncle Jesse. Luke gave John a bit of a confussed look.
John nodded and gave Luke a look that said he knew he was in hot water.
Bo and Jeb had been in the barn when John and Jesse pulled up. They finish with the barn and headed to the house. Jeb was first through the door. He couldn't help notice his father drop his eyes to the floor as he walked in. Bo and Jeb made their way to the fireplace harth and took a seat.
Jesse handed John a cup of coffee and took his own chair facing both John and Luke. Jesse was watching John silently and waiting.
Being that Jesse was the oldest of the brothers, he'd often taken care of the younger boys careless ways as they were growing. With John the youngest of the crew, he'd usually had to face Jesse usless it was really bad. Now most brothers would rather face their brothers when they had made a mistake, but most people didn't have Jesse Duke as an older brother either. John knew exactly what was expected of him once they got to the farm. In fact he'd spent most of the night trying to figure out just what to say to Jeb and the other boys to impress upon them how wrong his actions were and how poor his judgement had been while it was also impaired by the alcohol that he and Jesse drank followed by the beer at The Boar's Nest. He knew that not only did Jesse expect him to talk to the boys, but to call Pauline. Now that was a conversation he could go years without. It was already past time for lunch and his wife had no idea where he was. John knew the longer he put it off the worse things would be with her, but he felt that he owed it to his son who had seen him lead off in handcuffs the first explaination. He knew no amount of talking was going to sooth Pauline, so she could wait another couple of minutes. John took a drink of his coffee and began, "Jeb, boys, it is no secret that I spent the night in jail last night. Campbell and I go back to about Jr. High. We never did get along and always had trouble with each each other. I had been drinking. He said something that just didn't set well with me and before I thought about it he was on the floor. Yeah, I swung first."
Jesse looked straight at Luke, "Sounding familiar?"
"So does this mean, ... I have deal with Green, ... until I'm your age?" Luke asked.
Jesse replied, "That's your choice."
John continued, "Jesse's right and it looks like I made a poor one. Boys I could sit here and try to justify what I did all night long, but the truth of the matter is I was wrong. For starters, I never should have stopped by there to begin with, I knew better. I know that I can sit here and tell you until I'm blue in the face not to do exactly what I did, but none of you will listen to me or to your Uncle Jesse until you choose to." John said. "And I'm not going to tell you 'Do as I say, not as I do' either. I'm just not like that."
Jesse gave John a hard look, it wasn't exactly what he thought the boys needed to hear. He only added,
"See boys, there's always consequences to your actions. If you end up in the wrong, You've got to man up and admit it." Jesse was interupted by a ringing phone which was on the table beside him. "Duke Farm."
"Jesse, is John there?" Pauline asked.
Jesse knew by the tone of her voice that Pauline was not happy. "This is just one of those consequences, boys. John the phone is for you."
John felt his chest tighten even before he reached for the phone as he braced himself for what he knew was coming. He took a drink of coffee half wishing it were shine, before he said in what he hoped was a neutral tone, "Pauline."
Pauline was far more than just upset with John David, but she knew the phone lines of Hazzard County. "John DAVID Duke!"
John was certain everyone in the room heard his wife as she started out yelling at him. "Now, Pauline, just let me talk, ..."
Pauline had more than a few things to say to her husband but didn't want to say them over the phone. "John DAVID, I don't intend to do THIS over the phone. I need you here, NOW. In fact I'll meet you IN town at 4 pm SHARP. NO excuses."
John looked at the time, "Pauline it is two-thirty. I could bust every speed limit from here to Placid and NOT be there by four. What is SO important I meet you in town by four?"
"NeverMIND, John DAVID! Just get here!" Pauline ordered.
Daisy could hear John's end of the conversation and began making him a sandwich with a little bit of everything on it. She had heard the jail breakfasts were barely edible.
Feeling much like a whipped pup, John replied, "I'll try, but no promises."
"Just GET HERE!" Pauline yelled.
John hung the phone up, knowing that the family hadn't missed a word of either side of his conversation. "Sorry ya'll, but I've got to go. Jeb you listen to what Jesse tells you. I'll be back soon." John knew he'd have to come back for court shortly.
Daisy hurried to her Uncle, "Uncle John you can't leave without lunch. I fixed you a sandwich to hold you over to supper time."
John shook his head, "Thanks Daisy. I may be gettin' bread and water for supper." He hugged his niece and then his son. "I'll talk to you all soon." John hated to head back to Placid in such a rush without knowing why he was so needed back home. Though he dreaded the fight that was sure to follow any talk he hoped to have, John knew that Pauline needed him on town for a reason. Though he couldn't imagine what could possibly be open in Placid on a Sunday. He would now skip his stop in Hatchapee today since nothing would be open today. He'd just have to slip off tomorrow at some point.
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At the Placid jail the time was passing all to quick yet dragging on also. Karen looked at the clock and then to Jackie, "So what happens now?"
Jackie shrugged, "Best I know is we go before the Judge and if our parents or someone is there they can post a bond or sign for us. Then we can go home."
"Think I might rather be here than home." Karen said. "You mean that they will call us out one at a time?"
Jackie replied, "Considering that we all are charged with the same thing. I just don't know."
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Pauline Duke had very much wanted to know why John David was in Hazzard and had not come home last night but she didn't want all of Hazzard to know their business. It was bad enough that John's family knew more than she did about what was going on. She knew that it was a good four hour drive from Jesse's to their home as she drove. Pauline knew that even in a pickup that John David could beat that time with ease and town was twenty minutes away. If John David knew what was good for him then he had better make it to town so that she'd not have to take the twins in to Courthouse to get Karen.
Though Pauline was upset with Karen, she did not want to miss her chance to get her daughter home where she could get to the bottom of what had happened last night. So Pauline had gotten ready then dressed Emily and Emma, fixed a diaper bag, bottles and buckleted them into their infant carriers. In total it took her three trips to get everything in the car that she needed for the twenty minute drive to town. She hoped that John David's ears were burning with all the fusing and fuming that she had done since briefly talking to him at Jesse's.
Pauline pulled up outside the Courthouse just before four o'clock. There was no sign of John David's truck. She began tucking a couple bottles and diapers into the girls infant carriers. After getting them both unbuckled she took Emily in one hand and Emma in the other. They were beginning to get too big for her to take both girls, car seat and all in one trip. Pauline hoped that she didn't have to go far once inside the Courthouse.
Inside a young Deputy who must have been the bailiff seen Pauline with the girls. He offered to show Pauline to the right location and took Emma to lighten Paulilne's load.
Pauline walked into the Courtroom and set Emily down, then took Emma and set her down on the otherside of her. She thanked the young man for his assistance and took her seat. Looking around she saw several faces that she knew from Karen's school including Reverand and Mrs. Murphy who were setting closer to the front. Well, at least her child wasn't the only one in trouble today.
Judge Hardcastle went into his chambers in Placid County just after four o'clock. It had been the best he could do coming from Hazzard to get there that early. He had seen the Deputy out front and sent him to the local diner for a couple hot dogs to swallow while he read the files. As he read the names on the files he couldn't help but notice that one name just kept showing up this weekend. Twice in Hazzard and now here in Placid he would be dealing with a Duke.
By four thirty Hardcastle had finished his hot dogs and seen that all the eight young people had been charged with exactly the same charges. He hoped to make this as simple as he possibly could for everyone concerned. "Deputy." Hardcastle called to Deputy just outside the door. "Are the Troopers here and does everyone have family waiting?"
"Yes, the Troopers are here and there is a group out there Sir, but I'm not sure who they are all for." The Deputy said.
"Alright find out if they all have someone out front and then go asked them if they have any objections to being seen at the same time." Hardcastle instructed.
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John Duke wasn't by any means scared of his wife, but he had known her a long time and he knew her tone on the phone. Something was up and she needed him in Tranquil so John was intent on getting there. So intent in fact that he wasn't watching his rear view mirrors like any self respecting Duke did. John had chosen the most direct route as he hoped to get to Tranquil by four o'clock as his wife had pretty much demanded of him.
Just as John started down a section of Hatchapee backroads he felt the car behind him before he even seen or heard it. In that brief second John swore as he now checked hos rear view mirror. None other than Sheriff Emmitt 'Spike' Loomis. John knew this not only wasn't his day, it hadn't been his week either.
John's truck was nothing to sneeze at. He knew the truck and the powerful Mopar engine under the hood. John also knew that had it been about eighteen years ago that he would have ran the Sheriff just because he could have. Today though he had no reason not to stop for the Sheriff and he figured that he was in enough hot water already. John did the responsible, grown up thing to do and pulled over for the Sheriff.
Sheriff Loomis really hadn't expected the truck to pull over for him as he pulled off the road way in behind the pick up truck. 'Spike' Loomis just 'knew' as soon as he seen the vehicle coming his way at such break neck speed on this particular section of road that the vehicle had to have moonshine in it. Once he'd gotten behind it he see that the bed was still riding too high to appear that the truck had a load of liquor in it. The driver must have been running over load shocks. Loomis unsnapped his holster as he got out of the cruiser with his right hand on the pistol and his imfamous spike in his left.
John had one last hope that there was a Deputy in that patrol car, not the Counties notorious Sheriff. Glancing back he recognized Loomis from his days of running shine. John knew that if he recognized the Sheriff that Loomis was sure to know him just as soon as he checked his drivers license. From some where deep inside John heard an inner voice say, 'You knew better than to stop.'
Loomis approached the truck and noticed a tarp in the bed of the truck covering something that could be cases of moonshine, "Turn the engine off and get out of the truck."
John did as he was told, but wondered where the normal, 'Driver's license, registration and insurance.' phase had gone to. No sooner had John stepped out of the truck he felt himself being put against the side of the truck a little rougher than neccessary.
"Keep your hands where I can see them. Use one hand and give me your license." the Sheriff instructed.
John replied, "They are stuck over the sunvisor on the drivers side."
Spike quickly patted John down, finding nothing more than the dull 'butter cutter' of a pocket knife he had carried for years. He layed it on the hood well out of the reach of John. Taking his handcuffs out he promptly cuffed the man.
"Now Sheriff just wait a minute here. You could at least tell me why I'm being arrested." John said trying to be as polite as he could be under the circumstances.
The Sheriff replied as he now reahed for John's drivers license, "You're not being arrested, yet. Only detained until my Deputies can get out here and we fine that shine you're hauling, Mr. Duke. Duke, you ain't one of them Dukes from over in Hazzard are you?"
John frowned. The man had said the name like it was a bad taste in him mouth. John could have answered honestly that he was from Placid and his driver's license would have confirmed it, but the Duke pride wouldn't take being talked down to. He replied just as the other patrol car showed up, "I used to be from Hazzard. I live in Placid now."
Sheriff Loomis smiled wildly as he told his men, "We got us one of them no account moonshining Dukes from over in Hazzard County. Ain't no respectable man runs this here stretch of road on a Sunday."
John was late, he knew it, now he was hot and it had nothing to do with the ninety plus temperatures. The mouth that Jesse Duke has washed out with lye soap on many occassions sprung to life, "So why are you out here Sheeriff?" John pushed. He was legal and he knew it.
Spike Loomis, "Boys take it appart until you find look in every place you can hide the two drops of moonshine it take to convict Duke of transporting illegal whisky across County lines." Loomis himself pulled back the tarp in the back of the truck just knowing he'd find moonshine there. What he found was eight boxes of jars marked "Mason" on them. "Boys we just hit the Mother load."
John swore!
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