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Chapter 63

Bo and Jeb found pushing one cart up together was far easier than pushing one each up the tracks of the mine. They got up to the next light and both were about to get in the cart when a rock about the size of a basket ball fell on the tracks above them. "Bo that was a pretty big rock."

"Yeah it was. We'll ride down this time and get the lanterns cut off, then head out." Bo reasoned.

They both climbed in the mine cart and took off down the tracks. They had went up further and with their combined weight the cart was traveling faster than it ever had with them both. They let out rebel yells and hooped and hollered all the way down the mine shaft. Seeing the last lantern coming into view, Bo yelled, "Jeb jump!"

Jeb positioned himself to jump, then quickly leaped from the cart.

Bo stayed in the cart until Jeb was clear and then he jumped.

Both Duke boys rolled clear of the cart and felt rocks digging into their jeans and their skin. Then the cart hit the end of the line with a crash that shook the mines. Timbers shook, dust and small rocks rained down on the two teenagers. Both made it back to their feet, brushed themselves off, then Bo took the lantern, "Come on, Cuz. I think we've about pushed our luck far enough."

Jeb followed Bo as he headed back up the mine shaft. Each stopped and turned off all the lanterns as they made their way to the exit of the mine. As they reached the last lantern the timbers in front of them gave a mighty groan as more rock, dust and debris fell.

Bo yelled, "Run for it Jeb!"

Jeb didn't need to be told twice as he was on Bo's heels, right up until Bo stopped dead in his tracks and threw his arm out to stop Jeb. The top was coming down in front of them.

"Get back!" Bo warned as he pushed Jeb ahead of him deeper in to the mine.

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At the McCormick home, Bill had seen both his daughter's wiliness to take out the trash as well as what appeared to be a coincidental encounter on Luke's part from the other female.

Luke rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm sorry about 'that'." He pointed to the road where Ruby had stopped.

Bill replied, "No. It should be me who is apologizing. I knew things were tense between you two."

"That shouldn't, ... no doesn't, have anything to do with you, Mark or the others. I actually should have been around more than I have been, maybe then she'd be used to it by now, but this was her choice." Luke reminded.

Bill nodded. As much as he had not liked the idea of the oldest Duke boy calling on his baby girl, Luke Duke had managed to grow on him. In fact he had gotten used to the idea and now quiet frankly wished that his daughter would come to her senses and drop that Green fellow.

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When the dust settled, Bo and Jeb found themselves face down in the dirt with their heads covered by their arms. After spitting out the dirt they had tried to eat, each got up and shook off the fallen debris. Bo still had a hold on a lantern but it had went out in the co-motion. He fished for a light to relight the lantern. Once it was re-lite, it was obvious to both Duke boys that they were not going out the same way they had went into the mine.

Jeb asked, "There is another way out of here, isn't there?"

"I hope so, Cuz." Bo replied. They both knew there were several passages off to either side of the main shaft that the tracks ran into, but neither had really explored any of them. "See if you see another lantern and we'll start checking the side passages."

Jeb was not at all comforted by his older cousin's answer as he found another lantern and they started looking for another way out of the old deserted mine.

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Robin was glad that she was in the house alone as she let fly a string of curse words! 'Oh how I wished that Ralph were around, I'd have him come by and pick me up just for spite!' Robin thought, then she remembered she had been asked out by several guys lately, especially since Ralph had, from what she understood, basically begged to spend ninety days in the Tri-County Jail. An evil idea crossed her mind as she reached for the phone, "Yes, connect me with the Edwards residence."

"Hello?" the male voice replied.

"Patrick? This is Robin. I've been thinking, you are right, there is no reason why I shouldn't let you take me out. As a matter of fact, are you busy now?" Robin asked boldly.

"Busy? No, no, not at all!" Patrick replied eagerly. He didn't have a clue that he was being set up.

Robin cooed, "That's great. I have So wanted to go out with you in your Chevelle!"

"I, ... we'll be right there!" Patrick was sure that if he stayed on the phone with Robin any longer he'd have to change clothes. He had no idea that there was only a couple reasons why she had called him. One was to make Luke jealous, the second was she wanted to ride in his car.

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Bo and Jeb made their way down the first smaller mine shaft on the left. The cave in had caused some debris to fall even in this shaft but as they went on they could feel the air getting warmer and it smelled fresher.

Jeb said, "Bo I think this was made as an air shaft."

"It could be and if it is then there is an opening down here somewhere." Bo replied.

"I hope so." Jeb said as they continued down the shaft.

Bo said, "Look there is a light up ahead."

They quickened their pace to get to the end of the tunnel only to find it was boarded and blocked off as the main entrance had been. It took both teens working hard to get the boards, tree limbs and other material used to block off and disguise the air shaft entrance.

It was only after Bo and Jeb both got out of the mine and into the evening sun that they realized just what a mess they both were. Since it was Sunday they had changed from church going clothes into decent clothes instead of their everyday work clothes. Both knees were out of Jeb's jeans, Bo had torn the leg of his jeans and a pocket hung off his shirt.

Jeb seen his arm was bleeding from either his landing on that last ride or trying to escape the cave in. He unthinkingly wiped his arm off on his shirt as they tried uselessly to to wipe off and clean up.

"Are you alright?" Bo asked after seeing Jeb's arm.

Jeb replied, "Yeah, its just a scratch."

Bo could tell by the sky that it was now late evening. "Come on. We need to get back toward the house."

Jeb nodded and followed. At the moment the fact that his mother was on the farm escaped him.

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Cooter arrived and parked the wrecker behind Luke's car across the road from the house. "So, ... Buddy Row, just what have you gotten into that you had to call the Master? I know if Luke couldn't fix it, it's bad." Cooter stated.

Mark and Luke started to reply together, but was cut short by Bill, "I was told when I got a new stereo for the truck that it would be simply to put in. Now, I can't even start the truck!"

Cooter grimaced, "Ok, that's not good. Have you all checked the fuses?"

Luke waved him off, "We've already found the problem, but thanks to Green I can't get under the dash to work on it. Besides, you're better at the spaghetti than I am."

"Yeah, well, just how bad is it?" Cooter asked nearly afraid of the answer.

"From what Mark said there's a few wires skinned, a couple broken in two, maybe more nicked and every fuse I checked was blown." Luke began to explain.

Cooter sighed as he started to get under the dash, "Get my tester out of the truck will ya, Luke?"

"Sure." Luke replied and headed to the wrecker compartment that held the tester and took it back to Cooter.

Cooter was busy checking wire circuits while Luke, Mark and Bill were ready to help anyway they could to get the truck up and running again.

It was just about then that Patrick Edwards showed up in his 1968 Chevy Chevelle Super Sport with a Chrysler 440 magnum engine in it. He had never been to Robin's house so when he came up the street and saw the driveway with several cars in it and the wrecker with another car that he couldn't see parked on the side of the road across from the house he pulled in behind the wrecker and blew his horn.

Bill mumbled something unintelligible then stepped out from behind the truck to see a car that he did not recognize. "Can I help you?"

A teen with blond / red hair with bad case of acne got out of the car, "Yes, I'm looking for Robin."

"Then get out of the car and knock the door like a gentleman. You don't just blow the horn here." Bill said sternly as he sized up the young man. This was not his daughter's type and had a feeling that the young man was about to get his feelings hurt.

Patrick got out of the car and made his way to the door.

Robin answered the knock on the door. "Hi, Patrick. Just let me get my purse." She stepped back to the bar and got her purse then went out the door, "Daddy I'll be back in awhile if that's alright."

Of the four men out by her father's truck it was hard to say who was more shocked that Robin was dressed and ready to leave with this young man. Her father finally managed to say, "Alright, just don't be late."

"I won't." Robin said as her eyes locked again with Luke's for what seemed a life time. She then turned and walked to Patrick's car where he held the door for her.

As Patrick started the car, Robin directed him to back into the drive way and turn around. Only as Patrick was pulling back out of the drive did he get a good look and Luke's car in front of the wrecker.

Robin smiled, "Show me what this thing can do."

Patrick smiled widely and arched the tires in the first three gears as he went off the street.

Even Cooter sat up at the sound of the powerful engine arching tires off the quiet street.

Luke felt all eyes on him. "Yeah, I get the feeling that was for my benefit."

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