Thanks for reading and special thanks to all those that review! I hope you have as much fun reading this as I had writing it. But the next chapter should open enough cans of worms for fishing all season long.
Chapter 70 - Adjustments!
Being used to getting up and going to bed early, John was more than ready to stretch out after he got off the phone with Pauline. He wasn't exactly sure how much sleep he'd actually get since like any other Duke he wasn't at all happy about being locked in a cell with four other men but after the events of the day, John was ready to at least try to sleep. He picked up today's discarded Placid Times then went over to his bunk hoping that reading that paper would help him get to sleep.
Two of the others were playing cards, another read a book, and Green was standing in front of the television. It was Ralph's turn to chose what was watched on the television today. Whatever he'd picked didn't seem very popular with the others in the cell John noted. John had barely started to read when he noted the volume of the television go up followed by a grumble from the guy on the next bunk who was reading the book.
Dean looked up from his cards, "You're going to get the guard back here if you keep that turned up."
Green threw up his middle finger toward the cell door, "$ $_& _*$ Them!"
"You might like them back here breathing down your neck. We don't." Another younger man said.
The man beside John was a bit older than the rest of the 'kids' in the cell, but appeared to be about ten years John's junior. He said quietly, "Can't tell that one," nodding toward Green, "A thing."
John said lowly, "I understand it's not just here. He and my nephew have had an ongoing, shall we say, rival for awhile now."
"I heard him mention that earlier. What's it over?" The man asked.
John replied, "My nephew lives in Hazzard. I wasn't there and haven't even heard all his side of it, so I'd hate to speculate."
"That's fair enough." The man replied just as the guard entered the cell block.
"That volume has to go down some." The guard said.
Green bucked, "Are you gonna make it?"
Dean looked up from his card game and said to Green, "He doesn't have to turn it down." then looked over to the officer, "It'll get turned down."
Officer Thomas nodded, then headed back to check on the other cells on the floor.
Dean gave the officer time to get out of hearing range, put his cards down and stood up, "Now, Green you may not care about watching television other than tonight, but I do since tomorrow is my day. And the next day is Gage's and so on. So turn it down now, or we will."
The man beside John had already put his book down and was sitting on the edge of his bunk.
John had followed the man's lead picking up that whatever was about to happen wasn't going to be good.
Green stepped closer to the television but did not turn the sound down.
Dean heard the door to the floor close as the officer went off the floor to get a cup of coffee or go to the restroom. He gave the other two men a look as he stepped toward the television set and turned the sound down.
Just as the sound went down, Green decided to show these guys that he wasn't three. He threw a punch that should have landed right in Dean's right rib cage.
Before John knew what was going on the man beside him said, "Come on."
John got up from his bunk and followed the other man as the other two men in the cell had taken Green to the shower area of the cell. Green not only got his nightly shower but an attitude adjustment from all of his cell mates. By the time that the discussion was over all five men looked like drowned rats.
It was Dean who ended the conversation, "This didn't happen. You don't open your mouth to NO one about it. You will NOT ask to be moved out of this cell or you will spend the rest of your time hoping the officers are real close by. Got me!"
Green was still trying to be a bad guy, so he didn't reply even as he was holding his right side and tasting blood in mouth from an earlier hit.
Dean elbowed Green in his already tender side and asked again, "Do you understand?"
Green gasped and couched before managing to finally answer, "Yeah. ... I, ... under, ... stand."
"Good, now get dried off." Dean said.
Officer Thomas came back to the floor just in time to get a head count before lights went out. As he figured the sound on the television in Cell 7 was back to a normal range. When he stepped in the cell block he saw water from the shower area to the bunk area and several of the men still trying to get dry. "Thanks for turning the sound down on the television fellas. Do ya need a mop? Looks like someone spilled some water over by the shower."
John who had basically kept Green from bolting away from the others and was less wet, replied, "A mop would be great."
Thomas gave a half grin. He knew exactly what had happened, "I'll get it for you and turn out your lights last so ya'll can get cleaned up before the lights go out."
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
After Ralph's attitude adjustment on Monday night, John purposly slept lightly that night when he managed to sleep at all. He spent most of the night thinking. John made a mental note to thank Jesse for not making Jeb cut his summer short as well as sending Daisy to help Pauline and Karen. Being a normal early riser, John was awake long before anyone else moved but stayed on his bunk.
The coffee cart entered the cell block just as the bright lights came on. John heard Dean hurry over to the table by the bars of the cell. John opened his eyes to see why the young man was in such a rush. John saw Dean hurry back to his bunk and stash several oranges under his blanket then return to the table to get his coffee just as the officer entered the cell block to escort the cart.
John also got up and headed to the table for his coffee followed by most of the others. He noted that Green hadn't moved. "What's with him?" he asked to no one in particular.
"He never moves until later." another of the guys said.
"Which is fine by me." Dean said. "Guy is a jerk."
John couldn't argue that fact no longer than he'd been around the guy. Breakfast was served which consisted of chipped beef over toast and an orange with a small container of orange juice. For a half a second John thought he must be back in Hazzard County since chipped beef was what was often served there. He took note of all the others handing over their oranges and juice to Dean. "Alright fellas what's up with the oranges and juice?"
One of the younger men started to speak but was hushed by a swift kick under the table from Dean. Other older man that was on the bunk beside John looked from Dean to John, "You said your name was Duke and that you had family from Hazzard. You wouldn't be related to Jesse Duke would you?"
"Jesse is my oldest brother. Why?" John replied.
The man looked at Dean and the others, "If you want something quality we better cut him in. He may just save us from getting poisoned."
By now John figured he knew what was going on. "Let me guess, ya'll are planning on making a little something for the 4th?"
The older man just grinned.
"What do you have and what are your plans?" John asked.
Dean layed out the ingredients they were able to come up with and told John how he planned to process them.
John nodded, "You know that you'd be lucky not to get poisoned the way you planned to make that stuff." He thought for a minute then remembered seeing extra trash bags. "Alright we need to get that trash can washed out real good. We'll put the oranges and juice in the trash bag. Can ya'll get ANY yeast or sugar at all?"
Dean shrugged his shoulders, "Some, maybe."
"I can get it to work faster that way, but if not I can do without." John informed.
John, Dean and the other older man worked to get the oranges and juice in the trash bag and hidden in the clean trash can before Green ever woke up.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
Pauline, Karen and the twins headed home for Placid County on Tuesday morning. Daisy had been sent by Jesse to help his sister-in-law while John was in jail and Jeb was helping out at the farm. Daisy was excited by getting to go to Placid County for at least a week or so. Her Uncle Jesse had arranged it with Boss Hogg for her to have some time off at the Boar's Nest.
After getting to John and Pauline's farm the women got the infants settled then began to unpack the car.
Pauline asked Daisy, "Would you be a Dear and check the mailbox?"
Daisy replied, "Sure thing." then headed down the driveway to the mailbox.
Pauline was rinsing out the used bottles from the diaper bag when Carl knocked on the back door. She let her brother inside as he said, "I seen you drive up. Is John behind you?"
This was not a conversation that Pauline was ready to have with any of her family, but if she had to have it, Carl was a much better start than others in her family. Pauline replied, "No, John David is not behind me."
Carl nodded, "He said he may be in Hazzard a few days."
"I only wished that he were in Hazzard and for only a few days." Pauline said before she could think about her answer.
Carl frowned, "John's not in Hazzard and not just for a few days?" He paused then asked, "Pauline, is everything alright. I mean with you two and all?"
Pauline heard the under lying question and concern in her brother's voice. "Carl, everything between us is just fine." She saw more questions on her brother's face and held up a hand to stop him from voicing them. At the moment the last thing she wanted to do was play twenty questions. "A little over a week ago while John David was in Hazzard there was an, ... 'incident', ..." Pauline put her hand to her mouth, looked toward the ceiling and tried very hard to collect herself before she continued, "John David went to court yesterday, because of the 'incident'." Again Pauline paused, trying to will her voice not to crack. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "John David won't be home, ... for thirty days."
"Thirty DAYS?!" Carl replied totally shocked at his sisters news. "What? WHY?"
Pauline replied in her no nonsense tone, "Carl Edward, I just TOLD you." Pauline was none to happy about the circumstances and even less about having to admit them to her family.
Carl frowned. He figured he would not get a straight answer at least until John got home.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~01
Late Tuesday afternoon, Luke pulled his Torinto in at Cooter's garage. It was one of the first trips he'd made anywhere alone after getting his license back and being injuried. "She's close, but would you care to give her a once over?"
Cooter grinned widely, "Sure thing, but I know that your Uncle Jesse ain't gonna hear of you driving this weekend." Cooter had noticed his friend favoring his left side even after he managed to get out of his prized car.
Luke had already opened the refrigerator and opened a beer, "You're right about that."
Cooter scratched his head, "So, if you aren't driving, ... who is?"
Luke gave Cooter a look, took a large drink of beer then replied flatly, "Bo."
Cooter let out a loud long whistle.
Luke threw up his hand and asked, "What choice do I have?"
Cooter held up his hand in understanding, "I hear ya, but, ... Man!" He knew exactly how much effort his buddy had put into making this heap of junk a race car, only to almost get it together and have to turn it over to his younger cousin. Cooter stepped to the front of the car and popped the hood. He took one look at the familiar engine, lower the hood a bit to see his friend, "You know that you might just be creating a monster by putting Bo in this here thing."
Luke knew Cooter's line of thinking, and he agreed, but again he knew he had only two choices; Bo drive which meant anything from a possible totaled out mess, to the first Duke win on an official track. Their first win should have come a couple weeks ago, but with Bo's arm still in a cast then, and Luke's broken ribs no one had been able to enter the race. Their only other option was not to enter and let someone else take the win and the prize money. Considering that there was a possibility of making ten times the entry fee if they won, Luke was at least willing to let Bo try his luck on the track in his car since there was no way Jesse would let him even attempt to race. Luke replied solemnly, "Yeah, I know."
Cooter turned back to the engine of the car, "Well, alright then, hand me that timing light."
Luke grimaced as he reached behind him for the timing light. He frowned, then opted to get up, turn around and pick up the light weight timing light. Luke was not one who liked to be hurt or sick, and if he was hurt or sick he did not like giving into the aliment. Luke, as well as Cooter, knew that Bo was far more experienced in driving a powerful vehicle at fast speeds than was Bo and Luke's slightly younger cousin Jeb. It had only taken one trip back from town with Rosco behind them for Luke to know that Jeb had never even thought about out running a Sheriff in a car before.
After awhile Cooter had given his stamp of approval on Luke's car and suggested, "Say how about we test him out on the way to the Boar's Nest?"
"Sure thing." Luke said as he went to stand up. He managed to some how move the wrong way and a pain shot through his left side causing him to grimace.
Cooter may have been crazy, but he was not dumb. He saw that his buddy was still in a considerable amount of pain and this wasn't the first time he'd seen him hurting today. "On second thought, how about I take him out and blow out the cobwebs, then we can go grab a beer, meanwhile help yourself to another in the frig."
Luke started to object, but Cooter seen it coming, "Look, one hop over a tree stump and you'll be hearing Doc and Uncle, Mister Jesse for weeks."
Luke wasn't happy about it, but knew Cooter was right. He replied as he headed for another beer, "Keys are in it."
Cooter had managed to head the car out of town at a reasonable rate of speed. He headed to a large open field where he could cut the car loose and let it run.
By the time Luke had finished another beer, pumped two tanks of gas for customers hoping that Cooter was still open, he could hear his car in the distance.
Cooter pulled back up to the garage and back into the bay.
Luke frowned, thinking that Cooter had found something wrong. "What is it?"
"Only a minor thing. I know up until now you've only raced this thing up at the lake and around here." Cooter stated.
Luke nodded, 'yes'.
Cooter got out, closed the car door and picked up a booklet off the work bench. "These here my friend are the official specs on what a car or bike can and can not have to be legal this weekend in Placid."
"How?" Luke asked.
"Oh, lets say that I know a guy, who knows somebody, who, ..." Cooter began.
Luke nodded, "I get the picture."
"Yeah, well, anyway. Let me direct you to, ..." Cooter began flipping pages and finally handed the booklet to Luke, "Page 5 number 10."
Luke read where he was directed. Flipped back a few pages to make sure that the rule applied to the division that his car would be in. It did. He looked at Cooter, "So what are you waiting for?"
Cooter grinned widely, "You, to ask that, my friend." He picked up his welding helmet then went to the torches.
01~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~01
After Cooter and Luke removed the glass from the doors and got them welded shut, they headed off for a well earned beer at the Boar's Nest. They parked both the Torinto and wrecker side by side out front and entered the quiet bar ahead of workers that should be getting off at the factory anytime now.
Just as Luke opened the door to the bar, Cooter heard a familiar car pulling up. He knew every car in town by the sound even before he turned to confirm it. Sure enough it was Beverly Hibbs that had pulled in right beside his wrecker. Cooter hadn't seen much of her since the night at the lake with the other couples so in his mind things were beginning to look up if she came all the way here to find him. "Umm, Buddy Row, take this and have a beer on me and get me one too. I'll be in directly." Cooter grinned widely and headed back toward the parking lot but not before shoving a five dollar bill in Luke's hand.
Luke shook his head at his buddy, looked at the five and shrugged his shoulders. "Why not?" He said to himself as he went in and took a seat at the empty bar.
"What can I do for you Sugar?" Jane asked with a smile.
Luke layed the five on the bar, "I'll have a beer and Cooter wants one, but you may want to hold up on his a few minutes."
"Comin' up." Jane said as she rung up one beer and handed Luke the change just as Charlie the bartender placed Luke's beer on the bar.
While outside Cooter met Beverly before she could even get out of her car, "Hey there, Darlin." He said cheerfully.
Beverly looked up from the driver's seat. She hadn't planned on Cooter meeting her outside but it may work out better this way. She tried to put on a smile as she said, "Cooter I really need to talk to you."
"Well, sure, come on. We'll go inside and order a beer and have us a nice talk." Cooter suggested light heartiedly.
"I was actually thinking that maybe we could head up to the lake and have us a private conversation." Beverly suggested.
A private conversation and at the lake too! What more could a man want. "Sure thing. I'll just put the keys in the wrecker in case Dad or Luke need him. I'm sure they both be here a spell." Cooter put the keys in the wrecker in the usual place and went around to get into Beverly's car. She back out and headed toward the lake trying not to think about what she needed to talk to Cooter about.
Thanks Again! Please review! Thanks for the reviews of this chapter and pointing out I had Daisy in 2 counties at same time. I am reposting the correction.