Sorry for the delay in posting. My computer convinced me to restore it back to out of the box settings which was a really bad idea. I've spent the past week or so trying to get it updated and the needed programs back on it! I hope you enjoy and the next chapter shouldn't take nearly as long to get done.

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Chapter 83

Cooter had changed the water pump on the car that had come into the shop while he was talking to Wayne about a job. He had also done three brake jobs, two oil changes, a tune up, fixed a flat and rotated the car's tires before he'd had time to look up.

Wayne came back in from pumping a tank of gasoline and saw Cooter with a sandwich in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. "Have you got to the brake job on that Ford over there yet?"

"Yes, Sir. That was done about nine this morning." Cooter replied.

Wayne smiled. "I'll call Mr. Thompson now."

"What else do you have waiting?" Cooter asked as he took the last bite of his sandwich.

Wayne looked around at the cars on his lot. The young man had gotten him caught up with all the routine jobs that were there. He looked over at the old Chevy pickup truck that Mr. Wilson used on his farm to pull his cattle haulers. "Well, there is Mr. Wilson's Chevy there. It keeps breaking the belts going to the water pump and causes it to over heat. I'm pretty sure that it's the harmonic balancer but I've been putting off getting into it because I don't have a wheel puller."

Cooter gave Wayne his award winning smile, "Hold on just a second." He walked out to the trunk of his car and got out one of the tool boxes that had some of his specialty tools in them. Cooter popped the lid open and reached in, "You mean one of these things?"

Wayne seen the wheel puller in Cooter's hand, and beyond Cooter's hand still in the tool box were several other tools that Wayne had been putting off purchasing for himself. Just what he could see was a couple different torque wrenches, a case containing a mic meter, a set of allen wrenches, a tap and dye set among the other tools that were in the tool box. Wayne knew that just what he saw in the young man's tool box would cost a pretty penny. "Yes, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Well, it looks like Mr. Wilson will be able to get his cattle up to Nashville for the State Fair next month after all."

"Well, I'll do my best to make sure them there cows get to go to the fair." Cooter replied as he went to get the truck into the garage bay.

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Out front of the hospital it was clear that neither Luke with his taped ribs or Jeb with his casted arm and shoulder would be able to ride in the back seat of either vehicle. Pauline got in the back with the twins so that Jeb could have the front passenger seat in his mother's car. Daisy and Karen both took the back seat of Luke's car so that Luke could have the passenger side of his car.

The Dukes had barely left Atlanta's limits when Jeb and Luke drifted off into a medication induced sleep. Pauline looked at her son with concern, "Jesse, I've never known that boy of mine to fall asleep in the middle of the day since he was a baby and he didn't do that on a real regular basis then either. He was always too afraid of missing something."

Jesse looked from Jeb to his mother, "Pauline those shots that Doctor Greenwood ordered them were likely to make them rest for most of the night."

Pauline nodded. "I really hadn't thought much about that Jesse. I'm sure you are right. I just don't know what could have gotten into that boy to make him think that he could race a motorcycle. As far as I know he's never even been around them."

Jesse thought back to a conversation that he and Jeb had earlier in the summer that he had fully intended to continue with the young man, but with so much going on Jesse had put it on a back burner. Now it seemed like it had sit there on the back burner a bit too long. "Pauline are you sure about that?"

"What? Yes, I'm sure that all Jeb's friends are good boys. None of them wear those horrible leather jackets or would even think about having one of those awful tattoos." Pauline tried to assure Jesse.

Jesse resisted shaking his head at Pauline's generalization about everyone that road a motorcycle. He also debated telling Pauline that Jeb had been racing motorcycles before this incident but decided to talk to Jeb first before leaving tomorrow.

In the Ford that followed behind, Luke wasn't the only Duke cousin to have fallen asleep. Karen's eyes had been getting heavy every since they left the hospital. She had tried to keep up her end of the conversation while just wanting to get home and be able to take a nice bubble bath and sleep in her own bed.

Daisy said, "Won't it be great to have all us cousins together tonight? We can stay up late and talk. Maybe there will be a scary movie on or we could head out to the barn, ..."

Bo had already noticed that Luke had drifted off several minutes ago. When Karen offered no reply to Daisy's suggestions, Bo checked his rear view mirror to see Karen's eyes also closed. "Daisy, I don't see much of that happening if these two can't make it back to Placid without falling asleep, besides the night air is what made Luke worse."

Daisy frowned a bit, "Yeah, but there has got to be something we can do together."

Bo nodded, "Yeah, we'll think of something."

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Cooter looked up from the old Chevy pickup after he'd gotten the belt back on. "Well, here goes nothing."

Wayne looked up as Cooter went around to the drivers seat and started the pickup. Wayne couldn't believe that the young man had not only gotten the vehicle torn down before quitting time but now had the truck running.

Cooter wiped his hands as he let the truck run and grabbed a cup of coffee.

Wayne said, "Son, I want you to know that for a first day on the job, you've really impressed me."

It was at that exact moment that a lady with four kids pulled into the garage. The vehicle that she drove was missing, bucking and couching. The lady looked totally distressed, "Can you Gentlemen help me? All of a sudden this thing started sounding 'funny'."

Wayne looked at Cooter, who replied, "I'll take a look Ma'am." All it took was for him to lift the hood to see and know that her spark plug wires had seen better days. Cooter said, "Well, Ma'am I think you just need some new spark plug wires and if the plugs haven't been changed in awhile it may be a good idea to change them too."

The lady got her four children out of the vehicle and went with Wayne to talk about repairs verses money and time. When they came out of the office Wayne advised Cooter to change the wires and clean the plugs that were in it unless they were really bad.

Cooter found a set of wires that would work on that particular vehicle and started changing out the wires and cleaning the spark plugs as he went. When he was done, Cooter went to the driver's seat and started the vehicle. It sounded much better than when the lady brought it into the garage. "There you are Ma'am. If I were you I'd bring it back into a garage in two weeks or a month and have those plugs changed. It will be worth the cost to you on the gas mileage you'll save. I cleaned them and re-gapped them as best I could to get you home today."

The lady smiled, "Thanks so much. I was on my way to my sisters and my husband didn't come with me this trip. I'll be sure to let him know that the spark plugs need changed as soon as possible." She paid Wayne and was off on her way.

Cooter wiped his hands as his eyes went to the clock on the wall. It was already nearing seven o'clock and Wayne didn't seem like he was leaving anytime soon.

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Mr. Hibbs saw as he pulled up his driveway that his Dodge that Beverly had taken to her friends was not at home. He frowned wondering where her mother had let her go after she had been gone since Saturday morning. The thought that his daughter had not returned home during the day did not enter the man's mind. He picked up the newspaper from the porch as he went inside the house. "I'm home Dear."

"In here." Mrs. Hibbs said from where she was putting dinner on the table.

Mr. Hibbs gave his wife of twenty years a light peck on the cheek and took his place at the table. He opened the paper to read the headlines as Mrs. Hibbs poured his coffee then hers. After glancing at the headlines, Mr. Hibbs took a sip of coffee and only now realized the table was set for two instead of three. "So what was Beverly's reason for not being home last night and where did you let her go after being gone all weekend?"

Mrs. Hibbs had hoped to have gotten dinner finished before Beverly came up in conversation. "Well, Honey, I actually almost went looking for her earlier, but I'd already started dinner. I called Jenny earlier and she said that Beverly had stayed with her both Saturday and Sunday night and had left just prior to my calling. Now, I actually figured that Beverly may have still been there and would leave after I called. When I realized she'd had plenty of time to get here I'd already started dinner. I don't know if she's had car trouble or what."

Mr. Hibbs at this point was more aggravated at his daughter for being irresponsible and worrying her mother than concerned for her safety. "The road to Jenny's is well traveled, so if she were broke down I'm sure we would have gotten a call by now. Let's finish dinner then I'll go see if I can find her."

Mrs. Hibbs didn't have to hear what her husband was thinking to know that if Beverly was still at Jenny's she was sure to be in a lot of trouble when she got home.

Dinner began and ended without Beverly arriving home. Mr. Hibbs finished his coffee, wiped his mouth on his napkin and slowly slide his chair back from the table. He said as he stood up. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

Mrs. Hibbs saw in her husband's face that driving to Placid County was not what he'd planned on doing when he got home from work today.

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The Dukes pulled up to Pauline and John's home in Placid, Jesse looked over at Jeb who was still asleep as he stopped the car. As Bo pulled in behind his Uncle, he said, "Luke. Hey Luke, we're here."

Luke never even stirred which was more than unusual. He always heard Bo no matter how deeply he was sleeping.

Karen had managed to wake up as soon as the car came to a stop.

Bo got out of the car and flipped his seat forward for Daisy and Karen to get out of the backseat. Still Luke never so much as noticed the car had stopped.

Daisy and Karen went to help get the twins inside. At this point all Karen wanted to do was get in a nice hot bubble bath in the privacy of her home's bathroom without five other girls being in the same room just outside the shower.

Jesse had gotten Jeb awake, barely and was helping him get out of the car after such a long ride while being in a medicated slumber. Jeb was now not only sore but stiff from riding in one position all the way home from the hospital.

Bo had gone around to Luke's side of the Torinto and finally got him out of the car and moving toward the house.

Once inside Pauline had started issuing 'orders' to the girls about helping get something together for such a late supper.

Jesse asked Jeb and Luke if they were going to stay in the living room or did they want to head on toward the bedroom since they were both a bit unsteady due to the medication.

Luke looked at Jeb who was looking at him before answering his Uncle. It was not in either boys nature to give into being sick or hurt, but as much as they both would have liked to have stayed in the living room with their cousins, both knew it wasn't an option tonight. Luke finally voiced what he knew Jeb was thinking, he said simply, "Bedroom."

That caught Bo, Daisy and Karen's attention. As the three turned to toward Luke they also seen Jeb agreeing with him by nodding his head 'yes'.

Jeb added, "Ya'll can come in there with us. I ain't planning to go to sleep or nothing but whatever Doc gave me is kicking me in the tail."

Now it was Luke's turn to agree, "Me too."

With Luke and Jeb settled in Jeb's room, Jesse went back to the kitchen to see what he could do to help with a very late supper. Pauline had a very unhappy looking Karen helping out with dinner as Daisy and Bo had been delegated to feed the twins. Jesse knew both from experience, as well as dealing with Luke when he'd gotten home from jail that Karen was likely wanting to grab a shower before eating. "Karen, Honey, I've got this now that the boys are settled if there is anything you'd like to do before dinner." Jesse promptly gave Pauline 'a look' before she could say anything.

Karen replied eagerly, "I'd really like a bath before I eat."

Jesse replied, "Run along and take your time." From what Jesse seen being prepared it would keep or be just as good a bit cold. "We'll hold your dinner for when you are ready to eat."

Pauline's eyes got wide. It was unheard of in both hers and Jesse's homes to be late for a meal.

Jesse gave Pauline another look that assured her that he'd explain later.

Karen was surprised to say the least that she had been given permission by her Uncle to be late for dinner and he'd also stopped her mother from over ruling him. "Thanks Uncle Jesse, I shouldn't be long." Karen said and meant what she said, when she said it.

Jesse Duke knew that his niece once in the privacy of the bathroom was likely to get wrapped up in enjoying the peace and solitude one had in their own bathroom.

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NARRATOR: "Speaking of peace and solitude, ... there is one young bride who has had far too much today."

Beverly stood looking out the window across the motel parking lot watching for Cooter. Part of her was concerned her father had found him and done 'something' to her new husband, while the more reasonable side of her merely worried that Cooter had gotten hurt at work and no one knew about her or maybe he'd had second thoughts and went back home. It was after eight o'clock and nothing that came into her mind was good or reasonable.

After Cooter finished with the plug wires on the lady's car who had the four children with her, another car came in with a flat tire needing plugged. Wayne was so happy to have efficient help and be making money on more than just gas that he couldn't help taking yet another job. The fact that his new employee was a newly married man had been missed by Wayne. It was nearly eight o'clock before Wayne turned off the pumps and put up the closed sign in the window, "It's been a good day today Cooter. I look forward to seeing you bright and early in the morning."

Cooter tried to give his boss a smile as he replied, "I'll be here." He said, though the 'early' part of the conversation along with the late hour tonight wasn't adding up to be a good combination.

Beverly had paced the room several times then returned to look out the window. She'd love to be able to call someone, anyone, but who? She didn't even remember the name of the garage that Cooter had gotten the job at. She was nearly ready to start walking toward the garage, but wasn't sure she could bare it if she found out that Cooter had never been there today and that she was all alone here in another state. Just as she was ready to flee the silence of the lonely motel room, she heard the key being placed in the door knob, then Cooter stepped inside. Beverly was overwhelmed with emotion as her husband closed out the rest of the world behind the door.

Having been at the end of her rope for several hours, Beverly broke down and flung herself at her husband, crying in relief, anger and frustration.

Cooter took his wife into his tired arms and held her as she cried though he was totally confused as to why she was crying because he was 'home'. "Bev, ... shhhh, ... what is it? Please tell me what's wrong."

Sniffing and gasping in near hysterics, Beverly sobbed as she replied, "I, ... thought you, ... wasn't coming back! That you'd left me."

Cooter frowned even more confused, "Not coming back? Left you? Why would you think something like that?"

Still sobbing, "It's so late. I was so worried and scared..." Beverly's voice trailed off.

Cooter hushed his wife as he wiped her tears away, "Honey, ... I'm so sorry. We were just busy and every time I thought I was finished Wayne found something else for me to do or another vehicle came in needing urgent repairs... Oh God, I'm sorry." He said holding his wife tighter, he could actually feel her shaking.

Beverly held on tight and cried now in relief and because she now felt very silly. "It's just, ... that I was expecting, ... you here about five or even six, ... but it's after eight o'clock she said without even looking toward a clock."

Cooter glanced at the clock and seen it was nearly eight thirty so for nearly two and a half hours his wife had let her imagination put her through he- because he was working late. For the next several minutes Cooter found himself saying things to Beverly between her sobs that he'd never planned to say to any girl, let alone to a wife, "It won't happen again. I'll talk to Wayne. I'll call you with the phone number of the station. You can even take me to work and bring the car back here."

His last words triggered something in Beverly. She looked up at her husband, sniffed back a tear and asked, "Really?" she sniffed again, "You'd really let me drive your car?"

Cooter wasn't sure where the words came from while he was still processing the question in his mind he heard his mouth reply, "Our car and yes of course you can drive it."

Beverly suddenly seemed to feel more secure than she had in nearly fourteen hours, "I'm sorry, really Honey I guess I was just being silly, but you were so late."

Cooter hushed her with a kiss, "I should have called or something. In fact I'll go get the number from the desk so I can call you and I'll see if there is any place open this late for us to get something to eat."

"I'll go with you." Beverly replied, still not ready to let Cooter out of her sight so soon.

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Mr. Hibbs had driven into town and circled the square, there was no sign of his daughter or the car she was using. He headed out of town toward Placid County and her friend's home. A few miles outside of town, Mr. Hibbs was coming up on the local honky tonk and decided to at least circle the parking lot to see if Beverly was there. He knew she had been there against his wishes at least a few times with that young man from the local garage who had to be a bit older than his Beverly. Circling the parking lot he didn't see his car, but he did see two vehicles that got his attention. The local wrecker that the young man in question normally drove and the Sheriff's car. Mr. Hibbs had forbid Beverly to be out with young man and if he found her here with him tonight it wouldn't be good for her or the young man. Steam was already building as Mr. Hibbs parked his car.

Once inside the dimly lite bar, Mr. Hibbs had to stop to let his eyes adjust to the lighting. He didn't see his daughter or the young man he figured had the wrecker. What he did see was the Sheriff at the bar drinking a cup of coffee talking with the garage owner, who likely was driving the wrecker tonight.

A waitress came up to Mr. Hibbs, "What can I get you tonight, Sugar?"

"I'm just looking for someone." Mr. Hibbs said. Just the thought of drinking anything out of a glass from this place gave him the willies.

"If you change your mind, just let me know." The young girl replied.

He nodded his thanks and proceeded over to the garage owner that he couldn't rightly remember the man's name but knew him by sight, "Excuse me, Mr. ,... ummm, ..."

"Davenport." Luther supplied his name for Mr. Hibbs, who owned and operated one of the mills outside of town.

Mr. Hibbs began, "Yes, Mr. Davenport. I'm looking for your son..."

Luther cut the man off in mid sentence. "Yeah, well, me too. So if you find him first, ..."

Beverly's father didn't let the man continue his rant, "Just how long have you been looking for him?"

Luther took a sip of his beer and replied, "He should have been home last night. I haven't seen him all day."

Mr. Hibbs asked, "I don't suppose he was supposed to have been at some sort of race over in Placid Saturday and Sunday?"

Luther frowned there was that word again 'supposed'. For some reason he wasn't liking Mr. Hibb's thought pattern, "As a matter of fact he told me he was going to Placid County this weekend." Luther was careful not to say that Cooter had went there, because for some reason he wasn't at all sure his son had done what he said he was going to do.

Mr. Hibbs turned to include the Sheriff in his side of the conversation, "Well, Sheriff I think it's time to get you involved in this."

Luther frowned again. He wasn't sure where Cooter was or what he was doing but he truly hoped that Mr. Hibbs wasn't right in whatever he was thinking.

"My daughter was supposed to go to a friends in Placid County to watch those races. She was supposed to be home late last night. She hasn't shown up yet." Mr. Hibbs then added for the dimmed witted Sheriff, "Mr. Davenport confirmed that his son was supposed to be at those races also and return last night. He also hasn't been seen today by his father."

Rosco was hearing what the man had to say, but couldn't think of much he could do about it since both the young people were over eighteen.

Before Rosco could voice his thoughts, Mr. Hibbs added, "My Beverly won't be eighteen for nearly six months."

Those words sent a quiver up Luther's spine as he wondered 'How could he be so stupid?'

"Ohh, ... ohh, ... oht, ... That's a naughty, naughty, ... Luther, Cooter knows better, ..." Rosco stopped his thoughts there, he wasn't at all sure what Cooter had done or even if he was with Mr. Hibb's daughter.

Mr. Hibbs added, "I have also forbid Beverly to see Mr. Davenport's son."

Rosco had seen things like this happen several times in his career, but thankfully hadn't seen anything like this with this generation of 'kids' until now. He reached for his notebook, "Alright, let me get the information down."

For the next hour both father's answered all Rosco's questions and then some. Rosco had both Cooter and Beverly's birth dates, the description of Cooter's car, the description of the car Beverly was driving, the phone number and directions to Beverly's friend Jenny's in Placid County, as well as anything else he deemed important. Rosco then promised to get right on it as he headed to his car with a giggle or three.