Chapter 89

Cooter was surprised to find his bride awake before him and before the alarm clock even thought about going off to wake him for work.

Beverly for some reason hadn't been able to sleep the night before but had layed awake watching her new husband sleep soundly. Now she was using all the tricks in her book to entice Cooter into a morning round of love making as she gently began rubbing her fingernails across his strong chest.

Cooter had never been a fan of waking up earlier than he had to, but his wife's efforts were quickly changing his mind as his hands began to roam her body. A couple hours and several rounds later, Cooter barely heard the alarm clock go off over the sound of his own heart beating in his head as he tried to breath.

Cooter, like the Dukes, had been known to have been with a woman or four but it had never been like it was with his bride. Even the times they had been together before they were married didn't hold a candle to what he was experiencing right now. It took ever bit of willpower that Cooter had to get out of bed and cut the clock off. He still wanted to crawl right back in bed and go again, but he knew that they needed him working and needed the money from the job so instead he headed for the shower.

It wasn't a full minute before Beverly joined her husband intent on making sure that his back was washed thoroughly. One thing soon lead to another and by the time Cooter and Beverly hurried from the shower there would be no time for either to pack Cooter a lunch.

"I can take you to work, then I'll make you a lunch and drop it before time for you to have lunch." Beverly offered as she reached for her purse.

Other than not having lunch or using money to buy a lunch, Cooter saw no other way if he wanted to be on time this morning. "Alright, Honey. Thanks. We need to get gone now though."

Cooter managed to get to the garage just as Wayne was getting out of his truck. Cooter quickly kissed Beverly and headed off to work.

Wayne couldn't help but to tease the newlywed as he came in the garage, "Cutting it a bit close this morning aren't you?"

Cooter took the teasing good naturedly, but couldn't stop the blush as he grinned widely and replied, "Believe me when I tell you that it wasn't like I overslept or anything."

Both men had a good laugh. Wayne couldn't help feeling a bit badly for the unsuspecting man as he handed him a cup of coffee, "That's good to hear. Have a cup of coffee then I reckon you can start wrestling with that engine you rebuilt to get it back into the car."

Cooter gratefully took the cup of coffee and replied, "Alright. Thanks for the coffee." Cooter took a sip of the warm liquid and even though it was mid-summer it still felt and tasted good.

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The sun was shinning brightly as Mr. Hibbs opened the drapes in his hotel room. He had been up extremely late last night getting things in order for today. With everything in place now he just needed to make the one phone call that he dreaded most, the one to his wife. Then there would be nothing to do but wait for his hand to be played out. He'd just sank a lot of his hard earned money into getting his daughter back and he wouldn't stop now.

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Other than Uncle Jesse, Bo and Daisy the only other person that had stopped by to check on Luke had been Rudy. Luke couldn't help but wonder what was up with Cooter. He not only hadn't shown up at the race in Placid County but hadn't even called to check on him. Luke and Cooter had been best of friends for as long as either could remember and it just wasn't like Cooter not to have walked across town square to check on his buddy.

Luke had managed, thanks to Doc's magic, to sleep most of the day away. He turned to check the clock and found the garage had already closed. He'd have to wait until tomorrow to call and check on Cooter himself.

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A normally easy job of picking up an engine and setting it down into a car had turned into a wrestling match from hell. Cooter didn't have the equipment that he had in Hazzard that made this job an easy task. So he was having to make due with the limited equipment that Wayne had to try to get the engine lined up the way he wanted it as he sat it down into place.

Wayne had seen Cooter having trouble getting the engine in the way he wanted so he stepped in the back room and made a phone call. As he came back into the front office he saw his new employee's car pull up out front. The young lady never even blew the horn.

Cooter had finally got the engine set down and picked up a shop rag to wipe his greasy hands up to his elbows as he walked out of the bay to his car, "Hey there Beautiful."

"Hey, yourself, ... ummm, ... handsome. It looks like you've been hard at it this morning." Beverly said noticing more grease and grim on Cooter than was normal.

"Engine was being stubborn about going back where it belonged." Cooter said.

Beverly nodded, "So it's a good thing I made you a couple extra sandwiches. I figured you worked up a bit of an appetite before you got here this morning."

Cooter grinned widely, "Yes, as a matter of fact I did. So what's for dessert?"

Beverly couldn't hold back the blush even though it was only her and Cooter in hearing distance of their conversation. "I'll just have to think of something now won't I?" She wiggled her eyebrows mischievously.

Cooter felt a stirring in his work pants and look at his watch. It was far too early in the day to be having those thoughts. "Honey I hate to run, but I really need to get back to work."

"Alright. I'll see you around five unless you call me." She kissed Cooter long and hard almost as if she felt she'd never see him again.

Cooter knew he needed to hurry, but with a kiss like that he couldn't help but to kiss Beverly back. He watched as Beverly pulled away in his car trying to get his thoughts back on the 454 quadrajet that needed his attention. Cooter readjusted his now tight work pants and went back inside. After tossing his lunch on to the workbench, Cooter began studying the engine to decide where to start hooking the engine back up.

Wayne once again slipped off to the back room and made his second phone call. He hated doing this but his business depended on it.

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Bo couldn't believe his luck as he headed Jesse's pick up off the farm. He was sure there were more fencing nails in the barn, but when he went in the barn to get them he found they were out.

Jesse had suggested he run to town and get more nails before Ruebottoms closed for the day, then he could drop in Doc's and check on Luke and would even have time to drop by the Boar's Nest for something cold before supper if he hurried. Bo was good with hurrying as he headed toward the pickup.

After getting the nails, Bo made a beeline to Doc's. He impatiently asked the receptionist about seeing Luke. After checking with Doc, she sent Bo on his way up to Luke's room.

Luke had managed to get himself calmed down from Ruby's visit a bit earlier, then had dozed off. Bo's heavy footsteps on the stairs had woken Luke from his nap caused more from boredom than anything else.

Bo seen that Luke was appearing to be waking up. Being asleep at this time of day was extremely unusual for any Dukes even if they were sick. "Luke are you alright? You weren't asleep were you?"

Luke reached for the glass of water on the bedside table before answering Bo. His mouth felt as if he'd been eating sand. After taking a large drink of the cold water, Luke replied, "Well, yeah I was asleep until you thundered up the stairs."

Bo look a bit embarrassed, "Sorry. I didn't figure you would be sleeping this time of day."

"There isn't much else to do. It's just a step up from Rosco's Iron Bar Hotel across the square." Luke said.

Before Bo could reply, Doc Appleby said from the door, "Well, I'm sure glad you rate my accommodations above the jails. But, I hope you don't make it a habit of staying either place after I get you fixed up and back home."

"Me too, Doc, me too!" Luke said in total agreement.

After nearly an hour of conversation Bo seen that Luke was obviously getting tired so he figured he had better head on out, "Luke I'm going to slide out and let you rest. Keep doing what Doc tells you to do cause our room is way to empty without ya." Bo said trying to keep much of his emotions hidden for Luke's sake.

Luke let him off the hook and tried to lighten the mood, "Drink one for me when you get to the Boar's Nest."

Bo started to reply, but Luke cut him off, "You and I both know the right waitress will hook you up even if I'm not there to cover for you. Just grab a seat near Cooter, ... say have you seen Cooter? He hasn't been over here or nothing."

"I ain't seen hide nor hair of him since we got back, Luke." Bo said, then added, "I'll do some snooping around and let you know what I find out tomorrow."

Luke frowned. He didn't want to wait until tomorrow, but it didn't look like he had much choice, "Alright. Just tell him when you see him that he could show his ugly face over here. After all he did come to see me at the jail, you'd think he could squeeze in a few minutes for me when I'm on this side of the square and all."

Bo grinned, "I'll give it to him with both barrels for you, when I see him. Call the house if you need anything." With that Bo Duke was off on his way to find their friend and cold liquid refreshments.

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Cooter was under the car trying to get the engine to line up with the transmission. It seemed like he'd adjusted the floor jack holding the engine a hundred times already. He was close, very close but it still was off. He'd just about give his eye teeth for the equipment that he had back in Hazzard. Cooter was no stranger to having to do things the hard way, that is the way he had learned at the garage in Hazzard before he and his father had sunk a bundle into making things a lot easier.

Cooter dropped the jack another notch and felt the bolt slide home. He quickly added the second one on the opposite side to hold the engine in place. Just as he had gotten the last bolt tightened up he heard cars sliding into the garage, breaks locking up, door slamming. If he didn't know any better he'd have sworn it was Rosco after Bo and Luke the way the cars pulled in, but that was ridiculous so he kept working. Cooter figured that what ever the commotion was that it didn't involve him.

Seconds later he heard feet scurrying on the cement floor toward the car he was working on. The next thing he heard was a deep voice saying, "Cooter Davenport come out from under the car, now!"

The voice offered no room for argument but Cooter hadn't done anything wrong so he slide the creeper out from under the car. He was greeted by the Sheriff and three deputies armed to the hilt.

The Sheriff had been the one to order him from under the car, now said, "Just keep your hands in sight and get up real slow."

Cooter found that he was a bit stiff from laying in one place so long fighting with the engine so real slow was the only way that he could get up.

"Now, turn around and put your hands on the trunk of the car and spread your legs out as far as you can." The Sheriff ordered.

Cooter wasn't sure if the Sheriff had watched one too many police shows on television or if he'd attended the same training as Sheriff Big Ed Little over in Chickasaw County. Cooter followed the Sheriff's instructions and only now looked up to see Wayne and the other two helpers standing wide eyed by the office door. In there eyes he saw shock, confusion, helplessness but above all he saw shame. Standing where he stood being frisked in his most private places, Cooter was sure they felt shame for him, but Cooter knew he hadn't done anything wrong.

That's when he felt the cold hard steel of the handcuffs bite into his wrists as he was efficiently cuffed behind his back.

The Sheriff began as he was turned toward the awaiting patrol car, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law..."

As they reached the patrol car, Cooter asked, "Sheriff, what are the charges?"

"We'll get to that at the station." The Sheriff said sternly.

Cooter was being placed in the patrol car when he suddenly thought, "Wayne call my wife."

Wayne's only response was, "I really wished that I could."

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Thanks for reading! It looks like ol' Cooter has really done it (whatever IT is) this time! Please review and let me know what you think of the story line.