Community

Witness for the PERSECUTION

romance 

Osage Road Gang!

Friday morning had the Dukes and the Davenports up and moving early. With Luke and Dixie out of town working, Cooter was about to get some extra help at the garage, better known as Hazzard Central. With the Post Office and Courthouse in plain view, what better location to watch and listen from. Bo, BL, Cooter and even Daisy were all at the garage before most people in town started to stir. Sadie was curled up by the desk snoozing. By 9am the town was a hive of activity, with people going about their business. Bo wiped his hands as he straightened from under the car, he and Cooter were working on,  “Think I’ll go over to the post office and get my PO mail, want me to get the garage mail too?” Bo said.  “Yeah, that’d be great Bo, Mr. Hawthorne is coming to pick up his car”.  —----------------------------- Bo jogged across the street, taking out his wallet as he went in the post office door. Miz Tisdale was covering BL. Dixie had thought it best, if she didn’t work today inlight of the mail fraud accusation.  “Morning Bo” Miz Tisdale greeted ”How’s your Uncle Jesse?”  “Morning ma’am, Uncle Jesse’s fine. Can I get the mail for PO box 100 and the garage”,  Bo got a number then, waited for Miz Tisdale to call it showing his license when she did. Taking the mail he went back over to the garage.    At the garage Bo laid the garage's mail on the register, then thumbed through his mail. He had 5 envelopes. He opened each one and found they all contained a crisp five dollar bill.  “Anything interesting?” BL asked. Bo shook his head ‘no’ “just the expected $5 for a picture.” —------------------------ A little before noon, Luke had wrapped up the classes he had taught the new group of Smokejumpers. He filed the last of their certificates and closed the file cabinet. "I'll see ya Monday, Ryan."    Ryan gave him a surprised look, "You're not leaving me with them? Are you??"  "Afraid so. I told you that you'd regret that collar brass sometimes."  Ryan nodded. Luke had set him back on the ground when his head was in the clouds about his recent promotion. "Well, have fun and drink one for me."  Luke gave him a half smile, "I hope this weekend goes that smooth." Minutes later he had his truck in the wind heading back to Hazzard while hoping the others hadn't managed to get into too much trouble without him. He frowned at that thought and rethought  it, ... no he didn't want them to get into trouble with him, he hoped they all managed to stay out of trouble.  —----------------------------------- Just after Luke pulled in, Daisy pointed out the garage door toward the Courthouse. "Boss going in."  The others looked to see the white clad little fat man making his way up the Courthouse steps.  —-------------------------- Some time later, both Rosco and Cletus were seen going inside the Courthouse too. Then, shortly after Cletus went to the Post Office and returned to the Courthouse.   Luke motioned to Bo to go with him out of the garage toward the Courthouse. Under Boss's window, they heard....  —------------------------------------ "Are you sure there wasn't any mail in that there box?" Boss asked.  Cletus replied, "I'm sure Cousin Boss. Just like every day since I got that mailbox. No mail”.   —--------------------------- Luke and Bo exchanged looks, a lightbulb going on, Boss Hogg definitely had some scheme going that had gotten BL arrested for mail fraud. Luke motioned for Bo to follow him back over to the garage.  —--------------------------------- Sadie dropped the ball at BL’s feet, wagging her tail waiting for BL to throw it again but BL wasn’t paying attention, tuned in to what Luke was saying instead . “Bo have you gotten anything in the mail that was ‘off’? Luke asked.   Bo thought a minute before nodding ‘yes’ ”I got a letter from Tennessee, wanting to know where their bill of sale was and they didn’t seem too pleased.”   Luke thought for a minute. "Bo, did you keep those envelopes from those picture orders? I wonder if that was one of those hundred dollar bills you got."  —----------------------------  Bo frowned, "You mean they weren't from no fan club?"    Luke replied, "I don't know yet. BL could Bo have gotten any mail at his box that wasn't his?" Luke further explained his thinking so she didn't think she had done anything wrong, "I'm wondering how long his box was closed before he opened it?"    "Hmmm" BL thought "I guess it's possible but I don't recall seeing nothing when I put the mail in. Maybe something could have stuck together and I didn't notice, Cletus wanted that box but it was already taken".    "Cletus wanted that box? He asked for it specifically?" Luke asked.    Bo asked, "Was that when I rented Box 100?    "Yes to both questions" BL answered.  She added, "When Bo asked for a big box I gave him the first open one being 100. Cletus came in as Bo was leaving and asked to rent box 100. I told him it was rented so he took box 101."    Luke frowned, "Bo were those envelopes addressed to you?"    Bo was getting a sinking feeling, "Yeah, well most of 'em. Some just had P.O. Box 100 on them.”  —--------------------------- Just about then Luther Davenport, Cooter's father, backed a flatbed truck up to the garage door loaded with various boxes of parts and supplies for the garage.   “A bit later the garage CB came to life requesting the wrecker to come to Hazzard pond. It seemed Rosco had run in the pond again.  “Luke, you mind getting Rosco? I got some things here to take care of” Luther said.    Luke looked at the others, shrugging his shoulders “Sure no problem, Luther” Luke replied.  —--------------------------------- Dixie’s thunderbird turned in at the garage, just as Luke was pulling out with the wrecker Bo, BL, Daisy and Cooter, wasn’t sure they had heard and seen what just happened. —------------------------------ Chris broke the stunned silence that fell over the young folk “How come Luke knows so much about how to operate the wrecker? Chris asked.    “He’s been doing it a long time,” Cooter said.    "Y'all drove it before y'all got your license didn't you Cooter?"  Dixie asked since she had not been around at that time.     "We sure did." Cooter replied as he was helping unload the truck his father had brought in.    Dixie picked up the notebook beside the register. Nothing had been logged down, "Where did Luke go?"    Luther scolded at her question before thinking.    Dixie gave her father a look. Raised the notebook a bit and said, "I was going to log the wrecker call for you. I used to do that a lot too."  “He went to fish Rosco out of the pond," Daisy said.     "Him being in there ain't my fault this time" Bo stated proudly, gaining chuckles from everybody but Chris, who didn't get why Bo would say this with pride.  Chris thought that there was a lot of history here that he didn't know as he kept sweeping.     Dixie wrote down the wrecker's destination. She wanted to know what the others found out but with Luther there wouldn't ask. "I think I'm just gonna head out." Dixie said as she started heading to her Thunderbird.    BL asked, "Want some company?"    Dixie replied, "Keep doing what y'all are doing. I might be back out in a bit." Dixie hoped it sounded as if she were heading home as she backed out of the garage lot. True enough she was heading in the general direction of the Davenport farm at least wise until she got to the turnoff for Hazzard Pond.   BL looked over at Bo, her eyebrow cocked, he looked back no doubt remembering Dixie and Luke both being MIA the other night after they’d all met at the Boar’s Nest after work like usual. BL still hadn’t got a confession out of Dixie about her and Luke being back together but she’d bet the farm, Dixie hadn’t gone home. “I got to do something, be back shortly,” BL said, heading to her GTO. ”C’mon Sadie let's go for a ride”, BL said, Sadie sprung over the side of the car. A drive out to the Davenport farm might not confirm Dixie followed Luke but it’d confirm she didn’t go home.    When Dixie got to the turnoff for Hazzard Pond, she took the turn. About a mile later, she grinned widely as she saw Cletus' patrol car with Cletus and a very wet Rosco P. Coltrane heading back to town. Easing up the road, taking in the sight before her, Dixie  watched Luke unwinding the cables, pulling them down the hill toward the water and the patrol car about 6 feet out in the pond. The bank was steep and alone, Luke would have had to have made several trips down the hill. Dixie cut her engine and came to a  stop without Luke noticing. She walked over to the wrecker and called down to Luke, "Need any help?"    Luke laughed as he saw Dixie standing beside the wrecker ready to help him, much like she had been at age 15, though she didn't look like 15 now, hell she hadn't looked like 15 then he thought. "You wouldn't want to wade out there and hook that thing up would you?"    Dixie grinned widely, "Now I wouldn't be opposed to a swim, but wading out there to hook up wasn't what I had in mind."    Luke had figured the last part of her statement even before he asked, "Just keep giving me slack then." There wasn't any way around it. He was going to get wet, so out to the car he trudged through the water and sandy mud that made Hazzard Ponds bottom.  —--------------------- BL eased on her brakes, slowing the car as she passed the Davenport farm. As expected no Thunderbird was in sight. Not wanting Dixie to accuse her of being nosey and spying, even though she was doing exactly that, BL turned back the way she'd come, instead of taking the short way by Hazzard pond.    Getting the patrol car out of the pond, up the bank and ready to tow became the first priority. Once that was done, Luke sloshed back to the wreckers control panel wet from his thighs down.    Dixie teased, "How's the water?"  Luke replied...."Wet", giving Dixie a wicked grin, Luke tossed her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, toting her down the hill, stopping at the water's edge, he proceeded to pull Dixie off his shoulder and pretend like he was going to throw her in the water "1...2...3..."  Luke counted.   Dixie wasn't expecting to be picked up and carried to the pond! She held on tightly, "You would..."    Balladeer: Yes he would and did!    Luke had done exactly what Dixie had expected him to do by tossing her right into the pond. He promptly took off the only dry piece of clothing he had on, dropping his shirt to the ground as he kicked off his soaking wet boots and socks, then headed into the  pond.    Dixie moved to the edge of the pond and discarded her wet tennis shoes and socks, "You're gonna pay for that." Dixie said playfully.    Luke replied, "I'm scared to death."    Dixie had moved in a bit closer as she managed to cut Luke's feet out from under him, sending him totally under the waist high water for a split second.  Dixie was trying to hide the mile wide grin as Luke stood back up and moved in closer to her.    Luke was also smiling at Dixie's antics, right up until he reached out, pulled her close to him and gave her a long hungry kiss….  —---------------------- Back at the garage, a tan Rolls Royce pulled up to the garage pumps, Cooter got out of the big wrecker just as Chris started to pump gas, walking over to check the car out, it wasn’t everyday a Rolls stopped at the garage. “Howdy ma’am” Cooter greeted.  Cooter said as he gave the Rolls a good looking over, "We sure don't get many of these babies through here." He was practically drooling.    “Hello, could you tell me where I might find JD Hogg we have some business to discuss”, the well-to-do redhead woman asked handing Cooter a business card proclaiming ‘Bobbie Jo Jefferson, realtor Acme realty,Atlanta GA.’    “You should find him over at the courthouse”  —--------------------------- Chris finished pumping the gas and took the money inside asking, "What is with Cooter?"    “Cooter’s in love” BL said,grinning.    “In love, he just met the lady 5 seconds ago” Chris statd.  Chuckling, BL shook her head ‘no’, “not the woman, her car.”  —---------------------- Dixie broke the kiss”you should get back to the garage, before Dad sends out a posse or comes looking for you hisself”.    Luke nearly groaned, he didn’t relish either possibility happening but he wasn’t ready to let Dixie go and go back to town either.   “I’m goIng to run home and change into dry clothes, then I’ll come to the garage,” Dixie said.    “Ok” Luke said, pulling Dixie to him for another kiss. Letting Dixie go, both putting their socks and  shoes back on, went their separate ways, Luke buttoning his shirt as he walked up the hill to the wrecker.    Dixie was still pretty wet to get into her car with her wet clothes on. "Luke, is there anything to cover my seat in there that they won't miss til I can get it back on the truck?"    Luke replied as he opened a side compartment, "There's a couple of tarps back here." He covered the wrecker seat, then the driver's seat of the Thunderbird.    "So, do you think we can get away with going to the dance together?" Luke asked.    Dixie replied, "I was really thinking that you might not ask."    Luke brushed her wet hair back, "Well, I hadn't asked anyone else either."    Dixie shook her head, "It's not the same. I kind of miss the evil looks I used to get walking into the Boars Nest with you."    Luke said, stepping in closer, "We've been to the Boars Nest about every evening since you came back."    "Again, not the same thing Luke."Dixie replied as she looked up at Luke.    Luke eventually broke away from her. "Dix if you don't head out now...." The remainder of his thoughts were left unsaid.    "I already really need another dip in the pond." Luke added.    Dixie managed to give Luke a very innocent look with just a slight mischievous grin, "Sorry. I'm going."  Luke watched her walk back to her car and waited for her to pull out. He let out a groan, gave the cool water of the pond another wishful look, then headed back to the garage.  —------------------------  Dixie made it to the Davenport farm, tucked the tarp in her trunk then hurried inside, upstairs she grabbed another pair of jeans, underwear, socks and shoes. She hurriedly peeled off all her wet clothes, dropping them all in a heap on the floor, then ran a dry  towel over herself and through her hair, quickly dressed, then headed back to town. With the windows down and moonroof open she hoped her hair was dry by the time she got back out of the car at the garage.  —--------------------- Luke backed the wrecker up to the garage bay, getting out and going to the controls, letting the patrol car down and unhooking it “How’d you get so wet Luke?” Cooter asked. “I had to fish Rosco’s car out of the pond,” Luke replied. —-------------------- Dixie’s thunderbird came whizzing into the lot, BL raised her eyebrows when Dixie got out wearing different clothes than when she’d gone home, her hair was wet too. “What’d you change clothes for Dix”    “Took a shower when I got home, the jail was HOT today” Dixie replied without giving it much thought.    BL thought to herself something was hot besides the jail.  —----------------------------- "A shower doesn't seem like a bad idea about now." Luke said as he came back in the garage after unhooking the patrol car and then moving the wrecker back outside. "Say, Cooter, does that old shower in back still work?"    Cooter replied, "As far as I know. But it hasn't been used in ages."    Luke said. "Well I think I'll give it a shot." He headed out the front of the station, walking away from the shower in question.   The others watched him walk outside, then looked at each other. Noone had any idea what he was up to.    Luke walked to his truck, grabbed a small duffle bag, then headed toward the shower. A couple minutes later the old pipes of the garage complained as water ran through them once again. In no time flat Luke returned.     In no time flat, Luke returned freshly showered, shaved and dressed in dry clothes. He even had on different dry boots.   Mainly what Dixie noticed was that he also smelled wonderful.    Bo and Cooter nodded to each other in approval.  Bo asked, "Are you prepared for every situation?"    "I try to be, but I wasn't expecting to need to change here. I keep a bag in the truck in case I get toned out or wet." Luke said.  —------------------------- Just as Luke was heading back to the garage from putting his duffle back in his truck, Clyde pulled into the lot. "Hey Daddy, what are you doing here"? BL asked.    "I came to see if your Uncle wanted to join me at the Boar's Nest for a beer."    Luther had joined the group "I don't think I better Clyde, still too much to do here, thanks anyway" Luther replied.    "Go ahead Dad, we got things covered here." Cooter said.  —------------------- "Thanks son," Luther said. The Davenport brothers got in their trucks and headed out.    Once the older men had left Dixie asked "did we miss anything while we were gone?"    BL told them about the Rolls royce.    "It was a realtor looking for Boss, said they had business to discuss," Cooter added.“    Once everyone was caught up on most of the day's happenings, Cooter said, "So they have all left over there for the day. Are ya'll ready for a cold one?"    Bo was the first to accept. "Sure sounds good to me." He said, wiping his hands on a shop rag.    Luke replied, "I could do that. Ladies?"  "If I'm gonna have anything ready to wear tomorrow night. I need to get sewing." Dixie stated.    “Come on Dix, just one beer won’t hurt, I got sewing to do too,” BL gave Dixie her best puppy dog eyes.    “Alright, just one beer,” Dixie agreed.    Soon the garage was locked up tight and the group of young folk were on their way for a much needed beer.  —------------------------------ The Dukes and Davenports pulled into the Boars Nest five wide, parking by Daisy's Roadrunner. They walked into the bar in a group and were glad to see it had not begun to fill up yet. There was Luther, Clyde and a few other older men there. Being that it was payday weekend, the place was bound to fill up soon. Luke motioned for Daisy to bring them all a beer. When Daisy brought the beers over, Cooter asked, "So where is everyone? We figured getting a table would be hard."    "They'll be along. Maybe they went to clean up first."Daisy  replied.    Before Bo could reply that most of those guys never cleaned up, a very fancy old lady walked in and stopped at the bar. After speaking to Charlie the bartender, she made a beeline for the entrance of Boss Hoggs office. She didn't bother knocking as she let herself into the office and closed the door with a loud thump.    Uncle Jesse came in just after the woman went into Boss Hogg’s office, speaking to a few of the older farmers. Then spotting Luther and Clyde, he went over saying “Howdy Luther, howdy Clyde, haven’t seen you in a coon’s age.  “Cabinet shop’s been busy Jesse” Clyde said. —-------------------------- In Boss Hogg’s office, things were a little unnerving, Boss Hogg’s fancy lady visitor was Camilla Raines, the ex-wife of a mobster down in Savannah.    “Mind telling me why I got these, instead of a deed of ownership certificate on a spacious vacation home lot, like the ad in the paper said” Camilla slapped a stack of pictures of Bo with General Lee on Boss Hogg’s desk.    “I..I…have no idea” Boss stammered, confused.    Camilla raised her voice a bit, "I am getting my Ex-husband's money fair and square which wasn't an easy thing. I'm sure he wouldn't want me ripped off. I made a down payment on a vacation home and land and that's what I'm going to get, right Tubby?"    Boss Hogg stammered, "Right."  "Good." Camilla tossed a card with her address on it. "I'll be waiting, but I won't wait long for my certificate." With that she was gone leaving Boss Hogg a chance to see the stack of pictures of Bo Duke and General Lee.  Boss nearly turned 3 shades of purple. Boss Hogg grumbled. —------------------ The Boar’s Nest, not being too busy yet with people spending their paychecks, made it possible for everyone sitting close to Boss’s office to hear what Camilla had said, when she raised her voice.    “So that’s what he’s upto” Luke said to noone in particular at the table.  —------------------------ Boss Hogg got on the CB radio, "Rosco! Rosco! you best be walking through my office door pronto!"    Rosco had been out at speed trap number 2 all day and hadn't had so much as a nibble. "I'll be there in two shakes of a little lamb's tail.”  —-------------------------- Five minutes later Rosco came hurrying through the outside door to Boss Hogg’s office ”what’s up Boss? I got here as fast as I could” Rosco said.    Boss took a puff on his cigar “Rosco I want you to watch them Duke and Davenport kids” Boss said.    “All of ‘em?” Rosco asked.    “All of ‘em!” Boss replied.    Rosco counted on his fingers then said “but Boss there’s 6 of ‘em”.    "Well, Rosco, you can count. I'd bet your salary that they are all 6 right on the other side of that there wall. They are up to no good, especially that Bo Duke." Boss declared.    Rosco opened the door, quickly counted and closed the door. "How did you know that they were all here Boss?" Rosco asked.  —------------------------ A slow song began to play on the jukebox, forgetting that Luther was at the Boars Nest too, Luke stood, holding his hand out to  Dixie “want to dance?”    “Would love to,” Dixie said, taking Luke by the hand, moving out onto the dance floor.  —------------------ Jesse had taken a seat with Clyde and Luther. He and Clyde were studying a chess board between them. Luther was watching the game as the three carried on a normal conversation about crops, cabinets, garages and such.   Jesse said, "Luke said, you asked him to give one of the kids a ride in the wrecker the other day. How did that go?"    "Danged fool kid didn't even know what a clutch was when he was asked to move the wrecker."  —--------------------- Clyde spoke up, "Yeah, I heard that Dixie showed him up."    "That's not funny Clyde." Luther warned.    Clyde laughed a little, "It is where I sit. Why don't you want the   girl to learn your trucks Luther? She works at Tri-County, I think she can handle herself."    "Her mother would have a fit if I let her run around in those trucks." Luther said.     Clyde replied, "You and Cooter can't do it all, for forever."    "I know that Clyde, that's why I wanted a trainable kid to teach. Hell, I've even kicked the idea around about maybe talking to Luke. I swear I can't get past the fact that in some situations he handled that wrecker better than me or Cooter." Luther stated truthfully, then he glanced up from his beer and saw his baby girl wrapped tightly in the same Luke Duke's arms. "Then, I see something like that and it makes my blood boil."    Clyde and Jesse turned to see what Luther was seeing.    “I see your point brother, would probably feel the same way if it was my little girl” Clyde said.    “But don’t you think it’s time to let that part of the past go?  Dixie has apparently. You said so yourself, that Luke handled the wrecker better than you or Cooter at times. I think you should talk to Luke, in my opinion,” Clyde counseled his older brother.  —--------------------- When Luke and Dixie came back to the table, BL looked at her watch  “Dix if we don’t want to be sewing all night we better go.” BL said. The group said their goodbyes and the Davenport girls headed out."I’m gonna take Sadie home and get my stuff, I’ll come on over then”, BL said.    “Ok, see you in a bit”, Dixie replied.     Finishing their beers the guys headed out a few minutes later.  —---------------------------- “Huh?...Oh..yeah, I’m on it Boss”, Rosco said, opening the office door leading out into the Boars Nest. Closing it again Rosco said, “they ain’t out there nomore Boss.”  Boss Hogg grumbled, "Not there? What do you mean not there?"    Rosco explained, "Gone. Disappeared,Blip. The only one still here is Daisy."    Boss Hogg exclaimed, "Then you find Bo Duke and follow him!" Rosco headed out the door quickly.  —-------------------------- At the Davenport farm, BL and was just arriving. Dixie had insisted BL get her stuff and the two were going to have a sewing marathon that night until they were done. After carrying in her stuff, BL declared, "First things first. Cousin! I have got to go pee. That beer went right through me tonight." BL said, heading for the bathroom.     Dixie teased, "Well, you know where it is, just take the time off from sewing your dress."  BL saw the clothes Dixie had been wearing when she stopped at the garage right after work, on her bedroom floor in a heap on her way to the bathroom. “Since when did you  start leaving clothes on your floor,instead of putting them in the hamper?"BL asked, nudging them with her bare foot. "How'd these get soaking wet?"  —--------------------- Dixie cursed to herself but replied innocently, "I figured I could save time by showering in my clothes. Wash me and them at the same time."    BL couldn’t help it, she giggled at Dixie's reply "Funny, now how about the truth this time. You know I won't tell anybody anything,  I’ve never told on you before,we used to tell each other everything" BL said.    Dixie considered BL's plea. It wasn't like she was 15 anymore. "Alright, but you have to contain yourself." Dixie stressed. BL tried to contain her excitement but was about to burst. "I rode by the pond earlier to see if Luke needed a hand getting Rosco out of the pond."  BL added, "Rosco is gone when you get there right?"  "Right. I helped with the wrecker controls. We got the car loaded and then one thing led to another. Then Luke tossed me in the pond."    "So ya'll went skinny dippin'?" BL agged Dixie on.   "No, we were both fully clothed for the most part." Dixie said, remembering well the site of Luke without his shirt.  "Most part?" BL pushed her luck.     Dixie shrugged, "Luke did take his shirt off and well, after we were wet we did ditch our socks, boots and my shoes." “My lips are sealed” BL made a zipping motion over her lips. “Does this mean you and Luke are unofficially together?“  Dixie nodded ‘yes’ “sorta” “If Luther gets wind of this he’ll blow a gasket.”    Rosco wasn’t seeing much of interest, out at the Duke farm just Bo sitting at the kitchen table,putting a picture of himself with General Lee, in envelopes.  Luke had his boots drying on the porch so he had gotten out a 2nd pair that he was busy polishing.    He looked up to see Bo signing more pictures. "Are you still messing with those pictures?"    Before Bo could reply. "Let me see one of those." Luke reached for an envelope that Bo had just laid down. It was addressed to Bo Duke P.O Bo.x 100 Hazzard.. Yes, that  was Bo. "Are all these addressed the same way?"    Bo replied, "Mostly, some just put the P.O. Box address on them."  —------------------------ “Luke, come out to the barn, I want to talk to you,” Uncle Jesse said,heading to the kitchen, getting his red cap off the hook by the back door.    “Yes sir” Luke said, putting on his boots, following Jesse to the barn.  Luke had no idea why he was being called to the barn for a serious Uncle Jesse talk but he would obediently go. Inside the barn Luke leaned against a barn pole with one of his boots propped up on the pole.  Jesse Duke was a man of few words and mostly stayed out of his boys business where women were involved, but there was a lot different this time. "So I hear you've been driving the wrecker again." Jesse began and then let the conversation go to Luke to see what he would say.     "Yes, Sir. I've done a couple runs lately." Luke replied.    "Why?" Jesse asked.   Luke shrugged, "Luther asked me to show the kid the wrecker once, then there was a call today and I guess he didn't want to get wet like I did."    Jesse studied that answer, "But, why now?" Jesse asked.    Luke replied, "Beats me. Maybe it's because I haven't been around much until lately."    Jesse nodded, "Or maybe he needs the help. He and Cooter can't do it all for forever."    "That's why I drove in high school. I never would have stopped driving. That was his choice." Luke said.   "Luther has been thinking about asking you to drive for him again, especially after hiring that kid who didn't work out so good. Said the kid didn't even know what a clutch was." Jesse said.    Luke chuckled a bit "no he didn't, Dixie showed him up good." Luke said.    Jesse jumped all over the opportunity to get to the part of the conversation he was hoping the conversation turned to, "Well, now that is another thing I hoped to talk to you about. Dixie." Luke nearly kicked himself right straight in the rear end for opening this can of worms. He shifted from one foot to the other. "What about Dixie?"    Jesse asked, "How many gals have you been out with, danced with or even bought a beer for in the last 4 months?"   Luke hadn't really thought about it. "I don't know. Why?"    Jesse said, "Well, there was Sarah Jane the first night you was back in town. Then the next day there was Becky Mae, then Dixie walked in and I haven't even heard you telling Bo or Cooter none of your stories about the girls in Hot-lanta."    Luke might not have thought about it before but really couldn't deny what Jesse had said. Luke replied, "Ok."    "Now, son, you know I try to stay out of such things but do you see starting things up again with Luther's daughter when he is just coming around to consider letting you drive again is such a good idea."   Luke was just a might rubbed the wrong way with his Uncle's  questions. "First off, ..." Luke stopped. Walked off, took in a long deep breath, let it out and started over, "Uncle Jesse since I've been back, I've bought Dixie and everyone at the table a dozen beers. I've danced with her a handful of times. We have talked once without a cousin ten feet away, once and half the County made a big deal about it. Today I bought her a beer and everyone else at the table. A good song came on, we danced. I ran a wrecker call for Luther. She pulled in to see if I needed help. Her running the controls sure beat 15 trips up a wet slick hill. We both got the car out and hooked up. By that time I was wet to my knees. She said something cute and I threw her in the pond. That sums up our relationship." He made quotes around his last word. "As for the wrecker, I like to drive it. Really get a kick out of driving it better than Luther, like in the snow but I don't have to drive it. But, have you had this talk with Bo? It seems  from where I sit that he and BL have been playing a bit of tiddly winks themselves."  —---------------------- Uncle Jesse took in what Luke said, "You threw Dixie in the pond?  Son, I don't know how you do it! You threw that gal in the pond and she's still speaking to you?" Jesse tried hard to hide his grin.   Luke gave his Uncle a full grin when he replied, "She's going to the dance with me tomorrow night."   "Well that maybe, but I'd still think twice about rubbing Luther the wrong way over her." Jesse said.   "I hear you. Believe me I do. I've tried to be friends, friendly.  I've tried to tell myself it's a bad idea. I've tried to lay low.  Uncle Jesse, did you ever have a girl get at you that way?" Luke asked.    Jesse replied, " Yep, .... once, ... Only once. I married her."    Luke studied his words as he watched Jesse walk away. "Hey, I asked once!"    —----------------------- At the Davenport farm, the sewing marathon was going slow “Dang  it!, I did it again, Dixie fussed.    “Did what? BL asked.    “Broke a needle, it’s the third one in 2  hours.” Dixie said. She didn’t like to sew much anyway but hated to have a deadline.    BL didn’t mind sewing but hated to feel rushed by a deadline. All was quiet and going as well as could be expected for the Davenport girls,when a ruckus in the chicken  house startled them.  “What in the world? BL declared looking at the seam/mess she’d just sewn.    “I don’t know,” Dixie said, looking out the window but not in time to see Cleatus, who Rosco had sent to watch the 3 Davenport cousins, one of his rare moments of true smarts.   “Must have just been a varmint, that’s moved on now” Dixie shrugged.    The peace returned until about 45 minutes later, when the dog began barking, sighing Dixie put down her sewing, going to the window “hush up Bandit!”    No sooner than Dixie had sat back down and started sewing. Bandit started barking again, Dixie rose again to tell Bandit to hush. Seeing something or someone in the light from the full moon, scurrying across the yard, sent a shiver up Dixie’s spine. “BL get Cooter and Dad, there’s someone out there.”     BL put down her own sewing, heading to alert the 2 men, a knot of fear in the pit of her stomach.  Waking her cousin and uncle,telling them what Dixie had seen, she then went back to Dixie “I told ‘em, they’re going to check it out.“ BL said  —--------------------- Cooter and Luther crept out the back door, Luther with shotgun in hand saw the dark figure Dixie had seen in the moonlight, pointing it out to Cooter, raising the shotgun in the air, Luther fired both barrels ‘BOOM’.    “Ahh, don’t shoot” Cletus called through the dark.    “Cletus!” Cooter and Luther said at the same time.    Cletus thought real fast, "Yeah it's me! Cletus!!" He knew that the Davenports were just a might crazy and seeing two of them with shotguns was not a comforting feeling.    Luther pointed the barrel of the shotgun downward after reloading, he said, "What in tarnation are you doing creeping around MY property at this hour. You scared the girls, the dog and all the barnyard critters, not to mention nearly getting a first class ticket to the pearly gates".    Cletus knew he was in deep with Boss Hogg but was right worried about his hide, "Rosco made me come out here.”    “Why? We ain’t done nothing” Cooter said.    “Alls I know is Rosco said that Boss said for him to watch Bo,  Luke, Daisy and you, Dixie and BL.” Cletus answered.    Luther frowned into the darkness “something sounds fishy to me” Luther grumbled.  Cooter fussed, " The only thing fishy here was the cat's dinner.WE, He pointed to his father, "were in bed and them girls have themselves wrapped up in about a half a dozen yards of material up there, so you can go back and report that we are just fine out here."    Cletus was about to say he'd been told to stay there all night, but another look at the Davenport men changed his mind. Luther thundered the butt of his shotgun into the ground and growled, "Git!"    That was enough to put Cletus into 'git' mood as he began making his way back to his patrol car.  ^^^^^^^^^^^  

So, the USA and England go through to the next round. The USA now play the Netherlands on Saturday, and England play Senegal on Sunday.