DixieDavenport

BJ walked to the 'Office' followed by Callie, Coy, Vance and Jeb. There they met Diane and Bo. BJ asked, "Ok, I've got 2 rigs here now and more on the way where do you want me to start?" Diane informed BJ, "Well, everythign is loaded into it's own trucks. I think all you need to do is to hook up and pull out. We usually start with the bigger rides first so we can place the smaller ones round it when we get there." BJ smiled slightly. He was feeling the 'alarms' going off in his head that Daisy and the others had warned him about. "Just show me where to start." Diane lead BJ and Callie to the larger rides. The Merry-Go-Round and the Cloud 9. "I think you can get these two out and it should be a good place to start setting up in Lee County. I have several small 'kitty rides' and personal campers that are also ready. Do you care if they follow you to the fair grounds?" "Not at all. Come on Callie, let's get hooked up."BJ replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~ As for the girls all went smooth as they dropped off their current loads and picked up loads for the East Coast. As BJ suggested they had all met up before heading too far East. BJ and Callie had hauled several loads to the Lee County Fair Grounds during the past two days, when BJ's cell phone rang. BJ answered, "BJ McKay." as he looked across his truck to Daisy who was riding with him. "BJ McKay. I hope you know what you are doing! I haven't seen anything but bridges, swamp and quick sand for the last hour!" exclaimed Samantha. BJ laughed then said, "Great! So you should be here anytime now!" he again looked to Daisy, whom he could tell was listening to his every word. "Just head to Placid County Fair Grounds after you all drop your loads. I should be waiting on you. We've moved quiet a bit, we should be able to hook to one more load tonight and finish up tomorrow." A rather tired Samantha replied, "Sure. See ya there." after a pause she reminded. "Remember you owe us big time!" With a smile BJ replied, "Sure do and I intend to pay up tomorrow night AFTER this is over."

I've got to go back tothe Ghost of the General Lee but there's one scene no one has mentioned. After Jesse, Daisy and Cooter find out the boys are alive they want to go to town, Cooter says he'll take them. Jesse tells Rosco Cooter had an emergency, Daisy says, Ain't no one better in an emergency than Cooter. Then it goes to them in the tow truck. Enos is chasin them. Cooter says Want to hear the evening news? He's going to catch us. Luke tells Cooter If he does your about to get an Intimate Understanding of the phrase "Aid and Abet"! It's been awhile since I've watched it but I think my wording is pretty close. DixieDavenport

I've got to go back tothe Ghost of the General Lee but there's one scene no one has mentioned. After Jesse, Daisy and Cooter find out the boys are alive they want to go to town, Cooter says he'll take them. Jesse tells Rosco Cooter had an emergency, Daisy says, Ain't no one better in an emergency than Cooter. Then it goes to them in the tow truck. Enos is chasin them. Cooter says Want to hear the evening news? He's going to catch us. Luke tells Cooter If he does your about to get an Intimate Understanding of the phrase "Aid and Abet"! It's been awhile since I've watched it but I think my wording is pretty close. DixieDavenport

Well, Lost Sheep 3, I'm sure many other Hazzardites will agree -- If we truely expected Hazzard to run smoothly it just wouldn't be any fun!! Dixie

Well, Lost Sheep 3, I'm sure many other Hazzardites will agree -- If we truely expected Hazzard to run smoothly it just wouldn't be any fun!! Dixie

Ya'll did a Great job getting back up and running! Thanks for going the extra mile to retrieve all the RR and Stories in progress!! I think I have MOST of my stuff on my computer but there is on section I know I didn't copy back to mine AFTER it crashed!! I will do that today though. Thanks Again Dixie

Ya'll did a Great job getting back up and running! Thanks for going the extra mile to retrieve all the RR and Stories in progress!! I think I have MOST of my stuff on my computer but there is on section I know I didn't copy back to mine AFTER it crashed!! I will do that today though. Thanks Again Dixie

Great screencaps!! Dixie

Great screencaps!! Dixie

Meanwhile, in Osage County... Bo had caught up to Luke and Jeb. Luke motioned Bo to come around him so they could go back to the original 'cat and mouse' game they had been running before running into Sheriff Little. Luke keyed the CB mic and simply said, "Same as before, ....... just take it a bit slower." then he added, "AND, ..... keep .... your eyes OPEN!" Bo replied, "Got ya." To Jeb, Luke said, "Keep your eyes open too! ..... I tell ya I don't like this place ..... at all." BALLADEER: "Well, now it took the boys just over an hour to reach the other side of Osage County and I don't know who was more relieved that they had made it without any trouble ..... Them or ME!" Bo, Luke and Jeb breathed a sigh of relief when the crossed out of Osage County. Luke figured to have smooth sailing to their drop off place in Anniston, AL. Jesse had been friends with a small time tavern owner there for years. As a matter of fact he felt he was doing his patriotic duty seeing that the service men were sold quality shine at, DeFords, the most popular bar near the Army base. Being the suppliers of such top grade shine, Luke, Jeb and Bo had never had a problem finding someone to keep company with until dawn when the local law went home. Tonight, would be different for Bo, all he was interested in was getting back to Beth. As for Luke and Jeb, well, they were having a 'good' time. Jesse's friend always managed to set the three young men up with only the best rooms as a bonus for the delivery of such top grade moonshine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just after dawn, Dixie Davenport, pulled up to the Duke farm. She found it odd that the General Lee wasn't anywhere insight at this hour. Daisy and Jesse were in the kitchen as she entered. "Mornin' all. Where's the Generel Lee?" Dixie knew the guys weren't at her house or the garage. Cue Beth

Meanwhile, in Osage County... Bo had caught up to Luke and Jeb. Luke motioned Bo to come around him so they could go back to the original 'cat and mouse' game they had been running before running into Sheriff Little. Luke keyed the CB mic and simply said, "Same as before, ....... just take it a bit slower." then he added, "AND, ..... keep .... your eyes OPEN!" Bo replied, "Got ya." To Jeb, Luke said, "Keep your eyes open too! ..... I tell ya I don't like this place ..... at all." BALLADEER: "Well, now it took the boys just over an hour to reach the other side of Osage County and I don't know who was more relieved that they had made it without any trouble ..... Them or ME!" Bo, Luke and Jeb breathed a sigh of relief when the crossed out of Osage County. Luke figured to have smooth sailing to their drop off place in Anniston, AL. Jesse had been friends with a small time tavern owner there for years. As a matter of fact he felt he was doing his patriotic duty seeing that the service men were sold quality shine at, DeFords, the most popular bar near the Army base. Being the suppliers of such top grade shine, Luke, Jeb and Bo had never had a problem finding someone to keep company with until dawn when the local law went home. Tonight, would be different for Bo, all he was interested in was getting back to Beth. As for Luke and Jeb, well, they were having a 'good' time. Jesse's friend always managed to set the three young men up with only the best rooms as a bonus for the delivery of such top grade moonshine. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just after dawn, Dixie Davenport, pulled up to the Duke farm. She found it odd that the General Lee wasn't anywhere insight at this hour. Daisy and Jesse were in the kitchen as she entered. "Mornin' all. Where's the Generel Lee?" Dixie knew the guys weren't at her house or the garage. Cue Beth

Daney Thanks! Lost my head there for a second!! LOL Couldn't think!! Dixie

Daney Thanks! Lost my head there for a second!! LOL Couldn't think!! Dixie

Me too !!! I{"d like to see it once anyway -- since it is local history! Sad part is I work close enough (Behind the Courthouse at the jail) I can hear the "blanks" being fired!! Dixie

Me too !!! I{"d like to see it once anyway -- since it is local history! Sad part is I work close enough (Behind the Courthouse at the jail) I can hear the "blanks" being fired!! Dixie

After much thought on the matter and talking to Bethie88 we have decided to end this section of Going Homa Again. We hope to start a new section in the near future that will pick up shortly after this one ends. DixieDavenport

Yes, she was Luke's girlfriend in the Marines. Not sure what season. Dixie

I agree Daisy I prefer trucks but mine are in need of repair SO I'm driving my new (USED) 1997 Ford Thunderbird. Burgandy with the leather seats and moonroof. It has a 4.6 in it and will fly! The saleman THOUGHT he was hooking me with the gas prices getting ready to go when I bought it BUT the car I traded in had duck tap holding the grease in the ball joints which I had driven until they were worn out and the front end was so out of line it wore tires out in like a month but they couldn't align it becouse the used parts I put on it weren't good enough to align it (They were better than what came off it!) You ask why not put new parts in it? I paid 500 for the car drove it 18 months and hte new ball joint (control arms -- it was built togather ) would have been another 500. I was afraid to sink that kind of money in the car--it had a lot of miles on it so income tax I traded it for the T-Bird. I haven't been this hapy with a car (when I wanted a truck) since 1992 when I bought my 1992 F-150 NEW!! Dixie

I dont' remember that one either and I know most shows frontwards backwards and side ways!! LOL Dixie

A little late but HAPPY FATHER's DAY to all you guys! Dixie

I have posted pictures of DukeFest 2005 in the gallery section -- I goofed and they are spread out but they are there! DixieDavenport

BALLADEER: True the boys did know every place in Hazzard to get a car through the trouble is they are going out of the County and even State on this run! Parked in behind the Chickasaw County sign and several bushes in a green and white patrol car is none other than Sheriff 'Big' Ed Little. Bo is fast approaching in the General Lee. He flies by Sheriff Little without seeing him. Sheriff Little who had been out on routine patrol had decided to run radar while hoping to catch sight of a moonshine runner. His favorite sport was chasing and then catching a moonrunner. Since he started for the Sheriffs department before becoming Sheriff his biggest ambition was to catch Jesse Duke haulin' shine. It was nothing personal, he liked the man, but Sheriff Little had heard his family had made moonshine for over 200 years. Well, Jesse Duke wasn't running much these days from what Sheriff Little had heard. No, now he had his nephews running for him. Sheriff Little didn't even see the color of the car that had whizzed by him. He started the car, hit his lights and siren and pulled his very powerful patrol car onto the road just in time to see Bo's tail lights. Sheriff Little jumped on the gas and began to close in on Bo's bumper. Bo saw the flash of the blue lights before he heard the siren, looking up to see the cruiser pull out behind him he reached for the CB mic as his heart raced, "Lost Sheep 2 to Lost Sheep 1. I have a lot of company up here!" Luke let up off the gas as soon as he heard Bo's CB transmission. He saw Jeb reach for the mic. He said, "Let me see that I have an idea." Taking the mic Luke hurried to reply knowing Bo was not running as fast as the General could. "Lost Sheep 2 Take the left fork of the road just ahead of you. Find a wide spot and pull over. Make sure Little sees you pull over!" Tonight Luke had put Bo out front to run just far enough ahead of him that if the law was out he hoped they would jump on Bo's tail for speeding in stead on his and Jeb's. It was sometimes like NOW that Bo had a hard time listening to Luke. He was sure Luke had a plan but had no idea what it was. The fork in the road was approaching. He took the left fork and replied, "I'm on the left fork, Little is right behind me. I could loose him." Luke said urgently, "Just pull over in a bit. It will probably be a ticket but just do it!" Bo sighed, "Ok. Pulling over. Be back with you in a bit." Luke had now slowed down to under the speed limit. He took the right fork in the road and eased his way right past Sheriff Little and Bo on the other side of the hill. He was carefully kept the noise of the motor as quiet as he could, knowing that the roads weren't separated by too much. In about five miles the roads came back together. Jeb asked, "What are you doing?" Luke replied, "I figure that Little will be the only one out tonight in this County. If Bo has him occupied, then we go right by real easy. Bo should catch up before we hit Osage County." ~~~~~~~~~~ Sheriff Little still hadn't gotten a good look of the car in front of him as it pulled over into a wide spot. He pulled in behind the car, leaving his bluelights flash he exited the car and stood up -- all the way up! BALLADEER: They don't call him 'BIG' Ed for nothng you know! Bo knew Sheriff Little by reputation but had never seen him, until right now, out of his car. As he watched the mountain of a man approach, Bo asked out loud to himself, 'Luke what have you gotten me into?' As Sheriff Little came up to the side of the car, an ORANGE car at that, he saw the '01' on the door. Keeping his eyes on Bo he saw no more of the General's markings. "What in heaven's name are you driving here? AND Why are you in such a big hurry?" Bo quickly saw Sheriff Little had no idea who he'd just stopped. He hoped a quick shuck and jive might get him out of a ticket. The best way to shuck and jive is to put enough truth in it to make it believable. He'd have a lot of explaining to Beth when he got home if this worked but more to her and Jesse if he got a ticket. "I'm sorry about that Sheriff. See, I kinda had to get married real sudden like if you get my drift." Bo paused to let that sink in. "I have, well had, kind of another girl over in Osage County. Tonight is the first time I've had to get out and try to explain to the other girl that I got married and WHY. I figured she at least deseves a few answers face to face from me. I'm sorry to have driven so quickly I was just trying to get back before I'm missed at home." Bo layed it on thick. Little liked the idea that the boy wanted to tell the other girl about the situation himself. He still wanted to know about the car. "So what is this thing you are driving?" "Well, it was the only car at home. Everyone one else was gone so I had to bring the 'General Lee'." Little questioned, "The what?" Bo slowly pointed to the words painted above his head, "The 'General Lee'." Confussed, Little asked, "Where are you from? And, who are you?" Bo sighed, "I'm from Hazzard County and I'm Bo Duke." The name Duke gave Little a lot of information. "I'm going to need you to step out here and pop your trunk." Said Sheriff Little as he now shined his flashlight into the backseat. All that was there was the backseat and a rollcage! Bo climbed out of the car through the window and turned to go open the trunk. Little asked, "Why climb out the window?" Bo replied with a long sigh, "The doors don't open." He opened the trunk and saw a shocked look on Little's face. Sheriff Little tried to cover his surprise at NOT seeing the moonshine he'd expected when he found out it was a Duke driving. Maybe the kid was telling him the truth. "You need to get those doors fixed." "Sheriff we normally use the General Lee here for races so the doors have been welded shut." Bo explained. Sheriff Little said, "You can't be driving a race car on the roads!" Bo hoped his explination worked here, "Sir, it's registered and tagged, we even have insurance on it." "What about an inspection sticker?" Little asked as he made his way around the car to check the windshield for a sticker. "Being registered in Hazzard it's not required to have a sticker." Bo said hopefully. Sheriff Little asked amazed, "The Hazzard Sheriff let's you run this on the roads?" "Well, he really don't like it none but he just hasn't been able to catch us yet." said Bo. Little caught the information that he had caught the car and the Hazzard Sheriff hadn't. Seeing the car was tagged, registered, insured and empty of moonshine, Sheriff Little feeling superior to Sheriff, ah, what is his name?..... Yeah, Coltrane. He decided to let the young man go with only a ticket for speeding. "Well, I'm going to let you be on your way just as soon as I write you this speeding ticket. Just don't drive this thing through my County again and keep it under the limit when you come back." Little warned. Bo sighed, "Yes, Sir." ~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke was approaching the Osage County line when Bo radioed them. "Lost Sheep 2 to Lost Sheep 1." Jeb answered, "You've got us." "Have you made the line yet?" Bo asked carefully. CB's were new and they weren't sure who had them. "Almost." Jeb answered. "Be there in about two minutes." said Bo. Now, Luke had the mic, "Everything OK?" Bo replied into the CB, "Long story. But, yeah. We'll talk later." then to himself, 'Until I get home, that is!' Luke said, "Ok. Just get up here and look alive! I hate this place." he said as he crossed the Osage County line where Colonel Cassius Clayborne ruled the County and the 'chain gang' prisons if he caught you even spitting on the sidewallks. Luke said to Jeb, "I sure hope Sheriff R.P. "Droopy" Cathcarte is at home nice and asleep! It feels like the night's temperature just dropped ten degrees!" Cue Beth

Jesse stepped outside to call the others for lunch when he saw a large Chrysler sedan turn into his driveway. He smiled and said to himself, 'That could only be one person driving that. The more things change around here the more they stay the same.' "What's that, Uncle Jesse?" asked Bo who had just stepped onto the porch and hadn't noticed the car yet. Jesse pointed to the approaching car and said, "Dixie's Mother may be driving a sedan but is still driving a Chrysler with an engine in it." Jesse smiled as the car parked and Carolyn Davenport got out. "Well, now, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Carolyn replied, "Well, I'm a most likely some kind of sight! Considering I knew somethng was going on here and my daughter wouldn't tell me over the phone." Jeb, Coy, Vance and Daisy had joined Bo, Jesse and Carolyn on the porch. "Well, now there's plenty of time for all that. Do you remember Bo, Jeb, Coy, Vance and Daisy?" Carolyn Davenport took in the group of teens and young adults. "My, my, I wouldn't have known them had I seen them somewhere else. I've seen Dixie growing up in front of me but I still think of these guys as little like when I saw them last. Aren't we missing somebody? Where is Luke? I remember when these guys use to try to keep up with him and Cooter and then they'd get mad." The others suddenly got quiet as Jesse side stepped the question. "Well, we'll get to all that in a bit. For now why don't we go get a glass of Ice Tea and lunch is on the table. Daisy why don't you go wake Dixie." Jesse said holding the door for everyone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ NARRATOR: "Now, Cooter and Luther had both been busy at the garage. Neither had checked on Dixie who was supposed to be in her room before they left for the garage so they weren't aware of Dixie being at the Duke farm. With Luke not being around, they were actually covered up with wrecker calls and repair jobs. Even they had not seen the State van pick up Luke and Mark." ~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the jail Peggy, was finishing up her paperwork and was looking forward to going home for some much needed rest. The only thing left to do before leaving was to call Jesse Duke. She checked the clock it was still too soon to call. She'd find something to do for at least another hour before she called to give the transportation crew enought time to be way ahead of anyone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Dixie." said Daisy gently. Dixie woke up easily even though she hadn't been asleep long. "Your Mother is here." Daisy then continued, "Uncle Jesse has avoided her question about where Luke is to give you time to explain everything at your own time." Daisy explained. Dixie let out a deep sigh. "Whew. I'm glad he did that. It could have been bad for her to find out about Luke first without giving me time to even explain that we had realized we cared for each other." Daisy nodded to her hand, "Well, you better talk quick. I'm sure it won't take your Mother or the guys long to spot that." Dixie looked at the ring on her hand and smiled, "You are right about that. I'll just have to not let them see it right away." Daisy had taken a wet wash cloth with her for Dixie. "Here, let's wipe your eyes before going out there." With Dixie's hair combed and face washed she was ready to face the others. She thought, 'Well, as ready as I'll ever be!'

I had to over all vote -- To just "be there" and see everything. This was my 3rd Duke Fest. I had two particular things on my list to do one of which (Getting John's autograph-- I've met / or have the others) I did -- the other was to ride in the General Lee but the lines were closed when I made it to the track. At the drag track they made the comment if you hadn't been across the river you needed to go down and check out "Hazzard Nation" -- This description fit! No matter what your reason for being there was everyone was 'like' minded and the 'spirit' of Hazzard lived. An example of this is something that happened (or didn't happen). I have a 'new' car which has a moon roof which Sat. morning I had open going to the track. Not wanting to carry all our money inside I 'locked' it in the car. We had taken a cooler of pop and left it in the car so about three hours into being there we returned to the car for a refill of pop to find that we had left the moon roof open -- NOTHING was bothered! I'd be willing to bet that you get that many people together for other events and I'd not have been so fortunate!!! No matter where you were in the crowd you were able to find someone to talk to. I ran into people from my home county in southern WV . The girl who was with me ran into her family she hadn't seen in years for Delaware. I even ran into a fellow Correctional Officer who saw my ID from Alabama. Dixie

Dixie nodded as she picked up the phone. Her Mothers sleepy voice answered, "Hello." "Mom, I'm sorry to wake you." Dixie said quickly adding, "Nothing is wrong. I'm OK." More awake now, he Mother said, "I thought you had forgotten my number." Dixie replied, "I just haven't had a chance to call in awhile. Are you doing anything this weekend?" "Honey I can be there to pick you up today." her Mother replied. This was the offer made each time Dixie had called. "Mom, I don't want to leave Hazzard. I would like to talk to you but not over the phone if you can come in this weekend." Her Mother sighed. She had sworn not to return to Hazzard when she and Luther had separated, but this sounded important to her daughter. "You know that your Father and me will only argue if I come there to see you." Dixie had a solution. "Hang on a sec." she said into the phone, then went to the kitchen, "Uncle Jesse, I'm trying to talk Mom into coming in this weekend but she says without knowing what's going on that her and Luther will only fight if she come there to see me. I'd rather tell her in person what is happening than over the phone." Jesse Duke looked at the young girl with a smile, "You know that you and your Mother are welcome here and she knows that." "Thank you. I'll tell her." Dixie went back to the phone. Jesse stood fixing breakfast as he remembered Dixie's Mother who had been good friends with his wife though she was several years younger. Once the kids had come to live with Jesse and Martha both Luther and his wife had spent a lot of time at the Duke farm. Cooter and Dixie were small then and soon became friends with Bo, Luke and Daisy. Jesse and Luther usually spent most of their time in tha barn working side by side on Tilley. Jesse pushed the memories back those had been good times now so much had changed. "Mom why don't you come in and stay at the Duke farm. Luther won't even have to know you are in town if you don't want him to. Please, I'd rather talk to you here than home anyway." Dixie kicked herself for letting it slip out that there was trouble. "What is wrong? Are you at Jesse's now? Why would you rather talk at Jesse's?" questioned her Mother who had picked up on the fact that Luther was Luther and not Daddy as he had always been to Dixie. Dixie sighed, she had stuck her foot in it now. "Yes, I'm at the Dukes. Let's just say me and Luther aren't seeing eye to eye on a couple of things....." Her Mother interupted she had lived in Hazzard long enough to know when someone was dodging telling something. It hadn't taken Dixie long to learn this 'art' she thought, "Dixie LeeAnn Davenport you tell Jesse I'll be there by this afternoon if not sooner. I told you that your Father didn't know about girls. Tell your brother....." Dixie figured she was in this far she may as well tell her Mother at least this much, "Cooter and I aren't talking at the moment. Mom you may very well agree with Luther once you hear this, but I want you to know that I am not ready to leave Hazzard." "Just stay at Jesse's until I get there. Thank Jesse for me and I'll see you soon. I love you." said her Mother who had already started getting ready to leave for Hazzard. "I love you too Mom." said Dixie as she hung up the phone she said to herself, 'I just hope you feel the same later.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Carolyn Davenport drove across the county line she tried to prepare herself for seeing Luther again. They had always loved each other which is why they never divorced. It was just that they couldn't agree on the fact he was making a large part of his money by working on people's cars who ran moonshine. She felt it was wrong to take money that was made illegally. He felt he did an honest job and was being paid for it and where the money came from wasn't important. He never told her that he tried to make sure the moonrunners he worked on at night had more power than the law enforcement agents cars that he worked on during business hours. As she was driving quickly towards town to go to the Duke farm she came up behind a slower moving panel van with State tags on it. There was no where to get around this van right here so she'd have to follow it. As she followed the van she could clearly see the marking on the side of the van as they went through the curves of Hazzard County. It read, 'State Department of Corrections'. Carolyn thought to herself, 'I wonder what they are doing in Hazzard? Probably to pick up some moonshiner or other.' ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Everyone was finishing up their morning chores as Dixie took in a load of dried clothes. Jesse was the only Duke in the house when she said, "Thanks again for letting me and Mom talk here." Jesse smiled kindly, "You're welcome here anytime." Dixie smiled and headed to Daisy's room to put up the clothes. Jesse remembered his promise to Luke. He dried his hands and went into Bo and Luke's room. He walked over to Luke's dresser, setting right in the center of the dresser was a ring box. Jesse picked up the small box, opened it and saw the familiar ring that had been stored for so many years now. He had helped his brother pick it out for Luke's Mother. It was a simple diamond solitarie in a gold band. Jesse had to agree with Luke. It was time this ring saw daylight again and he couldn't have been more pleased with Luke's choice in girls. He just wished it were under better circumstances. When Jesse went into the living room he saw Dixie putting up the kitchen towels. He walked over to her and said, "Luke made me promise to give you something he wanted you to have." Jesse handed her the small box. "I helped my brother pick this out for Luke's Mother." Dixie remembered Luke telling her that Jesse would have something for her. She saw the small box. She was almost afraid to guess what was in the box. She couldn't believe that Luke would really give her a ..... No she wouldn't finish that thought because if she did and it wasn't what she was expecting she'd be dissappointed. The only thing to do was to open the box. Her hands trembled as she took the box from Jesse. She looked at Jesse and he smiled at her. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out trying to keep her composure. As she opened the box Dixie saw the diamond. She didn't like to cry and had promised herself she wasn't going to cry anymore. All that was lost when she saw the ring. It started with tears of joy when she found her voice and asked, Jesse, "Will you put it on for me? I think my hands are shaking too badly." Jesse placed the ring on her left ring finger. Dixie managed to say, "It won't come back off ever." She still had tears rolling down her cheeks when she asked, "Would you mind if I went in Luke's room and try to pull myself together before Mom gets here?" "You go right ahead. Take your time." Jesse answered. He knew she had not gotten any sleep last night. Dixie walked into the familiar room where she had spent many nights when Daisy would have several friends over and the boys would sleep in the barn. Amoung the family pictures on the walls were trophies that both Bo and Luke had won in races, also there were trophies from all the different sports both had played in school, a Confederate flag hung above Luke's bed, and a checked flag above Bo's bed, everything was the same but it felt like something was missing. Dixie sat on Luke's bed looking at the beautiful ring while her tears continued to fall. She layed across Luke's pillow and pulled it close. She had to smile just a bit. Jesse hadn't changed the sheets and the pillow still smelled like Luke's aftershave. She continued to hold the pillow while looking at the ring on her finger. She was now sheding tears of grief for what she had lost. ~~~~~~~~~~~ It was about lunch time when Daisy asked Jesse where Dixie was. Jesse replied, "She went in Luke's room to try to pull her self together before her Mother gets here. Why don't you go check on her. The last time I checked she was still crying." Jesse paused then said, "Daisy, Luke wanted her to have his Mother's engagement ring. I gave it to her a bit ago." Daisy was surprised but would ask her questions later. For now she nodded knowingly and headed off to check on her friend. When she reached the closed door she gently opened it just enough to see that Dixie was now sound asleep. She pulled the door back together and went back to the kitchen. "She's asleep." Daisy said to Jesse. Jesse replied, "Good, just let her sleep until she wakes up or her Mother gets here. I was hoping she'd take a nap. She didn't get any sleep last night." ~~~~~~~~~~~ At the jail things weren't so peaceful. Peggy had left the downstairs area and was transferring the appropriate paperwork to the officers from the Dept. of Corrections. With all the paperwork in order all was left was the transfer of the prisoners. Peggy and one of the officers went into the downstairs cell area. She locked the gate behind them. Luke saw them enter while Mark had dosed off. He shook Mark and said, "You better wake up. Looks like it's show time." Mark sat up seeing the officer from the Dept. of Corrections. Peggy opened the door and said, "I need one of you at a time out here." Being more awake Luke stepped to the cell door first. Peggy locked the cell door back as the Dept. of Corrections officer started his process with Luke. She turned to face Mark while Luke was being processed. The Officer had Luke to strip, squat and cough, then re-dress in an bright orange jumpsuit. Next, he placed a leather belt snuggly around Luke's waist, then placed handcuffs into the front of belt, next Luke was handcuffed to the belt, finally the officer placed leg irons (shackles) around his ankles. Peggy opened the cell door for Mark to be processd and then busied herself with bagging up Luke and Marks' personal property. Mark was processed in the same manner as Luke had been. After Mark was cuffed up Peggy opened the gate to the upstairs. Both Luke and Mark were escorted to the waiting officer in the booking area upstairs. Luke managed to find his voice as they were heading out to the waiting van, "Peggy, when you can, will you call Jesse?" She tried to give him all the professional reassurance she could by saying, "I had already planned to. Take care, both of you." Luke and Mark were placed in the panel van that had all the windows blocked off. They heard the finallity of the door being locked. As the van started up and pulled away both were silent. Each lost in there own thougths of Hazzard and what layed ahead of them.