RogerDuke

Well I find this post kinda sad seeing me posting about my Rosco being eleven months old back then. Where did the time go? He was my ornery pup who turned into my loyal and loving dogs. Sadly I had to put him down this past Tuesday at eleven years old. He would have been twelve in January. Oh how I miss him and his silly antics.  He will be forever missed and forever loved.   

Hot air *
 
* I'm sure I don't have to remind you guys where I got this....??? ( let me know if I do!   ) 

The next morning BL woke with a pounding headache and the morning sun full on her face. “Sh@#!” BL swore. “What’s the matter darlin?” Bo yawned. BL was reaching for her clothes, what she could reach and keep her modesty anyway, “I’m going to be late, it’s my first day completely solo. Miz Tisdale left for her sister’s, yesterday.” BL said. “Relax, me and the General will get you there on time”, Bo said,pulling on his boxers. “Could you just drop me off at Dixie’s, I need my car to deliver the mail.” BL said.
“Dixie, can I grab a shower and borrow some clothes, instead of wasting time going home,getting ready then going to the post office.” BL asked.
Dixie was in a good mood, even though her night alone with Luke hadn't gone as planned, “sure just go on into my room and help yourself. You know where the spare key is, right?” Dixie replied.
—----------------------------
Luther Davenport was a pretty early riser even though his farm wasn't really a working farm. He came downstairs, put on coffee to make and from years of habit looked out of the kitchen window to see the wrecker, Cooters truck and both the girls' cars. Luther was peaceful and content. He was glad the three kids had been so quiet last night when they came in. He poured his coffee and took his normal seat at the table trying to figure out what he was going to fix for breakfast after he'd had his first cup of coffee.
”Just drop me off at the end of the drive and I’ll walk to the house from there”, BL said as Bo was taking her to Dixie’s to get her car.
“I can take you on up to the house darlin, no problem I got plenty of time”, Bo said.
“I don’t know if Luther or Cooter one, might be home. I got a better chance not being seen, at least till I’m in the house if they don’t hear the General.” BL smiled, leaned over kissing Bo’s cheek.
 A few minutes later, Bo pulled over, halfway down the drive, reasoning BL could get to the house and out undetected maybe, if she didn’t have as far to walk. One last kiss and BL slid out of the General, heading for the Davenport farmhouse.
Luther by now had fed the chickens, gathered the eggs, and now had a skillet full of eggs frying for scrambled eggs. He'd been in his house without his wife for years now and still no matter how he tried to make eggs they came out scrambled. He was in a far better mood this morning than he was waking up in the Hazzard jail yesterday morning. He looked at the ceiling. The house was still pretty quiet for a Monday morning. He was sure the smell of coffee and eggs would have gotten the kids attention by now. Then he heard the faint sound of the front door knob.  Luther stepped to see through the house to see BL cross the room and start up the stairs. "BL?"
Balladeer:"It was 2 letters, but there were way more questions behind them.
—-------------------------
BL swore under her breath, before turning around to face her uncle,”yeah?” 
“What are you sneaking around for?” Luther was looking for any signs he was being lied to.
“Thought you might not be up just yet,didn’t want to bother you on my way to the bathroom,” BL tried to keep a neutral expression, at least she wasn’t telling a big fib, she was going upstairs to the bathroom.
“Do I smell eggs and coffee?”,BL hoped to ward off anymore questions she didn’t want to answer, by asking a question of her own.
Luther ignored the breakfast menu question and asked, "If you are on your way to the bathroom, just where might you be coming from?”
BL felt her head start pounding harder, this morning just kept getting worse, “Hounddog lake”, BL said quietly, eyes on her boots. She would have given a nearby location between mail drop offs but Luther would know she wasn’t delivering mail this early.
"Hounddog lake?" Luther must not have been good and awake yet without his second cup of coffee because BLs answers weren't fitting together in his mind. "Your car has been here for two days. So how did you get here from the lake?"
BL took a deep breath,blowing it out slowly. Clyde would probably hear about this before she got halfway down the drive, “Bo dropped me off down the drive and I walked to the house,” BL said.
"Bo? Bo Duke? Dropped you off coming from Hounddog lake?"
 Luther didn't need to ask anymore questions as he brushed by BL taking the steps two at a time. His boots thundered up the steps, he flung Dixie's bedroom door open to see the beds made and the sewing stuff still in disarray.  He was back down the stairs again two at a time. Out the front door he went slamming the door so hard the glass in it rattled. 
BL had frozen on the stairs when Luther went by her twice. 
Hearing the bang of the front door then the wrecker started up Cooter had nearly fallen out of bed. He got his feet under him, stepped in his pants and started downstairs carrying his boots and shirt. Seeing BL, he said, "What was that?"
BL managed, "Tornado Luther."
—--------------------------
“We got to get to Dixie first”, BL said,
“Why?”,Cooter looked confused, Luther was mad about something but he'd never hurt Dixie. BL was acting like he might, BL gave Cooter the short version. 
“Shoot fire and save box matches!”, Cooter said, shirttails flapping on his open shirt as he ran out the door.
BL hurried to the CB home base in the kitchen, showering and getting ready for work, forgotten “Little Shotgun, Lost Sheep 1, ya’ll got your ears on? There’s a tornado headed your way.” BL hoped the home base was working and that Dixie was listening and had caught on that Luther was headed that way.
—--------------------------
Luke watched Bo pull out, "So what are you wanting to do today."
"Stay right here." Dixie said snuggling in nothing but Luke's blanket.
Luke was a bit more practical, "Instead of me building the fire back up for coffee and hoping to catch a fish for breakfast, how about you take a few minutes to pull yourself together, I'll toss this stuff in the truck and make sure the fire is out.  I'll take you out for breakfast and we can go print out those pictures for BL. I think it's about time you meet my crew."
It wasn't what Dixie wanted to do but she agreed as she picked up her clothes. 
A bit later, Luke's truck was headed out of the county heading toward Chickamahoney.
—------------------
Luther slowed the wrecker just enough he didn’t miss Luke’s truck, there was no sign of the F250. There were tracks up ahead going toward Chickamahoney, Luther couldn’t be positive they didn’t take one of the side roads though so he followed the tracks until the forks of the road. The left fork dead ended apiece up the road, the rlght led straight to Chickamahoney and the tracks lead that way. Letting loose a string of curses, Luther banged his hand on the wrecker’s steering wheel, making a U-turn,he headed for the garage.
—------------------
Back at the Davenport farm, BL had given up trying to reach Dixie from the house CB base and had gone upstairs for a quick shower and to get ready for work. Picking up the CB mic in her car, BL tried to reach Dixie and Luke on her way into town, “Little Shotgun this is Sweettalker and boy do we need to talk”. All BL got in response was the crackle of static. A few more tries got the same results, “they must be out of range, dangit!”, BL muttered to herself, hanging up the mic. Seeing the mail truck turn the corner, BL parked out front of the post office, hurting to unlock the door she’d park in back later.
Bo went to the farm and did the morning chores then went to town to check the mail. 
Luther parked the wrecker, flung open the bay doors and tossed the open sign in the window as he stomped with every step.
Cooter pulled in exactly five minutes late since he had waited for BL to get out of the bathroom. He saw Luther stomping around inside the garage and knew it was going to be a day.
Luke pulled over near base camp at Denny's so they could grab a good breakfast. He and Dixie both got a large coffee to go as they headed to base camp. Once there, Luke took out the camera and he and Dixie went inside for her to meet his crew. 
Dixie couldn't help being just a bit surprised to find that two of Luke's immediate crew were females. One of which he had handed the camera off to so that she could pull the pictures off and print them for him. “This is my girlfriend Dixie Davenport,” Luke said, introducing Dixie to the group.
—------------------------------.
BL had just finished sorting the mail when Bo came in, “how’s it going darlin?” Bo asked.
BL didn’t even bother with Miz Tisdale’s old regulations “just dandy Bo..Luther caught me sneaking in,proceeded to ask questions and I didn’t want to tell lies, he stormed out, ready to kill. I tried to warn Dixie and Luke, he was headed their way but couldn’t get anything but static,” Bo gave her an I’m sorry look.
“Now I’m going to pick up Sadie and deliver mail and I will probably see my own Dad but I can’t deal with him till after work.” BL blew out a long breath.
“Speaking of mail, got any for me and might as well get the farm’s while I’m here,” Bo asked. BL handed him a small stack “that’s for the farm”, “and this is yours”, BL handed over a mail bag a little bit less than half the size of a regular mail bag.
Bo asked, "Ain't that a lot of mail for just me? Are you sure it's all mine?"
BL shrugged, "It's all for your box."
—-----------------------
Cooter had no idea that the girls had been out all night, so he assumed Luther was mad at him for being late, "Look Dad. I was only five minutes late. I'll stay over this evening and close up."
Luther stomped some more, "You mean you aren't going to the wedding?"
"Wait. What? What wedding is that?" Cooter asked. He hadn't heard anything about a wedding, besides who gets married on a Monday.
Luther replied, "BL said Dixie was at hounddog lake with Luke Duke. I got there. Seen where they had been parked. I followed those 6 ply tires Luke runs to the cut off to Chickamahoney. Any other reason you'd figure those two might be heading that way?"
Something didn't seem right with his Dad's assumption, but Cooter couldn't come up with any other reason. "Nah, but that just don't seem right either.”
Cooter kept trying to come up with another reason, any reason at all besides eloping, Dixie and Luke would go 
to Chickamahoney but getting nowhere he called to Luther “I’m going to get the mail,Dad”.
If anyone knew what his sister was upto, it’d be his cousin the girls were as thick as thieves.
“Alright, what do you know?”,Cooter demanded.
“Know about what Cooter?”, BL said.
“Dixie and Luke running off to Chickamahoney to get married.” Cooter said.
“What…get married? Dixie ain’t said nothing to me about getting married”, BL had no clue about any wedding and she was almost positive Dixie would have asked her to be maid of honor and Luke would have asked Bo to be his best man.
“Luke didn’t say nothing to me neither”,Bo said.
—-----------------------------
Daisy popped in to mail a letter, "Luke didn't say anything to you about what?"
Replying as if it was buying a stamp, Bo replied, "About eloping."
Daisy squealed, "Oh my Goodness! REALLY?! Luke elpoed?!!"
“Looks that way, Dixie didn’t tell me either,” BL said.
“I got to order a cake, what kind do you think they'll want?” Daisy was turning toward the door, when BL grabbed her arm.
“Hold up just a minute Daisy, there’s a reason they kept it quiet, if we go giving them a party before they tell us,even if it’s just family they might not be so happy about it”, BL said.
“I guess so”, Daisy said, more subdued.
—-----------------------------
BL looked at Bo, "Can you find them?"
Bo looked from Daisy to BL, "I should be able to."
That was good enough for BL. She was already making a sign for the window. 'Closed for family emergency. Mail will be delivered this afternoon.' "Let's go Bo. Come Sadie."
Daisy said, "I'm going too."
Cooter added, "Count me in. I'm not dealing with Luther today."
They all headed to General Lee with two separate conversations going. 
No one noticed Mrs. Sims, the town busybody as they walked by, heard the distinct phrase 'Nice day for Dixie and Luke to elope.']
If the search party had been paying attention to who they met, one of them would have stayed in town to do damage control. Mrs. Sims was about to burst by the time she reached the beauty parlor, the best place in a small town, to hear the town gossip “guess what I just heard?” not waiting for a response from anyone she said “Luke Duke and Dixie Davenport eloped.” There was a flurry of talk, most everyone remembered the past and the rumors back then.
—-----------------------
Mrs. Sims continued, "Then Bo and Daisy Duke, BL and Cooter all took off heading out of town and they were heading toward Chickamahoney. 
Lulu Hogg was just coming out from under the dryer. Being the Hazzard Commissioner's wife, she refrained from being part of the general gossip. She went right home and promptly placed a call to Jesse Duke.
—-------------------------
Jesse just happened to have been in the house when the phone rang, "Duke Farm."
“Hello Jesse, this is Lulu Hogg. I just heard that congratulations was in order”, Lulu said.
“Congratulations? What for?”,Jesse asked.
“Luke getting married.”
“Luke WHAT?!” 
“Lydia Sims passed Daisy, Bo and Cooter and BL Davenport on her way to the beauty parlor, she said they were talking about Luke and Dixie Davenport eloping, one of them was saying it was a nice day for Luke and Dixie to elope.”
“Well thank you for calling Lulu, I’ll give Luke your message. I gotta go now, bye”, Jesse hung up the phone.
Jesse grabbed his red cap, headed out the back door at a trot, "Move Maudine I got to go see what that mule headed youngin is up to." He said as he passed the mule. Once in the pickup Jesse grabbed the CB as he pulled out of the yard, "This is Shepherd. Come in Lost Sheep One." Nothing. "Lost Sheep Two, this is Shepherd." Nothing. Jesse mumbled to himself as he made one more call, "Shepherd to Bo Peep." Nothing, that told Jesse a lot. He was behind. If they were heading to Chickamahoney he wouldn't be able to reach any of them until he got to the county line past Iron Mountain.
—------------------------
Clyde Davenport had no idea what was going on, all he knew was BL hadn’t been home since friday and had called saturday night to say she was staying the night at the Duke farm with Daisy. Pulling upto the post office in his pickup, he read the sign in the window, saying there was a family emergency but he hadn’t been notified. 
Going over to the garage, seeing Luther at the pumps baffled him even more, parking he got out of the truck “What’s going on Luther?”Clyde asked. “Nothing,why” Luther asked, he sensed Clyde hadn’t asked, by way of greeting. 
“BL has a sign in the post office window says closed due to a family emergency,” Clyde said. 
“Well, what in Sam Hill is Cooter doing, he went to get the mail” Luther grumbled, now that he thought about it Cooter had been gone a while. 
Pete Sims was bringing his wife’s car in for a tuneup, getting out of the car greeting the Davenport brothers “howdy fellas, Lydia told me you are getting yourself a son-in-law. Luther.” Pete said. 
“Said, your girl eloped with Luke Duke”, Pete kept talking, not paying attention that Luther practically had steam coming out his ears.” Said she saw Daisy and Bo Duke and Cooter getting in General Lee.” “Said your BL was with them.” Pete said to Clyde. “Lydia needs some things from Ruehbottom’s, I’ll be back in a little while” Pete wandered off to do his shopping. 
“Looks like I might not be the only one getting myself a Duke son-in-law,” Luther said, opening the hood of Pete’s car, while Clyde was processing it all and that his little girl was with Bo Duke in or near Chickamahoney right this very minute.
—---------------------
Charlie had just unlocked the front door of the Boar’s Nest to get set up and open. They were never busy this time of day but if someone happened in Charlie would wait on them while he got ready for the evening crowd. He was surprised to hear the door open when Lulu Hogg came in.
Lulu’s arms were full of streamers, balloons, paper decorations of all sorts. She came in and set the stuff down on one of the tables. "There is a box in my car Charlie. Will you get it please."
Charlie looked in the box and saw it had Christmas lights and such in it, "What's all this stuff for Ms. Lulu? It's too early for Christmas."
"I just think this place needs a bit of cheer and decorations." Lulu said.
Charlie wasn't at all sure how Boss Hogg was gonna like this remodel but she was his boss's wife so he'd do as he was asked.
—-----------------------------
At base camp, Luke and the rest of the crew gave Dixie the grand tour and explained some of the equipment to her. 
Luke's team members had his pictures printed out and in a folder for him when they came back in, "Duke why are you taking pictures of dollhouses?" Lisa ribbed.
He gave her a look and corrected her, "Those are luxury vacation homes."
"For Ken and Barbie maybe." Lisa joked.
"Speaking of pictures. We should likely get these back." Luke said as he picked up a copy of the new schedule. 
They said their goodbyes and Dixie was invited back to watch some jumps.
—----------------------
In Chickamahoney, Bo parked the General Lee in the center of town, "Anyone know where to start?"
Daisy, Cooter and BL looked at each other, then at Bo three sets of shoulders shrugging. “The hotel, if it was somebody other than Dixie and Luke, Dixie ain’t gonna want to stay someplace Luther can find them easy” BL said. Cooter knew his sister and was nodding ‘yes’.
Cooter said, "You are ahead of yourself cousin, before a hotel they would need a license."
Daisy added, "Then a preacher."
Bo looked the town up and down seeing the various signs and such for different types of wedding packages. "They could be or have been to any these places." Bo said.
Cooter added, "Wait. No, let's circle town and look for Luke's truck."
—----------------------
Back in Hazzard Luther filled Clyde in on the early morning visit from BL and where their wayward daughters had been all night.
The search party drove around town at a snail pace, eyes peeled looking for Luke’s pickup but were coming up empty, “no sign of them nowhere” 
Cooter stated what the others were thinking too.  Daisy and BL went to the Courthouse to see if there had been a marriage license issued. “Well that didn’t help much”, BL said once she and Daisy exited the courthouse. Three marriage licenses had been issued that morning but the filing deadline was 24 hours. ”Now what?” Cooter said.
Just as they were heading out of town they saw Uncle Jesse coming toward them into town. 
Bo stopped in the middle of the road as Jesse also stopped alongside him. "What in tarnation is going on? Where is Luke?"
“I don’t know where Luke is, Uncle Jesse. We can’t find him or Dixie either” Bo said.
"Did Luke or Dixie say anything to any of yall?" Uncle Jesse asked. 
He was met with four young people looking at each other, then shaking their heads ‘no’.
"Then, why are we all out here?" Jesse asked.
The others looked to Cooter and said together. "Cooter said..."
Cooter cut them off, "We'll Dad told me after he stormed into the garage."
“Told you what?” Jesse asked.
“They eloped, Uncle Jesse” Cooter answered.
“I ain’t your Uncle Jesse” Jesse fussed.
—-----------------------------
Back at the Boar's Nest the place was decorated to the hilt. It looked like a cross between a high school prom and a bridal shower.
At the garage Luther had hurt himself while trying to get work done for the last time, "Clyde I'm calling it a day. Let's go get a beer."
Clyde responded, "As long as it is not a repeat of the other night."Luther gave his brother a look. "You got it."
—----------------------------
In Chickamahoney, Jesse asked, "But You can't find them or any record they got hitched?"
"No." Replied Daisy, just a bit disappointed.
"We'll there ain't no sense hanging out here. Let's get back to the Boar's Nest and see if anyone has seen them two." Jesse wisely said.
Everyone got turned around and headed for Hazzard.
Balladeer: "Now look here. There is Luke and Dixie. Theys a few miles back behind the search party.
—----------------------------
Luther and Clyde got out of Clyde’s pickup,heading inside the Boar’s Nest. Luther nearly swallowed his tongue when they walked in and saw a big banner CONGRATULATION’S LUKE AND DIXIE stretched across the room.
“Bo will you drop me off at the post office please? I want to get my car, so I can deliver the mail. I’ll follow ya’ll to the Boar’s Nest and then leave there to get the mail and deliver it in a bit,”BL said
“Sure darlin” Bo said, pulling around back, sliding out the driver’s window. Then he lifted Sadie, settling her “stay” Bo helped BL out, giving her a peck on the lips.
“Load up”, BL told Sadie, opening the car door. Within minutes the General Lee and GTO were pulling into the Boar’s Nest lot.
Luke and Dixie were having a very pleasant ride back to Hazzard talking about everything and nothing at all. When Luke turned the curve and the Boar’s Nest came into view they couldn't help but notice the crowd for so early in the afternoon. 
Luke said, "Something must be up for everyone to be here this early. Even Uncle Jesse's here. We better stop."
"Right. I hope everything's alright with BL." Dixie said.
"Grab that folder with the pictures in case we need them." Luke said as he was parking the truck.
Inside, everyone was taking in all the decorations.
“Here they come”, Thelma Claire hollered above the noise. Luke and Dixie walked in, seeing the congratulations sign hanging across the room “Congratulations, for what?”Luke asked.
“On your nuptials, of course,” Lulu explained.
—-------------------------
“Nuptials, Miss Lulu, where did you hear that?” Dixie asked.
“That’s what Lydia Sims said when she came in the beauty parlor this morning. Said she met Bo, Daisy, and Cooter and they were talking about you and Luke eloping” Lulu explained.
“We got some pictures printed at base camp, I wanted Dixie to meet my crew. Show them, Dix”Luke said.
Dixie lay the folder on the front table.
Bo and BL had moved closer to the door before hearing themselves named as part of the reason for all the decorations and fan fair.
Daisy and Cooter weren't far behind them. Jesse, as well as Luther and Clyde had also moved a bit closer to hear the missing couple's explanation.
Jesse spoke up, "So ya'll didn't run off and get hitched?"
Dixie had the good graces to blush crimson which she had not done in years 
Luke was still a bit shocked as well as a lot confused at how they all had come up with this conclusion.
Luke replied, "No. How? No, why? Did ya’ll think that."
BL looked at Bo, who looked at Daisy, then they all looked at Cooter who turned to Luther and said,"Dad?"
Luther heard the question but for now he wanted to make sure he heard Luke, "Ya'll didn't go to Chickamahoney and get married?"
Now things were becoming a bit clearer to Luke as he smiled just a bit, "We went TOWARD Chickamahoney, took the bypass around town and went south to our base camp." Luke thought he was seeing the fire in Luther's eyes lowering a bit but figured for good measure he had better add, "No, we didn't get married."
“Beers for everybody, their on Boss” Bo announced to the bar of people, everyone chuckled. 
Bo, BL, Cooter and Daisy were all glad that Dixie and Luke hadn’t left them out of wedding plans afterall. When everyone was served and occupied with their drinks Luke leaned closer to the group, voice low ”these pictures are what Boss Hogg is upto. I’ll show you when there ain’t so many people around.”
—-----------------------------
Daisy set Luke and Dixie another beer down beaming, "I just KNEW y'all wouldn’t run off and get married without at least telling some of us." 
BL added, "Yeah. I thought we were closer than that."
Dixie replied, "We are, but I can keep a secret pretty well."
Bo and Cooter were having much the same conversation with Luke who replied, "Look, when we do y'all will be the second (after himself) to know, alright."
“I hate to run out ya’ll but I was ‘busy’ this morning and didn’t deliver the mail, BL gave Dixie and Luke a look, so I have to now, then still have outgoing mail to Central city by 3” BL said.
Dixie asked, "What were you busy doing that was more important than the mail getting out?”
“Playing hide and seek”, BL said sarcastically but grinned, so Dixie would know she wasn’t really mad.
Bo added, "Do ya’ll have any idea how many places there are to get married in Chickamahoney?"
Dixie asked with a slight grin, "Y'all really went over there looking for us?"
Cooter answered Bo then Dixie, "A lot and yes!"
Daisy added, "Even Uncle Jesse came behind us."
Luke looked up at the senior Duke who gave him an assured look that had a 'we will talk about this at home's meaning.
“How about we meet at still sight #4, at 4 o’clock after you get back from Central City, BL? Ya’ll can take a look see at these here pictures,” Luke said.
“Sounds good, see you then” BL said.
“You are coming home” Clyde said, his tone was a question but his look said it was a command, “Be home by 6 o’clock” BL said, then dashed out the door to deliver mail. 
—-----------------------
At 10 minutes after 4 o'clock, BL pulled up behind General Lee, “Sorry I’m a little late, they were doing road construction on county 103” BL said.
Bo said, "They are always working on 103."
Luke layed out the pictures. "Here's these luxury homes. Look at this one. It's in the ad and compares the size to that truck pictured with it."
Dixie said, "They would make really cute playhouses for kids.”
“Who'd want to live in a crackerjack box? Be about the same as a car with the doors welded shut, to me” Jesse said.
BL looked at the pictures, Dixie was right they would make cute playhouses. Expensive too she bet.
Luke said, "So I've been thinking. Maybe we should contact those folks who got  Bo's pictures and have them come to court and tell that this isn't what they thought they were paying for. I think some may be happier with Bo’s pictures.
“How, there ain’t enough time to write them all and wait for replies back or just hope they show for court. We can’t call them, we ain’t got phone numbers” BL said dejectedly.
“We call information with the names and addresses, get the phone numbers from there” Dixie said.
“After hearing how these people were scammed, the Judge will drop the charges, I just know he will” Daisy said with all the confidence she could muster into her voice.
—-----------------------------
After everyone figured what to do with the pictures they took, everyone decided to go back to the Boar’s Nest for a while. 
Dixie leaned over for only Luke to hear, "Can you believe they done all this for us just because they thought we went to Chickamahoney."
Luke smiled and said as a slow dance came on, "Seems ashamed to not enjoy it. Come on."
They danced to the song then Dixie headed back to the table as Luke went to the bar to get them a beer. The place was unusually busy for a Monday night. While Luke waited for Charlie or Daisy to get to him he felt a tap on his shoulder. Luther was standing behind him. "Can we walk outside for a minute?"
Luke replied, "Sure."
Bo looked up in time to see Luther and Luke heading outside, but he wasn't the only one who saw it. Jesse Duke was already heading out behind them.
—--------------------------
Luther went around the side of the Boar’s Nest that the kitchen was on, so noone could see or interrupt. Luke followed his guard up but he’d still be respectful as long as Luther stayed civil. “There’s something I been meaning to talk to you about,”Luther said, pausing this wasn’t easy. Luke waited while the senior Davenport figured out what he wanted to say. Clearing his throat, Luther continued “I need you to help out driving the wrecker, at least part time.” Luther held out his hand for a handshake. Luke wasn’t sure he was hearing right. After all the trouble between them, Luther was asking him to drive the wrecker for him again. Giving Luther’s hand a firm shake Luke said “I’d be glad to Luther. One more thing, I had one too many drinks the other night,“ Luther said. Luke nodded, accepting the unspoken apology.
Seeing the handshake between the two made Jesse feel better.
Luke said, "Luther, I ain't never set out to make trouble for any of our families. I have always liked driving for you and only stopped because you fired me." Luke saw the man start to object and held up his hand in hopes of finishing his thoughts, "As for today, we went to my base camp and spent most of the day. Yes, it was in the general direction of Chickamahoney, but we was nowhere near there."
“I’ve watched how you’ve been with other girls, so I hope you don’t take offense but what are your intentions with my daughter?”,Luther asked. Luke did his best not to take offense, Luther was perfectly justified in asking, Luke’s track record wasn’t the best “I am not going to drop Dixie, like a sack of potatoes, I swear. If we do decide to get married at some point, I promise we ain’t going to elope” Luke said.
Even though Luther had been thinking long and hard since spending the night in jail, he wasn't really ready to let everything just go and give his blessings for the Duke to date his daughter. "So why was BL sneaking into my house in the wee hours and telling me that Dixie was at the lake?" Luke was caught slightly off guard, Luther hadn’t let on that he knew anything.
Luke thought about the best way to answer the question at hand without incriminating anyone. "I can't answer for BL, but Dixie and I were out by the lake yesterday evening. We were talking, it got late. I broke out my gear and we stayed by the lake until we went to base camp this morning."
Luther wasn’t sure he completely bought Luke’s story but it was a reasonable enough reason, he guessed. Jesse was still listening and although Luther was accepting Luke’s story, Jesse was still going to have a talk with Luke at home. Bo was itching to know what was going on with Luke and Luther but he was staying inside, Uncle Jesse could handle any problems he needed to.
"So are you intent on marrying my girl?" Luther asked.
There it was. On the table for all to see. Well at least for all they knew, Luther and Luke.
—-----------------------------
Luke rubbed the back of his neck, thinking hard before he answered, "Dixie deserves far better than me. I'm sure we can both agree on that." Luke stood up just a might taller before continuing, "But I have loved her enough since she was 15 to ask for your permission. Now I just need to know her heart and mind."
Luther nodded, “that’s all I wanted to know, I just needed to know you weren’t yanking her chain. How about we go back inside, before they all think we’re out here killing each other?” Luther said. Jesse was quick getting out of sight, heading back inside before Luke or Luther saw him,shooing Bo, Dixie, as well as Cooter as he moved.
—----------------------
Luke couldn't help still being a bit puzzled at Luther's line of questioning.
Inside, Luther went to the bar to get a coffee,Luke went back to the table with the others, “Where’d you get to?” Dixie asked before Luke got set down good.
“Luther had some things he wanted to discuss, so we went outside where it was quieter,” Luke said.
"Oh, Good. That bad?" Dixie asked.
Luke gave her his award winning smile, "It could have been worse." He took a drink of beer and said, "Are you ready to get married any time soon?"
Dixie looked at Luke like he had three heads, "What? No! Are you?"
Luke took a drink of beer and replied, "Not really."
Luke had gotten everybody at the table’s full attention with his question. Bo choked on the drink of beer he just took. BL patted Bo’s back while looking at Luke, Dixie voicing her thoughts, “HAVE you lost your mind?” Cooter looked as stunned as the rest.
—-------------------
Luke continued to smile, largely at Bo's reaction as he talked to Dixie, "I think our little trip to base camp rattled him. I can't believe that just because we left town in the general direction of Chickamahoney that everyone thought we had eloped. I did sort of have to promise IF we ever decide to get married, that we would not elope."
Dixie played along with Luke and said, "Now, there went all my plans."
Daisy had been close enough to hear the exchange, "Ya'll better not. I've been planning these guys' weddings almost as long as I have mine!"
—----------------------
Around the small bar, there were several girls who really didn't like all that marriage talk around the Duke table since they weren't on the arm of either Duke.  Some vowed to double their efforts of getting those Duke boys' attention.
Luke pretty much figured Hazzard just needed something to talk about. 
Dixie too knew how Hazzard was, but by her assessment, Luke and her weren't even seeing each other exclusively. At least wise, they hadn't talked about it, but even way back when neither could tell anyone when they went from friends to dating. Their relationship seemed to have always been complicated. One thing she was sure of, there were several girls in this room who were not at all happy about her current location at Luke's table, by his side with his arm around her.
BL could see some of the green eyes of jealousy around the room, they were shooting daggers at her and Dixie, mostly Dixie as she sat there, Luke’s arm around her shoulders. All the ‘kids’ were having a good time and after hearing Luther and Luke’s talk, Jesse was satisfied there would be no trouble so he said his goodbyes to some old buddies then went over to the ‘kids’ table.
“I’m going to head home,got chores to do,” Jesse said. Much to Bo’s displeasure, Luke motioned to his half full mug of beer, "We'll finish up here and be behind you."
Dixie added, "Yeah, I have uniforms to wash for tomorrow."
Luke gave her a look.
"We'll, I do." Dixie said and then asked, "Are you ever going to get used to me wearing a uniform?"
Luke said as he finished his beer and stood up, "Band uniform, softball uniform, ..."
Dixie also stood up and playfully gave him the slightest knee strike to his thigh. 
"Keep it up. You know those tactics are based on Marine Corp. training, meaning ya'll got a taste of what we were trained in." When he put his arm around Dixie's waist his hand went a bit below her belt.
BL grinned watching Dixie's and Luke's antics while she finished her beer, “I ain’t got uniforms to wash but I’m going to cook Daddy his favorite for supper, soften him up so he won’t give me so much grief about being gone all weekend,” BL said, standing up.
“Whatcha cookin’ good lookin?.” Bo asked, flashing his lady killer grin.
“Chicken ‘n’ dumplings with biscuits and peach cobbler for dessert,” BL said.
—--------------------------
As Luke approached his pickup he was reminded that along with the farm's evening chores that he had another task of repacking all his gear before work tomorrow. 
Dixie climbed in the passenger seat then promptly slid over to the middle of the truck's seat.
Luke wasn't planning to eat Bo's dust all the way to the Davenport farm so he pulled out while Bo and BL were saying their goodbyes. 
"What would you think of me driving for your Dad some when I'm off work?" Luke asked.
"Wait a minute. I thought he swore you'd never drive for him again, years ago." Dixie stated.
Bo brushed BL’s hair back from her face, leaning close to give her a long kiss,
“See you tomorrow darlin”,Bo said.
“See you tomorrow” BL got in her car, Bo shut the door giving Sadie a little scratch behind the ears, watching BL go out of sight.
Bo got in the General and caught up to Luke as he was pulling in to let Dixie out. So Luke should pretty much be right behind him.
Luke had noted that both Davenport men were still at the Boars Nest when they left. 
"Well, here you are." Luke said.
Dixie nodded as she sat up, kicked her shoes off and turned around sideways in Luke's seat to face him. "Do you have any idea how much I don't want to go do laundry?"
Luke nodded, "Probably as much as I want to go clean the barn." 
They weren't sure who moved closer first but several minutes later the windows of Luke's truck were steamed up even with the air conditioner running.
Luke's hands were wandering.
Dixie was gently rubbing Luke's neck, shoulders and chest. 
Luke knew he needed to get to the farm but moved his kisses to Dixie’s.
She responded by doing the same then moved to blow in his ear. Since she was now on Luke's lap she suddenly felt Luke's jeans become much tighter. 
Luke let out a sound between growl and whimper as he was very torn between what he should do and what he wanted to do, "Dix, go get your laundry done, I'll come back or you come over."
Bo got home, going straight for the barn.
 “Where’s Luke?”Jesse asked.
“He was dropping Dixie off, should be right behind me,” Bo replied.
—------------------------
Clyde Davenport thought he’d died and gone to heaven, when he opened the back door and was met by the aroma of chicken n dumplings, ”that smells great sweetheart”.
BL straightened from checking the biscuits, “supper’ll be ready in about 15 minutes” BL said.
Clyde asked casually “how was work today”?
“Could have been better”, BL said.
“Why’s that?” Clyde fished.
“Because Cooter, me,Bo and Daisy spent half a day in Chickamahoney checking at every wedding venue there was, trying to find out if Dixie and Luke Duke had gotten married,” BL said.
Clyde had opened the pot of chicken and dumplings, got a spoon and was ready for a taste as his daughter spoke. After nearly choking on the sip of broth he had taken in, he caught his breath, then squeaked out, "Why would any of you think THAT?"
BL thought hard to come up with a truthful answer, without telling on herself, that she had stayed the night at hounddog lake with Bo and Dixie had been there with Luke still this morning when Bo took her to the Davenport farm but they were gone when Luther got there. Tire tracks headed toward Chicamahoney. No telling all that now would ruin a peaceful meal. 
“Cooter said he heard it, couldn’t get them on the CB so we did some tracking”, BL said.
“Why didn’t you just call to see if Dixie was at work?” Clyde 
asked, it sounded like an easy solution to him.
“They both had the day off,” BL said.
—----------------------
Luke pulled into his usual spot and instead of heading to the barn and chores he headed to the bathroom and the shower,  ....  a cold one!
Jesse saw Luke head to the house and found the shower on when he entered the farmhouse. He poured a cup of coffee and waited....
Almost an hour later Luke came down the hall socks in one hand, boots in the other. Sitting down putting his boots beside the chair, Luke waited for Uncle Jesse to say something, finally Jesse spoke,
“When you get done, get yourself a cup of coffee and join me on the porch.” Getting up for more coffee, Jesse then headed out to the porch,
—----------------------
Luke knew Jesse wasn't asking him to the porch for a social call. Socks on, boots on, shirt tucked in, cup of coffee in hand, Luke checked his tongue at the door. Luke hopped up on the banister in front of his uncle, "Yes, Sir?”
Jesse Duke took a long drink of coffee, took in a deep breath and began, "Luke." He paused. "Now I know you are all grown. I know you, Bo and the Davenport girls were NOT home last night. Times might have changed, but I ain't. Now I know ya'll have run around with a number of girls since you've been 12, but you are living here. I won't have either of you putting those girls reputation into question."
Luke tried to speak.
Jesse held his hand up, "You'll have your turn. I'm not done. I can't believein’ the whole town thinking ya'll ran off to get married, but no, ya'll just spent the whole night out, then disappeared all day. And let me tell you, IF you two boys ever do decide to get hitched, which those chances rank right up there with hogs producing beef, but as long as I'm on this here Earth, I'd better be there to see it with my own eyes. All this here grey hair I got earned me that right to watch some poor unsuspecting girl take you to be hers and let me tell you, once she does, there ain't no returning you."
Luke remained quiet,to make sure that Jesse had finished. Took a long drink of coffee and began, "I'm sorry Uncle Jesse."
Luke rubbed the back of his neck and felt about twelve, "You know first and foremost, that you taught us right." He stopped the next thought that he was about to say about being careful. There was that ice water effect going down his back again. He did add, "Uncle Jesse, how are we supposed to find out if what was there before is still here today if everytime we are out together it leads to all sorts of chaos?"
“I don’t rightly know, you’ll just know if ya’ll are meant to be together, even in all sorts of chaos those feelings will still be there” Jesse said.
"All I know is if we are out of peoples sight someone comes looking for us. We were out by hounddog lake, went for a swim. No one was around so I built a fire. Got out some of my camping stuff to stay awhile, ..... and in pulled Bo and BL. At that point it was pretty late so we stayed."
Jesse frowned, "I'll take that as the short version. Now, are ya'll talking about anything serious?"
"Jesse, I've been around a lot of women but, .... there's something different about Dixie. I knew that years ago." Luke admitted.
—------------------------------------
"Speaking of that, it's not gonna do either one of ya'll, both your jobs, or either of our families any good if ya'll get caught buck naked in the back of the General Lee by the State Police again. Those records are sealed, but there are still a few people around who remember ya'lls past." Jesse said calmly.
Luke knew his Uncle was right. "I hear you loud and clear. I know you are right."
Jesse asked, "Do I hear a 'but'?"
It was times like these that part of Luke wished Jesse didn’t know him so well. "Yeah."
Jesse waited.
"She's not 15 anymore. She knows what she's doing and it's driving me nuts."
Jesse chuckled a little “sounds like a woman.
—---------------------
They looked up to see Bo coming out of the barn, meaning the evening chores were done.
Luke shook his head and said to Bo, "I was coming out to help."
Bo found that hard to believe, "Just get up extra early in the morning so you can do mine in the morning and we'll call it even."
"Deal." Luke said remembering his earlier remark to Dixie about coming over and his exact reason he planned to see her again tonight. Then turned to Jesse, "I'm gonna run out for a bit then."
Jesse held up his finger as a reminder of their conversation.
Luke replied, already giving Bo his coffee cup and heading off the porch, "I know."
Jesse shook his head at his oldest, "I think I'll try my good suit on later."
Luke stopped dead and looked at Jesse, who was smiling with a bit of an evil twinkle in his eye, before getting in his pickup. 
Bo gave Jesse a questioning look,knowing that he had missed something between Luke and Jesse.
—------------------------
Clyde decided he was going to have to confront BL about all that Luther had told him that morning, it was obvious she wasn’t going to confess.
“Luther told me something interesting this morning”, Clyde said.
“Oh?” BL said not paying real close attention.
“He told me you came by early this morning”
BL looked at Clyde, he had her undivided attention. Clyde continued,
“Said you and Dixie had been at hounddog lake all night with Luke and Bo Duke.”
“Yeah, we used to all camp out there alot,” BL didn’t like where this talk seemed to be headed.
“Me, Luther and Jesse knew where ya’ll were then,” Clyde was making a real effort to stay calm and reasonable.  
“Care to tell me what ya’ll were doing?” Clyde asked.
“Just camping out” BL did not want to get into a discussion of being accused and arrested for mail fraud, nor did she want Clyde to know about her court day, later in the week.
“Just camping out, well just camping out with a guy, especially when that guy is a Duke boy could make you talk of the town.” Clyde said.
With Clyde’s last statement, BL heard Dixie coming out of her mouth,“talk of the town…why should I care? Might leave others alone. I’m not a kid anymore, you can’t tell me what to do.” 
“Young lady as long as you live under my roof…” Clyde bellowed but anything else he was going to say was cut off as BL stormed to her room “maybe it’s time I moved, I been trying to decide what to do with Miz Tisdale’s house.”
—--------------------
Within 15 minutes BL had packed her bags and Sadie’s food and water dish as well as the large plastic tote,where the dog food was kept, “I’ll come tomorrow for the rest of my clothes. Sadie come” BL said.
GTO loaded, BL spun out of the driveway, turning toward town off calico road. Not wanting to broadcast her trouble over the CB, BL picked up the phone at Miz Tisdale’s house…her house, calling Dixie
Dixie stopped folding the last of her clothes and answered the phone, "Davenport residence. This is Dixie." She answered, never knowing if the call was business for a wrecker call.
“Dix its BL, we need to talk, I’m at Miz Tisdale’s, I mean my new house.” BL didn’t want business overheard by Maybelle Tillingham who was known to eavesdrop on private calls and spread gossip then,
 Dixie sighed as she saw her plans for the evening going South, "Do you want me to come over? I'm almost done with my laundry."
“Yeah, this just hasn’t been my day,” BL said.  
Dixie replied, "Yeah, it's been like that everywhere today. Should I bring clothes for tomorrow?" She felt like it was going to be a long night and nowhere like the long night she had had the night before.
“Sure, there’s plenty of room. Bring snacks too please, icecream if ya’ll got any, ain’t nothing to eat here except Sadie’s food that I brought. We need bowls and spoons if ya’ll got disposable.” BL said, she’d have to go grocery shopping tomorrow.
—-------------------------
 Dixie envisioned instead of her taking a small bag and a hanger that this was going to turn into an epic adventure, "Yeah, ok. It's gonna take a minute." She said as she took her laundry to her room.
A uniform on a hanger she left on her door. Set the rest on her bed. Reached in the closet and grabbed a duffle bag. She grabbed her badge and brass for her uniform and put in a change purse  into the duffle. Grabbed 2 sets of socks and underwear from her folder basket. A night shirt, her house shoes. Tooth brush, paste, deodorant, body spray, to the bathroom for her shampoo and conditioner. Set her work shoes by the bag, then mentally checked again everything she had and put a couple more things in the bag. Grabbing the bag, hanger, shoes, wallet and keys she headed down stairs and left everything in the living room as she went to the kitchen and got a box from the panty as she thought, 'She said snacks but we haven’t eaten yet.' She found a frozen pizza, foil to heat it on, a 2 liter of soda. 
She was glad her Dad and Cooter hated washing dishes before she came home. She found paper plates, cups, a roll of paper towels, toilet paper for good measure. Then remembered she also had to take bath towels and washcloths.
 Coffee, she would need coffee. Back in the pantry she found an old coffee pot for the stove top. Chips and dip. In the back of the fridge was beer that either Cooter or Luther had put in there. Figuring on replacing it, Dixie left them two a piece and promptly put the rest in her box. Another look around the kitchen and she decided after last night she had better leave a note.
Gone to BL's I owe ya a beer. Love Dix.
—------------------------
 With that she was out of the kitchen, opened the front door and set the awkward heavy box on the porch just as she heard Luke's pickup cut up the driveway. She waited until he parked beside her car. 
Luke saw Dixie standing in the doorway with a large box on the porch. Luke got out of the truck and gave her a questioning look.
Dixie flashed an award winning smile, "So you came to rescue me?"
Luke was puzzled, but replied, "Always. It's my job."  He looked in the box and had to ask, "Dixie, are you running away from or to somewhere or are you moving or what?"
"Luke, you can't get rid of me that easy. Something is up with BL. She's at Miz Tisdale’s place which has nothing. I'm gonna go spend the night and leave from there. Here,take this box ..." She put it in his arms, "Hold on." She set her bag and shoes on the box. "I'll just grab my uniform, wallet and keys.
As Luke managed barely to get to Dixie’s car, he said, "I've seen platoons of Marines go out for a week with less."
Dixie was packing the items in the car, "Sorry." 
Dixie was almost done, when she remembered the ice cream “shoot, be back in a sec” Dixie told Luke, going back inside she decided to get a few more things. Heading to the bathroom for towels and washcloths, she snagged the blanket off the couch.
Luke asked, "Ice cream?"
Dixie shrugged, "It makes everything better, besides BL asked for it."
Luke put up his hand to stop further explanation of something apparently only a woman would understand.
—---------------------
Waiting for Dixie, BL unloaded her car. “Well Sadie looks like it’s just us BL said to the dog at her heels.    
”Think BL will mind if I show up too? I’d kind of like to know what’s up, her not coming here or the farm ain’t right” Luke said, this just wasn’t like BL if she needed space from Clyde.
“No I don’t think she’ll mind, we better get going though or the icecream will melt,” Dixie said.
Dixie got in her car backing out before the ice cream started to melt, Luke got in his pickup, not exactly how he had planned his time with Dixie but at least there was no danger in Luther seeing something to get him riled.
Luke followed Dixie around Town Square and to BL's. Once there, he said, "Get your uniform and ice cream and warn BL I'm here. I'll get the rest."
Dixie gave him a smile with puppy dog eyes, sort of like she had at the age of five, "Thanks Luke."
Dixie opened the door and called, "OK, BL. We and half the house are here."
“Who’s we?” BL asked coming down the stairs from putting the few things she’d brought in a bedroom upstairs.
—----------------------------
"Luke came with me to carry in everything you asked for or I needed." Dixie replied as Luke stepped onto the front porch with his arms full.
“He just happened to come to see you and got drafted?” BL asked, continuing. “More like ya’ll had plans and I threw a wrench in them,” BL grinned. Luke came in with the box and asked “where should I put this? Hey BL”.
“Hey Luke, just sit it on the table’s fine. You can put your bag in one of the bedrooms Dixie, except the first door on the left. Nothing in that one, it was Miz Tisdale’s and she took the furniture because it was a wedding present from her mama,”BL said.
Dixie took her bag from Luke before he took the box to the kitchen. She sat the bag on the stairs with her purse and keys. Then seeing an empty nail where a picture had hung she hung her uniform there to go help Luke unpack the box of food and such. 
In the kitchen she put the ice cream in the freezer and saw Luke had started setting stuff out of the box. 
BL if you want to call Bo, I'll put the pizza in the oven. It should be done by the time he gets here.”Dixie said. 
—--------------------------------
Across the small yard, Miss Tiztale's former neighbor Mrs. Cravitz had gone from the front door then from window to window since BL had pulled in, then when Dixie and Luke pulled in, she had nearly broken her neck trying to see who all had entered her elderly neighbors home. 
Mrs. Cravitz had gotten used to Ms. Tizdale's motorbike leaving early and coming in after the Post Office closed, she fed her cat and nothing else hardly happened over there unless there caelld to her husband, "I'm telling you, there is something going on over there that shouldn't be."
He kept reading the paper.
Soon the loud power engine of General Lee, easily pulling up in front of the little house had again gotten Mrs. Cravitz undivided attention. Seeing Bo Duke's car and the young blonde Duke taking the porch steps two by two, she decided it was her civic duty to call the Sheriff. He was always going on about those no account Duke boys and all. 
—------------------------------
For all she knew they may be stealing her neighbor blind. She put the call through to the Sheriff's department.
Rosco answered on the second ring “Sheriff’s office, Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane speaking”. “Sheriff this is Gloria Cravitz, I just saw those Duke boys go into Miz Tisdale’s house, those Davenport girls is there too. I think they’re going to steal that poor old lady blind.” “Thank you for the information Mrs. Cravitz, I’ll check it out.” 
Rosco hung up the phone and went out to his patrol car, within a few minutes he pulled up at the little house,siren wailing, “wonder what Rosco wants now” BL said,peeking out the glass in the front door.
“Alright you Duke boys and Davenport girls come out ith your hands up” Rosco shouted into his megaphone.
—----------------------------i
Luke set his beer down. Turned the oven off and said, "Go on out and stall him." Luke picked up the receiver, "Get me the Duke Farm."
"Sure thang, Luke." the Hazzard operator Maybelle Tillingham said.
"Duke Farm, this is Jesse." Luke heard his Uncle say. "Uncle Jesse, call Miz Tisdale and have her call the Sheriff's department in about ten minutes. We're all at her house Rosco is out front summoning us out front with hands up. Dixie and I both work in the morning. We'd prefer not to be late. I got to go before he gets excited." Luke hung the phone up.
Rosco was already yelling, "Luke Duke come on out here! Don't make me come up and get you." 
Across the yard Mrs. Cravitz was glued to the window watching the blue lights flashing.
BL was losing her patience, it had been one of those days if one more thing went wrong she was going to scream, 
“Rosco! What in the world is wrong with you?” BL said.
“Mrs Cravitz called and said you all were here and she thought ya’ll was going to rob the place,” Rosco said.
“That’s ridiculous, we’re giving BL a house warming party, she said Miz Tisdale signed some papers giving her rights to be here” Dixie said.
“I wanna see proof,”Rosco said.
Everyone looked at BL, she thought about the signed agreement with Miss Tizdale, "It's at Daddy's."
Rosco said, "Well all of you just git in my car, where is that Luke Duke?"
Luke picked that exact time to step out of the house onto the porch and said,"Rosco, you are making a big mistake here. BL has the house, we are her guests."
"Guests? Tiddly tuddly! Guests, my Aunt Fannie!" Roscoe stated, just come on down and get in this here patrol car. 
Feeling secure in the fact that he had already talked to Jesse and knowing BL had the right to be there, Luke did as he was told.
The girls and Bo looked at each other, after Luke got into the patrol car,
“What just happened?” Bo asked.
Both girls shrugged their shoulders “c’mon Dix let’s go get that agreement”, BL got in her car.
Rosco almost went into a fit and started waving his pearl handled pistol around,  "OH NO you two don't. Ya’ll ain't going nowhere. I'm taking ya'll all four of you in. Shame shame shame trying to loot poor Ole Miz Tisdale."
—-----------------------------
Luke had just reached the patrol car, Bo had been about half way there when they turned to see why Rosco was pitching a fit. Luke motioned for them all to just get in the car. "Dixie, if ya'll want to be on time for work tomorrow, let's just get this over with." 
All four knew getting away from Rosco could have easily been done, but Luke knew as soon Miz Tisdale called they would be let go.
Trusting that Luke knew what he was doing, the others followed him to the patrol car. 
Bo being, Bo asked, "Care to tell us how this is supposed to work?”
Rosco replied, simple. He pointed to Dixie, you up front, you three in the back.
The foursome got in their assigned spots, Rosco getting behind the steering wheel. Mrs. Cravitz had stayed glued to the window watching it all, “Abner he’s taking them to jail, I knew they were upto something.”
Just as Rosco was moving his four prisoners into the downstairs part of the jail, the phone started to ring. "Ya’ll just freeze, freeze it right there." He turned to answer the phone.
Luke couldn’t hide the slightest grin on his face as Rosco answered the phone.
“Sheriff’s office…”Rosco said but he didn’t get a chance to say more.
—-----------------------
“Sheriff, I signed an agreement with BL stating that my house was hers, now that she runs the post office. Puts her closer to town, so she can meet the mail truck at 8 every morning. So what’s this I hear, about you harassing her, Luther Davenport’s girl and them nice Duke boys?” Miz Tisdale fussed.
“Mrs Cravitz said they was upto no good” Rosco said.
“Well they ain’t, so leave‘em be,you here?” Miz Tisdale scolded.
“Yes ma'am,” Rosco said, hanging up, then to the group he said “that was Miz Tisdale, she said the house is yours BL. Ya’ll are free to go.” 
"Come on ya'll." Luke said.
Everyone started up the stairs as Bo said, "Bet that just ruined your night didn't it Rosco?"
Luke swore, "For THE love of God Bo!"
"What?" Bo replied as Rosco said, "Ruin my night, huh? We'll just see whose night gets ruined!" He took that as a personal challenge. 
Outside, Luke said as they crossed the square, "You just had to run your mouth didn't you?"
Bo said again, "What? What did I do?"
Luke shot him a look as he put his arm around Dixie, "Sorry, none of this is what I had planned."
"Just exactly what did you have planned?" Dixie stepped in front of Luke and looked up at him with a wicked grin.
Luke didn’t say anything, he just returned Dixie’s wicked grin. The foursome walked back to the little house, where they heard Sadie whining inside, she wasn’t used to BL just disappearing, leaving her behind.
“Poor thing, probably wondered where I went”, BL said.
—----------------------------
“Why don’t we take her for a stroll? It's a nice evening for one,” Bo said. “How about it Sadie, want to go for a walk?” Bo said, patting Sadie’s head, his answer was Sadie bringing him her leash.
“I think that’s a yes,”BL said. 
Bo clipped the leash to Sadie’s collar, taking BL’s hand, heading out.
“Pizza should be cooked,by the time ya’ll get back” Dixie said, giving Luke a slight grin, they were getting some alone time after all.
 Bo and BL set off down the sidewalk with Sadie.
"How about grabbing us a beer while I do a little remodeling for BL?" Luke asked. 
Dixie had no idea what sort of remodeling Luke had in mind, but went to get them both a beer. The evening hadn't gone as planned but had some potential. When she returned she found Luke with a blanket at the double window in the living room that had far too sheer of a curtain on it for his taste since the neighbor on that side had just gotten them arrested. "Good idea." 
Dixie said as the phone rang. She simply answered, "Hello?" Followed by. "Yes Sir, he's here just let him get off the chair. Luke,it's Uncle Jesse for you."
"It's Luke, .... I was hanging something up for BL, .... Yes, thanks, I'm not sure what Miz Tisdale said but Rosco let us go before he even got to lock the cell door..... Yes Sir, we will."
Dixie asked, "Hanging something for BL hmmm?"
"I was." Luke confirmed as he pulled Dixie to him on the couch."
—------------------
Bo put his arm around BL’s shoulders as they walked along the sidewalk, Sadie, nose to the concrete following something’s trail.
“How come you all the sudden, moved into your own place?” Bo asked.
“I’ll tell you when we get back to the house,” BL said.
Their beers forgotten, Dixie and Luke were very busy with a heavy petting session.
Across the yard, Gloria said, "Somethings wrong over there. Them kids are back there, then two of them left with a dog. Now, I can't see anything through the living room window." She had gone to every window on that side of the house and confirmed, "Nope, nothing."
Her husband laughed to himself, "Good."
—----------------------
Bo and BL took their time walking down the sidewalk, then cutting across, up by some of the businesses in the square, it was too dark already for window shopping in the closed stores darkened windows, so they crossed the street to the church then back to BL’s.
“We better make our presence known before entering the livingroom,looks like,” BL said, seeing the blanket over the livingroom window.
“Yeah”, Bo said.
Bo made sure when he hit the wooden porch that his boots were heard. 
Across the yard, he and BL saw what Luke had suspected as the living room curtain moved.
Dixie sat up quickly to fix her bra and shirt. She just remembered she was supposed to turn the oven back on, "Crap, I forgot to turn the oven back on." She jumped up quickly and hurried to the kitchen. After turning the oven back on she took the time to redo her ponytail.
Luke had stood up to do some adjusting and shirt tucking of his own. He took his beer and sat back on the couch. He was grateful for his cousin's loud boots.
“Pizza ready yet? I’m starving,“ Bo said.
“Not yet”, Luke said.
Dixie came back to the livingroom, sitting on the couch by Luke. BL sat down by Bo on the loveseat,
“I guess ya’ll would like to know what’s up with my sudden move” BL said, three heads nodded ‘yes’. 
—---------------------------
BL told them about the talk with Clyde, “next thing I heard Dixie coming out of my mouth when he said…well bellowed is more like it…and I quote ‘Young lady as long as you live under my roof…’ and that’s when I told him I’d been wondering, what to do with this place, I packed some stuff and left,” BL said.
Luke nearly choked on his beer at BL saying she heard Dixie come out of her mouth.
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Dixie asked.
“It means cousin dear, at times you are ‘mouth of the south’,” BL said. Bo and Luke grinned widely.
“I’m moving in for a few days atleast, then we’ll see,” BL said.
All three nodded their understanding as they sipped their beers and waited on the pizza.
—------------------------
When the pizza was done, Dixie cut it into four pieces and put it on paper plates. BL grabbed four beers and the group opted to eat in the living room.
"Abner, Abner! Those boys are still over there with those girls and they are drinking BEER!" Gloria stressed the last word.
Abner wondered out loud, "I wonder if they have an extra case or three?"
When the pizza and beer was gone, Luke looked at the clock, "Bo we need to get out of here in a bit." 
"Why?" Bo asked.
Luke began counting, "One - Mrs. Cravitz has already called Rosco. Two - We have to work tomorrow. Three - We know Mrs. Cravitz is watching our every move,  ....."
Bo broke in, "So what?"
Luke gave him a look, " Four - If we stay much longer it won't be 'decent'. Five - None of us need to be the topic of the town gossip for the next month."
—--------------------------
Gloria had gone about her routine, ignoring the young folks at least that’s what she wanted her husband to think.
“We better get going Bo it’s nearly 10 o’clock”, Luke said.
“Alright, I’m coming” Bo said, pulling BL up with him, putting his arms around her, holding her close.
—-----------------------------
“I’ll come by the post office tomorrow with a list of people Boss sold ‘luxury homes’ to,”Bo said.
The girls walked the guys out, saying goodnight with long deep kisses, that left the guys needing a cold shower. 
“Abner, it's 10 o’clock and those boys are just leaving,” Mrs. Cravitz reported.
“Gloria come away from that window!” Abner demanded, he’d had enough of Gloria’s spying.
There was no way General Lee could be pulled out from anywhere quietly, but Bo did try. Luke ran dual glasspacks on his truck and it wasn't the quietest one in town as he backed out of the driveway and turned toward home. Once the guys were gone Dixie called it, "Dibs on a bath while you take Sadie out. I got farther to drive in the morning."
BL chuckled “ok, I’ll clean up from where we ate too, won’t take me long”.
Dixie got a towel and washcloth from the box of stuff she’d brought along with her nightshirt and headed to the bathroom. BL went to the kitchen, cleanup was a breeze it was just throwing away some trash. That done she opened the back door onto the back porch, “c’mon Sadie let’s go out”. Sadie bounded out the door to explore the fenced backyard, BL sat down on the porch edge thinking about her upcoming court hearing and wondered if any of the people Boss Hogg scammed, would show up to testify for her innocence. She also thought about whether or not she should move here permanently.
—------------------------
Bo pulled General Lee into his usual place but unlike usual, Luke came around him to park closer to the house. 
Jesse looked at the clock and smiled. The boys were actually home early. He put down his Bible and picked up his coffee cup for a refill. He wanted to know more about Luke's call to him earlier about Miz Tisdale's place. Just as Jesse opened his door he heard the shower kick on and the refrigerator open. 
In the kitchen he found Bo about to make a sandwich. Jesse looked toward the bathroom door questioningly.
Bo shrugged his shoulders.
Jesse sat down at the table while Bo ate, “how did you four kids get on Rosco’s radar to get yourselves arrested?” Jesse asked.
Bo finished chewing and swallowing ”beats me Uncle Jesse, Rosco said he got a call saying we were there to rob Miz Tisdale”.
“Who in tarnation would do that?” Jesse fussed.
“Mrs, Cravitz,” Bo said, answering Jesse’s question. “Miz Tisdale, sure, set him straight, didn’t even get us in a cell, he let us go soon as he got off the phone.”
"Well that's good." Jesse said as he heard the shower cut off. He took a sip of coffee and waited. 
Bo rinsed his plate and glass out. "Night Uncle Jesse."
"Good night Bo." Jesse said. 
—---------------------------
Luke came out of the bathroom carrying his boots and shirt. Dressed only in his jeans.
"Hold it a minute Luke." Jesse said.
Luke came into the kitchen, "Yes Sir?"
Jesse asked, "Mrs. Cravitz?? What did ya'll do to her?"
Luke replied, "Nothing. We showed up. I carried Dixie’s things in. Bo got there. We had a pizza in the oven. Rosco showed up to arrest us like we didn't belong. BL had an agreement with Miz Tisdale."
"Were ya'll being loud with the cars?" Jesse asked.
Luke replied. "Not intentionally but none of them are quiet."
Jesse decided to push his nephew's buttons just a might. Jesse asked with a twinkle in his eye, "How many showers do you need a day?"
Luke started to be annoyed but saw Jesse's expression and replied, "You wanted me home early. We left about 10 all nice and proper."
"Good, keep it that way, but Luke, there are other options."
“Other options?” Luke asked  not quite following his Uncle.
Jesse said straight faced, "If you married her, you wouldn't need those cold showers." Jesse grinned widely and stood up to head back to his room.
Luke looked like he’d been slapped with a wet dish rag as he watched Jesse go back to his room and shut the door.
—-------------------------
In town at Miz Tisdale’s, BL was just coming out of the bathroom ready for bed in her nightgown, wet hair still wrapped in a towel. “Night Dix”, BL said on her way past the room Dixie had claimed earlier.
"Night, BL. I'll try not to wake you and Sadie when I get up in the morning." Dixie said. She was in bed but not really sleepy.“Don’t worry about it, Sadie usually wants to go out about 6,” BL said, thinking she might do a little grocery shopping before meeting the mail truck at the post office at 8AM, Rheubottom’s opens at 7AM.
"So, if I should get off on time, where do you think you'll be when I get back in the county?"
BL pushed away from the bedroom doorway, going to the bedroom next to it to get her hairbrush. Coming back to sit on the end of the bed,removing the towel from her head,
“The Boar’s Nest or the garage with the others I guess, like pretty much everyday after work. Why?...”
Dixie replied, "OK. No reason really. Just wondering if I should pack this up in the morning or take a change of clothes with me to work. You know how the guys love it when I show up in work clothes and I really don't think Rosco likes it any more than he does knowing Luke’s pickup can legally run red lights." Dixie giggled at the thought of Luke driving the sheriff nuts once forest fire season arrived.BL giggled a little too, guessing what Dixie was thinking.                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Next morning as predicted, Sadie had her up in plenty of time to grocery shop, “See you after work, Dix”, BL said  as they went to their cars, “see you after work,stay out of trouble”Dixie said, getting in her car. “Where’s the fun in that?” BL laughed following Dixie into town, the cousin’s turning opposite ways at the church. 
Dixie checked the clock and speeded up just a bit to make sure she would be on time.
Meanwhile, over at Rhuebottom’s, BL wasn't the only Davenport out early. Luther saw her car outside as he pulled up. He had stopped by on his way to the garage to get some things for the garage that he never remembered to get unless he'd been out of them for a day or so, like toilet paper, sticky notes, paper towels for the bathroom that had been used when the toilet paper ran out and lights bulbs. He had already taken everyone from up stairs to replace the blown ones down stairs. 
Once inside he saw his niece grocery shopping. "Morning BL. What brings you in here this early."
“Morning Luther, just picking up some things before work,”BL said, glad she didn’t have anything in her buggy yet that couldn't be for both home or the post office. Unsure whether he’d talked with Clyde she didn’t want to get into a discussion about the situation nor did she have time. “I best get this done so I ain’t late for work,” BL said.
Luther said before she could step away, "I got a strange note from Dixie last night. It said she was at your place."
BL asked, "What's strange about that?"
Luther said, "The fact it was attached to a beer where several more had been. She's never taken beer from the house to ya'lls place."
BL swore under her breath, there was no way to explain without outright lying or telling the complete truth, atleast those were the only options she saw at the moment… “I signed an agreement with Miz Tisdale about her house and we were there,” BL said at last, proud of herself, her answer was truthful but vague.
Luther nodded, taking the information at face value for now since several others were coming in to shop early. "Alright."
—-------------------------
At the Duke Farm, Bo was enjoying a few extra minutes in bed as Luke had gotten up extra early to do all the morning chores before he left for work.
BL was glad her Uncle had seemed to believe her story, not having any pots and pans, she went to the frozen foods, getting some tv dinners, a frozen lasagne and a family size chicken pot pie, and another frozen pizza. That should be enough for supper a few nights for herself, Dixie and Bo and Luke if they came over. Shopping done, BL went back to the house to put it away. “C’mon Sadie, let's go to work.” BL called to her dog. Making it just in the nick of time, BL hurried to park in back and leave Sadie inside “Morning Sam” BL said as the driver handed her a sack of mail. “Good morning Miss Davenport,” Sam answered.
—--------------------
Bo had managed to sit down and try his best to find the people he had received the $100 from. He had planned on doing something special for their fan clubs until he found out there weren't any fan clubs for him, at least wise that he knew of. Pulling up in front of the Post Office, Bo climbed out of the General Lee and went inside. He began petting Sadie while BL waited on another customer.
“Morning Bo”, BL said when the customer left.
“Good morning” Bo flashed his trademark smile. “Here’s that list, those I could remember, anyway,” Bo handed her the list.
”Thanks” BL put the list in her back pocket. 
BL thought for a minute. She had seen some phonebooks under the counter. "Say,Bo, are you in a big hurry?"
Bo replied, "No, why?"
BL handed him a phone book and she took the other. She then pulled out the list of names and addresses Bo had given her.
“See if you can find phone numbers for these people, if not maybe Luke’s newspaper friend can look them up on the computer or something,”BL said, beginning to look through the phonebook.
“Good idea”, Bo said looking through the other phonebook.
BL called Tri Counties and got Dixie on the phone. "Where can I meet you after work?"
Dixie gave BL the name of a food place near the jail. She knew better than to ask why over the Hazzard phone system.
BL hung up the phone and told Bo where Dixie had said to meet her after work.
“I’m going with you,” Bo said.
“Ok, tell Daisy she can come too, if she don’t have to work tonight. ‘I’ll tell Cooter he can come too, that is if I can talk to him, without Luther around. Luther seen me at Rheubottom’s this morning buying some groceries, thought he’d give me the third degree but he asked a few questions then went on with his shopping and let me finish mine. Dixie can call Luke and tell him, we are meeting up there in Tri-counties today instead of the Boar’s Nest or garage so we can talk private.” BL said.
“Sounds like a plan, what time we leaving?” Bo asked.
“Between 4 and 4:30. Do me a favor, ask Uncle Jesse if he minds puppy dog sitting. I don’t want to leave Sadie alone in an unfamiliar house for longer than I have to, if I have to. Ask him too if he’ll take over here, so I don’t have to close early,” BL said.
“Sure thing honey. I better get back to the farm, see you later,” Bo said, heading to General Lee.
—---------------------------
Cooter came in the post office about 11 to get the garage mail. Cooter petted Sadie while BL finished up with a customer. When they were alone BL told him about meeting Dixie at the food place near Tri-Counties jail and that Bo and possibly Daisy was going too.
“Count me in,” Cooter said. BL told him when her and Bo were leaving.
At 10 minutes to 4, General Lee and Jesse’s pickup parked in front of the post office. “Jesse Duke reporting for post office and puppy dog sitting duty ma’am” Uncle Jesse said, coming behind the counter.
“I’m much obliged Uncle Jesse,” BL said.
—-------------------------
The training class that Luke was helping with had broke for lunch. Several had gone outside to smoke or talk on their phones. A few had gone out for food. Of the instructors, Luke had stayed behind with the rookies. Luke rarely got personal calls at work, so when the girls from Human Resources told him he had a call, he figured it was something to do with work. He picked up on the closest extension, "This is Duke." He said in way of greeting since the person had already gotten the official greeting from the girl in Human Resources.
Dixie thought that Luke sounded very official when at work, "Hey, I just got a call from BL. The others are meeting me over here if you want to take the long way home. We're gonna meet near here at Mel’s Diner."
Luke was just a bit surprised to hear Dixie's voice on the other end of the line, but didn't let on, "Yeah, ok. I can do that. Do you know what's up?"
"With the Hazzard phone system. All I got was that Bo, Cooter, Daisy and BL were all likely coming.
Dixie explained.
Luke nodded as if she could see him, then reached around and rubbed the tension in the back of his neck that he just realized was there. "I'll be there as soon as we get things closed up here."
Dixie replied, "See ya then. I hope I caught you at lunch and not in the middle of class."
"You did. Be careful over there, ok?" Luke said.
Dixie smiled, it was nice to know someone worried about her just as long as they didn't get over protective. She knew that part of that meant keeping them all on the outside of her facility. "Remember it's you that jumps from perfectly good planes into forest fires."
Luke replied, "That's the easy part. It's as easy as falling off a log, but we're not jumping for a few more weeks yet."
—-------------------------------
The Hazzard crew arrived at Mel’s Diner at 5 o’clock they had run into some road construction and had moved at a snail’s pace for about 10 miles. Upon entering they looked for an empty out of the way table, spotting one in the back corner. As soon as they were seated a waitress came to give them menus and take their drink order, “I’m Angie, I’ll be your waitress this evening, what can I get ya’ll to drink?” Daisy said “I’ll have a sweet tea”. “Make that 2 sweet teas. We have 2 more coming as soon as they get off work,” BL said. Cooter and Bo both wanted a root beer. Angie checked to make sure she had the order right and then went to get the drinks.
Dixie, who worked nearby, had gotten busy the last part of her shift. She arrived just as the drinks arrived. "I'll have a sweet tea with half lemonade please." She saw Luke pull in. "He looks hot. Make that 2 half and half teas." 
The waitress agreed with Dixie, "Yes he does look very hot." 
As Luke walked up to the table everyone was laughing at the young girl's comment about Luke.
"What's so funny?" Luke asked.
“You have an admirer,” Daisy said. The young girl brought Dixie  and Luke their half and half teas and menus for everyone. “If you need anything just give me a holler,” the young waitress looked right at Luke as she spoke, setting the table off in another round of laughing. “She can’t be more’n 15, just a kid,” Luke said.
"So why are we all here?" Luke asked.
—-------------------------
Bo pulled out a list of names, addresses and phone numbers that they had added to several of the names. 
Luke looked closer at the list,"Bo, what am I looking at?"
Dixie had leaned in closer to see the list Luke was holding.
“That is a list of people, their addresses and phone numbers that sent $100 to PO Box 100 thinking they were going to get a certificate for a deed on land and one of them tiny houses,” Bo said.
“Now we just got to contact them,set up meetings to show them pictures you took and get them to come to court Thursday. Only problem is, we only have tomorrow to meet with them.” BL said.
Luke looked around for a pay phone, and being the closest thing the county had to being a truck stop, it had four payphones and a counter nearby. One phone had an out of service sticker on it. "
"Well, ladies, I'll  get the quarters. On second thought, here Cooter." Luke handed Cooter some money. "Go get some quarters and us another round of drinks. I'll keep up with the list while you girls make some calls."
—------------------------------
Bo asked, "What should I do?"
Luke replied automatically, "Just look pretty Bo."
Cooter took the money from Luke and walked toward the counter where Angie was at the register “Leaving already?,” Angie asked, a little disappointed she wasn’t getting to sell the group a burger or maybe the day’s plate special. 
“No ma’am I need quarters for the payphones and refills for the table,” Cooter said. Angie took the money and gave Cooter two rolls of quarters, “I’ll bring the drinks in a moment,” Angie said. Cooter took the quarters back to Luke. Angie brought the drinks a couple minutes, asking “can I get ya’ll anything else, menus?”
Daisy, Dixie and BL started dialing the phones.
Cooter shrugged at Angie's question. 
Cooter decided that they would know more in a bit. "
"We'll let you know in a few minutes."
By the time the girls were done on the phones they had five people willing to meet them to talk. 
It would take them a bit to get there so the group decided to order.
—----------------------------
“What can I get ya’ll?” Angie asked. 
“Burgers and fries ok?” BL asked, wanting to get on the road. Six different orders would take up extra time.
Everyone agreed, discussing their day while they ate. Finished and ready to leave Luke put $5 under his plate for a tip.
“I got to go to the bathroom before I go anywhere, all that half and half tea is going straight through me” Dixie said.
“I need to go too.” BL said. 
“Me too,” Daisy said, the three of them going to the ladies restroom.
The group then headed out for their meeting, the meeting was in the rich part of town, no wonder they’d bought what they thought were luxury vacation homes, they could afford them.
“This must be it,” BL said when Bo parked General Lee in front of an office building. One of the 5 who had agreed to meet, was the company president, had offered the use of the building’s conference room.
When everyone laid everything out, things were making sense. All five were neighbors, who had passed the information from one to the other. Everyone there wanted to make sure that BL was clear and that Boss got his 'comeuppance'. Everyone was available and could be in Hazzard for court except the company president who typed up a letter for BL to take to the Judge.
With everything settled the group headed back to Hazzard.
—-----------------------------
Back in Hazzard everyone went to Miz Tisdale’s. As usual Gloria Cravitz was watching out her window and saw General Lee and Luke’s truck arrive at the same time as Dixie,Bo had let BL off at the post office to get her car, so she could pick up Sadie at the Duke farm. “Abner them Duke boys are back over at Miz Tisdale’s but only one of them Davenport girls,” Gloria said. “I’m sure the other one will be along,” Abner said, never looking up from his newspaper. A couple minutes later Daisy's roadrunner and Cooter’s truck pulled up in front of the house “Abner, Abner 2 more vehicles just pulled up” Gloria was about to get a vapor lock, when she saw Daisy and Cooter. “That’s nice dear,” Abner was only halfway paying attention to his wife’s hysterics.
BL was just returning with Sadie as Cooter was heading to his truck,“wrecker call?” BL asked.
“Nah, just going to get us some beer,” Cooter said, getting in his truck.
—----------------------------
Inside, BL dropped onto the couch beside Bo,laying her head on his shoulder, his arm around her holding her close, “I’ll be glad when Thursday comes and goes, so I can put this mail fraud mess behind me,” BL said.
Bo, Luke Dixie and Daisy nodded. Cooter came in saying “honey I’m home”, he was carrying 4 plastic grocery bags,each with a 6 pack of bottled beer. “Had to go over to Rheubottom’s, we were out at the garage,” Cooter said.
Luke was sitting on the loveseat with Dixie. He reached for a beer. "This is nice. No Ernie." 
Dixie replied, "No Dad."
“No Rosco harassing ya’ll” Daisy addeed.
“Not unless Mrs. Cravitz calls him again,” BL said.
Dixie got up, "Anyone need a refill when I come back?" She asked before heading to the bathroom. 
Cooter and Bo both said they did. Luke got up, "I got ya." He said picking up the empties.
Luke came back with refills and Dixie was still in the bathroom. 
Several minutes later, Dixie returned, kicked off her shoes and curled back up beside Luke as she picked up her second beer.
“Anybody want another?” Bo asked getting up after a while. 
“No thanks I got to work tomorrow,” Dixie said.
“Me too,” BL said. 
“No more for me either, I swapped shifts with Betsy Ann and have to work the breakfast shift,” Daisy said. 
Luke and Cooter took him up on the offer. Gathering the empties, Bo went to the kitchen, bringing back another beer for Luke and Cooter, sitting on the couch beside BL, putting his arm around her shoulders, holding her close.
Cooter asked Bo, "So are ya'll going to run the race next month over in Placid?"
Bo grinned, "I,..." He stressed, "want to." He was looking dead at Luke as he spoke.
Luke gave him a look, "Now, Bo, we've talked about this. I don't care one bit to help get General Lee ready to show this young bunch of know it alls, just how fast the Ole boy still is. It is just I can't promise I'll be here to be the crew chief."
Bo said glumly. "I know Luke but you've sorta gotten me spoiled. But, I would sure like to put the General on the track with those young punks."
Luke asked, "Cooter, are you planning on running anything?"
"Naw, I hadn't really put anything together. There hasn't been any competition where you guys haven't been on the track."
Luke looked at Bo, they both looked at Cooter.
"What?"
They both with the girls, said, "You could be the crew chief if Luke ain't here."
”I could?”
“Yeah, Bo couldn’t get a better crew chief, you’d know if there was a problem right off,” Luke said.
Cooter thought for a minute “Bo you got yourself a crew chief, even if Luke can’t be there,”
Bo let loose a rebel yell, "YEHAA".
Balladeer:Atleast that's what folks in these parts call it.
—---------------------------
Sometime later Daisy yawned “is it ok if I stay the night? I don’t think I can hold my eyes open to drive home.” Daisy asked.
“Sure, I only got 2 beds so you’ll have to share with me or Dixie,” BL said.
Mrs. Cravitz was still glued to the window, "Abner! All those kids are still over there! It's a weeknight. There are three couples over there. It just ain't right. It's nearly eleven o'clock."
"That's nice, Dear." He said. He had put cotton in his ears hours ago when he turned the TV to his ballgame. 
Dixie got up from her place beside Luke and went to the bathroom again. Then came back from the kitchen with a large glass of water. "I think I'm getting a kidney infection or something. You'd think I drank a case of beer, not two."
Luke said, "More like three, but who's counting." Dixie had been snitching drinks of his beer occasionally since declining another beer earlier.
The guys talked awhile longer, Dixie was curled up next to Luke listening. Luke looked at the clock noticing it was getting late, him, Dixie, Cooter and BL had to work tomorrow. 
“Bo you still got your sleeping bag in General Lee,”Luke asked.
“We best be getting settled, it’s getting late and some of us have to work tomorrow,” Luke said.
Standing the two of them went out to their vehicles “Abner looks like two of them are finally leaving. About time too, it's nearly midnight.” Mrs. Cravitz reported from her post.
Luke got his bag of spare clothes out of his truck, so he could shower before work. He got a couple blankets too. Still at the window Mrs. Cravitz was about to have a fit, seeing them go back into the house. But seeing the lights go out really got her goat.
—-----------------------
Inside BL was still curled up on the couch as Luke came back inside. Luke looked at how the furniture was arranged. "Alright guys. If we can get these ladies to move, we can move this over here, that over there and put the sleeping bags here so we aren't sleeping on the furniture and breaking it down." 
Dixie looked at her seat on the love seat. "What's wrong with us just cuddling back up the way we were?"
Luke said, " I don't know about furniture and stuff but I've heard it all my life that sleeping on couches breaks them down. This is good furniture that Miz Tisdale nor BL need or want messed up."
Dixie sighed but got up so the guys could rearrange the furniture. "OK, I can still camp out with ya'll down here." 
Luke shook his head, " This ain't the first time we've slept under the same roof. It won't be the last. Go to bed, sleep and get some rest for work."
Mrs. Cravitz grabbed her sweater. 
"Where are you going?" Abner asked. 
"To get the cat." She replied.
"We don't have a cat." He said to the closing door.
She went out to her porch, the lights were all out on this side of the house. Walking up the sidewalk, there were no lights on in the front of the house. She crept down by the side of the house. No lights. She even crossed the back yards and came in her back door. "Abner there ain't a light on in that house over there. Abner. Abner? Abner!"
She found her husband already asleep with cotton balls in his
 ears.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Season 2 episodes were shown out of sequence when they originally aired, e.g. Daisy's Roadrunner reappears after it went over the cliff. We've covered this several times on the forum, but as I'm off to bed, I'll have to look out the links tomorrow, unless someone beats me to it.

Had anyone else who purchased the DVD box set noticed that season 2 isn't in the correct order? It's really bothering me lol

OK...they were thought to be SHOT ....or DROWNED?  ( The question was SHOT and so it was false but they WERE thought to be drowned!)

Cuzin Hobie yeah. I goofed. Yer right thought to be shot in a episode and That's false.

Saturday morning the town was a hive of activity,everyone was  getting things set to start celebrating founder’s day in a couple hours when they normally started conducting business. Miz Tisdale  was running the post office one last time, before moving to her sister’s, so BL could finish her dress and get ready for the dance. 
“Whew, done at last’ BL held up the finished,dark green dress for Dixie to see. “I still got a few threads to trim.” BL said. 
—-------------------
In town decorations and stands were being put out for the many planned events.  
At the Duke farm Luke was on the porch putting the finishing touches on his ax with his sharpening stones. Jesse was packing stuff in a cooler to make his famous chili at the chili cook off, while Bo got in some target practice with his bow and arrows for the archery contest. 
Balladeer: This time without dynamite arrows.
Daisy was entering the pie baking competition and was busy setting her famous apple pie out of the oven, to cool. 
Luke ribbed, "I loaded some dummy arrows if you want to try them out." 
Bo glared at his older cousin, "Cute, Luke, real cute!" Luke shrugged his shoulders and kept sharpening. 
"So you are really taking Dixie to the dance tonight?" Luke glared hard at Bo, "Yes, and what about it?" 
Bo knew the look and promptly put his hands up in front of him in defense, "Nothing Luke. I swear, ..... it's just that… 
"That what?" Luke asked.  
Bo breathed in and out deeply before beginning. "Now I like Dixie. Love her like a sister....but last time ...." 
Luke glared with a hard look, "Yeah last time I was 19, she was 15. Did you know she was 15???" 
Bo dropped his head, "No. No, Luke I didn't." 
Luke threw his hands up in his own
defense, "I didn't either Bo. So, sue me! I didn't either, .....and she didn't know what a major issue a few months was,....  but now it's years later and those few months mean nothing." Bo said lowly, "Unless you are Luther Davenport." 
Luke shot him a look. 
—----------------------
In town booths were set up all over, Luke, Dixie, Bo and BL wandered from booth to booth looking at the handmade quilts, ect. for sale. 
—---------------------------
“Hey Dixie, that looks like fun” BL pointed to the dunk tank, where Cletus was just climbing back onto the platform after getting a good dunking. 
“Sure does, let's play” Dixie replied. 
The couples went over to the booth where Bo gave a dollar to the vendor, getting 3 baseballs which he handed to BL “it’s on me darlin’”. 
BL took the balls, hurling one at the little target that covered the dunking lever “this is for scaring me and Dixie half to death last night” BL called to the soggy deputy.SPLASH Cletus yelped as he hit the cold water. SPLASH,SPLASH two more times, BL hit the target giving Cletus another unscheduled bath. 
After making sure that Cletus had a couple weeks worth of baths the group decided to make their way to other booths. 
—-------------------------
Church groups, lady's league even the orphanage had booths set up with games, ring toss, clothespins into milk bottles. The food and other contests would be later in the day since some foods had to be cooked on site. After the prizes were awarded, the contestants sold their entries to raise money for various charities. 
"Good luck Uncle Jesse, we'll see you later for the judging" Daisy said as they watched the chili cookoff contestants preparing to get started. The others wished Uncle Jesse good luck too. "Thank you kids," Jesse replied. 
Other food contestants had already begun cooking and the town was beginning to smell wonderful. Bo rubbed his stomach. "I sure hope they cook fast." 
Luke shook his head, "Always thinking about food. Shouldn't you be thinking about who else entered the archery contest." "I ain't worried." Bo said confidently. "What about the axe throwing?" 
Luke replied, "I still wished some of my guys would have come over and entered. Some are pretty good but when I told them you have to catch the axe first, everyone lost interest." Luke rubbed his neck as if he just could not figure out why his guys lost interest. 
—-----------------------
“Let’s all enter the horseshoe toss, guys against girls” BL said.
Luke stepped up to the table paying his and Dixie’s entry fee, stepping out of the way so Bo could pay his and BL’s entry fee.  Dixie went first for the girls, Luke took position a few feet away. When Dixie bent over to pick up a horseshoe, Luke’s toss went wild, nearly hitting Jed McCoy in the shin,
“Hey watch what you're throwing them thangs at!” Jed yelled. “Huh, oh sorry Jed” Luke looked a bit sheepish. 
Bo ribbed his cousin a bit even if he hadn't seen the reason for Luke's wild throw. "You don't have to just throw them things away over there. We'll beat you fair and square." 
—------------------------
“Cute, Bo. It slipped. Let's see what you have." 
Bo threw the horseshoe that landed around the pin for a nice wringer until it spun around and slid right off the pin. Bo was just about to brag when the shoe slid away from the pin.  Luke nearly spit his teeth out. 
—----------------------------
BL managed to get a leaner with her first horseshoe. 
Bo's second shoe was much closer than where his first had landed, however it moved BL's leaner off the pin. 
—-----------------------------
A live band had been hired too, tuckered from running around all morning the two couples had spread blankets on the grass so they could rest and listen to the music. The band was playing Kenny Chesney’s ‘ When the sun goes down,’ Luke slid his arm around Dixie’s shoulders as they listened.  
—------------------------
Luther was on his way to the garage when he cut through the square where people were watching the music. He really hadn't been looking at anyone as he crossed until he caught a glimpse of Dixie sitting on a blanket with Luke. Luther stopped dead in his tracks in front of the couple. 
Luke had been paying more attention to the music than who was walking by or where his hand was at. Right up until Luther stopped in front of him and glared.  
Dixie was watching the goings on in the square so she missed the exchange. 
Luke was trying hard to not make a thing out of this so he removed his hand and reached over for a cold drink from the cooler.
Dixie may not have seen but Bo did.  
—----------------------------
Once Luke's hand was moved, Luther proceeded on after giving Luke another look. 
BL had seen it all too, she was glad Luther hadn’t made a scene, she just hoped there wasn’t one tonight when Luke picked Dixie up for the dance. Bo was glad he wasn’t Luke. Although Clyde was a might over protective, having raised BL by himself after his wife died when BL was 13, he wasn’t unreasonable and tried to treat BL like a responsible grown woman, not a kid. 
—---------------------
The veins in Luke's neck tensed as he watched Luther walk away. He couldn't help but wonder if he should just walk away and go back to Atlanta. No, maybe Dixie would go to Atlanta with him. Then he thought of something Uncle Jesse told them years ago, 'Dukes don't  run. Sometimes we want to run, sometimes we ought to run, but we  don't and aren't now.' They had asked. 'Why?' Jesse had said. 'Because we got nowhere to run.' Well, it had been good enough for Dukes before him, so it would have to be good enough for him now. "Want to take a walk?" He asked Dixie casually, while giving Bo a  look that said he wanted sometime. 
Dixie said. "Sure, Luke." getting to her feet. 
After Luke and Dixie had gone Bo moved a bit closer to BL, he didn’t want any looks from Clyde should he walk by, so he was watching how friendly he was with BL. 
“I can’t wait for the dance tonight,” Bo said. 
“Me either” BL replied.  
“Has Luke said anything to you about him and Dixie being back together?” BL asked,careful not to let her expression betray Dixie’s confidence. 
“No, he’s been tight lipped, I tried to get him to admit something the night he and Dixie went MIA but he wouldn’t talk” Bo said. 
BL nodded, reaching for a drink from the cooler. 
—----------------------
Dixie walked with Luke in silence for a long while before she took his hand and stepped in front of him, "What's on your mind Luke?" Dixie had done it to him again. She could nearly read him like a  book. Luke took a deep breath before he began, "You know that no matter how I've wanted to ask you out officially, I've taken my time. I've given you, me, everyone else time to get used to seeing us together." 
Dixie nodded, "Yes." Yes he had, which had nearly driven her insane.
"A bit ago, no one but me noticed that your Dad walked by," Luke stated. 
It was true, Dixie hadn't seen her Dad. 
"He gave me one look and for about a whole second, I thought about packing it in." Luke said. 
Dixie's heart fell to her shoes as she heard what Luke had said, "Luke..." 
He stopped her in mid sentence, "I said for a second." Luke paused, "I just need to know, 100 percent, you are on board with  this before I have to dig in my heels. Last time, .... ages and law got in the way. I didn't have a leg to stand on. This time,  ....." Luke looked Dixie up and down, "this time, ... ages be damned. There's no laws to stop us, ..... Just as long as you are on board." 
Dixie felt a long ago sensation of electricity run through her as she stepped close to Luke, "I don't want to cause or start any trouble for any of us, but I'm here, with you, for as long as you'll have me." 
That wasn't exactly what Luke expected to hear, but he knew her heart. He leaned in for a long, deep kiss.... 
The kiss lasted a full 2 minutes before Dixie slowly pulled back. 
“Guess we should get back, before our cousins come looking for us,” Dixie said breathlessly. 
“S’pose so” Luke said,wrapping his arm around Dixie’s waist. The couple walked back to where the band was playing, Luke still had his arm around Dixie. 
—----------------------------
“Was wondering what happened to you two, hey Dix, we better get going if we’re going to be ready for the dance on time, ” BL said. The guys were going to find Uncle Jesse, so the foursome parted ways and the girls headed back to the Davenport farm. 
BL looked over her shoulder after putting the last hairpin in “Dix  you're not going to have any nails at all if you keep chewing on them” BL said. 
Dixie took the pinky from her mouth “I can’t help it. I’m just a wee bit nervous” Dixie replied. 
“A wee bit?” BL cocked an eyebrow at her cousin, “you're as jumpy as a long tailed cat,in a room full of rocking chairs” BL said.
Dixie replied as she looked at the wrecker sitting in the yard through her window, "Why can't he get a call? You know standing in Luke's arms, I wasn't a bit nervous about Daddy. But right now at this moment I feel like I'm three again." 
“Dixie you ain’t 15 anymore, Luther’s just gonna have to accept, that you're grown now and he can’t run your life,”.BL said  continuing. ,“how do you think my Daddy feels? He don’t like what I do always but he lets me do it anyway, don’t get me wrong, he don’t just accept it quietly, no siree he fusses till he’s blue.”. 
—-----------------------
At the Duke farm, Luke had set to as he put it, cleaning his truck up, even though it was clean, while Bo took a shower. Bo was getting dressed when he heard Luke swear from the bathroom.  Followed shortly by another round of swearing. 
"You alright in there Luke?" Bo asked. 
Luke mumbled something then said, "I swear Daisy has been using my razor again." 
“At least it wasn’t mine,” Bo ribbed. 
“Cute Bo” Luke grumbled, as he came into his and Bo's room. He took out a good pair of jeans which he put a pair of suspenders on with. Took out a clean shirt. He then brushed his polished boots. 
“You sure are pulling out all the stops getting ready” Bo commented casually, buttoning his shirt. 
“Tonight’s kinda special.” 
“What’s so special, it’s just the founder’s day dance”. “Well you know that walk me and Dixie took in town today?” “Yeah…” Bo said. 
“Dixie and I talked, we don’t want to start trouble for nobody but I ain’t gonna let Luther or anybody else get in my way again. I am going to see Dixie and I don’t give a damn who don’t like it.  Dixie said she was with me 100 percent.” 
“I hope you know what you’re doing cousin,” Bo said. “I do..If you want, go on and pick up BL”. 
“Think I’ll go when you do, you might need backup”, Bo said. 
Luke replied, "Suit yourself."  
—-------------------------
A short time later, all three younger Davenports were dressed and ready to head out on the town for some fun. Luther was drinking his coffee and reading the paper not paying much attention to the goings on in the house.  
Cooter had just picked up his keys, ready to go get his date when the unmistakable sound of Daisy's Roadrunner coming up the driveway was heard. It was followed by Luke's F-250 King cab pickup.
Luther looked up from his paper, "Are you all meeting over here or something before going out?" 
Cooter wasn't sure what the others had planned, "Not that I know of, I was about to head out." But, something made Cooter wait before heading out.  
—-------------------------
Luther heard not a set of high heels and boots on his porch but two sets of boots. He looked at Cooter. 
Cooter shrugged his shoulders. He answered the door when it was knocked on. 
Bo said, "Hey Cooter. Is BL ready?" 
Cooter yelled upstairs, "BL, Bo's here."  
Bo stepped aside a bit waiting for BL. 
Cooter saw Luke behind Bo and thought it was a might odd, even if the two were riding together, that Luke would have gotten out of the vehicle too. Either he would have picked up his date or be rushing Bo so they could get on their way to pick his date up.  "Cooter shrugged his shoulders, “Hey Luke. What’s up? 
Luke stood up just a bit straighter. He was talking to Cooter, but years of knowing the family told Luke that Luther was in earshot. "I've come to take Dixie to the dance Cooter." 
At that moment Bo wished he wasn't standing basically between Luke and the Davenports. 
Before Cooter could reply, Luther was at the door. 
"You think you are going to do what?" Luther's voice boomed. Yes, this was the scene. The exact one Luke deep down expected. "I am taking Dixie to the dance. I asked. She accepted. Plain and simple." 
BL cringed when Luther boomed and thought here he goes. “Hey Bo,  Luke”, BL said, going to stand by Bo, watching the other men.
—---------------------- 
“Hey BL” Luke said. 
“Hey BL, you look nice” Bo said the tension in the room was so thick you could cut it with a knife. 
Dixie hoped to make it down the stairs and continue on out the door. The rafters of the old farm house had just been rattled. She hoped the roof didn't collapse. "Hi, guys. Are you ready Luke?" Dixie said wisely, stepping to Luke's left side. 
—-----------------------
Luther looked at his daughter, then to Cooter. Cooter was giving his father a look that he hoped would remind him that the last time Dixie left it was years before she came around again.
Luther was torn between normal reason and still owing Luke the lesson he apparently didn't get several years ago. Luther said calmer than he felt as he looked, Luke in the eyes, "I'd like a word with you." 
Dixie gently held on to Luke's arm as she said, "We'll be late." 
Luke's eyes never moved off of Luther, "We won't be long Darlin'."  He said as he stepped to follow Luther into the kitchen. 
—-------------------------
As Luke followed Luther into the kitchen the others gave each other worried looks.  
”Patty Lou’s, going to think I’m standing her up, if I’m late” Cooter said but he wasn’t leaving until Luke and his father came out of the kitchen. 
“I bet Dad is going to blow a gasket and try to start something,” Dixie said. 
“It’ll be fine Dixie” BL said with more confidence than she felt. 
The room went silent, each of them trying to hear what was being said in the kitchen. 
“At least it ain’t sounding like WW3 in there”, Bo said. “Yet…” Dixie said, knowing both men were stubborn. 
—--------------------------
Luther began, "Luke... Nothing has changed here. Dixie is my little girl." 
Luke cut in, "Everything has changed. She is your daughter and I respect that, but she is a grown woman. Until the other night when I asked her out I had not pursued, chased or even encouraged her.  Dixie is an adult. She makes her own money and decisions. I just want to take her out and be able to have a conversation without half the County...." Luke trailed off and regrouped his thoughts,  "Luther I respect you. I have never intended to hurt Dixie. What happened before wasn't intentional. You should know me better than that." 
“I do Luke, Jesse raised you right” Luther said. 
“Truce” Luke held his hand out for a handshake. Luther gave it a firm shake, 
“You better treat her right and not hurt her, or you’ll answer to me and most likely Cooter too.” 
“Yes sir”, Luke said respectfully, leaving the kitchen, Luther following. 
—-----------------
As soon as Luke saw Dixie’s worried look he smiled, taking her hand heading for the door, 
“Ready?..told you it wouldn’t take long”. Luther told them goodbye,returning to his newspaper.
Luke took Dixie's hand, heading toward the door at a trot. He wasn't slowing down until they got to the truck. At the truck, Luke decided the best, fastest, easiest way to get Dixie in the truck was to just lift her into the passenger seat and let her wrangle all that dress inside while he made his way to the driver's seat, "Ready?" 
Dixie replied, "Always." 
—--------------------
With that Luke unintentionally slung a pile of gravel as he backed up, turned around and headed down the driveway. 
Dixie cringed just a bit, knowing how Luther was about his gravel. "That bad?" 
"Worse....." Luke began gripping the steering wheel tightly. "We called a truce. Shook on it even, but I don't see that being the end of the tension."  
Dixie didn't either, "Maybe he's come to terms that we are both adults." 
Luke laughed out loud, "I seriously wished he had. If he had, that wouldn't have happened." 
—----------------------
Luke pulled his F 250 truck in the mill parking lot, Bo right behind him in Daisy’s roadrunner, the place looked packed. 
Dixie was the focus of several women as she came in holding Luke’s hand. 
Balladeer: It sure looks like the green eyed monster has a hold of several of those girls, don’t it? 
Seeing the looks she was getting being with Luke, Dixie couldn't help smiling just a bit wider. 
Luke just grinned and acted as if he didn’t see the attention they were getting as they walked in and found a table. 
Luke and Dixie danced to a slow song, everyone might have been dressed in period clothes but they were dancing more modern. 
—-------------------
Cooter was at the punch bowl getting Patty Lou a glass of punch.  
Bo and BL were taking a moonlit stroll, the evening was perfect, almost too perfect. Returning to the mill BL and Bo got plenty of looks themselves from girls who would have given their right arm for a date with Bo. Some of them were former classmates, who thought Bo and BL were just friends in school, because they were always with the others but tonight, they were on a real date was easy to see.
—------------------------
Jesse had taken turns dancing with several of the widows and of course Miz Tisdale had her place in line.  
Balladeer: Now it was certain the apple didn't fall from the tree. Them boys got it honest from their Uncle Jesse. 
Daisy and the others were having fun watching the ladies fawn over him.
Finally Jesse took a seat at the makeshift bar that had been set up for mostly the older men who might want a bit more than the sweet punch the ladies made.  
Luther came in and took a seat beside him. 
—--------------------
Dixie and Luke stayed on the dance floor for another slow song. Luke didn't realize that Luther had come in. He was relaxed and enjoying himself holding Dixie close to him. 
Dixie for her part was enjoying being held. 
Luther turned his back to the dance floor, he might have agreed to a truce with Luke but that didn’t mean he liked Luke holding his little girl anymore than before, it just meant he had to accept it. 
“Hey Jesse.” Luther said. 
“Howdy Luther.” Jesse replied. 
They were soon joined by Clyde, who noticed Luther was facing the bar. Instead of watching all the activity around him. “You ok brother?” Clyde asked. 
“I guess”.”  Luther replied.
“You guess?” Jesse said, picking up on Luther’s unconvincing answer. 
“I’m just trying to keep my word and not butt in on Dixie’s and Luke’s relationship.” Said Luther. 
“I thought you might have eased up, after our talk the other day. Dixie is a grown woman, makes her own money. She handles herself just fine everyday at tri-county jail.” Clyde said.
“Clyde’s right, you have to let Dixie make her own choices, if you try to run her life, like she’s still a kid, you might just run her off”. Jesse said wisely. 
Luther finished his beer saying, ”I hear what ya’ll are saying.”
—--------------------
At around 10 pm people began to leave and by 10:45 only the six Duke and Davenport youngsters remained, Cooter had taken Patty Lou home with a headache a while ago. 
“Looks like the party’s over, it’s still early, how about we head to the Boar’s Nest for a while?” Bo suggested and they all agreed. 
Dixie said, "That sounds good to me if I can just go grab a bag out of Daisy’s car." 
Luke watched as she set to gathering the yards and yards of material in her dress. "Where is it? I'm a bit quicker." 
With a look of gratitude, Dixie replied, "Back passenger side. Blue." 
Luke was headed to the car figuring exactly what was in the bag. The girls had all looked great in the older style of clothing but he was up for seeing Dixie in a lot less yardage. 
“Hey Luke, will you grab my bag too, it’s the red one in the backseat driver’s side?” BL asked before Luke got out the door.  
“Sure BL” Luke said, coming back a couple minutes later handing the girls their bags. 
“Thanks, we’ll be back in a few minutes,” Dixie said, going to the restroom with BL and Daisy. 
—---------------------
After hours of a dress with enough material to make three dresses Dixie was really glad to get out of it and into a pair of jeans,  tank top with a shirt/jacket over it and her boots. "Lordy, that feels so much better." She said while hanging her dress on a hanger. 
BL pulled on her other boot, glad to be in her comfortable jeans and off the shoulder top, 
“Sure does, those shoes were killing my feet.” BL said, putting the shoes in her bag. 
“I’m glad I don’t have to dress like that for work,”Daisy said, buckling her high heel with an open toe. She was ready for her shift wearing her short denim shorts and a tank top.
—--------------------------
While the girls were changing clothes Bo was curious about what Luke and Luther discussed in the Davenport kitchen, ”Luke what’d you say to Luther back at the house?” “Yeah” Cooter chimed in, “I figured ya’ll would have WW3”.
 Luke didn’t want to say so shrugged his shoulders saying “we came to an understanding”, “we called a truce”.”Who called a truce?” Dixie asked just hearing the last part as the girls came back from changing. 
"Just telling them about earlier." Luke said as he put his arm around Dixie.
Cooter agreed that Dixie was an adult now and more than capable of making her own choices, but the familiarity of Luke’s touch did bother him. 
"Let's get moving." Luke said. 
They all headed out to the vehicle
—-------------------
A short time later, the group all skidded to a stop outside the Boar’s Nest. It looked more packed than the dance had been. 
Daisy hopped out of Cooter’s car heading inside to work, Boss Hogg had given her a few hours off to go to the dance but now she had to close up at 2am closing time and he’d docked her pay. Darcy had to leave the dance early but Uncle Jesse had said he’d drop Daisy off at the Boars Nest. Cooter had taken Patty Lou home early with a bad headache, so Cooter had given Daisy a ride instead of Uncle Jesse, since he was going to the Boars Nest with the others, after the dance.    
—------------------  
“Be with you in just a minute everybody.” Daisy said, hurrying to get her order pad.
Luke held Dixie’s hand as they walked in the dim lit bar. He gave his eyes a few seconds to adjust to the lighting before heading toward the back to maybe find a table. 
It may have been a bit dark but the glow of several sets of green eyes could be seen or felt by Dixie and Luke. 
Seeing the looks she was getting being with Luke, Dixie couldn't help smiling just a bit wider. 
Luke wasn't blind. He saw the looks and thought it was funny. He was in a good mood as he thought about some of the girls that were shooting daggers their way. If they wanted something to look at he'd give them something to look at.  
—-----------------------
The group managed to find a table toward the back and took their seats just as a great slow song began to play. 
Luke didn't even ask Dixie to dance, he just took her hand and led her to the dance floor where he took Dixie in his arms, pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her tightly. 
Dixie responded by stepping even closer to Luke with her arms wrapped around him. 
Luke smelled Dixie's perfume as she got closer. Right then he knew he was done for as his tight jeans suddenly got a bit tighter. 
—--------------------------
Luther had left the party early. His intention was to go to the less crowded Boar’s Nest and drink coffee until he got a call or maybe, just maybe, Cooter would take the wrecker at midnight and then he could have a couple beers. He really wanted something much stronger and a lot of it about now.
“Hey BL, want to play some pool?”, Bo asked.
“Sure” BL said standing up. The two headed for the back room, Bo holding BL by the hand as they wove their way through the crowd.
—-------------------------
Cooter went over to Luther’s table and sat down when he saw both of them were sitting alone. Luther only spared his son a glance, he was watching Luke and Dixie he might have agreed to a truce with Luke but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t still watch him like a hawk. 
Luther asked Cooter after they had sat awhile, "Where's your girl?"
"I took her home a bit ago." Cooter replied.
"Well, since you are free. How about taking the wrecker tonight?" Luther asked. 
Unknowingly, Cooter played into Luther's hand as he shrugged, "May as well."
—---------------------
While Bo and BL played pool BL thought about what Bo said on their stroll earlier, she was still worried about court though. Bo caught her eye, giving her his best grin that made all the girls swoon. “I told you don’t worry darlin’ me and Luke, Dixie, Daisy and Cooter ain’t gonna let bogus charges stick, we’ll find out what Boss’s scheme is before court.” 
“I can't help it, Bo,” BL said.
—-----------------
After taking Mis Tisdale home, Jesse Duke walked into the Boar’s Nest hoping for a cold beer before heading home. Besides, he rationalized, he was way too dressed up to go home this early.  He took a seat with Luther, just as Cooter had taken the keys to the wrecker and headed back to the table where Luke and Dixie had just come back to.
Luke motioned Daisy over. "Give us a round of beers, Darlin'."
"Alright, Luke. Is that 3 or 5? Since BL is about to skunk Bo at the pool table?"
"Better make it 5.," Luke laughed as his arm dangled over Dixie’s shoulder.
—------------------------
“I win again, ready to call it quits, before I smear your record completely?” BL teased after beating Bo for the 4th time.
 “Just you wait, I’ll beat you and redeem myself, but let's take a break and have a beer,” Bo replied, heading back to the table. Daisy came back with beers for the table, just as BL and Bo sat down, “here you go, ya’ll enjoy.” Daisy said, sitting the last beer down.
Cooter began nursing his beer as the others were pretty much drinking up.
Bo noticed and said, "Drink up Cooter, I'll get the next round."
Cooter shook his head ‘no’, "Can't." He said as he held up the familiar keys of the wrecker. Everyone knew Luther's strict 1 watered down beer limit if you were driving his trucks.
—------------------------
The fact that Luther was in the bar had the same effect on Luke as if Daisy had dumped a dishpan of ice in his lap. He swore to himself as he was now able to spot Luther at a table up front with Uncle Jesse.
Everyone was having a good time, talking and laughing. Luther was on his 3rd beer now after giving Cooter the wrecker keys. Noone was really paying attention when Ernie Ledbetter walked in until BL glanced to the right, leaning over she whispered to Bo “Don’t look now but trouble just walked in.”
Balladeer: Now just because Ernie walked in isn't immediate trouble, but he and Luke have had a history  of trouble dating back to their high school football playing days. 
Bo saw Ernie just inside the door checking out the crowd. "Luke,.... don't look now but, Ernie is here."
—------------------
Luke looked from where he was watching Luther toward the door and saw that Ernie, who had always been a mountain, had not gotten any smaller over the years since he'd seen him last. Thinking that maybe, just maybe the fool over there had gotten some sense, Luke said, "Well, we’ll just leave him over there."
Everybody kept right on having a good time, Luke relaxed after a bit even though Luther was there, he wasn’t butting in, even though Luke and Dixie danced a few more times. Cooter had switched to soda after he’d finished his beer.
The jukebox started playing ‘Dixieland Delight’ by Alabama, one of BL’s favorite songs, Bo held out a hand saying “wanna dance”? BL took his hand and they were soon joined by Luke and Dixie. Cooter looked at his Dad to see what effect the song’s lyrics and Luke holding Dixie was having on Luther. Luke’s tight jeans were getting even tighter as the song and Dixie in his arms worked together. Next was Conway Twitty’s ‘I’d love to lay you down’. 
Luther gripped his beer mug tighter as Luke bent down and said something to Dixie. He then saw Dixie look up at Luke and smile widely.
—------------------
Jesse had been watching the crowd but nothing he saw concerned him. He finished his beer and asked, "Luther, can I give you a ride home?" Jesse knew Cooter had taken over the wrecker hours ago.
"Thanks Jesse, but I’m gonna have another." Luther said. Slurring just a might.
Jesse had seen the man drink heavily but It was few and normally far between. He waved to Daisy and headed to his pickup and toward home.
—-----------------------
As Conway's song played Dixie had moved even closer to Luke who was only paying her attention.
Luke had thoughts of sliding out of here just as soon as he could gracefully get Dixie off the dance floor. She was driving him up the wall and unlike her teenage self, she knew exactly what she was doing to him.
With the song in full swing, Luke felt a hand tap his shoulder. He turned to see Erie standing beside him, smiling, "I'm cuttin' in."
"No ya ain't." Luke said, trying to ignore the distraction.
Ernie pushed Luke's buttons "Come on now Duke, you can't be taking up all the wench's time."
—-------------------------
Luke turned to Ernie speaking through gritted teeth “what did you call her”?
 “A wench” Earnie sneered. 
“That’s what I thought you said” Luke growled, punching Ernie in the jaw. Stumbling back from the unexpected punch, the mountain of a man came at Luke with a roar, hitting him so hard that Luke crashed into Luther’s table, knocking over his beer. 
Having had a few too many, Luther slugged Luke in the jaw sending him stumbling back a few steps. What started out a near perfect night was quickly going south.
Luke managed to get to his feet before Ernie took another run at him. Luke saw him coming and punched him dead on in the jaw, sending him toward the bar. 
Luther figured now was as good a time as any to even the score with Luke for pawing his daughter. He let a roundhouse punch fly.
Bo saw Luther's swing and called to Luke, "Luke watch out!"
—-------------------------
Luke turned in time to deflect Luther's punch and sent him flying across the bar.
Bo saw Ernie get to his feet so he took a swing of his own.
Cooter saw Luther about to plow drive Luke and stepped in trying to stop his father.
Luther was already too far gone to think rationally or have complete control of his reflexes, he couldn’t stop his forward momentum, Cooter being the one on the receiving end of the plow drive meant for Luke. “
Ernie lookout” Ernie’s pal Floyd warned seeing Bo about to clock Ernie, he threw a punch of his own. Rosco, having been on patrol, stopped in to check on things, the Boars Nest was more crowded than usual.
Opening the door, stepping inside he was nearly hit by a flying chair. “Jumping Jehosophat, what a mess”, Rosco mumbled. Pulling out his gun hollering “FREEZE” he fired a shot in the ceiling to get the combatants attention.
—------------------------
Which only half worked. Bo, Cooter and Ernie's friend Floyd all stopped.
Luke didn't have much choice since both Ernie and Luther were intent on fighting him.
"Alright! I said quit it now!" Rosco demanded sending a chandelier falling to a nearby table and sending flying glass everywhere!
Luke managed to get to his feet just as Luther took one last all out effort to make him pay by running full force at Luke. Erie saw a chance for a couple cheap shots and jumped back in the middle of the fight.
Bo. Cooter and Ernie's friend Floyd jumped in to stop the fight.
—----------------------
None of the girls had time to even process who was fighting who and why.
After wrestling around for several minutes, Cooter finally got Luther pulled off Luke “Dad…Dad just simmer down.”
Bo and Earnie’s friend Floyd weren’t having much success though. Rosco was trying to separate the two as well “Charlie, get Cletus on the CB and tell him to get over here, I need backup,” Rosco called over to the bar.
Rosco looked at the group still tusseling about. At best he and Cletus could haul four and he was seeing at least six right now that he planned to give a ride to. For once Rosco was using his head as he spotted the younger Davenport, "Dixie get on the phone to Tri Counties and tell them I need a van."
Even though Luke had been drinking and currently had his hands full with Luther and Ernie, he heard Rosco loud and clear. It was as if someone had poured ice down the back of his shirt. Seeing Dixie officially and at work was not on his bucket list.
Cooter and Bo looked at each other then Luther, both were sure that had he drank just a little less, he’d not like what Rosco just told Dixie to do. Just because he was her kin, both knew Dixie would do her job. Cooter wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of dealing with his ‘little’ sister professionally. 
—------------------------
Dixie went over to the phone making the call, then turned back to Rosco “the van will be here in 10 minutes.”, Dixie said. 
A minute later Cletus arrived, gun drawn.
By this time Cooter had gained control of Luther, sort of anyway. Ernie's friend was moving him away from Luke who was trying to convince Bo he was done.
By the time Rosco had froze everyone and Cletus arrived the van from Tri-Counties arrived.
Cletus saw the place, "Sheriff, we can't transport them all together."
Rosco had seen enough to figure who were the trouble makers in his mind. "Right, you put the Dukes in your car, the rest can go in the van."
Luke managed to get his truck keys and wallet and laid it on the bar, passing it to Dixie who was still behind the bar from using the phone.
Bo, like Luke fished the keys to Daisy’s car out of his pocket, laying them beside BL, on the bar where she retreated to keep from being clobbered by mistake, “you need these more than me.”
Cooter followed suit, handing Daisy his car keys, “here Daisy take these, so nobody has to wait for you to close up or come back and get you.”
—---------------------------
Rosco told the officers from Tri-Counties. "I just needed them taken to the Hazzard Jail tonight and didn't have enough room with the cruisers."
Luke was sure as he and Bo were cuffed and put in the back of Cletus's patrol car, that he had not ever been more happy to be in a cruiser heading to the Hazzard jail.
Rosco did a fine job of directing Cletus and Tri-Counties Correctional Officers to get his 6 arrestees heading into Hazzard, then outside the Courthouse he let the officers take Luther, Cooter, Ernie and friend to the downstairs cells, then brought Bo and Luke to the upstairs cell.
—-------------------------
Meanwhile, Dixie was just glad the officers didn't recognize her in real clothes, or if they did, they didn't let on. "Daisy before we head out, give us another beer that I only hope we can drink in peace." Dixie knew there was nothing to be done for the men tonight.
“Here you go girls”, Daisy sat a beer in front of each of the Davenport girls, 
“Thanks Daisy, I’ll bring your car home in the morning. Hey Dix, if you take Luke’s truck home, we can get Cooter’s car, then I can get my car from your house,” BL said, having it all worked out in her head anyway.
Daisy said, "Or, ya’ll could just come home with me tonight. There's two empty beds."
BL thought for a minute “Daddy’s watching Sadie till I get home but I’m sure he won’t mind dog sittin’ overnight.” BL said, looking at Dixie for her answer, 
It actually made the most sense since she was sure that tomorrow was going to be eventful. "If you are sure Uncle Jesse won't mind with everything that will need done tomorrow."
Daisy replied a bit selfishly, "It may be better to have ya’ll around."
Dixie replied, sipping on her beer, "It sounds like a plan."
—---------------------------
At the jail, Luke had walked the length of the small cell by now about twenty times trying to get somewhat calmer. It had been several years since he'd been on this side of the bars and he hadn't missed it at all. He raked his hand through his hair.
Bo knew it sounded stupid, but asked. "What's wrong Luke?"
Luke gave him a look of total disbelief, "For one, I sorta thought I'd be spending the night with someone prettier than you." He immediately regretted saying that out loud even to Bo.
Bo looked at Luke like he had two heads, he couldn’t believe Luke was even thinking that considering the past.
—----------------------
At the Boars Nest BL and Dixie had volunteered to help Daisy clean the mess up from the fight. “Daisy, can I use the phone? I need to call Daddy, see if he minds dog sitting overnight.”
“Not at all, help yourself,” Daisy replied.
BL picked up the receiver dialing, Clyde answered on the second ring “Hello”.
“Hi Daddy it's me, do you mind watching Sadie overnight?” BL asked.
“No, I don’t mind. Are you staying with Dixie again?”
“Well yes and no, Dixie and me are both staying at the Duke farm with Daisy.”
BL was glad her father hadn’t asked more questions, she didn’t want to discuss how the evening had ended.
^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

Next morning Uncle Jesse saw Cooter’s car parked alongside Luke’s truck and Daisy’s car, so he naturally assumed Cooter had stayed the night. He didn’t find the boys andCooter asleep in the barn as he’d expected, instead when he went back inside, he found the Davenport girls and Daisy cooking breakfast.
Jesse wasn't really surprised that the girls stayed with Daisy but since the boys weren't in the barn he was now more than curious about where they were, after all he didn't run any broady house, "Here's some fresh eggs ladies. Where are the boys?"
The girls looked at each other, each hoping the other would answer.
Just then the phone rang.
Daisy offered, "That's gonna be for you."
“For me, how do you know that?” Jesse said, answering the phone.
“Duke farm, this is Jesse”
“Uncle Jesse it’s Luke”
“Luke, where are you boys at?”
”Jail…”
"Jail! What in tarnation for? Why, ain't neither one of ya been in jail since Bo went off to run NASCAR and you went to Smokejumper school." Jesse fussed.
Luke was trying to be patient but Rosco was rushing him. He just needed a break to jump onto Jesse's train of thought, "Uncle Jesse, we'll explain everything on the way home. Rosco's rushing me."
"You just put Rosco on the phone." Jesse said.
—--------------------------
Luke knew that tone and winced at it as he handed Rosco the phone, but not without saying, "He wants to talk to you."
Bo frowned, "That bad?"
Luke nodded his head 'yes'.
Rosco cleared his throat and said very official like, "Good morning. This is Sherifffff, RoscOooooooo P. Coltrane and how can I help you this lovely Sunday morning? Git. Git. GIT!"
“ROSCO What in tarnation, are them boys in jail for?” Jesse was fired up.
W…Well Jesse they was fighting and as usual it was their fault.”
“Who was they fighting with?” Jesse asked, trying to stay calm. He looked over at the girls.
“Ernie Ledbetter, who else?” Rosco said.”And Luther Davenport.” he added.
LUTHER DAVENPORT!” Jesse looked at the girls again but none of them would make eye contact.
Dixie knew what was coming when Jesse hung up the phone. “Have a seat ladies and tell me about last night”.
—-----------------------------------
Back at the jail…
After handing the phone to Rosco Luke went over and made himself as comfortable as he could on half of the narrow bench that was on 3 sides of the old cell. 
Bo looked at him again like he was crazy, "What are you doing?"
"Waiting." Luke said as he closed his eyes.
Back at the Duke farm, Jesse poured a cup of coffee and waited to see which one of the girls answered him first.
Daisy saw the pleading look on Dixie's face and began, "Well, after Cooter took his date home early, I rode to work with him. The others came with us since it was early."
Jesse tried to remain silent but it was hard not to say something about early enough to stay out of jail.
BL said, "Everything was OK until Ernie came in and Luke and Dixie were dancing, then, ... then, ...,"
All eyes went to Dixie.
Dixie knew she was the only one close enough to have heard the exchange, "Erie called me a name to Luke,....." She put her hands up, "You know Luke. That is all it took."
BL picked up the story, “next thing we knew total chaos erupted. Uncle Luther even got in the middle of it. Bo and Cooter were trying to break it up…unsuccessfully when Rosco came in.”
“Rosco had Charlie call Cletus on the CB for backup and asked Dixie to call Tri-Counties for a transport van, cos 2 patrol cars wasn’t enough.”Daisy told him.
Dixie picked back up, “Luke gave me his wallet and keys before he was taken out. Bo and Cooter saw what he did, so they gave their keys to BL and Daisy.”
—------------------------------
Rosco had called Justice of the Peace, Boss Jefferson Davis Hogg, to tell him that he had a jail full of people needing a bond set.
Jesse Duke filled his cup and poured a second cup, "Dixie, would you care to join me on the porch while they fix us up some breakfast?"
It was a question, but left no room for decline as he left with both cups of coffee.
Dixie replied lowly, "Sure, Uncle Jesse." She sent a pleading look for rescue to Daisy and BL.
On the porch, Jesse handed Dixie her coffee and waited for  her to get comfy. Then, said, "Honey, what did Ernie say to Luke?"
Dixie looked at the porch floor as she repeated the slur Ernie had made toward her.
Jesse pressed, "What got Luther in it?”
—----------------------------
Dixie kept looking at the porch floor,”He just can’t let mine and Luke’s past go, we were dancing and Luke said something in my ear that was private and I guess Luther saw us closer than he liked and it got under his skin, even though him and Luke called a truce. He’d been drinking…”, Dixie trailed off not knowing what else to say.
Jesse listened then asked “where do you want this relationship to go, or are you just trying to get back at Luther for interfering in that past you say he can’t let go of?” He tried to ask the question as gently as he could.
Dixie was about to let Jesse have it but took a deep breath before speaking “I don’t want to start or cause trouble for any of us, I’ll be with him as long as he’ll have me. That’s what I told him yesterday when he asked me if I was on board openly seeing each other.”
Jesse said “ok” He had no doubt, the young lady before him was sincere.
—-------------------------
Bo couldn't believe Luke, he'd been up all night basically pacing the floor and now that Uncle Jesse should be on the way to get them, Luke layed down. Bo had tried to get sleep last night but had managed to be kept up all night by Luke. Bo hadn't been at all happy about the way the night ended or being in jail either. He sat down on the bench with his back against the bars to wait.
Boss Hogg came into the Courthouse and made his way to his office. Seeing 6 sets of paperwork he saw dollar signs! "Rosco, How on Earth did you manage to arrest six people after I left last night?"
"Well, Boss, I'll tell you how it happened." He laughed his trademark laugh.
Before Rosco could say two words the phone in Boss Hogg’s office rang, forgetting that Bo and Luke were in the cell, Boss picked up without closing the office door, “Hazzard County Courthouse, JD Hogg speaking.”
“Say hello from Rosco”, Rosco said. Boss waved him away,listening to the Mob boss, who happened to be the ex-husband of the fancy lady who visited Boss at his Boars Nest office. He wanted to know what his ex-wife was spending his money on,”a spacious vacation home,with beautiful views.” 
Luke wasn’t asleep but pretended to be, he was listening to every word. 
Boss barely got the phone hung up, before it rang again, “Hazzard County Courthouse, “You got what? Pictures of a dude with an orange car!” Boss exclaimed, getting Bo and Luke’s full attention. Getting two more calls about getting pictures instead of deeds of ownership certificates, Boss pointed his cigar at Rosco. “Do you know what them last two calls were about?” Rosco shook his head ‘no’ “no Boss”.
“They wanted to know why they got 20 pictures instead of a deed of ownership certificate for a vacation home.”Bo and Luke looked at each other Bo saying “so that’s what he’s upto.” 
—-------------
Downstairs Cooter was thankful, that after Rosco had told Luther to hush that he had laid down and passed out. Cooter had slept some lightly. His eyes were open the minute Luther rolled over and began cursing.
Luther couldn't believe it and had no recall of why he was waking up in jail this morning.
When Rosco brought the phone down, Erie made his call. 
Then, Luther instructed Cooter to call Dixie to come get them. 
Cooter put the call through. 
After a full minute of rings he hung up.
"What?" Luther said.
"She didn't  answer." Cooter said.
"Call Cylde." Luther said.
Rosco said, "Nope, naughty naughty. You only get 1 call, Cooter."
"Give me that damned phone." Luther took the phone and placed his call to his brother.
—---------------------------
Rosco was now out in his office when the Leadbetter’s people showed up and bonded them out. He made his way downstairs to get the ring leader of last night's trouble.
Seeing Luke still in the cell Ernie smirked “see ya around jailbird” he said over his shoulder. On their way out the Ledbetter’s met Clyde on his way in, 
“Rosco, get my brother and nephew”. Clyde said.
Bo and Luke were starting to get antsy, Jesse used to come bail them out as soon as they called. 
Rosco brought the 2 Davenport men upstairs and Clyde paid their bail, “Luther, what in the world got into you? You ain’t been arrested on a Saturday night, since you had kids”. “Too much beer got in him”, Cooter muttered.
—------------------ 
Jesse pulled up at the courthouse as the Davenport men were pulling onto the street.
Jesse was glad for the opportunity to get his boys without having to deal with them and Luther running into each other. "Alright, JD. What's it gonna take to get my boys?" Jesse boomed. He'd been doing this for too many years.
Luke was holding his breath after hearing Boss Hogg’s conversations this morning. He wasn't at all sure they would be released on bail.
Boss Hogg, however, named the bail at $200.
Jesse paid it, signed the papers and waited for Rosco to open the cell.
Luke still wasn't sure this was going to work even after the cell door opened. 
Bo stepped out first and Luke none to gently hurried him towards the door. 
Jesse had seen them anxious to get out of jail before but picked up on Luke's urgency.
Once in the truck and away from the curb Jesse said “let's have it.”
—-----------------------------------
“It wasn’t our fault Uncle Jesse, Ledbetter shot off his mouth like he always has and I shut it for him”, Luke said. “We swapped a few licks, then he sent me crashing into Luther’s table, next thing anybody knew, all chaos had broke loose and Luther was in it but he only wanted to fight me, which didn’t make much sense cos we agreed to a truce before the dance, shook on it even. Then Rosco came in and saw it all, don’t know who called Cletus though.”
Bo jumped in, “Me and Cooter sorta just got dragged into it, Ernie was about to get Luke again, while he was trying to defend hisself from Luther so I punched him. Cooter was trying to get Luther under control. He’d had too much to drink,”
Luke finished the tale, “Rosco had Dixie call Tri-Counties for a van because there wasn’t room in 2 patrol cars.”
"We gave the girls our keys." Luke said.
Bo added, "Yeah, we gotta get up with them and get your truck and Daisy’s car."
Jesse broke in to stop the speeding trains of thought, "Hold it, jist hold it one danged minute!" Jesse said, pausing to let them both hush, "I want to know why you, Luke, were in such a hurry to get away from the Courthouse? I saw you shove Bo at least three times on the way to the car."
Luke replied, "I, we, heard and learned some stuff while we were waiting, but the girls need to hear this too. I'll just yell for them on the CB so we can all meet up." Luke reached for the CB mic. 
Just as he keyed the mic, Jesse reached over and cut the radio off. "There's no need to radio them. They are at the farm with Daisy."
—-----------------------------
A few miles down the road Clyde broke the silence “Luther,what got into you? You ain’t spent a saturday night in jail, since before Cooter was born.
Luther mumbled something about his girl and a Duke. 
Cooter just gave his uncle a look that said it had nothing to do with Dixie.
—-------------------------
At the Duke farm Luke told everyone “me and Bo heard something while we were waiting for Uncle Jesse, lets go out on the porch, with something cold to drink and I’ll tell you.” Daisy fixed a tray with a pitcher of tea and enough glasses of ice for all. Jesse sat in the old rocking chair, Luke and Dixie were on the porch swing, Bo was on the edge of the porch, BL sat on the step below leant against his leg. “Shouldn’t Cooter be here to hear this too,” Daisy asked
.-------------------------------
Clyde made a non committal sound, he didn’t believe Luther that this was about Dixie. As soon as Clyde “dropped them off, Cooter headed to the Duke farm, without telling Luther where he was going. Pulling up at the Duke farm, he saw everybody on the front porch,”Hey, what’s up?” Cooter asked.
—--------------------------
"Grab a seat, Cooter. The boys are fixin' to tell us what they heard at the jail." Uncle Jesse said. 
No one paid any attention to Luke's arm across the swing, behind Dixie, as she snuggled in closer to the freshly shower and shaved older Duke.
Bo started, "Darlin' you ain't gonna believe this..."
"If Boss Hogg is involved and making money, I'd believe just about anything," BL said.
Cooter headed to take a seat on the porch banister, only now seeing Luke’s arm on the back of the swing, behind and around Dixie, who was doing her own snuggling of Luke.
The boys repeated what they had overheard at the jail. "Does any of this make any sense BL?" Luke asked, then added, "Is there any way Bo could have gotten mail intended for Boss?"
“I guess Boss must have already told that the money should go to PO box 100, so yeah Bo could have gotten Boss Hogg’s mail.” BL said.
“If we can get hold of how, they know what PO box we can get Boss to clear you darlin” Bo said.
“Yeah but how are we gonna do that? BL asked.
—-------------------------
Back at the Courthouse, Boss Hogg asked Rosco, "How, just how, could my customers have gotten pictures of Bo Duke instead of their money getting to me?"
"I don't know Boss, maybe you should have asked Bo, before he made bond." Rosco said.
"Dang. Danged and double danged!" Boss said, knowing he had had Bo and Luke behind bars and let them go without answers.
At the Duke farm. Everyone had collected all the recent newspapers, magazines, and trading papers. Each was looking to see if they could find and look at any ads that could be being mailed to PO Box 100 Hazzard, USA. 
Rosco was cleaning up the jail from all his prisoners and found a racing magazine. He thumbed through it and found none other than Bo Duke's ad for an autographed picture.
“Jit,jit Boss ain’t gonna like this”, Rosco muttered. Taking the magazine to Boss Hogg’s office, Rosco laid it on the desk saying, “Look at this Boss”.
Boss Hogg looked at the ad, "That could explain a lot." Now he just had to figure out how to tie the Duke boys in with the Davenport girl.
—---------------------------
At the Duke farm in one of the papers from Atlanta, Cooter saw the ad,"Luke look at this."
Luke indeed looked at it. The paper was old. "This here paper is from Atlanta, let me call Phil and see when it started running."
Luke went into the house to make the call “Thanks Phil, appreciate it”. Luke hung up the phone and came back out on the porch.” Phil said the ad was placed the Wednesday before you got the post office job, BL”. “When did you rent the box? Luke asked. “It was Monday or Tuesday,” BL replied.
Back at the courthouse, Boss Hogg paced in his office, puffing on his cigar trying to come up with a plan of how to tie the Duke boys in with the Davenport girl. He had sent Rosco on patrol so he could think better.
—----------------------------
Later, the Dukes and Davenports decided to try their luck at the Boar's Nest in hopes of seeing or hearing something.
Boss Hogg made his way out front to get some pickled pigs feet to help him think. That's when he saw it. 
There was Bo Duke dancing with the Davenport girl from the Post Office and not far off was Luke Duke dancing with the other Davenport girl. That was it, surely they were in cahoots!
—----------------------------
It was stifling hot in the Boar’s Nest, so the Duke boys and Davenport girls had gone outside to cool, the CB in BL’s car crackled to life “Rosco you out there?” Boss Hogg said.
“Roscoooo P. Coltrane here”.
“Rosco, I want you to get over to Holly Hills pronto.”
“What for, Boss?” Rosco asked.
“NEVERMIND WHAT FOR, JUST GO!” Boss Hogg shouted.
“Wonder what’s so urgent?” BL wondered aloud.
Luke replied. "I don't know, but what do you say we find out?"
Dixie replied, "I'm game."
Before Bo could say anymore, Luke suggested rather strongly, "While we are gone, ya'll can keep your ears open here." With that, he and Dixie were in his pick up and gone.
“Well, are we supposed to just sit here in the parking lot til they get back?” BL asked. 
Bo shrugged, "Might be a long wait, Darlin'."
“As long as they don’t completely forget what they're supposed to be doing,” BL said.
—------------------------------
At Holly Hills, Luke slowed up and parked out of sight. He reached in his turnout bag and grabbed a camera before heading off to see whatever it was Boss surely didn't want seen.
Cresting the hill Luke whispered “Luxury vacation homes, my Aunt Fannie”, zooming in the powerful lens of the state of the art digital camera used by the Smokejumpers to take pictures at fire sites. At the bottom were several tiny homes, all built in one grand style or another to look like full size houses of the same styles. 
“Hey Dixie, ain’t that the house in the ad.?” Luke asked. Dixie raised the binoculars,scanning the tiny houses “Sure looks like it, make sure you get a picture so we can compare it to the house in the ad,” Dixie said.
Luke took enough pictures, especially of the one in the ad, "There, now we can get them printed tomorrow." Luke eased his truck out easily without being spotted. Since he was already at the lake he figured to circle around just to see if there were any more little houses around. 
—---------------------------
Feeling confident they had what they had come to get, Dixie kicked her shoes off, pulled her feet up in the seat and turned to face Luke as he drove, she began running her fingers around and down Luke's neckline of his shirt getting lower and lower as she managed to undo a button or three.....
Luke’s jeans got a little bit tighter with every touch of Dixie’s fingers against his skin and every button she undid,”keep that up and I’m going to need a cool dip in the lake,” Luke said.
"Are you sure about that dip?" Dixie asked.
Luke was sure she knew exactly what she was doing to him and doing it purposely. The next wide spot off from the lake, Luke stopped the truck. He nearly couldn't get stopped soon enough for his taste. Once stopped, he was out of the truck and managed to shuck his clothes off down to his boxers before he hit the cool water.
Dixie watched from the truck until he hit the water. She got out and went toward the lake, "Luke? What are you doing?" She asked, smiling widely.
"Cooling off. Care to join me?" Luke asked. The cool water had the desired effect on over heated areas of Luke's body. Right up until Dixie called his bluff by kicking off her boots, tossing her shirt and bra. She stood watching Luke watch her as she undid her jeans then met him in the water.
—-----------------------
Back at the Boars Nest, Rosco was just going into Boss Hogg’s office to give a report as BL and Bo sat back down at the table, to wait for Luke and Dixie to come back.
It being a sunday afternoon, there wasn’t much of a crowd in the Boar’s Nest so there wasn’t alot of noise, Bo and BL listened to Rosco’s report to Boss because he had forgotten to close the door completely.
“I hope Luke and Dixie got some good pictures,”BL said.
Bo put his arm around BL just a bit tighter, "They will, Darlin'. I know it sounds easy to say, but things will really be alright."
BL leaned into Bo smiling, she still felt goosebumps being in his arms, despite her worry about court, “I know you're right Bo.”
Bo added, "Besides the dinners chip beef ain't that bad at Hazzards jail and at Tri-Counties you and Dixie could visit while she's at work "
BL pulled out of Bo’s arms, punching him in the bicep, “that’s not funny Bo!”, BL exclaimed, folding her arms.
“I was just teasing darlin, don’t be mad,” Bo wheedled, giving her his lady killer grin.
"Bo, if Rosco is back here talking to Boss,...." BL began, "Where is Luke and Dixie?"
“They are probably just taking their time coming back,” Bo said.
Bo was probably right BL decided, they hadn’t been arrested Rosco was back she reasoned.
—--------------------------
At the lake the cool water had calmed Luke down, right up until he felt Dixie in his arms. All other/reasonable thoughts had left their minds as years of pent up desire reached its boiling point.
Since Luke had his pickup, setting up a pretty cozy camp hadn't been hard. He had laid out his tarp and blanket then before it got dark had built a decent fire. Dixie currently had his lighter blanket wrapped around her like an oversized towel while Luke had found his swim trunks he kept in his work bag. Dixie was sitting in front of Luke as they were watching the fire. 
Luke was usually the voice of reason asked, "Are you in a hurry to get back?"
Dixie turned in his arms and replied, "Nope."
"Good." Luke said as he put a couple more pieces of wood on the fire. He had been watching Dixie in the fire light. He brushed her hair back from her face as Dixie moved closer he began kissing her deeply.
—---------------------------
“Where are they Bo? They should have been back way before now” BL said. Bo kissed her forehead “they prob’ly decided to watch things awhile, don’t worry darlin”, Bo replied. BL picked up the CB mic “Little Shotgun, Lost Sheep 1, ya’ll got your ears on?, come back. Little Shotgun, Lost Sheep 1, this is Sweet Talker.” BL tried to raise Dixie and Luke on the CB but they just wasn’t answering. 
“C’mon we know where they were going,we’ll go look for’em.” Bo said, starting up General Lee as BL climbed in. A little ways from Holly Hill, BL saw what looked like smoke rising into the sky “is that smoke”, BL asked. 
“Let’s see”, Bo said.
Swim trunks and blanket had been shed. Dixie and Luke were very involved in some very unlady and ungentlemanly things, so much that the sound of the General Lee didn't register to either of them.
“Down there’s where the smoke’s coming from,” BL said. About 100 yards off the road they saw Luke’s truck, “we found ‘em”, Bo said as they got a little closer they could tell the couple was very involved. 
“Holy toledo!”, both BL and Bo said in unison, covering their eyes. “Good thing we came looking, if Luther got a wrecker call out this way and came to investigate the smoke Luke would be a dead man”,BL said. Bo keeping his eyes on his lap, hit the horn, the sound of ‘dixie’ breaking into the quiet night.
—-----------------------------
Dixie jumped and reached for the blanket.
Luke was close very close, "Don't stop. It's just Bo. Don't stop." He doubled his efforts to recapture Dixie’s fullest attention.
Bo did have the good graces to shut off General Lee's headlights. 
Luke pulled Dixie tighter, entering her deeply.
Dixie was trying very hard to be quiet. She was glad her nails were short or Luke's back would be bleeding as she dug her nails into him and pulled him tighter to her with her legs.
Luke knew he'd succeeded in pleasing Dixie as he found his own release and really didn't care that Bo knew.
Dixie and Luke were now trying to remember how to breathe.
Giving Dixie and Luke a couple minutes to catch their breath, Bo climbed out of General Lee, keeping his eyes averted from Dixie, 
]“I thought you were smarter than this? There are at least 100 better places, with more privacy in the next 5 miles down the road”Bo ranted. “Bo..”,Luke tried to break into Bo’s rant. “What if it hadn’t been me? You didn’t even stop to consider whether or not somebody might be with me, which there is, or did you forget BL?” Luke cursed when he saw BL leaning forward, head in her hands, so she couldn’t see anything, she shouldn’t.
—---------------------
Luke swore, "Sh--!"
Dixie saw Bo looking away as he was talking to,  ..... well ok, maybe fussing at Luke was a better choice of words. She reached for the blanket and again put it around her like a large beach towel. She then found Luke shorts and put them in his hand as he replied to Bo.
"You are right on at least a couple of points there,.." He now slid his shorts on. He felt about ten as he said, "There were some extenuating circumstances. Sorry BL, you can get out now."
BL slid out General Lee’s window when Luke said it was ok now. Sitting on the tarp BL looked at Dixie, blanket wrapped around her like a beach towel. 
“Are you deliberately trying to antagonize Luther?” BL asked. She wasn’t thinking about how Clyde was going to react to her not having been home yet since leaving Friday morning, except to take Sadie home, Friday afternoon.
“No”, Dixie replied. “Well what did you see?”, BL asked. 
“This”, Luke said, getting the camera and a flashlight from his truck. “You’ll be able to see better once they're printed.” Bo sat behind BL, putting his arms around her as Luke scrolled through the pictures with one hand, holding the maglite in the other.
BL stated the obvious, "They look too small to be luxury homes."
“That’s cos they ain’t luxury homes, Boss just blew up the picture in the ad so it looked like a luxury home”,Luke said.
Dixie nodded her head 'yes', "They are very tiny.”
Luke said, "Are you all staying with us?" He had a piece of wood about to put it in the fire to keep it going.
“How about it darlin’?”, Bo asked BL while massaging her shoulders.
“Yeah”, BL said. She was more relaxed now, than Bo had seen her all day. Luke tossed another piece of wood on the fire then he put the camera and flashlight back in his truck.
—--------------------------------
Luke had to dig deep in his bag but finally found what he was looking for, a full quarter of Jesse's finest. It had been a long while since he and Bo had had a night like this with the girls of their choice. Luke intended for it to be a good one. "Anyone care to join me?"
“I will” Dixie said, adding as she took her clothes from BL,”be back in a second”. Dixie got up, disappearing behind what little coverage there was.
”Me too”, BL said. It had been a rough few days and Bo’s massaging hands had her relaxed.Coming back after dressing, Dixie took the tin cup of shine Luke handed her. Luke had found a couple tin camping cups he kept stowed in the pickup. Bo got his own camp cup and his sleeping bag, from General Lee’s trunk, something had told him he might need his camping gear, so he’d put it in the General before going to the Boar’s Nest. Spreading out the sleeping bag, he sat down, patting beside him “come sit with me darlin”, Bo said to BL.
—-----------------
Everyone was enjoying a drink of shine while relaxing by the fire near the water. The evening temperatures were nearly perfect with a bit of a warm breeze blowing. 
Dixie and Luke had always been comfortable together, for the most part way too comfortable.
Dixie knew that BL and Bo had always run around together but really hadn't known them to date or well date steadily. Maybe it was something, maybe it was nothing but it seemed that they were acting a bit closer tonight. Dixie took a long slow drink of the shine, "I really missed all this while I was gone."
"All what, Darlin'?" Luke asked.
"This. Just coming out here. Stopping at a random stop and being able to set up camp, have a drink with friends and family. By the way, exactly how long were you planning all this?" 
Luke smiled, "I really wasn't planning anything."
—----------------------
BL said, "Yet you had everything ready to camp out?"
"Remember I work in the woods. If I have my truck even at base camp, I'm golden. If we jump or hike in then we are limited to what we want to carry besides everything that we have to carry." Luke noticed Bo's hands doing a bit of wandering as they were all talking. Wandering hands was not unusual for Bo Duke, but the fact they were wandering over BL Davenport and she wasn't objecting was different.
“Camping gear maybe but do you always carry this?”,BL held up the jar of shine, before refilling her cup.
“No, I planned to bring the shine”, Luke admitted. Bo pushed BL’s hair to the side nuzzling her neck. 
 
Luke was always the planner, "Say Bo, before we get too settled, we need to go grab a bit more wood."
Bo gave BL a kiss and said, "We'll be right back." Bo didn't complain because he had actually wanted to talk to Luke in private. Down by the water, Bo checked his wallet and found what he expected. He had just one rubber. "Luke, would you happen to have an extra?"
Luke wasn't thinking along his lines, "Extra what?"
—-----------------------------
While the guys gathered more wood BL and Dixie had some privacy and BL wanted to talk, “Dixie, have you lost the good sense the good Lord gave you?”, BL asked.
Dixie couldn't help but give BL the slightest grin, "Meaning what?"
“Well for starters, how about being parked so close to the side of the road, doing what you were doing”,BL said.
"I'll admit I'm probably more than a bit to blame for that." Dixie bit her lip and grinned mischievously.
“There’s no probably about it”, BL tried to give Dixie a disapproving look but didn’t quite pull it off.
Dixie shrugged her shoulders and took a long drink of shine, "It was a long time coming." She couldn't help the grin as the double meaning of her statement struck her funny bone.
“Better ease up on this stuff”BL shook her cup, swirling her shine around. “We got to work tomorrow”, BL took a long drink, ignoring her own advice.
"I have a holiday, they missed giving me. I'm off tomorrow." She said taking another drink of shine.
“Got an answer for everything tonight don’t you?, What are you gonna tell Luther about not coming home?”, BL gave Dixie a smug look.
Dixie said, "Maybe I'll just tell him what I do isn't any of his business."
Before BL could reply, the guys were back with the wood. Luke asked, "What isn't any of who's business?
—-----------------------------
“You know what. There’s a pretty girl waiting for me over there,” Bo said. Luke finally caught Bo’s train of thought, “I think so, let me check”, Luke took out his own wallet, he had a few rubbers and gave one to Bo. “Here, lucky for you, I have a few”. They gathered more firewood, then returned to the campsite, Luke threw a couple sticks on the fire. 
Bo let his hands wander some more as he and BL started to kiss, a little at first then deeper with each kiss they shared. The campfire wasn’t burning as hot as their passion though.
Luke had managed to move his stuff just a bit out of the light and a might further away from Bo and BL. Luke certainly had no plans to sleep beside Dixie with Bo and BL on the other side of the fire. Once everything was laid out they settled back in to watch the fire, sip some more shine and cuddle under the stars.
Bo and BL picked up where they had stopped earlier, Bo slid his hands under BL’s shirt undoing her bra. At the same time she was unbuttoning his shirt, trailing kisses all the way to his belly button. Not giving Luke nor Dixie another thought, clothes were shucked and they were soon spent and breathing hard, Bo’s sleeping bag around them. BL wrapped in Bo’s arms, drifted off into peaceful slumber. Kissing BL’s temple, Bo too found sleep easy.
^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hmmm, that gives me an idea. You could still come to the race but you can be the one who shoots the starter gun and waves the checkered flag. Except....we've never really used the checkered flag. Nobody has ever finished all four laps so if you left right after the race started you won't have to witness all the carnage. If you are on probation and can't shoot a starter gun, I'm sure Bo or Luke will lend you a bow and dynamite arrow. 

boat 
(we're gonna need a bigger boat) 

Thanks Roger, there i more to come I just didn't get a chance to post yet.

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.

Play IT Again Luke

boat 
(we're gonna need a bigger boat) 

Hmmm, that gives me an idea. You could still come to the race but you can be the one who shoots the starter gun and waves the checkered flag. Except....we've never really used the checkered flag. Nobody has ever finished all four laps so if you left right after the race started you won't have to witness all the carnage. If you are on probation and can't shoot a starter gun, I'm sure Bo or Luke will lend you a bow and dynamite arrow. 

boat 
(we're gonna need a bigger boat) 

The next morning a few minutes after unlocking the post office and turning the sign from closed to open Cletus appeared, automatically without being told, he took a number and, retrieved  his wallet from his pocket to show his license, Bo only a few 
minutes behind from the other days, came in taking a number and  readying his own license. 
—-----------------
Thursday had been quiet, BL parked her GTO in the lot behind the post office after delivering the mail, same as she had all week,"c’mon Sadie “. 
“You're under arrest for mail fraud, naughty, naughty BL” Rosco said, removing his cuffs from his belt.
 “Mail  fraud! Rosco, have you gone squirrely? I ain’t nor would I be involved in mail fraud” BL said 
“Tiddly tuddly, this says otherwise,“ Rosco fanned out 5, $100 bills. 
Giving up on arguing, BL went with him over to the courthouse then saying,”I want my phone call”. Who to call was the problem, she didn’t want to get her daddy involved, so ruled out calling home or the garage. “Mabel, can you get me Tri-Counties Jail please?” BL held her breath, as she waited hoping Dixie answered instead of one of her coworkers… 
"Tri-Counties Jail, Officer Davenenport." Dixie said answering the phone automatically with the standard greeting. 
"Dixie, I need you to pick me up after work, Rosco arrested me for mail fraud, ME can you believe it?" 
"What? What in the world? Has he lost his mind?.... Nevermind, answering that." Dixie replied. "Why don't you call Cooter? He's  across the road." 
"I was afraid Luther would answer or at least overhear and he'd tell Daddy." BL blew out a breath. 
"Dang it! Sadie's still at the post office, can you get hold of Cooter to get her please? This is my one call." 
Rosco pointed to his watch, telling BL her time was just about up. 
—-------------------
When Dixie got off the phone with BL, she was glad that no one else was currently around. She made a call and found out Judge Druten was on duty for Hazzard County. 
She placed a call to his office and found out he would be in Hazzard later that afternoon.  After taking care of a few things, Dixie was changed and on her way to pick up Sadie then head over to the Courthouse. Before entering the town of Hazzard, she passed General Lee... 
—-----------------------------
After hanging up with Dixie, Rosco took BL downstairs to the first cell.
 Bo wondered what Dixie was headed toward Hazzard so early for, he picked up the CB mic. 
"Lost Sheep 2 to Little Shotgun, you sick or somethin?"
Dixie was already pulling over into a wide spot, "Turn around a minute." 
Bo turned General Lee on a dime and pulled in behind Dixie, "What's up?" 
"We got Trouble." Dixie stressed the last word. "BL's in jail."
That wasn't a phrase Bo thought he'd ever hear in broad daylight, "What? BL's where?!?"
Dixie explained what she knew and they both headed to the Post Office for Sadie.  ‘
—--------------
When they arrived at the Post Office they found Sadie laying on her blanket giving Boss Hogg a look, he was muttering about incompetent Sheriffs and dipstick deputies…. 
Both heard the very distinct sound of General Lee pull up and stop out front of the Post Office. Sadie jumped up and began wagging her tail. Boss Hogg mumbled under his breath about not having the time to deal with any no account Dukes. Bo and Dixie found the Post Office locked and the closed sign out. Dixie knocked on the door and knocked harder when she saw Boss Hogg inside, "I need to get Sadie." For a moment he had forgotten about the Davenport girl’s dog. "Alright, alright, this ain't no place for a flea bag." Boss unlocked the door and opened just wide enough for Sadie to make her escape. 
—------------------------
Over at the courthouse, Judge Druten looked BL in the eye, clearing his throat saying “BL Davenport, you are being charged with mail fraud. Bond is set at $2000 If found guilty of this crime you could be sentenced upto a year in prison. Do you understand this charge and the penalty?”
 BL felt her knees weaken at the mention of prison, ”yes your honor”, BL answered weakly.  
At the mention of prison and seeing how BL answered, Bo started to protest her innocence. He had no sooner opened his mouth when Dixie gave him a sharp elbow to his ribs. He caught Dixie's slight shake of her head, 'no', he wisely hushed.  
Dixie asked politely, "Is that cash, property, or bondsman?" 
Judge Druten studied the young woman and felt he should know her but he could not place her. "Yes, yes it is Miss." 
"If I can call Danny, I have the $215.00 right here," Dixie said. Judge Druten motioned her to the phone.
Dixie had the call placed and said, "Danny this is Dixie from Tri Counties. I could personally use you over here at Hazzard Courthouse to go a bond for my cousin." 
Now Judge Druten knew how he knew her, she worked at Tri-Counties Jail. 
BL looked at Bo and Dixie desperately ”I don’t know what’s going on but I ain’t done nothin”. 
”Of course you ain’t darlin’ we're gonna get to the bottom of this. Ain’t we Dixie?” 
Dixie had a determined look in her eyes ”We sure will, you just wait whoever is framing you will get theirs.” 
Balladeer: With BL's bond paid, the Davenport girls and Bo headed to the Boar's Nest. 
—-----------------
Luke pulled into the Boars Nest after his rather long drive from work. As he got out of the truck, Bo, BL, and Dixie all pulled in together from the direction of town. "What's up?" Luke asked. 
Dixie said, "You do mean other than me having to bond BL out of jail. Right?" 
"What?" Luke asked. 
"We'll tell you inside." Dixie replied. 
—----------------------
The group went inside, making their way to their usual table in the back. Cooter came in right behind them, Daisy came over to take their orders but before she could speak, Luke said “Dixie, why did you have to bond BL out of jail?”  
Cooter and Daisy looked at Luke, like he had 2 heads “what?!”  They asked in unison. Daisy sat down in the empty chair, she had to hear this for herself. Dixie told them all the story as she knew it.  
“I don’t know what but Boss Hogg is upto something. He was in the post office when I got back from delivering the mail.”  
BL added the part of the story Dixie and Bo didn’t know.
"That's funny," Dixie said, "He was there when Bo and I stopped to pick up Sadie." 
Luke frowned, "Well, whatever he's trying to set up, he's had all the time in the world to invent any evidence he needs."  
Luke's comment wasn't at all popular with the group and was met by each protesting that they had to do something.  
Luke tried to settle the others down, "Now exactly what do we know? Did Rosco give you any idea how you are supposed to be committing mail fraud?" 
“Not the slightest but he was acting odd the other day but that ain’t nothing new for Rosco” BL shrugged her shoulders. 
—-----------------------------
“How was he acting exactly?” Luke asked. 
“He had some letters or something that he was real anxious to mail. I told him the mail truck would be there any minute to make the morning mail pick up, that he’d have to wait until the afternoon but he kept hanging around.” 
Luke took a long drink of his beer as he thought, "Has anyone in town sent or received anything strange or out of the ordinary?" He asked. 
"I've only worked a few days, but the only thing I've thought was weird was that Cletus rented a large box but hasn't gotten any mail in it. I mean Bo rented a large box but he's at least got some mail in it. Then, there was that $100.00 bill that fell out  of his mail the other day." BL explained. 
“That could be something, Have you seen any more money?” Luke asked. 
BL shook her head ‘no’, “I just put the mail in the box that the mail is addressed to, don’t pay attention to whose name’s on it,” BL said.  
Looking at Bo, deciding her innocence being proven was more important than rules, “Was there more than once you got $100 Bo?”  BL asked. 
“Yeah a few actually”, Bo answered. “I figured that those $100 were all fan clubs, a fan club wanting a picture for every member,” Bo continued.  
"Bo. How many fan clubs want your picture?" Luke asked. He hoped it wasn't many. Something just wasn't setting right about it with Luke. 
"I don't know 4 or 5 maybe," Bo replied. BL looked at Luke, her expression saying 'what'?. 
Luke rubbed the back of his neck tiredly, "Something isn't right here. It's just not adding up." Luke looked to Bo in disbelief, "You really have over $500.00 for pictures of you and General  Lee, ... and you don't think that's odd?" 
Bo was a bit hurt, "Now, Luke you are just mad that they want my picture or are you upset that you are missing out on some extra cash." 
"Pictures that you are looking at fifty cents on a pop. No, you have fun with that." Luke declared. 
"But, I'm not, see when they order in bulk I save envelopes and some postage too." Bo argued. 
—---------------------------
Balladeer: It was times like these that made Luke wonder why he'd come back to Hazzard instead of sharing a place with his team much closer to base camp. 
Dixie got up and headed for the jukebox. Luke zeroed in, forgetting all about pictures and money. 
Balladeer: That’s why he came back, folks.
^^^^^^^^^^^

 

I've been a bit lazy reporting the last couple of races of the F1 season because the Drivers' and Constructors' Championships had already been decided. The season finished on November 20th, but it's taken me a week to post the review. Like last year, the final race of the season was in Abu Dhabi, but this time without the controversial ending.

For the race, the top three teams qualified in pairs, with the Red Bulls on the front row, the Ferraris on the second row and the Mercedes on the third row. This year's champion, Max Verstappen, got a good start and never looked back, taking an easy win for a record-breaking 15th time in a season. Lewis Hamilton had a first lap incident with Carlos Sainz and great game of cat and mouse with Sergio Perez, but eventually had to retire with hydraulic issues. It's the first year of his F1 career where he hasn't had a pole position or win. Charles Leclerc held off Sergio Perez to claim second place in the race and the Drivers' Championship, and also secured Ferrari's second place in the Constructors' Championship ahead of Mercedes.

A fair bit of the weekend's coverage was devoted to four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel, who has decided to retire from F1. He managed to claim a single point for finishing 10th in his final race.

You can watch the race highlights here.

Next year in F1, Daniel Ricciardo returns to Red Bull as a reserve/test driver, while his place at McLaren is taken by 2021 Formula 2 champion and current Alpine reserve driver Oscar Piastri. F2 driver Logan Sargeant takes Nicholas Latifi's place at Williams. Nico Hulkenberg returns to F1 to replace Mick Schumacher at Haas. 2021 Formula E World Champion Nyck de Vries joins F1 to replace Pierre Gasly at Alpha Tauri. Gasly moves to Alpine to replace Fernando Alonso, and Alonso moves to Aston Martin to replace Sebastian Vettel. Driver line-ups at Red Bull, Ferrari, Mercedes and Alfa Romeo remain the same as this year.

In other news, McLaren Racing boss Zak Brown has called for a change to the current driver qualification system to make it easier for IndyCar drivers to join F1 by employing a similar 'super-licence' system to Formula 2. It was also announced last week that next year's Chinese Grand Prix has been cancelled due to the country's Covid policies.

Hmmm, that gives me an idea. You could still come to the race but you can be the one who shoots the starter gun and waves the checkered flag. Except....we've never really used the checkered flag. Nobody has ever finished all four laps so if you left right after the race started you won't have to witness all the carnage. If you are on probation and can't shoot a starter gun, I'm sure Bo or Luke will lend you a bow and dynamite arrow. 

Oh I love racing...just not of milk or people getting sick. LOL. 

The list certainly has quite a few questionable entries. What I found weird is that the picture they used for #23 is a publicity shot of Joaquin Phoenix as The Bandit from the re-make 'Smokey and the Bandit Rides Again' which was originally due for release in 2020. As far as I can see, this reboot has disappeared without trace.