Garrett Duke

I wish your brother the best of luck with the National Guard and with where that road will take him. Please thank him for me for his bravery and for serving our country.

That'd be fun to have an online Duke Christmas...sorry I am kinda behind here. Just name the time and night and I will try to make it. If I am not doing anything else and can get to a computer...I'll be there.

That was very nice and creative, Daisy...not the whole twelve days of Christmas, but applying it to the Dukes. Very entertaining...thank-you for sharing it with us. I assume from your name sake on here and your two favorite verses that you like anything with Daisy and Enos it it.

Thank-you Jamie for posting and letting us all know what was wrong with your sister's fiancee. I am really glad for you all that it is something that is treatable and nothing too serious. Hopefully he has fast and well recovery.

Well congrats on the thousandth post, Meadowmufin! That is an accomplishment...I have a long ways to go before I reach mine...guess I better get to posting more. Anyways, thank-you to you and the rest of the moderators of this great site for all of your hard work you have put into this site to make it possible for all of us to enjoy! It has been a great second Hazzard home to me for the past eight years or so (something like that) Anways, thank-you for everything!

Amanda- I am sorry to hear about your fiance. I hope that whatever is wrong with him, will be cureable/treatable. You both will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Staring out through the small window that hangs over the small night stand that seperates his bed from Bo's, Luke allows the harsh and intense emotions to swell heavily within him. His thoughts flow roughly within him only to reignite the powerful emotions that he has submitted to. Emotions that has ran through him the past couple of weeks, emotions that he has fought hard to hide from the world around him. Just as he has always done. Hiding his emotions had always protected him while allowing him to be strong for his cousin; just as he had always been told to do while growing up. Be strong, be there for him, protect him. He hid his emotions while Bo showed his emotions clearly through his emotion-filled blue eyes and how he acted, always reacting to how he feels before thinking. Leaving him open and vulnerable. Now that Bo was gone and he was left alone at the old farm, he saw little sense of hiding his pain and anger that rages within him or the questioning and anger thoughts that flood within. Taking a step back, he stares sadly down at Bo's bed that Paul had so greedily accepted upon Bo's departure. Guilt once again soars through Luke as his mind wonders back to yesterday and the powerful and hateful words he had spoken towards his cousin, his best friend. Guilt as he silently re-pictures the blood flowing from Bo's nose after he had punched him squarely in the face and the tears swelling in his cousin's eyes. Guilt towards teh emotional and physical pain he had inflicted upon Bo. "Damn it," he cusses out loud to break through the eery silence. He had fought Bo unfairly in the fact that he had used strong and powerful moves he had learned while in the Marines towards him. Bo had fought back as much as he could and with all his practice he has had over the years of the fights he had been in, it was nothing compared to Luke's fighting skills. Luke knew he was stronger and smarter than him and he had used it against him to inflict as much pain as possible to him. The only thing saving Bo from being seriously hurt or killed was Daisy and Jesse yelling at him to stop, when he did, he had forced Bo out of the house. Forcing him out as if he was the one in charge and not Jesse. And why? Because he had threatened to invade upon the friendship he had with Paul of only a couple of weeks. He was suppose to be strong, be there for Bo, to protect Bo. Yet it was him who inflicted the most pain. Physical and emotional. He had hurt Bo for the sake of a stranger, a stranger who seemed fun and adventuresome. Open and welcoming. Honest and friendly. But most of all, Paul was the same age of Luke. Had been in the military and had been to war to see the violence and hatred. The blood and death. He listened and understood to Luke and how he felt. He's been there, done that. They had spent hours up at night comparing war and military stories. Bo listened and understood the basics of what he went through, but not the whole thing. Not like Paul. More anger and guilt swells within him as realization slowly sinks in as his thoughts continue to unravel within him as he rewinds through the past couple of weeks. Has their similar war pasts forced him to be so blind? Make him turn towards a stranger and inflict so much pain on the person who he had cared teh most for? Bo may not understand the four years he had spent at war or the time preparing for war, but he was always there for him. Always. Bo was always there to for him to listen, to laugh with, to help out any way he could; even if he didn't always understand. Once again, Cooter was right. Luke of all people should know Bo the best. Afterall they shared the same room for most of their life, spent nights up talking about their problems, spent most of their time together. Now staring down at Bo's bed and going through the past and sorting out his hidden emotions, he strongly realizes that Bo wouldn't warn him of Paul or accuse Paul so strongly without knowing something. "Damn it," he repeats as fear builds within him as he hears Bo's warnings in his head once again of Paul. Fear of the damage Paul has already done or is about to do with Hazzard and his family. Most of all, his fear builds within him as his strong gut feeling yells at him that Bo's in serious trouble, the same gut feeling that seems to warn him each time his cousin gets in some kind of trouble. Closing his eyes for a short moment, he says a silent prayer for his cousin before he reopens them and runs out to the phonee to dial in Cooter's number. "Crazy Cooter," his friend drawls on the other side of the line, "You've reached Hazzard County Garage, how can I help you?" "Cooter!" Luke yells desperately into his friend's ear, "I know I am not the person you probably want to talk to right now and I understand why.l I was a total jerk...to you and to everyone! But. . ."Luke cuts himself off to catch a breath, "I need a favor. I need a car or a truck. Something I can drive." Luke glances around the empty farm as fear builds desperately within him, hoping that Paul stays away for at least a half hour and that he's far away from where ever Bo is. "Well," he hears Cooter slowly begin to answer to force Luke's nerves to sky rocket within him, "OK." "Thanks Cooter. I'll explain when you get here," Luke sighs heavily as he hears Cooter hang up and he slowly does the same before he begins to walk nervously back and forth. (CUE LORI)

Oops...dumb ol' me. Sorry Roger...I didn't stop to look at the date you had posted that post about your daughter's up coming baby. For some odd reason, I had thought it was an old post that I hadn't read before for some reason...it's been a long day. Well congratulations on your news, Roger! I hope it all goes well and that in June you will have a healthy grandson or granddaughter!

Well Roger...did your little grandson or granddaughter make Waylon's b-day? If so, that would be neat.

Y'alls ideas sound pretty good, though to be honest with you, if they did a modern television show of the Dukes, I can't see myself watching it or being a fan. Perhaps an episode or two to see what it is about and what they do with it, but that is about it. To me, nothing could ever match the original Dukes or the original characters...that was the real deal to me.

Well, I really didn't mean Alan Jackson or any of the other artists as being new, new. Just that they are still currently making music and they play their music on the radio stations. Most of my favorites of the newer Country have been out for a while. Toby has been out for around fifteen years, all Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, and Tim McGraw has been making music for several years now. I guess I should have clarified myself a little better. Alan Jackson has been performing/singing Country for like twenty or so years, so he is definately not brand new to the scene...though if y'all wanna hear something sad. (I may have said it before, I'm not sure) They turned Alan Jackson away when he had first came to Nashville to be a singer...said he was too country! I also have to correct myself...again. I do like Toby Keith and most of his music, like his new song that he currently has out (can't think of the title). There has just been a couple of his songs within the past couple of years that I haven't been too big of a fan of. You are lucky...I don't think we have any stations like that. The only ones I am aware of only or mainly play the newer stuff. Sunday nights they have two hours for retro country which is for the older stuff - but I never get to listen to it. I am usually busy.

You're not the only one that likes them! Thanks to my sister, I have their album and do enjoy the songs that are on it. I am glad to hear Country playing them - they sound good together!

Dixie_Nachelle01 - Don't be sorry for sharing this info with us. I appreciate hearing any Duke related news out there. Even the bad, though I would much rather hear the positive and happy news about them. As for Tom's punishment, it does seem kinda lenient (Sp?) especially for someone who should have money. But other than that, I don't know how the law works with any sort of thing like that. Maybe it goes by how many offenses you have in that charge...kinda like a DUI where the third one they take the license. Or something like that - so maybe the fine or punishment gets heavier with each offense. I don't know...but it does seem kind of lenient. Hopefully the punishment he has receieved, with prayers and help, he will be awaken with the reality of the bad choice he has made and will seek help. My prayers and thoughts are with Tom as he faces this battle, that he may see through his ways and find the help that he needs to recover.

That is sad...and surprising. I never had anything like that happen before, but a long while ago, I had called in requesting Waylon's "Good Ol' Boys" (You know, you can never have enough Waylon. My opinion) and they didn't have that song. I found it kinda ironic because a couple of years after that when Waylon had died...I was living in Oklahoma at this time. . . my sister heard "Good Ol' Boys" on her radio station and she listens to rock! I am back to where I once lived and I do believe I heard them play that song once on the radio, so they must've gotten it along the way or they just didn't feel like playing it back then. Who knows. . . I wouldn't mind a little mix of the two. Oldies and the current songs. Well some of them. I like Kenny Chesney, Keith Uban, Tim McGraw, and Alan Jackson. I also like Toby Keith, but am not a big fan of the last couple of songs he has gotten out. But I agree...I think Country should play some of the older stuff as well. I get excited when I hear the older stuff on the radio. Like today on my way home from work, I turned onto the country station to get the last part of Eddie Rabbit's "I love a Rainy Day" I love that song!

First off...I am not here to judge Tom and the choices he has made. We all make bad choices in our lives that we later have to face or regret doing...at least I know I have. The difference is, is that Tom and the rest of celebrities has the whole world watching them and judging their action. It is great to learn all you can about your favorite celebrities out there, but sometimes the media takes it too far. They are people just like everyone else and deserve to have their own privacy and lives for themselves. At the same time, celebrities should keep it in mind when they do things that "everyone" is going to find out if you are caught with anything you shouldn't have or do anything you shouldn't do. That people / kids do look up to them. Being a Duke fan...I have to admit, like most shows I watch or follow, it is hard to see past the character. I mean, I think of Tom...I think of Luke. Say John Schneider, I think Bo. And so on. . .people find it hard to see past their well played and well known characters to see that it is Tom's bad choice and not Luke's. I agree with what was said earlier on in this thread by someone...the characters on the show are made to look perfect in most ways, they are well written for and well acted for. The actors/actresses on the show are human and make mistakes of their own. I for one was surprised to read the little that I did read about Tom and what he got caught with. Hopefully it all is just a really bad rumor, if not, I hope he recieves the help, support, and the prayers that he needs and deserves. Well there is my unasked for opinion about the topic. . .

Watching his troubled uncle, guilt swarms heavily through Bo's exhausted body as he struggles with the thoughts and emotions that seems to have a tight control over him. Guilt at the worry and fear that he had installed within his aging uncle by telling him the truth. The truth he had been threatened not to tell anyone. And now that he has, the heavy consequences to his actions looms heavily ahead of him. Bo gulps heavily as his imagination vividly grabs a tight hold over him, imagining vivid scenes of watching Luke get tortured to death. Of the blood that is lost and of the pain and fear that Luke would endure within the past few moments of his life. "No, no," Bo hears himself mumbling as fear once again washes over him at the thought of his consequences. A large bound of emptiness quickly seems to grow within him at the thought of a life without his cousin there. He has always had his older cousin to turn to for help with the large exception of when he had went off to boot camp and off to war. And now once again he no longer has him in his life to turn to; to talk to or to ask for help. But now he may never have Luke to turn to now that he has done the unspeakable and has told the truth about Paul. If only I could ask Luke for help, he'd know what to do. Bo takes a deep breath as the thoughts and questions roll through him, silently telling himself to shut-up. It is too late, nothing he can do now but to prepare for the worse. "How. . .how can you promise that?" Bo stutters, looking up at his uncle for the first time as he feels another tear melt down his cheek, "Especially now that I told someone." Bo pauses, continuing to fight the emotions within himself. "I. . .I just might have gotten Luke killed."

My all time favorite movie is the first Smokey and the Bandit, so I'd have to say that my favorite Burt Reynolds' movie would be the first Smokey and the Bandit. I'll admit that I thought teh beginning of the second movie was funny, but other than that, I didn't like it at all. I thought I could have thought of a better plot than that...all that of my opinion of course.

"Paul and his friends are in Hazzard to get at Hogg and Coltrane," Bo hears himself explaining despite his common sense yelling at him to shut up, "Coltrane arrested Paul's dad over twenty years ago and Hogg had helped make sure he were to receive the death penalty." Jesse comes to a halt at a stop sign to eye his nephew in the dark once again, his story slowly sinking in. "Now he's back on revenge on his dad's behalf?" Bo shrugs. "Something like that I am guessing," Bo goes silent, looking down at his hand that begin to shake in fear and worry, "but they think that by gaining y'all's trust, that they can get closer to Hogg and Coltrane without them suspecting them of anything." "How's that?" Jesse asks as the fear increases within him, "Or what they gonna do to Hogg and Coltrane?" Once again, Bo shrugs. "I. . .I don't know," he pauses longly, "I had walked into the barn to find him talking on his cell phone the second day he was at the farm. He was arguing loudly over something and had mentioned through it that the plan was to get close to the Dukes to get closer to Hogg and Coltrane to be able to execute their plan." Bo goes silent as he turns away from Jesse to stare out the window, "Then he turned around to see me standing there. He pocketed the phone, shoved me in the corner and placed a gun to my head. Said if I said one word to anyone or anything that I'd be the key witness to Luke being tortured to death...to Luke's slow and painful death." It goes silent in the truck for a couple of long moments as the both men are lost in their dreadful thoughts of what is locked up at the farm with Luke. "I found out about Paul's dad by going to the library and looking through old articles," Bo slowly continues, answering Jesse's unasked question, "there was an article about his dad, Paul Thomas Sr. killing a Heath Sleddger over a lost bet that led into a fight at The Boar's Nest. Paul Jr was seven years old at the time and had adored his father...as the article put it. Paul Sr. was arrested by Rosco himself and sentenced by Hogg here in Hazzard who never liked Paul Sr due to a dispute they both had years before that. Hogg asked for the death penalty over Sr and Sr got the death penalty." Jesse nods in the dark, his memory bringing back what Bo has just recounted. "I remember that now that you spoke it. Most Hazzardites begged for Hogg's forgiveness of Thomas and to give him a little mercy and Hogg refused. Said he wasn't about to have murderer alive and well just because he went a little soft," Jesse slowly responds, "and on Thomas went to the pen to sit behind bars for years in wait for his own death." He turns to eye Bo accusingly as it all slowly sinks in, "You knew Hogg and Coltrane was in danger due to Paul and his friends and yet you didn't do nothing? They could be dead right now!" "I tried warning y'all he was trouble, that someone was going to get hurt if he were to stay. Y'all told me to keep my thoughts to myself if I didn't have nothing to prove it by...that I shouldn't be jealous of Paul, but to be happy for Luke. I tried warning y'all," Bo angrily throws back at him, tears streaking his cheeks once again, "I couldn't say anything. . .he'll kill Luke." (Cue Lori)

"You deaf? Why didn't you answer me when I call you?" Jesse's voice is stern but a smile flashes across his face as he tightly hugs onto his nephew, glad to finally see him. "You look alright." Bo nods. "Zecheriah said you helped fix his fence for him. That was nice of you." Bo shrugs. "I had to do something," he slowly responds. "How about we go for a ride?" Jesse slowly states, motioning to his truck, "I think we need to talk. The General will be fine parked in the bushes as you have it." Bo goes to protest before thinking better of it. Nodding, he silently follows Jesse to his truck and climbs into the passenger seat. Driving away, Jesse once again breaks the silence, "First off, I need to apologize to you for not listening when you had attempted to warn us. I guess it is just easier to believe and listen to the positive rather than the negative," Jesse goes silent as he steals a glance over at his nephew, "secondly, after listening to Cooter's and Luke's argument this afternoon, I slowly came to the conclusion that you must know something or something had made you to feel that strongly against Paul. You have never accused anyone of anything unless you had a damn good reason to do so. "Which to think you are right, about Paul, only sends fear thickly through me of what the bleak future ahead holds for all of us," Jesse goes silent again, watching his nephew out of the corner of the eye while old memories flood deeply within. Memories of him driving a younger Bo around, of the few and small chances he had been able to spend with Bo alone without Luke or Daisy around. "What's going on, Bo? What all do you know about Paul, that we don't?" Bo eyes his uncle somberly as his emotions turn into raw fear at what his uncle is asking him of to send his thoughts back two weeks. "I can't say anything," Bo finally states to receive an angry look from Jesse, "I'm sorry. Paul said that if I. . ." "If you, what?" Jesse quickly questions as Bo slowly trails off, catching onto what he was saying, "He threatened you?" Bo shakes his head. "Luke," he says, his voice softens into a whisper as tears melt down his cheeks once again at the thought of the threat. "That's great. He's alone with Luke," Jesse slowly states. "If I don't say nothing, he should be fine," Bo softly responds, "which I won't." "Yeah you will. To me," Jesse says, his words are spoken firmly and sternly, "between you and me." Bo eyes Jesse with fear, this thoughts wrestling roughly within him of whether or not to do as he is told to do by Jesse. If he says something and Paul finds out. . .

Exhaustion melts over Bo's body as he settles within the backseat of The General while watching the evenning sky slowly and gently fading from light into darkness. As he settles down, more questions explodes within him as his mind returns to the fight that he had with Luke last night. All afternoon he had kept himself busy by lending a helping hand to Zecheriah and his faulty fence along with several other chores that had been in need of taking care of. When asked, he had told a white lie stating Jesse had told him to run over to help him out since he was busy back at the Duke farm. But now as he lies back in the backseat of The General, his mind once again, returns to Luke and the situation he has now found himself in. "Lost sheep two, you out there?" The CB crackles as his uncle's voice calls out at him through the CB radio to send more emotions racing down his back. At the sound of his uncle's voice intense guilt rushes through him at the thought of how much he has disappointed him, let him down, and of placing him in the middle of all of the fights between Luke and him. "This is Shepard looking for his Lost Sheep number 2. You out there?" Bo slowly sits up in the middle of the seat, staring at the CB radio in awe and in question. After all that he has done and created, why would Jesse be calling out to him for? To lend more criticism and advice? More punishment? After all, Jesse had admitted to Bo being at fault and had often times defended Paul when Bo had attempted to warn them of the danger they are in. Criticizing Bo for accusing Paul falsely without anything to back it up, that he should be happy for Luke, instead of jealous. "Lost Sheep 2, this is Shepard!" his voice grows urgent over the radio to force Bo to jump and instantly grab the mic as he would have done only days ago. Now he is filled with hesitancy and doubt. "C'mon Bo, it's Jesse." Jesse's voice seems to drown into a plea, "I need to talk to you. See you. See if you are OK. I want to help you." Bo eyes the mic once again as his uncle's words flow through him continuiously to send his emotions rocketing within him. Pressing the buttons on the side of the mic, Bo leans in to say something only to be choked up by the emotions ripping apart within him. Giving up, he lets go of the buttons and looks up through the windshield to be surprised to find the sky to have gone purely dark. "Damn it," he cusses aloud while outside the sound of a vehicle becomes audible. Tears begin to roll down his cheeks at the thought of never seeing his family again, of spending the rest of his life alone and hiding from the only family he knows. And why? To avoid endangering them more from Luke's new friend. Tires squealling to a halt behind him abruptly catches his attention and shock rushes through him at the sight of his uncle's dirty truck parked directly behind him. Excitement, surprise, and dread all rapidly race through him as he watches his uncle slowly step out of the truck to begin walking towards the parked General Lee. Throwing the mic down, Bo slowly climbs back over the front seat and through the driver's open window. "Uncle Jesse," Bo hears himself saying as he wipes away the tears that falls down his cheeks.

The elder Duke sadly watches Luke and his new friend angrily turn from Daisy to storm out of the kitchen and towards Luke's room. Luke's room that he once shared with Bo before that violent fight that had gotten his youngest child kicked out of the farm and off of Duke property. Luke's room that he now shares with Paul. Chills angrily cross Jesse's exhausted body at the thought of Paul sleeping on Bo's bed, wearing Bo's clothes, and using anything else that Bo had been forced to leave behind. Of all Jesse could see from Paul there isn't anything to be disliked about the guy. He was honest and hard working, he was smart and funny, sympathetic and caring. All at the same time. Yet there was obviously something about the guy that had gotten Bo so upset to have said the things he had said about him. Bo clearly knew something about Paul that no one else knows about, something he feared as dangerous to us or the rest of Hazzard. Bo has never been the type to say something so strong and negative about anyone without a cause or reason. He has never shown jealousy towards another person for missing out on something he wants to be a part of. Yet, when Luke had signed up for the Marines and had went off to war, Bo had been upset and angry at the whole world for taking his cousin away from him. Or as a child when Luke went with friends or did things he wasn't allowed to go with him to, he was upset for missing out and being left behind. So could Luke be right about Bo? Would Bo accuse Paul of such dreadful things in attempt to yank Paul away from Luke? Bo and Luke had been pretty much inseperatable ever since Bo came to live with us as a young baby. Luke had been over protective and had made sure to be there for Bo. Perhaps now that he has cut that bond between them for Paul. . . "Bo wouldn't have accused Paul or have acted so negatively about Paul. . ." Jesse speaks aloud and as Daisy looks confusedly up at him, he realizes he has finished his thoughts aloud. Smiling slightly he finishes his thought aloud, "Bo had gotten upset in the past when something or someone had taken Luke away from him or if Luke decided to go on without him. But Bo never accused that person or whatever it was that tore Luke away from him of anything as dreadful or negative as he has of Paul." Jesse goes silent as dread heavily floods over him, dread in realization that his youngest nephew had to have known something bad about Paul. Something so dangerous and fearful about Paul that he was willing to shatter the strong friendship he had with Luke in order to protect his whole family. For a long moment, Jesse stands paralyzed by fear that his strong realization has installed within him and the numbing imagination of all that it could be about. "I've got to," he hears himself saying as he grabs his keys on his way to the door, "I've got to go find Bo." Daisy sadly eyes him as he stops at the screen door, fear spreading across her pretty face as Jesse's realization seems to be contagious and she has finally caught on. "I'll go with you," she slowly states. "No, I think I better go by myself," Jesse slowly says as he eyes through the empty door way to the living room, fearing for the future or of leaving Daisy behind with Paul. Or leaving Luke alone with Paul, the friend he deeply trusts. "I want you to run into town and alert Cooter." Jesse goes silent, keeping an eye upon the empty living room. "Perhaps go to work early. . ." She nods as a tear runs down her cheek. "OK," she goes silent and whispers, "What about Luke?" Jesse shrugs. "I don't know. Bo warned him and it didn't do anything but seperate the two boys. Luke's tough," Jesse whispers. "But I have to run over to help a friend with his fence and to help out. They're going through a hard time right now. Say hi to Cooter for me, Daisy. Good luck at work." Jesse says it loudly so Luke, if listening, would know they were leaving and wouldn't get suspicious. "Will do," Daisy sniffles on a smile as they walk out the door together.

Thank-you Laura, for your explanation...I have always wondered how and why you got a green square instead of the gray one that I remain stuck with. That makes sense to me.

Sitting upon the Dukes front porch, Paul silently watches and listens into the conversation Luke is having with Cooter. Seeing the emotions twitch across the Duke's face causes anger and frustration to ripple through him with a sense of defeat. Defeat of shedding completely of the younger blond Duke, the only that had questioned everything he had done and suspected him. Luckily for him, he was able to win over the older Duke's trust before the blond was able convince him of anything. Though now after two weeks of creating fights between the two, the older Duke still seems to hold some strong feelings towards his cousin. From what he can hear from him and see, a small sense of regret and pain crosses Luke produced by the fight last night, by kicking Bo out of their lives. Despite the small defeat, he senses victory in knowledge that he had won the first couple tasks he had been sent to Hazzard to do. Gain trust from the Dukes and had gotten the bad seed kicked out before any real damage had been done to their plan. The plan. A small smile flickers across his handsome face as he silently goes through the well designed plan that him and his friends had worked so hard to gain perfection on. Now that they had long gone through the plan and found little to no room for any error, the plan is slowly revealed. Two weeks into the plan and everything has so far has gone as planned. With that, his small cell phone begins to annoyingly beep in his phone pouch as if on cue and Paul slowly takes it out, looks at the ID before answering. "Hey Rayes," he grins at hearing the familiar voice he had grown accostumed to ever since his initiation within the small group of dangerous men. "Everything as planned." "Great," Rayes slowly responds as a couple of voices is heard in the back ground from the other members, "we're depending on you, Paul. You mess up, you have me to deal with." "Hey, I ain't the one that's gonna mess up," Paul begins to state, resentment building deeply within him at the boss' implications, "I've done everything as planned so far and will continue to do so. By the time we are through, we'll have Hazzard begging us to stop." Silence filters through the phone for a short moment before he hears more voices in the background. "Fine," Rayes finally comes back, "I just want to make sure you're not forgetting what you are there for." "Give me a little trust here," Paul harshly snaps at him, "I've done everything you have asked, I am here, and I know why I am here - " "Damn it Luke!" the mechanic's angry voice abruptly interrupts him and Paul jumps slightly before looking up to find the mechanic stepping toward Luke, fire of anger in his eyes, "You've known Bo for most of your life, you've protected him, been there for him. And now that, that scum bag has entered Hazzard you throw him away as if he's yesterday's news!" the mechanic eyes me wildly, pointing at me before he walks back to the driver's door of his tow truck. "Bo's family, Luke. You hear me? Family." He pauses to open the door before starting back, "You know Bo better than this. He has never said anything out of jealousy or do anything of what you just told me unless he had a reason to do so!" "I'll call you back, Rayes," Paul says as Cooter goes silent, stepping back around his open door, closer to Luke. Nervously, Paul closes the phone and stands up while placing the phone back into it's case. "Yet when some stranger you hardly knows," Cooter begins, his voice quieter to force Paul to really have to concentrate to hear him, "walks in and says a whole bunch of fancy things, who you believe? The damn stranger from whom all you know about is from what he has told you! For someone so smart, Luke, you are being dumb and ignorant to trust a stranger over a family member that you would have done anything to do in order to protect only a few weeks ago!" "You think that was easy, huh? Because it wasn't or isn't," Luke states to cause more nervousness to ripple through Paul as he steps off of the porch, "I love him like a brother, but something has gotten into him, Cooter. He's been different. Ask Jesse or Daisy. It ain't just me, Cooter." Luke's voice is almost pleading Cooter to understand him, "I had to do something. He's caused havoc in this family, he is the one that tore it apart. Not me, and not Paul. It ain't Paul's fault he's jealous or saying those accusations." "You ever stop and listen to his accusations, Luke?" Cooter shoots back, "Maybe there is something to what he is saying. Think about it Luke, you don't want to throw Bo out of your life. You have no idea what you are doing to him or what you are doing to you and the rest of your family. Bo wouldn't accuse anyone of anything unless he knew of something or thought he was trying to stop them from harming someone or something. Just stop, Luke, and think of Bo and who he really is." "I know who Bo is, Cooter! I only share the room with him! But I tell you, he's changed!" Luke continues to fight for Paul, blind to any reason, "I'm not kicking Paul out just to satisfy your friend, Cooter. He's on his own and he did this to his own sorry self. . .not me or Paul. I am just sorry it came to this. I really am. Tell your friend that perhaps if he is ready to accept Paul as a friend and a part of this family and ready to apologize to him, just maybe we will accept him back. That is a huge maybe, though." Paul slowly steps forward to stop a foot apart from the two men who eye eachother angrily, both refusing to give the other any ground. "Hey Luke," he slowly states, "can I help out? I'm sorry, I couldn't help but to over hear." "Nah Paul, it's over," Luke smiles broadly, confident now with Paul at his side, "isn't Cooter? You were just about to leave." Cooter eyes Paul angrily, clenching his fists as he fights the strong urge to attack the dreadful man that has done so much damage to his closest friends. Looking back at Luke, he slowly realizes that now that he has crossed over, he is now to decide on who's side to take. Bo's or Luke's. Take Bo's side you lose Daisy and Jesse as well who seemingly to silently agree with Luke despite the pain it causes them. They too have grown to trust and to like Paul, refusing to see how Bo could turn on them as he seemingly has. How could they be so blind? "Yeah, I'm done," he eyes Luke angrily before eyeing Paul angrily before he steps back to his truck, stepping into his truck, he calls out, "I really hope you reconcider your decision Luke, because your decision will affect a whole lot more than just you. For Jesse's, Daisy's and your sake, I hope you are right. Because if Bo is right. . ." Cooter shakes his head in disgust and frustration as he slams the door close and restarts the truck. Sticking his head out, he calls out as he begins to back up, "I'll let y'all think of all that could happen if Bo is right." Paul silently watches as Cooter backs his dirty tow truck out of the drive way, his mind richocheting from what he had just heard to his phone conversation with his true friend. If he loses Luke to the mechanic and his idiot cousin, he'll have to face Rayes and the rest to deal with his failures. Without Luke and the Dukes, he lacks the trust of the town that he'll need to execute the plan correctly if you are to believe all that Rayes has said. Though deep down questions plague him of how one family could affect the whole town. How could you gain a whole town's trust and friendship with just the trust of a family of hillbillies? "I'm sorry, Luke," Paul forces a sad smile as he puts an arm around Luke's tense shoulders, "I didn't mean to create any problems between you and -" "As I said, Paul, " Luke slowly turns to Paul, "Bo did this to himself and now has Cooter. They are the ignorant ones to do this to you. I am the one sorry for their behavior. . .as I said, I don't know what had gotten into Bo or Cooter. I'm sorry, Paul." Paul shakes his head as they walk back to the porch together. "There is nothing you can do," he slowly shrugs, "you can't predict how people will react or have much control over them." "Very true," Luke forces a small smile as they walk back into the kitchen where Daisy and Jesse look up at them, tears staining their cheeks. Tears signifying that they had overheard Cooter's angry words and perhaps his own feedback towards Cooter. (CUE LORI)

You know what they say...great minds think alike.

Nothing like going around in circles, huh?