MaryAnne

*sighs, having not particularly liked pistolwhipping Chet but relieved now to have brought the situation under control. Stays straddled over the Duke, holstering gun and taking out hand cuffs. Unstraddles, kneeling next to Chet and rolls him over in the dirt, face down. Removes the gun from back waist of his jeans and tucks the weapon between gunbelt. Turns both of his hands on to his back and hand cuffs him.* *Searches and empties Chet's pockets, finding everything from knives, extra bullets, cigarettes, lighter, and any additional weapons that could be easily tucked away* Friggin' one man army... *places these items aside and looks at Chet and then at his horse, Blaze, trying to figure how to get both horse and rider back to town* *After a moment, stands up and goes around to the front of the Boar's Nest to get patrol car. Drives car around back, turning it around to face the parking lot again. Gathers up the confiscated items from Chet and places these in the front seat. Then opens the back door, goes back to where Chet lays, lifts him up and drags him to the patrol car.* Awright, in ya go... *it takes a bit to manuever Chet's dead weight, but manages to pull him up, turn him and fold him into the backseat of the patrol car. He sprawls across the seat, his feet are tucked into the car and the door is shut* *turns to Chet's horse, still standing watching what was happening. Speaks gently to the horse* He'll be okay. C'mon...we'll go back to town. I got some sugar for ya... *reaches out to the reins, grabbing one of them and hoping the horse is more compliant then Chet had been.* (And for this segment of our program, we must pause. LOL)

*continues to step toward Chet and when he looks toward his horse, suddenly lunges toward him, tackling him down the ground. Stays on the offensive, pulling gun from holster, spinning it in hand to hold it by the barrell and pistol whips the Duke upside the head, knocking him out cold* Sorry, Chet but that was for your own good...

*knows the hand hidden behind Chet's back has easy access to a firearm. Makes no immediate move for own weapon, however, right hand hovers close enough to holster and takes a few testing steps toward Chet* Yeah? What are you gonna do, Chet? Shoot me down?

The hell you ain't! *Before Chet's fingers pry hers loose from his arm, she lets go of both the saddle bag and Chet's arm and then suddenly reaches up with both hands to grab Chet by his shirt and yanks him hard downward out of the saddle.*

*hangs on to both the saddle bag and Chet, moving with the horse as it moves* Alex looked pretty healthy last time I saw him. You can't tell me the thought of coming after you because of all that happened hasn't crossed his mind. I'm trying to keep from anybody else getting hurt, especially you! Chet... please...

*With the horse all but stopped, puts feet on the ground, but doesn't completely let go of the saddle bag. Taking one hand free, grabs hold of Chet's arm* You are gonna be arrested because otherwise you're gonna end up dead! And I don't think you want that!

*As Chet struggles to get a hold of the reins and the horse is turning away from the building and taking steps to begin its gait, MaryAnne runs flat out toward the animal and rider. There's the scuff of hooves in the dirt and the creak of leather from the saddle and in the moonlight MaryAnne can see just enough to know she's close enough to reach out and grab hold of something. Just as the horse is launching into its gait, grabs hold of the saddle, gripping the straps of the saddle bag....* *....and hangs on for the ride...*

*follows a moment later out the front door, seeing Chet as he heads toward the far end of the building. Follows after him, rounding the building to the back. Sees him heading straight for his horse, ready to vault onto the animal* *keeps after him, closing the gap between them. Knows he'll have to slow down to jump on the animal and then get the horse moving. It would only buy MaryAnne a few extra moments and she would need every bit of them if she was going to have a chance to catch him* CHET!

*swings around at the crashing table and sees the flight of Chet Duke out the door* CHET!! FREEZE!! *grabs at the table, clumsily pushing it out of the way and runs out the door after Chet* (At this point, I'd like to ask at least for this segement of our program that we pause. LOL. Picture a freeze frame if you will of MaryAnne flying out the door after Chet with the words TO BE CONTINUED... at the bottom of your screen. Otherwise, Chet yer gonna git clean away from me and I hate the idea of you gettin' away that easily. LOL)

*nods, believing the answer to be truthful* Well, if ya do see 'em, let me know will ya? 'Preciate it.

*returns the smile* Hey B.L. I'm just checkin' to see if Chet's been in here tonight, or if anybody's seen him. I'd like to talk to him...

*The Hazzard County patrol car headed out of town and rumbled over the road, the pavement giving way to dirt. Red gumballs flashed silently through the darkness. There was no siren as MaryAnne knew Chet's mode of transportation was his horse and a screaming police siren would send the horse into a spooked frenzy. Alex probably would've liked to see Chet in traction, but MaryAnne only wanted the Duke behind bars.* *Up the road, the Boar's Nest came into view. A few cars were parked outfront, the outside lights washing over the front parking lot of the road house. MaryAnne pulled off the road and parked. She would only do a quick check to see if anyone had seen Chet at all that evening* *Inside, music blared from the jukebox and a thin crowd was hanging around. MaryAnne stepped inside and caught the attention of just about everybody there. It was rare for MaryAnne to be in the Boar's Nest in her police uniform. In some ways, she looked out of place* *MaryAnne ignored the looks and approached the bar...*

*Meanwhile, over at the courthouse, MaryAnne tends to a few miscellaneous bits of county business, but the larger issue of the events leading to Brian and Garrett being in their current condition weighed on her mind. She knew Brian wouldn't have shot Garrett in cold blood. Chet's explanation was pretty much an admition of guilt. A terrible chain reaction of Chet's horse hitting Brian which triggered the gun to go off* *But why was Chet aiming his horse at Brian? She figured the young Duke was probably thinkin' to goad Brian into some kind of showdown. That was the only explanation that made any sense at this point* *Chet and Alex tho', somehow kept things together to help Brian and Garrett over to the clinic. It had saved their lives. But now, Chet was conspicuously absent from the clinic, more than likely to avoid Alex who would be out for Chet's head after what had happened to Brian and Garrett.* *MaryAnne herself wasn't looking to collect any scalps. But she decided there was only one place she wanted to see Chet Duke right now....* *...and that was in the Hazzard County Jail* *MaryAnne picked up her hat off the booking desk and grabbed car keys. She left the booking room, heading out to find Chet.*

*looks at cousin, hearing the edge in voice* Don't you be gettin' any ideas.... *takes hand cuffs from belt and cuffs cousin to the exam table* You're gonna stay put and recover. We'll deal with Chet in due time.

*is about to answer cousin when Kristy walks in. Steps back so that Brian can see Garrett lying on the other table* He was hit... He's alive tho'. He's stable. *looks to Kristy* Kristy, I'm sorry. It was all an accident. A terrible accident...

*chuckles softly, relieved to hear Brian's sense of humour seems to still be intact* Yeah, take it easy, you were injured pretty bad. You got some busted ribs, some internal injuries and a dent on your thick head there. But to see you awake and talkin' is good. *brushes away tears upon her face, accepts bandana from Alex* Yeah, I'm okay. *manages a small smile* Thank ya...

*Although the tears in MaryAnne's eyes remain, there's a smile now. Relief upon seeing cousin stir. And speak* Brian... *reaches and takes hold of his hand bringing it to her cheek* Thank God...

*starts to walk with Alex to the exit, but the unresponsiveness of cousin weighs heavy on the mind and emotions. Makes only as far as the door way before suddenly turning around and rushing back to where Brian lay still* Wake up! *eyes brim with tears* Dammit, Brian, wake up! Please...

*Meanwhile, inside, with Alex's arm around her shoulders, gaze lingers on Brian and Garrett* Yeah.. *says to Alex's proclamation that both would be okay. Looks around the exam room and senses that perhaps the best thing to do is to let the two rest. Even tho' unconcious, they could probably sense the presense of other people in the room and MaryAnne figured that Doc would clear everyone out at some point, to allow Brian and Garrett some peace and quiet* *It was hard to pull away. Especially upon hearing of the injuries Brian had suffered. Internally. Unseen, therefore, unknown in their true severity. Reaches down and touches Brian's hand, giving it a gently grasp. Closes eyes briefly, with a prayer. Then lets go and turns to Garrett to do the same thing* *Finally, looks to Alex and gestures with a nod of her head toward the exit*

*walks with Alex into the clinic. Gives a nod to Bo. Down the hall from the entrance, they walk into the exam room where Doc is overseeing Garrett and Brian, who both lay unconcious on examination tables. Garrett's clothes are a torn mess, blood stained on the material. The wound on the young Duke's chest is patched up and his skin is pale from the ordeal but his chest moves steadily as he breathes.* *Next to him, Brian lies unconcious, a bandage to his head. Steps closer to the table, looking down at kin.* Couldn't...stay in jail, could ya?

*allows self to be drawn into the hug, hands still close to mouth now steepled in prayer. Stands for a moment in Alex's embrace, appreciating the gesture. Then, takes a deep breath, steeling self and looks up at Alex* I'd like to see them. Both. If I can...

*looks up at Alex* Alex, if I had gone after him maybe this wouldn't have all happened this way. Maybe if I hadn't locked up his silly butt in the first place. Maybe if he had stayed put and worked on some part of his bail---! *voice catches and brings hands to mouth, pausing to collect herself* "I'm sorry. I just...I didn't want to see anyone get hurt...

*looks at Chet, stunned, then looks at Alex as the update is made. Is left speechless for a moment, bewildered by how things turned so badly so quickly. Although relieved Garrett and Brian had survived, can't help but feel a little guilty. Draws a deep breath before turning away from the two men* Boy. That's what I get for ... *leaves the thought unfinished.*

*Meanwhile, conspicuously absent from the chaos was MaryAnne, who had been in another part of the courthouse when Brian's gun had gone off and wounded Garrett. Thus, she never heard the shot and was never aware of the commotion out on the street until a little while later, when she went to leave for patrol and spotted the door of the clinic was busted open, Diablo was haphazardly parked out front, Chet's horse was standing by and Doc's black Bronco was parked too.* *The patrol car was parked and MaryAnne exited the car. She walked up to the clinic and spotted Chet standing outside smoking a cigarette.* What happened, Chet? Where's Brian?

Speaking as myself (as opposed to speaking as MaryAnne LOL) I have no issue with the story continuing on, as long as it's not a Series Finale. Bein' the reckless optimist I think this thing can be resolved to a satisfactory ending. Or atleast, resolved enough so that nobody perishes. Heck, Kristy made an interestin' point. This exercise seems to have her character of Garrett motivated to work on her own stories. I've always felt that a good shot...er...dose of drama can do wonders for motivatin' the muse. The rest of y'all are playin' pretty well in this thing too. Besides, it's been a long time since some of us have done an RR. Although this thing didn't start out as an RR (it started out as a way for MaryAnne to get back at Brian. And maybe get a story out of the whole thing!) it's taken on the life of an RR. And, what the hell, MaryAnne's gettin' a story out of it. So, having said all that...and since it appears the majority is willing to see this thing through, and the players all know the game their playing, let's carry on shall we?