Christmas Comes to Willow Swamp

[BoJamesDuke]

*simply nods and starts up the General, speeding out the yard in a cloud of dust*

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*sits back in the seat whistling the tune of jingle bells*

[RogerDuke]

*pulls his truck up a beaten path and parks beside old still sight #4 in Stump Hollow*

15 minutes later, Jesse's old fishing buddy Judge Drewton drives up in his black Ford LTD.

The two old ridge runners shake hands and exchange smiles.

[BoJamesDuke]

*soon is whistling with him, they both singing by the time they got to the place, sliding out happily*

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*slides out stillsinging grabbing his gloves and the spool of barbed wire from the back calling out* Anyone home?

[RogerDuke]

*Jesse and the Judge talk for about a half hour and then wish each other Merry Christmas and part ways*

[RogerDuke]

FAST FORWARD THREE HOURS

*Jesse surprises the boys as they're working on the fence at the Miller farm*

*gets out of truck after leaving a cloud of dust from braking hard*

Well, it looks like you boys have just about got 'er finished

[BoJamesDuke]

(OOC: Sorry about not posting, I've been away this weekend with my dad )

*looks up as he skids into the yard of the Miller farm, nodding over at him before turning back to the work he was doing with Luke*

Sure have, should be done real soon...

[RogerDuke]

So, how is Roxanne and them young'uns doing?

*looks over at the farmhouse off at a distance*

[DaisyMaeDuke]

Good as they can be I recon *answers as he wrapped the barbed wire around a pole to secure it*

[RogerDuke]

*Jesse has a smile on his face that is one the boys have seen before. The boys could tell just by looking that Jesse had a good secret that he wasn't going to reveal until they asked*

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*looks at him skeptically* Uncle Jesse...you're hidin' somethin....what is it?

[RogerDuke]

I might be. We'll see soon enough.

*smiles one of the biggest smiles the boys have ever seen*

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*looks to him skeptically*

[RogerDuke]

FAST FORWARD TO THE DUKE FARM ON CHRISTMAS EVE

The four Dukes, Cooter, Rosco, Cletus, Enos, Boss and Lulu and all sitting in the Dukes living room drinking egg nog and talking about all the fun they've had in past Christmases and joking about how, even 'ol Boss gets generous around this time of year. Enos and Daisy then started discussing which song to sing next. Jesse was putting another hickory log in the fireplace when there came a knocking on the door.

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*frowns getting up and going to the door to answer it*

[RogerDuke]

*Jesse is the only one in the room to have a smile on his face BEFORE the door opens*

As it opens, everyone's face lights up (even Boss's) at the sight of Danny and Roxanne Miller and their two kids.

[BoJamesDuke]

*looks over as Luke opened the door, eyes widening in surprise as he saw the family together*

Danny!

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*eyes widen his jaw dropping in shock* Danny?! *grabs his hand shaking it*

[RogerDuke]

*walks over to the happy young family and hugs all four of them as everybody has a big Christmas miracle smile on their face*

"Take yer coats off and sit on down to some ham and sweet potaters . There's plenty fer everybody!"

[BoJamesDuke]

*comes in from the kitchen, smiling and shaking Danny's hand*

Well how did this happen?! Didn't recon Boss t'have any kinda christmas spirit in his body...

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*looks at Jesse pointedly* What did you do?

[RogerDuke]

*the two Miller children head straight toward the food*

Don't look at me. We got the Good Lord to thank for this Christmas miracle.

*opens up refrigerator door while whispering to himself*

.......and an old ridge runnin' judge

[DaisyMaeDuke]

*smiles closing the door behind them*