Luke's First Love -- Part 3

[DixieDavenport]

Trooper Mitchell and his young partner headed to their cruiser. It was late or early depending how you looked at it. The 'eager beaver' was making Trooper Mitchell very tired. He sighed as he started the car. The radio came to life and dispatched them to a small hotel on the outside of Hazzard called the Dixie Inn. The complaint was that the owners had been robbed at gun point just moments ago by a hooded person driving a Firebird that had headed South. The hotel was out of Rosco's area and the two troopers were the only ones on duty as they were working late because of the incident with Luke Duke. Trooper Mitchell dropped the younger trooper off at the hotel to get a statement. He headed South looking for the Firebird. After looking for the Firebird for quiet sometime without any luck he returned to the hotel. Trooper Mitchell looked at the statement from the owners. 'Da--!', he thought, 'I know that car and where it's own lives. SH--! Have all the young adults went off the deep end tongiht?' he said to himself. To the owners, "We'll be getting back with you as soon as we know something."

In the car Trooper Mitchell told the young trooper, "You are about to see what's its like to wake a Judge at ...." looking at his watch, "Five in the morning for a search warrant."

"What, you know who did this?" said the younger trooper.

Trooper Mitchell replied, "I think I do. I know who has a car matching that description and has access to guns. Had they said an older GOLD Firebird on the call I may have been able to have done this sooner."

At the State Police office Trooper Mitchell called Judge Milton C. Hardcastle at the wee hour of 5:15 am!

The Judge answered, "Hardcastle and it BETTER be GOOD!"

"Judge Hardcastle this is Trooper Mitchell. I need to obtain a search warrant to search a house and car as soon as possible. The description I have fits a suspect in an Armed Robbery at the Dixie Inn." said the Trooper. He listened to the other end of the conversation. "I have a statement and I can be at your house in twenty minutes. Thanks you Sir and I am sorry for getting you up so early." He then said to the younger trooper, "Come on."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peggy looked at the clock it was 5:30am. She got the phone hooked up where the cord would reach to the cell.

Sleep had aluded Luke, though he layed on the hard bunk starring at the ceiling. Peggy's movement had gotten his attention. As Luke sat up he saw Peggy coming his way with the phone and a large cup of coffee. She handed the coffee to Luke and sat the phone down on a shelf on the wall near the side of the cell.

Taking a drink of the coffee Luke looked at the phone and sighed. "You know all my life I have been able to tell Uncle Jesse, but I don't think I can tell him this." He had decided hours ago to prepare Jesse the worst then hope for the best. He heard how upset Luther and Cooter had been. He doubted that even Uncel Jesse could calm them down enough to keep him from being charged with the felony. He sighed again.

For Peggy she didn't know what to say to make this any better for Luke. She had been party to the events upstairs last night as she had came in, in the middle of it.

Luke asked, "What time is it?"

"5:40 am" was all Peggy said.

Luke knew he had to call now before Jesse discovered him not home. Reaching through the bars Luke picked up the phone. "Maybelle get me the Duke farm please."

Jesse had just poured his first cup of coffee when the phone rang. Looking at the clock. Jesse knew no one called here that early unless something was wrong. "Jesse Duke." he answered.

Luke bit his lip hard at the sound of Jesse's voice. He knew what he was going to say would hurt Jesse more than it did him IF that was possible. "Uncle Jesse ......."

"Luke? Where are you?" Jesse asked not sure he wanted to know.

There was a long silence before Luke answered, "In jail."

"What in tarnation did you do now? Let me guess been in another fight with just anyone who wanted to fight? OR maybe the last time wasn't long enough so you went out racing again sure to get your license revoked if you keep of this foolishness!" Jesse wasn't happy.

Jesse was answered with total silince.

"Luke. Tell me what they charged you with." replied Jesse sternly.

Luke stood rock solidly still, yet he felt him shaking uncontrolably on the inside as he said, "St, .... Stat, ...., Statu, .... tory, .............. Rape." Luke's voice had cracked up badly and the last word was almost unheard, but Jesse heard him LOUD AND CLEAR.

Jesse almost dropped his coffee cup, "What? Who? Did they manage to set you up?"

"Jesse I only wished it were one of their set ups." Luke said as he turned his back to Peggy. His eye had against his will filled with tears. "Just listen a minute. That's not the formal charge yet. Though I'd bet my life it will be after seeing the Judge.

Jesse replied, "Peggy's there? Ask her when is the earliest I can come talk to you about this and see what we can figure out.

Luke did and replied, "8:30 am."

Jesse said, "Luke I'll be seting there at 8:30am. Who's is the girl?"

Luke would rather tell him that in person but figured he'd better prepare him in case he ran into the Davenports, "Thanks, Uncle Jesse." Luke paused, his voice barely heard by Jesse. He cleared his throat, "Dixie Dav, ... en, ... port."

Confussed Jesse said, "What? Didn't you all just tell me she had her 18th birthday party?" Jesse voice was a bit loud for the hour of the morning.

Luke sighed, "It's a long story. I've got to go. It makes me feel better knowing at least you think like I did."

Jesse looked at the phone confussed now more than ever, "Luke, I love you."

"I love you too." Luke handed the phone to Peggy. He layed on the bunk and faced the wall.

[DixieDavenport]

Just after 7am the Trooper arrived at the house in question. The Gold Firebird was parked in the driveway. As the Senior Trooper walked by he layed his hand on the hood -- it was warm. They knocked on the door of the house.

It was answered by Brenda McCormick, Robin's mother. She was shocked to see two State Police on her door step at this hour.

Trooper Mitchell said, "State Police, Mamm. Is Mark McCormick here? We have a search warrant for this house and that Gold Firebird."

Brenda nodded yes as she called for her husband, "Bill I think you're needed out here."

After talking with Trooper Mitchell and seeing the search warrant, Bill let him in the house, while the younger trooper stayed outside to watch the cars since it was a large house. Bill called up stairs, "Mark. MARK! Get up someone is here to see you."

Mark groaned. He looked at the clock. 'Who in the name of Hanna would show up to see ME at 7 am on a Saturday morning. Everyone I knew, but me went partying last night at the lake.' he thought. He set up a bit too quickly and his throbbing head told him so. He looked at the half gallon of "Jim Bean" setting by his bed. 'No wonder I'm hurting.' The bottle only had about an inch of brown liquid left in it.

Bill this time bellowed, "MARK, Get down here NOW! This is not an option!"

Mark yelled back, "Coming!" He then said aloud to him self, "Ok, yelling isn't good." He reached for his pants, pulled on a T-shirt, and boots. When he stood up far too quickly he staggered a bit.

NARRATOR: Nope folks he's not hung over he's still drunk!

Mark stumbed out of his room to the bathroom before coming down the stairs. His eye squented against the bright lights of the kitchen as he rounded the corner.

Trooper Mitchell said, "Mark McCormick?"

Now Mark's eyes began to focus on the strange voice. He could make out the familiar uniform of the Trooper but he couldn't make out which one it was. "Yeah, I'm Mark." he said but thought, 'I think.'

"Where were you last night from say midnight to 6 am?" asked the trooper.

Mark looked confussed. It was way too early for questions that involved thought. He tried to focus and said, "Here. I got in about 9pm."

Trooper Mitchell looked to his parents, "Is that true?"

Bill answered, "I can't say when he got home. We were out later than he was."

Mitchell moved to another point, "Mark what vehicles do you own?"

Mark said, "A 78 Firebird." he sighed.

"When is the last time you drove the Firebird?" Mitchell asked.

Mark replied, "Three days ago."

Bill and Brenda looked at each other puzzled. The Firebird had been gone when they got home last night but thought that might be better said later.

"Are you sure about that? And where did you go?" asked the Trooper.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I took a friend out to the Dixie Inn to get her a job." said Mark.

The trooper wrote his answer down, then asked, "Who was the friend?"

Mark replied, "Sharon Jones."

After writing that down in his notebook, Trooper Mitchell said, "Mark I have a search warrant to search your Firebird. Let's go take a look."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside at the Firebird Mark, Bill and Brenda looked on as the younger Trooper began searching the car. When he opened the drivers door he saw something stuffed down by the drivers seat. Pulling it out it was obvious it was a ski mask with only the eyes out of it.

Mark said with a bit of an attitude, "I guess there's no point in telling you I've never seen that before."

They watched the trooper open glove compartment under a loaded .357 Magnum was what looked like several checks. After securing the weapon and unloading it the checks were taken out. They were all made out to the Dixie Inn and were listed on the warrant as part of the property the Troopers were looking for.

Trooper Mitchell asked, "Is this your gun?"

Mark looked closer, "I can't tell."

Bill spoke up, "What's the last 4 digits or the serial number? We have several Magnums."

Trooper Mitchell looked at the weapon, "3024."

Bill replied, "It's mine."

"Did he have access to it?" The younger trooper asked.

Bill sighed, "Yeah, it's kept on the refrigerator."

Mark looked at his Father, "I didn't do it! Whatever it was. I was home with a half gallon of Jim Bean that I took your truck to buy about 8pm last night. Da-- it ask, Luke Duke if you don't want to believe me. I ran into him at the garage and asked him over but they were all going out to the lake. I wanted to just stay home last night."

The young Trooper showed Trooper Mitchell the checks.

Mitchell shook his head. "Mark, you are under arrest for the armed robbery of the Dixie Inn. You have the right to remain silent, .............."

After his rights were read, Mark was handcuffed and placed in the cruiser for the ride to town.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The younger Trooper came down the steps to the locked gate at the bottom of the stairs. "Peggy we have you another customer."

Peggy got up, unlocked the gate, locked it back then went upstairs.

At this point Luke wondered if Cooter HAD gotten arrested to try to get to him.

~~~~~~~~~~

Quiet awhile later, Luke had almost dozed off when footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. He turned to see Mark McCormick coming through the gate with Peggy. When mark saw Luke there eyes met for a brief second. They both saw surprise and a bit of relief in each others eyes. Mark was put in the cell by Luke with only a set of steel bars dividing the two cells. Peggy went upstairs in a couple minutes.

Luke spoke first, "What are you doing here? The last time I saw you, you were heading home with a bottle of Jim Bean."

Mark replied, "Well I should have went out with you all!" then the realization of what he said hit him. "I think. What are YOU doing here?"

Luke replied, "It's a Long story. You?"

"They convict me of what I'm charged with, I'll have all the time in the world to hear your long story." he paused, "Armed Robbery."

"What? I know better. How much of that Jim Bean did you drink?" asked Luke.

"Way too much and not enough either!' said Mark.

Luke could relate to that statement. After the shine he'd drank and the couple of beers, it wasn't enough to let him sleep after last night, yet still felt rough from it this morning. He felt his left shoulder, that reminded him of how stupid it was for him to pull away from the trooper, 'yeah, I wished I'd drank more or less too he thought. Maybe I would have had better since than to try to pull away fro a Trooper.'

Mark made a motion as to how much was left. "There was about this much left this morning. That I wished I'd drank before coming down stairs had I known THIS!"

The two friends both explained to each other what had happened. They concluded that had Mark not stayed home he might have had witnesses that he didn't rob the place and had Luke went to party with Mark then he and Dixie wouldn't have done anything and given Mark a witness too!

[DixieDavenport]

Jesse pulled up in front of the Courthouse and jail just before 8:30am. He had to know what went on with Luke in order to try to help him. He hoped there would be SOMETHING he could do.

Jesse took a seat outside Luke and Mark's cells. "Ok, Luke you first. What happened?"

Luke sighed, "You remember Dixie's big birthday party we all went all out for. Well, it turns out it was her 16th birthday NOT 18th!...."

Jesse interupted, "Did she tell you she was 18?"

Luke gave Jesse a brief sad smile, "No." he sighed, "I figured that out ALL on my own. I know, I assumed myself into a God aweful lot of trouble."

Jesse asked, "So what did they charge you with?"

"Trooper Mitchell said he'd give me as big a break as he could and ONLY charge me with Indecent Exposure, Public Intoxication, two counts of Contributing to the Deliquency of a Minor, and Resisting Arrest. Luther can insist on him charging me with the felony which after what I heard going on upstairs I figure he will." replied Luke.

Jesse gave Luke a look of reassurance, "I'll go talk to Luther." he said simply.

"I appreciate it, but Jesse I'm not so sure that will help. Just make sure Dixie is Ok. She had no idea what was wrong last night and as mad as Luther was I'm sure she has lived hard." said Luke with concern. "Jesse, I had a lot of time to think last night about a whole lot. Other than the age thing, I'm not a bit sorry for what happened. I Do love Dixie."

Jesse looked surprised.

Luke continued after seeing the look, "Yeah, I said that. ........ I just thought I loved Robin. Then I ran around trying to prove something." he shook his head, "I guess I proved what a jerk I can be...... He--, as far as I know, .... I was Da-- lucky that none of them showed up pregnant." he paused. Jesse just let him talk, "I love Dixie. I am not saying what I'm about to say to try to get me out of anything. I want to marry her and I intend to tell the Judge that this morning. When you talk to Luther if you think it will help you can tell him that for me."

Jesse looked at his nephew. It seemed he had watched him grow up right before his eyes in the last five minutes. Luke looked much older than his twenty years. "Your sure about that?"

"As sure as I've been about anything for quiet sometime, now. No matter what happens. I love her. She will have to live with what we did last night. It might be easier for her at least if she has my name. I don't want anyone to think that she was just the last in a long line of conquests." said Luke with seriousness.

Jesse asked, "Luke is there any doubt about WHAT was going on last night?" Jesse continued a bit embarrassed, "I mean, ......"

Luke stopped him, shook his head 'no', looking into his Uncles eyes. "No, what they said they saw was EXACTLY what they saw." he sighed. Luke felt himself shake inside as he stood up straight to tell Jesse the rest of his decisions, "I know in order to prove it though they will want 'tests' ran on Dixie. I won't let that happen. I'll not let her go though that."

"Luke, ....." Jesse was interupted.

Looking Jesse in the eyes, "I'll plead guilty and hope for the best if it comes to that. IF they run the tests it will only confirm what did happen and put her through He--. Her having to live with my assumption is bad enough."

"Luke you could talk yourself right into prison." informed Jesse.

"I know that." he sighed.

"Isn't there any doubt? Those tests could come out shedding some doubt." said Jesse.

Luke shook his head no. "The evidence would be there."

Jesse looked him in the eye, "Could she be pregnant?"

Luke got a kind of far off look and smiled just a bit before answering, "That would be the only good thing to come out of this. Yeah, she could be." He seemed a bit satisfied at that thought.

Jesse stood up looking Luke face to face, saying a bit loud, "Luke have you lost all your senses? How long have you two been seeing each other?" Jesse asked worriedly.

Luke replied, "We've talked and went places since she's been here. We got to know each other, but last night was the only time."

Jesse asked, "You swear?"

Luke nodded yes, "Yes." he continued, "Can I ask you to do something for me that I might not get to do depending on what goes on upstairs?"

Jesse realized so far Luke had not asked him to to anything for him. He had not asked him to talk to the Judge. He hadn't asked him to talk to Luther, Jesse had offered. He hadn't even asked Jesse to get him out of jail. "What is it, Luke?"

Luke looked very serious. "On my dresser is a small white box. It has been there since I dated Robin. I just recently figured out Dixie's size and had it sized and cleaned. I had plans to give it to her myself but never found the right moment. Will you see she gets it. NO matter what happens I want her to have it."

Jesse knew the box. "Luke would that be your Mother's engagement ring?"

With tears in his eyes for the first time since Jesse arrived, Luke bit his lip before he answered. He said as his voice cracked just a bit, "Yes, ...... it is. If she'll have it after all this, I'd like her to have it, ...... and all the promises that goes with it."

"You'll be able to do that yourself." Jesse tried to assure Luke.

Luke shook his head, "I'm not so sure about that. Before you go. Can you see what you can do to help Mark?"

Again Luke wasn't asking for help for himself. Jesse nodded, "So Mark what's up with you?"

[DixieDavenport]

Mark began, "I went out last evening and bought a half gallon of liquor after taking my, ..... " he almost spit the word, " 'GIRLFRIEND' to work. I talked to Luke then went home and got plastered. Dad woke me up this morning. I was and still am pretty drunk. When I came downstairs there were two Troopers at the house wanting to know where I was last night. It was my luck no one had been home when I got back home. My Firebird was identified. Jesse I haven't driven it in days. I was in Dad's pickup last night. They had search warrants to search the car and house. They started with the car. They found a ski mask I've never seen before, then opened the glove box. Inside was a .357 Magnum of Dad's and several checks from the Dixie Inn. They charged me with Armed Robbery. I didn't do it."

Jesse asked, "Do you have any ideas who could have done it?"

Mark nodded, "Do you remember Sharon Jones? We've dated for awhile. I've known she runs with a tough bunch over there where she lives. The guys have tried to convience me to dump her. I guess I should have listened when she got into trouble about six months ago. He-- she just got back from a Women's Correctional Facility for Sh-- like this."

Luke looked surprised.

"Yeah, I kept my mouth shut. I guess I figured maybe it was a bunch of sh-- like goes on here sometimes." said Mark a bit embarrassed he'd not talked to his friend.

Jesse asked, "But the car and the gun?"

Mark shook his head and gave a sick smile, "Easy. She knew I kept and extra car key in the bumper. As for the gun, I had to think on that too, but it came to me about an hour ago. That Magnum was kept on top of the refrigerator insight. She has been with me when I have forgotten my house key, ... the extra key is on the porch light. The last time I drove the car was to take her out to the Dixie Inn and talk FOR HER BENEFIT so she'd get the job. The thanks I get is she not just used MY car and Dad's gun but made DA-- sure she left plenty of evidence that I did it. Isn't that SWEET?" Mark was raising his voice.

"Jesse you know his parents wouldn't even get him out for racing or fighting......" said Luke.

Jesse held up his hand to silence Luke. "I'll do what I can for you both. Luke if they upgrade your charges, .... they are both serious charges. I just don't know if I can help you both." Jesse looked at his watch. "I need to go see if I can talk to Luther though."

Luke nodded, "Remember what I said?"

Jesse nodded 'yes', "I will. Luke hang in there. I love you."

Luke tried to assure Jesse, "I'm fine. I love you too."

Jesse knew Luke was not anywhere near fine as he drove over to the Davenport farm.

[DixieDavenport]

Luther Davenport wasn't a bit surprised to see the white pickup coming down the driveway. He stepped out on the porch. He was dressed to go into town.

Jesse walked onto the porch. "Luther our families go way back." he began.

Luther nodded, "Jesse, I know that. I don't want hard feelings between us, ..... but there's going to be. They both betrayed my trust......"

Jesse interupted, "Luther there doesn't have to be."

The porch door opened and Dixie stepped on to the porch. It was obvious she had been crying.

Jesse reached out to comfort her as Luther scolded, "I told you to get in your room and not to come out until we go to town! Now GO!"

She gave Jesse a pleading look before she bolted for her room.

Jesse watched her go. "What is done is done. What is the point of all this?" asked Jesse in a quiet calming voice.

"MY 16 year old daughter has now got the reputation of a WHORE. HE's done this to one too many girls Jesse. I'm going to see to it that I do everything in my power to have the book thrown at him." Luther's voice was raising.

Jesse calmly said, "I've talked to Luke this morning. He would like to do what he can to fix the situation."

"Jesse there is no going back here. He can't fix it!" said Luther.

"Luke knows what you and most everyone else is going to think. He told me that Dixie wasn't just another girl. He said he loves her." Jesse sees steam coming out of Luther's ears and his face is turning red. "Hear me out ........ He'd like to marry her."

"There is no way that him marrying her would change my mind!" Luther exclaimed. "And him marrying her to get out of this mess would never work. Then she'd never be happy."

Jesse tried to explain further, "Luke knows that even if you allow her to marry him that you may not change your mind about the charges. He's not saying that to get out of trouble. How happy do you think she'd be knowing you sent him to prison?"

"She'll get over it and maybe in time she'll find someone to have her with her 'reputation'!" Luther insisted.

"Oh, for Pete's sake, Luther she isn't the first 16 year old to ever, ....." Jesse was interupted.

"Maybe NOT, but she is my only daughter and I'll not just let this go. Now, if you'll excuse me I've got to be getting to the Courthouse to talk to the Troopers and Judge." said Luther.

Before Jesse turned to go he said, "Luther, please don't do this to my boy. It won't change anything."

Luther walked into the house without saying a word

[DixieDavenport]

When Dixie did go back to her room while Jesse and her Dad was talking, she took the telephone with her. She figured how much more trouble could she possibly get into.

Daisy answered, "Duke farm."

"Dai, .... sy?" Dixie snifffed.

She didn't even recognize Dixie's voice. "Yes, it's me?" Bo looked up at her, hearing trouble in her voice.

Through her tears and sobs, Dixie said quickly before Luther came back in, "Daisy. Please believe me, I wouldn't have done anything to get Luke into trouble if I'd only known."

"Whaoooo, Dixie. What trouble is Luke in?" asked Daisy. She now had Bo's attention and motioned for him to pick up the other phone.

"We went parking last night......" Dixie started.

Bo said, "You and LUKE went WHERE?"

Daisy was pretty surprised herself but she knew Dixie had a crush on Luke but with him seeing every girl in the county never thought he'd go out with Dixie.

"Bo please. I don't have much time. Jesse is talking to my father or I'd not have gotten the phone. Yes, we went parking and, ....." she paused, "That's not ALL. It was MY idea, ...... now Luke is in trouble."

Bo couldn't help but ask, "Dixie, what trouble is Luke in? I can see your Dad being mad but with you both over 18 then, ....."

"BO that's the problem! I'm only SIX-TEEN! I HAD NO IDEA! I guess I'm just stupid. I had no ideaaa, that we were doinggg, anything iilllleeggaallllllllllllll un, ..... tilllll, the Trooooooopers showed upppppp." She said obviously crying.

"Trooooooooopers?" Bo got really pale and let himself slide down the wall to set in the floor before he fell down. "Oh, Sh--!"

"Oh, Lord." Daisy said, "Dixie it will all be OK. If Jesse's there he'll get it worked out."

"NO, it won't beeeeee," she sobbed, "My father is insisting that they 'throw the book' at Luke."

Bo finally got his wind back, "Where is LUKE?"

She bit her lip and tried to form the words without crying, "In jaaaiiiiilllllll."

Bo hung up his phone. "I'm gone!" he was out the door, in the Road Runner, and gone before Daisy could say anything.

Dixie's door slammed against the wall as Luther stormed into the room, "WHO are you talking too?" He feared she had called her Mother. He saw something he didn't like seeing when she looked up. She had fear in her eyes.

"Daisy." she whispered as she hung up the phone.

Luther was hurt, angery and would be embarrassed by all this. Here his only daughter had finally came back to stay with him. How in such a short time could he have let this happen. Luther did not want to explain to his wife this situation. To think he had actually began to trust that Luke Duke. He thought, 'I just let the fox come right on and guard the hen house. Then, they both betray my trust.' Luther thought, 'Da--! He did do a good job with that wrecker. Guess I'll start looking for a replacement.' He could be a very stubborn man. "Let's go." he said to his young daughter who now looked even younger to him than she had yesturday.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Daisy looked at the phone as it went dead. "JEB! Coy! Vance! Guys! Come on!" she yelled. She got the boys together and they all took off for town. She promised to explain what was going on while they drove.

[DixieDavenport]

At the Courthouse. Jesse had returned from the Davenport farm. He was hoping to speak with his old friend the Judge before the hearing but he hadn't arrived yet. At just this moment, heard by all in the Courthouse, including the State Troopers who had showed up to swear to the complaint, the yellow Road Runner slide into a parking place so loudly that Bo would surely have to replace Daisy's tires when this was over. Seconds later, Bo stormed through the front door! It was all Jesse could do to calm him down enough to keep him from getting either thrown out or locked up. Bo was insisting on talking to Luke. Jesse and Peggy convienced him that Luke may need to see him more after the hearing. By this time, Jeb, Daisy, Coy and Vance showed up in Tilley which they parked out of sight in town. All conversation stopped when Luther, Cooter and an unwilling Dixie walked in. Followed just seconds later by Judge Milton C. Hardcastle taking the bench from a side door. Everyone who knew Judge Hardcastle knew he was taking these cases very seriously. Even though this was only a bond hearing he wore his black robe.

Peggy went downstairs, locking the gate behind her. She opened a large metal 'gun cabinet' that hadn't housed guns in it for probably the last hundred years and took out a set of hand cuffs and leg irons. She sighed as she went to unlock Luke's cell, she said, "Luke. Time to go."

Seeing the restraints, Luke asked, "You don't need those."

Giving him a weak smile, she said, "I know. Rules." She placed the handcuffs on Luke in the front, then instructed him to turn around so she could place the leg irons on him which he did. Wearing the flip flops that he'd been given in place of his boots made it possible for the leg irons to fit.

Upon entering the Courtroom with Luke, Peggy was directed to take Luke into the Judge's Chambers and wait outside the door. She did as ordered by the Court.

Judge Hardcastle had been called a bit excintrict and true to all of Hazzard he did things his way in his Courtroom. The Judge closed the door behind him as he followed Luke into his private office. "Have a seat."

Luke did so though he was more than a bit nervous.

The Judge took a casual position at his desk and opened one the files before him. He looked up to see Luke setting stone still with his cuffed hands in his lap. "Relax, son. This conversation isn't on the record. I want to know more about this case than the 'black and white' of this complaint. I know you have been before me on several occassions. I have also been freinds with your Uncle Jesse for many years, though that will not influence me in any way." The Judge thumbed through the file again. "How old are you?"

Luke repliled, "Twenty."

"Were you drinking?" asked the Judge.

"Yes. " said Luke.

"On a scale of 1 to 10 how intoxicated were you if 1 is sober and 10 is the drunkest you've ever been?" questioned Judge Hardcastle.

Luke thought for a minute. He had drank quiet a bit over a long period of time and had also eaten. He answered, "A three. I might have been over the legal limit when they showed up but I could have driven home."

"So it takes something more than a couple drinks to make your thinking unclear?" the Judge asked.

Luke nodded, "Yes."

The Judge now did something very uncharacterstic for a Judge but it is Hazzard. He reached into his top desk drawer and took something out, then asked, "What were you drinking?"

Luke replied, "When the Troopers showed up I had a beer."

The Judge opened yet another desk drawer and dug around in it a few minutes before asked Luke, "You wouldn't be opposed to a little Jack Daniels would you?"

Luke Looked a bit surprised as the Judge tossed a handcuff key to him. "I don't suppose we need those bracelets for this conversation. Do we?"

"No, Sir. I'm not going anywhere until this is straightened out." replied Luke who was beginning to calm down just a bit.

"Good. Good. Now, you can take those things off and put them on the table while I pour us a drink. Then, we are going to talk about last night. You will tell me the truth?" He said as he handed Luke a good sized drink.

"I"ve never lied to you. If I have done something I'll tell you I did." Luke said looking the older man in the eyes.

[DixieDavenport]

"Luke I intend to talk to all the parties involved in this. I understand from the Troopers the charges may change." Judge Hardcastle began as he took a sip of his drink.

Luke had taken his drink and set it on the table. He surely didn't want to seem over eager for it. Luke smiled a sick smile and shook his head, "From what I could hear last night when Luther Davenport came to pick up Dixie, yeah, he wants the book and the bookcase it is on thrown at me!"

"That's my understanding too." The Judge asked, "How long have you known Miss Davenport?"

"Dixie? Since we were small kids. She has lived with her Mother out of here until last summer." replied Luke.

"This isn't a test or anything. Drink up." The Judge motioned to Luke's untouched drink. "Did you know she was younger than you?" the Judge asked.

Luke took a sip of his drink before answering. "Well, everyone knows she is Cooter's 'little sister' but he is older than me. She had been talking about a birthday coming up. Saying things like, 'after this birthday maybe I can make my own decisions about things like staying here.' Now, I know my last big birthday when I could do a lot more things than I had before was my 18th one. With her appearance, actions, and statements I just knew she meant her 18th birthday." Luke gave a weak smile, "Yeah, this time I assumed one He-- of a lot!"

"Yes, I'm afraid you did. You mean to tell me as long as you have know Ms. Davenport you didn't know her age?" asked the Judge.

Luke thought a long moment before answering. He was trying to word his response just right. "You said you have known my Uncle Jesse for years. Do you know how old he is?" Luke watched the puzzled look on the Judge's face. When Luke saw his expression change to where Luke was certain the Judge did not know Jesse's age, he continued, "Ms. Meade has been your secretary for years and years. Is she older or younger than you?"

Luke's point had sunk in. Judge Hardcastle said, "You do realize the three of us went to school together. You have a point. I don't know who's older or how old they are, but ....."

Luke interupted, "I know that it is not important for you to know. I was just making a point."

Now the Judge got to the meat of the discussion. "Were you both willing?"

Luke said matter of factly, "Yes. Between you and me she made the first move on me. Everything that happened was my fault. I let it happen. I should have known better. He--, I did know better!"

[DixieDavenport]

Luke continued, "I know what her Father wants. I can't change that any more than I can change what happened last night. I know no matter what happens to me this is going to be hard for Dixie to live with, the way it's getting blown up like this. Judge Hardcastle I'd like to do my best to make things as easy for her as I can. For one reason or another since she has been here, we have spent a lot of time together. I have known I cared for her for quiet some time now. With her, what happened, wouldn't have happened if I hadn't already decided that I love her." Luke let that register with the Judge before continueing.

Judge Hardcastle looked a bit surprised. He knew Luke's history of running around.

"Yeah, Jesse gave me that same look. It's true. I cared enough about her to wait until she was, I thought, eighteen."

"Did Mr. Davenport know you were seeing her?" asked the Judge.

Luke sighed, "Kind of but not exactly. He knew she rode with me on wrecker calls and to get parts. He let me take her to the Boar's Nest after a date had gone bad to meet everyone. He let her help with my cousin's band which put us quiet often at the same table or singing together. She has stayed over at the house with Daisy. But, no he didn't know we were dating because actually we weren't. It just ended up that we spent a lot of time together and had fun while we were together." Luke took a sip of his drink. "Do you remember when I was before you for fighting? You sentenced me to 14 days. You asked me to explain myself. I opted not to. I will now. I had fought the guy because he had given Dixie an option of 'putting out' or 'getting out' she had gotten out in the rain and started walking. I was in the wrecker and found her. I took her home and made sure she got a warm shower. I told her I'd take care of him and I did so. Rosco and the Troopers just happened in while I was taking care of him."

"I see. That explains quiet a bit. Why didn't you tell me that before?" Asked Judge Hardcastle.

"I had been asked not to tell anyone, but I thought it would explain that I'd not do anything to intentionly hurt Dixie or any other girl. I have been a run around this last little bit but I haven't done anything they didn't want to do." explained Luke.

Judge Hardcastle explained, "When I talk to Mr. Davenport, if he wants the charges changed, I'll have to allow the Troopers to do so. You also need to know that if he does this you and Dixie will have to submit to a numebr of tests...."

Luke held up his hand. "I won't let her be put through that."

The Judge sighed, "If her Father insists, then, I'll have to order the tests."

Luke looked the Judge in the eye. "At this point we're just talking correct? If I say something now will I be bound to follow it in court?"

Hardcastle's was curious now. "No, you are not under oath. We are just trying to get this worked out."

"Ok, if he insists the charges be changed. I have every intention of pleading guilty to keep Dixie from having to go through with the tests." said Luke.

Hardcastle looked at the young man in front of him. "You do realize that if you plead guilty at that time there would be no backing out. I want you to know that it would very likely mean going to prison."

"I understand that. But, I won't let Dixie be hurt anymore by this than she already is being. He can have me locked up and throw the key away but it won't change what happened. He doesn't realize that by bringing this all out public like this, he is doing her more harm than if he'd just swept it under the rug. Luther could have settled this easier for everyone involved with a good old 'shot gun wedding'. He--, I told Jesse, I'll tell you, and if I could get in the same room with him, I'd tell him, I'd be more than willing to marry Dixie even if he doesn't want to drop the charges just so she could hold her head up in this town."

The Judge was impressd by Luke's willingness to try to made things right for the young lady involved. Most young men in his situation would be more concerned about themselves. Hardcastle said, "I see. Jesse is aware of your decisions?"

Luke said, "Yes."

"Well, I'm going to have him brought in here in a few minutes and make sure. Then, I'm going to do my best to see to it that he explains how the law can work to protect you and frankly I'm going to try to convience him to change your mind." said Hardcastle. "There is no point in throwing your life away because of this and I don't want to be the one who sentences you to prison without every avenue being explored first."

Realization of the Judges words sank in hard. Luke asked, "Could you arrange something before this is over, if you see it's going badly? I'd like to see Dixie two minutes to apologize."

Judge Hardcastle looked at the young man before him being so unselfish. "I'll do what I can. Now, finish that drink and get that 'jewerly' back on before you ruin my bad imagine."

Luke finished the drink, replaced the handcuffs and handedthe judge back the key. "Judge Hardcastle I truely would like to marry Dixie. Could you express that to her father for me?"

"I'll do it." The Judge went tot he door. He spoke breifly with Jesse. He had Luke and Jesse put in a witness room to talk the case over while he had Dixie borugh into his chambers.

[DixieDavenport]

"Have a seat Miss Davenport." sat Judge Hardcastle.

Dixie was very nervous with everything that had went on and now being called into the Judge's chambers. She took the offered seat.

Judge hardcastle saw her nervousness. He went to a small refrigerator and got a Cola and handed it to Dixie, before starting, "As I told Mr. Duke, this is off the record. I just want to know what happened. Sometimes I like to know more than just the facts provided in reports. This is one of those times. Just relax." The Judge paused. "Now, How old are you, Ms. Davenport."

Dixie found her voice and replied, "Sixteen. It's Dixie."

"Ok, Dixie. How old is Luke?" he questioned.

"He's twenty. Until last night I had never paid that any attention. I had no idea, ......" she paused and hung her head just a bit before continueing. "that, what I talked him into was illegal."

The Judge questioned, "You talked him into?"

"Well, Luke has always been a gentleman around me. Until very recently he treated me like I was his kid sisiter. He even called me 'kiddo'." she said.

Hardcastle questioned, "What made the change?"

"Well, sometime ago I went on a date. The guy was a creap. I ended up getting out of his car and starting to walk home in the rain. As luck would have it, Luke was driving the wrecker that night. He saw me walking and picked me up, took me home, and he stayed until I got warm and had calmed down a bit. He made hot chocolate and popcorn while I was in the shower, and even brought me a change of clothes and left them outside the bathroom door. Then stuck around and watched TV for awhile. I found out later he was afraid the guy might come to the house so he stayed until he knew Cooter and my father would be home soon." explained Dixie.

"In this time, nothing out of the way was said or done? How long was he there?" asked Hardcastle.

Dixie said with certainty, "Nothing out of the way happened or was said. He was there two maybe three hours." she continued, "I told him what had happened on the date and made him promise not to tell anyone." feeling slightly embarrassed, she continued, "Later, Luke ran into the guy at the Boar's Nest. There was a fight. That's when you put him in jail for thirty days."

Hardcastle shook his head knowingly. "Yes, I remember that. Though I didn't know the reason behind the fight."

"After that I was feeling really guilty because I felt like it was all my fault that he went to jail." she bit her lip, "I stayed overnight with Daisy after he had gotten home. I went out to gather eggs the next morning and Luke met me out by the barn. He was telling me not to feel guilty, ..... about him going to jail. ....... I remember looking up at him, ...... , he looked down at me, .... the next thing I knew, ....... we were kissing. Then he heard someone coming and we both went to the house from different directions. I think that the kiss took him as much by surprise as it did me."

"Why do you think that?" asked the Judge.

"All of us are close. We had never paid a lot of attention to each other. By this I mean the garage, once you get a couple cars in there and all of us it gets pretty small. You walk by someone, they back up, someone is likely to get a toe stepped on, ...... , unintentionally you are going to have someone back into you, ......"

The Judge saw where she was going with this he nodded to go on.

"Well, it was no big deal. It has happened to us all. But, after that kiss Luke seemed a bit more cautious around me. He intentionally tried to keep a little extra distance between us." she paused, "Then, I had started helping Luke's cousin Jeb with his band. We had danced before, we had sang together before. One night after the kiss, we danced together and it was different. We were close for the dance, but we kept getting closer and closer. It was like we were magnets. After the dance things went back the way they were. We had the holidays, then I blew up my birthday. It was very special to me, so everyone worked to make it special. We all went skating and had a pizza party. After that Luke seem to be his old self around me, he wasn't stand offish anymore, though he was a gentleman." Dixie took a deep breath before continueing, "Then, last night we all went out to the lake. Several cars raced, but Luke stayed at the wrecker with me. I had ridden out with him which wasn't unusal. I had told him I was spending the night with Daisy. We walked by the lake and talked. When everyone else left Luke stayed behind to put out the small fire, then we drove down to the lake and talked some more. At some point in the evening, Luke had turned away from me in the car seat." Dixie turned beet red as she continued. She knew she had to tell the rest and hope it would be enough to show the Judge that this mess wasn't Luke fault. "I moved into the backseat, ...... , and invited him back." she looked the Judge into the eye, and said in a quiet but sure voice, "It was my idea." she had tears in her eyes but fought to keep the under control. "Daisy told me right after I came back here that I had a crush on Luke. I guess maybe I did. I just didn't realize it."

The Judge had heard Luke's thought on the matter but wanted to know Dixie's. "How do you feel about Luke right now?"

Dixie looked confussed, "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Well, I'll tell you what Luke said about you. He said that what went on wouldn't have if he didn't care for you." said the Judge.

"Judge Hardcastle I have loved Luke Duke a long time. I just never thought he'd give me a second look. I guess I did try to push back my feelings to keep from getting hurt if he didn't return my feelings. I've heard all about his reputation. I've seen him in 'action' a couple times. Do you know I haven't known him to really 'run around' since last summer. He went out with this one girl. I had hoped to spend time with him that night and when he walked in with her it hurt me. He left soon after and returned a short while later. After he explained what was going on I understood. I didn't like it but I understood. We spent the rest of the evening together with everyone else."

"Did you and Luke date?" asked the Judge.

Dixie thought a minute then smiled, "No. Not really. That's what I'm trying to say. We spent a lot of time together and had fun while we were together. But, it wasn't like he asked me out, picked me up and brought me home. No. We just ended up being together. It's kind of hard to explain."

"So your father wasn't aware of you dating because you weren't?" questioned the Judge.

She nodded, "Right. Though he knew I rode with Luke on wrecker calls. I've went out of town to get parts with him. He knew when we did this we'd get something to eat sometimes while we were gone."

"He never objected?" asked Hardcastle.

"No, never. As a matter of fact, the Dukes were the only ones I've been able to stay over with since I've been here." she said.

"Ok, thank you, Dixie. Can you send in your Father?" said Judge Hardcastle.

Dixie looked at the Judge as she got up to leave. "Please don't, .... , send Luke away. It was my fault. My Father has always liked Luke. Please don't let him do this."

Judge Hardcastle stated quietly, "I have follow the law."

Dixie fought to keep her comprosure, "Can I see Luke?"

"I will see about that." he said reassuringly.

[DixieDavenport]

Luther Davenport came into Judge Hardcstle's chambers. The Judge had also known Luther Davenport for years. Hardcastle said, "Well, Luther, have a seat and let's talk about this."

Luther remained standing. "Nothing to talk about Milt. That boy has used one to many girls for my liking. I just happen to be the one who can take care of this matter for all those other girls and their fathers."

Hardcastle looked at the man a long minute before speaking, "What's it going to change?"

"He hurt my daughter. He used her and would have moved on with another star on his board." stated Luther.

"Did it ever occur to you that you may be causing both Dixie and Luke more pain by pushing this than if you just let it go?" asked Judge Hardcastle.

Luther couldn't see the forrest for the trees. "He took liberties with my only daughter and I want him to pay for it."

Judge hardcastle then put the ball in Luther's court, "Why did you let your daughter date him?"

Luther turned red. "I never let her go out with him!"

"Did you or did you not let him take her to the Boar's Nest after she had a date go bad?" questioned Hardcastle.

"He told you that?" questioned Luther.

Hardcastle waved his question off, "At, at, my question first."

"I let him drive her out there and home. I was there the whole time." said Luther.

Hardcastle continued, "How many times has Dixie went to get parts out of town and out of State with Luke with your permission? And how many wrecker calls has she went on with Luke? You let her spend all this time with him, now you want to cry wolf! Is that really fair to either of them?"

"You're saying this is my fault?" asked Luther.

Hardcastle had a way of putting things on the table the way he saw them. "I'm saying that you didn't see Luke as a threat to your daughter or you would have never let her spend all that time with him." the Judge continued, "You trusted Luke Duke didn't you?"

"No, I never trusted him!" exclaimed Luther.

Hardcastle smiled, "You let all your wrecker drivers keep your wrecker for days at a time? You give them keys to your garage?"

"Well, ah, no." said Luther.

"So you trusted Luke?" asked the Judge again.

Luther scratched his head, "As an employee, yes."

"Did you ever have tools or money missing? Did any damage ever happen to your truck from carelessness?" questioned the Judge.

Luther replied very lowly, "No."

"So you felt that you could trust a trusted employee to be around your daughter?" asked the Judge.

"Right! and he broke that trust!" exclaimed Luther. "I have the right to press further charges against Luke and I fully intend to!"

Judge Hardcastle saw he was getting nowhere but tried one more time, "You could probably solve all this a lot easier. Do you know that Luke has asked me to ask you to let him marry Dixie?....."

Luther interupted by saying, "No way! Over my dead body! He'd just marry her to get out of this then run around on her. What would that solve?"

Hardcastle said, "I'm not so sure about that. He said he'd like to marry her whether you dropped the charges or not. Jesse even told me that he has asked him to give Dixie something no matter the outcome."

"They are just telling you that hoping I won't push this." said Luther. "I want the charges upped and I will not let her marry him now or ever."

Hardcastle tried another approach, "You are doing this for Dixie's benefit right? Are you aware of the extensive and embarrassing test that would have to be done to prove this? Do you really want to put your only daughter that you are so concerned with through this?"

"Absolutely! I want Luke Duke to pay for this!" said Luther.

The Judge shook his head. "Alright, but remember this is your choice and I did try to talk you out of it. You can go now. Send Dixie back in and we'll get on with this shortly."

[DixieDavenport]

Dixie walked in.

Judge Hardcastle shooked his head no, "I'm sorry. I talked to him until I was blue in the face. He still wants to go through with this. I can't stop him. But this is my Court and there's not any law that I know against letting you a Luke have a little talk before we proceed."

Dixie gave the Judge a greatful look. "Thank you so much for everything!"

Judge Hardcastle looked to the small room where he'd let Luke and Jesse talk things over. He opened the door slightly, "Luke I've heard a lot of good and bad about you today, but I'm a man who makes his own decisions. There's a Correctional Officer outside the other door. Jesse and I'll be in here. I want your word that you'll take this time to say what needs to be said and not do anything stupid."

Luke looked the Judge in the eye and said, "I give you my word as a Duke."

Hardcastle looked at Jesse who nodded 'yes'. "Ok, I'll give you as long as I can." He reached for the handcuffs and removed them, then stepped aside to let Luke enter his chambers.

"Thank you." said Luke as he stepped inside. He heard Hardcastle close the door. Dixie had been setting in a chair as he stepped into the room she met him as he crossed the room to her. He took her in his arms and held her for several long moments. Though he couldn't hear her, Luke knew she was crying as the warm tears soaked into his shirt. He breathed in the scent of her strawberry shampoo mixed with the melon scent of her body spray. Luke knew she needed to cry and be held and he needed to hold her. Finally, Luke knew there were things that needed to be said between the two of them that didn't need an audience. He took Dixie by the shoulders, standing her up and wiping her tears. He cleared the lump in his own throat, and said, "I could have stayed like that all day, but there are things that need to be said here."

Dixie dried her tears and nodded 'yes'.

"I take it that your Dad is still going through with this?" he asked.

Dixie bit her lip as tears welled up in her eyes.

Luke gave her a bit of a smile of reassurance, "I didn't really expect him not to. I want to tell you a couple of things that I would have eventually gotten around to telling you. The only reason I'm saying them now is not to try to get out of anything or just make you feel better, I want to say them to you. I want you to hear them from me. The day you came to the garage all dressed up asking to go out with Tommy?"

She nodded that she remembered.

Luke continued, "You blew my mind. It was like you had grown up over night. You went from being my 'kiddo' to a young lady right then and there in my mind. Then, there was that kiss out by the barn. It was all I could do to pull away." Luke sighed, "I've kissed my share of ladies but that kiss was different. Then, there was the dance at the Boar's Nest, it was all I could do that night to keep from kissing you right there in front of your Dad, Cooter, Jesse and everyone else. Then there was all the preparations for your birthday party. Like I said I just took it that it was your eighteenth not sixteenth birthday -- that was my fault. I want you to know I don't regret a thing that happened the other night. No matter what anyone else tells you, you were not just another girl. I respected you enough not to make a move on you until I thought you were 18......"

Dixie interupted, "And as I recall, it was my idea."

Luke smiled at the memory and looked her in her eyes, "Yes, but it's only because you moved first. My thoughts weren't totally pure when I parked by the lake to begin with. Because our families have been so close I would not have made any move on you if I hadn't cared about you. .......... Dixie, I love you. The other night would not have happened if I hadn't already decided that."

"Luke I have loved you since I was a kid but you are right, things changed between us over night even before my first kiss." she said.

"Your first kiss? That was your first kiss?" Luke said shocked. "Lady if that was your first kiss, wow!"

"Guess I had a good teacher." she said meaning Luke himself.

He smiled at her, and said very seriously, "I also want to ask you something. ......... I don't know how any of this is going to turn out. ......... I don't know if this will be possible or not but I intend to ask. .......... You don't even have to answer, but I want to ask you this here and now." he paused, looked her in the eyes and began, "Dixie Davenport would you honor me by being my wife?..."

His question was interupted by her answer, "Yes, Luke anytime anywhere."

Now it was time to explain something to her. "Ok, I have intentions of asking the Court if they can to grant this if your Father won't allow it, but I can't promise it can happen. Even if your Father goes through with this, I'd like you to at least have my name, even if we can't be together. That is if you'll have it. I think it could make things easier for you here. At least it should show that I do love you and I wasn't just out to use you and move on."

Dixie smiled a bit for the first time. "Luke I love you. I want to be with you. Yes, I'll marry you anytime, anywhere. If I can't have you, yes, I'll still marry you."

Luke said, "Jesse will have something for you that I was waiting for the right time to give you." he paused, "There is something you need to know before we go back in. To prove the charges that your Father is insisting that I be charged with there are tests that would have to been done on you, ........ I don't intend to let them be done. I fully intend to pleed guilty and take my chances before I'll let you be put through all that."

"Luke I can't let you do that!" she said.

He shook his head and said with determination, "I'm going to. I will not let you suffer anymore for my carelessness. Please give me this. Please let me do what I can, as small as it is to protect you all that I can."

Dixie saw the helplessness one Luke's face. It was not like him. He was always in charge and was doing his best to take charge of what he could in this situation. Dixie realized how important it was for Luke to feel like he had some control in this. She closed hers eyes and and shook her head, 'Ok.'

Luke reached out and took Dixie back into his arms. "Thank you. God, knows it's not much but it's all I can do." He held her for several minutes. Each lost in their own thoughts of each other. Luke petted her hair as he held her thinking of how he could ask something very difficult of her but something her needed her to do for him. "Dixie I need you to do something very difficult but that is very important for me?"

She repliled into his strong chest, "Anything."

"Hear me out first." He tilted her face up to him. "When we go back in there, .... I need you to be strong for me. No out bursts. No tears. ..... Cry now if you are going to, but not in there?"

Dixie for the first time saw tears in his eyes, yet he refused to cry. She saw him gather control of himself but also saw how important it was to him that she not cry in the Courtroom. "All I can say is I promise to do my best."

Luke squeezed her tightly, "That's all I can ask." Once again Luke held her hoping that she would cry herself out before re-entering the courtroom.

There was a knock from the door Judge Hardcastle had went out. There was a minute before it opened, Judge Hardcastle said from the door. "Two minutes." and shut the door back.

Luke and Dixie looked at each other. He dried her tears, tilted her face toward him and kissed her as passionately as he'd kissed anyone before.

A knock at the door brought the kiss to an end. A minute later the Judge opened the door. "That's about all I can do." he said.

Both Luke and Dixie thanked him.

Judge Hardcastle instructed Jesse to take Dixie and return to the Courtroom. After they had left he sized up the tension in the room. He poured into Luke's glass from earlier a straight shot of liquor. "Drink up we don't have long."

Luke took the glass. "Thanks for everything you have done for us both. I know you have got to do what you have to do." Luke finished the drink in one drink.

Hardcastle replaced the handcuffs. He opened the door for Luke to enter the Courtroom.

[DixieDavenport]

Dixie's first test of what Luke had asked (her not crying) came as soon as Luke walked in the Courtroom when Dixie saw that he was handcuffed and leg ironed. She hadn't noticed the leg irons when they were talking but she knew he hadn't had the handcuffs on. Dixie found herself looking to Jesse for the strenght she needed to keep herself from falling apart. She and Jesse had talked before going into the Courtroom. Jesse had explained to her that it would be harder for Luke to be strong for her if she fell apart. Jesse gave her a look of reassurance. Though Jesse was more worried about Daisy and Bo falling apart on him than he was Dixie.

Rosco called the Court to order.

Judge Hardcastle asked Trooper Mitchell, "Do you have the amended complaint ready?"

Trooper Mitchell replied, "Yes, Sir." He handed Rosco the complaint who handed it to Judge Hardcastle.

Judge Hardcastle studied the complaint for several minutes. "Mr. Davenport I will ask you once last time. Are you sure that you want to have these charges amended?"

Luther Davenport looked at Luke with comtempt before answering the Judge, "Absolutely."

"So be it." replied Judge Hardcastle. "Lucas Duke you are now being charged with Indecent Exposure, Public Intoxication, one count of Contributing to the Deliquency of a Minor, Resisting Arrest, and Statutory Rape. Do you understand these charges?"

Luke was standing straight and tall when he answered in a voice that he hope sounded confident, "Yes, Sir."

"You, Mr. Duke are intitled to an attorney, a preliminary hearing and a jury trial. Due to the seriousness of these charges I will have to order that both you and Miss Davenport undergo some medical testing which I will set up after this bond hearing." Stated Judge Hardcastle before continuing. "Do you wish to have an attorney appointed, Mr. Duke."

Luke took a deep breath before answering, "No, Sir, Your Honor."

Everyone in the Courtroom looked at Luke in shock.

Luke continued, "I don't need an attorney. If I could I'd like to waive the preliminary hearing, jury trial and all."

Judge Hardcastle shook his head. He could be a very hard case but he hated to see a young person not even give the system a chance to help them. Guilty or innocent he liked to see cases go through the Court to insure everyone was given what they were entitled to by law. "Mr. Duke I strongly advice against this. By waiving your rights now you will have no recourse later."

"I understand that. Miss Davenport has been through far too much as it is over this matter. I'd just as soon get it over as quickly as we can so she can move on." stated Luke.

Judge Hardcastle sighed and asked, "Are you prepared to enter a plea and wave this bond hearing?"

Luke answered, "Yes, Sir. But, if I may first I'd like to ask the Court to honor one request. I am unsure if there is a way the Court can intervein in this matter or not, but I'd like to ask the Court to give or seek permission for Miss Davenport to marry me reguardless of the outcome of the charges?"

Judge Hardcastle set back and studied the young man before him for several minutes before speaking. "Mr. Davenport standing before myself today in this Court is a young man who has made a grave mistake. I see him owning up to that mistake and trying everything in his power to make amends for this mistake. I know that a law has been broken and you are seeking justice which you will get if you insist on continuing this matter, but, dont' you think it would serve your daughter, this Court, this State and this young man far better to end this matter here?"

Mr. Davenport said in a loud voice, "I want him to pay for making a WHORE....."

His sentence was cut short as Luke shoved past Jesse who was standing to his right and was heading full force at Mr. Davenport. Jesse, Bo, and Rosco caught Luke about the time the State Troopers caught Mr. Davenport. Luke and Luther were in the center of the Courtroom face to face.

[DixieDavenport]

Judge Hardcastle pounded his gavel and exclaimed, "Order! I will have order in my Court!"

Everyone stopped right where they were with Luke and Luther still face to face.

Hardcastle spoke with authority, "I will have NO name calling in this Court Mr. Davenport. Mr. Duke I will not tolerate disruptions like this even if it was provoked. We will recess for ten minutes I suggest everyone check their temper at the door on your way back in. Court dismissed for ten minutes."

Peggy lead Luke and Jesse back to a witness room at the side of the Court room.

Once she shut the door, Jesse said, "Luke now I know none of this is easy but you don't want the Judge on your bad side either."

Luke shook his head in agreement, "I know, Uncle Jesse, I sort of lost it for a second there."

~~~~~~~~~~

Daisy went out with Dixie as she couldn't go back with Jesse and Luke. "Dixie, Honey, your Dad is just mad. He didn't mean ....."

"Yes he did, Daisy. He has told me I was a whore and once a whore always a whore that no one would ever want me as a wife after this." said Dixie with tears in her eyes.

Daisy smiled, "Sugar that's not what I heard in there."

Dixie smiled weakly, "That may be but my Father will NEVER allow it. He swore he'd make Luke pay but I think I'm paying too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bo and the other boys walked out with Cooter. Bo began, "Cooter?"

Cooter turned on them defensively, "Now, Bo, guys, I know you are all on Luke's side here but messing with MY sister is going way too far!"

Bo said, "We've all been friends too long for this to come between us."

Cooter replied, "Bo, I know that, but it will come between us. That's why it was so wrong what Luke did. I know you all will back Luke. I have to go with Dad on this one."

Bo knew Cooter was right that this would come between them and simply asked, "What will is solve, Cooter?"

Cooter knew Bo was also right about not solving anything but for Luke to mess around with Dixie, well, Cooter felt that his trust in his friend had been betrayed.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

At this moment Luther walked out of the Courtroom in a huff. His face was red and he was furious. He said to Cooter and Dixie, "I told you two to keep away from them 'DUKES'!"

Cooter and Dixie left their long time friends and joined their Father.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesse advised, "The first chance you get in there to talk apologize to the Judge."

"I will, Uncle Jesse." said Luke. Then he sighed heavily, "Luther's not going to let me marry her. ......." He paused and looked down slightly, "Uncle Jesse I'm sorry for all this. Please tell the others that." After another long pause Luke looked up at Jesse. "You do know I'm going in there to plead Guilty."

"Luke I see no way out of this right now, but I wished you'd not do that so maybe it would buy sometime to think about another option. I do understand your reasons for doing it if you do. I also want you to know I'm proud of you for the way you have conducted yourself through this all. Luke always know that we all love and support you." said Jesse.

Rosco opened the door, "It's time."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone entered the Courtroom again. Rosco called the Court to Order. The Judge said to the court reporter, "Please read the last bit of transcript."

She said,

"Judge Hardcastle, 'Are you prepared to enter a plea and wave this bond hearing?' Luke answered, 'Yes, Sir. But, if I may first I'd like to ask the Court to honor one request. I am unsure if there is a way the Court can intervien in this matter or not, but I'd like to ask the Court to give or seek permission for Miss Davenport to marry me reguardless of the outcome of the charges?'Judge Hardcastle, 'Mr. Davenport standing before myself today in this Court is a young man who has made a grave mistake. I see him owning up to that mistake and trying everything in his power to make amends for this mistake. I know that a law has been broken and you are seeking justice which you will get if you insist on continuing this matter, but, don't you think it would serve your daughter, this Court, this State and this young man far better to end this matter here?'Mr. Davenport, 'I want him to pay for making a WHORE.....' "

After the reporter read this Judge Hardcastle directed, "Mr. Davenport, please answer the question without any name calling this time."

Luther answered, "I want him to pay. I will never give my daughter permission to marry him."

During the break Judge Hardcastle had checked into the legalities of this all. He said, "I am sorry Mr. Duke, Ms. Davenport, without parental permission I can not give permission from the courts for you two to marry." he paused, "Mr. Duke are you still prepared to enter a plea?"

Luke answered, "Yes, Sir and I would like to say I am sorry for my part in the disruption earlier."

Judge Hardcastle asked, "Do you need the charges read again before entering your plea?"

"No, Sir." replied Luke.

"Very well. Please stand and approach the bench." said the Judge. This still obviously bothered him. "How would you like to plead to the above charges in this matter?"

Luke stood up standing as straight as he could and approached the bench. "Guilty as charged Your Honor."

Behind Luke there was movement which never registered to him. Daisy gasped. Bo stood up only to be sat back down by Jesse.

At the other table Luther smiled. Cooter dropped his head. Dixie bit her lip to keep from crying out.

Judge Hardcastle said, "Enter a Plea of Guilty to the above charges. I can set up a sentencing hearing for ......." he paused.

Luke asked, "Can we move on to it now?"

Judge Hardcastle checked his watch. This one hearing had taken quiet some time but to finish it today would be much shorter than two hearings. "I have one other arraignment. I'll recess Court until 1:00 pm. so that I can do that. Until then Ms. Blevins take Mr. Duke back to the witness room where he can visit with his family and Miss Davenport." Judge Hardcastle saw the look in Luthers eyes and said, "I intend to be fair to all parties here. Say one word in objection and I'll lock you up for Contempt of Court. Court adjourned!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judge Hardcastle further directed Peggy to remove the handcuffs during the visit. Peggy, Luke, all the Dukes and Dixie entered the witness room for thier visit while in the Courtroom Mark McCormick was brought upstairs for his bail hearing.

[DixieDavenport]

Mark McCormick was brought upstairs for his bail hearing. Being charged with a Felony Mark was also in handcuffs and leg irons. Judge Hardcastle took notice of the absence of any family in the Courtroom for the young man as he began to read the complaint.

Hardcastle began, "Mark McCormick, you have been charged with Armed Robbery."

~~~~~~~~~~

In the witness room Luke was surrounded by his family and Dixie. Jesse looked at him, "Luke I'll be right back let me see if I can help Mark."

"Thanks Uncle Jesse." Luke replied.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jesse walked in as Judge Hardcastle asked, "Do you have anyone to go your bond on this?"

Jesse replied, "Judge Hardcastle I'm willing to go his bond if I can since I won't be needing to use the farm for Luke." he sighed.

Mark looked at Jesse with a confussed look.

Jesse looked at Hardcastle, "Can I have a minute to explain this?" nodding to Mark. Judge Hardcastle nodded 'yes'. Jesse briefly explained to Mark about Luke.

Mark asked, "So he's not going home on this?" He could see the hurt in Jesse's eyes as he answered him making Mark wish he'd not asked the question.

"No." Jesse said simply.

"Jesse I want to thank you and Luke for this. You know even if they believe me, my parents always told me if I got myself into trouble I'd have to get myself out so they would never go the bond." Mark sighed. He'd been thinking while Luke was upstairs. He knew if he was bonded out and something else was robbed then he'd be in more trouble. Now, he was thinking of his friend who was friend enough to ask Jesse to get him out instead of his own self. Mark did not enjoy being locked in a jail cell anymore than Luke or any other person. He wanted to go home. Could he let Jesse use his farm to go his bond and leave Luke? Could he pass up the chance to walk out of here? He looked at Jesse and said, "I can't let you use your farm for me. I truely appreciate the offer, but I can't walk out of here and leave Luke here. Thank you, Jesse." He turned to Judge Hardcastle, "Your Horor, I have a friend who is friend enough to asked his uncle to get me out of here. Mr. Duke explained what he has done. I'll be friend enough to stay here with him, besides if something else is robbed like this and I'm here it might just help prove I didn't do it."

Judge Hardcastle looked at the young man in front of him thinking 'What has gotten into these young people today?' He sighed. He couldn't help but take a bit of a liking to the young man who decided to show his loyality to his friend. Once again Judge Hardcastle did something unusal, he said, "I'd like to see Mr. McCormick in my office. Court will be in recess. Jesse I'll have them let you know when we return if you want to see Luke."

Jesse said, "Thank you Judge Hardcastle." Jesse addressed his long time fishing friend in a formal manner since they were in Court.

Once in the Judge's Chambers he closed the door and began unbuttoning his robe reveiling a shirt with large 'Hawiian print' in bright colors.

Needless to say Mark was a bit surprised to see the older man wearing such a shirt under his robe. As with Luke the Judge tosses Mark a handcuff key saying, "You can take those bracelets off unless you like them. Want a Coke?"

Mark looked a lot confussed, but did as instructed and took the handcuffs off and then accepted the Coke.

Judge Hardcastle sat down with a Coke, took a peanut out of a jar and said, "So, kid tell me your side of this." He sat back in his chair to listen as he opened the file on his desk to see the official version while Mark told him his version.

"I had a girlfriend who had been in some trouble. She came to me asking me for help. I took her to the Dixie Inn a couple days ago in my Camero and assured them she could be trusted." Mark looked up biting his lip. "Yeah, well that's what I told them and believed it at the time. She had to work last night. My Camero still has some 'bugs' in it so I drove my Dad's pickup when I decided since she was working I'd spend a quiet evening at home since all my family would be gone last night. I ran in to Luke Duke at the Hazzard Garage and asked him to come over to my house. He used to date my sister so he declined to keep down trouble and he said they all were going to the lake for a bit. I went and bought a half gallon of Jim Bean whiskey and went home." Mark paused. "I proceeded to get smashed. I was awaken by my Dad calling me about 7 this morning. When I came down stairs the State Police were there with a warrant to search my house and car. They decided to start with my car. When they opened the door they found a ski mask between the seats. In the glove box cleaverly hidden by a loaded .357 Magnum was several checks made out to the Dixie Inn. Now, Judge, I'm not a rocket scientist or anything but come on, IF I had robbed the place would I have left all that evidence so neatly in MY car?"

Judge Hardcastle asked, "Was the gun yours?"

"No. My father cleared that up. We have several .357's. He knew the serial number to be one of his that was kept on the refrigerator." explained Mark.

"Can you explain how anyone could have gotten it AND your car?" asked the Judge.

Mark sighed, "Yeah. It's amazing how clear things can become in just a few hours..." he nodded toward the jail, "down there. My, ah, " he again spit the word, "ah, girlfriend, Sharon Jones knew I kept a spare key in my bumer of the Camero. She was also with me on evening when I forgot my key. I took the spare key down from the porch light then replaced it back there after opening the house. As for the gun, it was laying there in plain sight on the refrigerator for anyone who walked in to see."

"You are claiming that this Sharon Jones came to your house, took the spare key, got the gun, got the spare key to the car and robbed the place then returned the car to your house with the gun, mask and checks in the car for the law to find?" asked the Judge.

"I'm saying she had knowledge of the keys which gave her access to the gun and the car. With me in the back of the house drinking I would never have heard her or the car." stated Mark.

"Why did you turn down Jesse Duke's offer to bond you?" asked Hardcastle.

Mark looked the Judge in the eyes, "If he bonds me and something else is robbed like this I'm sure to be blamed. If I'm here, then it's possible it might help me. Besides, Jesse would have bonded Luke first but I think part of the reason he's being stubborn is so Jesse can bond me. He's getting a raw deal too, but he won't let Dixie be hurt anymore even to clear himself. So he's going to plead guilty to this to protect her and so that Jesse can bond me. The only thing I'm guilty of is getting plastered last night, but I'll not leave him here like that when Jesse could have bonded him instead."

Judge Hardcastle handed Mark a shot of liquor to go with his Coke as he continued, "Here drink this with you Coke. Then we'll put that jewerly back on and go set you bond."

Mark looked skeptical.

"Go on. Or you may have wished you had by the time all this is over." stated the Judge.

"Ah, yeah." said Mark before downing the drink.

[DixieDavenport]

Peggy removed the handcuffs and stepped to the side of the door to let the family talk but she was in between Luke and the only door in the room. In the witness room off from the Court room with Luke were some very upset Dukes and one Davenport. Bo was the first to speak after Jesse went back in for Mark, "Luke! Did you HAVE to do that? Are you CRAZY?"

Standing with his arm around both Daisy and Dixie, Luke replied evenly, "Yes, I did. And, No, I'm not."

Bo voiced what was on the others mind but no one (except Luke and Jesse -- unknown to the others) had talked about . "By saying you're guilty on this you'll....." Bo paused trying to choke the lump in his throat back down to try to talk to Luke in the short time they would have. "Luke, you'll go to jail..." Bo looked up to try to stop the tears that were threatening.

Luke knew his next statement to Bo was likely to upset him, Dixie and Daisy more so than the younger three Duke boys since he was closer to them so Luke tried to speak with a calmness he didn't feel, "Bo. I know what I'm doing here." He thought, 'I think!' "I know that unless I get one He-- of a break I won't being going to jail on this, ..... but to prison. I'm putting all my marbles in one sack and hoping by doing this now without delaying that I'll at least get some kind of a break but with Hardcastle in there I just don't know."

Luke felt more than saw or heard the girls on boths his sides tense up and he could tell they were crying but didn't want him to know it. Frankly he didn't want to know it right now either.

About this time Jesse came back into the room. Luke looking for a distraction from his own situation asked, "What happened?"

Jesse replied, "He's in with the Judge talking like he did to you. Said they'd call me when they came back in." Jesse thought about telling Luke of his friends decision but decided it could wait that he had enough 'on his plate' that he couldn't control.

Bo said in a pleading voice, "Uncle Jesse, you've got to make Luke here change his mind."

Jesse said warningly, "Bo .... Now, Luke here is in a fix ..... But, I want you all to understand, sometimes a man has got to make difficult choices in his life. This is one of those times for Luke. He doesn't need us making it more difficult. In this room is family and as family we have got to support each other........"

Bo heard the words that Jesse hadn't said also, 'Not make him feel worse than they knew he did.' It was all Bo could do to mask his frustration but he'd try to for Luke's sake. He just hoped they could talk without having to worry about Dixie, Daisy, Jeb, Coy, Vance and even Jesse. Bo knew that the two could say things to each other they could never say to anyone else. He just couldn't understand what Luke was thinking.

There was a knock at the door. Rosco told Jesse Mark and the Judge were back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back in the Court room. Jesse had returned to hopefully help Mark.

"I'll set your bond in case you change your mind." The Judge informed Mark of his right to an attorney and completed the needed paperwork then said, "I'm setting the bond at $50,000 due the the seriouness of the crime. Jesse if he should change his mind and you are still willing to go his bond contact me. I'm sure if you are using the farm we can work something out on the bond."

Jesse said, "Thank you Judge Hardcastle."

Mark also told the Judge, "Thanks."

Mark was escorted back downstairs and the cuffs and leg irons removed. He stepped into the cell and heard the very distinct sound of steel meeting steel as the cell door closed with a clang then the key turned with a clink, locking the cell and Mark inside. Standing alone in the cell he felt his pulse quicken, his heart rate raced as he wanted desperately to call out that he'd changed his mind about not letting Jesse Duke bond him. Then he thought of how Luke would feel for his Uncle to bond Mark yet he couldn't go home. Mark sighed and thought, 'I can't do it to him. I know I didn't rob anything and I'll fight to prove that but I can't leave Luke when he unknowingly DID do something wrong and is facing it. He sighed and said lowly to himself, "I'll just have to stick this out for right now."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Judge Hardcastle took the rest of the time looking for a legal loop hole to keep from sending a 'kid' "up the river" that had made a terrible error in judgement. He was compeled to follow the law but was looking for a way to serve justice and satisfy the father yet be fair to the young man. The letter of the law was clear. Unfortunately, by pleading guilty, the kid was going to do a lot of hard time thanks to the girls father being so bull headed to take this thing to court. Wait, he had one more place to look .........

~~~~~~~~~

Rosco knocked, then told Peggy, "Judge said two minutes."

Luke hugged each of his family and Dixie. Then said, "I love you all. Thanks for everything." Then to Dixie only he said, "Remember, I do love you. I will be on your doorstep some day, when the timing is better." He then turned to Peggy so she could replace the cuffs as the others went to the Courtroom.

~~~~~~~~~~

At 1 pm shape Judge Hardcastle's court was again called to order. Judge Hardcastle spoke, "Lucas Duke, please stand for sentencing." He paused, then continued, "You have plead guilty to the above charges." Making one of the toughest decisions in his career Hardcastle said, "I am sentencing you to the maximum 20 years in prison."

Standing straight Luke heard the sentence that was passed down. He had known he was in serious trouble but had NEVER expected THIS! He felt his knees turn to rubber and his chest tightened making breathing almost impossible. It was all he could do to remain standing, he WOULD NOT give Luther Davenport anymore satisfaction than he was now getting! The rest of the sentence fell on deaf ears as far as Luke was concerned because he didn't hear anything else. He continued to hear Hardcastle saying, "20 years in prison."

Hardcastle continued, "I am also placing a condition that you can not phone or write to Dixie Davenport while incarcerated." The Judge also spouted a lot of Latin gobbledy goop that no one from Hazzard understood. Then said to Peggy, "Mr. Duke is now placed in your custody to await transport to the State Prison."

Luke felt Jesse nudge his arm as Peggy had stepped closer to Luke. His family's and Dixie's reaction were put on hold until Luke was taken downstairs. Mark noticed when Luke came back down stairs he was as pale as a ghost as Peggy uncuffed him. He stepped inside the cell. Mark saw him shudder as the door locked with the same clang, click that he himself had been unnerved by a short time before. After Peggy went upstairs to get the required paperwork from the Judge, Mark asked quietly, "Luke? What happened?"

Luke just stared at the wall as he stood by the bed and quietly said, "It's over."

Mark said, "Well, tell me what happened."

Luke looked his friend in the eyes, "Not now. I can't. ....... It's done with. I'll tell you in a bit." Luke sat down on the metal bed with the hard mattress, putting his back to the side of the cell against the bars. He had his heels on the edge of the narrow bunk with his knees pulled up to his chin. He placed his elbows on his knees with his head on his arms. He sat like that for quiet some time before looking at the bars that surrounded his friend and himself. He said barely heard by Mark even though they weren't far from each other, "Twenty YEARS."

Mark looked up and the sound of Luke's voice. He almost said, 'What did you say?' But, then he realized what he'd heard. He couldn't think of one thing to say to his friend as he processed the information, then, began to wonder what exactly his fate would be for a robbery he did not commit.......

[DixieDavenport]

Judge Hardcastle stopped Jesse outside the Courthouse. "Jesse. Can we talk over a cup of coffee?"

Jesse knew the Judge had just done his job, but he'd given Luke the Maximum sentence when he could have done otherwise. Jesse saw the anger flash in Bo's eyes and needed to head it off so he said, "Bo you take the others, ....." He started to say to the Garage but thought better of that quickly. "To the Boar's Nest get you all a bite to eat and I'll be along shortly then we'll go see Luke." Jesse didn't like the look in Bo's eyes. "Bo. Now." Leaving no room for discussion. To the Judge he said, "Let's go."

At the dinner Judge Hardcastle took the back booth away from the few customers that were in the dinner. He told the wiatress, "Two coffees. And bring a pot." After the young lady left them he said to Jesse, "Jesse, we've been friends for a long while. I'm sorry I had to do what I did today. That was the toughest desicion I've passed down since becoming a Judge. Not just because Luke is your nephew but because I honestly feel he was telling me the total truth that he didn't know how old Ms. Davenport was and that she didn't know the law." Hardcastle paused as the coffee was served. Then continued, "What I'm concerned with talking to you about now though is something that could indirectly benefit Luke." he paused to let that soak in. He needed something from Jesse Duke and knew now wasn't the time to ask unless he could make it worth Jesse's time to even get him to listen. Hardcastle said, "Mark McCormick. He chose to stay in jail instead of letting you bond him. He is charged with Armed Robbery which is not less than 10 years. I know he says he's innocent and I tend to believe what he's telling me up to this point, of course I'll have to hear all the evidence. The evidence doesn't look good should this go to trial. It seems that if what he is claiming, that he was set up, they did a good job of it. I'd like to make him an offer which could benefit Luke somewhat. If he'd plead to Nighttime Burglary it is a 1-15. We could wrap this up quicker and I could pull a few strings to have them housed closer to home and on a work camp where they would at least be outside quiet a bit. I can probably even get them housed together. Jesse this is a newer place and it's nothing like the old camps like in Osage. You do realize that with Luke's charge he will have to watch his back and it will be worse if he goes to the State prison. At least if they go together they can watch each others backs."

Jesse saw the lodgic of the Judges plan and did see how this would benefit Luke but said, "Milt how can you think of sending that kid to prison if you believe him?"

He sighed deeply, "Jesse, I have to go with the evidence which even if this goes to a jury they found in his car a loaded gun, a ski mask and checks belonging to the Dixie Inn. He doesn't have a alibi, his car was placed at the scene. He can take the deal and likely be home in a year. Otherwise he'll fight this, most likely loose the case, and spend the next 10 years in prison and without some strings being pulled the fact a gun was used will keep him inside just like with Luke's charge."

Jesse himself sighed, "I don't like doing this but I see where you are coming from. I don't know if I can make Mark see it or not, but I will explain this all to both them."

Judge Hardcastle said, "Thank you Jesse. I wish I could have done more to help Luke but you heard Luther Davenport he should be satisfied now. Now I'll do what I can to even the score on Luke's side." He desparately wanted to tell Jesse his whole plan but knew it would loose the effect to explian all his plans now.

Jesse checked the time on his pocket watch. "I'll go get the others and I'll do what I can."

Hardcastle said, "Thanks again. And I am sorry that I couldn't come up with a better solution."

Jesse just nodded as he headed toward the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After meeting the kids at the Boar's Nest, they all went to see Luke and Mark at the jail. After letting them visit awhile Jesse sent them out so he could explain what the Judge had said. After all the explaining was done Mark McCormick was not ready to admit guilt to a crime he didn't do, but agreed that he'd think about it.

When Jesse left, he sent Bo back down to talk to Luke and Mark. Jesse knew Luke and Bo were closer than any of his kids and knew that they needed this chance to talk freely without the other kids or himself around.

Due to the extreme lenght of the sentence Peggy knew that this had about floored Luke. She was glad to let Bo stay for a couple of hours to let them talk. At least if Luke were talking to Bo or Mark maybe he wasn't thinking as much.

[DixieDavenport]

Luke may not have been thinking but Mark was. Late that night Luke knew Mark wasn't anymore asleep than he was. He said quietly, "Mark, want to talk about it?"

Mark sighed, still looking at the ceiling, "Luke you know I didn't rob any place. I can't see saying I did when I didn't, but, Da--! I don't want to stay here another 10 minutes let alone 10 years. With the evidence pointing dead at me and no way to prove otherwise, would I be a fool to fight this?"

Luke turned on his side to look at his friend on the bunk by his, "You are asking ME about being a FOOL?" Luke paused, "Mark, you know the Court system here like I do. Hardcastle has a 'reputation'. The evidence against you looks really bad. Even if it goes to a jury they will all be from around here so they will know you've been in a fight or two, you have been know to race and drive a little crazy, most would probably figure you to have tried your hand at moonrunning a time or two......."

Mark said as Luke's thoughts trailed off, "So they'd find me guilty on this because of what they know or suspect about me."

Luke just looked at him for several minutes, then shrugged his shoulders, "I'm just saying that it could go that way. Look at your options: One, you can fight this and loose and get 10 years. Two, you could fight it win and walk. Three, take Hardcastle's deal and know that it's likely you'd be home in a year." Luke paused, then continued, "That's your options, now you just have to figure the odds."

Mark sighed, "Yeah! But I think you missed an option. The one where I take the deal of 1 to 15 and end up doing the 15."

"Yeah! That is something to think on too." replied Luke.

[DixieDavenport]

The next morning at the Hazzard Jail found two 'good old boys' that had gotten very little sleep.

NARRATOR: "Ya, know I've seen those two look a lot better than they do this morning."

Peggy brought them coffee which was very welcome. "I'll call over to the Diner for breakfast in a bit."

Mark said, "I think I'd just as soon have more coffee."

Luke seconded that, "Me too. I don't think I could eat this morning either."

"Guys you both know that Uncle Jesse would have my hide on the wall if I let either of you get away without eating. I'll fix us another pot of coffee and I'll call the Diner a little later for breakfast." Peggy said.

Mark took a large drink of coffee and asked, "How hard would it be to arrange a meeting with Judge Hardcastle?"

Luke looked a bit surprised but said nothing.

Peggy also seemed surprised but answered, "It shouldn't be to hard unless he's fishing today. What should I tell him?"

Mark looked from Peggy to Luke then replied, "Just that I'd like to talk to him." Mark wasn't sure how much Peggy knew about the information Jesse had given him about Hardcastle's offer so he simply said, "About what he had Mr. Duke tell me. I think I've made up my mind."

Peggy left to call the Judge. Luke waited until she had reached the top of the steps before saying, "So what did you decide?"

Mark took a long deep breath and sighed heavily before saying, "I want to talk to him but, .... I think, ...... I'm going to, ........" he lower his voice barely able to say the rest. "Take his offer."

Luke sat up on his bunk. "Are you sure about that?"

"As sure as I can be. I don't like it, ...... but I don't see having much choice." Mark replied pacing the small distance of the cell. "A year sure sounds better than TEN."

Luke said lowly, "Care for TWENTY?"

Mark sighed. "Sh--! I'm sorry, Luke. I'm fuming over a year, and here you are looking, at ..... Like I said, I'm sorry.

"Don't be. I know you need to talk this out." Luke said.

Mark sighed heavily, then said, "I just don't want on your bad side since it looks like we're going to be spending quiet a bit of time together."

Luke solemly replied, "Yeah, looks like we are."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mark sat across the desk from Judge Hardcastle. They had talked for quiet some time when Judge Hardcastle said, "I really hate what is going on with both you and Mr. Duke. I had to follow the law in his case and Ms. Davenport's father was pushing hard for 'justice' besides I felt like Mr. Duke may be in danger if I'd even had let him out on bond. As for you, I think your a fairly honest young man, but again with the evidence I've seen, ...... I think most likely I'd be compelled to find you guilty. I figure that you'd bother rather be where you could be outside working to make time go by as to be in a cell all day."

Mark asked the question that had been bothering him since Jesse Duke had told him of the Judge's offer. "So I take the deal, plead guilty to Nighttime Burglary which is a 1-15 years. How do I know I won't end up with the 15 instead of 10 years?"

Judge Hardcastle replied, "Good question. I like someone who thinks things out. I'll put in in the Court order to have you transported to my Court one year from the day you were arrested and I'll reconsider the sentence. As long as you haven't tried to escape or done anything equally stupid then I'll release you at that time."

Mark sat back in his chair to consider all the Judge had said. He sat thinking for several very long minutes before attempting to find his voice. "I'll take your deal. Jesse said you'd arrange for Luke and me to be housed together?"

Judge Hardcastle hated doing this to these two young men, but felt he was doing what he could for them while following the law at the same time. He replied, "I'll put it all in the plea agreement which I'll get typed up for your signature." Hardcastle buzzed Peggy to return Mark to the jail cell.

Mark nodded as he stood to leave the Judge's Office he decided to 'thank' the judge for doing what little he could under the circumstances. His voice threatened to crack as he said, "Thanks." That was all he could manage to say as the thought crossed his mind, 'What has he really done for me or Luke.'

[DixieDavenport]

At the Davenport farm, Dixie had spent several of the LONGEST days of her life. Her father had grounded her to her room, as he put it, for life! Cooter looked at her with disapproval and hurt. She knew at some level he blamed her for causing the lose of one of his closest friends. He father on the other hand made her feel 'dirty'. She was too embarrassed to call her Mother, and her father had also forbid it. She needed to talk things out with someone but didn't have any friends in Hazzard that would understand this, except the Dukes who at this point probably hated her. She needed to talk to Luke, yet, the Judge had ordered they have no contact. As she paced the the silent house in the wee hours of the night she asked the question to herself, 'What else could he do to Luke or her?' Luke had already been sentenced and she was paying the price of living with her choice to love Luke Duke. She brushed her hair, grabbed a jacket and opened her bedroom window. She had walked to town plenty of times from the farm. She had been in town enough to know that the window outside the jail cells had a large bush growing close by. She hoped she could talk to Luke from outside and be concealed by the bush.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Outside Dixie crossed the Hazzard Square. She could see a faint light from the windows of the cells below the Court house. She slipped silently across the Courthouse lawn and ducked down behind the bush. She waited seeing Peggy setting at the desk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Peggy was seating across the room with her feet proped up on desk. She had been reading a book to try to pass the time. She loved this overtime but Rosco wasn't much on relieving her out so she had been awake and on duty for the entire time Luke and Mark had been in jail. She felt her eyes getting heavy as Luke and Mark had gotten quiet. She didn't figure they were asleep. She knew that they both had a lot on their minds. With Mark signing the plea agreement yesturday she had been busy as a beaver making the transport arrangements with the transport team of the work farm Judge Hardcastle had arranged for them both to be sent to. This was no easy task as she HAD to keep it confidential. Luke and Mark all had plenty of family and friends in this County that would be more than willing to try to break the boys out. She knew they didn't need that! She had read the Court orders and even she hadn't been able to make heads or tails out of the Latin in Luke's order. But it took no 'rocket scientist' to know that they were both getting a break just by the Judge pulling strings to make sure they went to the work camp together, not the State Pen. She had left the jail earlier with the excuse of going home for a shower and a nap but in reality had went to bypass the Hazzard Phone Company's operator. She had driven to Chichasaw County where she had a secure phone line without an operator who could over hear every call if she wanted to or if the price was right. As luck would have it the transport team would be in Hazzard by noon today. She was the only one in Hazzard who knew this. She felt her eyes getting heavy and knew she could not afford the chance of even a few minutes sleep. She decided to go up stairs to get water for the coffee. She got the now empty coffee pot and unlocked the gate going upstairs then locked it back. While she was upstairs she'd check the outside door and make the nessassary copies of the Court orders she'd need in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~

Luke and Mark both heard Peggy go upstairs. This wasn't unusual and they knew she'd be close by and back soon. They both laid silently lost in their own thoughts.

~~~~~~~~~~

When Dixie saw Peggy go through the gate she crept closer to the window, giving her enough time to reach the top of the steps before she called very quietly, "Luke."

Luke was sure he imagined hearing his name being called by Dixie until Mark said quietly, "Luke, either I'm hearing you dreams over here OR someone just called your name and it wasn't me."

Marks statement got Luke's full attention as he sat up quickly.

Dixie said, "Shhhh. Or you two are going to give me away."

Luke was now standing on the bunk. "Dixie what are you doing here? It's the middle of the night!"

"Luke I just needed to talk to you. At the moment you are the only one that knows what I'm going through who doesn't hate me." she said hurriedly.

"Woooh! Slow down there. Who hates you?" he asked in a soothing voice.

"Everyone. Dad, Cooter. Your family is the only ones I feel I could talk to but I know they hate me because I caused all this....." she had so much more to add but was stopped in here tracks by Luke.

He reached for her hand through the bars on the window. He knew Mark would be listening for Peggy. "Dixie, Honey, my family nor yours hates you. I told you if anyone is to blame for this it is me. I should have known better. I did! But I should have been more careful. I guarentee you are just as welcome at Jesse's as you have always been if not more so." He was thinking about suggesting she go to Jesse's tonight but wondered how she had gotten to town. "Dixie how did you get here?"

She let her eyes look away from Luke for only a second as she said, "I walked." Dixie knew Luke would worry about her but she wouldn't lie to him.

Luke had been feeling pretty helpless but now it was really hitting him just how da-- helpless he was. Dixie had walked in the middle of the night to town to talk to him. "Tell me you have your garage keys?"

She shook her head negatively.

Luke was trying to think. He knew the garage well. "Dixie can you get on the roof at the side the garage? The window there isn't locked. Go in and call the farm. Promise me you'll call and have some pick you up after you leave here?"

"Luke that's going to mean waking them up." Dixie protested.

"Blame it on me, but call them for a ride. I don't want you out here walking back to your house at this time of night alone. Dixie I love you too much to have anything happen to you." Luke paused.

Dixie replied, "Luke I love you too. That's why I had to come. Please don't be mad at me."

Luke smiled, "Honey I could never be mad at you. I am so very glad that you did come. I don't know when they will move us now that Mark has accepted the Judge's agreement. I don't figure it will take too long."

"Mark took the deal?" Dixie asked, then continued before Luke could answer. She had hoped that if Mark stood trail that it would mean Luke would be in Hazzard longer. "Luke I wanted you to know something. No matter how long you are gone. I will be there for you when you get out."

Luke felt his heart being ripped from his chest with her statement. He had to tell her how he felt and knew Peggy would be back any minute. "Dixie, Honey, listen to me. I love you. I wanted to marry you. Since I met you I have only wanted your happiness. You are a very beautiful, smart, YOUNG woman. I want only YOUR happiness." Luke squeezed her hands tightly. He wasn't sure he could say what needed to be said, "Dixie, .... Forget me."

As sure as crystal falling to the pavement will break so did Dixie's heart at that moment. "Luke, .... I can NEVER, ...... forget you!"

"There is no way I can expect you or want you to through your life away because of this. Because of ME. You need to turn around from here and move on and never look back." Luke could see the pain in her eyes by what he was saying. He wanted her to move on so she'd be happy. He feared she was misunderstanding him. "Dixie, please, make me happy knowing that you are seeking happiness not living in the past. Don't loose out on your happiness waiting for something that will take years to even get a chance to happen IF it gets the chance at all. If and when I get to come home I will be a different person and so will you. Don't wait for me and then find you have waited on someone you who has changed. We had our time. It was me that messed that up. Now, you have to move on to give me a chance for what little happiness I can have by knowing you are OK. Promise me, Dixie?"

It was all she could do to say the words she had to say to give Luke the hope he needed. "Yes, Luke. I promise to TRY." She saw his point but still didn't agree with it but would promise at least to try.

Mark hit Luke's leg to let him know Peggy was coming. "Try hard for me. Now you've got to got to the garage and call for a ride. Peggy is coming back. Dixie I do love you and always will." Luke said quietly and hurriedly.

"I love you too, Luke." She said as he kissed her hands before turning them loose so she could get away from the window before Peggy returned.

Luke continued to look out the window watching Dixie as she went to the garage.

[DixieDavenport]

Luke continued to look out the window watching Dixie as she went to the garage. Peggy came back into the downstairs just as Dixie had walked away. A few minutes later, as Luke stood on the bunk by the window acting like he was getting some fresh air, he saw the garage light come on. He knew Dixie had made it inside the garage, but still couldn't tear himself away from the window until he knew someone picked her up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the garage, Dixie turned on the light to let Luke know she was inside and so she could see to find the phone which was always in a different spot. She picked up the phone.

Maybelle said, "Hello."

"Maybelle, get me the Duke Farm." Dixie asked.

Maybelle replied, "Dixie? It's 2am?"

Dixie wasn't in the mood for Maybelle. "Look, just put the call through, Maybelle."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Duke Farm

Jeb was just slipping quietly into the kitchen so as not to wake anyone. His band had played at the Boar's Nest and it was always late when he came home from playing music. Just as he gotten in the door the phone began to ring. The ringing phone made him hurry to it. Jeb answered the phone, "Duke Farm."

At the same time Jesse, Daisy and Bo entered the living room. It was very unusual for the phone to ring at the Duke Farm this late. It usually meant trouble. It usuaully meant at least one of the boys was in trouble. Jesse knew Bo, Daisy, Coy and Vance were home. He was relieved to see Jeb coming in as he came out of his room. He knew where Luke was. For a split second fear lodged in his throat as he thought, 'I hope I know where Luke is.'

Jesse was relieved to hear Jeb say, "Dixie? It's ok. Where are you? ...... Sure, I'll be right there. No it's no problem at all, I just got in. See ya in about 15 minutes." Jeb hung up the phone. He turned to see the questions on his family's faces, he said, "Dixie is at the garage. She said that Luke said for her to call us for a ride." He saw relief and worry cross Jesse's face at the same time. He tried to explain what little explaination he had gotten in the short conversation. "She said she had walked to town to see Luke. She must have if he told her to call us for a ride. Ya'll go back to bed. I'll go get her and take her home." Jeb knew Dixie better than any of them except Luke and maybe Daisy because he and Luke had convienced her to sing occassionally with them and his band. Had Luke not been interested in her Jeb would have been, but that was out of the question now, she was Luke's girl no matter what. He would never betray any of his cousins. Now he would just be there for her when she needed someone. He had a feeling things would get worse for her before they got better. 'It was going to be a long twenty years.' thought Jeb.

Jesse watched as Jeb headed out the door a little too eager. He said to the others, "Well, I guess we can all go back to bed." He said as he turned to his room. The others also headed back to their rooms. Jesse knew he'd be back in the kitchen making coffee just as soon as the others got settled back down. There was no need in all them loosing sleep, but he knew he'd not be able to go to sleep until Jeb was back and he found out what was going on with Luke and Dixie and for that matter Jeb.

~~~~~~~~~~

At the garage Dixie was standing in the doorway. She could see Luke still looking out the window. She knew he was watching to make sure she did get a ride home. It was all she could do to stay there and not go back to the jail. She knew it wouldn't take Jeb long to get to the garage.

[DixieDavenport]

At the jail Mark was keeping up idel chatter with Luke. It was obvious to Peggy that they were both on edge. She knew that they both knew it was now just a matter of time before they would be transported out of Hazzard. Yet, only she knew this would be their last night in Hazzard for quiet a few years. She also could see that the small cell was beginning to 'smother' Luke. He hadn't moved from the window in almost an hour.

Luke continued to watch Dixie standing in the garage door as he then saw Jesse's truck pull up. The lights went out at the garage, then after locking up, Dixie got into the pickup which drove right by the jail window. Luke would have to thank Jeb for coming after her. Luke continued to stand at the window for several minutes before he sat down on the bunk. Mark gave him a questioning look. Luke just nodded 'Yes' that Dixie had been picked up. Luke couldn't shake the feeling that this would be the last time he saw Dixie.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

After getting out of town Jeb asked, "So, where to? Home?"

Dixie turned to look at Jeb. She strained to answer, "Do I have to?"

"Well, who am I to tell you that you have to do anything?" Jeb asked, trying to get her to talk to him, "But, don't you think it will only cause even more trouble?"

Dixie asked sadly, "Jeb, how much more trouble can I be in?"

Jeb interupted by saying in true Duke fashion, "I learned. You NEVER ask questions like that!"

Dixie had to smile just a bit. She had always been able to talk to Jeb as she could Luke or Daisy, but neither of them were here.

"Do you need to talk?" asked Jeb as they continued to drive in the general direction of the Davenport farm.

Her eyes filled with tears as she shook her head 'yes'.

Jeb pulled into a wide spot. He held her for a long while and let her cry.

Finally, Dixie sat up, and wiped her tears. "I'm sorry Jeb." she sighed, "I did need that. Thanks." she paused to try to collect herself and wipe her tears, "Since this all started, .... I had to be strong for Luke. .... Now, I can't let either Cooter or Luther know I'm crying or they start in on me."

Jeb noticed that Dixie had used her father's first name instead of calling him Dad as she usually did, he said, "That's OK, Dixie. When ever you need a shoulder, I'm here."

"Its just that I'm getting so much he-- at the house you wouldn't believe. This is all hard enough without Luther and Cooter giving me grief. I was really wanting to stay in Hazzard, but now I don't know if I can. I hate Luther for doing this to Luke, to me ........ with ...... out ....... Luke .......I just .... don't know ........ if ..... I can stay ....... here." she sobbed still obviously very upset.

Jeb again noted the use of her father's first name, as he said, "Look. I'm not Luke. I can't be him nor would I ever try, but he is my cousin. I can tell you THIS. No one will bother you around me! I can also tell you, that no one had better try to upset you in any way in front of any of us Dukes." he paused. He wanted to comfort her but he knew the people of Hazzard too well. She needed to be preared for what she would face when she went to town and especially back to school next week after the Spring break, "Dixie, you do know this is all going to get worse before it gets better."

She looked at him confused.

Jeb continued, "I know the people here. I know that Luke was wanting to marry you even if he couldn't be with you. I can see his lodgic, of course we all know Luke has a pretty weird sense of lodgic." Jeb paused seeing Dixie smile. "Other than your true friends The guys are going to think you are a 'easy' target; the girls will....."

Dixie interupted, "Not want to 'tarnish' their reputations by being seen around me even though they have done the same thing years before I did it once."

Jeb nodded 'yes' slowly, relieved that this wasn't coming as a major surprise to her and at least when things happened she would be prepared for it. "Then you have the older people who will 'act' like nothing like 'this' ever happened to their generation. I know life especially in a small place like Hazzard can be very cruel. Everyone knows everyone which means everyone knows everyone elses business, then they try to stick their noses into it."

~~~~~~~~

Dawn was breaking as Jesse sat in the living room sipping a cup of coffee with only the dim light in the kitchen which was left on for Jeb as he heard the engine of the pickup pull in. A few minutes later he heard voices. He stood up as Jeb and Dixie walked into the kitchen.

[DixieDavenport]

Dawn was breaking as Jesse sat in the living room sipping a cup of coffee with only the dim light in the kitchen which was left on for Jeb as he heard the engine of the pickup pull in. A few minutes later he heard voices. He stood up as Jeb and Dixie walked into the kitchen. Both Jeb and Dixie spoke quietly at the same time, "Uncle Jesse ....." They looked at each other, finally Jeb began to explain, "Uncle Jesse, I think Dixie needs to talk to you about what's going on, ....." he paused seeing the look Jesse gave him. He knew that Jesse would help Dixie in any way he could once he understood the problem but right now Jesse was worried because he knew Luther would be even more mad at her for coming here. "Jesse, Luther won't even let her call her Mother ......"

"What?" said Jesse.

Dixie nodded that Jeb had told him the truth. "When you came over to talk to Luther that day I called Daisy. You can ask her about his reaction when he saw I was on the phone. He scared me for the first time in my life because he thought I'd called my Mother."

Jesse nodded to Jeb. Jeb headed to his room it had been a long night and looked to be a long day. Jesse asked, "Has he hit you?"

Dixie said, "I think it would have hurt less if he had. No, he hasn't touched me. He just kicked in the door when he saw the phone cord. He wasn't happy that I was talking to Daisy but he had been scared I'd called Mother. He doesn't want her to know about all this. I think he is afraid he'll loose me that I'll go back home with her. Uncle Jesse if he's so afraid of loosing me then why is he doing this to Luke and me?"

Jesse began in a friendly manner, "Honey, I think your Dad is so wrapped up in protecting you that he can't see what he is doing to either of you. It's like he can't see the forrest for the trees. Take me and the boys, we would stop at nothing to see that Daisy isn't hurt, but you've seen her, sometimes she doesn't want to be protected. Sometimes its really hard for us to back off and let her learn for herself...."

"But you do!" stated Dixie.

"Well, its taken us a lot of years to know Daisy. Usually that girl's as helpless as a baby baricuda and can handle things on her own, but there are times she needs help and doesn't realize it. It is hard to know which is which." explained Jesse, then he added, "Its been some time since you have been around your Dad and Cooter. Give them some time to know you can handle yourself and I bet they will back off and let you do just that."

"How will that help Luke?" she asked.

Jesse replied solemanly, "It may not." Jesse continued, "I feel every bit as helpless in this as you do, if not more so."

"But it was MY fault not yours." Dixie insisted.

Jesse shook his head 'no', "Now, I want you to listen to me and listen good. What happened was not your fault. You didn't know the laws. Now, Luke on the other hand did, but he assumed that you were 18. Then you had the hot shot new Trooper wanting to make a name so what this all boils down to is a chain of events that didn't end up like any one intended. See so there is no way you can take the blame for this. Now it's about time for me to start breakfast. You can use the phone to call you Mother if you'd like while I fix breakfast before the others get up."

Dixie hugged Jesse, "Thank you. I just haven't figured out how to tell her all this."

Jesse adviced, "Just start at the beginning. The rest will come."

Dixie nodded as she picked up the phone.

[DixieDavenport]

Peggy had learned not to ask Mark and Luke what they wanted for breakfast because they would both tell her just coffee so she called the diner to place their order for Rosco to pick up on his way in to work. It was hard to tell who was the most surprised at the breakfast of pork chops, biscuits, gravy and eggs. Luke and Mark were surprised and a bit suspicious.

Rosco on the other hand almost fainted and said, "Great gobs of goose grease, Boss will have a fit you ordering like this here!"

Peggy waved him off, "It was the 'special'."

"I ain't never known them to have pork chops as the 'special' " said Rosco.

"And they won't AGAIN if you don't shut up and eat." Peggy said lowly.

None of this was missed by Mark and Luke across the room though they couldn't actually hear Peggy's remark.

Mark asked as he took a bite of pork chop, "Luke you ever know the diner to have pork chops as a 'special'?"

Luke replied, "Can't say as I have but I usually don't eat there either. So don't loose your appetite just yet."

"So why are you just picking at your breakfast?" Mark asked.

"I'm, ...... ah, ...... not." Luke looked at his plate seeing that he had been rearranging the food on his plate rather than eating it. "Ok, so I am. I don't know. Little things that don't add up to anything, a gut feeling, nothing I can put a finger on."

"Well, if its nothing, then eat. We could set here a couple weeks before they get things in motion. You know Hazzard." said Mark trying to sound conviencing.

Luke looked at his friend with the slightest smile, "Thanks. You are right. Why worry about something until we have something to worry about." Luke knew they both had a lot to worry about but he'd eat to make Mark and Peggy happy. He knew he'd hear it from Peggy if he didn't eat and then from Jesse once she told him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luther Davenport finished his coffee, put his cup in the sink, and looked at his daughters bedroom door. He had grounded her to her room. Each morning before leaving for the garage he had checked to make sure that she was still there. He knew he'd have to lighten up on her sometime, but he wasn't sure he'd be able to trust her again. Though he'd not admit it, he felt responsible for letting her and Luke get close. He just didn't know how it could have happened without him seeing it. Luther walked to Dixie's bedroom door. He paused before opening the door. For no apparent reason he turned away from the door without checking to see if she was still there and headed to the garage.

[DixieDavenport]

Dixie nodded as she picked up the phone.

Her Mothers sleepy voice answered, "Hello."

"Mom, I'm sorry to wake you." Dixie said quickly adding, "Nothing is wrong. I'm OK."

More awake now, he Mother said, "I thought you had forgotten my number."

Dixie replied, "I just haven't had a chance to call in awhile. Are you doing anything this weekend?"

"Honey I can be there to pick you up today." her Mother replied.

This was the offer made each time Dixie had called. "Mom, I don't want to leave Hazzard. I would like to talk to you but not over the phone if you can come in this weekend."

Her Mother sighed. She had sworn not to return to Hazzard when she and Luther had separated, but this sounded important to her daughter. "You know that your Father and me will only argue if I come there to see you."

Dixie had a solution. "Hang on a sec." she said into the phone, then went to the kitchen, "Uncle Jesse, I'm trying to talk Mom into coming in this weekend but she says without knowing what's going on that her and Luther will only fight if she come there to see me. I'd rather tell her in person what is happening than over the phone."

Jesse Duke looked at the young girl with a smile, "You know that you and your Mother are welcome here and she knows that."

"Thank you. I'll tell her." Dixie went back to the phone.

Jesse stood fixing breakfast as he remembered Dixie's Mother who had been good friends with his wife though she was several years younger. Once the kids had come to live with Jesse and Martha both Luther and his wife had spent a lot of time at the Duke farm. Cooter and Dixie were small then and soon became friends with Bo, Luke and Daisy. Jesse and Luther usually spent most of their time in tha barn working side by side on Tilley. Jesse pushed the memories back those had been good times now so much had changed.

"Mom why don't you come in and stay at the Duke farm. Luther won't even have to know you are in town if you don't want him to. Please, I'd rather talk to you here than home anyway." Dixie kicked herself for letting it slip out that there was trouble.

"What is wrong? Are you at Jesse's now? Why would you rather talk at Jesse's?" questioned her Mother who had picked up on the fact that Luther was Luther and not Daddy as he had always been to Dixie.

Dixie sighed, she had stuck her foot in it now. "Yes, I'm at the Dukes. Let's just say me and Luther aren't seeing eye to eye on a couple of things....."

Her Mother interupted she had lived in Hazzard long enough to know when someone was dodging telling something. It hadn't taken Dixie long to learn this 'art' she thought, "Dixie LeeAnn Davenport you tell Jesse I'll be there by this afternoon if not sooner. I told you that your Father didn't know about girls. Tell your brother....."

Dixie figured she was in this far she may as well tell her Mother at least this much, "Cooter and I aren't talking at the moment. Mom you may very well agree with Luther once you hear this, but I want you to know that I am not ready to leave Hazzard."

"Just stay at Jesse's until I get there. Thank Jesse for me and I'll see you soon. I love you." said her Mother who had already started getting ready to leave for Hazzard.

"I love you too Mom." said Dixie as she hung up the phone she said to herself, 'I just hope you feel the same later.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~

As Carolyn Davenport drove across the county line she tried to prepare herself for seeing Luther again. They had always loved each other which is why they never divorced. It was just that they couldn't agree on the fact he was making a large part of his money by working on people's cars who ran moonshine. She felt it was wrong to take money that was made illegally. He felt he did an honest job and was being paid for it and where the money came from wasn't important. He never told her that he tried to make sure the moonrunners he worked on at night had more power than the law enforcement agents cars that he worked on during business hours. As she was driving quickly towards town to go to the Duke farm she came up behind a slower moving panel van with State tags on it. There was no where to get around this van right here so she'd have to follow it. As she followed the van she could clearly see the marking on the side of the van as they went through the curves of Hazzard County. It read, 'State Department of Corrections'. Carolyn thought to herself, 'I wonder what they are doing in Hazzard? Probably to pick up some moonshiner or other.'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everyone was finishing up their morning chores as Dixie took in a load of dried clothes. Jesse was the only Duke in the house when she said, "Thanks again for letting me and Mom talk here."

Jesse smiled kindly, "You're welcome here anytime."

Dixie smiled and headed to Daisy's room to put up the clothes.

Jesse remembered his promise to Luke. He dried his hands and went into Bo and Luke's room. He walked over to Luke's dresser, setting right in the center of the dresser was a ring box. Jesse picked up the small box, opened it and saw the familiar ring that had been stored for so many years now. He had helped his brother pick it out for Luke's Mother. It was a simple diamond solitarie in a gold band. Jesse had to agree with Luke. It was time this ring saw daylight again and he couldn't have been more pleased with Luke's choice in girls. He just wished it were under better circumstances. When Jesse went into the living room he saw Dixie putting up the kitchen towels. He walked over to her and said, "Luke made me promise to give you something he wanted you to have." Jesse handed her the small box. "I helped my brother pick this out for Luke's Mother."

Dixie remembered Luke telling her that Jesse would have something for her. She saw the small box. She was almost afraid to guess what was in the box. She couldn't believe that Luke would really give her a ..... No she wouldn't finish that thought because if she did and it wasn't what she was expecting she'd be dissappointed. The only thing to do was to open the box. Her hands trembled as she took the box from Jesse. She looked at Jesse and he smiled at her. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out trying to keep her composure. As she opened the box Dixie saw the diamond. She didn't like to cry and had promised herself she wasn't going to cry anymore. All that was lost when she saw the ring. It started with tears of joy when she found her voice and asked, Jesse, "Will you put it on for me? I think my hands are shaking too badly."

Jesse placed the ring on her left ring finger.

Dixie managed to say, "It won't come back off ever." She still had tears rolling down her cheeks when she asked, "Would you mind if I went in Luke's room and try to pull myself together before Mom gets here?"

"You go right ahead. Take your time." Jesse answered. He knew she had not gotten any sleep last night.

Dixie walked into the familiar room where she had spent many nights when Daisy would have several friends over and the boys would sleep in the barn. Amoung the family pictures on the walls were trophies that both Bo and Luke had won in races, also there were trophies from all the different sports both had played in school, a Confederate flag hung above Luke's bed, and a checked flag above Bo's bed, everything was the same but it felt like something was missing. Dixie sat on Luke's bed looking at the beautiful ring while her tears continued to fall. She layed across Luke's pillow and pulled it close. She had to smile just a bit. Jesse hadn't changed the sheets and the pillow still smelled like Luke's aftershave. She continued to hold the pillow while looking at the ring on her finger. She was now sheding tears of grief for what she had lost.

~~~~~~~~~~~

It was about lunch time when Daisy asked Jesse where Dixie was. Jesse replied, "She went in Luke's room to try to pull her self together before her Mother gets here. Why don't you go check on her. The last time I checked she was still crying." Jesse paused then said, "Daisy, Luke wanted her to have his Mother's engagement ring. I gave it to her a bit ago."

Daisy was surprised but would ask her questions later. For now she nodded knowingly and headed off to check on her friend. When she reached the closed door she gently opened it just enough to see that Dixie was now sound asleep. She pulled the door back together and went back to the kitchen. "She's asleep." Daisy said to Jesse.

Jesse replied, "Good, just let her sleep until she wakes up or her Mother gets here. I was hoping she'd take a nap. She didn't get any sleep last night."

~~~~~~~~~~~

At the jail things weren't so peaceful. Peggy had left the downstairs area and was transferring the appropriate paperwork to the officers from the Dept. of Corrections. With all the paperwork in order all was left was the transfer of the prisoners. Peggy and one of the officers went into the downstairs cell area. She locked the gate behind them. Luke saw them enter while Mark had dosed off. He shook Mark and said, "You better wake up. Looks like it's show time."

Mark sat up seeing the officer from the Dept. of Corrections.

Peggy opened the door and said, "I need one of you at a time out here."

Being more awake Luke stepped to the cell door first.

Peggy locked the cell door back as the Dept. of Corrections officer started his process with Luke. She turned to face Mark while Luke was being processed.

The Officer had Luke to strip, squat and cough, then re-dress in an bright orange jumpsuit. Next, he placed a leather belt snuggly around Luke's waist, then placed handcuffs into the front of belt, next Luke was handcuffed to the belt, finally the officer placed leg irons (shackles) around his ankles.

Peggy opened the cell door for Mark to be processd and then busied herself with bagging up Luke and Marks' personal property. Mark was processed in the same manner as Luke had been. After Mark was cuffed up Peggy opened the gate to the upstairs. Both Luke and Mark were escorted to the waiting officer in the booking area upstairs.

Luke managed to find his voice as they were heading out to the waiting van, "Peggy, when you can, will you call Jesse?"

She tried to give him all the professional reassurance she could by saying, "I had already planned to. Take care, both of you."

Luke and Mark were placed in the panel van that had all the windows blocked off. They heard the finallity of the door being locked. As the van started up and pulled away both were silent. Each lost in there own thougths of Hazzard and what layed ahead of them.