by: Tara

“Mr. Hogg said we aren’t allowed to cash y’all’s paychecks anymore.” I inform the brunette haired man dressed in a short sleeve shirt and jeans.

“Why not?” He inquires.

My satin blouse covered shoulders rise for a moment. “Maybe Rosco can help ya.” My lips curl part way into an impish grin.

“I can’t wait for him to come back from patrol,” He mutters.

“Oh?” I stare at long fingers being jammed into the front pockets of well worn denim. His thumbs hook into the belt loops. Attention turns toward the white vinyl blind covered windows.

“I’ll loan you the amount.” I offer.

“I couldn’t let you do that.” He insists.

“C’mon,” I reach into my skirt pocket and pull out a twenty. “Will this be enough?”

Hesitantly, he faces me again and takes the crinkled bill. “Interested in goin’ to the drive in this weekend?”

“Um,” I pause. “Can I give you an answer in a few days?”

“Just let me know before Friday,” He smiles and steps back from the counter. He winks.

“Take care.” I wave and turn my attention to paperwork, listening to the door open and shut, his departure accompanied by an off key whistle.

*                  *               *

“Here?” Boss yelled from his desk. “Are y’all outta your cotton pickin’ minds?”

“We ain’t got time for an ambulance from the nearest medical facility.” Luke said.

“Jesse’s helped deliver livestock,” Bo added.

“Y’all either help or get outside,” Rosco ordered. He was kneeled down next to Wilbur Fudge’s wife. In the middle of filing out a deposit slip, the petite blond had clutched her stomach. As people stepped over to help, the young woman’s water broke. The Sheriff and security guard had assisted Iris behind the counter so she’d have a bit of privacy.

After Jesse did a mini exam, He went to get the doctor. Just in case, the county physician was out on an emergency, Daisy had gone to fetch towels and other items needed from the hotel across the town square.

Boss really didn’t cotton to the idea of a baby being born in the bank. But the county commissioner knew he didn’t have much choice.  “Go see what’s takin’ that uncle of yours sooooo long.” He motioned with his hands to Bo and Luke like he was shooing a chicken to a henhouse.

“Ok,” The boys agreed and ran to the door. The brunette opened it and stepped out first, followed by the blond. Their boots could be heard thumping on the building’s steps before the door closed.

Rosco looked at his watch. The contractions were a little less than thirty seconds apart. He raised a hand and wiped the perspiration that had beaded on the nape of his neck. “You got a name picked out?” He asked nervously.

Iris nodded. Her small hand squeezed Rosco’s knee at another wave of pain. An uneven breath was taken before she spoke. “Kinda. Wilbur doesn’t want him to be a junior.”

Rosco smiled. “What if it’s a girl?” He retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket and lightly brushed the folded white cotton over Iris’s forehead. Her bangs were slightly damp with sweat.  “Not sure. Maybe Fern after-” She bit down on her bottom lip. Her grip tightened on Rosco’s leg. “I’m sorry, Sheriff.”

“It’s awright,” Rosco assured the frightened young woman. He thought for a moment. Daisy should’ve been back by now from the hotel. He looked over to Boss. “Can you hand me one of those, please?” He pointed to a large white bag laying on the mahogany desk.

“What for?” Thin, dark eyebrows arched suspiciously.

“Boss,” Rosco paused. A wry smile crossed his lips. “Sooner we get this little tyke born, the bank can reopen for business.”

“Oh,” Boss’s pudgy hands grabbed the bag. And almost as fast as a frog could swallow a June bug, the requested item had been placed next to the Sheriff.

“Thank ya,” Rosco replied. Blue eyes darted to the bag and he took a deep breath. He picked the semi clean cotton sack up and looked at Iris. “Unfortunally, we’re gonna have to work with the supplies we got…”

“Hold on a second, Sheriff.” Daisy Duke’s nervous voice called to the uniformed man. She hurried out from the door marked Private with a laundry basket. Boss’s dark eyes only saw the towels and blanket. “Daisy, this ain’t no time to be doin’ wash.”

She stepped to the teller station and glanced over her shoulder at the county commissioner. “Boss Hogg, you… why if-” She felt a tug on her peasant blouse sleeve. She turned her attention to the uniformed man that stood staring at her.

“Daisy, can I at least have the basket before you finish hollarin’ at Boss?” Rosco asked gently.  She held the basket out to him. “That,” Her hand brushed over a small black emergency medical kit box after the Sheriff placed a hand on each side of the basket. “isthe best I could find at the drugstore.”

“Like I just said, we’re gonna have to work with the supplies we got.” Rosco paused as the basket transfer completed. “I could sure use a glass of water.” He sighed.

“I’ll go over to the café and get you one.” Daisy replied and hurried back to the door that she had come from. “And see if you can’t find your cousins and uncle.” Rosco added before she left. He glanced around the room at who was present and who wasn’t. He hadn’t even noticed Enos and Cooter slip out the front door. It was just him and Boss. The security guard had been sent over to relief Wilbur from his duties at the impound lot.

Wasn’t like he needed the Duke family, but Jesse had a way of calming folks nerves in tight situations. And Rosco was nervous. He just didn’t want to voice it. The sweat damping his hairline and shirt was enough.

The Sheriff turned to finish bringing a new citizen into Hazzard. Blue eyes widened. Boss’s voice behind him on the phone and cb barely registered with Rosco. Without a sound, the basket dropped to the floor. He grabbed the medical kit and fumbled with the lock on it for a moment. He pulled out a pair of exam gloves with one hand. His other hand sat the black box on the wooden counter top.

Boss paused in his conversations and watched Rosco put the gloves on, then unfold a towel. The Sheriff also got a blanket from the laundry basket. He said a silent prayer that everything would be ok.

His dark eyes grew misty hearing a cry. He placed the phone receiver on top of the cb box and put the cb mic in the phone cradle. He walked to the counter and peered through one of the three teller windows. “Holy Hannah!” He exclaimed and grabbed a handkerchief from the pocket of his vest under the suit coat. The stout county commissioner wiped his cheeks and replaced the monogrammed cloth next to his pocket watch.

Quietly, Rosco finished the last detail of separating the new baby from his mama. He took a deep breath, thankful nothing had gone wrong. He looked over toward the door that had opened. The Dukes and other folks were milling in. He smiled and reached his hands down to pick the baby up to show everyone but froze hearing…

“Sheriff!” Iris’s face was extremely pink. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her arms slid from holding the baby to the floor. Her fingers dug into the carpet.

“Uh,” Rosco quickly got the baby and placed him in the basket on top of the other towel. “Boss, someone come here, please.” He requested and kneeled down once. His gaze focused on a towel that laid over the top part of the young woman’s legs. He turned toward Boss and nearly jumped as his hand brushed against soft skin.

The Dukes and other folks started to move toward Rosco was but Boss wagged his finger, shook his head and mouthed for them to be stay where they were. There wasn’t a lot of space behind the counter. Bo and Luke looked ready to protest until someone whispered about the county commissioner being their probation official. Daisy put her hands over her mouth, enjoying the silent exchange. The Sheriff’s drink had slipped her mind after finding her cousins and uncle at the dry goods store.

Her ears caught a small buzzing noise over the Sheriff’s coaxing for Iris to take a breath and push. Daisy noticed the receiver and quickly placed it back on the cradle. The cb mic was put next to the box. A smile came to her lips hearing not one but two small voices wail.

She ran over to the counter and stood next to Boss. Hazel eyes saw the tiny bundle being laid on the left side of Iris’s chest. A head of dark hair rubbed against the satin material. “What is it?” She asked curiously.

“A girl,” Rosco smiled. “And a boy.” He got the basket and carefully moved the little boy to the small space between the counter and Iris’s right side. “They both seem to be alright.”

“Yeehaw,” Bo shouted. He joined with everyone else in congratulating Wilbur who’d snuck in the establishment as his second child was born. “What are you gonna name ‘em?” Several folks asked in unison.  Commotion insured for several moments when everyone gave their opinions. Then everyone clamored about holding the babies.

“I’ll wait until they’re dressed,” Luke stated and put a plaid satchel in Wilbur’s hands. The young man’s hands tightened around the rope cord that held the bag together.

“Go on,” Jesse patted Wilbur on the shoulder. He turned to his niece. “Wasn’t you suppose to get Rosco a drink?”

“Oh,” Daisy looked from her uncle to the Sheriff. “I’ll go get it right now.” He looked down to see Iris resting.

Rosco shook his head. “It’s ok, I need some fresh air after all this.” He moved out from behind the counter and gave Wilbur’s shoulder a squeeze as he passed by. Boss followed Rosco outside. Jesse and some of the others took their lead and left the building. The group had barely gotten back from the café when Wilbur peeked outside the bank’s front door.

Iris was seated in the dark wooden swivel chair in front of Boss’s desk. A weary smile crossed her lips at the sight of folks remigrating. “We were just getting ready to leave for the hospital.” That brought a chorus of people offering to take the new family. Wilbur shook his head. “We’re already troubled everyone enough already.”

“We do appreciate everything y’all did,” Iris added.

“Are you gonna name one of them after Rosco,” someone voiced their curiosity.

“Hadn’t really thought…” Wilbur and Iris glanced at Rosco.

“Now, that ain’t really necessary.” The Sheriff said modestly. “Tho’ you could go with Grace,” he paused. “and Kelly.”

“Two Grace And Kelly Fudges?” Someone chuckled. “Won’t that be a bit confusin’?”

Boss wagged a finger at the person. “He meant Grace for the little girl and Kelly for the little boy.” The county commissioner paused. His dark eyes looked toward the young couple. Each was now holding one of the infants. The babies had been laying asleep in the laundry basket. “Jefferson Davis would work too.”

“J.D.,” Jesse Duke exclaimed.

“I was kiddin’,” He replied and turned his head to the sound of a vehicle beeping its horn outside. He watched Jesse turn and look out the window. The elderly farmer raised a hand to shield his eyes from the light that had begun to shimmer through as the sun changed position in the aqua hued sky. “The ambulance.” He announced. His other hand pushed against the door handle.

Twenty minutes later, there wasn’t anyone left in the bank but an employee and the security guard.

The End