Critical Decisions, ch. 7

by: Marty Chrisman

Finally, Luke and Kelly began saying their goodbyes to their friends and family. Luke laughed when he saw The General Lee. Bo and some of his friends had decorated the car with balloons and signs and strings of tin cans were tied to the rear bumper. Bo had moved the General after decorating it, parking it across street from the church where everyone would be sure to see it when they left.

Luke had already crossed the street and was leaning against the General Lee waiting for Kelly to join him. She had gotten detoured by some of the ladies from the church who wanted to say goodbye. She glanced across the street at Luke and shrugged her shoulders with a faint smile. Luke grinned back as he watched Jesse and Daisy rescue Kelly or she could have been there all afternoon. Laughing, Kelly gave Daisy and then Jesse a big hug and a kiss. Smiling happily, she started across the street to join Luke.

Luke, Daisy, Uncle Jesse and Enos all saw the car barreling down the street towards Kelly. They all started yelling Kelly’s name at the same time, trying to warn her.  Confused and not realizing why they had all started yelling at her, Kelly had paused for a moment in the middle of the street, trying to figure out what was wrong. She saw the stricken look on Luke’s face and watched as he started running towards her. Then everything went black as the car slammed into her, throwing her onto the hood and into the windshield hard enough to crack the glass, and then down to the pavement.

Jesse and Daisy ran into the street but it was Luke who reached Kelly’s crumbled body first. Enos, who didn’t drink and was still sober, ran to his squad car and jumped in, squealing away in hot pursuit of the car that he had just watched deliberately ran Kelly down. Luke fell to his knees, gathering Kelly into his arms and screaming her name. She was unconscious, a deep ugly gash on the left side of her forehead bleeding profusely and blood running from the side of her mouth. Her skin was deathly pale and cold to the touch. There were scrapes on her arms and legs from the pavement and one leg was twisted awkwardly beneath her at an odd angle. Instinctively, Luke pressed his fingers against the side of her neck, frantically searching for a pulse. She had one but it was so faint that Luke could barely feel it and her breathing was shallow and labored.

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Critical Decisions, ch. 6

by: Marty Chrisman

Luke awoke earlier than usual, not sure what had awakened him. Then he remembered. Today was the day. Today he was finally marrying Kelly. Smiling to himself, Luke climbed out of bed and went across the hall to take a shower. When he dressed and went downstairs, he found Uncle Jessie already up and in the kitchen making coffee.

“Morning.” Jessie said, sitting a cup of coffee on the table in front of Luke as he sat down in his usual spot.

“Good Morning.” Luke said with a grin.

“Looks like it’s gonna be a nice day for a wedding. You nervous?”

“Maybe a little.” Luke admitted. “I wish it was over with already.”

“It’ll pass. As soon as you see that little girl walking down the aisle toward you, you’ll forget about being nervous.”

Luke grinned. He wondered if Kelly was as nervous as he was this morning. Daisy had insisted that the two girls spend the night in town with Miz Tidsdale since it was bad luck for Luke to see Kelly before the wedding. Luke glanced at the clock above the kitchen stove. It was almost seven and the ceremony was at Ten. He’d better go get Bo up.

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Critical Decisions, ch. 5

by: Marty Chrisman

Jesse was in the barn taking care of the goat when he glanced up and saw Kelly come into the barn. Daisy was at work and the boys were out in one of the fields fixing a fence that needed mending.

“Morning, Honey.” He said, as Kelly sat down on a bale of hay beside the goat. Jesse could tell that she had something on her mind, something important from the expression on her face. He waited patiently for her to tell him what was she wanted to talk about. Pulling up the old wooden stool, he sat down and started milking the goat.

Finally, Kelly said “Uncle Jesse, I need to tell Luke something but I don’t know how to do it.”

“Is it something important? Something he needs to know about?”

“Yeah,” Kelly admitted “But I’m scared to tell him. I’ve already told him so many secrets he didn’t know about that I’m not sure if he can handle another one.”

“Well,” Jesse said thoughtfully “If it’s that serious and Luke really needs to know about it, then I reckon you’ll find a way to tell him when the time is right.” He looked at her closely, then asked in a concerned voice “Is it something that could cause trouble between you and Luke?”

“No, I don’t think so.” Kelly said, rising to her feet “At least I hope not.” She sighed softly, almost wistfully “But it is gonna hurt him and I’ve already hurt him enough since I’ve been back.” As she started to leave the barn, Jesse said over his shoulder

“Luke loves you. Just remember that. No matter what, that boy loves you.”

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Drifting Home, ch. 5

by: Chet Duke

Another Day

It had been a long two weeks of healing, but finally the young outlaw Duke boys strength had begun to return with brute force. He was now practically 10 pounds heavier then he had been when he’d returned to Hazzard, an more healthy then he could ever remember being. Even as his body often reminded him of the beating, an his skin scabbed over an had begun to scar.

The last two weeks hadn’t been an entire waist of time, he’d made a trip to Atlanta, first to the impound yard to survey the goods. Eight impounded Mercedes, an two brand new Hummers would be his comrades first strike. Then he had stopped at the DMV an purchased a list of three locally owned 2005 Mustangs. Everything was turning up perfectly, if all went as he planned he’d be right in step with his Squad.

That Friday afternoon, he found himself dressed, fully prepared as he had been trained to be an ready to face up with Monty. Cooter returned to the garage after going to a tow job to find his young friend dressed in fresh clothes, that series, alert stiffness in his spine. Chet had told him that he would not be staying in Hazzard, that it was important that he return to New York with his squad.

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