by: Chet Duke and Hilery Davenport

NOTE: HILERY DAVENPORT AND CHET DUKE CREDIT S.E. HINTON FOR ALL OF HER CHARACTERS AND IDEAS USED IN THIS STORY!!!*)(ALSO THIS IS AN ALTERNATE UNIVERSE STORY, IT HAS NO CONNECTION TO ANY OF THE OTHER STORIES WITH HILERY DAVENPORT.)

Written: 2-11-2002. Finished: 2-25-2002

Dedicated, and in loving memory of Waylon Jennings.

~WAYLON JENNINGS…LEGENDS NEVER DIE…THEY LIVE FOREVER…~

“Good Ol’ Boys”

Written and Sung by Waylon Jennings

Just the good old boys, never meanin’ no harm…
Beats all you never saw, been in trouble with the law
Since the day they was born.
Straightenin’ the curves, flattenin’ the hills…
Someday the mountain might get ’em but the law never will.
Makin’ their way, the only way they know how…
That’s just a little bit more than the law will allow.
Just the good ol’ boys, wouldn’t change if they could,
Fightin’ the system like two modern-day Robin Hoods…

~…WE WILL NEVER FORGET THIS TRUE HERO…~

~WHEELER DUKE~(story takes place in year 2002, present time)

As I doubled over as the four huge Socs pounded on me, I layed on the ground and covered my face. They continued to kick me in the sides and the head. The side my head I could feel was wet with blood from an open cut. Then as sudden as they had ambushed me from behind, they were runin and I could here more feet then there had been mins before. I herd a buddy of mine Two-Bit yelling from down the road, Darry the eldest of the gang rolled me over onto my back and offered me a hand up off the ground. My eyes swirled and threatoned to black out, I layed back on the ground and felt the blood run down my neck from the side o my head. Finally a few minutes latter I got my sences enough to follow the guyes to the drive in. We bought sodas and waited for the girls and the rest of the greasers.

**Hilery Ann Davenport POV**

My brother charlie is following me again. i hope i can dodge him, i think hes just tryign to figure out who my boyfriend is becasue there is no way i am gonna tell him i go out with a greaser. He would kill Wheeler if he found out cause wheeler is a greaser and i am a soc. I personally don’t care which i am, but i would prefer being a greaser. I don’t like how soces treat greasers, expecually when the greasers are minding their own business. I slowly walk toward a crowd determined to lose that brother of mine so i can go hang out with my baby. I walk through the crowd looking over my sholder to see if my brother is following me, luckuly he isn’t. Wheeler said he would meet me in the park by the woods so nobody from either gang will see us. As i arrive i notice he isn’t there and there is no note which normally signals he had to leave. I begin to get worried because i am ten minuites late so i know something is wrong but what?

***WHEELER DUKE POV***

We had climbed over the back fence to the drive in movie. I was able to get over the fence but I landed on my back on the other side. Laying there and looking up at the stary sky, pain ripped through my head and swirled ’round. I would never beable to walk to the park, Hilery was already waiting for me. Two-Bit pulled me off the ground and sat me in the closeted chair. I sat there for 10 minutes. The while the gang was getting popcorna and cokes, having my sences back I ran, jumped the fence then continued at a dead run to the park. I stoped runin’ at the edge of the park, I looked around to make sure I wasnt being followed and that know one saw me enter the park. My head really hurt now from runin, as I continued to walk to the our meeting place. Blood still oozed slowly down the side of my head and neck. I was sure Hilery was gone, I was more then 15 minutes late. But there she was sitting on the huge park foutain with her head burried in her lap. She never saw me run up, I picked her up gently and cradled her in my arms like she was and infant. She screamed in suprise as we spun in circles. Hilery put her arms around my neck, looking down into her eyes, they were scared and red from crying. “Good Lord!..Wheeler where have u been? I was worried to death…” She said to me, her arms tighted around my neck as she layed her head on my chest and closed her eyes.

I stood holding her in silence, she moved her hand that was on the wet and bleeding side of my neck. She opened her eyes and looked at her hand. She rubbed her fingers together looking at the blood on her for-fingers. “Wheeler…” She said quietly. I looked down at her and grined my famious half grin. Hilery slide down outta my arms, still looking at her hand. “your bleeding, Wheeler…” She said slowly standing up. I was taller then her by a few inches, she looked up at me. “I know, I’m ok, except for this nasty headach.” I said as I walked over and sat down on the concret edgeing of the parks foutain. Hilery came and sat down next to me, we talked for a little, then sat in silence stairing up at the stars.

We mostly talked about the Socs and the greasers, both of us agreed that they fought way too much. I myself had fought with one of her kind that night. It was becoming harder fro both of us to get away and meet without being descovered. Hilery said that her only worry was her brother Charlie and his friend Randy. Unfortunetly I knew and had scuffled with both guys.

Thank God they hadn’t been together when I fought them, they probibly would have killed me. Randy alone might have if it hadnt been for Darry and Two-Bit that night in the lot. Hilery had to be home by midnight, it was eleven thirity. We both haited saying goodbye at the end of seeing each other. She huged me tightly,I held her so tight I thought nothing could ever make me let go.

~BALLADEER~

Wheeler huged Hilery goodbye. Neither of them noticed the blood from Wheeler rub-off just a alittle on the sleve of Hilery’s yellow T-shirt. It being a hot summer most people were in T-shirts and shorts. Hilery and Wheeler departed without the hint of trouble a small blood stain could and might cause.

***Hilery Ann Davenport POV***

As I walk home cold and alone I begin to think about Wheeler. I wish I could have stayed longer but my brother has been staying at my appartment because his heater broke and he was still trying to fix it. Wheni walked in to the building I put my hand in my pocket to get my keys out only to discover I didn’t have them with me. Thats when I remembered, I loned them to my brother so he could get a second set made for himself. As I walked up the steps, I discoved my door was unlocked and I heard my brother singing to himself as he fixed himself something to eat. I slowly look into the kitchen to find him eating a bowl of soup. When my brothers eyes met mine I could see he was curious as to where I’ve been. He seems to be looking at me funny which I do not understand.

“Where ya been sis?”

“Oh I was out at the movies.”

“Ok” was my brothers responce. I look at him for a long minute thinking. Why did he sound like he didn’t believe me?

“Listen Charlie, I am goin to bed I have been up since the crack of dawn. Night.” I said as i bounded off to my bedroom.

I shut my door and silently lock it thinking. Why was he looking at me like that? I just kept saying that question as I get out my nightgown. As i look down to take my shoes off i see something that makes my heart stop cold; blood; not just anyones blood, but my loves blood.

“Oh my God”, i silently say, now shaking violently. There was no way he didn’t see the stain. I must have gotten it on my shirt when I hugged Wheeler goodnight. I finish getting dressed and break down crying. It won’t be long before we get found out. We will both be torchered because we are from different groups; him a greaser and I a soc. What am i gonna do?

~Spring of 2002 Hazzard County Georgia~

“Hey dad I found somethin!” Young Jessie Mae said to her father Luke Duke, as she pulled a wooden trunk out of the corner of the attic of the old farm house they were cleaning. Her father turned and looked to see what she had found and pursuded to help Jessie open the old wooden trunk, that had once belonged to there Uncle. They dug through the trunk finding birth certificates that were possibly a hundred years old, they found letters and old post cards. A colored letter in black paper, unlike the other letters it was wripped and partly burned. The letter had the strong smell of gas and a burned smell from fire or something. Luke stood and began reading the letter only skimming the words at first then reading it thoroughly. Luke’s eyed became wide and scared and he began to shake, Jessie looked up at her father and emeditly stood next to him to steady him. He swallowed hard and looked at her shocked and teary in the eyes, Jessie took the letter and began to read. She too became stunned and read it again and again. “Barbra!” Luke yelled for his wife and Jessie’s Mom. “Yeah?” She answered form downstairs in the kitchen. Luke headed down stairs closely followed by Jessie, she was asking half a million questions. One question she asked more then five times atleast.”Dad what’s going on?” Jessie asked in her high-pitched voice. Barbra met them at the bottom of the stairs. “Whats wrong?” She asked whipping he hands on a towel. Jessie handed her mother the burned blackened letter, her mother began to read it and she too became stunned then shook her head indisbaleif. “What’s this supposed to mean?” Barb asked with a shocked look on her face. “This means that we need to go find my cousins and tell them what’s going on.” Luke said heading out the front door of the farm house. “What’s going on?” Jessie asked bewilderedly. “I will tell you everything when we find Bo, Daisy, Chet, Breyer, Enos, Wyatt and Cooter. We might need there help and they might wanna know bout this!” Luke said as him Barb and Jessie got into Luke’s white and teal Intrepid. They went to teh Boars Nest, Bo’s two twin sons worked there as bouncers. Tho they were under age Boss Rosco didnt car and gave them a job figuring it would save him money in the long run on damage from fights. Luke Jessie and Barb entered the Boars Nest and emeditly knoticed the fight in the fare corner of the large room. Jessie sat down at the bar where he other family members were sitting. Chet punched the guy twice then dragged him out of the Boars Nest, Breyer did the same to the guy he had been holding. Breyer and Chet and the hole family gathered at a round table to listen to what Luke had found.”So whats the news sugar?” Daisy asked Luke who still looked stunned. “Please read this out loud.” Luke replied as he handed the half burnt envilope to to Daisy. She began to read it to herself silently. She too became stunned and swollowed hard, reading the letter aloud…

Dear, Mr. Jesse Duke

We have delighting news from your sister’s daughter Cathy Duke. On March 2nd (1981) a little boy was born at 8:30 in the morining. He is doing well…but we also have great tragic news. While giving birth Cathy Duke died of complications. The little boy will be sent to live with his father in Oaklahoma. They named him Wyman Sutton Duke after Cathy’s grandfather. We are sadened and obliged to bring you this news my old friend.

Until we speek again, your friend….Joshua M. Barns

May 20, 1982

Everyone sat silent thinking about the stunning letter that had been found. “Well…” Cooter said, he had joined them a few minutes after the fight. “I guess…I suppose we could look up this other Duke!” Cooter said scrathing his head still thinking about it. “I guess if hes like any Duke he’s still in Oaklahoma.” Luke said wondering on the subject. Bo came in and sat down, he too read the letter. Then looked up at everyone. “Looks to me like were headed for Oaklahoma!” Bo said with a sigh and raising from his chair. “Okay!” Luke simply said. “When we leaveing?” Jessie asked excitedly. “Tomarrow I supose.” Luke said as everyone stood and returned to what they were doing. Early the next mornin everything was packet up in all the cars and Jessie’s motor bike and ready to ship out by 7am the next mornin. Everyone was excited to see who this other Duke was and if he really even still lived.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

I wake suddenly to a ringing phone. I situp and reach for it to answer it.

“Hello?” I question into the phone wondering if it was my sweet Wheeler.

“Hello yourself second cuz”

“COOTER!”

“Yup”

“How have you been? I miss you. Why haven’t you called in so long, I wouldve called you but I lost your number. Do you wanna talk to Charlie?”

“Wow slow down girl!”

“Sorry”

“Now I admit I have not called you cause I have been busy but those of us here have come across something even more important then my job!! My friends have kin up there!”

“Really Cooter? Which friends?”

“The Dukes who else? But anyway is there anyway you could put us up for a while during the time we are there?”

“Sure, I’d love that”

“So see you in a few days?”

“Of course. You do remember where my appartment is right?”

“Yes I think I do. Oh yeah hows Jumper been?”

“Oh I think I was pushin her too much again and now she has a rattle in the engine.”

“Ok I’ll look at it when I get there ok?”

“Ok”

“Love ya”

“Love ya too Hilery bye.

As I hung up the phone I couldn’t believe it. My second cousin is comin down with some of our family friends. Surely they will know what to do. If they can like I think they can then Wheeler and I can be together without suspision. Oh I feel like I’m gonna faint. I need to sit down.

Just then I hear a loud knock on my bedroom door.

“Hey wake up time. Im hungry so get out here and cook.”

“Okay Charlie.”

I hurry up and get dressed and tell my brother about the phone call from Cooter and he wasn’t at all too thrilled.

“Oh yeah I have been wondering, what was that on your shirt yesterday?”

“Oh sorry I got in a fight. Beat up that greaser gal good and I came out without a scratch.”

“Oh, I take it you did that at the movies?”

“Yep”

For some reason I do not like my brothers tone. Oh no what if he’s, he’s been following me without me knowing. What if he got through that crowd and I didn’t notice.

I go in the living room to think. Hmm I got to let Wheeler know what’s going on tonight.

I am so scared.

I hope Cooter and his friends get here soon.

***Wheeler Duke POV***

I awoke late in the day, it was Saturday and about 12:00 p.m. I had been up until at least 3:00 a.m. just thinking as I laid awake. That girl of mine was haunting my mind, my hole body was sweating hot and my mind raced with everything that was happening. Thank God I was finally getting up and getting out to face another day, another day of fighting and trying to survive in my poor world. I blankly slipped on a pair of blue jeans, my head had finally scabbed over and stopped hurting after about 5 aspirins and 4 beers. That girl had me head over heals and I was falling, I couldn’t seem to get her outta my mind. I walked down to the coffee shop, I sat at the bar and ordered a coffee though I couldn’t afford it. The coffee I noted was bitter and for some reason the lady behind the counter I was sitting at stared at me for the longest time. An older lady, old enough to be my mother, she would look up from her work, witch was very little at the time there wasn’t but 3 or 4 people in the cafe’. She made me nervous and I began to look for a no smoking sign, seeing the biker at the other end of the counter smoking it apparently didn’t matter. I pulled a Marlboro outta my jeans pocket along with the age old metal lighter my dad had given me. It had our old stockcars name on it, Rage. I laughed to my self as I looked at the engraved name, what a car it was and still is. I rarely drove it, gas cost a fortune and I could walk anywhere I needed to go for a cheaper price. Two-Bit nosily slammed the door and strode into the cafe’ to sit down next to me. He was gonna pat me on the back but I caught his hand in midair before he could. I bared bruises from the fight the night before and him being friendly was all I needed, my mood was bad. Though I was 100% greaser, I was the loaner of the gang and everyone except for Two-Bit left me alone. But we were there when one of use was in a fight or in trouble. I had know intentions of finishing the horribly bitter coffee, so I left enough money on the counter to pay for the coffee and a small tip. Two-Bit hadn’t ordered anything so he followed me out the door. Steve was waiting with Sodapop just outside the door. “Gee, did I miss the parade?” I asked. They were just all standing around smoking and being as tuff as they were everyday. But somethin’ was different, their attention was on me, and it never been before.

Suddenly a scary thought struck my mind. Someone had followed me last ngiht. I decided to walk away and think nothin’ of it before they could ask me. Soda followed me and were he went the rest followed. They talked among them selves as we continued to walk to no place in paticular. Outta the blue Soda took the lead and began leading us back to his house. I followed firguring we ere meeting Darry ans young Ponyboy there. Sure enough Darry and Pony were sitting on there front poarch steps smoking , everyone was quiet except for Pny and Soda snickering at Two-Bit’s joke. “So…Wheeler where were you last night?” Darry asked me, I should have known they were suspicious. “I went home, my head was killing me. Why, where the hell you think I was Darry?” That was like showing an old bull red, Darry stood up and tossed his cigarett away. He walked right up to me until we were face to face. “Are you lieing to me Duke?” Darry said, his anger was rising it showed in his eyes.

Darry and I always fought when it came to who was the leader of the greasers. It was our age and profile, we were too much alike. “Should have known you would betray us Wheeler. I know damn well that you didn’t go home last night!” Darry shouted this, he was loosing his cool, I could tell it in his eyes. “I went home I was bleeding from my head and tired as a dog from workin’ all day!” I shouted back at Darry, he never trusted me. Before I could say anything more Darry punched me hard in the side of the mouth. The top and bottom of my lip split open from the hit, blood ran down my chin instantly. I swung on reaction to being hit, I hit Darry hard in the eye. In seconds he had charged into me like a football player and we both crashed to the ground. I was heavyer and easly pined Darry to the ground, sitting on his chest and holding his arms so that he couldn’t hit me. He was smart and strong, he twisted to the side and kicked me in the left side of the head just below my ear. I rolled off him clutching the side of my head groaning at the pain. I kneeled on my hands and knees my face burried in my arms and the grass. Darry, I could hear him breathing hard as he stood up and looked over me. “Wether your lieing or not…” Darry said catching his breath as I forced my self to my feet still clutching the side of my head. “Stay away from the Socs girls! They ain’t worth one of use getting killed because you were stupid!” Darry finished his sentence an walked away, the rest if the gang followed. I decided to follow since there was nothin else to do, and my head hurt and was bleeding alittle again from Darry’s pointed toe cowboy boot. Hanging my head the blood ran slowly down my neck, we were going to the pool hall to hustle a few pool games.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

“Hey Hilery get out here I wanna go down to the Pool Hall and play some pool and your going with me so I can be sure that so called girl don’t try and fight ya again IF that was the truth”

“Ok be ready in a minute Charlie.”

“And don’t mention that hick cousin of yours either cause those poor hicks are just as bad as those greasers.”

“Fine what ever.”

“Hey girl you are only my step sister so I don’t have to like your family. Got it?!”

“Ok, fine.”

As my brother and I walked down the street I look toward our destination and see Wheeler walkin into the Pool Hall with some of his buddies. Suddenly our eyes meet, truth spilling out. Oh no I think quietly. The greasers know, they know. I can tell just by looking in his eyes. My own start to water. As I walk along with Charlie he notices me lookin across the road at the group of greasers.

“Oh so its one of them you are going out with and I bet its that stupid weak Wheeler Duke isn’t it?”

Wheeler and I were still looking at each other, silently communicating. We both slowly enter the Pool Hall. As soon as my boyfriend and I got into a crowd we began to comepare notes on how much each group knew about our relationship from the confrontations. As we talked Charlie walked up and hit Wheeler across the face and the next thing I knew the was an all out war going on. I watched in horror as my brother and Wheeler fought.

***Wheeler Duke POV***

My back was on the floor and Hilery’s brother Charlie was sitting on me, punchin me in the face. I had my hands round his throat, he was heavy and strong, I punched him in the face and he got off me, knowing well I got to my feet fast and put my fist up ready for his next move. A switch blade he whipped outta his jacket pocket, I backed away fearful of what he could do, but still I was ready to stand my ground. He came at me swiping the air and I was soon up against the wall. We were very close in size and height, he swiped at me again and I took the chance to kick the knife outta his hand. Barreling like a football player he charged into me and slamed me up against the wall, I put my fists together and pounded on his back. Stagering he would not give up, I tried to get away by movin to the other side of the room but he steped in front of me. Hilery was hanging on his arm begin him to leave me alone, Charlie pushed her away roughly and my temper was shorting and then lost. I watched him push her to the floor. He punched me hard across the face and I stagered, never had I been hit so hard. I kneeled on the floor shaking my head tryin to get my sences back as Charlie retrived his knife, I looked up just as he came at me with it. SWIPE! I got the cold blade across the right side of my cheek cutin a 2 inch gash wide open. I got to my feet mader then before, I halled off and began hittin hima again and again untill he colasped on the floor out cold. Blood gushed fast from the burnin cut on my face and I stagered to keep my balance as my head spun with dizziness. Hilery and I ran out the door and drove away quickly in Rage, it was a mad dash to get away.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

With our persewers hot on our tail we drive at over 70 mph, racing through town trying to lose them. Around one corner then the next. I look over at Wheeler worried about his wound. It was bleeding bad. His whole left side was covered in blood. I was driving because Wheeler was bleeding so bad. I quickly drove toward the Ribbon hoping it would slow everyone down. This time of day the Ribbon is usually very packed with people. I turn another corner and see what I was hoping for. The Ribbon was really full of cars. Now if your wondering what the Ribbon is its a street with a whole bunch of shops where greasers and soc’s hang out (which explains the nightly gang fights). I hurry around several cars. I notice in the corner of my eye a few greasers which the soc’s actually except and I think are great friends. I pick up Rage’s CB and hope Bryon and Mark have thier own on.

“Bryon, Mark Ihope you guys have your ears on cause I really need help!”

Drats nothing. I reach out the drivers side window and wave with my thumb pointing back hoping they get the message. I really hope they seen me cause when they are talking to Angela you can’t be sure. I go by them at breakneck speed as they go to pull out. Yes they seen me I think as they pull out and block the road after I go by. I stop and wave a thanks to them and they wave back smiling. I know I will owe them in the future. I look over to Wheeler who has just been watching me drive. I turn my focus back to the road and still driving fast, dodging cars left and right as they come at me. I hurry up and go up a one way road the wrong way to be sure my friends had stopped them. Good I am the only one going up the road the wrong way I think to my self.

“Wow you drive as good as me babe.”

“Wheeler hang on our next stop is the hospital cause you need stitches.”

“Well then hurry it up this is the only change of clothes I got without goin back to my place and you know that house is probrably staked out by now.”

I hurry onward toward the hospital.

When I get there I am told to wait in the waiting room while Wheeler gets checked out. While I am waiting my mind wanders to my second cousin and how much longer it will be before he and the Dukes get here. Just then a funny thought jumps into my head. Will the Dukes and Cooter have the Hazzard Law with them?

I am broke out of my thoughts by a light kiss on my lips. I look up and see a set of magnificent eyes looking into mine.

“WHEELER!”

“Hey I am OK I only got 15 stitches. Nothing to really worry about.”

I smile as we leave after we got his perscription.

“Wheeler, I think I know a place we can stay.”I say after we get into Rage.

“Where?”

“We can stay at my place after we get my lock changed. In my personal opinion I think they would think we are too afriad to go back to my place or yours but they may stake out your place untill we show up there and then bust in but I live in a third story appartment so if I change the locks nobody can get in without shooting the lock.”

“What about picking it?”

“See thats the beauty of modern locks, my step brother seen one of the new ones that cant be picked. He told me all about the lock, he even said I should get one to keep greasers from robbing me.”

“Then lets get over there and get one!”

“10-4”

After we got the new lock we drove back to my apartment only to discover it ransacked. We decided Wheeler would change the lock while I cleaned. Course I didn’t clean alone all day long cause it only took Wheeler 5 minutes to change the lock. We decided Wheeler would sleep on the couch where Charlie had been sleeping.

The following morning I awoke to the CB. I had turned it on before I went to bed so I would know when my second cuz got into range with his friends.

“I may be crazy but i ain’t dumb this is Crazy Cooter comin at ya Country girl ya got your ears on comeback?”

I slowly realize whose calling me and I slowly get up outta bed and go over to my dresser and pick up my mike.

“Hey Crazy C whats up?” I say as the events of the other day replay in my mind.

“Whats wrong cuz?”

“Crazy Cooter you remember how to get to my appartment right?”

“Yeah I think so. Why you in some sorta trouble?”

“Yeah Cooter just get here A.S.A.P.”

“Does it have anything to do with Charlie and his friend Randy?”

“Yeah it does.”

“Ok be there in a few.”

A few minutes later I hear a soft knock on my bedroom door and Wheelers voice askin softly if he could come in. I say yes and he sits down on my bed and askes who I was talking to on the CB, just as I hear several cars pull up with a motercycle.

“Why not come and meet who I was talking to.” I say with a smile.

I go over to the door and slowly unlock it knowing who had pulled up because of the distinct engines I remember so much from my child hood staying with my cousin. A few seconds after I opened the door I see them. The Duke family and…

“COOTER!” I yelled running to embrace him. It had been so long since I had seen him. We hug for a few minutes then I invite every one in.

“So Hilery who is this, and what in the heck happened to him? What did he do to get those stitches?” Askes Chet.

“Oh everyone I would like you to meet my boyfriend. I would give a little more of an intro but I have gotta start breakfast.

“Sounds great I am starved!” I hear Bryer, Chet, and Bo all say at the same time with everyone breaking up laughing.

“He can explain what happened but if he hasn’t by the time I get breakfast done then I will give formal introduction and explain whats going on.”

I begin to cook and after a while I begin to wonder who this long lost Duke is. I also begin to wonder if this Duke is Wheeler but I can’t be sure, I mean wouldn’t he have told me he had family in Hazzard when I told him about Cooter? I slowly let my mind wonder as I begin to fry some bacon and eggs for everyone along with flapjacks and gritts.

(*NOTE: BRYON AND MARK ARE FROM A BOOK THAT CONJOINS TO THE OUTSIDERS CALLED “THAT WAS THEN; THIS IS NOW”. THAT IS ALSO WHERE I GOT THE RIBBON FROM ALSO.)

***Wheeler Duke POV**

I was nervious around Hilerys cousin and his friends, Rage sat in the drive and I sat on the hood smoking a cigarrett, alone. Keepin a close eye out for the Socs and even my gang I wasn’t sure I could trust anymore. One of the older friends, I wasn’t sure of his name I think it was Luke came out and sat on the orange car that they had driven up in. He sat watching me smoke, he was shorter then me but huskyer and bigger built. Much older then me as well, I could tell his years showed in his eyes, he was reading me as I stared back at him. He said nothin just looked around and looked at me, I leaned back on Rage’s wind shield still smoking my cigarrett. My face had turned black and blue where I had gotten my stiches, and I had some other small cuts that made me look just peachy. Luke the friend finally must have gottin’ anoyed with the silence. “So your Hilery’s boy friend huh?” He said, he sounded like he really couldn’t beleive me being her boy friend. “Yeah, been a acussed bye it a time or to.” I said without taking my cigarrett outta my mouth. Luke shook his head in agreement sorta I guess thats the way he felt. I ran my hands through my hair, it was short for a greasers and made me unusal because it was black and shined maroon red, unlike any other greasers. “Breckfast!” Hilery called from upstairs, Luke stood up from sitin’ on the car and looked back at me. “You comin to eat?” He asked without making eye contact with me. “Nah, I’m not hungry…thanks tho.” I said, it being true if I ate anything I would probibly through it up. Luke went into the apartment and I stayed out side in the cooler air, I was hot and sweaty an most likely had a fever. Alot of things were on my mind, and on top of it my head hurt.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

I come outta the kitchen as Luke comes back in. I notice Wheeler isn’t with him and so I decide to go back to the kitchen window to yell at him again. Even if he isn’t feeling good he still needs to eat. Whether he realizes it or not it would do him some good and make him feel better probrably. He also needs to keep his strength up if he’s gonna fight the greasers and or socs when they arrive. I know its only a matter of time before they do.

“Wheeler get up here!”

“No I ain’t hungry!”

“Wheeler you need to eat!”

“Leave me alone for a little while Hilery!”

“WYMAN SUTTON DUKE GET YOUR BUTT UP HERE BEFORE I GO OUT THERE AND DRAG IT UP HERE CAUSE IF YOU ARE GONNA FIGHT THE OTHER GREASERS AND SOCS YOU NEED TO KEEP YOUR STRENGHT UP AND GET BETTER SO YOU STARVIN YOURSELF WILL ONLY MAKE YOU FEEL WORSE!”

“Alright, alright if you are gonna be like that I’ll eat but you better not get grumpy if I get sick afterwords!”

“Ok just get up here and eat.”

I go back to the table to look at my cuz and my friends with shocked looks on their faces.

“What didn’t know I could be that stubburn?”

Just as I say that Daisy reaches into her purse and pulls out a black envelope and hands it to me. I read it only to have my own look of shock come across my face. My boyfriend is the lost Duke they came down here to find. I can’t believe it. I hurry it up and run to my room to be alone for a few minutes hoping no one will mind. I begin to get lost in my thoughts once more. Suddenly I here a soft knock at my door just like the one from this morning. I slowly walk over to my door and open it to see Wheeler looking at me with a apologizing look as he hands me a plate with bacon, eggs, and gritts on it while carrying his own. We sit down on my bed and he gives me a hug.

“Hilery whats wrong?”

“Wheeler why didn’t you tell me you had family in Hazzard?”

“Thats because I dont’ have any that I know of.”

I slowly let my head sag in sorrow. All these years he hasn’t known of his roots. It breaks my heart to know this. As I start to cry I feel Wheelers hand slip under my chin and lift my head. I look into his eyes and see how much it hurts him to see me upset. I suddenly move my breakfast to sit next to his on my tv table and hug him.

“Was it something I did or said sweety pie?”

“Wheeler its not your fault. Its just… Here take a look at this. It was sent to Jesse Duke a long time ago. He was Bo, Lukes, and Daisys uncle.” I say as I reach into my back shorts pocket. I hand him the letter and let him read it; first quickly then more slowly.

“Oh my God, I didn’t know I even had any family left Hilery. I cant’ believe it.” I finally hear him say after several long moments. “Lets go back out to the other room and tell them everything thats been happening. It may just save our lives.”

“Yeah it might.”

“Sides Hilery if they are anything like us, then well I know they well be a big help and none of us will get killed.”

***Bo Duke POV***

I slowly look up from my delicious meal to see the lovely couple come outta the bedroom carrying their breakfasts.

“So Hilery your uh boyfriend never did tell us about hisself, and did you just call him Wyman Sutton Duke?” I ask then shovel a fork full of scrambled eggs into my mouth.

“Yes, I just talked to him and well he doesn’t even know who you guys are,” she says just as I begin caughing on my food.

“Well cuz I think we found our lost Duke boy right?”

“Yeah Luke I think we have. So uh from what I gather you go by a nickname of some sort?”

“Oh yeah I go by Wheeler, and I bet I ain’t the only one who goes by a nickname either, cause Luke Duke sounds like either your mama was drunk when she named ya or its a cool nickname cause I don’t know anyone who names their kids in rhymes.”

I hurry up and pass a glance at Luke and notice his anger is flaring as does Jessie and Barb.

“Actually you little smart mouth it is a nickname and you sure as heck ain’t actin like no Duke!”

“Luke,” I say trying to calm him, “I think the kids just nervous and all. I it’s that or he was just trying to get a rise outta ya.” I slowly turn to Wyman, “Just incase your wondering we both go by nicknames. My cousins name here happens to be Lukas but we just call him Luke and if you are going to make fun of my name next I just wanna let you know that Bo is only a nickname cause I hate my name. My name is actually Beauregard. Now the only reason I am mentioning this is because your family Wyman.”

“Please just call me Wheeler I dislike being called Wyman”

“Ok now that that is settled,” I hear Daisy chime in, “why don’t you explain what happened to you to get your rump beat up so bad Wheeler.”

***Wheeler Duke POV***

I put my hand to the stiches in my cheek wondering on how to explain this nicely, huh! Nicely somethin that comes hard for me. We were sittin in the livin room, everyone was waitin for my explanation. “Well ya’ll aint from round here so I should start out by tellin ya that theres two gangs. The greasers and the Socs, you got the rich Socs and the poor and treated like dirt greasers.”

***Hilery Davenport POV***

“And you have to understand that Wheeler is a greaser and I am a soc which makes it very hard for us to go out with each other. If you even look at someone from the other gang they jump ya, if ya talk to them they jump ya, Its worst if you date one of them. Thats how wheeler got hurt. Wheeler if you would like to describe your last couple of fights like starting a few days ago.” I say.

Just then Luke chimes in, “Yeah you look like ya just went though a combine. So tell us what exactly are we up against cause it looks pritty bad cus, sorry just tryin it on the tongue cause technically you are a cousin. A second cousin but still a cousin.”

***Wheeler Duke POV***

It was so hard to explain, and they made me feel just welcomed, the look on there faces and Luke he…well nothin I wasn’t used to. “We got to be tuff round here wether it hurts or not, a scare is somethin to be proud of!” My temper was rising, specially at what he had said about how I looked. I didnt have a choice when I fought. It was either fight or die painfully. “Got that tough guy!” I rose from my chair at Luke, he put up his hands in surrenderin, he didn’t wanna have anything to do with rumblin with me. “Hey, take it easy ok. Luke shush we dont need more trouble then it soundin like we have ok.” The guy they called Bo said. I pulled a cigarrett outta my jacket and even tho I wasn’t suposed to smoke in the building I lite the cigarrett and sat back down. Hilery had grabed my arm when I had gotten up in anger, we weren’t gettin anywhere that I could see.

***Bo Duke POV***

“Hey Wheeler, listen ok we only wanna help and from what you say what Luke said should have been a complement.” I say as I look at Wheeler. Why is he so jumpy I wonder. Is he scared of something. Is he on the run from a fight gone wrong. I hope we can help him and he would treat us like family.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

“Wheeler, what Bo said is true. It is just the southern way of sayin you look beat up and look like you were in a major fight which you were. They can tell it makes you look tough, very tough. Bo, Luke, Chet, Waytte, and Bryer all get into fights sorta like here only not quite as bad.” I say trying to put this into words. Luke was only trying to give him a complement.

***Luke Duke POV***

I sit in shock. That was supposed to be a comment. I slowly rise to walk over and say sorry to Wheeler and tell him Hilery is right.

“Wheeler I meant that to be a complement. Any less of a guy would have crumbled lookin like that.”

***Chet Duke POV***

I sat quietl listening like I always did, this was a new area to me and I was learnin fast.

***Wheeler Duke POV***

It was almost hopeless to tell them how badly Hilery and I were in trouble. My stiches pained me everytime I moved my face the wrong way and my head and stomach ached. The cigarrett was growing short and hadn’t helped my nerves any. I sat in silence, there was nothin more I could think of to say. Either they understood or they didn’t and that was wrap.

***Hilery Davenport POV***

I slowly walk into the kitchen and get Wheeler a beer from the fridge because that cigarette clearly wasn’t helping his nerves. After I came back and gave him his beer he grabbed me and set me down on his lap and we start giggling.

“So is there anything anyone who doesn’t understand what we are trying to say?”

Slowly a steady stream of I understands come out of everyones mouths and I nod approvingly.

***Daisy Duke POV***

I sit next to my two cousins listning intently. We have never had anything like this happen in Hazzard but it sounds like we have alot to handle. Slowly I get up and make my way over to the window to look out at the scenery. An idea suddenly pops into my head.

“Hey what in all do yall do for fun around here ‘cept fight?”

“hmm” I hear Wheeler and Hilery say at the same time.

“Well we go down to the Ribbon, drag race and normal race, shoot pool, stuff like that.” I hear Hilery say.

“Yeah.”

“Hey Cooter that reminds me cousin, when are you gonna work on Jumper?”

***Cooter Davenport POV***

All eyes fell on me as soon as my adorable cousin asked that question.

“Okay yall whoever wants to help follow me down to the drive and we’ll work on all the cars as in tune them incase we really need to run.” I say and walk out the door.

***CHARLIE POV***

I sit with my friend Randy listing to the radio. We are trying to figure out how to teach the love birds a lesson. We could break in and beat them half the death or something but can’t decide.

***TWO-BITT POV***

I can’t believe that jerk betrayed us. I wanna rip his head off.

“Hey,” I say,” how about we go teach him a lesson along with that soc girl. Thats what they need.”

I hear a bunch of shouts from everyone but Ponyboy who I just notice has left the room along with Soda Pop.

***BRYON (FROM THAT WAS THEN; THIS IS NOW)POV***

I am sitting on my car hood with my brother Mark when I see two figures running down the road toward us. It was Ponyboy and Soda.

“Mark, Bryon, listen we know you are good friends with Hilery.” askes ponyboy

“Yeah and,” I say to them.

“Listen we need to warn them. None of us want any harm to come to Wheeler or Hilery.”

“Ok whats goin on”

“Our gangs gonna go beat them really bad if we don’t do something soon.”

“Ok get in.” was all I said and then we all took off to a specific destination: Hilery’s appartment.

***HILERY DAVENPORT POV***

We all looked at each other after Cooter asked who wanted to work on the cars. Then everyone cept Barb, Wheeler and I. I could tell Wheelers nerves were completly shot.

I walk over to him and take him by the hand and tell him “Wheeler you really need to work on Rage he was handling bad yesterday.”

I hear him mumble somthing and pick me up and carried me down the steps.

***Wheeler Duke POV***

I carried Hilery down the stairs and outside, I set her on the hood of Rage and held her tight and kissed her gingerly. She giggled and laughed as she crawled up futher to lay on her stomach on the hood in the warm sunshine. I knew what needed to be fixed, the alinement was off on both front tires. It would take half hour to fourty-five minutes, and it was hot out so eventually Hilery went inside and began workin on makin somethin to drink. My car was parked out back of the building and seperate from Hilery’s cousin and the other cars, whos ever they was they belonged to. I concentrated deeply on what I was doing I had my head and half my body under Rage when I herd two pairs of light foot steps at my feet and towads the end of my car. I stuck the huge wrench I was usin to the edge of my car and reflected it off the mirror so that I could see what the two guys were doin. They looked towards the apartment and not reconisin the two young guys, while they weren’y lookin I rolled all the way under Rage so when they looked back I was gone. I layed under the other side of the car they looked round. “Where’d he go?” One asked slowly lookin round. They stood next to each other and they mention Hilery’s name so quietly I couldn’t understand the rest of what they said. I decicded not to take a chance of getting Hilery hurt, as they stood next to each other my anger grew and I kicked my feet out fast and together. They came down hard havin there feet knocked out from under them, I got out from under the car and they were already getting to there feet, I didn’t reconise them at all. They were small compared to my self and I stood taller then them. “Hilery!” The bigger of the two yelled as I backed them against the wall, there eyes showed ruffly but fearful of me. “Hilery!” He yelled again, they were against the wall now and had know where to run to.

***BRYON~(from That was then; this is now)POV***

Wheeler was huge and pure muscle, I was toungue tied in fear of him and all I could do was yell for Hilery. Wheeler didn’t reconise us and you could tell by the look in his eyes and the nasty stiches in his face that he wasn’t in the mood to talk. Mark stood closely next to me and I could see him swollow hard as Wheeler grew closer to us. “Hilery!” I shouted her name again, it was the only word I could get my mouth to say. Finally I got my answer to my yell for help. “Wheeler whats goin on?” She said from the inside of the apartment and she grew closer to the door, finally comin out to relevie us. She grabed Wheeler by the arm and stood infront of him lookin into his eyes. “Its ok, dont you reconise Bryon and Mark?” She asked him as we got away from that wall at a fast walk.

*** PONYBOY CURTIS POV***

I sit waiting with my brother, Sodapop, on the hood of Bryon and Marks car waiting for them and tying to tie a white hankerchief to a stick. It is the only way I can even think of to get in to the apartment drive letalone the apartment itself without being jumped.

“Pony are you sure this will work?”

“Well if Wheeler and Hilery went to school then they would know what the white flag of truce is. I mean think about it we are on their side right?”

“Yeah I guess you are right. Hey here come Mark and Bryon.”

“Hey I hope you guys got that flag ready cause Wheeler just about ripped us apart.” I here Mark say.

“Yes just finished. You guys really look spooked, maybe you should stay here.”

“No way man. I wanna be there when the rumble starts.” I just whip my head at Bryon suddenly as he says that.

At that we all start toward the apartment.

***LUKE DUKE POV***

I look over at Bo who seems to have the same question as myself.

“Hey Bo do you hear something?”

“Yeah Luke it sounds like someone calling Hilery’s name. I think we should go check it out cause it could be trouble.”

We go over to Ghost and tell Chet if we are not back in 10 minutes to send in the chalvary. Then we are off to the other side of the building.

***HILERY DAVENP0RT POV***

I stand there yelling at Wheeler tellng him that he must have really takin a good wack upside the head during the fight with Charlie. He seems to be shocked over the fact I am yelling at him. Course I don’t blame him because I have never snapped at him before.

“Bryon and Mark are great friends of mine and they are greasers just like you so I know they mean no harm.”

“Ok I will appologize to them and I am sorry.”

“You better be or you’ll be sorry.”

“OK OK OK. Uh where did they go?”

“Probrably left to get away from you silly,” I say then kiss him on his cheek.

“Hey,” I hear him say, “get back here”. And with that he hugs me.

***MARK (from that was then this is now.)POV***

I let my bro (though Bryon isn’t really my bro, we are just that close and his mom adopted me after my mother and step father died. Don’t know my father.) drive up to the apartment with the white flag in veiw with Soda and Pony in the backseat. We went around to the back of the building to see Hilery and Wheeler hugging.

“Hey we mean no harm we are on your side,” I cautiously say to make sure there are no misunderstandings. “All four of us wanna help you guys out.”

When I said that a puzzled look came over Wheeler’s and Hilery’s faces as they say “four?” and peer into the backseat of my car.

***WHEELER DUKE POV***

I can’t believe it, what are Soda and Pony doing here? when I finally found my voice after the initial shock I ask.

“Hey man we are here to help you guys out. Personally the way everyone is treating you is not fair. Sides you are our friend Wheeler and friends stick up for each other.”

I smile at that thought which causes a mad pain in my cheek.

***BO DUKE POV***

Luke and I walk around the corner of the building to see a brown car with someone in the front seat holding a white hankerchief tied to a stick with Hilery and Wheeler lookin into the backseat of it.

“Hey what’s going on? We thought we heard screaming.” I say when we get to where we wouldn’t have to yell to be heard.

“It’s ok fellas. Wheeler and a few of my other friends had a little bit of a miss understanding.”

“Ok, we can use all the help we can get from the way you guys say things are round here and whats going on too.” I say.

“Yeah, I think Bo is right. Why don’t you guys all take both these cars out front. The more eyes we have the better and six eyes out here and a lot more of us out on the other side of the building is not good.”

“Sides,” I add, “We would see them first from the front if trouble shows up.”

* ~BALLADEER~ *

Wheeler sat on his car, it was late at night and the actions of the day were racin through his mind. The shock of having family that was alive was setting in and stickin to Wheeler, he didnt know what to think and what not to think. He had never looked to see if he had family, never cared after his father died and he joined the gang of greasers. Now everyone was doing all this stuff for him, Wheeler had never been so important to people, not even the girls he had dated.

Hilery came into his life by acident, they met during a fight between one of her old boy friends. The boy friend had been beating on her meanly and harshly and with out givin it barely a thought about her being a Soc Wheeler had grabed the guy by the throat and almost killed him for hurtin her. Her being a girl he had only barely seen two or three times before in his life, no matter the girl he couldn’t stand to see any girl being hurt. Wheeler had driven her home that night and her brother Charlie had been waitin up for her, Wheeler droped her off and just left never barely seeing her brother.

Hilery’s step brother had seen who droped her off and he too beat on her for comin home with a greaser, since then Wheeler has always had a great haitred for Charlie and his friends. Specially when he found that the nice girl he had talked to all the way home and exchanged phone numbers with was beatin again by her own brother because a greaser gave her a safe ride home. He liked havin friends and being a greaser, tho he never looked quit like the other greasers or acted like them, they were always happy to have him around because of his size and fightin power. Darry at one time was the best buddy he had ever had and in a fight against the Socs they would look out for each other.

It was cool but still a hot and sticky night, the street light closest to the apartment light up Wheeler as he sat on his car drinkin and havin a smoke. He was trashed from the six pack of Bud he had just breezed.(breezed meanin drank very quickly) Layin on the hood for some odd reason his father struck his mind, he had once layed on the same hood in the same posion with his father stairing at the stars next to him. It was one of the very few times Wheeler could remember with his dad.

***WHEELER DUKE POV***

My dad and I had never spent much time together, he was always too busy and he was never altogether after my mother died. She had been my dads hole world and once he had even said on one of the rare ocasions of playin pool together he said to me; “someday Wheeler(his dad too called him Wheeler) you will fall from the sky for a girl, and she will be the only thing in your world that will matter. You may even come to a time in your life that you risk your life for her, thats when you know that you are truely in love. Even this car will not beable to take her place.” Those words I will never forget, my father had been a hell of a man. He never looked at life quiet the same way as he did the day before, belivein in a new day a new begining and what happened yesterday is now meerly a legend that will never die. I looked at the car, Rage was so special to me it was the only thing I had to remember my father by.

My thoughts were broken by Hilery who quietly came out and sat next to me on Rage with out saying a single word. She layed acrossed my lap and half way on my chest, the warmth of her body set my heart off and made it beat rapidly. I truely had fallin from the sky for her like my father said I would for someone along the way. My stomach felt warm and not scared but almost tiklish like, I was swet and had long since shed my shirt. Her long hair layed on my stomach and I could feel the heat from her neck on my bare stomach.

I was finishing the last bottle of Bud as I raised the bottle to my mouth she turned and looked at me then began searchin for somethin. She sat up and pulled the empty cardboard box from the edge of Rage’s wide hood and looked in on all the empty bottles. She turned back to me shocked, they were all empty. “Wheeler did you drink all of these by your self?” She asked sitting up and looking into my eyes. I wasn’t a drinker and never had been, but when I was scared confused and feelin like I needed lightenin’ up I drank and was now drunk off my ass. She continued to look into my eyes that I was sure looked off-all on top of the swelling from my cheek, she layed back down on my stomach with out saying anything more. But the look on her face told me she was deeply worried about me.

***HILERY DAVENPORT POV***

I lay there silently crying. Why does he drink instead of talk to me. I don’t understand why he does anything anymore. After a few minutes I feel Wheelers arm go around me and hug me gently. After a few minutes I pull away slowly and look into his alcohole clowded over eyes. He reaches up and pulls me back down and kisses me. I pull away, shocked at how hard he kissed me. Now I know he downed all those beers by himself.

“Wheeler, you are drunk aren’t you” I say as soon as I was able to speak.

“So what if I am, “he says looking at me with look on his face I had never seen before, it looked like a look between a gental caring, happy look and a sad, regretful look. I slowly get lost in my thoughts while he sits there. He looks almost in tears for some reason.

“Wheeler what is wrong honey?” I gently ask him looking into his sad yet loving eyes, trying to get him to talk.

“Just thinking about my pa,” I hear him say, his voice suprisingly strong with emotion, something it had never been before.

“Wheeler are you gonna be ok?”

“Yeah, I think so. I just wanna talk with ya. You know how it feels to lose someone close to you.”

“You wanna tell me what happened?”

“Thats what I just said isn’t it?”

“Yeah it is,” I say trying to make him feel better.

“Well I don’t know where to start to be honest.”

“Just start from the beginning. Its normally the best place to do so,” I explain. Suddenly we kiss again. A nice gental kiss. When we break I look into his eyes and see him crying. Crying, something that doesn’t come easy for a greaser let alone Wheeler.

“Well it all started the day I was born really,” he finally says, tears brimming his eyes. “My mom died that day. I was sent here to Tulsa to live with my daddy. I was happy with him. When I was sixteen we started building Rage, our pride and joy.” Just then Wheeler chokes up with tears. By now we are sitting up and I gently push his head to my shoulder. As he leans on me the floodgates open. I had never seen him act this way.

“Shhh,” I say trying to calm him. By this time I was wondering if it was really the alcohole causing him to act this way.

*~BALLADEER~*

Wheeler leaned with his head on Hilerys sholder and cried, he was drunk but mostly confused, he had never told anyone about his father not even the gang of greasers. She held him and calmed him down enough to lean back with her on Rage, they leaned up against the windsheild. Hilery lay her head on his hot chest and he held her tight under the arms with his chin on her sholder, some tears still streacked his face. “Please tell me about your dad Wheeler, I’m here for you.” Hilery said holding on tighter to his arms wrapped around her. He staired off into the distance with out sayin anything for long minutes. “My father was a good man…”

(***into the past, a flash back into Wheelers past***)

“My father was a good man, I could sit and talk to him for hours he always seemed to understand. But after my mother died he fell apart and began drinkin’, he would beat me and blame me when he was drunk, very often I would leave the house and run for the lot or the Ribbon and meet up with the greasers. He was gunned down at 41 years old, I was 17 and watched him die. I held him in my arms in that alley way at 2am, the two men that had shot him cut me up and beat me with brass knuckels, I fainted from the loss of blood. My father still lay dieing when I came to, he had been shaking me. Forcing my self to sit up I pulled him half way onto my lap, he was weak and could barely talk. He told me that he wasn’t afriad of diein and that he wanted me to never give up, for he wouldn’t not even after he knew was his last breath. I became to weak to hold him and layin his head on my chest I griped his hand tightly, fightin to breath and stay awake didn’t last long.

When I awoke to a police officer trin to pick me up, when he found that he couldn’t pick up my 250 pounds of solid muscle he layed me up against the brick alley wall as he went to get more help. I was dizzy and could barely see, I was holdin somthin in my hand tighter then I have ever held anything before. I opened my hand and looked at a set of keys, heys to one of the most important things in my fathers life, Rage. The officer returned with two other officers, I herd sirens and saw an ambulance pull in close by. They picked me up all three of them, pain in every step they took I fought and yelled for them to put me down, put me down it hurt so bad, every move. Even after I swated at the guy at my feet, I missed him by a long ways, they still wouldn’t put me down until I was layed on the bed setin outside the ambulance. Breathin heavy from yellin I looked for my dad and even attempted to sit up but when I did I passed out. I got outta the hospital four days later, they were happy to get rid of me I was emotinally hurt and wouldn’t talk to barely anyone for months not even the gang that took me in when I sold the house to pay to have my father burried properly. He would have been proud.

(***back to present time***)

I was cryin, and Hilery was still layin on my chest with my arm wrapped tightly round her, she was still holdin on to my arm. Puttin my chin gentely on her sholder I shudered a little tryin not to cry, but tears still slowly fell down my cheeks. My salty tears burned my stiches and weted my face slowly then driped down onto Hilerys shirt. Swet covered me and I felt a little dirty but more sticky, my skin was shinny with so much swet because if the heat and because I was drunk so badly.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT POV***

“I love you Hilery. Please don’t ever leave me. Please.” I hear him cry before he passes out. I all i can do is look at him wondering what he meant by that. Then it hits me. He doesn’t want anything to happen to me like did his mother and father.

In the dark I can see how human he really is. That tough guy facade gone, a gental look on his face. I hope he is gonna be ok.

I slowly get up and go over to the curb and yell up to the apartment, “Hey up there, I need some help. Mr. Drunk outta my mind just passed out.”

***BO DUKE POV***

I walk over to the window after hearing Hilery yell something up to everyone.

“Hold on a sec, I’ll be right down,” yell to her and exit the appartment. I walk down the hall thinking about what she meant by what she said because I didn’t quite understand what she meant. Now if it was Luke who heard her, he would have understood.

I exit the building to find Wheeler laying on the hood of Rage. He was completly out of it. He was more outta it then a black bear when hibernating.

“What the heck happened to him, “I ask once Hilery sees me.

“If ya look in that box next to Rage you’ll find out.”

I quickly walk over to the box and look in to find it filled with atleast a whole six pack of beer bottles. Shaking my head I hurry up and grab Wheeler and take him back inside with me. I do not like being out here at night because I don’t trust the stillness of it or the quiet. Someone could easily sneak up on you; a lot easier then it would be in Hazzard because here there is mostly blacktop and nowhere to really hide, while at home it is mostly dirt and gravel with plenty of woods to hide in.

***DAISY DUKE POV***

I am sitting on the couch in the living room wondering why Bo ran out of the appartment so fast. What happened to make him move so fast? Is everything ok? I silently go back to reading after pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind as Bo walks in with Wheeler slung over his shoulder like a sack of patatoes and Hilery not far behind. I quickly move off the sofa so my cousin can put the poor guy down. Before I can ask what happened I see the contense box Hilery was carrying and the strong smell of alcohole I reconise so well from working in the Boars Nest during the earlier days of my adult hood.

***SODAPOP CURTIS POV***

I look up from my game of checkers and talking about cars with my new friend, Bryer, to see Bo carry Wheeler in. I should have know that would happen. I should have warned them his nerves were probrably shot becaue of what has been happening.

***WHEELER DUKE POV***

My head hurt and I felt like I couldn’t move, my stiches felt like thorns in my face. I was layin on the livin’ room couch I knew for I reconised the celling and its color. It was early in the morning and the sun was shinng brightly, it was bright for my eyes and I scuinted to see my surroundings.

Sure enough I was in Hilery’s livin’ room on the couch that I had slept on so many times in the past month, that month me and Hilery and I had grown closer in that month. I forced my body to let me sit up, know one was around that I could see and I wished Hilery would come. “Hilery…Hilery…” I weakly and quietly called in almost a whisper.

I layed back down and closed my eyes, the swet continued to run down my face and bare chest it had to be more then 90 degrees in the livin room and I needed a glass of water. So I rolled off the couch and onto my feet, stagered a little then walked to the kitchen.

*** DARRY CURTIS POV***

“I can’t believe my brothers are doing this to us!” I yell at the top of my lungs at the rest of the greasers. “We have to do something about this. I haven’t even heard from them sence they called and said they were on his side and that was after they took off when we were talkin about teaching that traiter, Wheeler Duke a lesson!” By now I am stomping across the room. I am filled with greif and worry for my brothers. They are all the family I have left. Two Bit wants to teach them a lesson along with the other greaser gangs. Bryon and Mark are in that catagory too. They left with Pony and Soda. All I want is my brothers home with us and Mark and Bryon at home where they are safe. ‘Sides their mom is starting to get worried.

***CHARLIE POV***

“I can’t believe my sister is doing this to me!” I say to Randy. “My own sister; why. She still thinks my heaters busted. She didn’t even know I played that little game with her to keep a close eye on her.”

“Well uh, Charlie, uh, don’t know how to say this but women aren’t like us guys. They don’t go picking fights much. She probrably did what she did to get away from you finally.”

“No, Randy. She’s letting that greaser stay with her. She also has friends and family up.”

“Yeah and they are nuthing but a bunch of hicks any way.”

“True, but Hilery has told me all about that backwater town and from what I hear it’s as bad as here in some ways.”

“What do we do man?”

“Easy Randy, we get some of our guys together and beat them all half the death” i say with a smile teasing my lips.

***TWO BIT POV***

I sit worried. I thought of Sodapop and Ponyboy like they were my brothers. What is that traitor doing to them? I don’t trust him one bit, or for that matter anyone who is related to a soc, in love with one, or is one.

***PONYBOY CURTIS***

“So Bryer, Chet, what’s it like in Hazzard?” I ask that afternoon. We were outside so not ot disterb Wheeler who was still asleep.It had been a whole month sence my brother and I left home to help the Dukes and the Davenports. Over this month I have realized something very comforting yet troubling. Hilery was only a soc because her mother re-married after her father died. She was born in Hazzard and spent most of her childhood there. She was born as poor as us greasers and raised with something we weren’t; The safty and security of a close knitt and caring society. Yes there were dangerous times in Hazzard that helped her adjust to living here and protecting herself. She is a true greaser at heart.

I was amazed at what Chet and Bryer were tellin me along with what Wyett and Jessie were saying too. They had joined the conversation when I asked my first question.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT***

I am looking at my face in the vanity merror in my bedroom. I am trying to put my hair up in a pony tail to try and keep cool. Suddenly I hear a soft wisper, it is just a figment of my imagination. Wheeler got drunk again last night so I don’t think he would be up yet. I know it couldn’t be Cooter or the other Dukes because they were outside playing with there toys, or a cars, I am going to go out and join them in a few minutes. Then out of no where I hear a loud bang. It was a glass shattering. I run out to find that Wheeler is gone from the couch. I hurry to the kitchen finding him cleaning up the glass from the floor. He looks up really fast and startles me.

“Hi, uh sorry about the glass. And don’t sneek up on me like that, I could have cut myself. Lucky for you I seen your reflection on the window as you walked in.” He says then his face spreads into his sweet, lovely, attractive smile I adore so much.

“Here,” I tell him handing him a glass filled with water. “I don’t need you breaking another glass.”

I smile then we go outside to join the others and race them in our cars.

* ~BALLADEER~*
Wheeler sat on his car, it was late at night and the actions of the day were racin through his mind. The shock of having family that was alive was setting in and stickin to Wheeler, he didnt know what to think and what not to think. He had never looked to see if he had family, never cared after his father died and he joined the gang of greasers. Now everyone was doing all this stuff for him, Wheeler had never been so important to people, not even the girls he had dated.

Hilery came into his life by acident, they met during a fight between one of her old boy friends. The boy friend had been beating on her meanly and harshly and with out givin it barely a thought about her being a Soc Wheeler had grabed the guy by the throat and almost killed him for hurtin her. Her being a girl he had only barely seen two or three times before in his life, no matter the girl he couldn’t stand to see any girl being hurt. Wheeler had driven her home that night and her brother Charlie had been waitin up for her, Wheeler droped her off and just left never barely seeing her brother.

Hilery’s step brother had seen who droped her off and he too beat on her for comin home with a greaser, since then Wheeler has always had a great haitred for Charlie and his friends. Specially when he found that the nice girl he had talked to all the way home and exchanged phone numbers with was beatin again by her own brother because a greaser gave her a safe ride home. He liked havin friends and being a greaser, tho he never looked quit like the other greasers or acted like them, they were always happy to have him around because of his size and fightin power. Darry at one time was the best buddy he had ever had and in a fight against the Socs they would look out for each other.

It was cool but still a hot and sticky night, the street light closest to the apartment light up Wheeler as he sat on his car drinkin and havin a smoke. He was trashed from the six pack of Bud he had just breezed.(breezed meanin drank very quickly) Layin on the hood for some odd reason his father struck his mind, he had once layed on the same hood in the same posion with his father stairing at the stars next to him. It was one of the very few times Wheeler could remember with his dad.

***WHEELER DUKE***

My dad and I had never spent much time together, he was always too busy and he was never altogether after my mother died. She had been my dads hole world and once he had even said on one of the rare ocasions of playin pool together he said to me; “someday Wheeler(his dad too called him Wheeler) you will fall from the sky for a girl, and she will be the only thing in your world that will matter. You may even come to a time in your life that you risk your life for her, thats when you know that you are truely in love. Even this car will not beable to take her place.” Those words I will never forget, my father had been a hell of a man. He never looked at life quiet the same way as he did the day before, belivein in a new day a new begining and what happened yesterday is now meerly a legend that will never die. I looked at the car, Rage was so special to me it was the only thing I had to remember my father by.

My thoughts were broken by Hilery who quietly came out and sat next to me on Rage with out saying a single word. She layed acrossed my lap and half way on my chest, the warmth of her body set my heart off and made it beat rapidly. I truely had fallin from the sky for her like my father said I would for someone along the way. My stomach felt warm and not scared but almost tiklish like, I was swet and had long since shed my shirt. Her long hair layed on my stomach and I could feel the heat from her neck on my bare stomach.

I was finishing the last bottle of Bud as I raised the bottle to my mouth she turned and looked at me then began searchin for somethin. She sat up and pulled the empty cardboard box from the edge of Rage’s wide hood and looked in on all the empty bottles. She turned back to me shocked, they were all empty. “Wheeler did you drink all of these by your self?” She asked sitting up and looking into my eyes. I wasn’t a drinker and never had been, but when I was scared confused and feelin like I needed lightenin’ up I drank and was now drunk off my ass. She continued to look into my eyes that I was sure looked off-all on top of the swelling from my cheek, she layed back down on my stomach with out saying anything more. But the look on her face told me she was deeply worried about me.

**** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I lay there silently crying. Why does he drink instead of talk to me. I don’t understand why he does anything anymore. After a few minutes I feel Wheelers arm go around me and hug me gently. After a few minutes I pull away slowly and look into his alcohole clowded over eyes. He reaches up and pulls me back down and kisses me. I pull away, shocked at how hard he kissed me. Now I know he downed all those beers by himself.

“Wheeler, you are drunk aren’t you” I say as soon as I was able to speak.

“So what if I am, “he says looking at me with look on his face I had never seen before, it looked like a look between a gental caring, happy look and a sad, regretful look. I slowly get lost in my thoughts while he sits there. He looks almost in tears for some reason.

“Wheeler what is wrong honey?” I gently ask him looking into his sad yet loving eyes, trying to get him to talk.

“Just thinking about my pa,” I hear him say, his voice suprisingly strong with emotion, something it had never been before.

“Wheeler are you gonna be ok?”

“Yeah, I think so. I just wanna talk with ya. You know how it feels to lose someone close to you.”

“You wanna tell me what happened?”

“Thats what I just said isn’t it?”

“Yeah it is,” I say trying to make him feel better.

“Well I don’t know where to start to be honest.”

“Just start from the beginning. Its normally the best place to do so,” I explain. Suddenly we kiss again. A nice gental kiss. When we break I look into his eyes and see him crying. Crying, something that doesn’t come easy for a greaser let alone Wheeler.

“Well it all started the day I was born really,” he finally says, tears brimming his eyes. “My mom died that day. I was sent here to Tulsa to live with my daddy. I was happy with him. When I was sixteen we started building Rage, our pride and joy.” Just then Wheeler chokes up with tears. By now we are sitting up and I gently push his head to my shoulder. As he leans on me the floodgates open. I had never seen him act this way.

“Shhh,” I say trying to calm him. By this time I was wondering if it was really the alcohole causing him to act this way.

* ~BALLADEER~*
Wheeler leaned with his head on Hilerys sholder and cried, he was drunk but mostly confused, he had never told anyone about his father not even the gang of greasers. She held him and calmed him down enough to lean back with her on Rage, they leaned up against the windsheild. Hilery lay her head on his hot chest and he held her tight under the arms with his chin on her sholder, some tears still streacked his face. “Please tell me about your dad Wheeler, I’m here for you.” Hilery said holding on tighter to his arms wrapped around her. He staired off into the distance with out sayin anything for long minutes. “My father was a good man…”

(***into the past, a flash back into Wheelers past***)

“My father was a good man, I could sit and talk to him for hours he always seemed to understand. But after my mother died he fell apart and began drinkin’, he would beat me and blame me when he was drunk, very often I would leave the house and run for the lot or the Ribbon and meet up with the greasers. He was gunned down at 41 years old, I was 17 and watched him die. I held him in my arms in that alley way at 2am, the two men that had shot him cut me up and beat me with brass knuckels, I fainted from the loss of blood. My father still lay dieing when I came to, he had been shaking me. Forcing my self to sit up I pulled him half way onto my lap, he was weak and could barely talk. He told me that he wasn’t afriad of diein and that he wanted me to never give up, for he wouldn’t not even after he knew was his last breath. I became to weak to hold him and layin his head on my chest I griped his hand tightly, fightin to breath and stay awake didn’t last long.

When I awoke to a police officer trin to pick me up, when he found that he couldn’t pick up my 250 pounds of solid muscle he layed me up against the brick alley wall as he went to get more help. I was dizzy and could barely see, I was holdin somthin in my hand tighter then I have ever held anything before. I opened my hand and looked at a set of keys, heys to one of the most important things in my fathers life, Rage. The officer returned with two other officers, I herd sirens and saw an ambulance pull in close by. They picked me up all three of them, pain in every step they took I fought and yelled for them to put me down, put me down it hurt so bad, every move. Even after I swated at the guy at my feet, I missed him by a long ways, they still wouldn’t put me down until I was layed on the bed setin outside the ambulance. Breathin heavy from yellin I looked for my dad and even attempted to sit up but when I did I passed out. I got outta the hospital four days later, they were happy to get rid of me I was emotinally hurt and wouldn’t talk to barely anyone for months not even the gang that took me in when I sold the house to pay to have my father burried properly. He would have been proud.

(***back to present time***)

I was cryin, and Hilery was still layin on my chest with my arm wrapped tightly round her, she was still holdin on to my arm. Puttin my chin gentely on her sholder I shudered a little tryin not to cry, but tears still slowly fell down my cheeks. My salty tears burned my stiches and weted my face slowly then driped down onto Hilerys shirt. Swet covered me and I felt a little dirty but more sticky, my skin was shinny with so much swet because if the heat and because I was drunk so badly.

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

“I love you Hilery. Please don’t ever leave me. Please.” I hear him cry before he passes out. I all i can do is look at him wondering what he meant by that. Then it hits me. He doesn’t want anything to happen to me like did his mother and father.

In the dark I can see how human he really is. That tough guy facade gone, a gental look on his face. I hope he is gonna be ok.

I slowly get up and go over to the curb and yell up to the apartment, “Hey up there, I need some help. Mr. Drunk outta my mind just passed out.”

***BO DUKE ***

I walk over to the window after hearing Hilery yell something up to everyone.

“Hold on a sec, I’ll be right down,” yell to her and exit the appartment. I walk down the hall thinking about what she meant by what she said because I didn’t quite understand what she meant. Now if it was Luke who heard her, he would have understood.

I exit the building to find Wheeler laying on the hood of Rage. He was completly out of it. He was more outta it then a black bear when hibernating.

“What the heck happened to him, “I ask once Hilery sees me.

“If ya look in that box next to Rage you’ll find out.”

I quickly walk over to the box and look in to find it filled with atleast a whole six pack of beer bottles. Shaking my head I hurry up and grab Wheeler and take him back inside with me. I do not like being out here at night because I don’t trust the stillness of it or the quiet. Someone could easily sneak up on you; a lot easier then it would be in Hazzard because here there is mostly blacktop and nowhere to really hide, while at home it is mostly dirt and gravel with plenty of woods to hide in.

***DAISY DUKE ***

I am sitting on the couch in the living room wondering why Bo ran out of the appartment so fast. What happened to make him move so fast? Is everything ok? I silently go back to reading after pushing those thoughts to the back of my mind as Bo walks in with Wheeler slung over his shoulder like a sack of patatoes and Hilery not far behind. I quickly move off the sofa so my cousin can put the poor guy down. Before I can ask what happened I see the contense box Hilery was carrying and the strong smell of alcohole I reconise so well from working in the Boars Nest during the earlier days of my adult hood.

***SODAPOP CURTIS ***

I look up from my game of checkers and talking about cars with my new friend, Bryer, to see Bo carry Wheeler in. I should have know that would happen. I should have warned them his nerves were probrably shot becaue of what has been happening.
***WHEELER DUKE***

My head hurt and I felt like I couldn’t move, my stiches felt like thorns in my face. I was layin on the livin’ room couch I knew for I reconised the celling and its color. It was early in the morning and the sun was shinng brightly, it was bright for my eyes and I scuinted to see my surroundings.

Sure enough I was in Hilery’s livin’ room on the couch that I had slept on so many times in the past month, that month me and Hilery and I had grown closer in that month. I forced my body to let me sit up, know one was around that I could see and I wished Hilery would come. “Hilery…Hilery…” I weakly and quietly called in almost a whisper.

I layed back down and closed my eyes, the swet continued to run down my face and bare chest it had to be more then 90 degrees in the livin room and I needed a glass of water. So I rolled off the couch and onto my feet, stagered a little then walked to the kitchen.
*** DARRY CURTIS ***

“I can’t believe my brothers are doing this to us!” I yell at the top of my lungs at the rest of the greasers. “We have to do something about this. I haven’t even heard from them sence they called and said they were on his side and that was after they took off when we were talkin about teaching that traiter, Wheeler Duke a lesson!” By now I am stomping across the room. I am filled with greif and worry for my brothers. They are all the family I have left. Two Bit wants to teach them a lesson along with the other greaser gangs. Bryon and Mark are in that catagory too. They left with Pony and Soda. All I want is my brothers home with us and Mark and Bryon at home where they are safe. ‘Sides their mom is starting to get worried.

***CHARLIE ***

“I can’t believe my sister is doing this to me!” I say to Randy. “My own sister; why. She still thinks my heaters busted. She didn’t even know I played that little game with her to keep a close eye on her.”

“Well uh, Charlie, uh, don’t know how to say this but women aren’t like us guys. They don’t go picking fights much. She probrably did what she did to get away from you finally.”

“No, Randy. She’s letting that greaser stay with her. She also has friends and family up.”

“Yeah and they are nuthing but a bunch of hicks any way.”

“True, but Hilery has told me all about that backwater town and from what I hear it’s as bad as here in some ways.”

“What do we do man?”

“Easy Randy, we get some of our guys together and beat them all half the death” i say with a smile teasing my lips.

***TWO BIT ***

I sit worried. I thought of Sodapop and Ponyboy like they were my brothers. What is that traitor doing to them? I don’t trust him one bit, or for that matter anyone who is related to a soc, in love with one, or is one.

***PONYBOY CURTIS ***

“So Bryer, Chet, what’s it like in Hazzard?” I ask that afternoon. We were outside so not ot disterb Wheeler who was still asleep.It had been a whole month sence my brother and I left home to help the Dukes and the Davenports. Over this month I have realized something very comforting yet troubling. Hilery was only a soc because her mother re-married after her father died. She was born in Hazzard and spent most of her childhood there. She was born as poor as us greasers and raised with something we weren’t; The safty and security of a close knitt and caring society. Yes there were dangerous times in Hazzard that helped her adjust to living here and protecting herself. She is a true greaser at heart.

I was amazed at what Chet and Bryer were tellin me along with what Wyett and Jessie were saying too. They had joined the conversation when I asked my first question.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I am looking at my face in the vanity merror in my bedroom. I am trying to put my hair up in a pony tail to try and keep cool. Suddenly I hear a soft wisper, it is just a figment of my imagination. Wheeler got drunk again last night so I don’t think he would be up yet. I know it couldn’t be Cooter or the other Dukes because they were outside playing with there toys, or a cars, I am going to go out and join them in a few minutes. Then out of no where I hear a loud bang. It was a glass shattering. I run out to find that Wheeler is gone from the couch. I hurry to the kitchen finding him cleaning up the glass from the floor. He looks up really fast and startles me.

“Hi, uh sorry about the glass. And don’t sneek up on me like that, I could have cut myself. Lucky for you I seen your reflection on the window as you walked in.” He says then his face spreads into his sweet, lovely, attractive smile I adore so much.

“Here,” I tell him handing him a glass filled with water. “I don’t need you breaking another glass.”

I smile then we go outside to join the others and race them in our cars.

* ~BALLADEER~*

“Alright heres the plan!” Wheeler said stadin outside with all the Dukes and Davenports and the other greasers. “Listen theres gonna be other greasers there who are gonna wanna have at me and who are gonna wanna kill me because I betrayed them. Theres also gonna be Socs there and I can tell you all of them exspecialy Charlie is gonna wanna peice of me and us!” Wheeler said loudly makin everything strait as an arrow. They all looked at him, they didn’t look tought to Wheeler like the greasers but he knew they were as tough or tougher then him, Hilery stood next to him, his black shirt with Rage writtin acrossed the back shown clearly by the light from the street lamp they were standin under. “Everyone becarful.” Wheeler finsihed by sayin quietly. The he turned to Hilery and got down on one knee just before they were goin to leave for the lot. “Hilery Ann Davenport will you marry me…”

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I watch as Wheeler neels before me. I wonder what this is all about. All of the sudden he says the words I’ve waited to hear for so long….. Will you marry me. The next thing I know I am very dizzy. Then I see blackness.

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

I hurry up and catch my cousin as she falls backwards. I knew Wheeler loved her, just not this much.

***BO DUKE ***

I can’t beleive he just did that. I just can’t. Yeah I admit he loves her and he loves him but, he should have waited till this was all taken care of.

***CHET DUKE ***

“WOW” is all I can say. Wheeler is one lucky guy. Wish I was in his place. Hilery and Jesse are the two most beautiful gals to come outta Hazzard in this generation.

***WAYTTE STRAIT ***

All I can do is smile. Poor Hilery, she musta been really suprised by that one.

***LUKE DUKE ***

“Hey Cooter is she Ok?” I yell.

“Yeah, she just got the suprise of her life that’s all” he says with a grin. We were all proud.

***DAISY DUKE ***

I run inside and get a bucket of water. All I can find is a pot so I grab that and fill it with water. When I get back I see Hilery is still uncauntious so I tell everyone to stand back.

***BRYON ***

I am totally shocked. So shocked I can’t move.

***MARK ***

All I can do is smile. Wheeler is soo lucky. Over this past month I developed a crush on his girl.

***SODAPOP CURTIS ***

I can’t believe it, Wheeler has never had a soft spot in his heart for anyone or anything ‘ceptin Rage.

***PONYBOY CURTIS ***

Hmm something new to write about. Write. The last time I wrote something was after Johnny died and Dally got shot and also died. I begin to tear up with tears of sadness and joy. The sadness for Dally and my best friend Johnny; the happy for Wheeler and his hopfully future bride.

***JESSIE DUKE (LUKES DAUGHTER NOT UNCLE JESSE) ***

I hurry up and stand back still shocked. He should have waited. I think it was the time of when he asked was what cause my best friend to faint.

When the water hits Hilery I see her shoot straight up. She shakes her head trying to get her bearings back and all I can do is giggle.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I can’t believe it. The love of my life just asked me to marry him. This has so far been the best day of my life.

“Yes,” I yell and reach up to kiss him after askin what happened. “I will marry you Wyman Sutton Duke,” I tell him after I finish kissing him.

***BRYER DUKE ***

I suddenly let out a loud whoop and congradulate them.

***JESSIE DUKE ***

I know there is more reason to how much she loves him and said yes then everyone knows. Hilery told me something very shockin yesterday. Wheeler was gonna be a daddy.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

The first thing that comes to my mind after I said yes was the baby. Suddenly I begin to shake. What if I get hurt tonight, what if the baby gets hurt in the fight? If I am gonna fight then I will have to be careful and fight only other girl socs.

“Ok yall,” Wheeler yells, “Lets get going and teach these people a lesson!”

Suddenly we all yell “YEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAW and take off for our cars. I run for Jumper and slide across the roof, then jump in the window. I watch as Bo and Luke jump into the General Lee and Bryer ran for Moon Light.

I look the other way and see Chet get into General Lee’s Ghost while Wayett got into Blue Coat. Bryon and Mark get into their car too with Pony and Soda in tow. Jessie though stopped at Jumper before gettng onto Tarty.

“Be careful, Please!” she said to me. I smiled knowing she was good at keeping promisses. I wonder how much longer I can keep this a secret from Wheeler?

Jessie hurries up and gets on Tarty while I reve the engine.

Wheeler was already in Rage and was ready to take us all to the lot.

“Countrygirl this is Rage, what in the heck was that all about? Why did Jessie stop at Jumper like that?”

“I’ll tell you later and just for future reference Bo and Luke are Lost Sheep; Luke is #1 and Bo is #2, Wayett goes by Blue Coat, Bryer by Moon Light, Chet goes by Ghost, and Jessie goes by Tarty.”

“10-4 honey, and I really really love you and be careful,” he told me before everyone reved their engine one by one. Then all of a sudden Wheeler squeels off toward the lot with everyone following.

This was it. The big rumble. The final rumble.

Suddenly someone flies out of nowhere and starts chasing us. It was a gang of socs… and Charlie was their leader.

“This is Countrygirl, listen lets keep going and lead them on a chase and then take them to the lot cause I wanna have some fun!” I say into my cb mike.

*** CHET DUKE***

We followed the black Rage, my family and I were being chased by the Socs and a few other guys I was told. Ghost kept up with completely know trouble at all, and we lead those Socs all over town with Wheeler and Rage in the lead.

***LUKE DUKE ***

Wheeler sure was a Duke, Bo was drivin and we were following behind Ghost and even throught the dark of the night I could see the driving skills of Wheeler. Bo was havin’ the time of his life, it wasn’t often that all the roads we drove on were black-top or concret and we were havin fun screachin the tires.

***BO DUKE ***

For the first time in a very long time it was a chanllenge drivin the General Lee, not that it was too easy driven back home in Hazzard but this was just plain fun and I planed on takin full advantage of it even at my age.

***WHEELER DUKE ***

I kept my eyes on Jumper the car my girl was in, I was more worried about her then I have ever been in my hole life. There was somethin’ different about her and her attitude tonight I noticed and I cant pin point what it is. O’ well I will ask her later, no worries anyway Charlie wasn’t gaining on us we were way too fast for there taste. We flew around every turn I musta been pushin 90mph. Rage was really eatin up the road, he always had anyway. Still after tryin to push my worry outta my mind I think about Hilery.

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I am bringing up the rear of the convoiy makin sure no one got lost or seperated. I look in my merrors to see my brother hanging back there. He was mearly following us. Not trying to stop us or anything. Suddenly I get a wicked idea and pick up the cb mike.

“This is Country Girl callin Rage, comeback.”

“This is Rage darlin, whats on ya mind?”

“Lets switch places in order. I got an idea.”

“K” at that I start to speed up and Wheeler slows down. When we are in our new positions I turn a corner. then another. Then another. After about 5 more corners I once again pick up my cb mike.

“Hey those of you who wanna see a car chase or car race at the Ribbon get off the road and into the parking lot!”

***BO DUKE ***

I drive the General Lee and see Hilery and Wheeler change places. I had heard the transmition on the cb but didn’t understand it. What is that girl thinking?

“Hey Luke, what do you think shes doing?” I ask after the second transmition.

“Sounds like shes gonna lead us through the Ribbon we have heard so much about. Just hope everyone heard her.”

***JESSIE DUKE ***

I ride my bike which is now closly following Hilery instead of directly in front of her. I am silently praying for her safty.

***BRYON ***

I see the Ribbon come into view and to my suprise the road is clear. That is one smart girl.

***MARK ***

Now that girl has resorces. This is gonna be fun.

***SODAPOP CURTIS ***

I love racing and this is gonna be so fun, I think to myself with a silly grin on my face.

***PONYBOY CURTIS***

I had never been part of a race so this aughto be fun and exiting. Yet another new thing for me to write about.

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

“Hilery what in the hey are you doing girl?” I say into the cb. I worry for her safty all the time. But now more then ever now that I have noticed her mood swings and actions lately.

“Cooter just relax sugar, ok?”

I reluctantly say ok then go back to racing.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

“Okay y’all lets race!” I yell into my mike with pride. I instantly take first. The cars are all commin in at a great speed. We are all just about neck neck, with my brother bringing up the rear by far with his gang.

Soon one of the cars following us flips over. It was one of Charlies frinds. Man I wish it had been Randy but it was’t.

* ~BALLADEER~*

Rage was as fast of a car as any could possible go, he ate up the road with very length of the Ribbon. Two of Charlie’s friends had smashed there cars up and were pullin’ them selves outta there trashed rubble of metal. Rage, General Lee, and the rest of the cars continued on down the road, Charlie and the rest of his gang, which was still many followed as close as there cars could keep up.

They didn’t stand a chance! “Country Girl callin Rage come on babe.” Hilery called over the cb in her car. “I’m here hun! Whats our next move, your my brains.” Wheeler said thinking to himself, and my heart, the heart I never knew I had. “We should head over to the lot and end this once and for all!” Hilery said with her voice strong yet beautiful in Wheelers mind. “10-4 on the lot!” Wheeler said and turned Rage around the corner headin in the direction of the lot. Everyone else had herd the transmission and follow Rage to the battle grounds, what would come next know one was prepared for.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I am more nervous than ever. I slowly place a hand on my abdomen and reminded myself to be carful, not for my sake but the baby’s.

We wind around corners like this was one of the races of Hazzard. Flyin without a care in the world. The only difference between this and a race was everyone was maintaining positions. I am once again in back but am starting to get worried. My brother was catching up. Suddenly the lot comes into view, I know we will be stopping and I will be safe among family and friends from male abuse.

***DARRY CURTIS ***

(Earlier that day)

I had been doing research on this Hilery chick and to my suprise, she was nowhere near an actual soc. She only became one because her mother married that idiot Charlie’s father. Apon further looking i also found out more about her. She was from a small farming community and was born as poor as a church mouse.

I had walked into the room after finishing my search on the net only to find what was left of my gang, Two Bit sitting on the couch. I crossed the room to tell him what I found.

“No wonder he loved her. She is just like any of us at heart for the most part, we should tell the other greasers.”

As if on cue the other greaser gangs arrived. After we were all acounted for I told them what I had told Two Bit.

“I say we help them and except her!” shouted someone on the other side of the room. It was Curly Shepard. Along with that came other loud shouts saying the same thing.”

(Currently)

We are all standing at the lot having heard the transmittions over the cb comming from the Ribbon. We was gonna have us a Rumble.

***PONYBOY CURTIS***

I get out of the car I was riding and scan the crowd. Slowly my brother comes toward me.

“Forget even trying to turn me against them Darry” I say.

“It’s okay little brother” he says and hugs me. “We are here to help you guys. I did some research and we have all decided to accept Hilery as a greaser.”

I suddenly let out a loud whoop of joy. Then heard more engines in the distance…. The Socs.

***BO DUKE ***

I watch as a huge group of cars pull up to the curb. Many of the people riding in them were in madres jackets. I feel the adrenalen start to race through my system anticipating the fight.

***CHET DUKE***

I watch quietly beside my father. I could see how he was feeling and I felt the same way. Those folks must be the dreded socs i’ve heard so much about.

***JESSIE DUKE***

I stand helplesly feeling intense fear for my best friend and her unborn child. I have a bad feeling about tonight.

***WAYETT STRAIT ***

I can’t believe how many people are here. I tense ready for battle.

***BRYER DUKE ***

This is gonna be fun I say to myself.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I stand there waiting to see who will throw the first punch. Suddenly it is thrown. Thrown by my brother, at Wheeler. Suddenly someone comes running at me. It was his girl friend. She hits me across the face with an open hand. How stupid i think to myself as I kick her across the face in the forehead. She tries to knock me down but I dodge her and knock her on her backside. Steadily she stands up looking at me like I was crazy, I was laughing at her pathetic attempts. She comes at me again aiming to pull my hair. I pull back my fist as she comes at me only to have her face come in hard contact with my fist. By now I had a lot of andreneline puming throughout my body. I again punched the witch across the face, bloodying her lips. Then I through my other hand into her cheek, my right ripping her cheek. She was gonna need stiches now. Every few seconds I glance at my future husband, he now also has Randy to worry about. But for now he is doing ok.

I swifty bring my fist up into the bimbo’s chest, knocking the wind outta her. While she is bent over I grab her head and slam it into my knee. Then I go off and do the same thing to the other soc girls who are as pathetic as that one.

***BO DUKE ***

I am in midst a fight with a young guy, about half my age. I am whooping his butt. I fight like I always have. One punch to the face and another to the gut. Then another to the face with an elbo to the person who tries to grab me from behind. Bloodying a face with my knuckles, getting the wind knocked out of me, oh how I have missed this.

***DAISY DUKE***

I stand fighting side by side with Jessie and my son, Wayett. I pick up an old coke bottle and hit the chick I am fighting over the head, she becomes uncauntious immediatley. Then I move to help my cousins daughter.

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

I use my smarts I got from living in Hazzard and helpin the Duke boys get outta trouble with the law. One punch to the jaw, another to the shin of my opponent. I get hit across the face with a set of brass knuckles. Then I throw the guy into the person Jessie was fighting.

***PONYBOY CURTIS ***

I knock a soc onto the ground then get shoved so I trip over him. Suddenly I get a kick in the stomach. I am pinned. Just then someone jumps on his back and then they go down. It was Hilery. Soon I was up again and took over once more.

***MARK***

Oh how I love to fight! My oponent is so pathetic. He doesn’t even think, just moves to hit. I am really enjoyin toyin with him.

***SODAPOP CURTIS ***

I look over and the Duke ladies helpin each other. I wish they were closer to my age cause they can fight. I then turn back to my fight to recieve an uppercut. I fling in defence and the guy dodges me.

***WAYETT STRAIT ***

I stand giving it every thing I got. It’s already gotten to I will need stiches but I don’t care. This is fun. I am kickin’ butt. I am up against 3 socs and beatin all of them. That is untill twoof them run away then comes back and grabs my arms from behind.

***LUKE DUKE***

I see Wayett get pinned and I hurry up and knock my guy down, then run over to give him some help. He is gettin clobbered. I try not to use my military training so not to really hurt anyone but it is useless, but I use it without even realizing it.

***BRYON***

I go up to my brother and we start to fight side by side. There are many more socs then there are greasers and hicks. But hey we have always loved a good fight, that is Mark and I. We use the same moves, moving swiftly.

***ENOS STRAIT***

I arrive after my wifes call for help to see the fight in progress after I arrive from my trip here from Hazzard.

“Possum on a gumbush” I say in amazement.

***ROSCO P. COLTRAIN***

This is one fight I am not gonna stop unless the Dukes or the people who they have told me about and sent photos of get into trouble. Or if a gun gets drawn. As I stand there thinkin and doin my shocked act I look to Enos who has an expresion on his face saying the same thing.

***CLETUS HOGG***

All I can say as I watch is “Buzzers on a buzz saw.”

***DARRY CURTIS ***

I am giving this all I got. I had looked over at my brother, Ponyboy to see what Hilery did for him. Man am I glad I did that research and decided to be on her side.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT***

I am kicking 2 butts at once. These are girls I know know me. They should also know better then to go up against me, so sad. I look over to see Wheeler fighting with some new fellas with my brother and his best frind standing around watchin in shock at how good we all could kick the socs tails.

***WHEELER DUKE POV***

“POW” I punch Randy’s friend in the gut and throw him to the ground as Charlie punches me in the ribs and tackels me to the ground. Glimsping over at Hilery as I hit the ground, she is kickin but like know other girl could. Thats cause she’s my girl, and there is know other I will ever beable to love. “Clunck!” I get punched in the face right were my stiches had been and the cut brecks back open and blood begins runin thickly down my face, and I threaten to black out but fight it away and punch Charlie in the nose. His nose brecks and blood runs down his face from both nostrols and he stubles away holdin his nose. Randy trys to hit me in the face but I hit him hard before he can and he stumbels away and I fall to my knees in fatigue and whip the blood from my chin.

I look down at the blood on my shirt and for the first time my life flashes in front of my eyes, I now realolised I had somethin to live for and that if somethin’ happened to me it would kill that girl. Gettin to my feet I fought anyone of any size close enough to me to hit them, they wouldn’t ever hurt any of my family or friends again, specialy Hilery. My knuckels were bleedin from hitin them so hard but I didn’t care I kept on goin, and would until I took my last breath like my father or until it was over.

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

That Wheeler was taken everyone he could get in his grasp, he swung by me and about broke the guy I was scufflin with in half, the guy never knew what hit him. I backed up and away as Wheeler beat the day lights out of a guy that was atleast four times hos size, looked as if he had gotten hurt after he got punched in the chest a few times. There was blood runin down his face in a large amount and his eyes blazed with rage and he was like in a trans of beatin the hell outta the Socs. I could tell clearly that he was fightin for Hilery and I knew by that Duke look that love had gotten a hold of him and he wasn’t gonna stop fightin for her until he took his last breath in life. Wether it was here and now or later on when he is older and has calmed a little, though I doubt he will ever truely settle he will calm alittle for her sake. Hilery met the world to him and nothin was stopin him from havin her right beside him even after he died.

*** BO DUKE ***

I look to my right to see Wheeler’s anger starting to explode. He is really kicking butt. A left cross then a right. Then an elbo. I look back to my oponent and finished kicking his tail end. I look over toward the road to see a group of police officers, Rosco, Enos, and Cletus among them. They must have heard the cb transmittions. I wonder why they aren’t the doing anything cept watching?

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I beat the crud out of my last female oponent. I gave her a left and a right, riped her cheek open with my ring like i did my first victim of the fight. Suddenly she starts running away only for the Hazzard sheriffs dep to catch her before she could get away. I run over to Jumper and grab an old metal baseball bat I kept with me in the backseat of my car. After I pick it up I hurry over to Wheeler and hit my brother across the back with it. After about two strikes he turns to face me with a dirty look on his face.

“Pathetic little Hilery wanta get her posterior beat again?” he says to me in a cold, cruel voice. I want to cowar at the meaness in it. But instead I stand strong and face him.

“Charlie I can’t believe you. I am sick of your abuse, your stupid jokes, you trying to run my life, and the way you make fun of my family, I hate you but I will give you a choice. Either you can go over to the law over there or you can get the crap beat out of you.” After I finish telling him his options he shakes his head no laughing. Wheeler suddenly hits him. While my brothers attention is diveted I look over to see how the other greasers are doing. Mark and Bryon are finishin off the socs they are fighting, the Duke twins (Bryer and Chet) doing the same with their father, Bo lookin very proud of his boys while finishing off his soc. Luke was over by his little girl, Jessie, helping her because now she was up against two guys and one was holdin her while the other punched. I flinch when Luke grabs the guy punching her and knocks him into the middle of next week. While Luke is doing this Jessie frees herself from the soc which is holding her by driving her high heeled boot into his foot then hitting him hard in the chest with an elbo.

I look the other way to see Wayett and his mother also fighting with some guys. Daisy seems to be havin some fun. Her son preventing more then one soc guy from comming at her at once. I also see Soda, Darry, and Pony helpin each other too. I advert my eyes to the street and notice the greaser who owns the local bar, who is also known as Charlie, knocking a rather large soc to the ground. Then letting him get up and then chasing him over toward the law. Aparently the soc thought goin to the law would help… but it didn’t cause I ran over and told Rosco, Enos, and Cletus that the greaser who chased him over was an allie.

I turn to see the fight had been narrowed down to three people: Charlie, Randy, and Wheeler. Well it was untill my cousin and I ran over and jumped on Randy. When we got up he was uncauntous. While my brother and my future husband continue to fight, the greasers, my cousin, my friends, and I round up the socs we beat and took them to the police who were gonna take them all down to the Tulsa PD (who had apperently been told of the situation and who was the good guys and whatnot by the Hazzard Police. Poor guys,I thought they were gonna run out of sets of handcuffs. But they for once came prepared. After we had them rounded up I turn and run over to where I had dropped my bat, then hit my brother in the back of the head. All he did was turned.

He started to run over to the fence but Bo grabbed him along with the twins. Charlie however got out of their grip and ran the other way, to the street. Before one of the officers could grab him, he pulled out a gun and fired. All I heard was the bang as I seen my love calapse to the ground, then I fainted.

***WHEELER DUKE***

My knees gave out on me and I look down at the left hand side of my chest, my mind was blank and I just staired at the think and large amount of blood on my hands and shirt. Flames of hot pain went up and down the my hole left side, it was more pain then I had ever thought possible. The concret was hard on my knees but I barley noticed, my gut muscls and my hole chest felt like a shock and waves of pain, a kind of pain that I had never felt before waved through my body like an ocean tied. Charlie stood about 210 feet away grinning angerly he looked like a devil from hell its self, he stood there as if waitin’ for somethin. I leaned down and braced my self with one hand, my back had become weak by the intence pain and burning heat that came into my chest. I now staired at the black concret, my head swirled and began feelin oozy and unreal.

In seconds I was layin on my back and being held tightly under my arms, it was Hilery, I looked up into her eyes for gettin’ about the pain in my chest. Somethin caught in my throat and mad me gag for a few seconds, I layed in her lap. She had one arm on my head and one under my right arm and acrossed my chest.

*~BALLADEER~*

Hilery ripped and pulled and tuged and fought until she got Wheelers shirt off, only seconds had passed really, but it felt like hours. She pulled Wheeler up into her lap better and closer to herself. The hole time he gasped for air and looked at her, his exspression was tight and grimce. Blood soon covered Wheelers hole abdomen, a layer of thick blood ran on up the side of his chest and just below his muscler brest line. Wheelers shirt was used as a pressure rag for a few minutes until it became too wet with blood to matter and was tossed outta the way. Hiley put her hand under Wheeler and on his back directly on the oposite side of the wound and found that he was bleedin on the other side as well, the bullet had gone all the way through and might not have missed his heart.

***BALLADEER ***

Everyone watches in horror as Wheeler lies there, bleeding. The Tulsa PD had arrested Charlie as soon as he fired the gun. Rosco had called for help over the CB during all this.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I sit there holding my Wheeler and crying. I felt more helpless then ever. The father of my unborn child dying in my arms. As we sat there I mad a promis to myself to have Charlie put away for the rest of his life.

“Hilery,” I hear a weak voice say, “promis me that no matter what happens you will go to Hazzard and stay there were you can be protected from harm.”

“Wheeler I promis but please don’t leave me. You are makin me feel how you felt that night in that ally way when you lost your daddy. Dangett Wheeler you can’t go. You can’t leave me! Wheeler ya are gonna be a papa. How woulda child feel without they papa?” I say histerically as he passes out.

***COOTER DAVENPORT***

I stand there in shock as i let what my cuz said sink in. She was gonna be a mama. I’ll be danged. That Wheeler is got more Duke in him than he thinks cause Bo and Luke went after girls in the same and the new Duke boys do it now too.

***DAISY DUKE ***

Oh boy, these two families ae gonna have a few little ones in them again. I can’t wait. I hope Wheeler makes it. That child doesn’t need to know what it is like to not have one or both parents like most of my generation did.

***JESSIE DUKE ***

I run up to my best friend and sit next to her. I tried to cumfort her the best I could. I was worried about her and Wheeler, not to mention the child cause of the fight.

***CHARLIE***

Dangett i think, I should have aimed at her and then that Duke boy before i ran to the street. Then there would be no child, no pain in the neck sister, no Wheeler Duke to worry about.

***MARK ***

This is no place for kids any more. I don’t even think it would be wise for either of them to stay. In fact i don’t even want to stay after all this.

***BRYON ***

I can see what my bro is thinkin and I feel the same way.

***DARRY CURTIS***

I have come to a rather important decision I hope my brothers will not try and disown me for- as soon as all this is sorted out we are going to Hazzard. The one they call Chet told me what it was like there and I think I would do anything to keep my family safe.

***PONYBOY CURTIS ***

I can’t stand it anymore, why is it each time I get a close friend something like this happens. I hope Darry takes Soda and me to Hazzard so I won’t have to go through this again. I also wanna see that baby grow up too.

***SODAPOP CURTIS ***

All I want is to get out of here. I don’t want to live here anymore. Its not safe as it once was. The fighting is gettin to be too much. I want to live in a different place. That is what I wanted when Johnny and Dally died but Darry said there was no place he could think of that we could go.

***BALLADEER***

Now if your wondering why everyone pritty much seems to be thinkin the same thing its because of Wheeler. They are all very worried about him. The Duke family was all crying because they had just found the long lost Duke boy only now they were losin him not even 1 and a half months later.

***THIRD PERSON PERSPECTIVE***
We hear sirens in the distance now. It has been five minutes since Wheeler lost cauntousness. The ambulance arives after a few more seconds and the workers pull Hilery away from Wheeler. Everyone is asked who is the guys closest relitive alive but no one moves, the Dukes mention he is a relitive but a distant one but also mention Hilery may need medical attention cause she was carryin his child and was in the fight.

“I am also Wheelers feancee,” she finally said after finding her voice. At that everyone was off to the hospital.

***ABOUT 2 HOURS LATER AT THE HOSPITAL****

*~BALLADEER~*

The Duke family and Davenports were all waitin in the waiting room of the large hospital in Tulsa, they all were waitin for the doctors news on Wheelers condition. He was in critical and had been for the past 2 hours. Finially the docter that had taken Wheeler into his care came into the waiting room, the exspression on his face was very unexplainable. Alot like “wow” and his eyes were wide open and he was shakin his head as he came up to the family. “Who is his closed relitive here?” The docter asked calmly. Cooter pushed Hilery forward and she followed the docter into his office, they sat down and began to explain.

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I silently follow the docter into his office. I can not make out if the news he is going to tell me is good or bad. I admit to myself and only myself that I am scarder than I have ever been in my life.

“First let me start by askin how close of a relitive you are to Sutton Duke.”

“He is my feancee” I say, my voice weak. “He is also the father of my unborn baby.”

“Oh yes, I heard something about there was a young lady who had been in that fight that was carrying a child. Hmmm how is the child anyway?”

“They are fine. Just found out it’s gonna be twins.”

“Well I hope Mr. Duke lives. We need to do an immediate surgery. One of the bullets hit one of his arteries but barely missed his heart.”

“Ok, please just don’t let him give up.” I say, in tears once more.

“You may go in to see him for a few minutes before the sugery if you would like. He is awake, but as soon as you leave he will be put under anastesia.”

“Ok, thank you doctor.”

***WHEELER DUKE***

Were am I? I asked my self calmly, my hole body was numb and I couldn’t barely see yet, my eyes hadn’t adjusted. There was tubes in my nose and a huge one down my throat, it came outta the side of my mouth and was taped all the way down my neck, then from there I couldn’t feel it. Breathin was so difficult I had to think about it and try, usually and naturally a person didnt have to think about breathin, but I had to think about it every time. When I took a breath the only thing I felt was a huge and very, very painful stab in the side and I felt so, so weak. I couldn’t lift my head though I tried more then once, it resulted in more and more pain and I reverted to layin my head backon the pillow and stairin up at the cielin, until very soft and genetal hands grasped my left hand very gentaly. “wheeler…” It was Hilerys light and sofr voice, I slowly turned my head and looked at her, her face was red and she held my one hand with both of her hands. Sittin in the chair next to the bed I was layin in she layed her head on the side of my bed, though at times I wasn’t sure she was even there. I felt weak and a little dizzy like and fainty, my body felt so heavy.

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT***

“Wheeler,” I say as I sit down, “how are you feelin honey?”

“Not too good, what happened?”

“Wheeler, please don’t go to those pearly gates anytime soon, please!” I sob aloud. I move my hands momentarally from my face to look into his eyes. He was clearly confused.

“What does that mean?” He askes, it sounds like he is in much pain.

“Wheeler, you were shot back at the lot, don’t you remember anything?”

* ~BALLADEER~*

Wheeler breathed heavely and seemed to be stairin off into the distance even after Hilery had talked to him and he had answered clearly, he just didnt seem to be in this world. He finially said “I remember being shot, I think.” He said wincing at the pain caused by tryin to talk, he even gave a heavy groan and put his right hand over his chest where his wound was. It was coverd with alot of tape and cloth.

***WHEELER DUKE ***

The pain was so awefull and was gettin worse with every more breath I took, whatever medicain I was on or pain killer was wearin off and the flames of pain were returnin. Hilery was so beautiful and I held her hand tightly, she said somethin to me again and I couldn’t answer the pain was too great to breath. She continued to talk to me and tears came to my eyes, all my muscles tightend and I yelled out and swinted my eyes shut tight as more flames of pain went through my chest. How much longer could I take this, then my weakness over took me and I breathed hard and layed back heavely in the bed. Hilery still sat holdin my hand and I looked at her, though my eyes were blurrin on me on and off, somethin told me that I better hold on tight for I might not ever get the chance to again.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I lay there crying against Wheeler. I don’t even think he even heard what I just said. I could tell he was in pain. I yell for the docter to give him some more medicine for the pain. He holds me close and I repeat what I had said.

“Wheeler don’t you remember what I said to you after you were shot? Come on Wheeler please! Don’t go! Wheeler! You are gonna make, you have to! For more then just me.” I say the last part quietly, sobbing. The doctor comes in and gives him more of the pain killers and gives him a shot of anestesia too.

“Time is almost up Miss. We really need to get him into surgery. 2 more minutes.” I hear the doctor tell me before going back into the hall.

After the nurse leaves I quietly say,” Wheeler the other people you need to live for are Darry and his brothers cause they are gonna be moving to Hazzard, you have to live for Mark and Bryon because they are trying to talk their mother into living there too. And what about Bo, Luke, Daisy, Cooter, Chet, Bryer, Wayett, and Jessie? Wheeler there is one more reason you need to live, well actually two. I told you of them out in the street, Wheeler you are gonna be a papa.”I say but I can tell he is driftin in and out of sleep so what I said probrably didn’t register.

* ~BALLADEER~*

Wheeler was slipin into sleep, a pain filled sleep, he would lay back and relax slowly and close his eyes for a min the wake up again. Hilery could only stay with him for very few more mins, she also knew that he was in terrible condition and had very little chance of survivin the surgery. Continuing to cry Hikery held his hand tightly and was soon led outta the room by a nurse and as she was led away Wheeler fell into a deep sleep from the shot of anesea he had been given a few mins before.

* **DAISY DUKE ***

I look up from my magazine to see poor Hilery led back into the living room. I immediatley get up and pull her into a hug.

“Hey sugar, how’s he doing,” I ask while letting her cry on my shoulder.

“He ain’ta doin so good Daisy.” I hear her say, her voice muffled with tears.

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

I watch as Daisy leads my lil cousin over to a chair next to me and they both sit down so Hilery is sandwiched between us. I gently take her into my arms. As I do so she is hit with another barage of tears. I hold her trying to get her to calm down. It hurts me to see this poor girl upset.

“Hilery, if you want we can have Wheeler transported over to the Tricounty hospital over in Hazzard after his surgery.” Luke says, breaking the silence.

“Yeah, we could girl. I mean it would make the most sence. Everyone is going to Hazzard with us when we go back. So we should take Wheeler and let him recover there. Only you would have to do the paper work to do so, but we could if you don’t feel up to it.” Bo adds.

I look up to the older generation Duke boys to see that they were also hurting along with everyone else that was with us. I could also tell they were tryin very hard no to say if.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I lift my head up off my second cousins shoulder to look at my friends. They were right and I appreciated the solice they were providing.

“Thank ya fellas,” I finally say after staring at them for a very long time. “But I just don’t feel right moving Wheeler just yet. Maybe after he wakes up and recovers all.”

“It’s ok girl, shh its ok.” I hear my cousins strong yet sadened voice tell me when I start to cry again.

“Our mama’s sick too Hilery, we could stay here with our mama whos also here in the hospital, then when Wheeler and our mama is better we could take him down to Hazzard.” I hear Bryon tell me.

“Thank you”

8 HOURS LATER

***BALLADEER***

Everyone looks up as Wheelers doctor comes into the waiting room and calls the name Duke. We watch as Hilery gets up and walks over to the doctor and follows him back into his office.

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT***

“Ma’am, I am afraid Mr. Duke has slipped into a comma. There is a chance he will not wake up. I will call you every time his condition changes.”

“Thank you doc but could you call me on my cell phone, here is the number,” I say as I write somethin down on a postit note.

“Ok, I will put that in with Mr. Dukes file, thank you.”

“Your welcome. I will soon be leaving Tulsa due to my feancee’s request so the cellular phone will be the only way to get a hold of me.”

“All right.”

1 YEAR LATER

***COOTER DAVENPORT***

I watch with amusement as my little cousin plays with her children. Little Martha (who she named after the late Jesse Dukes wife) and little wheeler jr were sittin in thier little high chairs as their mother made faces at them which caused plenty of laughter. The kids sat there in those chairs giggling. Shame they don’t know thier father. How sad.

***LATER THAT DAY ***

***HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I sit in the swing on the front porch. Cooter was lettin me stay with him till I could find a place of my own, but I don’t think he wants me to go.

I get up and walk over to Jumper who is parked next to Rage, which I had brought along for safe keeping when I get a strange feeling I am being watched.

***WHEELER DUKE***

I had been outta bed for almost a week, gettin my strength back and workin hard for the day that I would get to see Hilery again. It was a long trip from Tulsa to Hazzard, and the plane took its tole on me, very tiring and the seats were small and I was cramped. I stayed at a motel in Mississippi so that the plain trip was broke up into two flights. When I walked I limped alitle, the docter said I would for a little while because of the damage to my ribs and lungs, other then that I was ok. A few other things still ached but that could be exspected, I had slept for almost a year and two months, I woke up from my coma barely knowing where I was. Hilery had moved to Hazzard and didn’t know that I had finally come outta my coma, she talked to the docter everyday and he just said that there was know changes. This was a suprise that Cooter and I set up, I was awake and going to Hazzard, Hilery didn’t even know that I was awake.

The lay over in Missippi felt good and I almost over slept and missed my flight. I was traveling by me self, the docter said I should take someone with me but ya’ know why listen to them I can handle myself. The plain landed in Alanta and I took a cab from there to the end of the Dukes drive way, it was late in the afternoon and the sun was just goin down. Me I traveled light with only an old school book bag over my sholder, I walked up the long driveway with a small limp, it really didn’t hurt alot but enough to groan and limp at ocasionally. God how I couldn’t wait to see her again, then as I turned the corner there she was with her back to me she was leaning on Jumper and watchin the sun. I stood and watched her for a few minutes, she walked over and sat down on my car Rage still facing the sun. She rubbed her hands on the shinny black and orange paint, tears came to my eyes and I slowly walk-limped quietly up behind her on the other side of Rage’s wide hood. I set my bag on the ground without a sound and silently climbed up on the hood and crawled acrossed it until I sat on my knees watchin the sun go down, she didn’t even know I was there. More small soft tears came to my eyes at I looked at her long hair, I could smell the perfum that I had so longed to smell and the peach shampoo sent from her hair. Most of all the small sleeknees and trim of her body, her small frail like arms and her soft warm sweet skin. Her lips were a wave of shap and drew me in like a wild red rose that wanted to be touched but dared not for its paiful thorns.

I was sweetin from the Georgian heat and I was sure she could smell my Hughgo cologne mixed with the faint smell of ciggerett smoke, it was she said the smell of me. The sun was beautiful and showed orange rays mixed with purple and red on a midnight blue sky. I looked at Rage for a few moments, the old car was clean and polished, provin that there were many coats of wax that had been put on when someone was board and lonely, and quit possibly was missing something in there life and they had turned to the car to fill that empty space. Hilery had once said that the interior of the car smelled like me and that she loved ridding in the car becuase it reminded her of everything we had seen and done together.

Then without any warning to her I put my hand under the corner of the front of her shirt and layed it on that soft warm sweet skin, she froze and didn’t move at all but she did not tense up she stay relaxed though in shock of being touched. Tears of over joyment ran down my face and I became lost in another world, my hand set my heart to racin and my stomcah to feelin silly. Her touch was that powerful, swet ran quicker down my face and the front and back of my orange shirt showed the wetness clearly. She slowly and shakly put her hand on mine which still moved over her soft sweet skin, her hand….

*** HILERY ANN DAVENPORT ***

I smell something sweet in the air, something that smells like a mix of Hughgo cologne and the faint smell of cigerett smoke. Instantly Wheeler came to mind. He had always smelled like that. I continue to feel like I am not alone, then I feel the slight touch of a hand on my stomach just under my middrift shirt. I just sit there in thought about my dear sweet Wheeler.

“I miss Wheeler,” silently say, mostly to myself.

“I’ve missed you too love,” I hear a voice behind me say. I quickly turn to see a handsome young man’s eyes lookin into my own.

“Wheeler?”

“Yeah honey, I’m back” I hear him say, then see his tell tail grin spread across his lovely face.

“But I thought you were in a coma?”

“I’ll explain later.” he tells me. Suddenly I find myself locked into a long, passionate kiss. I was holding him for dear life.

“Wheeler there’s something you need to know about, I tried to tell you when you got shot and just before you went into sugery.”

“What? Is everythin ok?”

“Wheeler, you are a daddy…. of twins.” I finally spit out after a long silence of lookin into his eyes.

“Really?” I listen to him say quietly as he lifts my head so he can look into my eyes. Then I feel him kiss me again.

10 MINUTES LATER

Wheeler is actin like his old self alright. I know that cause dispite his pain he is chasing me around my cousins propery, finally he catches me and we tumble down into the grass. He kisses me again then we look up at the sky, talking about the constalations. Suddenly I get up and grab his hand, silenltly leading him inside the old farm house.

“Hey, I was about ready to send out a search party after ya Wheeler. What took ya so long buddy?” my cousin says as soon as we walk in the door.

“Been here.”

“Hold on a sec, you knew he was awake and commin!?” I yell in shock.

“Uh yeah.”

I run over to the phone to call the other Dukes, and I tell them to get over here now, that Wheeler is actually awake and in Hazzard.

“Hello, Duke farm, Jessie speaking.” I hear a voice say over the phone.

“Jessie, it’s Hilery. Wheeler is awake and in Hazzard!! Get your family hear asap!!!”

“OK we’ll be there in a few.”

I hang up and run over into the back of the house. Once I get to the back room I pick up my little ones who had woken up, hungry of coarse. More slowly, and carefully I carry my lil’ Martha and lil’ wheeler jr out to the living room just as the Duke family entered. I allow them to exchange greatings before I let Wheeler meat the newest members of the Duke/Davenport family.

I clear my throat after I retreive two bottles from the fridge for the twins and anounce, “Wheeler, these are Martha and jr, our children.” I say with the last part chocked with tears and joy. He reaches for Martha and I willingly hand her to him with a bottle of coarse. Then I sit down with Jr and feed him. When both babies were fed and burped I took Martha from him and handed him Jr.

“They look just like you Wheeler,” I say softly in my feancee’s ear with pride.

1 MONTH LATER

***COOTER DAVENPORT ***

I watch with joy as Wheeler kisses his bride. I know the couple went through great lengths to make this a beautiful wedding. I stand in the back of the church, holding a video camera to tape the whole occasion.

***HILERY ANN DUKE ***

I can’t believe it the day has finally came. I am now Mrs. Wayman Sutton Duke. Couldn’t be any prowder than I am now. I silently think of the events of the past 1 and a half years wondering what it would be like if things would have happened differently, But as Wheeler carries me out of the church over to Rage I know I wouldn’t have it any other way. I can tell by the look on my husbands face he feels the same way.

***WHEELER DUKE ***

I’m gonna live happy for the rest of my life, I have Hilery with me for the rest of my life. I know my father is lookin’ down on me proudly and I also have Rage, my car. Most off all my two children, what more could anyone possibly ask for in life…

*****THEE END*****