How Jumper Came to Be
Chapter 7
Hilery was sitting under an old tree behind some shrubbery. She had just been relaxing for a spell, but when she heard the mighty roar of the General Lee she rushed to get into Jumper. A couple of seconds later the mighty Charger flashed by. It was followed by a white patrol car. Revving her engine, she pulled out behind them. As soon as she got within earshot of Cletus, she blew her horn.
“Buzzards on a buzz saw!” Cletus was shocked. He picked up his mike and called Rosco. “Hey uh, Rosco, you know that teal car you wanted us to look for while we looked for Hilery?”
“Of course I know that teal car I wanted you to look for, why?”
“Well, I didn’t find it, but it found me instead!”
“Jit jit; Cletus, go after it you lamerod, and what’s your 20 so I can get out there with Enos to help you catch that vehicle!”
“Creek Road, ‘bout one mile after the pits, going north.”
“Enos! This is your superior officer, get over to Creek Road and help Cletus. He’s in pursuit of that teal Mustang. I’m on my way! Come back.”
“That’s a big 10-4 sheriff.” Enos was on his way to them.
“Cletus, turn around and go after that vehicle!”
“OK Rosco.” Cletus turned around. Hilery also did a fast 180 and started going in the other direction. At Hollow Tree Junction the head lawman for the county joined the chase. Then Enos joined around the turn for Skunk Hollow.
With the law otherwise engaged, Bo and Luke were on their way back to the farm to relax and finish what was left of their meal. Daisy had packed it up and put it in the fridge before leaving. She and Jesse were just arriving home at about the same time.
“Well, glad to see you’s two got away from Rosco,” Jesse said. Daisy had got everything out and was reheating it. Now maybe they could enjoy a nice peaceful meal... for the most part, after Daisy was finished.
“You know Uncle Jesse, we didn’t manage to get away on our own... you know that teal car that dunked us in the creek earlier?” Jesse nodded. “Well, it sorta showed up and got Cletus off our tail. Somehow he and Rosco had switched places; we’d only just noticed it when that Shelby showed up.”
“Well Luke, I think you boys should try and say thanks to the driver sometime... but why in tarnation would Rosco and Cletus switch places?”
“He was probably doing dirty work for Boss or something,” Bo told his uncle and cousins.
“Now let’s finish out meal. Afterwards we are gonna check on the location of the Hazzard Sheriff’s Department to see if they are still chasing that Mustang. If they are, I expect you’s two to help the driver. It might also help to see if that person was locked up or caught.”
“Good idea y’all, ‘sides, it would be nice to know who owns that car,” Daisy said before setting down the last of the reheated meal. “And I think we’d better go check around the property before we leave to be sure everything is AOK.”
Hilery, on the other hand, was having a grand time. Once again she was leading the Sheriff’s Department on a high speed chase. Down Highway 4 they flew. At the junction with Mine Road she turned onto a dusty back road. This was where she was going to lose them. A tree had been downed by a violent storm a few days ago and had yet to be cleared away. It had fallen right behind a dip in the road. She slowed down a bit to steady the vehicle some, then floored it. Soaring gracefully, she cleared the dead tree and landed safely on the other side, then stopped to watch the antics of the Hazzard Law. Rosco had tried skidding to a stop but hit the green foliage of the tree’s canopy. Cletus rear ended Rosco, and Enos, well he attempted jumping the tree, only to land on it. The patrol car looked like a giant teeter totter.
Giggling, Hilery gunned the Shelby’s engine and took off, spraying dirt and gravel everywhere as she headed for the Davenport farm. Once there she was going to stash Jumper in the barn and call the garage to see how Cooter was doing. She knew she couldn’t go to see him for the danger of arrest, but she could at least tell him she was safe. She was supposed to be checking in every once in a while to let him know she wasn’t in the Hazzard Jail.
“Breaker, breaker, Cooter do you have your ears on,” Rosco said, frustration clear and evident in his voice. He had just finished reading the riot act to his deputies for scuffing the patrol cars.
“This is Crazzzzy Cooter comin’ at ya Sheriff Rosco, what can I do ya fer this time? Did those Duke Boys land you in the pond again?”
“No, we’re sorta hung up on a tree, it was that dang teal Mustang from earlier that did it!”
Cooter chuckled before keying the mike again. “Listen Rosco, just give me your location and how many patrol cars I have to pick up, and I’ll be right there.”
“It’s all three patrol cars Cooter, you dimwit. We are over on Mine Road, right where that tree fell a few days ago durin’ that storm-”
“You mean that tree that Boss refuses to have moved?” Cletus looked at his superior officer and laughed at Cooter’s comment.
“Yes that tree Cooter,” Rosco said, glarin’ at his deputy with a look that said ‘hush’.
“I’m gone!” Cooter said just as the phone rang. He put the mike down and answered it.
“Hey Cuz, whatcha up to!?” Hilery’s voice rang clear in the phone.
“Nice work with Rosco and the rest of the Hazzard Law.”
“Thanks, just checkin’ in. Now if you would excuse me, I’m hungry! Bye!” Cooter hung up at the sound of the receiver clicking through the phone. Picking up his keys, he climbed into his tow truck and left, heading toward the stranded lawmen.
“Well, I guess that answers whether our mystery driver got away or not,” Bo laughed. The Dukes had heard the transmission and stopped talking abruptly to listen in. At least now they weren’t going to have to go looking to see if the driver was OK and safe.
“Yeah, now then, who wants to take the liberties of helpin’ me look around to see why Boss and Rosco wanted us all away from the farm,” Luke asked as he finished his lunch several minutes later.
“How ‘bout I go with you to check outside while Uncle Jesse looks around inside and Daisy cleans up after lunch?” volunteered Bo.
“Sounds like a good idea fellas, ‘cause it’s a pain to try to clean these dishes after they’ve sat for a long time.”
“I don’t have any objections either.” Bo and Luke got up and walked outside to look around, while Jesse started looking around in the cabinets. Although the senior Duke wasn’t sure exactly what he was looking for, it would be just like Boss to get Rosco or one of his other lackeys to plant some incriminating evidence somewhere on the farm.
“Hey cousin, how ‘bout we check the back forty?”
“Why not Bo, we haven’t anything to lose really. We don’t even know if there’s anything to find... Luke started to trail off, a sudden realization hitting him.
“Luke, you OK Cuz?”
“Yeah, I just realized something. I am so stupid for not realizing it sooner. We are probably looking for Mr. Cranston’s sheep that were stolen the other night!” Bo’s eyes went wide. Luke was right. Bo grabbed his arm and started running quickly toward the fields where they let the animals wander. All they saw were the goats. They also decided to check the other pasture where the cows were kept. Again they had no luck. Finally they remembered Jesse was looking around in the house. When they boys got back, Jesse was sitting on the porch, his face saying he hadn’t found a thing. Luke sat down next to his Uncle while Bo remained standing. As they began to tell Jesse what Luke had realized and what they had found, which was nothing, they heard sirens.
It had taken Bo and Luke quite a while to check the property, the pastures being so large and half overgrown with dense woods. That had given Rosco enough time to get back to town after threatening to give ol’ Cooter a big fat ticket for impeding traffic if he didn’t hurry to collect them. Once in town he had gotten his spare patrol car, collected Boss Hogg and raced out to the Duke Farm. Boss had told the town sheriff he would deal with him later about the damaged cop cars.
“JD, Rosco, what do the two of you want?”
“And what are you two up to now?” Luke asked.
“Yeah.”
“Bo, Luke, Jesse hush!” Rosco yelled as Daisy walked out the door to join her family.
“Jesse, we are here with a search warrant to check your farm for stolen property.” Everyone’s stomachs suddenly dropped to the ground as Rosco wandered straight toward the barn. Bo and Luke’s eyes suddenly widened. That had been the one place they hadn’t checked, and now they realized, it was probably where the sheep had been hidden.
“Oooo goody goody gum drops, you Dukes are under arrest for sheep stealin’! Khee khee khee!”
“Rosco, you gotta be kiddin’. We never stole any sheep,” Bo yelled.
“Then how did they get into your barn?”
“You probably put them there Rosco.”
Rosco lifted his fist up to shake it at what Luke had said, even though it was the truth. Luke just rolled his eyes as Bo laughed.
“Jit jit, Bo, I’m a warning you! Stop yer laughin’ and git over here so I can arrest ya!”
Daisy looked down at the ground. Just by Rosco’s and Boss’s feet was the end of the hose. Stealthily she slid back toward the house and quickly and quietly turned the tap for the water. Almost immediately the H2O began gushing out, unnoticed by the commissioner and sheriff.
The boys had seen their cousin retreat toward the hookup and realized what she was doing. Water on dirt meant mud, and mud meant slippery city.
“Rosco, stop arguing with those Dukes, and arrest them. You still have that Davenport girl to catch, along with the driver of that Mustang,” Boss yelled. He was sick of these pathetic games.
“Alright you Dukes, come here so I can cuff ya and stuff ya!” The lawman moved forward with his cuffs in-hand, only to fall flat on his face in the wet dirt. His boss soon joined him.
“AHHH ROSCO YOU CLUTZ, I JUST HAD THIS SUIT DRY CLEANED!”
“Hoo jit, jit, Boss, get off of me! You’re crushing me!” Bo and Luke made a mad dash for the General Lee, while Daisy ran for her Road Runner and Jesse climbed into his pickup. They all took off as the town sheriff and commissioner got out of the muddy puddle.
“Rosco, don’t just sit there, git after them,” Boss yelled at his brother-in-law as he piled into the patrol car. Rosco turned the engine over and hastily moved after the General. The group had already parted when they reached the fork on the main road. Jesse and Daisy took the left fork, and the boys took the right. Now if you are wondering which way ol’ Rosco went, he went after Bo and Luke.
“Luke, I think we have a problem...”
“What is it cuz?”
“The General is starting to act funny, and I don’t know why.”
“I best send out a mayday. I hope whoever was in that teal car can help us again.”
“Yeah.”
Luke picked up the mike and spoke into it loudly. “Breaker, breaker, this is Lost Sheep, if any of our buddies are home on the Hazzard Net we would appreciate it if you would get your tail end to Ridge Road! The General Lee is actin’ like he’s caught a case of the vapors, and we got the law on our tail!”
The call came through plain as day on Cooter Davenport’s CB. By now he’d finished working on the patrol cars, parked them outside the courthouse and headed out of town. The deputies were once more, as you might have guessed, badgering the citizens of Hazzard with phony tickets, unaware that Rosco needed their help.
Cooter was just pulling into the driveway of his little farmhouse when the plea from Luke reached his ears. He steadily climbed out of his tow truck and rushed into the house to see if Hilery was there. Well, he found out soon enough when he ran into her on her way out to help two of her favorite friends.
“Hey there Cuz, can I come along for the ride?”
“Sure Coot, remember those old racing garments you have in your closet along with the helmets?”
“Of course I remember... OK Hil, what’s going through your demented little brain this time?” Cooter asked, adding a little jab while he was at it.
“Well, duh! We might have to give Bo and Luke a ride and we don’t want Rosco finding out it’s me and you who are doing it, not to mention the Dukes don’t need to know who owns the car yet either!”
“Good point.” Cooter ran back into his room and carried back two racing helmets and two racing uniforms. Hilery slid on the green one while her cousin put on the black one. Cooter had had those coveralls from when he entered in two different races. The black one was the older one and was used when he was in one of his first races against the General. The green one was worn by Luke when Crazy C sprained his ankle.
Hilery pulled her hair back into a bun while she ran out the door. Cooter followed not too far behind. The doors on the Mustang weren’t welded, but the young woman found she could get into a car faster through the windows, so she left them down. On the other side her cousin dove in through the door, not the window. Hilery already had the engine started by the time he was in. She paused briefly to put on the yellow and green helmet, her cousin followed her lead with his own black one, then they put down their visors and were off.
Bo and Luke kept up the chase, though they knew they were in trouble. The car had begun to lose speed and by now they were relying on maneuvers to stay ahead of Rosco and Boss, along with agility. It was working well until a huge white cloud suddenly rose from the mighty engine. The second he saw it the blond haired Duke boy slammed on the brakes. Boss and Rosco flew by in a sudden blur. They quickly turned around and were right in front of the General in no time. Rosco got out carrying his gun and ordered Bo and Luke to climb out of their beloved car.
Before Rosco could say a word a teal bullet shot out of the shrubbery between Ridge Road and Macy Lane. The sudden appearance of the car stunned everyone because no one had been paying attention.
“Oooo jit jit, Boss it’s that Mustang I was tryin’ to tell ya about!” Boss was too shocked to say anything back. Rosco shut his trap when the doors on both sides of the vehicle opened. Did the mystery driver have an accomplice he wondered?
He was left waiting for several long seconds before the terrible Davenport duo started to emerge. Everyone stopped to watch what was going on. Bo and Luke became apprehensive. Boss and Rosco tensed. Finally they completely exited the car.
“Oh that figures,” the Duke boys muttered when they saw the helmets. They should have seen that coming. To them this was very interesting, yet funny. The driver and passenger had made sure no one could identify them!
Rosco moved forward with his cuffs out and a gun raised. At the same time, Hilery moved over toward Bo, and Cooter moved toward Luke. As fast as lightning the brunet Duke boy knocked the pearl handled pistol out of the sheriff’s hand. The Davenports then tugged the boys over to Jumper and let them get into the back while the bumbling lawman and commissioner looked for the firearm. By the time they found it, the second cousins were in the vehicle and Hilery had floored it.
“Um, you guys wouldn’t mind dropping us off by the old grits mill would you?” Luke asked. The Dukes had an old still site up there. Nowadays they used it strictly as a meeting point in case of an emergency, such as the one at hand.
“Whoever you are that owns that teal hunk of junk, you had better pull it on over so my sheriff can arrest you and the Duke boys,” Boss Hogg’s voice boomed over the CB. Then he quickly added “before I make the sheriff shoot your tires out!” Hilery and Cooter wanted to burst out laughing; Bo and Luke already had. They all knew Sheriff Coltrane couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn even at close range. Hilery accelerated, and the Shelby quickly pulled away. Rosco followed suit and sped up as well.
They hoped this wouldn’t take long because it was nearly supper time. As they neared Hazzard Pond the green clad driver began to stifle more laughter. Up ahead there was a spot in the road where there used to be an old dock, so it went up slightly. Hilery sped toward the old jump off point until, seconds before she reached it, she pulled the wheel hard to the left, skidding out of the way. The white patrol car had been mere meters behind and had no time to react. It hit the “ramp” and was launched like a missile through the air and into the water. The pond wasn’t very deep, so all that the occupants of the Plymouth Fury had to do was open the door, but getting it to start again would need the work of the best mechanic in the South.
As soon as Cooter was satisfied they were OK, he signaled for his cousin to go. She hit the accelerator and the car lunged forward, kickin’ up dust. Within minutes they were by the old grits mill and everyone piled out of the automobile.
“Well, um, thanks, you guys really saved our tails,” Bo started.
“And you saved us earlier too. At first we didn’t like it when we saw the car; it knocked us into the creek.” Hilery held up a hand and shook her head. Her cousin leaned up against Jumper, listening. This was great.
“Well, we better git. Thanks.” The Duke Cousins began to walk off, not expecting the incognito Davenports to follow. The younger cousin noticed it as soon as they set foot on the trail. “Well cuz, I think they want to come along.”
“Well, I guess we’d better let ‘em come. They helped us escape, so Boss is gonna have Rosco, Enos, and Cletus out lookin’ for ‘em just as soon as Rosco gets his patrol car fixed or gets the spare one.”
“Don’t forget how many times that car trashed the patrol cars.”
“Yeah,” Luke answered. Bo waved for them to continue following. After a long hike up the trail they finally made it to the old still site. It had a cabin, which made life easier ‘cause they could all stay the night there.
“Glad to see you guys made it. Heard you was having car trouble,” Daisy said as they entered the cabin. Jesse turned and looked at them just in time to see the disguised second cousins come through the door.
“Who are your friends?”
Luke shrugged, “Well, um, they were the ones drivin’ that teal Mustang and we aren’t rightly sure Uncle Jesse.”
“Yeah, they showed up just before Rosco could arrest us when the General broke down.”
While the Duke family talked, Hilery waved her cousin over. The anticipation of seeing the looks on their faces was too much for her: now was the time to tell them. ‘Sides, it would be best if they all stayed there since she was in trouble for the same thing anyway. She’d parked Jumper in an area of dense bush and tree cover when they pulled over to let the boys out, so there was no chance of Rosco finding them.
“Hey cuz, I can’t keep this up, I am dying to tell them. I wanna see their reactions,” the Davenport girl whispered to the town mechanic.
“I can’t keep this up any longer either.”
“OK. On my signal, we take the helmets off.” She giggled. Cooter just nodded as they walked back to the group.
The green dressed driver cleared her throat. Everyone stopped their chatter and looked at her. She reached up and placed her hands on her helmet. Her partner-in-crime did the same. Slowly they removed their helmets. Everyone gasped.
“Cooter! Hilery! You guys were the ones who were in that car,” Bo yelled in shock.
“I can’t believe it,” Daisy gasped.
“Always expect the unexpected,” was all Luke said.
Jesse just shook his head. Now what had happened at the creek made sense. “Thought so. I figured you must have known that automobile was coming over the creek instead of going down to the bridge.” He said to Cooter.
“Hey, it’s her car, not mine! I just tagged along on that last ride to get Bo and Luke. I wanted to see what she did!” Hilery laughed at what he said.
“He is right ya know.”
“I like the paint scheme you picked out for him,” Bo toyed with her.
“JUMPER IS NOT A HE, JUMPER IS A SHE!”
“Uh, sorry. Most of the cars I know are referred to as guys. Take the General Lee for example.”
“Bo’s right. You’re weird.”
“Well thank ya Lukas Dukas.” Cooter and Jesse both stifled a laugh. The male Davenport cousin normally called him that, not Hilery. Daisy just shook her head as she went inside the cabin to fix supper for everyone.
“You’re nuts Hilery, and I mean nuts.”
“Ain’t she Bo?”
“Yeah, she’s screwier than Cooter.” Hilery knew they were playing with her, but a wicked grin flashed across her face as she smiled innocently. Just a short distance behind the building was a small stream. She was gonna get even with them in the morning.
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