The next couple weeks went by fairly fast. Kira’s case load dropped off considerably right after she’d given her notice to ensure that she wouldn’t have any still awaiting trial when she left. The last week was mainly spent in the office finishing up paperwork while still trying to dispel the rumors that she was leaving due to a pregnancy. She had asked for there NOT to be the usual send off party since she really didn’t care to hear her co-workers telling their favorite stories about her anyway, or the innuendos that had been hurled her way about her recent marriage. She had personally gone to say good-bye to the few people that she had wanted to see before leaving anyway. When she had gone to see Judge Barclay, she was surprised to hear that he too would soon be leaving Atlanta with his daughter Sam. They were moving to Savannah. Something that Sam wasn’t too happy about. Brian gave Kira the information on how to contact him and Sam in Savannah and Kira promised to do the same once she and Jebb were settled.

Now Kira was putting the last bit of her sparse belongings into a box as she packed up what used to be her office.
‘Hey Kira, can you talk?’ Out of habit Kira looked around and checked to make sure that her door was closed.

‘Yeh, what’s up, Bo?’

‘Wanted to see if you and Jebb were still coming down for the weekend so we can throw Jebb a party. You’d said that you’d get back to me.’

Kira and Jebb hadn’t gone back to Hazzard since the wedding, something that Bo had reminded her of when he’d invited the two down. He had been wanting them to come back practically the moment that they’d left but she and Jebb just hadn’t made it yet. When she’d talked to Jebb about it, he’d been all for it and (to her it seemed like) he couldn’t wait to get to Hazzard. Kira figured that it was the cabin fever of being stuck in the city with not much to do for a whole month that was the driving force behind his wanting to go out to the country. Well, how better for a country boy to spend his Birthday? They had waited to see if Pauline was going to invite Jebb home to Placid but it looked like she wasn’t quite ready to see her only son share his bedroom with her niece just yet.

‘Yep, we’re leaving out first thing in the morning. We would have headed out today, but his mom invited him out for lunch today. I think he’s staying through dinner too before coming back to Atlanta.’

‘Lunch?’

‘What better way than to make sure that I didn’t come along too. I’m pretty sure she knew that I wouldn’t be able to drive over to Placid just for lunch, but I wasn’t about to keep Jebb from going. It’s all good. At least she’s talking to him again.’

‘Well, let me know when y’all are gettin’ close so everyone will be ready.’

‘I will. See you then.’

Kira put the last item in her box as she got ready to tote it on down to her truck. She’d been surprised when Bo had suggested a surprise party for Jebb. Well at least the awkwardness of Jebb and Kira’s marriage has abated for that side of the family. For the Dukes in Hazzard (plus John) the match just seemed almost as normal as any other. Considering that they’d only been married for one month, that didn’t seem so bad. Not with the way things had started out back at Thanksgiving. Now Kira was heading to the apartment to have her first meal alone there in that very same month. It’s funny how you get used to something as simple as sharing a meal. She hoped that Jebb was enjoying his time in Placid. Maybe next time she won’t have to stay behind to ensure that enjoyment.




As Jebb and Kira got closer to Hazzard, Kira checked in with Bo and made sure that everyone was ready. She’d never tried to surprise anyone like this before and knew that she never would have either if the others hadn’t taken over the planning. Daisy had done most of it and (since she had been denied the planning of Jebb’s and Kira’s wedding) no one had tried to stand in her way of making sure that everything was perfect. Now all Kira had to do was to make sure they took a little detour on the way out to the farm.

Jebb, meanwhile was thinking about a surprise of his own that he’d been planning. Now that Kira was done with her job in Atlanta, they could finally start getting things together to move into their own place. Because the whole time he’d been in Atlanta, he’d felt like he was still just staying in KIRA’S apartment. Not THEIR’S. He wanted their home to be just that. THEIR’S! Not one place that had belonged to just one of them and the other had just moved in. By the end of this weekend, they would be making plans to move into THEIR home. He couldn’t wait.

By the time the two had gotten onto Highway 17, Kira had suggested that once they reached the Boar’s Nest, they should stop.

“Why? We’re almost out at the farm.”

“Because Jebb, we haven’t stopped since we left Atlanta and there’s just something what won’t wait an extra twenty minutes.” Which was partially true. They hadn’t stopped for a pit stop the whole way in. “The other’s won’t mind if we stop and stretch out legs for a couple of minutes before we get out there.” Jebb didn’t argue since he knew through living in a household full of females that women just can’t seem to hold it as long as men. And he guessed that his legs could use a stretch after such a long drive.

When he pulled up at the old roadhouse, he didn’t see Daisy’s Jeep but he did see The General. Well, come on, who would miss a bright orange stock car with the numbers 01 painted on the side.

“I wonder why’d the guys would be here but not Daisy,” Jebb muttered to himself.

“Maybe Daisy’s Jeep is broke down again.” Kira knew why the guys were here, she also knew that Daisy was too. Of course she wasn’t going to tell Jebb that. “Come on, you can talk to them while you’re stretching your legs. I won’t be long.” With that, Jebb pulled the truck up beside The General and the two headed on inside.




“SURPRISE!” Kira had to laugh at the look on Jebb’s face. She would have sworn that no one was ever really surprised at these things but looking at her husband, she realized that sometimes that just wasn’t true.

“Happy Birthday ‘Cuz.” Luke came up and clapped Jebb on the back.

“I thought we were meeting y’all at the farm.” Jebb glanced over at Kira who just shrugged her shoulders and smiled as she made her way to the ladies room.

“I had Kira tell us when y’all were gettin’ close.” Bo said as he came up. Jebb had nearly forgotten that them two didn’t need the CB to talk on the way in. “I ain’t sure how she got ya here, but she said that it’d be no problem.”

Jebb shook his head; he’d have to watch these two. Given half a chance, they could really be a deadly pair. Before he could say anything though, Daisy came up and gave him a hug and kiss to wish him a happy birthday. Right behind her, were two other well wishers that he’d not have expected.

“Happy Birthday ‘Cuz.”

“Coy! Vance! What are you two stump jumpers doin’ here?”

“When Daisy called, there just wasn’t anyway to refuse. Especially once we got filled in on all of the changes since Thanksgiving.”

Jebb laughed, “Yeh, I guess there have been just a FEW changes since then.”

Kira watched from across the room as Jebb and all of the cousins got reacquainted. In no time at all, it seemed that the party was in full swing. The Juke box on rocking out some country music and the laughter in the bar was deafening. Daisy was wandering the room with her Browning making sure that she got plenty of pictures of everything. Since Kira hated having her picture taken, she kept one eye on her and made her rounds around the room to match her to avoid getting caught on film. She knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid the Camera Queen completely, but there was no sense in letting her get carried away either. During one of her circuits around, Coy came over to talk to her.

“Hey Sugar. I ain’t got around to congratulatin’ ya yet. Though I must say, I was a bit put off when I learned that you prefer blonds but passed me by for Jebb.” Coy gave an award winning smile as Kira laughed.

“Well, what can I say; Jebb beat ya to the punch.”

“What are you two laughin’ at?” Jebb came up to put an arm around his wife.

“Just tellin’ Kira where she can come if she ever wants to trade up to first class.” Coy grinned up at his taller cousin. “Especially since she has a penchant for blonds,” He added as he laughed.

“Coy, I mean this whole heartedly. Go get your own girl.”

“Yeh, Daisy said that would get a rise out of you.” Coy went off in the direction of that same mentioned cousin as he continued laughing.

“She did huh?”

Kira couldn’t help but find it a bit funny. Here they were in a room full of family and friends that he’d grown up with, plus they were now married but he still couldn’t help but to let his jealous streak slip out ever so slightly.

“You do realize that they’re gonna have fun doin’ that a lot with that kind of reaction, right?” Kira laughed while Jebb took a second before deciding to laugh too.

“Well, I might as well as not let them down. I’ll give them the reaction their expectin’,” Jebb said as he gave a small laugh. “I do have one question. How did you pull this off without Bo spilling the beans?”

“Simple. I didn’t. My sole job was to get you to stop off here on the way to the farm. You’ll have to ask Daisy any questions you have about keeping Bo quiet,” Kira grinned as she answered. “Speaking of which, I think she’s heading this way.”

To punctuate the statement, Kira’s eyes were blinded by the flash of the Brownie. After two more flashes, Jebb reached out and grabbed the camera from Daisy. He didn’t really mind posing for the camera but he had no plans to spend the next several minutes temporarily blinded either.

“Alright Daisy, ain’t you out of film yet?” Jebb raised his arm using his height as an asset in keeping the camera away from Daisy while checking just how much film Daisy still had. She must have just started on this roll.

“Jebb Stewart Duke! You give that camera back to me.” Daisy was doing her best to sound mad but the effect was ruined by her laughter.

“Just reach up and grab it Darlin’. That is if you really want it.” Jebb laughed as Daisy did her best to try to steal her camera back. “I’ll tell ya what. I’ll give it back if ya promise to take a break. From what I understand, you planned this party. You need to enjoy it.”

“Alright, I was just comin’ over here to tell ya that the other fellas decided to have a dart contest. Even Jesse’s goin’ to play. Though he said to be fair, he’ll only play the winner,” Daisy winked to punctuate the comment. Jesse was one of the best players in the county and everyone knew it.

“In that case,” Jebb put the camera down on a shelf behind the bar, still well out of reach of his cousin. “I think I’ll head over.” Daisy looked at her camera then back at Jebb as he walked away.

“He knows there are only a few people in the room that can reach that self. And I doubt that any of them are gonna help me out right now.”

“Don’t ya think that you’ve got enough pictures Daisy?”

“Well I was kinda hoping for a few more...” Kira couldn’t help the look of exasperation that escaped her. “You don’t like pictures much do you?” Daisy asked.

“Not really. What gave me away?”

“Well you kept movin’ awhile ago. Why don’t you like ‘em Kira?”

“I just don’t. That’s all.”

Daisy figured that she’d let it go at that. Besides, she could think of a few other things to talk about with her new cousin. “So...is married life really everything that you’d hoped for?”

Kira smiled a bit as she thought back over the last month. Nearly month and a half.

“I’ll take that grin as meaning yes.” Daisy giggled. “Something tells me that you two have REALLY enjoyed your honeymoon period.”

“Now what would make you say that?” Kira laughed as she couldn’t help but cast a glance Jebb’s way as he and the other men were engrossed with over at the other side of the room.

“Oh, no reason at all. It must be nice to not have to be careful anymore, too. Now that you’re married. And I think that Uncle Jesse is even starting to look forward to you two havin’ a couple of kids. I swear I saw him up in the attic the other day lookin’ over the old baby stuff up there. He’s always wanted some babies around. It’d be the closest thing to havin’ grand kids that he’ll get.”

“Just because I’m married doesn’t mean I’m not still bein’ careful. I’m afraid Jesse will have to just keep lookin’ at that stuff for right now. I don’t plan to get pregnant just yet.”

“Why NOT?” Daisy looked perplexed at Kira’s declaration. She thought that every new bride couldn’t wait to have a sweet little baby of their own.

Kira let out a deep breath. “I’ve been accused of ALREADY being pregnant ever since I got married. From nearly EVERYONE. Pauline even accused me of trappin’ Jebb! When or IF I get pregnant, no matter how anyone decides to fudge the math, there won’t be any way that anyone can think that there’s any truth to it. I’ll tell you, I never thought that so many people thought that was the only way anyone would marry me.”

“But ain’t ya just achin’ for a little baby? The way they smell, the way they hold your finger, the way they feel in your arms?”

“I ain’t ever held one. So I can’t say that I am.”

“Never?”

“Nope.” Kira felt that Daisy was looking at her as if she was some sort of freak. “Don’t give me that look. Not EVERYONE has had a reason to hold a baby.”

“You never babysat?”

“And when or where would I have done that? As a teen I was pretty much on the run all the time until in ended up at the Children’s Hospital. As an adult, Sam was the youngest kid I’ve ever hung out with.”

“I...I guess I didn’t think about that.”

“Forget it. Besides, I’m just goin’ to enjoy being married for awhile.” Kira smiled with a wink. “Really enjoy it.” The two women giggled as they kept talking for a while.




Jebb and Kira were heading out to the farm, finally, now that the party had ended. Kira was glad that Jebb’d had fun. It was good to see him acting so care free with all of the other cousins. Kira felt the truck slow down so she looked out the window expecting to see the Duke farm. Instead, she saw that Jebb had driven them back out to the old Hansen Farm.

“Jebb, if you keep bringing us here, Hansen is gonna have to start chargin’ ya rent.”

“No he ain’t.” Kira raised an eyebrow at Jebb. “Remember how you said that you’d be willing to live ANYWHERE?” Kira looked outside the truck looking around the old farmyard. “Well, how about Hazzard?”

“I figured that you’d want to live in Placid, closer to your folks.”

“Well, I chose Hazzard for a couple of reasons. One, I think that for the sake of everyone livin’ in Georgia, it’s best to put as many counties between you and my mother as possible.” Jebb laughed at the look Kira gave him for that comment. “Two, I’ve always said that if given the choice, I’d like to live here in Hazzard. No matter where a Duke lays his head, this corner of the state will always be home.”

“And since, essentially, I gave you that choice…?”

“I called Uncle Jesse to have him put some feelers out and he found out that Hansen was looking to sell.”

“So it was like the perfect set up?”

“Yep. Bo and Luke even volunteered to help us fix it up if we want. Bo especially is looking forward to havin’ his sister so nearby.”

“And he never said a thing to me about all of this? It looks like he’s been busy workin’ on surprises for both of us.” Kira and Jebb both chuckled at the fact that BOTH of them had been working on surprises for the other.

“It’s mostly in real good shape. Jesse INSISTS that we stay out at the farm until we get the main rooms fixed up.” Kira looked toward the large old farm-house. “Of course, this means you’ll have to go shopping for a house full of furniture.” Kira made a face at the idea of shopping. Then looking back towards Jebb, her face brightened.

“Can we go in?”

Inside, Kira was met by the sight of old hardwood floors and wooden walls that, once refinished, would really look great. It was obvious that a LARGE family once lived here since there were quite a number of rooms both upstairs and on the main floor. Off to the side of the kitchen, there was even an add-on that had its own door to the outside. Looking in that room, she began to think of just what she could use that space for.

The old house even FELT like the way a home should. Something that she had spent a lot of time while growing up thinking about. As an adult, she may not have devoted as much time to such thoughts, but to have a place that would be HOME. To have a home, not just a place where you live, that was priceless. Her footsteps echoed in the large rooms of the old farm-house. Jebb explained to her that the Hansen family used to be even bigger than the Duke family. It was only in the last couple of generations that the family farm began to shrink.

In the Duke family, the farm has always gone to the oldest male in the family. Old Man Hansen’s folks had started to parcel out the land in an effort to be fairer to the younger sons several decades ago until the current farm was all that was left of the original family farm. Of course, the other farms had been bought and sold so many times now that their boundaries no longer were where they once were.

“Didn’t you say that this farm doesn’t have as much workable land?”

“It’ll be enough. The fields have all gone to seed, so I won’t be able to plant nothin’ this season, but I figured that I could help the others durin’ plantin’ and harvestin’ season this year. Jesse and them would never turn down the extra help, I know.”

Kira watched as Jebb began to lay out how long he thought it would take to fix up the main rooms (the kitchen, living room, and the master bedroom) before the two could move in and then how long it would take to get the fields ready to work. From there, how long it would be to finish out the rest of the house. Kira hadn’t seen him so worked up before. He was like a kid on Christmas. He and Kira went from room to room discussing what could be done with each room until they soon realized that they had better hurry if they didn’t want to keep the others waiting for supper. Already, though, they were planning when they could go and pack up their stuff since they could store it all in the old barn until they were ready to move in.

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