Bo and Luke stared out the windshield as Kira landed on the other side of the Styx and took off, continuing her ride back to the farm. Bo released the breath he’d been holding as he saw that his sister had indeed made the nearly impossible jump. Then turned to his right as he heard a sound that, at the moment, he didn’t particularly want to hear. Luke was LAUGHING. Staring at Luke as if he’d just lost his mind, he lightly pushed him against his side of The General.

“What is so danged funny, Luke? She could have gotten hurt trying that jump. Would you stop that?!”

“So could you every time you make a jump Bo.” Luke couldn’t stop laughing. “She did warn us. Remember what she told us last night? I bet the whole drive here you were telling her to slow down, pull over, and to turn around. Don’t ya see? That was as good as goading her, while she already was mad at us for what she considered coddling her.”

“So what? We should have just stood there and not done anything?”

“I didn’t say that. But once we got out to the lot, maybe we should’ve dropped it. And you know something else ‘Cuz, she rides better than we all thought too. ‘Cause this time, unlike on the way to the Boar’s Nest, you and Coy were actually tryin’ to beat her. And she still mopped the floor with ya.”

Luke grinned at Bo knowing that not many people could have given him the slip but his sister had. Luke hollered out the window to tell the other guys that they may as well go on back to the farm. Bo was still mulling over what Luke had said. Then had to admit, he probably would have done the same thing Kira had done had the situation been reversed. Dang, you’d think he be better at all this brotherly stuff after living a lifetime with Daisy.




Kira pulled up into the farmyard to find Uncle Jesse waiting on the porch. “Where’s the boys at? Ain’t they with you?”

“I ain’t seen ‘em since I jumped the Styx. They’ll be here soon though.” Kira saw her keyboard on the porch where Bo had left it that morning and went to grab it to take it on upstairs. Jesse eyed her since he knew that Bo had only jumped the Styx River once and that had been as a last ditch effort at that. Watching Kira head on inside, he shook his head at the fool notion of jumping that danged river.

Once inside, Kira heard Pauline telling the scores of hungry kids, that she was shooing out of the kitchen, to stay out until supper was ready. One of the kids, heck what was her name, saw the keyboard and came over to Kira. “What’s that?” Well here’s to hoping Coy was right.

“What’s what, Sugar?” The girl pointed at the keyboard. “It’s my keyboard.”

“You play?”

“A little.”

“Can we hear?” Suddenly Kira was surround by a chorus of “Please!” Oh, why not. Kids are easy to please sometimes. Plus it’ll keep them out of trouble.

“Alright, let’s go upstairs and find a place to set up.” Kira ended up in Daisy’s room with about a half a dozen kids all jumping on her bed calling out the names of various songs that Kira could only imagine must’ve been common children’s songs. Unfortunately, Kira didn’t know any of them. When she told the children that she didn’t know the songs they requested, they looked at her as if she had done grew another head out of her neck. Did she say kids were easy to please? What was she thinking. Finally, one of the older ones, a girl of about eleven maybe, suggested that she just play her favorite song, everyone knows their favorite song.

“Well my favorite ain’t exactly a song, really. It’s an old poem that I put to music to help me remember it.”

“Let’s hear it.” Then again a chorus of “Please!” went up. So Kira began to play out a melody that might have been a mix of a song played in a fairytale and an old medieval movie. A few moments later Kira began to sing the verses that she learned a few years ago.




“It’s about time you boys got home. Head on up and get washed up. Tell all the younger ones to clean up too. They’re upstairs with Kira I believe.” Pauline sent all the guys on upstairs. Another ten minutes and she would have tanned their hides for being late. Heading upstairs, they heard Kira playing her keyboard and singing in a crisp, clear soprano tone a song that they’d never heard before.

The Phoenix is many things; in future now and history

And though every person has their say, The Phoenix stays a mystery

As the music began to fade, Bo knocked on Daisy’s door, causing everyone to look up at him. “Alright, everyone. Get cleaned up. Supper’s on.” Bo hastily jumped out of the doorway to avoid being trampled. “That sounded real pretty. You write it?”

“Nope. I found that old poem in a really old book a few years ago. I liked it so much I put it to music so I could remember it.” Kira started to take her keyboard down.

“Well, ya are a bit of a mystery, I’ll give ya that.” Kira stared at Bo until she realized he was referring to the last line of the poem she sang. “Kira, look, I’m sorry. Okay.”

“Sorry for what?” Kira cocked an eyebrow. Wondering if Bo even knew WHY she was mad. She’d be willing to bet he was clueless.

“For underestimating you.” Well that’s a start. “Truce?”

“Bo, what would Daisy have done if you treated her like she couldn’t even drive just because some jerk made a BAD pass at her?”`

“Probably put one of those danged heels of hers right through my foot.” Kira smiled at the image that had popped into her head.

“I know that you were just trying to help me and I love ya for it. But ya got to trust me to know my own limits. If I need help I’ll ask. I may not know much about family goings ons but I have dealt with worse things than that moron at the Nest on my own more times than I care to remember. All that happened tonight was to guarantee that Ernie what’s his name thinks that I can only take care of myself IF I have backup waiting in the wings. Which means the first time I’m out there WITHOUT you boys, I’ll have to put him in his place all over again.” Bo walks over and pulls Kira in front of him and looked down into her eyes.

“Didn’t figure on it that way. But I ain’t going to just sit back while some guy manhandles you!”

“Bo. He grabbed my arm and he ended up on the floor. Not because you put him there. Or Luke, Coy, or Vance. But because I took care of him myself. Just like I’ve always done.” Kira figures that it’d be just as well to drop it for now. Neither would give from here right now. “We’d better head on down.” Kira was about to turn back to grab her keyboard when Bo turned her around to give her a hug.

“I love ya, too, Sis.” Kira returned his hug. She really couldn’t stay annoyed with him anyway.




The next morning, Kira was awakened by high pitch squeals and giggling that drifted up the stairs to the attic. Looking at her watch, she saw it was still well before six. Groaning, Kira rolled out of bed and began to figure out what she’d wear. She had planned on wearing the T-shirt that she’d bought at the game Sunday. Looking at her arm where an ugly hand shaped bruise had formed overnight, she knew that the shirt was out. The bruise looked a lot worse than it really was, but she’d just assume that no one saw it all the same. Digging through her bag, she chose a muddy river brown sweater instead and threw on some jeans.

Finally a little after six, Kira headed on down to the circus that was performing in the main part of the house. Breakfast was already underway but Kira remained in the living room while some of the hoard cleared out. The first breakfast shift, seeing that there were still others that appeared to be waiting for a clear spot at the table. Kira leaned her head back on the couch seriously considering heading back upstairs to get some more sleep when she heard the door from the farmyard open and Bo and Luke walked in.

“You owe me five bucks, Bo. I told ya no one could sleep through this chaos.”

“Mornin’ Darlin’, Rise and...”

“Choke on it Bo.” Kira didn’t bother opening her eyes. “Is everyone in this family always so dang cheerful in the mornin’?” Bo and Luke laughed as they headed on up to get cleaned up from morning chores.

“You could have slept in. No reason for you to be up just yet.”

“I know there ain’t no reason. But who could sleep with all three rings in full swing down here.” Kira stifled a yawn. As she went to speak, the words that had been on the tip of her tongue were lost when another high pitch shriek rang out from one of the girls playing with her sisters. Getting up, Kira went to the one place she figured that would still be quiet this early in the morning. The barn. She hadn’t been inside yet but the stench of the animals had to be kinder to her nose than the giggling and screaming inside the house were to her ears.




As Bo and Luke finished up their breakfasts, they heard the distinctive sound of a motorcycle racing up the driveway. Getting up, looking out the window, they saw a yellow racing bike similar to Kira’s green one. Smiling, they ran outside knowing that the rider could be none other than their cousin Jebb from over in Placid County.

“Jebb! You old rascal. We thought you were supposed to have gotten in last night.”

“I got tied up. Listen, when I called last night, Mom said something about you finding your sister. Shoot I didn’t even know you had a sister.”

“Neither did I ‘til Saturday. I think she’s around here somewhere, hiding from all the morning folks.” Bo grinned as he tried to think where Kira might have gone. He knew she hadn’t come upstairs when he and Luke were cleaning up. And she wasn’t down stairs when they had finished and came back down. Looking across the yard, he finally spied his sister wearing her dark glasses, walking out of the barn. “Hey, there she is. Come on Jebb, I’ll introduce ya before you go in for some breakfast.”

“That’s your sister?” Jebb watched Kira walk up. Talk about a small world.

Kira had finally found peace and quiet, in the barn. For someone that just wasn’t used to being around so many people on a constant basis, not to mention that same someone wasn’t used to being awaken before sunrise by the constant chatter and screaming of children, it had been a matter of survival. This whole family thing was beginning to wear a little thin. She just needed a little time to herself before the festivities of the day began. After a while, Kira felt ready to join her recently acquired family.

Climbing out of the hayloft, Kira headed on out of the barn just as she could hear a motorcycle approaching. Looking into the yard, Kira about dropped her jaw. Why didn’t she put things together before this? Climbing off his bike was Jebb DUKE. Could life had possibly gotten any more complicated? Well, no since in prolonging this. Kira headed over and even though she really didn’t find anything funny with their situation, seeing Jebb’s face as she walked up was priceless.

“Jebb? Is that you?” Bo and Luke exchanged looks with one another before looking back and forth between the two.

“You know each other?”

Jebb considered that to be the understatement of the year. Trying to figure out just how to answer that question, he figured that part of the truth would have to suffice until he could pull Kira aside to talk to her in private. “Are you kidding, I’ve been racing Kira since before she was a Pre-law student. She’s my main competition.”

“Only competition. And here I thought I wouldn’t see that mug of yours again ‘til the next racing season.” Kira came over to give a half hug to Jebb as she muttered just loud enough for him to hear that they needed to talk. “I see you got your bike fixed from Saturday.”

“Yep.” Jebb responded to both of Kira’s statements. “When I see Kinnison again I’m gonna kill him. Who would’ve thought a charity race would end up so dirty… So you’re my new cousin, huh? Well, I always did think you were a lot like a Duke.” Though now that old joke wasn’t quite as funny as it used to be. While Kira and Jebb ate breakfast they shared some racing stories from the circuit. Including stories of barroom brawls where nearly everyman on the circuit had challenged her once they knew that she was more than up to the challenge. “I swear, when Kira first joined the circuit, there wasn’t a guy that didn’t test her. But she met every one of them head on. On the track and in the brawls that always seemed to break out in the local bars. I’ll tell ya, she can fight about as good as a man.”

“Thanks Jebb, you can fight about as good as a man, too.” Kira grinned as she took a bite of her eggs. The guys smirked at her light jab at Jebb since they all knew that, like any of them, Jebb was well vetted in bar room brawls.

“Of course, she always seemed to magically escape getting arrested for fighting when the rest of us ended up behind bars.”

“Not my fault that most sheriffs wouldn’t believe that I threw the first punch. Or that most guys refuse to admit that a WOMAN beat the snot out of them.”

“Hey, wait a minute. You said every man. You two never fought did ya?”

“Are you kidding?” Not unless you count lover’s spats, Jebb thought. “And let word get out that I hit a woman? I’d be disowned as a Duke. I did fight beside her a couple of times, though. Besides, it didn’t take long to realize no man in his right mind would take her on.” And that was true on so many levels. Kira gave her brother a look that obviously asked if he’d take her seriously now.

‘Doesn’t mean I got to stand back when the punches fly.’ Kira just shook her head at him. When it came to stubbornness, they were equally matched.

“Of course she ain’t been in as many fights lately.” Jebb finished his breakfast as he cleared his place. The whole time Jebb was trying to figure out just how he was going to be able to pull Kira aside so they could talk without being interrupted and without arising suspicion.

“Not a good practice to show up on Monday morning in court with a black eye and a busted lip on a regular basis. Still happens occasionally though.” Kira reached for another slice of toast as she spoke.

Pauline was listening to the conversation and decided it was time to separate her niece from her nephews and son so that they could talk without her showing off for the guys. That had to be the reason for her disrespect towards her yesterday; just showing off for the guys. Well she knew one way to get rid of them.

“Kira, the other women have all started with their dishes for lunch. I’d figured you’d help with the sweet potato casserole. You can get started after you finish eating.” Kira blanched at Pauline. Had she just been recruited into feeding the Duke army? Not just recruited, but given orders at that?

“Aunt Pauline, you do NOT want Kira to cook! I’ve seen her kitchen. She lives on instant oatmeal, cold cereal, frozen dinners, and take-out. I don’t even remember seeing a can opener in her apartment.”

Pauline looked at Kira surprised. “You can’t cook?” She looked like she just might have a coronary at the thought of a Duke woman NOT being able to cook.

Kira fought her natural urge to defend herself against the accusation. After all, she’d argue herself right into spending the morning cooking for the whole clan, side-by-side with Pauline. She could cook. She just didn’t. There wasn’t much point cooking for one. But, if Bo was going to give her an out, she’d take it.

“Food’s suppose to keep ya alive. Anything past that is extra.” Kira shrugged her shoulders as she answered.

“How do you expect to catch a man if you can’t cook?” Here we go again. Kira rolled her eyes. Oh it would be so much fun to see what the woman would do if she just blurted out that she had already “Caught a man” and he just happened to be her son. Somehow though Kira didn’t think that would be the best way to break it to her or the rest of the family that she and Jebb not only were racing friends but had known one another intimately for quite some time now.

“I don’t. In fact, I’m using it as a deterrent. If’n that don’t work; there’s always my STERLING personality. That should send any fool that gets too close a runnin’.” Kira answer was dripping with sarcasm.

That sent up another round of laughter from the men at the table. Well, except from Jesse. He gave her a warning look that she didn’t see but Luke did. Luke nudged Bo to get his attention. At least now he knew what was so funny yesterday when he’d been exiled to the other table so Pauline could talk to Kira. It was oh so clear that those two rubbed one another the wrong way. As much as he’d like to watch the show, they’d better get Kira out of here before she digs herself into a hole too deep to get out of. Seeing what Luke saw, Bo grabbed Kira’s arm and started to pull her toward the door as he spoke.

“Besides, I already planned to show Kira around the farm before the game starts. Later.”

Bo pulled Kira out the door while Luke was right behind her practically pushing her from behind. Fortunately, Luke was able to get out the door himself before bursting out laughing at both Kira’s and Pauline’s faces as the boys ushered her outside. Sighing, Jebb realized that he obviously wasn’t going to get a chance to talk to Kira for a while; he’d better find someone to fill him in on what all he’d missed this week.

Later in the day, Jebb had been getting ready to try to pull Kira aside when Judd and Luke invited him to take a ride around Hazzard in The General to catch up. He couldn’t exactly refuse so he went along, figuring that he’d just have to find some other time to talk to Kira. By the time he and his cousins had gotten back to the farm, his Uncle Jesse had beat him to the punch. He was upstairs in the attic where Luke had made a place for Kira to stay talking to her. Since he clearly STILL wouldn’t be able to have a very needed chat with his girlfriend, Jebb joined Coy, Bo, and Vance as they watched what was left of the first football game of the day. When his uncle and Kira came down stairs, it was obvious to him just what they had been talking about. Nothing could make her more sullen than talking about her past. Now he REALLY wanted to talk to her but with so many people around, Jebb really didn’t see that happening anytime soon. There was just one thing that he could think of. They’d simply have to get away from the farm somehow.

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