by: Susan Porter

The next several days passed uneventfully and,
dangerously, they found themselves relaxing their
guard. Enos got caught up in Daisy’s wedding plans
and Rosco became absorbed in the day to day running of
Hazzard County while Bo, Luke and Cooter became
absorbed in the preparations for the celebration,
taking Uncle Jesse’s orders.

Meanwhile, the two heavies, holed up in a shack near
Hazzard Pond, kept up on the plans through the Hazzard
Gazzette. And they planned.

Clarence Mathers was the actual planner while Dak
merely followed orders. The plan was a simple one;
take out Rosco and Enos while at the same time getting
something for themselves, the infamous Civil War chest
that was supposed to put Hazzard on the map.

The day of the celebration dawned bright and warm.
Everyone in Hazzard was there to celebrate, unaware of
the danger around them. But for the five men whose
job it was to make sure everything went as planned,
the day was going to be anything but a celebration.

“Are you ready?”

Enos, Rosco, Bo, Luke and Cooter looked uneasy as they
each nodded to the other. They knew what had to be
done and were ready to do it but didn’t like the idea
of putting innocent lives in danger. And they still
hadn’t told Daisy.

Daisy, meanwhile, patrolled the small crowd that was
gathered at the town gazebo, searching the eyes of
each person for someone she didn’t recognize.
Everyone greeted her with the warm friendliness of
hometown knowledge and jokingly quizzed her about the
wedding that was to take place later that day. Though
she was uneasy about it, she smiled and reassured
everyone. She loved Enos, she just wasn’t sure if she
could trust him.

She knew that the men were up to something. Something
that, as a Hazzard County deputy, she should have
known about. It wasn’t good to start a marriage out
this way. They would have to talk. Before the
wedding.

Everyone turned at the courthouse doors opened and
Rosco emerged, followed by Bo and Luke who carried the
chest while Enos and Cooter who brought up the rear.
The two historians who had already made their way to
the gazebo waited impatiently, their speeches in hand.
Bo and Luke hauled the chest up the steps and placed
it at Rosco’s feet.

“This is a great day in the history of Hazzard County.
Two weeks ago, these two men, diving in Hazzard
Swamp, discovered this chest that was buried during
the Civil War by a Confederate general. The contents
of this chest are unknown to everyone, including
myself. Without further ado may I introduce
Professors Mac Peters and George Frost.”

There was a smattering of applause as the two
approached the dais and again after they made their
brief speeches. Finally Rosco, with Enos at his side,
bent to the rusty lock that held the chest closed and
prepared to open it.

Two shots rang out and both Rosco and Enos fell.
There was screaming and Daisy watched, horrified, as
blood sprayed from Enos’ chest. Two men, both
brandishing guns, approached the gazebo and lifted the
chest. “All right, nobody move!

Bo, Luke, Cooter and Cletus took up defensive
positions and prepared to draw their own guns when one
man reached out and grabbed hold of Daisy, holding his
gun to her head. “Nobody moves or the pretty lady
gets it.”

The men backed away and, with Daisy and the chest,
climbed into a dark blue sedan and roared out of town.
Acting quickly Bo and Luke ran to the General Lee and
chased after them, closely followed by Cooter, Uncle
Jesse, Cletus, Rosco and Enos.

As they chased the men through the countryside Bo and
Luke fretted over the plan they had conceived. It had
gone wrong somehow, Daisy wasn’t meant to be taken
hostage.

“Did you see the look on Daisy’s face when Enos fell?”

“Maybe we should have told her what we were up to.”

“Too late now, we can only hope she’ll forgive us.”

“How are we going to rescue her?”

Enos voice came over the radio. “Back off guys.”

“Enos, we can’t. They’ve got Daisy.”

“And they’re mine!”

Luke opened his mouth to argue but Uncle Jesse
interrupted. “Now, boys, you do as Enos says. Daisy
is his responsibility now.”

Bo and Luke watched in the rearview mirror as, one by
one, the others let Enos overtake them. Bo gripped
the steering wheel and eyed his cousin. “What should
we do, Luke?”

Luke nodded toward the car ahead of them. “We got a
better chance of catching them in the General. Go to
it, Bo.”

They sped up but soon found themselves neck in neck
with a very angry Enos. “I said back off!”

Bo, stunned, let off the gas a little and watched in
amazement as Enos maneuvered his way in front of the
sedan, stopping them. With a low whistle Bo
maneuvered the General behind them, blocking the
escape route. Enos exited the car and advanced on the
man who had gotten out of the car and was attempting
to escape while the other tangled with Daisy.

Luke slid out of the General and was coming to what he
thought would be Enos rescue when the man Enos had
been angling with flew through the air and landed at
Luke’s feet, unconscious. The second man, who had
given up trying to wrestle Daisy and had gone for the
chest, soon followed.

Enos, breathing heavy, rushed to Daisy and pulled her
into his arms. “Daisy, honey, are you okay?”

Daisy rained kisses on Enos face then, tearfully, ran
her hands over his chest. “You’re alive!” Her
relief quickly turned to anger. “Why are you alive?”

“Daisy, I…”

“I knew it! You had a plan and didn’t tell me! Enos,
how could you?” She jerked away from him and walked
into a nearby meadow, her back to them all.

“I think we’ve made her mad. Enos, she loves you, you
go talk to her.”

Enos sighed and nodded. “Leave the General here, will
ya, guys?”

As they left Enos started off across the field after
Daisy. “Daisy, come here, we have to talk.”

She turned on him. “We have nothing to discuss Enos
Strate! You just stay away from me!”

He grabbed her arms, preventing her from retreating
further. “No, I will not leave you alone! I love
you, Daisy Duke, whether you want to believe it or
not! And we’re not leaving here until we get this
straightened out!”

“I don’t believe you!” There were tears on her
cheeks.

She struggled against him, breaking away into a run.
Enos quickly caught her and together they fell, Enos
trapping Daisy on the ground. Breathing heavy he sat
on top of her, straddling her abdomen without putting
his full weight on her. “We’re going to get this
straightened out if it takes all day and night!”

She said nothing; her eyes burning anger and hurt.
“Are you mad because we didn’t include you in the plan
to capture those two? We were only trying to protect
you, you know.”

“I could have defended myself!”

“Daisy, I know you can defend yourself, but this was
different. Honey,” he let go of her arms and began to
unbutton his shirt, pushing aside the bullet proof
vest to reveal a long, jagged scar, “this is what I
was trying to protect you from.”

Daisy’s expression changed, she was beginning to
listen. She reached up and traced the scar with her
fingernail. “What happened?”

“Mary Evans. She came to L.A. about three years ago,
leaving a television station in Kansas City to anchor
at KTLA. She also left to escape a man who was
stalking her.”

“Stalking?”

“This man followed her to LA. She called us and I was
assigned to guard her. I was to pretend to be her
boyfriend, go out and be seen with her. Hopefully
draw his attention away from her. It took nearly six
months, but he came after me. Nearly killed me before
some other officers got him. I spent six weeks in the
hospital, recovering.

“When I got out there was an invitation from Uncle
Jesse, inviting me to the homecoming. I thought it
was fate. You see, the entire time I was in the
hospital you were the only person I could think of. I
have always loved you, Daisy. I always will.

“While I was here I discovered that you loved me too.
Knowing that I could wait forever until you were ready
to marry me. When I returned to LA though I received
a shock. I had been removed from active duty and was
assigned to a desk job. They thought I was incapable
of pounding a beat anymore.”

“I…”

“I tried daisy. For nine months I sat behind that
desk and typed reports while my fellow officers risked
their lives. I couldn’t do it. That was when I
decided to look for another job.

“Mary found out what had happened and phoned me. She
felt guilty. She tried to find me a job but I told
her it wasn’t necessary. That was when I came home.”

“You’ve been living in Hazzard?”

He nodded. “I was going to explain when I came to get
you but then Uncle Jesse had his heart attack and
needed you so I was going to wait until after the
wedding. Now I’m not even sure there’s going to be a
wedding.”

Daisy reached up and caressed Enos’ face. “I’m so
sorry. I know how much you love being a policeman.”

Enos took her face between his hands and lowered his
mouth over hers, kissing her deeply. Daisy clung to
him weakly, reeling in his embrace. She loved this
man, she had always loved him and always would, and
nothing else mattered.

“I love you, Daisy. That’s more important than any
job I could ever have.” He whispered the words
against her mouth. Smiling, he stood and offered her
his hand. “I have been busy since I left the force.
I have a surprise for you.”

He lifted her into the General and climbed behind the
wheel, a bandana in his hands. Folding it, he tied it
across her eyes then turned the key, the engine
roaring to life. “Enos,” Daisy clutched at the
bandana, “what’s going on?”

Enos put his hand over Daisy’s, preventing her from
removing the makeshift blindfold. “Just be patient.
I’ll let you know when you can take it off.”

They traveled in silence for several minutes before
Enos turned off the road onto a gravel drive and shut
off the engine. He climbed out of the car and
assisted Daisy, positioning her. “All right, you can
take it off now.”

She pulled off the blindfold and was shocked to find
herself standing in front of the old Sullivan
plantation, the house she had wanted to live in since
she was a girl. “Enos…”

He took her hand and led her up the porch steps to the
front door. Swinging her into his arms he unlocked
the door and carried her over the threshold into a
newly decorated hall. “Welcome home, Daisy.”

“Enos, you did this for me?”

He lowered her to her feet and encircled her waist
lazily with his arms, nodding. “We’re going to live
in Hazzard. That is if you can leave your job at the
university.”

Daisy nodded. “I was offered a job with the EPA,
right here in Hazzard.”

“That fits right in with my plan. You see, Rosco has
decided to retire as sheriff of Hazzard. He offered
me the job.”

As his words sank in, a slow smile crept across
Daisy’s face. Enos was giving her everything she
could ever want. She pulled him close, planting small
kisses over his face. “Enos Strate, you are the most
amazing man. I love you.” She looked up into his
eyes, her own shining with adoration. “Marry me?”

Enos answer was to kiss her breathless.

“Do you, Daisy Duke, take this man to be your lawful
wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day
forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to
cherish, til death do you part?”

Her words were almost a whisper. “I do.”

“And do you, Enos Strate, take this woman to be your
lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day
forward, for better, for worse, for richer for poorer,
in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish til
death do you part?”

Everyone in Hazzard heard the answer. “I do.”

Rosco smiled. “Then by the power vested in me by the
state of Georgia, I now pronounce that you are man and
wife.” He leaned forward. “You can kiss her now,
Enos.”

As his mouth descended over hers fireworks, Rosco’s
wedding present to them, began to explode over Hazzard
Pond, showering colored lights over the wedding party.
Laughing, Daisy looked up into her husband’s eyes,
shouting, “I love you, Mr. Strate!”

Enos enveloped her into a crushing embrace and
whispered harshly against her ear, “I love you too,
Mrs. Strate. I love you too.”

by: Susan Porter

“It was a bomb all right. If Rosco had opened that
package he wouldn’t be sitting here now. We’d be
looking for a new sheriff.”

Cooter’s dire words rang hollowly in the ears of the
men gathered around Rosco’s desk, planning.
Conspicuous by her absence was the still angry Daisy
Duke. They had all agreed that keeping her out of
harm’s way was a good idea. Of course, convincing
Daisy of that was another story. That unpleasant task
fell to Enos, with whom she was already angry.

“From the description Mrs. Murphy gave Daisy I’d say
that the man is Dak Evans. We arrested him and his
partner, Clarence Mathers, about thirteen years ago
for counterfeiting. They were Boss Hogg’s partners
but they turned on him so he turned on them. They
swore in court that they would get us back.”

“How are we going to draw them into the open without
alerting them to our plan?”

“And how are we going to carry out our plan, whatever
it is, without alerting Daisy?”

Daisy, meanwhile, paced in front of her Uncle Jesse,
her anger radiating from her. “I can’t believe the
way he talked to me! Treated me as if I were a stupid
child! I knew that package might have been dangerous.
I wasn’t going to open it.”

“He was just trying to keep you safe. He loves you.”

“I know that, Uncle Jesse, but that’s no reason to
talk to me like that. I just don’t understand what’s
going on. It’s as if he doesn’t trust me.”

Jesse reached for his niece’s hand to calm her, force
her to pay attention. “Has it ever occurred to you,
Daisy, that maybe he was afraid that, no matter how
careful you were that you might be hurt. That he
didn’t want anything to happen to you. Wouldn’t you
have done the same thing if you were in his place?”

“But…”

“If the two of you were in the swamp and he picked up
a poisonous berry and started to eat it, wouldn’t you
yell at him to put it down? Get him away from it as
quickly as possible?”

“Yes, but that would just be for his own good!”

“And you would do it because you love him and you know
more about that situation than he does.”

Uncle Jesse’s reasoning began to sink in. Daisy
relaxed then smiled. uncle Jesse was right, just like
always. She bent and kissed her uncle’s cheek. “I’m
going to change then go find Enos. I think I need to
apologize to him.”

“I think so too.”

Enos arrived at the Duke farm just as Daisy was coming
out the back door, dressed in heels and a pretty blue
dress. “Enos,” she smiled sweetly, kissing his
cheek, “why don’t you and I go someplace private where
we can talk?”

Hand in hand they walked toward the barn. “I’m sorry
about this afternoon.” She finally spoke when they
stood in the protective shadows. “I didn’t realize
you were trying to protect me.”

He arm slid around her and he held her tight against
him. “I love you, Daisy. I didn’t want to take the
chance of loosing you. I’ve had a lot of experience
with those package bombs, they can be tricky. I’m
sorry if it sounded like anything other then concern.”

“I don’t like being angry at you.” she confessed.

“I don’t like it either. I spent most of the day half
afraid you were going to burst into the office, throw
my ring at me and tell me that you never wanted to see
me again. I couldn’t think for worrying.”

“Oh, Enos, you are the most wonderful man.” she
touched his cheek, her mouth caressing his. “You were
right, Enos. Anything really good is worth waiting
for. And this is going to be the best.”

Watching them from the kitchen Jesse Duke smiled. One
down, two to go.

by: Susan Porter

Rosco Coltrane exited the home he had once shared with
his mother, his pet beagle Toodles, hugged to his
chest. Rosco was in a hurry. Once again he was late,
this time it was for an appointment with Doctor
Appleby, Jr. for his annual physical. He had
forgotten about it until his phone had rung a few
minutes before and a friendly voice, Appleby’s nurse,
reminded him of his forgetfulness.

Toodles bark brought Rosco to attention. At his feet,
he had nearly tripped over it, was a package wrapped
in brown paper. As he bent to pick it up he felt
something nick his ear. Irritably he flicked at it
as, nearby, a car back fired. The screams of a woman
across the street and the warm trickle of blood
alerted Rosco that he had been shot.

Putting a hand up to staunch the flow of blood, Rosco
quickly made his way to his car and drove himself to
the doctor’s office where he was met by his anxious
staff of auxiliary deputies.

“Did you see anything, Rosco?”

“Mrs. Murphy, the lady who lives across the street
from me, she was screaming when I left the house.
Daisy, could you go talk to her? Maybe she can help.”

When Daisy was gone and Bo and Luke had gone to
relieve Cletus and Cooter, Rosco and Enos, both
veteran lawmen, eyed each other uncomfortably. They
both knew the situation had just become much more
serious than they had anticipated. “Rosco, we have to
get them out of harms way. These guys are out to kill
us. Maybe we should consider calling in the FBI.”

Rosco shook his head. “We can’t do that, Enos. If we
were to call in the feds the first thing they would do
is call off the celebration. We have national media
coming in to cover the opening of the chest. I’m
hoping this will attract business. Hazzard needs
this, Enos.”

Enos sighed. Rosco was right. Hazzard needed all the
economic help it could get. “We’ve got to do
something, Rosco. I don’t want Daisy hurt.”

Rosco examined his repaired ear in the mirror,
wincing. “This sure hurts worse than it looks.
Enos,” he turned, “I don’t want to see civilians hurt
any more than you do. I agree that this has been
moved up a notch and that we need to do something.
But what? Tell them that we can handle this and that
they don’t need to serve as deputies anymore. That
should keep them out of the way.”

Enos shook his head, handing Rosco his hat. “You and
I both know the Duke’s aren’t going to quit helping
just because we ask them not to. No, we’re going to
have to draw those bad boys out. And we’re going to
need Bo and Luke’s help.”

“What about Daisy?”

Enos shook his head. “I want her out of this, Rosco.
Any way we have to.”

Rosco eased into the passenger seat of his patrol car,
allowing Enos to slip behind the wheel. “All right,
we’ll keep Daisy out of this. I can’t say I
particularly enjoy putting her in danger anyway.”

Meanwhile Daisy was interviewing a very frightened
Mrs. Murphy who had gotten a surprisingly good view of
what had happened. “I’ve never seen sucha terrible
thing in my life, Daisy! Someone shooting at Rosco!
Why, what are things coming to!”

“Did you see the man who shot at Rosco?”

“I should say I did! Got a good look at him when he
dropped that package off just before Rosco came out of
his house. Then, oh, he stood right on my sidewalk
and shot at poor Rosco…”

“He dropped off a package?”

“Yes, it’s still sitting there.” she nodded toward
Rosco’s front stoop where Toodles sat beside a small
plain wrapped package. “Oh, he was frightful looking
Daisy. And that gun, he just pulled it out of his
jacket pocket and shot!”

Keeping an eye on the package, Daisy tried to comfort
the frightened womnan. “What did he look like? Can
you remember any details?”

Mrs. Murphy chewed her bottom lip. “He was a tall
man, skinny. Dark hair, clean shaven, I think. He
was wearing jeans and a jean jacket. No hat. Oh, and
he had a scar on his face. Left cheek.” she ran her
finger down the length of her own cheek then shivered.

“Did you see where he went after he shot Rosco?”

“He got into a car and drove away toward town. I
think it was blue, maybe black. It was one of them
new sports cars.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Murphy.” Daisy patted the older
woman’s gnarled shaky hand. “You’ve been a great deal
of help.”

Mrs. Murphy’s keen eye, she had once been a school
teacher, caught the glint of Enos’ ring on Daisy’s
finger. “Is that what I think it is young lady?”

Daisy laughed uncomfortably. “Yes, ma’am. It’s an
engagement ring.”

“Enos?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Are you going to marry him this time or am I going to
have to return yet another wedding gift?”

“No, ma’am. This time I am going to marry Enos
Strate, nothing can stop me. I love him too much.”

“It’s about time, young lady. Your Uncle Jesse needs
some little ones around the house again, keeps a body
young. That’s why I still teach piano. Mark my
words, girl, that man will make you a fine husband.
And a good father. You take care of him.”

“Yes, ma’am. I will. Speaking of men, I’d better go
and check on Rosco.” she backed off the porch and
went to her patrol car, leaning in to get the c.b.
when she heard Mrs. Murphy call from her front porch
rocker.

“You will catch that awful man who shot Rosco, won’t
you?”

“Yes, ma’am. We’ll do our best.” she turned and
spoke into the hand unit. “This is Daisy calling
Rosco and any other deputies that might have their
ears on out there. I just talked to Mrs. Murphy and
she gave me a fair description of the man who shot
Rosco. The same man left a package on Rosco’s front
step. I’m going to get it right now. I’ll bring it
to the courthouse.”

“Daisy, this is Enos! Keep away from that package!
Rosco and I are on our way, we’ll handle it!”

“But, Enos, I’m right here, I can…”

“Do as I say, Daisy. You don’t know what’s in that
package.”

Fuming Daisy gripped the steering wheel, her anger
turning her knuckles white. Enos was treating her
like a child. She realized the danger that the
package posed and only meant to remove it from Rosco’s
neighborhood before anything further could happen.
But Enos wasn’t listening, he knew everything…

Rosco’s squad car pulled up in front of his house
followed by Cletus and Cooter in a separate patrol car
carrying a large metal box. Daisy sat in her car,
fuming, and watched as Enos and Cletus placed the
package in the box and carried it away from the house,
running to dive behind the car when the box rested on
the ground. The explosion that followed rocked the
box but left it intact. As the smoke cleared and the
others drew close to inspect it, Enos approached
Daisy’s car. Angrily she started the engine and put
the car into gear, revving the engine. “Daisy, I…”

“Save it, Enos. You already put me in my place.
Stupid Daisy, get herself blown up without you to
protect her.” she began to pull away but Enos stopped
her.

“Where are you going?”

“On patrol I’ll file my report on the shooter’s
description at the courthouse. Don’t worry, I won’t
mess that up!”

As she roared away, Enos stood in the middle of the
road, watching her as she disappeared in an angry
cloud of dust. If only she could know that he was
trying to portect her. “I love you, Daisy.” he
whispered before turning back to the men gathered
around the smoking metal box.

by: Susan Porter

That evening the entire Duke family spent time around
the dinner table, discussing the plans for Daisy’s
high school reunion and the opening of the Civil War
chest, both events having been scheduled to take place
at the same time. After dinner Bo and Luke went off
for their turn at duty guarding the chest while Enos
and Daisy did the dinner dishes and talked to Uncle
Jesse until the older man yawned widely and left the
younger ones to their fun. Enos wiped the last of the
dishes and looked over at Daisy who looked like she
hadn’t slept in days. “Why don’t you do out on the
porch and get some fresh air. I’ll finish here and
bring us some coffee.”

Daisy left the house, Sarge at her heels. The
crickets greeted her, breaking the stillness of the
evening. “Quite a guy, isn’t he?” she smiled,
reaching into her pocket and pulling out a cellophane
wrapped apple peel. She traced the S-shape with her
fingernail, remembering the words Enos had said to her
nearly one year before. “‘We belong to each other,
even fate says so. I’ll just have to wait til you
grow up.'”

“I’m grown up now, Enos.” she whispered.

“Did you say something, Daisy?” The screen door
opened and Enos emerged, two steaming cups of coffee
in his hands.

“Just talking to myself.” she accepted a cup from him
and took a sip, relaxing as she felt the caffeine
coarse through her system.

His eyes fell on the peel. “You kept it, the apple
peel, I mean.”

“Yes,” she nodded, smiling, “and I read your letters,
all 476 of them. They kept me company on cold winter
nights when I was missing you. Reading those letters
made me feel so close to you. I wish you had sent
those letters when you wrote them.”

“Would they have changed anything?” he set the porch
swing in motion, not looking at her.

“Yes, I think they would have. With each word, each
line, each letter, I missed you more. Loved you more.
Every line made me want to be closer to you. I’m
ready to be your wife now, Enos, if you still want
me.”

“I’ll always want you, Daisy, you know that. But are
you sure you’re ready?”

Daisy set her cup on the porch railing and crossed the
porch to kneel in front of Enos. She put her hand
over his and looked into his face. “Enos Strate, will
you marry me?”

“Daisy…”

She leaned her forehead against his. “Say yes, Enos.”

“Yes.”

Relief flooded Daisy’s face. She melted against him
blindly, her mouth seeking his. “I love you so much,
Enos Strate.”

He moved her to sit beside him on the swing, her legs
across his lap, her head resting on his chest. “I
love you too, Daisy Duke.” he laughed, a deep rumble
that vibrated against Daisy’s cheek. “It must be love
to make me willing to go through this a third time.”

Daisy laughed too. “We would have been married years
ago if it weren’t for your case of hives.”

His arm tightened around her. “No. Neither of us was
ready for marriage then.” He rested his chin on top
of her head, inhaling the honeyed scent of her hair.
He was thoughtfully silent for several minutes then,
“I have always loved you. That’s the reason I left
Hazzard and went to L.A.. I thought I could never
have you. I even told myself I could forget you. And
I tried, I really tried. But it wasn’t long before I
found myself comparing every woman I met to you. I
knew I had to try for your love. I bought your
engagement ring five years ago and I’ve been wearing
it on a chain around my neck. Speaking of which…”
he fumbled in the dark for a moment then dangled her
engagement ring in front of her. “I believe this is
yours.”

She gasped, “You told me you put that in a safety
deposit box.”

“I did. I got it out before I came to get you, hoping
that I could put it back on your finger where it
belongs.”

He slid the ring from the chain and onto the third
finger of her left hand, turned her hand over and
kissed her palm, sending shivers through her. “This
time, Daisy,” he whispered, “I won’t let you go.”

Daisy let out a harsh breath. “I’m counting on that.”

They sat in silence for several moments, his arms
securely around her, her cheek nestled against his
chest. He looked down at her, “Daisy?” and got only
a soft snore in response. Smiling, he stood with her
in his arms and carried her upstairs to her bed.
Covering her with an afghan he kissed her forehead and
told her, “I love you, Daisy. Goodnight.”

by: Susan Porter

When Daisy awoke the next morning she found herself
curled up in her own bed, an afghan covering her body.
The morning sun streaked across the room, kissing her
cheek. On her bedside table was a a note from Enos.

“Daisy, I’ve taken the General to the Capital city
airport to pick up Bo and Luke. We’ll be back about
eleven then we’ll go see Uncle Jesse. Love, Enos.
P.S. You’re beautiful, even in your sleep.”

Smiling, Daisy rose, showered, fixed herself a small
breakfast and was waiting on the front porch when the
General Lee pulled in, carrying Enos and the boys.
After quick hugs they left for the hospital, in two
cars, to check on their Uncle Jesse.

On arrival they found that Jesse Duke was with his
doctor so they were forced to wait until he tests were
finished. Once Jesse was back in his bed Rosco laid
out the problem he and Jesse had discussed two nights
before. He needed the Duke’s help.

“This is more than a celebration of those two
historians finding that Civil War chest at the bottom
of Hazzard Pond. Last month two of Boss Hogg’s former
partners, men Enos and I arrested, were released from
prison. Three days after their release, I got this in
the mail.”

He showed them the paper onto which letters had been
pasted, clearly a threat against Rosco, and Enos.
Luke examined the note, playing with the words.
“There’s something… familiar… about some of the
words. Almost as if they’re taunting you.”

Enos looked over Luke’s shoulder. “I got one of these
last week, I thought it was a crank. Police officers
tend to get them from time to time.”

“There’s something about a trunk here, could that be
the chest those two guys recovered?”

“That’s the only think I can figure. That’s why I
need your help, all of you.”

Rosco laid out the plan he and Jesse had discussed.
“Enos, I want to swear in you, Bo and Luke as Hazzard
County Auxiliary deputies, to guard the chest until
the ceremony. Jesse, Cooter, Cletus and I will try to
find the men who sent the threat.”

“What about me?” Daisy asked. “I want to be apart of
this too. And I was a Hazzard deputy once, don’t
forget.”

“Daisy, honey, this might be dangerous.” Enos warned.

“Yeah, Daisy, this sounds dangerous. Maybe you should
just…”

“Luke, if you don’t mind,” Enos spoke quietly, “this
is between me and Daisy. Honey, could I speak to you
a minute, alone?”

The two of them stepped out into the hall. “Enos…”

“Daisy, honey, you know I love you, and I would never
deny you anything you set your heart on, but this,
this is different. You could be putting your life in
danger.”

“I love you, too. But how could I be in danger if I
just take over patrol duties to free up Rosco and
Cletus?”

There was a light in her eye that told Enos she would
be doing her own investigating, but he knew that there
wasn’t a thing he could do to stop her. “All right,”
he nodded finally, “I won’t stand in your way if you
want to do this, but, it’s been a long time since you
were a deputy. If anything happens…”

“Nothing is going to happen to me.” she laid her hand
on his cheek, knowing she was getting her way. “Not
with my big, handsome guy to protect me.”

Enos smiled, knowing he was being buffaloed but also
knowing he could deny Daisy nothing. “All right,
honey.” he bent and kissed her mouth. “Damn but you
can talk me into anything.”

Arm in arm they reentered Jesse’s room. “All right,
we’ve talked it over and it’s okay with me if Daisy
gets a uniform and goes on patrol But no
investigating, right?”

Daisy smiled sweetly, fingers crossed behind her back.
“Right.”