Chapter 21: Love’s Full Circle

 

 

“…Don’t anyone wake me
if it’s just a dream,
’cause she’s the best thing
that ever happened to me.

All you fellows,
you can look all you like,
but this girl you see
she’s leavin’ here with me tonight…”

-Jeff Healey Band

 

Enos wasn’t sure what had woken him. It could have been the sound of an animal, or the moonlight which spilled in through the window, or the bed that wasn’t his own. Perhaps it was an unconscious need to assure himself that reality had not fallen away into some crazy dream and that Daisy was still there, lying beside him. She slept quietly, facing him, her face pillowed on her hands. Face to face, he watched her, his mind still trying to sort out all that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.

Nothing between them had ever been clear cut, not since they were kids. Things had gotten confusing and complicated and though he wished he could go back and read between the lines, he’d always had a blind spot when it came to Daisy. Most people had probably forgotten or never known how close they’d been at one time, and it worried him that those who didn’t know their history would think she’d done something rash – simply up and eloping with the man who’d rescued her.

Would Uncle Jesse and her cousins think the same – that she’d married him for the wrong reasons, like she’d almost done four years earlier to keep him out of prison? He reached over and brushed her hair back from her face, selfishly grateful that it was too late for them to change her mind or make her wait to be sure. He fell back asleep, thinking of Daisy and the future that at long last burned brightly before them.

 

In the still, silent moments between sleep and wakefulness, Daisy smiled, instinctively knowing that this morning, something was different. Gradually the world of dreams dissolved into the reality of a bright, sunny Friday morning. A storm of thoughts, feelings, and a hundred memories past and present assaulted her senses as she opened her eyes and found to her satisfaction that the night before had not been a dream.

She watched Enos as he slept next to her, peacefully oblivious to her scrutiny, and wished he’d wake up. What would he say? She certainly hoped he wouldn’t shy away from her – she’d had more than enough of that.

Her eyes rested on the scar she’d seen briefly while bandaging his gunshot wound. A scar she could see where began now that he wasn’t wearing a shirt. Just above his right clavicle was a thick, crooked line which traveled across the top of his shoulder, angling down towards the inside of his arm, just missing his brachial artery before twisting back around and tapering off near the end of his forearm. She tried to shut out the thought of someone carving him up on purpose, but she knew it would be naïve to think otherwise, and couldn’t stop the niggle of guilt in her heart still whispering that ultimately, she had been the reason for it.

It was hard to imagine all that he must have seen and done in Los Angeles working with SWAT and then homicide investigation. Lost in his dreams, he looked so sweet and innocent, and despite all the time that had passed between them, she still found him as adorable as always.

The light shining through the curtains had been moving slowly across the bed with the rising of the sun and now fell across his face. He stirred and opened his eyes, momentarily confused by his surroundings until he remembered and knew where he was. He yawned and ran his hand through his hair, then rolled over to find Daisy gazing at him.

“I had th’ strangest dream last night,” he said, smiling lazily. “I dreamt you married me, Daisy Mae.”

“Funny ’bout those things,” she said, happily, “ya’ never know when they might come true.”

He sighed contentedly and brushed his fingers across her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”

She leaned over and kissed him gently until he pulled back with a sigh.

“We’re gonna be in so much trouble…,” he said, only half teasing. “I reckon ya’ better enjoy bein’ married while it lasts, ’cause when your cousins find out, they’re gonna kill me. An’ then your Uncle Jesse’s gonna kill me. Any way ya’ sift it, I figure you’ve only got a few hours ’till you’re a widow.”

“Yeah, I’ve been thinkin’ about that,” she told him. On one hand, she was old enough that it wasn’t anybody’s business if she wanted to up and get hitched in the middle of the night. On the other, she’d always believed trouble was better avoided in the first place. “When’s your next day off?”

“Um, well let’s see…th’ Sheriff has t’ take Flash to th’ vet on Monday an’ he’s takin’ Lulu to Capitol City Tuesday. Cletus is off Wednesday, so prob’ly next Thursday.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why?”

“Well, I figure it’d be easier not t’ tell anyone right yet. We’ll just have a weddin’ Thursday.”

“Daisy…I ain’t lyin’ ’bout what happened.”

“It’s not lyin’ tellin’ ’em we’re havin’ a weddin’,” she reminded him.

“That’s splittin’ hairs,” he complained.

“‘Sides,” she continued, sweetly, “You don’t aim t’ break Uncle Jesse’s heart now do ya’? I reckon he’d like t’ believe he saw me get married.”

“Daisy…”

“It’ll be fine, Sugar. It’s only a week…”

“Dai-sey!” he whined, throwing himself face down into the pillow, knowing he’d lost the debate even before it started.

Daisy felt a pang of guilt for how easy it had always been to get her way with Enos, but it couldn’t be avoided if they didn’t want to cause a ruckus with everyone else today. At least now she had some way to make it up to him, she thought wryly. She kissed his shoulder, making her way slowly across his upper back until she felt his breath catch.

He rolled back over, pulling her into his arms. “I ain’t gonna stay away from you for a week.”

“I never said ya’ had t’ stay away. We’ll just have t’ be…”

“Sneaky?”

“I was gonna say creative.”

“We’re gonna get caught,” he assured her. “An’ then you’ll be libel t’ have a husband fulla buckshot.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll make sure you die happy, Enos…”

 

“Daisy sure is takin’ her sweet time getting’ here,” complained Bo. He, Luke, and Cooter were gathered back at the garage sharing out a breakfast of dough-nuts and beer. “I thought ya’ told her t’ come early.”

Luke glanced up at the clock which read 9:25am. “Well, she’d better get here ‘fore long,” he said, “she’s gotta work at noon.”

“Ya’ know, I’s just jokin’ ’bout her an’ Enos last night,” said Bo, “but I ain’t never known her t’ be this late. You don’t s’pose they were really sneakin’ around do ya’, Luke?”

“I reckon we’ll know pretty soon,” he answered. “Enos ain’t that hard t’ read.”

 

It was nearing 10:00am when Daisy and Enos finally headed on their way to town. “It’s my day off, ya’ know. Rosco sees me dressed like this, he’s libel t’ find somethin’ that needs doin’,” Enos said as he buttoned his coat. “If you’d’ve told me all your plans for yesterday, I would’ve brought a change of clothes,” he teased.

“My plans?” she laughed. “You started it. ‘Sides, you knew you were stayin’ th’ night.”

“You were a might lackin’ on th’ details. What did Luke say when ya’ called last night?”

“Uncle Jesse was lookin’ for me…”

“What?.!”

“Sorry, not lookin‘…just askin’.”

“So…what’s th’ plan?”

“I thought we’d tell ’em tonight about havin’ a weddin’ next week.”

“You’ want me t’ pick ya’ up after work?”

“That’d be fine…”

 

Luke was leaning against the wall outside Jake’s when the General Lee finally pulled up in front.

“‘Bout dang time!” he shouted.

“Sorry, Luke,” said Enos as he climbed out the window. “Guess we lost track of time.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet,” muttered Luke under his breath. “I thought it was your day off, Enos? Why ya’ dressed like that?”

“Huh? Oh, yeah, I need t’ go an’ change, y’all. I’ll be back in a minute.”

He walked up the outside stairs to the loft.

“You comin’?” asked Luke when Daisy made no move to follow him in.

“I’ll be right there,” she said, “I’m gonna wait for Enos.”

He shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

It wasn’t more than a few minutes before he came back down, now dressed casually. His ring caught the sun as he held onto the railing.

“Enos,” said Daisy, quietly, “you’ve gotta take your ring off, honey. I reckon it’d be hard t’ explain.” She was glad she’d waited for him.

He looked sadly at the gold band on his finger before removing it and putting it in his shirt pocket. “So what’s been goin’ on around here that I can’t see?”

“Come on,” she said, taking his hand in hers.

Cooter and Bo, hearing voices from the garage, straggled out of the office.

“Say, where’s Enos” asked Cooter, “Don’t he wanna see his surprise?”

“What surprise?” asked Enos as he and Daisy walked into the garage.

“There y’all are!” exclaimed Bo. “We done waited half th’ mornin’ for ya’. What th’ heck took ya’ so long?”

“Shucks, Bo,” said Enos, “we warn’t gonna speed t’ get here.”

Daisy laughed, and it took Bo a few seconds to realize that he hadn’t answered his question at all.

“Are we just gonna stand around or what?” asked Daisy. “I’ve gotta get t’ work.”

“Uh, well…,” started Bo.

“What Bo here’s tryin’ t’ say,” interrupted Luke, “is that we’ve been tryin’ t’ figure out how t’ properly thank ya’, Enos, for what’cha did, savin’ Daisy an’ all.”

“Ah shucks, fellas, I’s just doin’ my job,” he said, but he put his arm around Daisy’s shoulders, belying just what he really thought about it.

“Shoot, Enos, it was a hell of a lot more t’ us. An’ I reckon it was t’ you, too,” said Bo.

Luke elbowed his cousin. “An’ if Bo here’d shut up, you could see what we thought up for ya’. Come on over here.”

Enos released Daisy and followed Luke with the others. Luke pulled the tarp off to reveal the now shiny, sapphire blue Javelin with white racing stripes.

For a moment, Enos could only stare, not believing it could be his car. “Possum on a gum-bush…” He reached out and ran his hand lovingly over it’s roof. “This is really mine?” he asked them.

Cooter clapped him on the back. “All yours, Buddy-roe.”

He laughed nervously. “I…I don’t rightly know what t’ say. You fellas didn’t have t’ do this!”

“Shoot, Enos,” said Bo, “we know we didn’t have to, but it looked so gosh-darn awful… We figured you’d better look th’ part if you’re gonna give th’ General a run for his money on th’ track’.”

“Wow…”

“Oh!” said Luke, “I almost forgot! Climb in, we’ve got somethin’ else t’ show ya’.” Enos tried to open the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “It ain’t a patrol car, Enos, it’s a racin’ car. We welded th’ doors shut.”

Enos climbed through the window into the driver’s seat of the car. Luke climbed into the passenger’s seat, and reached into the backseat where a loop of the same color vinyl as the interior was connected to the bottom section of the seat, near the floorboard. He pulled up on it, and as he did, the rear seat opened to reveal a hidden compartment nearly two feet deep and as wide and long as the back seat.

“Wanna know what we found in there?”

“Gosh, I’m afraid t’ guess,” said Enos.

“In there, my friend, we found twelve gallons of grade A, number 1, prime moonshine,” he grinned at the shock on Enos’s face. “Bet ya’ never thought you’d be running ‘shine, now did ya’?”

“Don’t that beat all?” he laughed. “I’s lookin’ for a car that could pass for a runner when I found it. Didn’t know it was already stocked.”

“Key’s are in it. Take it for a spin.” Luke climbed back out of the car, and Daisy leaned in the window.

“Hey sugar, can I come?”

“You’d better. Hop in an’ I’ll drop ya’ at th’ Boar’s Nest.”

Daisy turned to her cousins. “Hey, would you fellas take Dixie home for me tonight? Enos can pick me up from work.”

Bo and Luke shared confused looks.

“Um…”

“Uh, yeah, I guess so, Daisy.”

Enos turned the key and the car roared to life as Daisy hopped in.

“Don’t wreck it!” hollered Cooter as Enos peeled out of the the garage and squealed the tires on the pavement.

The three of them stared after the car as it circled the square and then disappeared.

“Well, y’all, it’s sure been fun, but I’m gonna miss my flight if I don’t shake a leg,” said Cooter. “I’ll catch y’all later.”

“You take care, Cooter,”said Luke, patting him on the back.

“Yeah, hey, don’t be a stranger now, ya’ hear?”

“Oh, I’ll be around, Bo. We’ll see y’all.”

Cooter backed his pickup out of the drive and rolled down the window, gesturing down the street where Enos and Daisy had disappeared. “If I’s y’all, I’d keep tabs on them two,” he said before driving off himself.

Bo looked out at the empty road. “What’d ya’ reckon that’s s’posed t’ mean?”

“I think we best give ’em an escort home tonight,” said Luke, “…make sure they actually get there.”

 

While Bo and Luke were helping Jake pull the dents out of the General Lee, Enos dropped Daisy off at the Boar’s Nest and tried to find something to do with himself for the next eight hours. He didn’t especially want to go back to Jake’s and listen to the Duke boys speculate on what happened the night before. He was terrible at keeping secrets and if he spilled the beans to Bo and Luke about being married, Daisy’d kill him…if her cousins didn’t first. Driving by rote, he wasn’t surprised to find himself turning off towards Hazzard pond. He pulled up at the bank and climbed out to better inspect his car. Gosh, but it was pretty…he laughed, remembering what Luke had told him about it’s hidden cargo.

“You like t’ve got me in big trouble,” he told it. “S’pose it was a good thing I didn’t pull over for Rosco th’ other day.”

 

Bo and Luke were already at the Boar’s Nest when Enos pulled in at 7:00pm. He was an hour early, but he’d already exhausted everything else he could figure to waste time doing, including climbing back into his car and taking a long nap. Besides, there was always something interesting going on at the bar, and he could watch Daisy to his heart’s content. He frowned as he pulled up next to the General Lee, wishing her cousins weren’t there to pick on him.

Being a Friday night, it was crowded, and the only seat left was at the bar, which was where he’d rather be anyway. He took a seat, waving politely at Bo and Luke a couple tables away.

“Hey there Enos!” shouted Luke.

Daisy heard her cousin and looked around until she spotted Enos and flashed him a radiant smile. She walked back over behind the bar and down to his spot.

“Hey Enos, you want th’ regular?”

“Sure thing, Daisy Mae.”

“Be right back, sugar.”

Luke, who’d been watching the two, groaned.

“What?” asked Bo.

“Didja hear what he called her?”

“No, I wasn’t payin’ attention.”

“He just called her ‘Daisy Mae’,” said Luke. “He ain’t called her that going on twenty years.”

“So?”

“So, you can best bet that if he’s callin’ her that again, there’s definitely somethin’ goin’ on between ’em. An knowin’ them two, trouble ain’t likely t’ be followin’ too close behind.”

“What? Daisy an’ Enos? Ain’t neither one of them apt t’ get into too much trouble.”

Luke laughed. “You ain’t old enough t’ remember what they was like growin’ up. You get both of ’em apart, they’re regular saints, but ya’ get ’em together, there ain’t a scrape they didn’t get into when they were kids. Did ya’ know that when Daisy was eleven an’ Enos was thirteen, Cooter found ’em hitchikin’ up on the Georgia, Tennessee border?”

Bo nearly choked on his beer. “What!.?”

“It’s true. They’s dang lucky Cooter was comin’ back from makin’ a run and saw ’em. Lord knows what would’ve happened to ’em otherwise.”

“Well, how th’ heck did they get up there in th’ first place? That’s a hell of a long way from Hazzard County!”

“Don’t know, they wouldn’t tell anyone,” he said. “Enos got grounded from leavin’ home for a month, though.”

Bo thought as far back as he could remember, but he was nearly eight years younger than Enos, and his memories of the two together as kids were sketchy at best. “So, if they were that close, what th’ heck happened?”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know exactly what happened, but it sure looks like they fixed it.”

Bo took another glance over at Enos and Daisy who were talking and laughing easily with each other, like they’d been best friends their whole lives.”

At a table near the door, two men who’d had their limit and a little over, began to yell for more beer.

Daisy rolled her eyes at Enos. “Sorry, honey, I gotta take care of th’ riff-raff.”

Enos had made a habit of coming by if Daisy was working Friday or Saturday night. There were at least a few drunks by late evening and inevitably a fight would break out. He was always worried about her getting caught in the middle of it since drunks in a scuffle didn’t generally look around to make sure they weren’t hitting the bystanders instead. He watched her as she walked back around the bar and over to the other table.

“I think you fellas have had enough tonight,” she told them, but when she leaned over to take their pitcher off the table, the one sitting closest to her grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his lap.

“Hey, babe, how ’bout I just take you instead,” he leered.

“Get your grubby paws offa me!” she shouted, but the man just held her tighter, groping at her.

Enos wasn’t even aware he’d gotten off of his stool until he found himself standing in front of the man, his eyes flashing with fury. Bo was about to get up as well, but Luke held him back.

“She said t’ let her go,” Enos seethed.

He tossed Daisy aside onto the floor and stood up. “What? You gonna do somethin’ about it, hayseed?”

Enos didn’t bother to answer him, just gave him a right hook.

The man picked himself up and ran at Enos, knocking him backwards into a table and both men went down. The atmosphere in the Boar’s Nest was electrified as the patrons got to their feet to watch the fight – it wasn’t everyday that Deputy Enos Strate was the one scuffling around on the floor…in fact no one could remember him ever having done so. Chants of “Come on, Enos!” and “Get him, Enos!” filled the room. The other guy had him pinned to the floor, but Enos hadn’t survived the LA beat without learning a few tricks. He head-butted the guy, stunning him and causing him to release his grip. The second he moved his hand, Enos caught him with another punch. Before the man could right himself, Enos grabbed his arm and twisted it back behind him and hauled him to his feet.

Everyone cheered as he tossed the man towards the door and shouted, “Don’t mess with my…my…”

“…wife.”

At first, Enos thought he’d been the one to say it, but the voice wasn’t his. He turned around, unaware that the crowd had fallen silent, to see Daisy standing behind him.

“Isn’t that what you meant to say?” she asked, quietly, her eyes riveted on his.

“What happened t’ not tellin’ yet?” he asked, as she stepped into his arms.

She shook her head, smiling softly up at him. “You were right, Enos, it was a bad idea.” She reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out his ring, then took his left hand in hers and slid it back onto his finger. “I don’t care what anyone else thinks – I love you, Enos Strate, an’ I’m proud t’ be your wife.”

As their lips met, a flurry of whoops and people banging beer mugs on tables echoed through the room. Bo and Luke just stared in shock at Enos and Daisy kissing each other passionately in the middle of the Boar’s Nest.

“Luke…,” said Bo, finally, “did she say wife?”

“Oh Lord…”

The two finally pulled away from each other and Daisy spoke up. “Well, y’all,” she called to everyone in the bar, “I s’pose th’ cat’s outta th’ bag. Last round’s on th’ house.”

Most everyone cheered, except Bo and Luke who were making their way though the crowd of people trying to congratulate them.

“I think y’all need t’ come outside so we can talk,” said Luke to Daisy and Enos.

Enos frowned. “If you’ve got somethin’ t’ say, Luke, just say it.”

“Come on,” Daisy said quietly, tugging on Enos’s hand to pull him back from Luke. The tension between the two was palatable.

“Alright, Daisy,” he whispered, and let her guide him out of the bar.

The air outside the Boar’s Nest was cold but not enough to cool Luke’s temper which was focused on Enos. Regardless of how much Daisy felt for the guy, he just wasn’t quite prepared for the fact that Enos had run off with Daisy in the middle of the night. He was the oldest, the one who was supposed to protect her – only to find his job suddenly stolen away from him without a word. He shoved the Deputy up against the brick wall. “What have you done?”

“Luke!” shouted Daisy and Bo, pulling their cousin back, “Stop it!”

Daisy moved to stand between Luke and Enos. “You cool it right now, Luke Duke!” she told him.

“Luke, just hear ’em out,” urged Bo.

“Fine…I’m listenin’.”

Luke grudgingly backed up a step and Daisy’s expression softened. “We never intended t’ just run off, but after we nearly got killed by a drunk up on Ridge-runner Road comin’ home, things got put in a different perspective – ‘specially considerin’ what happened last month,” she added.

Luke’s anger disappeared immediately, replaced by concern – everybody knew Ol’ Ridge Road might as well be called the ‘road of death’. “You never said nothin about bein’ up on th’ ridge, an’ you told me it was just a busted taillight an’ a couple dents,” he reminded her.

“It was a little closer shave than th’ damage made it look like,” she admitted, looking away.

“Geez, Daisy…” Luke wrapped her in a hug, only now aware that the same road that had claimed his father had almost claimed his cousin and friend as well. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

He released Daisy and looked back at Enos. “I’m sorry, Enos, I didn’t mean nothin’ personal towards you by it,” said Luke, “It just…took me by surprise is all.”

“That’s okay, Luke,” he said, shaking the hand Luke offered. “Kinda took me by suprise, too.” He grinned at Daisy.

“So now wait… you two really ran off an’ got hitched?” asked Bo.

“Yep, already done did it,” said Enos, amused now that it seemed he wasn’t about to be executed.

“Shoot…Well dang, come ‘ere, girl.” Bo grabbed Daisy and gave her a bear hug as she laughed.

Luke stood back, looking at Enos and Daisy for a long moment before shaking his head and giving them an amused snort . “If you two don’t beat all…”

“You know,” said Bo, “I reckon we’d best be getting’ home ‘fore someone calls Uncle Jesse t’ congratulate him.”

“I’ll kick everyone out an’ lock up,” said Daisy. She kissed Enos on the cheek and went back inside.

 

Uncle Jesse knew something strange was going on as the parade of three vehicles pulled up outside and Bo, Luke, Daisy, and Enos got out. “Must be somethin’ big,” he mused to himself, looking out the window, “th’ whole Calvary’s a-comin’.”

He sat down in the chair by the fire and waited for them to come in. As they filed past the kitchen and into the living room, he knew immediately it had something to do with the two that walked in holding hands, looking like they’d just done something that was gonna get them in trouble.

“Alright, you two,” he told them, “don’t bother beatin’ around th’ bush. Ya’ look guiltier than a fox havin’ chicken dinner.”

Daisy and Enos shared a glance between themselves.

“Uh, well, Uncle Jesse,” began Daisy.

“We got hitched,” finished Enos.

Jesse just looked at the two of them. “Well,” he said, finally “did ya’ mean to?” He watched as their faces turned from nervous to confused.

“Well… yeah, we meant to,” said Daisy. Enos nodded his assent.

“What?” said the older man, looking around at the stunned faces. “Now don’t tell me y’all thought you was gonna shock ol’ Uncle Jesse. ‘Specially not th’ way you two’ve been wandering around here with yer heads in th’ clouds.” He gestured at Enos and Daisy.

“I thought you’d be upset about me not havin’ a proper weddin’,” explained Daisy.

Uncle Jesse got up and walked over to his niece and took her gently by the shoulders. “Daisy, I’m more interested in ya’ marryin’ th’ right man, an’ for th’ right reasons – not how fancy it is when ya’ do it.” His kind blue eyes met her tear filled ones. “Can tell me ya’ did both of them things?”

She nodded her head. “I married Enos ’cause I love him, Uncle Jesse.”

Her uncle hugged her tight. “Then I’m more than happy for ya’, baby girl.”

He let her go and patted her cheek gently before turning to Enos. “Yer pa’d be awful proud of ya’, son,” he told the younger man. “Just like all of us have always been.”

Enos had to clear his throat before he could speak, “Thank you, Uncle Jesse,” he said, quietly. “I won’t let ya’ down.”

 

Jesse Duke got up early Saturday morning and made his way quietly through the house into the kitchen. Bo and Luke still slept and Daisy and Enos had gone back to town the night before. He looked around, thinking how quiet it would be without Daisy living there. Instead of starting breakfast, he opened the cabinet and felt on the top shelf until his fingers found the small flask of clear liquid stashed there. He didn’t make much moonshine anymore, only a few gallons every couple years – for medicinal purposes…and special occasions such as today he reckoned to himself as he tucked the flask in his pocket. Picking up his keys, he left the house, catching the screen door on the way out so as not to wake his nephews.

The old Pine Ridge Cemetery up in the depths of the Blue Ridge foothills was still and calm that morning. The head stones sat like sentinels, guarding the memories of many long forgotten, and some not so much. It wasn’t used very often anymore, containing mostly the old families – those that had known these hills for generations, and time was already dragging it back into the wilderness from which it had been carved. All the kids’ parents were here, save Bo’s mother who had been buried in New Friendship, closer to town. Uncle Jesse supposed some day, he’d rest here as well.

He visited his own family first, raking the leaves away from the base of the stone that read Martha Lavinia Duke and the small one next to it where rested the only child he and his wife had ever had – a baby girl, stillborn. He wasn’t ashamed of the tears in his eyes, he was old enough to know better, and he still missed her somethin’ fierce. She would’ve been happy to hear her two favorite trouble makers had finally found each other again.

After a few more minutes, Jesse got up and dusted off his overalls, adjusted his hat, and made his way on towards the back corner of the graveyard. There were five head stones grouped together here around an old monument, mostly eaten by lichen and weather, upon which read the surname “Strate”. He stopped at the one on the end, removed the flask from his pocket, and took a swig.

“Well, Otis my friend, I s’pose somewhere’s you’re lookin’ down havin’ a good laugh at me right about now,” he said. “An’ I s’pose you’d be in th’ right since this means you won that bet fair an’ square.” He moved the flask over the grave as if toasting an unseen friend. “Here’s t’ our kids finally gettin’ hitched…” Jesse poured the remainder of the flask over the ground at the base of the stone. “You always said they’d run off together some day…an’ so they did – though quite a bit later than you thought they would. I s’pose they had a lot t’ sort out, but it sure is good t’ have ’em back together.”

[Fine.]